Category: Fireplaces

Twenty years prior to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe realized his renowned Farnsworth House, and seven years prior to emigrating to the United States, he made Villa Tugendhat in 1930 for its wealthy couple Fritz and Grete Tugendhat.

As a wedding present, Grete (born Grete Weiss Löw-Beer) obtained approximately a half acre of her family’s land, a portion on a hill immediately adjacent to Černopolní Street in Brno, today in the Czech Republic. On the home Mies developed a split-level home with 3 floors: The entrance, bedrooms, nanny quarters, a patio and play area, and a garage with chauffeur quarters are located on the upper level; the dwelling spaces, kitchen, winter garden and another patio are on the middle level; along with the utilities are located on the lowest level.

The home can be seen as a domestic variant of Mies’ Barcelona Pavilion from only 1 year before, with its flowing, open plan and structural columns different from walls. It is also a precursor to Mies’ afterwards “universal distance,” found primarily in the office towers that he designed in the United States in the 1950s. However, the layout is sensitive to the specifics of place and also the family who occupied it for just a short time — the Tugendhats, Jewish in origin, returned in 1938, first to Switzerland then to South America.

Maybe due to Mies’ open plan, the building was able to function later as a school and hospital (housing a child psychology section) prior to the municipality took ownership and restored the villa in the 1980s. In 2001 the home was named a Unesco World Heritage site, and 10 decades after it underwent more recovery job, opening to the general public in March 2012. The photos in this particular tour follow the most recent restoration.

Villa Tugendhat at a Glance
Year built: 1930
Architect: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Location: Brno, Czech Republic
Size: 2,600 square feet
Visiting info: Guided tours with advance tickets available

John Hill

The west side is where we find all three levels, but the massing doesn’t make it look so. The horizontal glass of the middle floor overlooks, while the upper floor is set back, nearly out of sight, and also the lowest floor is short and mostly solid.

In the road side on the west, the home looks as one horizontal level. With its planar surfaces, glass expanses and garage front and centre, the home must have made a stir in 1930. Even today it poses a very un-house-like face to the road.

Between the garage to the right and also the glass expanse in the middle is a gap which frames the landscape outside and pulls one toward the entrance.

The milk-white glass curves to subtly hide the front door in the road but also to promote movement toward it someone is beyond the gate. The cover is ample, but the step up to the door is subtle. Nevertheless the latter is important, particularly in the change from 1 stone to another.

Indoors, on the travertine floor (a favorite of Mies’), the reason behind the curved glass becomes more apparent. The bedrooms are located to the left and right supporting us in this picture, while the staircase provide access to the main living room downstairs.

Here is a plan of the major level, where we find the living area, kitchen, winter garden and patio. The stair from above is located in the middle. The spiral below it on the drawing provides access to the lower (utility) degree.

Following the 180-degree turn from above, one enters a large, open area with the principal view to the right (bottom on the drawing). But two partitions — just one straight and one curved — break up this distance, as does a grid of little columns. What looks open is actually composed of smaller areas characterized in unconventional manners.

Coming down the stair and walking straight, one comes to a seating area adjacent to the winter garden and supporting one of the walls — the straight wall is made from onyx, as in the Barcelona Pavilion.

Note the velvet curtain and paths on the ceiling for closing off spaces from one another and providing colour. Another factor worth pointing out is the way the wall and column are different from one another, something uncommon at the time.

Turning 90 degrees clockwise, toward the west we all can observe how open the perimeter glazing is and how the semienclosed winter extends along the south facade.

The onyx wall is well worth highlighting for the absolute scale of it five full-height slabs next to one another — and also for the impressive veining of the material. A couple of the panels are book matched (mirrored) to provide the wall a slight asymmetry, or off-center balance.

Though small relative to the remainder of the home, this wall is so important that Mies visited the quarry in the Atlas Mountains to choose the stone, then supervised the cutting and building of it.

Mies furnished the home with built-in pieces (which we’ll see later) along with his own pieces, such as the Barcelona Chair (named after the pavilion in the year earlier) and the Tugendhat Chair he made for the home.

A retractable awning helps to cut back on the direct sunlight entering through the large western expanse of glass. What’s more, the large glass panes slide down into a pocket in the cellar, foreshadowing the sliding glass walls which are currently common.

The electric mechanism for the glass, the then cutting edge heating and cooling system, along with the overall high quality construction and finishes made for a pricey house — it was reportedly 30 times the price of a little house at the time.

It’s well worth revealing the view which Mies celebrates with the large glass wall and the terraces on the upper and main levels.

Turning 180 degrees from the prior inside shot, we can observe the curved timber wall which also defines an area inside the open plan.

The curved ebony wall perfectly cups the dining room table and concentrates attention toward the perspective beyond the expanse of glass.

Here we find the next bit of Mies’ furniture, the most aptly named Brno Chair.

Back upstairs we see among those bedrooms (for Fritz) and something we didn’t encounter downstairs: a door.

