Category Archives: Home Maintenance

First, the bad news. Hard water and soapy buildup allowed to accumulate on glass shower surfaces can cause etching and permanently damage the glass. If glass shower doors have a cloudy look, this may be the culprit. Cleaning will eliminate buildup, but it will not reverse etching, which is why the first and best defense is to prevent it from happening by wiping down the shower after each use with either a squeegee or a microfiber cloth.

Traditional Bathroom Traditional Bathroom

Robert Nebolon Architects

Squeegees and Microfiber Cloths

A squeegee is a windshield-wiper-like tool with a handle and a long, flat rubber blade used to clean or remove something (in this case water) from a surface.

Some squeegees have suction cups for attaching to walls for easy access and storage, while some come in colors or stainless steel for the style-conscious. Do they all work the same? In a nutshell, yes.

For many, including Debra Johnson, a home-cleaning expert for the housekeeping company Merry Maids, microfiber cloths are the weapon of choice against water spotting and buildup and are prized for their ability to get into hard-to-reach places, such as beneath door handles or in tight corners.

After each use, the experts advise, wring the cloths out tightly, and launder them at least once a week.

Gast Architects

Daily Shower Cleaners

Either way, once the shower has been wiped down, finish the job with a quick misting of daily cleaner such as Method Daily, Tilex Daily Shower Cleaner, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Tub and Tile or your own concoction (see below).

The best part about daily maintenance: You won’t need to deep-clean the shower as often and the glass will stay sparkly.

be_planen

Make Your Own Daily Shower Spray

Beverly Leestma, DIY expert and author ofThe Make Your Own Zone, offers these directions for a chemical-free shower spray that saves both money and the environment: Mix together a half-cup of hydrogen peroxide, a half-cup of rubbing alcohol (a natural degreaser), 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 1 tablespoon dishwasher rinse aid in a 32-ounce spray bottle. Next, fill the bottle with water and, after capping, rock the bottle gently back and forth to combine the ingredients without making them foam up. Store away from sunlight.

Denise Foley Design Inc

Deep Cleanings

Life happens, however, and when it does, things like daily maintenance can take a backseat. For glass shower enclosures, this means buildup, grime and the bath time blues. Sadly, it also means it will take more than a simple squeegee to get back to clean.

Peach Studio

Black General Contracting

For scrubbing scum (a four-letter word) and hard-water stains, many consumers swear by products such as the Magic Eraser sponge, while others suggest repurposing dryer sheets (simply wet and scrub). Since these products contain chemicals, consider wearing gloves to protect your skin.

Zakrzewski + Hyde Architects

Another technique is to repurpose the powdered version of Bar Keepers Friend in the bathroom. To use, wet the glass surface and shake the cleanser onto a nonabrasive sponge, then scrub. Rinse with warm water or vinegar, then squeegee for the finale.

Jan M. Dougherty, cleaning expert and author of The Lost Art of House Cleaning, recommends using Krud Kutter, a biodegradable, nontoxic cleaner-degreaser. Her advice: Mix one part Krud Kutter with five parts water in a spray bottle.

Tip: Be sure to put the water in the bottle first, then the product. Otherwise foaming bubbles could make work even more of a chore.

A Natural Alternative

A mixture of baking soda and water makes a scum-fighting scrub that many experts swear by. Measurements for the mixture will vary depending on how much you need. To get started, try using a half-cup of baking soda, then add water as needed to make a thick paste. Using a nonabrasive sponge, scrub the glass and rinse it with vinegar.

Pinnacle Mountain Homes

Long-Term Solutions

Once you’ve achieved a clean, sparkly surface, there are a few things you can do to make it last longer.

The big idea here is that hard water and soap scum won’t build up if they can’t stick to the surface. Think Teflon shower. Several products are designed to wick water away from surfaces, and although they weren’t created for bathroom use, the concept still applies. Rain-X and Water Armour, both found in the automotive department, are marketed for repelling water off windshields, but they can do the same for glass-walled showers.

How to do it: Spray the product on clean glass (being careful to avoid tile, metal and the shower floor) and reapply every three to four weeks). Some folks swear that after this treatment, they can skip the squeegee.

Rusk Renovations

Brian Patterson Designs, Inc.

Cleaning Those Pesky Metal Tracks

To clean the buildup and grime that accumulates in the hard-to-clean metal tracks that often frame sliding glass doors, Jill Schoff, author of Green Up Your Cleanup, has a solution. Literally.

In her book, Schoff recommends plugging any drainage holes or crevices in the track and filling it up with vinegar. Let the vinegar sit overnight and wipe clean in the morning. It gives new meaning to rise and shine!

Ban the Bar Soap

Finally, if you want to significantly reduce the amount of soap scum on glass without eliminating showers or using the facilities at the gym, cleaning experts and Houzzers alike offer this advice: Ban the bar soap.

Almost all bar soaps contain talc, which produces the buildup. Consider switching to a non-talc-containing soap (such as Dove or natural soap), or opt for liquid soap instead.

