A New England Farmhouse Explodes With Color

Kristin Nicholas and Mark Duprey’s 1751 home was a blank canvas, painted in simple whites and pastels, but Nicholas has spent the previous 14 years layering on brushstrokes in vivid colors. A working artist famous for her knit, crochet and stitchery designs, Nicholas has made their home a genuine reflection of her ability and soul. “There isn’t a space left that is the way we found it,” she says.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Kristin Nicholas and Mark Duprey, their daughter, Julia
Location: Franklin County, Massachusetts
Size: 3,500 square feet; two bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
That’s intriguing: The couple tends to more than 300 sheep.

Rikki Snyder

Nicholas color stripped and washed the walls from the home living room in a mottled chartreuse and gold. The vintage desk is home to old photos, a grim antique typewriter that belonged to her dad and other significant pieces.

Rikki Snyder

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A 1920s sideboard once belonging to Nicholas’ great-aunt got fresh life with a glowing coat of red. Nicholas does oil and gouache painting, paints pottery, is a published illustrator and writer, and has taken up mosaics.

Watch more of Kristin Nicholas’ artwork

Sideboard paint: Satin Impervo, Benjamin Moore

Rikki Snyder

In the living room library, the homeowner created her own background by cutting shapes out of FedEx boxes, layering the contours in addition to one another and hand painting each shape.

Rikki Snyder

A large wooden chest makes a perfect ottoman with this reading nook.

Rikki Snyder

Nicholas painted the stairwell from the living room using a blue flower design.

Video: Create Your Own Mural Wall With Easy DIY Stencils and Stamps

Rikki Snyder

Another hand-painted treatment adorns the wall opposite the library sofa.

Rikki Snyder

The couple maintained the wood surround in the library. The mantel is home to family photos and other significant pieces.

Rikki Snyder

Added black and white pictures of the couple’s households are found throughout the dining room as great reminders of their farming background.

Rikki Snyder

One of Nicholas’ free-form murals adorns the dining room walls. Its chickens, birds, flowers, leaves, guinea hens and peacocks provide a tribute to the animal-friendly home. Beneath the chair rail, a plaid pattern designed with painter’s tape contrasts the playful forms over.

“Most of this year, the dining room serves as a shipping and storeroom for our different companies, but after per year at Thanksgiving it functions as a great basis for a family party,” Nicholas says.

Rikki Snyder

“I really like my set of 1920s Jacobean revival dining room furniture that came out of my great-aunt Jennie in New Jersey. It was a nasty oak-color wood when I moved it here, but I cleaned it with a thin layer of black acrylic paint,” Nicholas says. “It isn’t exactly current trend, but neither are we all. It’s chunky and sturdy and matches our home’s decoration “

Rikki Snyder

A long hallway between the living room and the kitchen carries a plush window chair sandwiched between two built-in bookshelves. It is the perfect place for resting and reading without being too excluded from the remainder of the home.

A white and blue patterned blanket and a few of Nicholas’ hand-crafted cushions decorate the cushioned chair. Her original artwork hangs beneath the wall lamps.

Rikki Snyder

A massive stool sits in a closet across the hall, decorated with a collection of framed drawings and photos.

Rikki Snyder

This Hoosier cupboard from Nicholas’ German immigrant grandmother, Frieda, was made by G.I. Sellers in Indiana in the early 1920s. Nicholas painted it bright orange and hung a bit of antique folk embroidery instead of a busted rolltop cover.

“It was in her kitchen her entire adult life and contains a flour bin with a sifter,” Nicholas says. “I keep all of my baking supplies in it and love that link with my grandma.”

Rikki Snyder

The couple gutted three chambers on the floor and transformed them into one large kitchen. The kitchen was in the cellar.

A classic wooden dining table matches the first rustic wood flooring, where Phoebe the puppy makes herself comfy. A black iron electrified oil lamp sourced in the antiques store hangs over the dining table. The corner cupboard houses Nicholas’ hand-painted ceramics.

Rikki Snyder

The kitchen is intended to mimic a British-style country kitchen, with local Ashfield schist stone countertops and milk-painted cabinetry. A slotted drainboard is carved into the rock.

A maple counter produced by one of Nicholas’ friends tops the island. “The lights are old,” she says. “On the island turned into a wacky iron lamp having an opalescent glass shade that I carried home from England soon after we purchased our house. The walls are full of pottery — some old, some new, some I made myself. It’s the nerve center of the house. I cook a lot and develop recipes to our sheep-farm site. Our kitchen works really well as a room for our loved ones and farm.”

Cabinetry: Crown Point; Granite: Galaxy stone, Ashfield

Rikki Snyder

Nicholas made the lampshades and foundations as well as a number of the pottery in the house. “I’ve painted lots of the lampshades in the house and had the lamp foundations constructed out of antique lamp parts I collected from flea markets through the years. I really like the way the light shines through the shades — they look a whole lot like stained glass,” she says.

Rikki Snyder

Two years ago the couple built an upstairs addition, which now functions as an informal dining room and seating space. The high ceilings and painted wood walls result in a bright, airy and inviting space.

Paper lanterns hang out of a wood beam in front of a gallery wall full of original artwork by Nicholas and daughter Julia. A selection of painted chairs is gathered round the dining table.

Rikki Snyder

A colorful seating area with wicker furniture sits across from the dining room, adding to the indoor-porch texture of the space. Plenty of windows make the room seem even bigger than it is.

More of Nicholas’ handmade lamps and colorful pillows keeps the upstairs space inviting and bright. The family loves this addition to their home and spends a whole lot of time relaxing .