A mutual factor for Mies, famous for saying “God is in the details,” is the full-height door. He used it residences, office towers and other buildings. The wood door spans to the ceiling; the Tugendhats didn’t initially need it, but Mies held powerful and got his way.

This perspective of Grete’s bedroom indicates the immediate entry to the upper terrace and also the way the bedrooms are oriented to the same distant perspective as the living room downstairs.

A couple of the children’s rooms are connected, such as adjoining suites in a hotel. They feature built-in closets and bookcases, which can also be found in the library on the main level. Like the onyx wall, the panels are produced with book-matched timber, giving the closets in particular a strong rhythm.

The master bathroom (rather ample, even by today’s standards) advantages from clerestory windows.

Last we’ll have a look at a couple of details in the home, all managed by Mies. First is that this undulating metallic pillar cover, reminiscent of the Barcelona Pavilion. The beautiful and extremely complex detail makes the columns look thinner and smaller than square or round ones, while providing interesting shadow lines.

The door handle is fine both for its simple shape and the way the plate is set to the glass door. Circles occur in the plate, the handle and the keyhole, supplying a consistent layout characteristic.

More circles are found on the light fittings from the major level, now concentric circles which both spread and concentrate the light.

With details such as these, it is no wonder the house was so expensive. Additionally, it is no wonder the home is so cherished and value the restoration attempt; today everyone can stop by this modern masterpiece.

Visiting info: Guided tours with advance tickets available

More: Must-See Modern Homes

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Proceed with bromeliads with caution in case you have an addictive personality. All these (mostly) treetop-dwelling blossom plants would be the designer sneakers of the plant kingdom — and there are almost 10,0000 species and cultivars available, with exotic flowers and foliage in every color possible. Patterns range from pinstripes to blotches, splatters, blushes and polka dots.

Everybody prefers to have at least one bromeliad on a windowsill or in a garden. Get ready, as you’re about to get hooked.

Daniel Nolan for Flora Grubb Gardens

Botanical names: You will find 50 genera in the bromeliad family, with 3,000 species and 6,000 cultivars. The hottest genera are recorded here.

Common names: Bromeliad, vase plant, foolproof plant, queen’s tears, atmosphere plant and more

Where it can grow: Hardy to 15 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on species (USDA zones 8b to 11, depending upon the species; locate your zone)

Moisture requirement: Many bromeliads do not require much water, particularly those who have leathery and spiky leaves. Fill the “vases” of tank-type bromeliads (most are tank types and have watertight leaves) when they dry out. Tillandsias, that can be in the bromeliad family, may need occasional misting in dryer climates.

Light requirement: Varies. Broadly speaking, plants with leathery or spiky leaves manage the sun better. Many can be grown in different light scenarios; shade-grown plants take on greener colors and arching forms, and sun-grown specimens shape tight and vibrant rosettes.

Mature dimension: Varies, depending upon the cultivar. The “hanging mosses” of the South are now clumps of tiny air plants, while the enormous Puya raimondii can reach over 30 feet tall.

Seasonal fascination: Varies; most have attractive foliage year-round

When to plant: Year-round where hardy

Feeding: Feed bromeliads with a diluted orchid fertilizer or slow-release fertilizer. Highly colored and mottled specimens look best when fertilized sparingly.

Monica Kovacic

Bromeliads have more benefits than just good looks. Vase types attach themselves to trees with their origins but absorb moisture and nutrients from the water collected within their “cups” of watertight leaves; they can be grown in containers, either attached to branches or implanted in the floor. Tillandsias are so proficient at treetop life they absorb moisture from the atmosphere, and terrestrial bromeliads are adapted to life in the desert (or swamp or jungle floor) and are outfitted with wicked-looking spines. As you can see, bromeliads are fairly diverse.

Bromeliad shows seem somewhat like art galleries, with every specimen more unique and crazy than the last. Regardless of what your preferred color combination or pattern, there’s a fairly good possibility that there’s a bromeliad with your title on it. There is a handful of species commonly sold as houseplants, but those are only the gateway drug to a trippy journey down the fractal structures of the bromeliad’s overlapping leaves and blooms. It is like every spike of flowers is its own vibrant blown-glass Dale Chihuly setup.

Planting and designing with bromeliads could not be easier. Since most have limited root systems, they’re relatively simple to dig up and relocate as needed, which is particularly helpful for growers that experience freezes in winter.

Where To Grow Bromeliads

Additionally containers. The majority of readers will be delighted to know that most bromeliads are perfectly suited to growing in containers. You can grow them as houseplants year-round or bring them outdoors in the warmer months.

Collectors swear by their preferred potting mixes, but most bromeliads aren’t too picky as long as the soil doesn’t stay too moist and the roots have space to breathe. Amending the soil with orchid bark or perlite may both contain drainage and increase airflow around the roots.