Of course, there’s no escaping water spots, so some regular maintenance will still be required. It just won’t be as much.

Originally published on HOUZZ by Bonnie McCarthy

10 Ways to Avoid Home Improvement Scams

“We’ve all heard that knock on the door in the early evening. And ‘Today Only’ they are offering a great deal for their Home Improvement services. Never buy under pressure! Read on for other potential scams to avoid.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – DC Metro Realty Team

A Southern California contractor recently pled guilty to victimizing almost 12 people with home improvement projects. The company used telemarketers to get jobs, then did poor work, overbilled and in some cases did no work at all. One homeowner gave a Baton Rouge, Louisiana man $3,000 to make home repairs. Then he quit showing up to do the work and couldn’t be reached by phone. In Scott County, Indiana, four men approached several homeowners saying they’d fix their driveways. The price was set, but when the fraudsters completed the work, they demanded more money.

(Credit: thieury/Shutterstock)

Although most contractors are ethical and above board, a significant minority just want your money. The illegitimate ones come to your home in person or call on the phone.

Warning Signs

Here’s a list of some of the scams they perpetuate.

1. They Offer Left-Over Product

Roving contractors may knock on your door and state a very low price for sealing your driveway because they have leftover sealant from a nearby job. What they use doesn’t seal at all and washes away with the first rain. An honest, reliable contractor will never come to your door offering you a discount for unused materials.

(Credit: Le Do/Shutterstock)

2. They Need a Substantial Down Payment

You hand over the money and the fraudulent workers flee with it. Reputable contractors may ask for a small amount of money upfront, but the large percentage of the payment usually comes upon completion of the work.

(Credit: Kotomiti Okuma/Shutterstock)

3. They Do Shoddy Work and Use Inferior Materials

Watch out for someone offering to paint your home. The scam artists won’t do hardly any prep work, sometimes water down the paint or put cheap paint in premium-brand cans. Workers who do quality work take more time preparing the home than actually painting it and also come to your house with properly-sealed paint cans.

(Credit: SJ Travel Photo and Video/Shutterstock)

4. They Say, “I’m Doing Some Work in Your Neighborhood”

Then these fly-by-nights tell you they noticed problems with your roof, chimney, windows, siding, etc. and they offer to fix it for you. Usually no repairs are needed. When you research a contractor, make sure he has the required permits to do the work so you won’t be held responsible if something goes wrong.

(Credit: Andy Dean Photography/Shutterstock)

5. They Propose a Special Deal for Today Only

You have to sign on right now or the offer goes away. Nobody should make sudden decisions about home repairs or remodeling projects. They should be thought out carefully. Legitimate contractors don’t have one-day-only sales.

(Credit: Paul Vasarhelyi/Shutterstock)

Avoid Being a Victim

To avoid being a victim of a fraudulent contractor, take the following steps to protect you and your bank account:

1. Hire professionals who are licensed, bonded and insured.

2. Search for contractors on websites like Pro.com to get quality work.

3. Check for complaints about who you plan to hire on the Better Business Bureau site.

4. Get recommendations from friends, family members and neighbors.

5. Obtain multiple estimates on any home repair needed.

6. Get references from the company’s last three jobs and call them.

7. Choose someone you’ve researched yourself, not anybody who calls or rings your doorbell.

8. Ask to see identification.

9. Pay by check or credit card and never in full upfront.

10. Get a written contract stating what will be done, the costs, a start and completion date and any warranty information.

By Pro.com

12 Dining Room/Library Combinations

“We’re not sure if ‘we’ would want all these books in our Dining Room, but it is an interesting concept. We do like the look and feel of the one with the antique green paint and exposed beams”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – DC Metro Realty Team

The dining room is a prime location for scholarly pursuits, as it often contains the largest table in a home. Dining tables are perfect for perusing oversized atlases and art books, and can easily host culinary and literary masterpieces alike. Here’s a collection of 11 bibliophile-worthy dining rooms that are (leather) bound to impress — along with one that lightheartedly nods to the reading life.

KATE JOHNS AIA

This farmhouse dining room in New York, designed by Kate Johns, includes bookshelves painted dark gray with an orange beadboard backing. The room has industrial lighting, a wood table with a steel base and molded plastic chairs.Chairs: Eames molded plastic; pendants: Eugene, Visual Comfort Lighting Store

Katie Lydon Interiors

This Katie Lydon-designed dining room in a Manhattan penthouse features a chandelier composed of martini glasses, framed art hanging from the bookshelf and a flourish of drizzled paint topping the dark hardwood floors.