Rikki Snyder

One of those household kittens, Delilah, plays the linen on one of Nicholas’ chairs.

Rikki Snyder

Nicholas works and teaches knitting and stitching in her downstairs studio. White walls make way for the colorful tiled flooring and chairs.

Rikki Snyder

A pink-orange wall is an appropriate background for one more bit of Nicholas’ art. First wooden beams equilibrium the saturated colour.

Rikki Snyder

This upstairs bathroom is one of two baths the couple renovated when they transferred in. A claw-foot bathtub sits on a wooden platform surrounded by beadboard, bright yellow walls and individual decorative tiles.

Rikki Snyder

Nicholas and Duprey understood this house was the one for them when they found it. “Mark called me at work and I insisted on seeing the place initially, so we drove up to the house the following day, and before I got out of the truck,” I said,’OK, we can purchase it. ”’

On the outside, the couple replaced the dilapidated cedar roof, an obsolete 1970s gambrel dormer accession, and added a mudroom.

“Our place is steeped in history, but sadly there isn’t much known about our house,” says Nicholas. “All our deeds state the year built as 1751. It was no doubt built as a farmhouse by a few of the founders of the small town. Supposedly the stagecoach used to maneuver our house!”

Rikki Snyder

Rikki Snyder

A grape arbor provides fruit and organic shade within the stone terrace in back. The stone walkway wraps around to the front of the house, passing by a second, smaller terrace area.

Rikki Snyder

The couple added this part of this house a couple of years back.

Rikki Snyder

The garden is home to a large garden and a fenced-in place for your sheep.

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12 Tips for Happily Combining Households

If you are planning to merge two households, you might want to tackle everything from duplicate items and treasured family heirlooms to furnishings of questionable taste (and tons of clutter). Moving in together, while exciting, can also possibly be the cause of some heated arguments and hurt feelings if preferences and housekeeping styles struggle. Be proactive and pave the way for a smooth transition with these helpful suggestions.

Madison Modern Home

1. Dedicate to open and clear communication. Be respectful of each other and acknowledge directly from the beginning that sharing distance (and making decisions about what stays and what moves) can be an emotional procedure. Whenever you have something to say that could be perceived as criticism, try framing it in a positive statement. For example, “I really do love how comfortable that seat is, but it’s been through a lot. I bet we could prolong its own life — and make it go better with all the rest of our things — if we had it re-covered. What do you think?”

Michael Kelley Photography

2. Take ample photos and measurements of your location. Even if it means creating an extra appointment to return, take action! Having the measurements and graphics to refer to while you are planning will be invaluable and save lots of headaches (and arguments) on going day, assisting you to avoid situations such as the couch failing to fit through a door.

Julie Holloway

3. Just take the easy road. Pick and choose favorites from every individual’s belongings first, setting aside what you both love or want. It feels good to start off on a pleasant note. And when you come to a point of contention (“How could you possibly like that seat?”) Simply agree to disagree (for the time being) and revisit the matter at a later date.

Annie McElwain Photography

4. Get rid of duplicates. Size up every last item and decide on the best illustration: the sharpest, highest-quality knives, the very best mixer etc.. It can be tempting to keep multiples simply since they are high quality, however bear in mind the quantity of cupboard and closet space on your abode before burdening yourselves with surplus material. Decide on a date to give away or sell the duplicates you will not be maintaining, and adhere with it.

Adrienne Chinn Design

5. Restrain yourself from criticizing family heirlooms. A great deal of emotion could be attached to pieces that have been handed down in a family. Not to mention they are normally high quality and worth maintaining. If a piece of furniture is not your style or feels a little fusty and outdated, try mixing it up with fresh cushions or drawer pulls.

Ryland Peters & Small | CICO Books

6. Handle gaps gently. Does your spouse love something you can’t stand? Trying to force him or her to eliminate something near and dear will be likely to backfire, resulting in resentment and hurt feelings. Start the conversation by empathizing with your spouse about the love to the piece in question, and then state your case in a straightforward, nonjudgmental manner. Before committing in (or inducing a significant row) see if he or she would not mind having the piece repainted, refinished or re-covered with fresh material to upgrade it and help it fit in better with your other decor. Or suggest placing the item in question in a room that’s more out of the way. Remind your partner that you are also inclined to undermine something important to you.

Emily McCall

7. Take some time prior to the move to plan room strategies. This doesn’t need to get complicated. Just talk through every room in the new location and talk where you will put what. It might be beneficial to make some rough sketches or take notes in order to remember what you decide on. Refer to the photos and measurements you took throughout your home tour or open house.

California Closets Twin Cities

8. Edit your closets beforehand. Be honest with each other about how much square footage you are used to having to your accessories and clothes. If there are too many clothes to match everything in the bedroom cupboard simultaneously, try sorting your clothes and accessories based on the seasons and store out-of-season stuff in a less accessible place. You might also go bulky, heavy items such as coats and shoes into a secondary cupboard beyond the bedroom. If you do not have an obvious spot for extra clothing storage, then try installing large shelves over doors or keep slim boxes under the bed.

Niche Interiors

9. Discuss working customs and prerequisites for a home office. Can you or your spouse work best in peace, or would you welcome a small firm? Avoid potential conflicts by addressing this issue now, particularly if one or both of you operate at home.

Adrienne Chinn Design

10. Rotate little decorative pieces for fairness and keep things fresh. Like rotating clothes on a seasonal basis, think about swapping out decor every few months, including pieces from every one of your collections. Keep what is not now being used in storage bins with lids, tucked in an out-of-the-way cupboard or in the basement.