At a sunny garden. Bromeliads that can manage the sun have brighter colors, thicker markings and tighter forms when grown in sunlight. Choose specimens which have been growing in direct sun when possible, and gradually transition shade-grown plants to sunlight so they don’t burn off. The top bromeliads for full sun typically have leathery leaves, for example Neoregelia and some Aechmea. In the tropics, where sun is more intense, semi sunlight beneath a canopy of tall trees is much more preferable to prevent burning.

At a shady garden. Many bromeliads will grow in the shade, but those who are grown for their colors (Neoregelia and some Billbergia, for instance) will create long and arching green leaves rather. The top bromeliads for a shade garden include Vriesea, Guzmania and other bromeliads with glossy green foliage.

Shade-grown bromeliads collect leaf litter in their own cups, and while leaves do provide natural fertilizer, the cups should be cleaned out occasionally to prevent vase rot. Consider attaching bromeliads to tree trunks for a naturalistic appearance.

Popular Types of Bromeliads

Aechmea. You might have seen Silver vase plant (Aechmea fasciata, zones 10 to 11) before as a houseplant, with its powdery blossom leaves and light pink inflorescence, but it is rather dull in contrast to stunners like the neon-blue and pink-flowered ‘Blue Tango’ (zones 9b to 11, along with the massive orange Aechmea blanchetiana (zones 9b to 11) who are frequently utilised in tropical landscapes.

A number of the cold-hardiest bromeliads are Aechmeas also, such as ‘Blue Cone’ (Aechmea cylindrata ‘Blue Cone’, zones 8b to 11, revealed here), spiky Aechmea distichantha (zones 8b to 11) and matchstick plant (Aechmea gamosepala, zones 8b to 11).

Billbergia. The hottest Billbergia is known as queen’s tears (Billbergia nutans, zones 8b to 11) but outdated and intriguing hybrids have been grown throughout the coastal South and tropics for centuries. All are characterized by arching stems of pink bracts and hanging blossoms emerging from thin and tubular rosettes, and the effect is quite elegant.

‘Hoelscheriana’ (Billbergia ‘Hoelscheriana, zones 8b to 11) is an old hybrid with vertical tubular rosettes of rosy mottled leaves, and several of the other hybrids are rather similar. Another popular one is Billbergia pyramidalis (zones 9 to 11), that includes wide and glossy green leaves with a puffball of pink flowers in autumn. It flowers only for about a week or 2 per year, but many different bromeliads bloom only once every few years. Additionally, thanks to their narrow and vertical forms, Billbergias are ideal for smaller spaces or including a vertical component to mixed plantings.

Dyckia. Most of the bromeliads here are epiphytes, but Dyckias are terrestrial — which is, they grow exclusively on the floor. You can sometimes find them marketed with succulents at the garden centre, but they also grow best with a bit more moisture than most other succulents require. Grow Dyckia bromeliads in full sun, where they’ll achieve their best colors and put out copious blooms on tall spikes, ranging from yellow to red.

One vibrant Dyckia is ‘Cherry Coke’ (Dyckia ‘Cherry Coke’, revealed here, zones 8b to 11), that has become popular enough to make its way to the screens at some big-box retailers. ‘Red Planet’ (Dyckia ‘Red Planet’) is this a deep shade of red it approaches black, and ‘Brittle Star’ (Dyckia ‘Brittle Star’, zones 9b to 11) is notable for its narrow black leaves with white spiny margins, giving it the appearance of a creature you might encounter in a tide pool.

Guzmania. There are some very good reasons that Guzmanias are amongst the most popular bromeliads marketed as houseplants: They flourish in shade, have smooth and glossy leaves, and make for long-lasting flower displays. Due to their familiarity, they aren’t always the most exciting bromeliads readily available, but they’re some of the most resilient ones offered for indoors.

Most of the hybrids available at retailers and florists owe their lineage to Guzmania lingulata (zones 10 to 11), but there are a few more worth seeking out. Guzmania conifera (zones 10b to 11) is one such plant, and its intense orange flower spike is one of the brightest in the genus. Guzmania monostachia (zones 10 to 11) is a beautiful plant; it is native to the cypress swamps of South Florida.

Neoregelia. That is really where bromeliads get really interesting. Neoregelias like painted fingernail plant (Neoregelia spectabilis, zones 9 to 11), shown here, have “insignificant” blossoms in comparison to most other bromeliads, but the tight rosettes of Neoregelias come in so many colors and patterns you’ll overlook that the entire plant isn’t a flower in its own right.

Blushing bromeliad (Neoregelia carolinae) is the most common type, with deep green leaves which dared into a fire-engine red in the heart before flowering. Additionally, there are variegated forms of the and others who have white bands down the length of every leaf. Some have blotches and bands also, such as the fiercely spiky and appropriately termed Hannibal Lector bromeliad (Neoregelia ‘Hannibal Lector’, zones 9 to 11) with its blood-red-spattered bands.