McKinney York Architects

A wall of built-in bookshelves designed byMcKinney York Architects graces this contemporary dining room in Austin, Texas. A library ladder on wheels allows the homeowners to easily reach books on the top shelves. The room’s sculptural chandelier was created by local artists.Discover 10 great ways to use library ladders in your home

Platt Architecture, PA

Bookshelves painted antique green line two walls of this rustic dining room created by Platt Architecture. The bookshelves are topped with a series of bronze library lights.Library lights: Boston, Circa Lighting; dining chairs: Aero Studios

Ann Lowengart Interiors

The black floors, pendant lights and bookshelves in this Northern California dining room designed by Ann Lowengart make a bold, modern statement.Dining table: HD Buttercup; chairs: Lucite, Ann Lowengart Interiors; pendants: Beat, Tom Dixon

Bill Huey + Associates

Sullivan Building & Design Group

This traditional dining room in Charleston, South Carolina, was designed by Bill Huey + Associates. Olive green bookshelves line the walls and are chock-full of books and intrigue — note the hidden door.

Christopher Burns Interiors

Large windows and a custom skylight created by Cider Press Woodworks make for a bright farmhouse dining room. The antique dining table and chairs are family heirlooms, and the chandelier was a custom creation.

This eclectic New York City dining room, designed by Christopher Burns, has a chandelier dripping in glass beads, chairs covered in faux cowhide and a high-gloss wood dining table.Chairs: Zeus, Artistic Frame; rug: custom,Patterson Flynn MartinHow to Seat Your Dinner Guests in Comfort

Furman + Keil Architects

Rasmussen / Su Architects

The custom bookshelves in this hip Austin, Texas, dining room designed by Furman + Keil Architectscreate a wall separating the space from the kitchen. The bookshelves include an alcove for a dining bench, along with storage and an integrated wine rack.Bookshelf paint: Porpoise, Sherwin-Williams; chandelier: Circular 5, Niche Modern; dining table: Atlantico; chairs: Wegner Wishbone

This transitional dining room in Philadelphia was designed by Rasmussen / Su Architects. It has an open dining area with bookshelves and a library rail and ladder.Library ladder: Alaco Ladder

Sam Crawford Architects

A wall of casement windows and French doors draws light into this Sydney dining room, designed by Sam Crawford Architects. The space plays many roles as a reading, game and music room.Chairs: CH33, Carl Hansen & Son

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design

If you prefer reading your books on a laptop or tablet and don’t need bookshelves, you can follow designer Lisa Borgnes Giramonti’s lead and still achieve the library look by adding whimsical wallpaper, as she did in this Los Angeles dining room.

By Bryan Anthony, HOUZZ Editorial Staff

6 Wildflowers that Aren’t Weeds at All

“As much as we love annuals for color impact, wildflowers can give you color in an easy casual way that is very relaxing. It’s a different look and feel altogether. Here are some suggestions that you might want to try.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – DC Metro Realty Team

I don’t have many weeds in my garden anymore — there’s too much competition from mature and dense perennials. When I do see something out of place, its fate depends on my mood. Sometimes I yank it out immediately; sometimes I let it go to see what will happen. But “out of place” is a funny term, since many thriving plants are growing right where they want to be. Too often we walk by weeds in the wild with a bit of disdain, just like we maybe drive by wildflowers on the side of the road and assume they’re weeds — if they weren’t, they wouldn’t be growing in such an inhospitable, nonmanicured place, right?

What really is a weed, anyway? In our home gardens, weeds are plants we didn’t put there, things blown in on the wind or carried by wildlife. But sometimes a weed is a doorway into knowing what plants are local, what will thrive and what the insects seem to prefer. It’s unfortunate that many beneficial native plants have “weed” in their common name. Can we reprogram ourselves to see that moniker as an attribute and not a liability? As the winter garden catalogs start arriving and you make plans for next year, don’t let a weedy common name scare you off; here are six plants you can consider adding to your landscape.

Sneezeweed
(Helenium autumnale)
Native to almost every U.S. state

This lovely late-summer to early-fall bloomer gets its common name from the outdated practice of snorting its dried leaves and inducing a sneeze, which was said to drive out evil spirits. Sneezeweed pollen is actually heavy, not carried by wind but by insects (just like goldenrod’s), so it won’t make you sneeze.

Sneezeweed grows 2 to 4 feet tall in medium to moist soil and prefers full sun. The winter seed heads are food for birds and create a nice form en masse. Try this plant in a rain garden or a low-lying area that has consistent moisture.

Landscape Silphium integrifolium (Rosinweed)

Rosin Weed
(Silphium integrifolium)
Native to the central U.S., from Louisiana north to Minnesota and Kansas east to Tennessee

Rosin weed gets its common name from the sticky resin that was once used as chewing gum. It’s a lovely plant that blooms earlier than common sunflowers, so it is often mistaken for milkweed early in the season. It has a deep taproot, which makes it especially drought tolerant in slightly moist to dry soil. It will slowly spread by rhizomes, but at 2 to 4 feet tall, it is never that imposing. It’s a fantastic pollinator plant, and the seeds are attractive to mammals and birds.

Photo by F.D. Richards

Landscape Anemone virginiana (Thimbleweed)

Holm Design & Consulting LLC

Tall Thimbleweed
(Anemone virginiana)
Native almost everywhere in the eastern half of the U.S.