11. Keep an open mind. Sometimes context makes all the difference. That fuzzy signal that seems tacky on your partner’s present apartment could read as cool and ironic on your new home together, when paired with a subtle color palette along with the glossy, midcentury finds you want to search for together on weekends. If your significant other is dead set on keeping something that is not your style, agree to try it in the new location — with the knowledge that you do have veto power if it doesn’t workout. Of course, you’ll need to be inclined to do the exact same to your spouse.

VisuaLingual

12. Mix it up with an art wall that’s a joint work. Split the ice in the new location by blending your posters, prints and other artwork in a collaborative gallery wall that mixes and matches both of your preferences.

Tell us Share your very best story about merging two sets of things into a single in the Comments section!

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An Animal Lover's Texas Sanctuary

This Texas sanctuary for rescued animals can also be Margaret Hoffman’s countryside harbor. Eighteen Oaks Sanctuary — named for the 18 trees scattered throughout the 28-acre house — is made up of a kennel and an attached home, both built to blend into the magnificent landscape. “I wanted it to fit into the environment and also have little environmental impact on the land about it,” says Hoffman.

Nick Mehl Architects worked with her to design an eco- and – animal-friendly home with a stunning perspective. A screened-in porch, a stunning collection of art and a modern aesthetic blend beautifully in this trendy, tranquil residence.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Margaret Hoffman, her 3 dogs and a variety of foster animals, including 4 horses
Location: Jonah, Texas (just north of Austin)
Size: 1,500 square feet (main house), 1,300 square feet (screened-in pool), 800 square feet (kennel); 1 bedroom, 2 bathrooms

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

Not many homeowners can put valuable art in their own pool area and not be concerned about theft — but that is one of the numerous benefits of having a screened-in pool. “I love that the swimming pool stays cleaner longer without leaves falling into it without a pesky Texas bugs,” says Hoffman. “Also, I do not need to be cautious about applying sunscreen”

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

The pool is purified by ionized oxygen no salt or chlorine. The air is not damaging to the skin or the environment; it is like swimming in warm water.

Pool: Davinci Pools, designed by Frank Matusek; display: designed by Nick Mehl

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

Concrete floors with a transparent sealant add to the kitchen’s easy aesthetic. Horizontal windows up high near the 10-foot ceilings and low down bathe the room in natural light.

Bar stools: Collectic Home

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

The living room is architect Nick Mehl’s favorite area due to the stunning natural light emitting. Hoffman purchased the “Blue Skies” neon sign with an auction hosted by artist Willie Nelson. “My late husband, Jace, and that I chaired the yearly fundraising event for the Corpus Christi Art Museum,” she says. “The theme was Blue Skies and Dark Ties, and also we had the neon sign created for the event.” Hoffman and her husband made it a custom to travel west frequently, because they loved the open heavens. “That inspired us to paint the ceilings of the house sky blue, so it looked like that hint was meant for us. It’s been part of my homes ever since.”

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

Metal and Glass railings on the staircase add to the home’s contemporary feel.

Pendant mild: Artecnica Phrena, All Modern

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

A one-story home is a frequent alternative for homeowners over age 60, but a second-story view of her house was essential to Hoffmann. She intends to stay in her brand new sanctuary, so an elevator designed by Symmetry Elevators was a sensible design solution.

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

The master bedroom is an airy escape with a fantastic view. A white modern dog mattress from DogBar lies at the foot of Hoffman’s mattress. The watercolor above the mattress is by Pat Deadman, a Corpus Christi, Texas, artist.

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

The exterior includes a cement facade and bamboo paneling, plus solar panels on top of the enclosed pool. Rainwater barrels gather water to be used throughout the home.

The timber siding was created utilizing a rain-screen technique. “The timber siding is pulled off the house together with 1-by-2 furring strips so air can flow behind the siding,” Mehl explains. “This helps to dry the wood out once it gets wet and ventilates the space behind the siding to help insulate the building.”

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

The custom-built fitting shredder is equipped with six matching indoor-outdoor dog runs, a kitty playroom and a dog-accessible shower.

Mehl appreciated the broad expanse of land that his group had to work with because they had the liberty to put the structures — including the main house as well as the kennel — anywhere they pleased.

“I find the ease of this home to be calming,” Hoffman says. “The lines and features of the house are beautiful although not distracting, so it is a ideal place for enjoying the natural beauty of the environment.”

Kailey J. Flynn Photography

The air-conditioned kennel retains the critters cool in the Texas heat while Hoffman works to see them permanent homes. Concrete floors make for easy cleanup.

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7 Tips To Boost Your Home Faster into a Younger Buyer

Educating my customers about the audience they’ll be advertising to is among the most important items a home stager can do. When you set your house on the market to market, you should be aware that another owner will probably be younger than you are. That is why you need to stop thinking about what you want or want in a house and begin thinking about what your most likely buyer will need.

Found Design

1. Stick with warm, neutral walls. If your target demographic is “young professional” or “young household,” try having a warm grey as a neutral wall color. The gold or pinky-beige wall color you chose 10 years ago will seem outdated to this new group of buyers. On-trend neutrals like grays allow prospective homeowners to picture bringing in complementary colors and clean-lined furnishings to make it their own.

