Tag Archives: Painting

Powder Room Vanity Styles With Personality

“Coming up with ‘different’ ideas for a powder room can be challenging. Get some ideas on how to make that small space as unique as any other space in the home.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

From traditional to contemporary, approaches to the powder room vanity allow for lots of creativity. And because of the modest scale, this is a place where you can indulge in higher-end materials and design solutions that might be too much for the budget in larger rooms. Let these 11 delightful examples of beautifully combined colors, shapes and details inspire your own powder room project.

Marie Meko, Allied ASID

Richly Toned Traditional

Vanity: 36 inches wide by 18 inches deep by 35 inches high

Everything in this space is richly expressed in dark, intimate tones. The extraordinary Trumeau mirror by E.J. Victor, the integrated picture frame and the sumptuous tile flooring make the room particularly interesting.

A dark-stained wood cabinet from Hooker Furniture has been converted to a vanity,making a lavatory out of a beautiful piece of furniture. (The cabinet is no longer available, according to the designer, but the company is continuously coming out with new designs.) The oval white porcelain sink undermounts to a black solid-surface countertop and backsplash, and its two-lever handle faucet is in oil-rubbed bronze.

The branch detail in the wallpaper reflects the detail of the unique towel bar. Finishing things off are two metal-shaded sconces with brass details, mounted at 60 to 66 inches above the floor.

Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC.

Asian-Influenced Transitional

Vanity: Approximately 32 inches wide by 20 inches deep by 34 inches high

The nearly black wallpaper with sheen gives this small space drama and highlights the detail in the vanity cabinet, detail that’s further emphasized by the coordinating trim of the mirror and the finish on the sconces. The diagonal cabinet face detail repeats in the travertine tiles set at 45 degrees. The scheme is otherwise simple, with a single-lever faucet on a solid countertop with an oval undermount sink.

Design By Lisa

Neutral-Toned Traditional

Vanity: 30 inches wide by 22 inches deep by 35 inches high

Though this room employs a conservative color scheme, the detail in the finishes makes an unforgettable impression. The painted vanity cabinet is custom, though similar types are available from a variety of sources. An onyx countertop, called Delicato, the Zoffany Cordoba wallpaper and the quarter-sawn white oak flooring make the space luxurious. The sink is a porcelain rectangular undermount.

The mirror was custom-made, the designer says, but the key is its beveled edge, which achieves a finished look without the need for a frame. Brushed nickel hardware is equally elegant. The small Hudson Valley Lighting chandelier, mounted to the center of the ceiling, adds lots of charm. Notice that the crystal cabinet pulls match the doorknob, which completes the detailing in this space.

Shannon Ggem ASID

Boldly Colorful Traditional

Vanity: 37 inches wide by 18 inches deep by 37 inches high

This powder room quickly transports you to a vacation spot all on its own. The Thibaut wallpaper adds dimension and boldness, and the handpainted distressed cabinet from Cole + Co. gives the space an unexpected rustic twist. The luscious taupe-colored marble countertop, sometimes called Athens gray, holds an undermount oval sink. The silver-framed oval mirror coordinates with the playful Currey & Co. sconces, which in turn mimic the swirls in the wallpaper.

Mahoney Architects & Interiors

Rounding It Out

Vanity: Approximately 26 inches wide by 20 inches deep by 32 inches high

Rounded fixtures and furnishings can make smaller spaces function more smoothly and give the illusion of a larger space. This 3-foot-wide powder room could easily be overwhelmed by a large, square cabinet, but this rounded solution, along with the wainscot, nicely details the space. The 2-inch hexagonal floor tiles allude to traditional mosaics found in older homes, but the size gives them a fresh feeling.

Notice that the sink type serves as a countertop as well, eliminating the need for a separate piece of material. The mirror frame, custom-made for this project, matches the cabinet material and finish. Similar premanufactured configurations are available from many sources.

Kathryn Long, ASID

Wallpaper Focus

Vanity: Approximately 25 inches wide by 19 inches deep by 32 inches high

As with the previous example, you can find vanity configurations that have the sink integrated into the cabinet design, like this one. Some come with a faucet already installed. Their detailing gives the look of a piece of furniture rather than a traditional cabinet with a toe kick.