You can see how this native got its common name — once the petals fall off, the bloom head elongates into a thimble-like structure. You’ll find this summer-blooming, 3-foot-tall plant anywhere from a woodland to a meadow setting, attracting all sort of bees, flies and beneficial wasps. It prefers a rich soil with consistent moisture.

Photo by Joshua Mayer

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Butterfly Weed and Milkweed
(Asclepias tuberosa and Asclepias spp)
Native from Minnesota southwest to Arizona and all points east to Maine and Florida

These plants were once the scourges of farmers and ranchers, and kids across the country grew up being told by their parents to yank out any milkweed they saw — most often common (A. syriaca) or showy milkweed (A. speciosa). Such thinking has led to a dearth of monarch butterflies and other pollinators, plus milkweed is a host plant to lots of bugs and beetles, not just the monarch. Common and showy milkweeds’ smaller sibling, orange butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) does great in dry, sunny areas; reaches no more than 2 feet tall; and has bright orange blooms.

See how to grow milkweed

Ironweed
(Vernonia spp)
Native to most of the eastern half of the U.S.

Its common name comes from the rusty color of its seed heads, not from its wind resistance — even though it is quite stout in a strong breeze. There are several species, but the most common might be tall ironweed (Vernonia altissima); it reaches 5 feet or taller in full sun and moist to medium soil and is a boon to late-season pollinators.

Other species include: common ironweed (V. fasciculata), Missouri ironweed (V. missurica), New York ironweed (V. noveboracensis) and western ironweed (V. baldwinii).

See how to grow ironweed

groundworks studio

Brett Mickan Interior Design

Joe Pye Weed
(Eupatorium purpureum)
Native from Minnesota south to Arkansas and east to the East Coast

Joe Pye Weed and butterfly milkweed (and their cultivars) are two of the most common “weeds” you’ll see for sale in nurseries. Joe Pye Weed reaches 5 to 7 feet tall and loves medium to moist soil in full sun to partial shade. Butterflies flock to it in mid to late summer while it’s in bloom, as do several bee species.

Other Joe Pye Weeds include: spotted Joe Pye Weed (E. maculatum), native to most of the northern U.S., and hollow Joe Pye Weed (E. fistulosum), native from Maine to Florida and west to Indiana and Louisiana.

By Benjamin Vogt, originally published on HOUZZ

What Color Should You Paint Your Trim?

“Guess what? Trim does not have to be white. Many times we get caught up in the normal and forget to experiment or do something different for a change. Here are some great ideas of how to decide what to do with your trim.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – Dc Metro Realty Team

Whether simple or ornate, interior trim is a finishing touch that often doesn’t get much thought, frequently being left the color it’s always been without consideration of the multitude of beautiful alternatives. Whether you’re thinking fresh white, a bold hue or somewhere in between, here are ways to treat your trim to get the look you want.

White

Classic white works well for plain trim as well as more elaborate molding styles. It’s great with white walls or colored walls, so it really is the ultimate no-fail option, which is probably partly why it’s such a popular choice.

It can be an excellent way to tie various styles of molding together, and it won’t fight historic details like stained glass, so everything becomes harmonized.

Eoin Lyons Interiors

When paired with colorful walls and accents, white trim becomes a bold, fresh focal point, as well as a frame to highlight each room beyond, without clashing with the different colors of each space.

Laura U, Inc.

Hanson General Contracting, Inc.

White trim is also great for toning down a strong color by stealing surface area away from the walls. This lilac shade is actually very bold, but it doesn’t feel like it swallows the room paired with deep crown molding and window trim in all white.

Stephani Buchman Photography

Paired with a neutral wall color, white trim highlights the surrounding undertones so the walls don’t look colorless, while still bringing in a slight modern edge. It’s also a good choice in a space with lots of wood, because it keeps the look contemporary instead of rustic.

Choose white if:

You want to highlight the subtle undertone of neutral walls
You want to break up bold walls with a breath of fresh air
You have simple moldings you don’t want to highlight
You want to leave all the attention on dramatic furnishings
You aren’t sure which other color to pick. It’s hard to go wrong with white trim!

Dresser Homes

valerie pasquiou interiors + design, inc

Neutral

When trim is dressed in a midtone neutral shade, it immediately gives it a certain sophisticated, stately appeal. The trim becomes a feature, for sure, but in an understated way.

Although the look is somewhat traditional, you can use more modern furnishings to add warmth and character. This kitchen has sleek cabinets and modern appliances but still feels homey instead of ultramodern. That’s in large part due to the warm gray trim.

Catalyst Architects, LLC

Neutral trim works especially well with a colored ceiling, so consider using the same color overhead in a room where you want a more intimate feel, such as a sitting room or dining space.