Aside from cool names (‘Grumblebum’ and ‘Sexy Pink’ to name a few ) and infinite colors, what makes this genus so fun to collect is that lots of the crops are rather small and will easily fit on a windowsill, like little pieces of sculpture. ‘Wild Tiger’ and ‘Fireball’ are a good beginning for a budding collector.

Tillandsia. Many bromeliads can dwell in the treetops, but Tillandsias do it best, with especially adapted scales called trichomes that absorb water directly from the humid atmosphere.

The most well-known Tillandsia is hanging moss (Tillandsia usneoides, zones 8 to 11), which drapes down from pine trees in the southern United States. You may have grown atmosphere plant (Tillandsia ionatha, zones 9b to 11) on a refrigerator magnet before, but you will discover it does better with more sunlight and humidity. Massive species like cardinal atmosphere plant (Tillandsia fasciculata, zones 9b to 11) and Tillandsia xerographica (zones 10 to 11) make excellent focal points when mounted trees at eye level.

Vriesea. Like Guzmanias, Vriesea bromeliads are ideal for growing indoors or in shady gardens, and some of the more leathery-leaved types will also do well in sun. They are also hardier to freeze than the Guzmanias, and several will sail through a freeze with no harm.

Some Vriesea species have beautifully marked leaves, particularly the green striated bands of Vriesea hieroglyphica (zones 9b to 11) or the pixelated cream and dark burgundy bands of Vriesea fosteriana ‘Rubra’ (zones 9b to 11).

Others have been grown for their flowers rather than their foliage. Vriesea phillipo-coburgii (zones 9 to 11) and Vriecantarea ‘Inferno’ (zones 9 to 11) both have remarkable tall red flower spikes with yellow blooms. The Vriesea sucrei hybrid vehicle (zones 9 to 11) revealed here has a similar inflorescence but on a smaller scale.

Dean Herald-Rolling Stone Landscapes

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Is it true that the home you grew up in effect your design style today? Maybe you had a conversation pit, wall-to-wall carpeting in the bathroom or one of those intercom systems in the ’70s that never really worked, and you avoid it (though I’ve always secretly coveted a conversation pit). We would love to find snapshots of your home; shots with people in them will be even greater!

Please place a photo in the Remarks section below and share your memories of what your childhood home was like. We would love to find the outside, but when there’s a distinctive feature you recall from inside, please include it also. Please include the title of town or the city. Your photo could be used in a coming ideabook about childhood houses and what they mean to people.

Maybe your parents were to midcentury modern style or were one of the millions of baby boomers who made their dreams come true by buying a brick ranch. When I was a kid, split levels with carpets were all the rage. Were sinks randomly placed in family rooms and known as bars.

Soorikian Architecture

The only thing missing from that American-dream Cape Cod–style home is a white picket fence. The flag reminds me of my grandfather, Pop, who would put one out every fair-weather morning then fold it up the appropriate way each night, such as Clint Eastwood at Gran Torino.

Westover Landscape Design, Inc..

Dutch colonial is just another timeless style that’s been popular in America for almost a century.

While these three are all houses and are typical American fashions, I hope you’ll share all kinds of houses and that you worldwide readers will tell us about your childhood houses, too!

Your turn: Please upload a scan of your childhood home and tell us about it!

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Rebecca Wilson’s first job for a landscape architect was this Waikuku, New Zealand, backyard — her parents’ — which she’s watched grow over 30 years with pleasure and a bit of awe. “Plants have expired. Trees have dropped. But we have reacted to these happenings in the backyard and let its own personality grow over time, rather than making it over to some magazine attribute–worthy backyard,” she states. “I constantly tell people that there’s nothing flashy here, however I never tire of photographing it.”

The garden’s courtyard hosts Wilson’s family’s Christmas parties — outside events, since December is warm in New Zealand. “This garden reflects to me what landscape style is all about: creating beautiful spaces that individuals can really enjoy,” she states.

Garden at a Glance
Who cares for it : The Wilson family
Location: Waikuku, New Zealand

Earthwork Landscape Architects

Wisteria climbs across grape curtains across the fence behind the garden table, and the pergola. “We have to keep this fellow in check, as it entirely covers the pergola and wisteria,” Wilson says. “The autumn colors on it are magnificent, making up for its voracity.”

Earthwork Landscape Architects

Wilson’s daddy restored this entry gate, which had been created in the back of an old dray he found on the property 40 years ago. The gate contributes to the back of the courtyard, with a “crazy paving path,” Wilson says.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

The garden varies each time Wilson visits. “I no longer live here full time, so I love it more. I know just how much work goes into managing this type of backyard, but it’s a wonderful area to help keep your eyes open and know when to stop and allow it to do its thing,” she states.

This tiny route meanders through a casual mix of plantings toward a sculpture of a perched rooster, given to them by the neighbors, overlooking a farmyard and a chicken coop beyond.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

Here, Klaas that the rooster keeps watch over the holiday festivities.