A custom decoupage wall treatment sets this room apart. A local artist installed a collection of maps, menus, articles and pictures collected by the owner as part of a trip to Italy, and the theme is enhanced by the candle sconces. The room is otherwise quite simple.

Key Measurements to Help You Design a Powder Room

kelly mcguill home

Open It Up

Vanity: 31.5 inches wide by 18.75 inches deep by 34 inches high

This vanity, the Weathered Oak Single Console Sink from Restoration Hardware, is available in seven wood finishes, depending on your location. Once again, the sink acts as the countertop. The mirrored cabinet is also from RH but doesn’t currently show up on its website, though there are similar options. The wainscot paneling adds greatly to the theme of the space. The ceramic floor tiles resemble brick and are laid in a running bond pattern.

Peter S. Balsam Associates

Contemporary Curves

Vanity: 20⅝ inches wide by 21 inches deep by 34 inches high

This Camber petite vanity by Kohler is available in several finishes, but the sink, called the Camber drop-in, is a separate product and must be bought specifically for use with this configuration. This solution may be a great fit if you have a really tight space and the circular shape fits your design.

With the mosaic tile seen here, this will be a more expensive scheme than most. You will also need to purchase a faucet; the one shown here is in a satin nickel finish. The sink is available in three versions. The first has no opening for the plumbing, meaning you would use it with a wall-mounted faucet. The other two have openings for the plumbing fixtures, either a single-handle faucet or the two-handle type seen here.

josh wynne construction

Custom Creations

Vanity: Approximately 26 inches wide by 18 inches deep by 30 inches high

If you know a very good carpenter, you may be able to create your own custom design, as has been done here. This contractor custom-fabricated the concrete countertop and placed a vessel sink atop it, with the bronze faucet set at an angle. Varying sizes of Porcelanosa tiles line the wall, and a coordinated mosaic tile covers the floor. The mirror, found at an estate sale, floats on the chartreuse-painted wall above the tile wainscot.

Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

Contemporary Lines

Vanity: Approximately 30 inches wide by 22 inches deep by 34 inches high

This semi-custom solution uses a Kohler product, or similar, for the sink. The contractor custom-built the base to complete the vanity. Ann Sacks Clodagh shield tiles line the back wall, adding dimension, shade and shadow to the scheme. The teardrop pendant provides lighting, and a framed beveled mirror, also custom, completes the contemporary theme.

David Heide Design Studio

When in Doubt, Float

Vanity: 30 inches wide by 21⅜ inches deep by 19 inches high (mounted about 14 inches above the floor)

This Kohler product, called Traverse, requires a selection of the cabinet, sink and faucet. With the hexagonal multicolored mosaic wall tile, this is also going to be a more expensive solution. The floor tiles are a rectangular shape about 6 inches wide and 24 inches long, laid in the running bond pattern. The dramatic internally lit round chrome mirror suits the modern design. This scheme could easily be replicated in less expensive finishes.

By Steven Randel, originally published on HOUZZ

Design Your Closet for the Real World

“Tired of digging through your closet to find things? Get organized and speed up the morning process.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

A poorly designed closet costs the same to build as a well-designed closet. It’s how you design and use the space that makes the difference. If you’re starting with a clean slate, this guide will help you decide what to build, what to store and how to get the most out of every inch of space.

Clever Closet Company

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Only build what you need. Decide how big or small you need your closet to be before you start on the design. It’s tempting to see a big, blank wall and sacrifice it to a closet without considering what the contents will be.

By building your closet based only on how much hanging space you need, even a small bedroom can retain a feeling of spaciousness, with room for a large bed, a desk and maybe more. You can also end up spending less than half the money you would if you opted for a full-wall closet.

Clever Closet Company

Get organized. If you want to maximize space, group clothes of a similar size together — don’t waste an inch. If you have a group of similar items that amounts to at least 20 inches in width when hung together, it’s worth giving them a separate section.