Optimise Design

Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses

Choose neutral if:

You love a transitional look (one that balances traditional and modern elements)
You want an authentic heritage feel in an older home
You want to highlight doors or windows for an architectural look without touching fresh white walls

Rafe Churchill: Traditional Houses

Bold Colors

Bold, colorful trim can be either part of a wild, eclectic look or actually a very livable element in a more sedate home. Because trim usually has a relatively small surface area, painting it a fun hue like lemon, pink or sky blue adds a pop of color (and definite personality) without adding as much drama as a full wall treatment.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

Pastel trim doesn’t even feel edgy; rather, as in this case, it creates a romantic feeling that suits a humble cottage-style or dreamy bedroom.

Choose a bold color if:

You want to add a new hue without going all-in on the walls
You want a quirky, eclectic or unique look
You have colorful cabinets in a kitchen and want to tie the room together

Shirley Meisels

mark pinkerton – vi360 photography

Wood

Wood trim can be anything from rustic to modern, depending on the tone and finish of the wood. Either way, it adds a deeper sense of texture, which can make a room feel welcoming even without much else in the way of decorative elements.

Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.

Wood trim is often stained to match the flooring, but it can vary in tone a bit and still coordinate beautifully, as woods naturally mix and match. Just don’t mix more than three wood tones if you want to stay out of rustic territory.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Matching wood kitchen cabinets to wood trim creates the sense that this natural element is integrated in the whole space, creating a sense of consistency and some rustic charm.

MANDARINA STUDIO interior design

A little wood trim on a window is excellent for warming up a space that’s otherwise cold, such as a white kitchen or bathroom (especially if you don’t want to add window drapery). Choose a deep stain to suit a contemporary space, and leave other trim white.

Wood is also great with wall colors that already add warmth, such as a soft pink. Both have red undertones, so the lack of contrast makes both elements feel like they fit in peacefully.

Johnson Design Inc.

Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.

Choose wood if:

It’s already there. Most trim is MDF or the like, so celebrate real wood if you have it!
You want to add an element of warm wood but don’t want wood floors
Your space needs a little extra texture
You love a rustic look or need a masculine counterpoint to feminine details

McIntosh Poris Associates

Black

Black trim is definitely statement making, yet it’s timeless, so unlike with other bold colors, you don’t have to worry that this dramatic choice will grow dated quickly.

Even more so than white trim, black trim frames each doorway or window like a picture, for instant high-fashion appeal.

Black trim is at its most classic and livable when paired with simple finishes like a wood floor and pale walls. It will fight other elements for attention, so you might as well let it be the star.

stephane chamard

As stark as black may be, it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Painting just your lower trim black (baseboards and door frames), with the crown molding white, anchors the room while letting the ceiling float away for an airy appeal.

Carson Poetzl, Inc.

Catherine Boardman Interiors

Alternately, painting just the crown molding black frames the ceiling, highlighting details like beautiful lighting, medallions and other features. This tactic works well with dark wood doors, as both have a deep richness, making the doors less stark to keep the look balanced instead of ultramodern.

Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard

Choose black if:

You want a dramatic look that’s classic and sophisticated
You want to contrast wood floors or cabinets
Your neutral scheme needs some edge to bring it to life
Your beautiful views demand to be framed like portraits
Read more reasons to paint your trim black

Gloss

Treating trim with a slight gloss finish is a great way to subtly highlight beautiful moldings while maintaining a clean palette for effortless-looking designer appeal. I often use a consistent paint color for walls, ceiling and trim, using a matte finish for walls and a satin finish for trim, so a hint of light bounces off the trim’s curves to subconsciously draw the eye.

Period Architecture Ltd.

You can also cheat the look further with a slight off-white that almost blends into the wall but stands out just enough to catch your eye when you look at the trim, without the trim’s fighting other more attention-grabbing features.

Trim is often more likely to be touched or leaned on than the walls themselves, so using an easy-to-clean paint finish is practical too.

By Yanic Simard, HOUZZ Contributor

Creating a Comfortable Multipurpose Space

“Trying to figure out how to better use a space in your home? Have a large space but not sure how to divide it up? Read on to get some ideas that can help add function and comfort.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – Dc Metro Realty Team

Interior designer Elena Calabrese took one space and made it a family room, game room, media center and home office. In truth, it was never supposed to be more than a living room. “This was a spec house,” she says. “And this was supposed to be the formal living room — but these clients didn’t need a space like that. What they needed was a multipurpose room.”

Room at a Glance
Who hangs out here: A professional couple and their 8-year-old son
Interior designer: Elena Calabrese
Big idea: This is a living room that was rethought as a multipurpose space.
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: 15 by 15 feet (4½ by 4½ meters)

“Before the remodel this was the room that no one went into,” Calabrese says. “But the family needed a spot to hang out together. The parents travel a lot, and when they are home, they like to spend time together with their son.”