Carolina Design Associates

2. Put money into white cabinetry. Many home buyers younger than 40 prefer white or off-white kitchen cabinetry. They don’t want to see their momma’s dark kitchen chimney in their new house! Consider a kitchen facelift if you have dark kitchen cabinetry with crimson or red undertones. Benjamin Moore’s Advance is a fantastic paint to take into account. It is a hybrid of latex and oil, and it requires very little prep work.

Turan Designs, Inc..

3. Update your appliances. Many younger home buyers can’t fathom buying a house without stainless steel appliances. You’ll need to upgrade your almond ones with stainless replacements prior to putting it on the market.

Global Granite & Marble

Impala Black

4. Look for easy stone countertops. Granite and stone countertops are a must-have for most young house buyers — it will make the distinction between whether they choose your house or your neighbor’s house. But don’t make the mistake of installing active or taste-specific granite that may not appeal to everybody. If you’re planning to maintain your house for quite a while, go for it — but not if you plan to sell within the next few years.

Rather, choose a granite that is practically black or something with a minimum of colors and veining. Anything more might be a turnoff to all those picky younger buyers.

Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer

5. Open your shower space. Young professionals enjoy big, open glass showers. The garden-variety bathtub isn’t where it’s at no cost.

Matarozzi Pelsinger Builders

6. Keep it easy for families with kids. People with young children are less likely to need a fixer-upper. If your target demographic is “young family with little kids,” it’s important your property be prepared for them to move right in. Be certain the house has no unfinished jobs or red flags for families.

7. Consider selling your house as a fixer-upper. If your area is becoming a mecca for young professionals, then there may be some appeal to the fixer-upper if the price is correct. These younger adults without children could have the time, energy and creativity for making over an older home. Even so, the price is going to have to be lower than if it had been picture perfect.

Inform us What have you learned about demographics out of your house selling and staging experiences?

Next: The Difference Between Staging and Decorating

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Top 10 Solutions for Architectural Peeves

I admit there are lots of times that I cringe when visiting a newly constructed or renovated house. I know it’s because I’m an architect, and we architects could be so very fussy. But actually, with just a small bit of thought we could all make our homes so much better. It’s just a matter of thinking through a few of the detail issues.

So here are a few solutions to poorly executed ubiquitous details that irritate the hell out of me (and lots of architects and artists). These options are often easily implemented, and by doing this, it is possible to easily change a home out of cookie cutter to special.

Stephen Fuller Designs

1. Two-dimensional and badly sized shutters. So often the shutters are screwed into the walls so they lay flat. And it is clear that the shutters won’t come near covering the entire window.

Solution (shown): Install the dividers with a few authentic hardware in order that they lie “proud” (in front of) the window along with the wall. And dimension them so they look as if they would actually cover the window once closed.

Tim Cuppett Architects

2. Skinny trim. Please do not settle for 3-inch baseboards and two1/4-inch casings. Trim has a lot to offer and will really make a room special.

Solution (shown): Think about various profiles and proceed for the larger sizes. Doing this will add a richness to your own rooms which you didn’t think was possible.

Motionspace Architecture + Design

3. Dark hallways. Why is it the space you traveling in a lot of is often gloomy and dark? And what’s with linen closets at the end of hallways? (More on this in number seven.)

Solution (shown): Get some light into the hallway with glass doors to the bedrooms. And if you have privacy issues, just use a translucent instead of transparent glass.

Mark pinkerton – vi360 photography

Or add a skylight or two.

Schnarr Craftsmen Inc

And when a big rectangular skylight is not possible, try out a tubular skylight. This is often an inexpensive way to dramatically boost the quantity of natural lighting a dark hallway receives.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

4. The 80-inch-tall door. As much as there is a rationale supporting the 80-inch-tall door, it makes very little sense in a room having an 8-foot ceiling, and even less feeling in a room with a ceiling that is taller. It’s just that the proportions are wrong, and there’s simply too much wall space above the door.

Solution (shown): when you intend to use an 80-inch tall door, consider the space above the door as a chance for, say, a transom such as this allows light and air to filter between chambers.

Hull Ancient

Or think about using that wall space.

Crisp Architects

Even better, for a very open, bright and tasteful room, choose the windows nearer to the ceiling, as in this area.

ASID, Christopher A Rose AIA

5. The Palladian window. Surely, Palladio could weep when he saw just how ubiquitous and badly scaled his namesake window is now. It’s not that these are not terrific windows, it is just that they’ve turned into a cliché.

Solution (shown): Look at utilizing a Palladian window in circumstance. Properly detailed and scaled, this window can be quite elegant and right, as in this example.

Bud Dietrich

6. Window that is removable grilles. I get it. I do. Every time I wash the windows I mutter to myself “Just snap out the window grilles, wash the window and snap the grilles back in.” But heck, windows with detachable grilles seem so flat, therefore two-dimensional, not authentic in any way.

Solution (shown): Though windows with genuine divided lites (ADLs) and insulating glass may be prohibitively expensive, windows which use simulated divided lights (SDLs), like in this example, have exactly the same look in a portion of the price tag. Really, there’s no reason to not possess an authentic-looking, if not precisely authentically built window.

Vanguard Studio Inc..

7. Linen cupboard focal points. Yes, near the bedrooms we need a place for towels and sheets and blankets and all of the stuff. But why should the linen cupboard be in the end of the hallway and visible from the primary living area of the home?

Solution (shown): Definitely a little market displaying something artful and beautiful will give more joy to your life than any linen cupboard ever will.

Koch Architects, Inc.. Joanne Koch

8. Underused hallways. Definitely a hall may be utilized as more than just a room to stroll through.

Solution (shown): The easy addition of a built-in shelving will transform a hall from a passageway to a destination in its own right.