Clever Closet Company

By being that specific, in this closet I have managed to squeeze in an extra drawer between the double hanging sections, as well as some handy shelves.

Tip: Hang the top rod high enough so you have enough space between the bottom of the hanging clothes and the second rod underneath.

Clever Closet Company

Focus on ergonomics. Nobody wants to crawl on the floor to find their summer shorts, and who can be bothered bending down to put bags or scarves on a shelf at knee height? Design your space more ergonomically and you’ll notice things are far easier to find. It will also be much easier to keep your closet tidy.

Positioning shelves above the hanging space is a smart move ergonomically, and making your shelves just 14 inches deep ensures you won’t lose things at the back. Space the shelves only 10 inches apart and things won’t migrate to the never-never. You can stack right to the top of the shelf because there’s no need to reach to the back. Do it this way and you’ll hardly ever need to reorganize your wardrobe — things have nowhere to go.

Tip: Shelf widths at 12-inch increments are best because folded clothes average 12 inches across and 14 inches deep.

Ardesia Design

Skip the drawers. Drawers add significantly to the price of a built-in closet, restrict the layout and waste space. Be resourceful with your space instead. If you already have a dresser or bedside tables in the room, perhaps that’s all you need for underwear and socks. Sweaters and T-shirts are best placed on open shelves where you can see them easily.

Clever Closet Company

Add storage elsewhere. When you have a small space, the trick is using every bit of storage fully. I often achieve this by not having anything but hung clothes in the closet. There’s little point in storing folded clothes on deep closet shelves — it ends up a mess. Instead, use deep space for hanging clothes, then put folded clothes and shoes elsewhere.

In my son’s room, seen here, we have deep drawers under the bed for shoes and sports gear. This is great because he can just dump them in and then open the drawers and see them easily when he needs them (although apparently not as easily as he can see them on the floor!). This is a much better option than storing the items at the bottom of a closet or under the bed.

See more of this bedroom

Design 13

Get smart with your shoes. If space is tight, storing all your shoes in the closet may not be possible. If you can fit them in, however, aim to stash them on shelves at mid-height so you can see them.

Whether you choose regular shelves, slide-out shelves or drawers, there’s no need to give shoes too much room to move — they’re usually only 12 inches deep and will fit into some pretty tight places.

This drawer method allows you to use the full depth of the closet, and makes shoes easy to see and access.

Clever Closet Company

If you can’t fit shoes in the closet, a shallow, purpose-built cabinet is a good alternative.

Clever Closet Company

Don’t waste your money on ‘clever’ accessory storage. Storage devices for accessories can be useful, but be selective. If a gadget involves more than one action to perform its role, you’ll probably grow tired of it. I find most closet accessories are a waste of money and space in a small closet.

What does work well are racks for belts, ties and scarves, which slide in and out. Or if you don’t mind things flapping on the back of a hinged door, you can install racks there.

Clever Closet Company

Go for flexibility. The great thing about this closet is that the hanging rods insert into the same holes as the shelf supports, so you can switch them around as needed. In summer, you could use rods to hang blouses, and in winter swap in shelves to hold sweaters. Store the off-season gear out of the way on the top shelf.

FormFunctionNT

Don’t forget to make use of the rest of the house. Your bedroom closet doesn’t have to bear the brunt of your your life’s clutter. Store as much as possible in the utility areas of your home to save on the cost of a built-in closet.

A shelving system such as this stores just as much as a standard built-in closet and for a fraction of the price. I installed something similar to this in my laundry rather than putting a built-in closet into a temporary bedroom for my daughter. Now that my daughter has left home, I have excellent versatile storage in the laundry room. The system is easily adjustable, so I can use it for anything and add shelves if needed.

Originaly published on HOUZZ, by Sally Hart

13 Storage Solutions to Banish the Clutter

“It’s amazing all the ‘stuff’ we accumulate over time. And then you realize you have no place to put anything any more and your home is looking cluttered. It might be time to get creative.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell you to throw out your stuff or give it away. And I’m not going to give you advice on how to part with it. Instead, I’m going to give you design tips on how to get it out of sight, quickly and easily. The trick to living without clutter is to make it super easy for you and your family to clean up fast. Follow these tips, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your home can go from chaotic to calm in no time.