One of the central design features is an area for an activity they all enjoy: board games. The designer created this banquette and table expressly for that purpose. “I found the base on the Internet; it’s a vintage Milo Baughman piece. I had a marble top made for it,” Calabrese says. She created the built-in seating with notched backs to break up its linear nature. “I didn’t think about it matching the pattern in the carpet,” she says. That it does may be a happy coincidence, but the choice of a banquette was intentional. “I didn’t want it to read as an eating space, and I feel like that’s how it would appear if I used a table surrounded by chairs,” she says. “This way it looks like an intimate gathering spot.”

Light fixture: Regina Andrew; side table: HD Buttercup

The large sectional was chosen with one eye toward the television and the other toward the game table. “Because it has a bumper on one end, someone can perch there and chat with people seated around the table or on the window seat,” Calabrese says. “I didn’t want it to be all about the television. I did want it to be cool, modern and lounge-y.”

The coffee table was chosen to work with the carpet. “I love how you can see the carpet pattern through it,” the designer says. “Another wood would have been too heavy.”

Sofa: Dellarobbia; carpet: Stark; coffee table: Z Gallerie

One of the owners likes to watch sports on television, and the dark gray built-in serves as a media center. “The opening you see in the wall on the right is [to] the dining room,” Calabrese says. “We made the built-in stepped down so that when you look out from the dining room, you see the artwork, not the top of a shelf.”

The art collection over the sofa is the start of a gallery wall. “The idea is that the owners will add to it over time,” Calabrese says. “One of them collects art on her travels.”

Between trips that owner can be found perched on the window seat working on her laptop. “When we started the project, the window seat wasn’t there,” the designer says. “When we designed it, we created storage in the bottom for her son’s Legos and toys.”

In Calabrese’s opinion, the room’s success is how it meets many needs. “It’s a multipurpose space, but we worked hard to make it cohesive,” she says. “That’s a design challenge, but in this case, I think it’s a win.”

By Mary Jo Bowling, HOUZZ Editorial Staff

The ABC’s of Arranging Vignettes

“Vignettes are usually small displays, but can have a big impact on a room or entryway. Here are several examples to give you some ideas of how to add just the right touch in your home.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

In the world of interior design, a vignette is a small, pleasing picture formed by grouping several objects — think of it as a pocket-size table arrangement that tells a story about you and your home. A vignette is a harmonious tableau made from a variety of items, rather than a large collection of similar articles (for example, clocks or toys), which would require a different display strategy.

Vignettes can easily be reinvented to suit your whims — a change of season, a new find, a gift and a special occasion are all good reasons to refashion your mini displays. There’s a knack to making these small scenes look effortlessly composed and eye catching. So take a look at how to build delightful vignette worlds with this easy lesson.

Digs Design Company

“A” Is for “Anchor”

Choose an item as the center of interest, the “hero” of your vignette. Pick something you love to see every day and that expresses your personality and that of your home. It will be the first point on which the viewer’s eye rests.

A very small hero would be swamped by other objects in the group, so choose a statement piece with visual weight and height, like this dramatic starburst mirror.

AS you see it!

The anchor may also be a minigroup of similar things. These three vivid orange vases instantly capture attention.

SR HOME

An “A” Formation

Assemble your pieces and then superimpose an imaginary “A” or triangle over them. Use this visual structure to prevent a long skyline effect, which would scatter focus, and to carry interest around the frame. Positioning the shortest objects toward the outer edges will help form your “A” shape.

A dear little “A” for a bedside table.

Salt Interiors

Despite breaking the “A” rule, linear arrangements can work beautifully if there is a strong relationship between the objects and some contrast.

The serpentine curves of the women in these photographs are duplicated in the central sculpture and contrast the precise angles of the frames, while the heights of the pieces differ and black and white has been carried throughout.

Highgate House

Asymmetry

Sorry, all you neatness nuts, you may have to loosen up. Pairs placed symmetrically give the impression of an altar and can look very stilted and formal. We want the opposite: an unstudied gathering (only you know you have been to ABC vignette class!) that moves the eye around the articles. Deconstruct a too-tight structure by moving the items of a pair closer together or taking one of them away.

This arrangement avoids the symmetry trap through the use of two paintings above the sideboard that, although similar in style, are still different. Underneath, smaller pieces have been placed at differing heights: three clear jars varying in size at one end and a lower stylish dish at the other.

Highgate House

“B” Is for “Background”

Your display’s backdrop is a vital part of it. Complicated wallpaper can cause visual chaos behind intricately patterned objects. And a vignette featuring, say, orange, may pick an argument with a red or green wall. Backgrounds act in a positive way when they unify the vignette.

Here a white wall and linear moldings echo colors in the collection and the credenza’s horizontal detail.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc.

Mirrors make an effective background and animate a vignette by creating depth and perspective while also magnifying color and light. In this corner the features of the reflected room enter the vignette.

The surface under your vignette is part of its background, too. Elaborate marquetry or grained timber can detract from a display with lots of detail. Try not to overload a distinctive surface; keep shapes and colors unfussy.

The gorgeous cabinet in this photo holds a simple yet elegant and clean-cut array of objects while showing off its stunning timberwork.

