Can-Do Design Ideas From 8 City Gardens
Urban gardens may have begun as a means to connect us to our rural roots, but we can now turn to those cities themselves for garden inspiration. Designers and gardeners are creating spaces that are doing more than simply replacing asphalt with plants — they’re bringing communities together, providing habitats for migrating birds, and housing […]
Two Dwellings Keep Things All in the Family
Two years after meeting as acquaintances in southeast Portland, Oregon, Sam and Stephanie Dyer jumped directly into their first job together: remodeling a 1911 bungalow. The house was in severe disrepair, with black mold, little pests, stained carpeting and lead paint. Mixing Stephanie’s interior design background with Sam’s knack for carpentry, the couple looked beyond […]
Curtail
A curtail is your first curved step of a staircase, and it extends into both sides of the stairs in the landing. It serves as the foundation of the newel post and complements the volute (the spiral detail in which the handrail or banister begins). Island Architects This is a classic curtail, located at the […]
Open a View For Your Yard's Wildlife
Wildlife can be an integral part of your everyday life at home when you let it. Feeders and natural habitats can invite birds and chipmunks, for example. And when they come, how can you find the best views of these up close? The crucial thing is to create safe habitats around your home as well […]
Surprising Design Uses for Window Film
One of the ways to add some privacy to your windows involves the installation of curtains and drapes. There’s no doubt that there are many benefits that come with them. However, sometimes the hassle can be too much. Besides, you don’t want to always keep your drapes closed. Sometimes you just want to open them […]
An Eclectic Sanctuary Reveals a Couple's True Colours
Poppy and Scotty Gibson love coming home for their bright and airy cabin. “Our house is a small sanctuary in the center of a bustling, activity-filled location. However, as soon as we close the front door, there’s this instant separation from all of the noise and energy of this street,” says Scotty, speaking to Smith […]
Get More Bang Out Of The Bookcase
For décor that pops, nothing surpasses built-in bookcases. As soon as they’re there, however, the work begins. Filling all those shelves can be an intimidating task. Below are a few tips for creating bookshelves which look streamlined and clean, enliven the décor and, most important, add a personal touch. Martha O’Hara Interiors When it comes […]
Front and Center Color: When to Paint Your Door Black
Black may make a front doorway elegant and dramatic. It works well with every other color, which makes it extremely versatile. In addition, it can throw a challenge your own way. If you do not have enough contrasting colors as a background, black may hide the entrance or make it seem overly dark — not […]
Put Your Furniture's Best Foot Forward
You’re probably familiar with ornately carved claw-foot furniture, but have you ever noticed any furniture with unique feet, paws or hooves? Made popular by designer John Dickinson back in the 1970s, these arresting dining table, bench and chair legs draw the eye to the ground, where a whimsical surprise awaits. Take a seat on this […]
Give License Plates the Green Light
License plates can get an afterlife as house decor when their official job as automobile identification has expired. Made from aluminum and sometimes galvanized steel, license plates create great art. Expired plates on sites like eBay and Etsy opt for $3 to $40, with plates from the 1930s and ’40s being more expensive. If you’re […]