A few years ago, the family lengthened the driveway to the house, bringing the elm trees at the farthest corner of the garden closer. This had a dramatic effect on the texture of this garden. “You now come off the open road and the Canterbury Plains, and suddenly you are hauled to this sheltered, leafy and peaceful location,” states Wilson.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

Moss growing in the cracks between the pavers provides the area visual interest and also an interesting geometric pattern. The moss is a seasonal phenomenon that retreats when the cracks dry out in the spring.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

An barn along one border of the backyard was once covered in ivy. When it expired, the wall evolved to this “sculptural masterpiece,” as WIlson calls it, which she hopes remains with her family for a few more years.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

Wilson underplanted that the grove of kowhai trees with native gossamer grass, which she states “contrasts with the solid, vertical forms and creates a soft branch between the driveway and the home.”

She describes her parents’ home as “pretty normal” — it is an L-shape concrete block with a low-pitched roof and aluminum windows. Her mom immediately painted it black and implanted ivy around the base. “Today it’s completely covered and is a rainwater requiring diligent shaving twice per year. It really looks very okay now, as it sort of disappears into the backyard,” she states.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

On Christmas Day that the entire family heads into the courtyard. The casual table is surrounded by mismatched chairs, in tune with the casual, easygoing vibe of summer — and also Christmas in New Zealand.

Wilson’s mum makes fruit mince pies with sweet short pastry. “They are certainly the very best I’ve ever had, and I’ve tried several. My mom also produces a lovely Christmas cake using a recipe from a great-great-grandmother,” she states.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

In the space sits a simple garden bench under a bamboo. Its lime colour matches the new growth. Tussock grasses provide a link to open paddocks past the fence. Wilson kept the stumps of removed trees for sculptural interest; she topped them with rocks from a local riverbed.

Earthwork Landscape Architects

Despite the warm weather, Wilson’s family celebrates a conventional English-style dinner, complete with turkey, Christmas ham and sexy plum pudding with brandy hard sauce. “It’s somewhat rich and admittedly, it is crazy food for the beginning of summer,” she states. “We also make special salads, frequently using kumara, our Maori sweet potato”

After toasting the holidays with sparkling wine or champagne, the Wilsons move on to local New Zealand wines: sauvignon blancs and varietals from just up the road in Waipara.

The landscape architect waxes philosophical when talking about allowing the pure beauty of her family’s backyard become a part of the larger vision for its own management. “The entire garden does not have to be wild. It is often reassuring to have controlled, manicured areas. But it [will be] a shame, I think, for the entire backyard to be kept tightly in check in any way times,” she states.

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In many ways the contemporary Western world started across the 1400s in Florence, Italy, when medieval methods of thinking were pushed aside for major changes in art, architecture and interior design. Mainly affecting the strong and wealthy (such as the church clergy), the Renaissance took inspiration from the ancient Romans and Greeks. But instead than replicate them, artists and architects in this time utilized those historical styles to make new ideas in design.

What goes around comes around, and you can see from these examples how the Renaissance still affects design today.

David Howell Design

High ceilings. The city palazzos (palaces) of Renaissance Italy were normally three or more stories, together with the ground floor devoted to entrance, services, stables and storage. The first floor, the piano nobile, housed the main public rooms and bedrooms if space allowed — all with high ceilings. The ceilings have reduced the farther up the house you improved, together with the servants at the very top.

The tendency for large ceilings has continued for centuries. Today high ceilings still give the impression of prestige and grandeur.

Revealing Assets – Home Staging Services

Ceiling details. Renaissance ceilings were usually beamed or coffered and painted in rich colours. While the early Greeks and Romans used stone, wood coffers seen in the expansive Renaissance palazzos continue to be utilized in design today. They really add impact however are well installed on large ceilings and rooms using a grander scale.

JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

Ornate floors. Renaissance floors were brick, tile or marble and were patterned in checkerboard or more complicated geometric layouts, predominantly in earthy tones. With the introduction of underfloor heating (incidentally, a Roman invention), tiled floors have become a choice even in colder climates. Durable, easy to keep clean and currently available in a variety of colors and layouts, tile floors are enjoying a renaissance now.

LRIDesign

Patterned walls. Walls were normally smooth and neutral in colour. However, they were painted with patterns, which would now be translated to background. However, these paint techniques also have been used over the ages, affecting the introduction of stenciling.

Suzanne Bellehumeur

Mural fresco painting. Mural fresco painting adorned the walls of the more palatial Renaissance houses. Again, this highly decorative painting has influenced several elaborate wallpapers, while hand painting is earmarked for the experts.

Gne structure

Four-poster beds. The Renaissance saw the invention of the elaborate bed as we understand it. Hand-carved four-posters on elevated platforms needed a canopy for rich-colored curtains to keep out the cold. While mattress designs have evolved, a lot of us still can’t resist a four-poster, so the simple design was adapted for contemporary homes and shifting tastes.