Ethos Interiors

Balance

Several objects of similar height or color placed at one end of a table or bench create an unbalanced look. A lopsided placement needs variety within it and visual connection to the rest of the surface. Balance it with a tall central object, such as a painting or sketch, and a secondary grouping opposite. This picture shows how.

AS you see it!

“C” Is for “Commonality”

Give the members of your vignette a reason to be together. Relate them by color, texture, theme, shape and/or pattern. When one or more of these elements is repeated, the eye travels enjoyably around the vignette.

This is one of my favorite vignettes — a picture in green, white and natural wood. I love how the floral theme is made intriguing by the scale of the close-up in the background. It makes me want to lean in for a closer look.

RoomService 360

Contrast

Play with contrasts. Think of fresh flowers highlighting the patina of an antique bronze bell, or a delicate woven basket beside a heavy glass bowl.

The unexpected bonsai, crystal lamp and sharp modern table offset this distressed Italianate wall finish with its bold flourishes.

Lavender Hill Interiors

A tiny burst of contrasting apple green enlivens an uncluttered blue and white bedside vignette.

Massimo Interiors

Coziness

Pieces spaced evenly over the whole surface lose their connection to one another and may end up looking as if they are set out for a garage sale. Snuggle them up to one another and let some of them touch.

If your vignette is on a central table, check it out from all angles and tweak anything that looks awkward.

Newhook Design

Keep articles visually linked. Hang a painting or mirror low enough so some of your objects encroach on it but don’t hide it. It will then be a cohesive part of the arrangement.

Jennie Hunt

I love this fine Oriental-style table and great wall texture, but I’d like to bring these charming objects closer together.

Tip: When you are happy with your vignette, take a photo, so if you have to rearrange it for cleaning, you can replace everything easily.

Sweet William

Cost

Vignettes are a wonderful way to give every room character, and they need not cost the earth. Collect flowers from your garden, a vintage shoe, pretty glass bottles or an attractive feather, or reframe old photographs or wallpaper offcuts. Hunt through your house and see what treasures you can find.

Studio 511

By Janet Dunn, HOUZZ and Lifestyle magazine contributor

6 Ideas to Make the Most of Your Garage

“Garages fulfill so many different needs beyond parking a car. If you’ve been wondering how to make better use of your garage, this article might just be the inspiration you need.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – DC Metro Realty Team

Your garage might be a scary, junk-filled spot that you’d rather forget about. But, you’re missing out on some prime room real estate there. To up its appeal — and its utility — consider these ideas.

1. Paint It a Cheerful Color
Designer Annie Selke turned her mundane garage into a reflection of her. “Why feel like a cave dweller,” she says. “You can have a girly garage.” She applied stripes to the walls with leftover paint from the other rooms in her house. Courtesy of Annie Selke

2. Fake a Mudroom
If you spend more time coming through the garage than your front door, set up a central spot to store shoes and hang coats. For her garage “mudroom,” Toni at A Bowl Full of Lemons built a wall organizer, added wall and shoe baskets, and accessorized with a large wall clock. See the rest of the makeover here. Courtesy of A Bowl Full of Lemons

3. Don’t Forget About the Floors
Your floors don’t have to be a dull gray. Experiment with patterns or different hues, like A Beautiful Mess’s Elsie Larson did in this space. (We also love her hyper-organized, super-colorful utility wall.) Tour her organized garage. Courtesy Elsie Larson/A Beautiful Mess

4. Turn It Into a Craft Studio
This may not work for most people, but blogger Rachel Mae Smith didn’t own a car, so she created a crafting retreat out of the run-down garage joining her San Francisco apartment. See more of the transformation here. Courtesy of Design Sponge

5. And Remember to Look Up
Since floor space is, well, for the cars mostly, install overhead storage. Jen of I Heart Organizing built custom upper cabinets that are 4-feet deep to stash large storage bins and other miscellaneous items. To style the space, she added beadboard panels, painted the doors blue, and installed pendant lighting. Tour her garage. Courtesy of I Heart Organizing

6. Set Up a Garden Station
No garden shed? Ashli of Mini Manor reserved a small spot in her garage for a mini gardening command center. Take a look at the rest of her house. Courtesy of Mini Manor/6th Street Design School

Originally Published on Yahoo Makers, By Sarah Yang

Ideas for Easygoing Summer Parties

“It’s Summertime, so move your party outside! It’s not as hard as you might think if you just plan a little bit. Here are some great ideas to get started.”

Ed Johnson & Denise Buck – DC Metro Realty Team

Summertime calls for a distinctly unfussy approach to entertaining, and thankfully so — because who wants to sweat over planning a summer soiree? Make things easier on yourself by hosting outdoors instead of in, getting guests to pitch in and embracing low-key, budget-friendly decor. From DIY flowers and quick extra tables to a beachy outdoor bar, these 20 ideas will make your party planning easier.

Corynne Pless

1. Whip up an extra table with sawhorses. Short on outdoor dining space? Hunt down a few sawhorses and top them with a length of board as big as you want your table to be. You can paint the board, cover it with a cloth or butcher paper, or leave it as is.