HP Rovinelli Architects

9. Cookie-cutter garage doors. Why is it that regardless of the style of home, the garage door invariably is your double-wide, raised-panel?

Solution (shown): With all these options to choose from, garage doors which match with the home’s architecture, as in this example, are definitely possible.

Allen Patterson Residential

10. Weak eaves. where the roof and outdoor wall satisfy should show craft and detail. It’s, after all, in which the two major outside structural elements intersect.

Solution (shown): instead of using a standard 8-inch soffit with a perforated vinyl skin along with also a K-style gutter, look for ways to extend the roofline and introduce rafter tails, as in this example.

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Patios Look on the (Truly) Bright Side With Neon

One thing is for sure that summer: Color is in. Neons that make eye-catching statements are all over your home and the runway. It’s easy to feel reluctant about upgrading your terrace with current trends — especially if you use the area for only three months out of the year. However, the following cost-savvy ideas will offer a trendy spark without breaking the bank or needing a large-scale makeover.

Bring the sun, and draw on the style.

Liz Stewart

Vibrant colors give a room instant energy. Throw pillows provide one of the simplest ways to incorporate new colour or design trends. Check out stores like Target or T.J.Maxx for cheap locates, or perhaps peruse a local thrift store to get one-of-a-kind accents. Make sure you purchase pillows upholstered in outside fabric.

Liquidscapes

Add splashes of colour and sun shade with cabanas or cubes. Not only can they add into your brand new patio shade palette, but they will offer much-needed and appreciated shade on extra-sunny days.

S / Wiley Interior Photography

In the conclusion of the afternoon, there’s no beating a can of paint to get quick, easy and affordable updates. This everyday picnic table feels fresh and exciting in a coat of blue green. Accessorize your new furniture with colours to really assist the neon pop.

Dear Daisy Cottage

Among the greatest areas of repainting furniture in bold colours — especially antique pieces — would be your unexpectedness. You’ll instantly make an uberchic furnishing that you won’t find on anyone else’s back patio.

S / Wiley Interior Photography

When putting together your palette, think about everything that’s in sight as you’re sitting on your terrace — for instance, the doorway. Doors are exceptional places to add a popular splash of colour, and they’re able to completely alter the look and texture of its environment. Accessorize nearby furnishings throw pillows in similar colours to tie the room together.

SquallCo Development

The simple addition of blue lime creates a beautiful but subtle accent to this terrace.

Agnes Blum

Use the accent chair in a fantastic manner. Scan local flea markets for classic metal chairs in hot colours or paint them yourself. The mix of retro style with an updated shade creates the ultimate eclectic vibe.

Pomegranate Workshop

A simple collection of brightly colored canvas butterfly chairs helps this terrace feel much more current with no major decor update.

Anthony Baratta LLC

If your budget includes reupholstering furniture, then concentrate on a single colour but vary the shades. Notice how a number of the pieces in this photograph are a lighter blue and others are somewhat darker. The gap creates visual depth and interest.

Alex Amend Photography

Another tip is to highlight neon shades with animal prints. Interestingly, animal prints act as a neutral, so that they help to make an equilibrium when mixed with bold, vivid colours.

COCOCOZY

Because neon colors can be very domineering, put them into your decor in a balanced manner. Notice how this designer employed lime green onto the couch in the space and again on the chairs round the table. Vibrant blue can be viewed on the remote coffee table and again on the pillows on the white couch. Don’t concentrate a bright colour in only one area; instead, pepper the area evenly.

More:
The way to Use Bright Yellow

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Ecofriendly 'Glamping' Dome in Scotland

This vacation house, a cocoon nestled in a birch forest on the edge of a small cliff in Scotland, is visible only from the sea. Outside its own dome membrane are scenic views of the Sound of Lorne and Castle Stalker, made famous by Monty Python and the Holy Grail — views best appreciated from the outdoor spa. Indoors, “you feel as though you’re really part of the environment rather than imposing on your environment,” says homeowner Jim Milligan. “It’s like the dome has been there forever, just like the trees.”

The homeowners open their dome to vacationers who need a taste of their “glamping” (glam camping) encounter too.

at a Glance
A vacation home for: Jim Milligan and Nicola Meekin
Location: Oban, Scotland
Size: 807 square feet
That is intriguing: The dome overlooks the famous Castle Stalker, more commonly known as “Castle Aaargh” at Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Go Glamping

The structure is held together with steel struts along with one membrane of recycled PVC which has an average life span of 25 years.

Go Glamping

Ceiling fans and windows make sure that the dome is cool at all times, particularly easy in these pieces of temperate western Scotland. Most of the membrane’s parts have a clear finish and are UV resistant.

Go Glamping

The freestanding kitchen is anchored by modular pieces: a low-energy pyrolitic oven that is flush on the laminate surface, a chopping board and a sink. There is even room for a small oven, a dish rack and cabinets. Every week, groceries are delivered to the site.

Go Glamping

The homeowners are creative with kitchen storage A overhead pan rack gets rid of the need for below-counter cabinet space, along with a small mobile island can be wheeled around to match their needs. A pair of pendant lights adds interest and task light into this modular kitchen in case the natural light coming in from the transparent areas of the dome fixtures and windows is not enough.

Go Glamping

The homeowners love classic midcentury modern layout — buying high quality iconic pieces is their way of remaining green. “We buy decor that will last a lifetime. We hunted a number of the best furniture made this century, and they sit in the pods, with guests appreciating their quality as well as beauty,” says Milligan.