Tara Seawright Interior Design

Silk. Silk was the favorite textile of the Renaissance, utilized in vivid colours for curtains and loose cushions for seats and chair seats. Furnishings were quite minimal at this time, but seats started to increase in variety as an alternate to stools and seats. Thank goodness the early designs have evolved in favor of relaxation!

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When I was growing up, TV was taboo during family meals. The only exception was on nights when I had buddies over — my parents frequently would let us order dinner, pop into a movie and sprawl on a blanket while we chowed down and saw the series. I remember how much fun it had been to feel like we’re getting away with something that went against house rules.

Now, my husband and I follow the same pattern with our son, including the occasional pizza picnic around the carpeting. While I’d never advocate making a habit of eating with the TV on, it can be a pleasant treat to flex your criteria once every so often. But, there are much more sophisticated ways to recapture that childish thrill without having to crank stiff adult knees right into “crisscross applesauce” position.

Have a look at these homeowners have redefined eating in front of the tube. Which would you go for? Share your ideas in the Comments!

FORMA Design

Remember those old-school folding TV trays? Here’s the 21st-century take: A generous menu on top of an even more generous ottoman provides a spot for drinks and dishes so that they don’t slide or tip. On top of that, it’s easy to throw the whole tray away to the kitchen when it’s time to stretch out and grab the end of the movie.

Cristi Holcombe Interiors, LLC

Somewhere between a tray and a side table, this smart little bit slides under the sofa and above your lap. What a great way to maximize space in a small living space!

The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn

Among the biggest drawbacks to eating around the TV is the fact that it can be hard to make eye contact with everyone else in the area. This breakfast nook provides a solution (for briefer lengths of TV viewing, at least): The telly is tucked into a wall cubby and is easy to see from any spot on the facing banquettes.

Coveted Home

Nesting tables work superbly for mealtime viewing. Because of their different heights, they’re ideal for taller or shorter family members, and they tuck away when the dishes are cleared.

Rockefeller Partners Architects

Now here is my notion of a flooring picnic: Low-slung armrests and rear cushions are prepared for serious loungers, who can hold a beverage in one hand and nosh out of a plate of nibbles nearby. If you can not tolerate a reclining posture on such a hard surface, no matter — only climb up to the sofa on the elevated platform. And off to the side? A bar with stools from which you have a crystal clear view of the screen.

B+g design inc..

A movie theater–style setup makes the dining table pub at the back of this media room feel like the best chair in the house. You might even set up a buffet here for Oscar or Super Bowl parties and invite guests.

Pure Bliss Creative Design

Place the parents around the sofa and the children on busy floor cushions. Having a coffee table in the middle on which to break glasses and plates, everyone can dine in comfort.

I adore this inventive alternative: four modular tables that can be pulled together into a single unit, then slid apart so that every member of the family can have a separate surface from which to eat.

Next, some products to Boost your dining-while-viewing encounter.

BoConcept

Occa Coffee Table – $1,095

With storage for remotes and other gear, also retractable trays that lift to a comfortable height for snacking, this table is tailor made for the occasional TV meal.

House 8810

Western TV Tray – $30

Maybe you’d prefer something a bit more classic. This Wild West–themed TV tray includes a retro charm that will go well in a cabin or eclectic area — or using a excellent spaghetti western.

YLiving.com

Royal VKB TV Dinner Tray – $41

Frustrated with plates skidding off your lap while you’re eating to a sofa or sofa? Slip this charger underneath to stabilize them.

Grandin Road

Metal Nesting Tables – $249

Scatter these colorful nesting tables around the area at showtime, then throw them back into place after the credits roll.

HAAN USA

AllPro Portable Hand Held Steam Cleaner – $59.95

However careful you’re, eventually you will knock over a glass of soda or drop hot skillet on the ground. Take good care of spills with this handy portable steamer, and it is going to be like they never occurred.

More:
How to Organize Your Room for TV and People, Too

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Festive ers, please reveal your vacation mantels! We’d love to see the way you decorate round the fireplace. Do you hang your sleeves there, and if yes, how? Do you have access to magnolia and boxwood branches, or is it strictly fir and pinecones for youpersonally? Are lights involved? Please inform us about and post pictures of your vacation mantel from the Remarks section below. Your pictures might be utilised in a future ideabook on .

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Interior designer Tobi Fairley incorporated oranges and lemons into this festive mantel garland.

Hydrangea Home

This decorator has curated a beautiful mantel that combines greens and household decorative objects, such as a fluted bowl, a charming little bird and a distressed box, all which tie together via their creamy white hues. The result is a country look that is complex.

Sandra Howie

This mantel produces a holiday sense without having any evergreen trimmings. Designer Sandra Howie says she likes to create a mantel in her home that “is equally very simple and sparkly with a bit of rustic and also a bit of modern.” She’s picked a beautiful palette of textures and arranged them in a balanced manner.