Corynne Pless

2. Fashion a wooden crate into a drinks container. If you line it with plastic, any old crate can be a rustic-chic open-top cooler for keeping soda and beer on ice. It won’t keep it cold as long as a real cooler, but it should do the trick at a party.

3. No crate? Use whatever you’ve got. An old wheelbarrow, a garden cart, an enamel bucket or even a toy dump truck can be lined with trash bags and filled with ice to make an impromptu drinks cooler.

Cezign

4. Give your outdoor bar a tiki makeover with a palapa roof. Search for “palm leaf thatch panels” to find a source and tack a few lengths of the grassy stuff to the roof of your outdoor bar or shed to give it some tiki bar style.

Celia Bedilia

5. Dress up candles with woodsy details. Curl a wide green leaf and drop it into a glass jar —then fill the jar with water and float a tea light on top. Or use lengths of birch bark (available at craft stores) to wrap the outside of a jar or candleholder, and fasten them with twine.

6. Make beachy candles with mason jars and sand. Filled partway with sand, a mason jar of any size can easily become a chic candleholder. To make hanging lanterns, wrap the mouth of the jar with flexible wire and hang the jar from the branches of a tree. For safety, use battery-operated candles for hanging.

Atlantic Archives, Inc.

7. Use soda bottles as vases. A row of tall, slender soda bottles lined up in the middle of a table makes a pretty (and supereasy) centerpiece. Just plunk one bloom in each vase, and you’re done! Try gerbera daisies, cosmos or sunflowers.

Soapstone Werks

Bruce Clodfelter and Associates

8. Involve your guests. Have them help squeeze lemons for fresh lemonade, let them take a turn cranking an old-fashioned ice cream maker or send them into your garden with clippers to pick a bouquet for the table.

9. Seat everyone at one big table. Who wouldn’t love coming into a backyard set up like this? Put two or three tables together if you have to — the dramatic effect will be worth the effort.

Corynne Pless

Cassie Daughtrey Realogics Sotheby’s Realty

10. Use old crates as trays and servers. Vintage wooden soda crates make the perfect receptacle for toting glasses, vases, napkins and other essentials out to the garden. Or use one to dole out flatware, standing utensils upright in simple mason jars.

Cassie Daughtrey Realogics Sotheby’s Realty

11. Boost ambience with lanterns and signs. Flank the entrance to your party area with a pair of big lanterns and lean a sign nearby — it can announce the menu or simply say, “Welcome!”

12. Greet visitors with a pretty porch for the Fourth. A great big galvanized tub of red geraniums and a waving flag make a cheerful entrance to this home. Keep the patriotic spirit going with Americana-style cushions on a classic porch swing.

Beckwith Interiors

Cassie Daughtrey Realogics Sotheby’s Realty

13. Give guests a healthy option with fresh flavored waters. Fill a big drink dispenser with ice water, flavored with fresh ingredients for a healthy thirst quencher on hot days. Try lemon, lime or orange slices; fresh mint leaves; cucumber rounds; or berries.

14. Place your table in the shade. There’s nothing worse than trying to enjoy a lovely meal al fresco when the sun is beating down on you! Keep your guests comfortable by pulling the tables under the shade of a tree or awning, or invest in some umbrellas.

Cottage Home, Inc.

Brunelleschi Construction

15. Make a plan to keep bugs at bay. If you have a water feature, make sure you regularly treat it or skim it to keep mosquitoes from breeding there. If the bugs are bad in your area, plan your event for a less buggy time of day or hold it on a screened-in porch, where your guests can enjoy a fresh breeze without getting bitten.

16. Create activity zones to keep large parties moving. Setting up several distinct areas can help a large gathering feel more manageable, as your guests will naturally be drawn into smaller groups. For instance, you could set up a dining table, a fire pit circle, a porch lounge and an outdoor bar.

Buckets of Burlap

17. Collect thrifty party supplies. Avoid last-minute stress by keeping an entertaining cupboard well stocked with mason jars, florist’s buckets, table linens, candles and serving containers. Many times you don’t even need to buy these things — save pretty old jars to use as glasses, washed-out tin cans to use as flower containers and even old bedsheets to use as outdoor tablecloths.

Celia Bedilia

18. Go wild with your arrangements. Plucking flowers and foliage from your own backyard is cheaper than buying them, and it can be more fun, too! Push yourself to look at your garden anew and clip a little something unexpected to tuck into your bouquet. Dandelions look charming in mason jars, flowering chives are utterly romantic, and an artichoke would make a dramatic centerpiece in a mixed floral bouquet.

19. Hang flowers from a tree. Use a drill to punch two holes in a washed-out tin can and thread wire through the holes to make a hanger. Fill your cans with cut flowers and hang them from a tree around your outdoor dining table. Leave the cans plain or dress them up by tying on strips of pretty fabric.

Thom Filicia Inc.