Go Glamping

This window looks directly out to islands in the southwest, which means that you may watch bad weather approaching 20 minutes before it really hits the region. “Among the things which make the pods unique is the idea of being protected regardless of what the weather. You only get a sense of calm inside the dome even if it’s storming out,” says Milligan.

Go Glamping

Milligan and Meekin sometimes prefer to lounge at the cedar soaking bathtub, watching the eagles fish or the geese migrate south.

Connected: Wipe Up Nature With Outdoor Baths

Go Glamping

Each of the curved cedar sheets utilized across the dome were sourced from the local woods, which are part of the Forest Stewardship Council. Spring water is warmed by an exterior water boiler, as well as the water is sourced from a spring.

The separate shower stall, terry-cloth bathrobes and fresh towels increase the glam factor and assure that no one remaining there actually must “rough it.”

Connected: Guest Groups: Glam Your Camping

Go Glamping

The homeowners are aware that the dome is a temporary structure, and it has been their assignment to float lightly on the ground they inhabit and also to honor the dome’s natural environment. “We want to prove to ourselves that people can leave the site using minimal footprint,” says Milligan.

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Decorate With Intention: To Buy or Not to Buy

The much-quoted English textile designer William Morris stated,”Have nothing in your homes which you do not understand to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” A worthy goal, to be sure, but a bit tricky to put to training.

Like magpies flocking to shiny bits and bobbles, we’re attracted to the newest gadgets and designer decoration. If you love to shop but don’t love the clutter that comes with too many not-right purchases, it’s time to take a step back and get a fresh view on what you buy and why. Join us as we delve in to 10 important questions which will help ascertain whether that new furniture or decoration item should earn a place in your house.

Lumens

Banana Bowl – $140

1. Might it be useful? While not every thing within our houses have to be strictly pragmatic, it is much easier to justify a buy if the object of your desire also serves a purpose beyond looking cool.

1a. OK, so it’s helpful — but do you need it? This is the part where it could be tempting to tell yourself a little white lie. Sure, those gold bananas are helpful — they could hold fruit! But if you already have a dozen fruit bowls at home, is a gold banana bowl really going to be helpful to you?

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc..

2. Is it your weakness? We all have our loves and obsessions. For me personally, it is books. I can not walk past a bookstore without going in, and I can not appear to render one without buying something. But simply being mindful of exactly what your weakness is will help fortify your resolve when you need to. By way of instance, over time I’ve come to understand that nonfiction books are the ones I like to stay permanently, so I try to check out current fiction from the library instead.

Etsy

Antique Drawing Drafting Table from Karen C. Kramer – $950

3. Do you love it? We all know the feeling — you have a look at something, whether it is an amazing classic, a painting or a classic trinket, and just gasp. Your heart beats faster. Your senses are thrilled. Your fingers are itching to pull your wallet out and bring it home… but hold on just a second, we are not done yet! Read on to ensure that your find passes the exam.

Huntley & Co.. Interior Design

4. Is it your own style? It’s likely (quite common, really ) to fall head over heels to get something which isn’t your style. Think about an art gallery. You may be entirely in awe of a specific artist’s work but would never need one of their pieces in your house. Well, guess what? The identical thing can occur when you are out shopping. Even if you love something, if you understand deep down it’s just not”you,” it is best to appreciate it from afar and leave it at that. Bringing house something which falls into this class is where many people go awry in decorating.

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

5. Does it work with other colors in your property? When you’re in the process of decorating a space, it is a superb idea to take a small envelope or folder with fabric and paint swatches when you go out shopping. Being in a position to hold up a swatch of your wall color or the fabric on your couch is invaluable once you are searching for coordinating pieces.

Do not have swatches? In the minimum, have a few pictures of the space in great lighting and bring those with you on shopping trips. It will avoid many headaches down the road when a color or print clashes and you need to make returns or consume the price tag.

Jute Interior Design

6. Could it be in the budget? This is a slick question, because decorating budgets may often be wiggled a little. Even if the top limit of that which you are able to spend on a space must remain business, falling in love with the perfect bit (that costs more than you were likely to invest ) might mean cutting corners elsewhere.

If you just can not afford it, keep the info in a file for future reference, and let it go for today. It’s not worth going into debt more than decorating a home.

pyd

Mystic Collection Turquoise Rug

7. Would you return it if you change your thoughts? Yield policies are always a good idea to check, but it is especially important to be diligent about this when you will need to try out a bit in your house prior to knowing for sure if it will work.

7a. You know yourself . Can you actually return it if it does not work? For those who, like me, often slack on making returns, don’t make the buy unless you are 150 percent sure you want to keep it.

Old Faithful Shop

Apple Bottle Opener – $26

8. Is it an impulse buy? Some impulse buys are fortuitous finds. If it’s something you love that you have been looking for, or you understand just what you want to do with it, then do it. But be honest with yourself. It’s easy to get trapped in the delight of purchasing, scooping things up simply because they’re there.

Retailers place small items in crucial areas close to the checkout area because they understand shoppers are easily enticed to throw”just one more” thing into their baskets. Resist. If you are still thinking about the thing tomorrow, go right ahead and buy it but the majority of the timeyou will find that the charm fades as soon as you leave the shop.

Greenhouse Design Studio

Classic Icebox – $999

9. Have you any idea where it will go? If it’s a massive piece of furniture, check the dimensions to be sure it will fit in which it needs to go — such as through narrow doorways and stairwells.