So, ers, reveal ’em if ya got ’em! Please discuss your personal holiday mantels with everyone in the Comments section.

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When everybody else dismissed a construction stuck in the middle of apple orchards and a senior community, interior designer Merav Sade saw a space with loads of potential. The designer was especially attracted to the apartment’s two-floor design and rooftop terrace. The home is 20 years in its interiors a collection of finds, the making and treasured bits while leasing her previous houses that she acquired.

“I’ve always dreamed of having my own master suite, away from the kids. And today I have that and much more,” says Sade.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Merav Sade and two teens
Location: Tel-Aviv, Israel
Size: 1,291 square feet
Style challenge: Converting what used to be a little office and a narrow bath on the upper floor into a spacious, light-filled master suite

Sivan Askayo

Virtually all the decor and furnishings in the house are classic. Sade, a self-confessed gadget enthusiast, considers in new technologies and aged decor. “This is the first time that I’ve lived in my own place; I’ve always leased,” she says. “But I’ve always known what my house would look like and gathered pieces here and there, realizing one day which they would come together”

Cobbler’s shoe kinds: Vintage Mania

Merav Sade Interior Design

Sade revived the original windows with the help of a contractor patient enough to discover the first arch which was reshaped into rectangular frames by programmers.

Accent wall paint: Rediscover, Nirlat

Merav Sade Interior Design

Windows that are unadorned keep the living room and kitchen cheerful and bright, enlarging the spaces and maximizing the sunlight coming in from the windows.

A blue roller chair which was previously in Sade’s house office today has a permanent home at the dining table, where a little work is done as well. “I couldn’t find bar stools which I liked, so I simply took the workplace chairs outside to the dining table for a while and found out that they are actually the ideal height for your table and they are incredibly comfortable. So I bought a lot more,” says Sade.

Classic pendants out of Sade’s grandmother — “likely from Russia,” she says — make for luxurious task lighting at the functional space.

Cabinet paint: Abstract Idea, Nirlat; crystal light pendants: classic

Merav Sade Interior Design

The kitchen floor is given a colorful punch by tiles. An unfinished door that is century-old stands guard in the background, a reminder. “Shouldn’t we get older with grace? Let’s not try to delay or change the inevitable,” she says.

Flooring tiles: Fabrizio, Oraitaliana

Sivan Askayo

Exposed shelving with citrine, chinoiserie-inspired backs raise this sun-drenched space’s cheer factor.

Sivan Askayo

Sade, a master of many trades, created the self-portraits hanging above her bed. The lamps were salvaged by her and repaired them.

Merav Sade Interior Design

Sivan Askayo

The casual, eclectic design of this bedroom is an extension of Sade’s design ethos: She swears by design that’s simple, functional and cozy.

Case in point: Maple bedside tables along with a matching headboard extend the designer’s penchant for clean-lined furnishings. Color splashes come by means of an indigo vase, floral petals and wall paint.

Sivan Askayo

Sivan Askayo

Sade created an opening out of her bedroom to the outdoor patio. “Before I generated the opening out of my bedroom, then you could only get to the patio from the first floor. Now I have this unbelievable rooftop terrace that’s accessible from my room and out of a separate staircase downstairs,” says Sade.

Merav Sade Interior Design

Here is a view of this antique doors from the patio picnic table.

Sivan Askayo

Four vases with cut branches occupy the sill above the bathroom in the restroom. They bring nature inside and add curves and femininity to a markedly spare room, which comes with an industrial feel that’s improved by the rough feel of weathered walls.

Sivan Askayo

Sade utilized a very simple kitchen sink in her adolescent daughter’s bathroom. “I bought the sink for the equivalent of 20. My daughter loves it because it’s profound, which is great for splashing water when washing your face and hand-washing delicates,” says Sade.

Merav Sade Interior Design

Sade transformed what used to be a little service balcony into her daughter’s bedroom. The message hanging on the wall is an upcycled project by Sade, who found the wood plank on the street and gave it new life.

Sivan Askayo

This key rack retains good-luck protective and charms totems for your household; it’s also a reminder of just how much Sade has come because her design college days. “I was able to innovate to earn some extra money,” she says. “I’m grateful I did not eliminate everything, because it makes my life now all the more sweet.”

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Making your own amazing holiday centerpiece is simpler than you might imagine, and can be done with a couple of key things you may already have. A vase, a couple of candle holders, seasonal fruit or ornaments, along with a bowl are enough to get you started. Read on for ideas on creating more holiday cheer at home.

FOCAL POINT STYLING

Occasionally forgetting about candles and flowers is a great way to create an out-of-the-ordinary tabletop. A simple flat plate paired with silver ornaments can become a gorgeous, last-minute centerpiece.

If you have any additional ornaments lying about, this is a great way to set them on screen and tie in your dining area décor along with your Christmas tree.

For a sophisticated look, combine simple flowers with sparkly metallic pine cones. This balances out the look with natural components, making it elegant although not over-the-top. Locate or purchase a few oversized pine cones and paint them in metallic colours.

Timothy De Clue Collection & Design

Make easy Christmas ornaments the middle of attention, as Timothy Clue did by filling tall candy jars with tree ornaments. This home made look adds a festive splash of color right where you need it.

Vases can be found very inexpensively and are often the starting point of your normal arrangement. Pop in a few of your favourite florals and provide them some sparkle with the addition of mirror tiles to the middle of your dining table. Scatter a couple of green candles to create a romantic ambience.

www.gtfloristsupplies.co.uk

Concerned about having dried up flowers for Christmas? Build your bouquet on a foundation of water-retaining florist’s foam to extend the life of your next fresh arrangement.

Many floral designers use this material to stabilize their arrangements in odd-shaped containers. It can be cut to fit any container or vase, so the possibilities are nearly infinite.

Decorate your next Christmas party with something that not only looks good, but can be eaten as well. Let your guests take a bite from a yummy gingerbread home Museum, and fill up the home with even more goodies to add an element of shock. You can make this in advance using a kit or your own design. Or allow crafty kids handle this one while you concentrate on other vacation prep.

Virginia Burney

Combine elements of nature in your property. Pine cones, beaded garlands and fir branches can frequently be found around the home, and you’re able to pick up cheery winter clementines in the marketplace.

Crate&Barrel

Starburst Bowl – $159

This starburst bowl from Crate and Barrel is a good beginning point for any holiday centerpiece. When it comes to filling it up, use your imagination; gold-painted pine cones, tree ornaments, pomegranites, oranges, fir branches, along with mixed nuts are a couple of easy ideas.

Virginia Burney

Displaying golden reindeers to the middle of your dining table or mantel is a great way to create a fun centerpiece.

Tip: Get this look without breaking the bank by purchasing a couple of plastic reindeer and spray painting them gold. Organize them with at the center of your dining table.

Purchase seasonal produce like pomegranates for an exotic touch to your regular fruit arrangement.

Anita Diaz for Far Above Rubies

Nestle candles at a bed of hazel nuts to your next dinner party. For an all round all-natural look, include scattered leaves and gorgeous winter gourds.

Have any other decorating ideas for Christmas? We would love to see them! Share your favorite thoughts below with a description on the best way to find the look.

More thoughts on making your next centerpiece:
How To Produce Beautifully Untamed Floral Arrangements

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I live in Chicago, and after weeks of unusually warm weather, we finally just got our first major snowfall. Although I’ll probably be cursing the powder April when I’m dying for some sunshine, right now I’m enjoying my view of snow-crested branches and rooftops — and it has made me think of all things cozy.

I would die for a fireplace right about now, but do you know what could up the ante? A fireplace in the base. Since I clearly have neither of these, I have been sitting here with my heating up, getting my fix by gathering photographs of drool-worthy baths complete with a radiating fire. Have a look at these photographs, and we can roast marshmallows through a lengthy soak from the comfort of our imaginations.

Browse photos of baths with fireplaces

Cornerstone Architects

This tub-side fireplace is the ideal complement to the arches in this Mediterranean-inspired area.

Moss Yaw Design studio

I can picture it now: gazing outside at a snow-fallen view, my feet warmed by the flame and my favourite read in hand.

Studio William Hefner

Oh, just another rough day in my bath with my fireplace along with my lovely view. Of course, in this version, that beautiful view ought to be coated with snow. But I’ll take it on cool summer evenings as well.

Xstyles Bath + More

As if the fire weren’t calming enough, this one comes with a mantle perfect for candles. See you later, reality.

Schnarr Craftsmen Inc

If a modern look is more your style, this complex fireplace certainly fits the bill. Surrounded with novels, it is like a tiny study that only has been fitted with a tub.

Terri Symington, ASID

The centralized location of the fireplace is perfect for keeping your whole body warm and cozy.

Forum Phi Architecture | Interiors | Planning

Want to enjoy the fireplace from the shower? Measure to this bath! A glass-enclosed shower lets anybody inside to enjoy the fireplace’s glow and warmth.

Debra Campbell Design

If you want to bask with a fire whilst preparing at a dressing table, this installation is key.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

Not only does this tub include a fireplace, but apparently a wine and cheese tray as well. This is my heaven.

Busybee Design

Even if the fireplace is not in the foot of the tub, one anyplace in the bathroom will make me a happy woman. Say goodbye to that cold chill once you measure from the tub; with a fireplace right there, are always going to be toasty.

Only Joh

I could devote some serious time in here. Take a long bath, dry off by the fire and lounge with a fantastic book and a glass of wine.

Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.

I would happily enjoy a long soak with this fireplace any evening of the week!

More: 19 Dream Tubs for Bath Lovers
Bathroom Trends: Large Bathtubs with Bigger Personalities
9 Portable Fireplaces

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