This principle does not merely apply to bulky furniture. If you understand exactly where every item you buy will”reside,” you’ll be keeping clutter at bay. It’s the objects that float around our houses without a permanent location that make a space feel messy.

Kelly Donovan

Karl Malmvall Stepladder – $295

10. Could it be the best example of its type? Just because an object is useful doesn’t mean it can not also be visually pleasing. If you’d like your house to be beautiful inside and outside, consider aesthetics into account even for the more mundane buys like step stools and cleaning brushes.

More:
Clutter-Clearing 101

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Guest Groups: Get Your Game On!

The holidays may be over, but it doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Help beat those winter blues by hosting a Game Night. We’ve put together a fantastic group of entertaining and games essentials to kick off the new season with a little friendly rivalry. — Heather and Vanessa from At the Picket Fence

Restoration Hardware

Town Hall Bingo – $129

Bingo isn’t just for those of us who are a little longer in the tooth. Enjoy the timeless game in style with this portable collection, complete with a metal cage prepared for a quick twist to pop out the winning number. There is nothing quite like the feeling when you shout out that magical word:”Bingo!”

Z Gallerie

Bullseye Party Picks – $9.95

Your taste buds would be the target with those brilliant Bullseye Party Picks. We would utilize them for our drinks, and we find them to be the ideal way to skewer some cheese and deli meat to get an appetizer using a fun twist.

Dart Boards

Arachnid Cricket Pro 800 Electronic Dart Board with Heckler Feature and Cabinet – $469.98

We might just wait to serve our cocktails before after a rousing game of darts. But we are pretty sure that using this electronic dartboard mounted at a stunning cherry cupboard, we will have no trouble hitting our mark.

Barnes & Noble

Gourmet Game Night by Cynthia Nims – $14.98

Everyone’s a winner when you start off your Game Night with great food. We love that this cookbook is full of recipes for delectable finger foods which will keep those hands free for dealing cards or rolling dice.

Crate&Barrel

Cuisinart Electric Fondue Set – $69.95

Do you fondue? We do! We love the idea of inviting your visitors to get to know each other better within this timeless fondue pot. And we are pretty sure just about anything tastes good coated in chocolate.

Pottery Barn

Chancellor Large Condiment Tray – $49

You’ll need a location for those Game Night munchies. Why don’t you serve them in this simple and elegant silver tray? The clean lines and subtle styling will emphasize your snacks without distracting guests from the goal at hand: winning.

Goal

Cosco Folding Table, Mahogany Finish – $74.99

Folding tables don’t need to seem, well, like folding tables. This is a gorgeous way to generate space for more guests without compromising on style.

Z Gallerie

Lexington Mirrored Butler Tray – $259.95

This portable bar with a detachable mirrored tray is the best way to keep your food and drinks near the action. With places for storing your glasses and bottles, we adore knowing our guests will not need to go far to get a little break.

Brookstone

Night Hawk 55″ Round Poker Table – $849.99

For the poker player, this stunning dining table has space for 8 and comes complete with cup holders and a claw-foot base base. We don’t believe our husbands would mind if we occasionally threw a tablecloth on it with some flowers in the middle, do you?

Brookstone

Leather Professional Poker Sets – $105

Proceed over Ocean’s 11. We believe this velvet-lined and leather-bound poker collection would have us feeling like we had been holding our own one of the professionals.

Ballard Designs

Place of 12 Numbered Barware Glasses – $69

We would like our Game Night guests to remain focused, therefore these numbered eyeglasses are the ideal way for them to keep an eye on the drinks and keep their minds in the game.

Ballard Designs

Place of 100 Personalized Shatterproof Cups – $120

But for those who may get a little rowdy through your Game Night, these monogrammed, shatterproof cups are just the thing. In addition to customized napkins and coasters, you won’t need to worry about cleaning up after a sore loser.

Fitz and Floyd

Game Night Coasters And Holder – $28

Protect your surfaces at authentic Game Night type with those high-rollin’ coasters. We believe even Frank, Dean and Sammy Davis Jr. would approve of these.

Cost Plus World Market

Gray/Yellow Herringbone Floor Cushion – $34.99

When you’re prepared for those games which need a bit more elbow space, these floor cushions will provide a cushy spot for your visitors to sit.

Goal

Poker & Blackjack Table Top with Case – $49.99

Everyone will be”all in” with this Poker & Blackjack Table Top. And you’ll be happy to”fold” this up and store it until the following Game Night.

Z Gallerie

Round Dice Set of 6 – $23.70

Add some interest to a celebration by rolling these around dice. Worried about the friend who would fudge their numbers? Well don’t be! These come complete with a mini-weight that ensures you’ll know the specific number of dots.

Restoration Hardware

Vintage Edition Monopoly – $149

How about some fun for those of us who can not appear to keep a poker face? This beautiful Monopoly collection has a decidedly vintage sense, and we love being able to escape to a world where real estate continues to be a hot commodity.

Walmart

Circus Vintage Cart Movie Popcorn Maker – $159

Keep the fun and the food going all night with this traditional electrical popcorn cart. It’s ideal for Game Night or Movie Night, and friends and family will always want to come hang out at your house. That is a good thing, we guarantee!

Cost Plus World Market

Popcorn Bowls – $9.99

You have to have someplace for that popcorn to go before it hits your mouth. This fun metal set includes a large serving bowl and 4 smaller dishes ideal for individual parts.

Oriental Trading Co..

Mini Striped Popcorn Boxes, Set of 24 – $4

At the end of the nighttime, send your visitors on their way with some popcorn from those darling red and white striped boxes. Everyone will feel like a winner.

Next: Prepare the House for Snow-Day Activities

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Guest Picks: Great Gifts for Kids Who Cook

Part of the enjoyment of being in the kitchen is getting to play with around with food. My kids have difficulty waiting till they are older to be a part of the fun — they love pretending to cook, as well as actually assisting with food prep. This set of gifts was created with something in your mind for kids of all skill levels in kitchen. I know kids like these toys, but I buy them for myself as I do for them. I enjoy play cooking much more than real cooking because there’ll never be some dishes to wash!

— Mariko from The Tiny Foodie

Little Partners

Little Partners Learning Tower – $199.99

As opposed to dragging your chairs throughout the kitchen so that your kid can stand at the counter with you, try out this learning tower. It’s sturdy and adjustable based on height, and it’s safe rails on either side. I love it.

Melissa & Doug

Sushi Slicing Play Set – $19.99

That is my daughter’s favourite toy food ever. When we play with this, it’s like we are in a real restaurant. You can even slice aside the sushi rolls and practice your chopstick skills.

Play Kitchens

KidKraft Primary Colors Baking Set – $44.99

My cooking tools are really only toys in disguise, and I feel the standing mixer is in the center of each (toy) kitchen.

Etsy

Lil Chef Dress Up Costume by My Heart – $35

This sweet chef ensemble is all about playing with the big kids. I believe that you may have a great sous chef in the making.

Play Kitchens

KidKraft White Vintage Kitchen – $199.99

This play kitchen may be better stocked than my actual kitchen. It has the gas-style stove. Sigh, I wish I had one myself.

BabyAge

Little Tikes Backyard Barbeque™ Get Out ‘N Grill – $40.48

If you do not have room in the home for a play kitchen, why not an outdoor backyard barbecue? Pretty please, Mom? You simply can’t say no to this.

BJ’s Wholesale Club

Little Tikes Makin’ Mud Pies Outdoor Kitchen Set – $39.99

Actual water, actual dirt and real mud. What kid could resist this outdoor drama set, which can be practically real-live cooking?
OK, so perhaps you’ll have to scrub a little after this meal.

Pottery Barn Kids

Porcelain Tea Set – $59

Foodies are usually entertainers in your mind. Kids love to have friends over for parties, just like adults.

Pottery Barn Kids

Cupcake Set – $24

This is the cutest felt food ever. I want to be served this at our next tea party.

Sears

Casdon Toy Delonghi Microwave – $27.99

I have done a double take when I saw this microwave, and I’m sure most kids would think that this was the real deal. It comes complete with play food, and the microwave sizzles and beeps too.

Hasbro

Easy-Bake Oven and Snack Center – $29.99

I’m not sure what the allure of the Easy Bake Oven is, but my 8-year-old self couldn’t envision the more perfect toy. It’s redundant for certain, however, it was still special because it was particularly for me.

Amazon

Handstand Kids Eat Your Fruits & Veggies Oven Mitt – $8

Adult-size oven mitts can be cumbersome for smaller hands and actually make spills or burns more risky. Get the right size mitt for those small ones if you are going to let them cook.

Amazon

Sassafras Little Cook Kid’s Kitchen Tool Kit – $20

This cooking collection is serious business. Meaning, small hands really can use these tools in the kitchen. I enjoy using measuring cups and spoons to teach my daughter about numbers.

Williams-Sonoma

Star Wars™ Heroes & Villains Cookie Cutters – $19.95

I’ve been ogling them for a while now, just waiting for an opportunity to introduce my kids to the magical universe of Star Wars. Additionally, sugar cookies are necessary around Christmas, right?

Kuhn Rikon

Decorating Bottles – $5

My daughter always wants to help decorate cupcakes, however, the pastry bag and tip are tough to control for small hands. Kuhn Rikon’s decorating bottles make that a non-issue, and also you are able to alter the tips as possible please.

Williams-Sonoma

OXO Vegetable Chopper – $20

This may not be intended for kids, but I think that it’s ideal for assisting. Kids can do the chopping without you worrying about palms. This is very good for onions, garlic, nuts and herbs. The best part is that you put your kids to operate, and they think that it’s all part of the fun!

Barnes & Noble

DK Children’s Cookbook by Katharine Ibbs – $17.99

As a general rule, I prefer cookbooks with pictures — lots of images. This cookbook has step-by-step images of basic recipes for kids, and it’s truly easy enough to follow for almost any kid (or kid at heart).

The Spoon Sisters

Nylon Cooking Knife Place for Kids – $9.95

Whenever you decide to let your child begin cutting some cucumber for your dinner salad, I feel these knives are ideal. Enormous, easy-to-grip handles and curved tips make this very affordable knife collection very appealing. I will probably wait a few years for my own daughter, but I’m storing it to a future want list.

For Smaller Hands

Private Pizza Pan Set – $16.95

Personal pizzas are most likely one of the greatest things about being a kid. Kids are experts at assembling their own, even at an early age.

For Smaller Hands

Mini-Spatula – $3.75

This mini-spatula is great for Saturday morning pancakes, which is probably your kid’s very favorite meal in which to participate. The silicone base implies you won’t have to worry about melting.

Amazon

Presto 11-Inch Electric Skillet – $22.22

This may not be made for kids, but if my kid does begin doing some actual sauteing (with supervision, of course), it’s going to be in an electric fry pan. It’s not a cooking vessel of choice for me personally, but it’s sturdy legs, therefore is less likely to tilt or scoot around off a stove top when she is stirring.

Next: A Kid-Friendly Christmas

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