WORKSTEAD

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1. Closed storage. Everyone likes the look of open shelving when everything is lined up just so, but the truth is, it’s not always practical to keep everything in perfect order. Closed storage can look just as great, when it’s well thought out. If you have lots of stuff, stay away from open shelving whenever you can, and conceal your stuff behind doors and drawers.

Bunker Workshop

2. Kitchen. Keep your counters clear. Dedicate a space for small appliances that’s easy for you to access. Pullout shelves make it easy to store heavier appliances, like blenders and coffee makers.

Discover more kitchen storage solutions

JACK ROSEN CUSTOM KITCHENS

If you don’t have the luxury of space for a dedicated appliance cabinet, consider creating an appliance nook or an appliance garage on your counter to tuck them out of the way and out of sight.

Ben Herzog

3. Stairs. Under the stairs is always a great place to hide stuff, but it’s easy for that space to turn into a black hole if it’s just an open area. Use pullouts to organize and make that space easy to access.

Browse more clever uses for the space under the stairs

Affecting Spaces

4. Foyer. This is the one space where open shelving really makes sense, so shoes and boots can properly air out. Stinky shoes that share storage with coats will inevitably make the coats smell a little funky.

Wende Woodworking LLC

5. Bathroom. The same rules apply for the bathroom as for the kitchen. Keep your counters clear of stuff. Use a vanity with drawers. Don’t even consider a pedestal sink or a vanity with doors if you tend to be a hoarder. Get the most convenient, easy-to-use storage with drawers. (The drawers can even be organized.)

Bill Fry Construction – Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

And don’t stop at vanity storage. Maximize your storage by using your mirror as a medicine cabinet as well. If you don’t like the feel of a bulky medicine cabinet at your sink, recess it into the wall. This can often create even deeper storage.

Should you go with a recessed or wall-mounted bathroom mirror?

Scott Weston Architecture Design PL

6. Kids’ room. You may have to remind your children a hundred times that they actually have storage under their bed, but a bed with built-in drawers can help them clean up after themselves.

Patrick Perez Architect

7. Living room. Even if you try to keep stuff out of the living room, it will eventually migrate back to your more commonly used spaces. Build or buy storage (at least 24 inches deep) with large doors and deep drawers. It’s all about the ease of throwing stuff in there quickly.

Closet Factory

8. Garage. If your house is designed to be accessed from the garage, this is a great idea for keeping more stuff from entering the house. Invest in a well-constructed storage unit to make the most of this space.

S.A.N Design Group, Inc.

9. Bay window. As a designer, I’m always struggling with how to best deal with a bay window when I’m laying out a space. I love this idea of squaring off the wall and using that space as trunk-style storage.

Note: It’s really important that your window storage has locking hardware to keep the lid open. It makes it much easier to clean up faster.

Ogawa Fisher Architects

10. Indoor furniture. It’s such a bonus when furniture does double duty. If you are having a bench built for seating, I recommend you ask the millworker to build drawers into the face of the bench. It’s a really easy and clean way to add more storage.

C.O.S Design

11. Outdoor furniture. When planning your outdoor space, always create a storage space that is large and waterproof. You don’t want to have to bring all your outdoor stuff indoors when the weather changes.

How to keep your outdoor furniture looking new

Case Design & Remodeling Indy

12. Basement. This is another area that doesn’t always need closed storage, especially if it’s a space dedicated to storage. Stock up on budget racks and store everything you don’t want to part with but don’t actually use. If you apply the Pareto principle, you probably use only 20 percent of your stuff. So that means you can store the other 80 percent.

C3 Design

If you want to use your basement as living space, then use the closed-storage method to hide that other 80 percent of your stuff.

Organized Living

13. Final tip. If you are working on decluttering, don’t let the state of the inside of your cabinets or drawers deter you from clearing the stuff out of your living space. Once you get a sense of what it’s like to live without clutter all around you, the urge to organize your closets and drawers will come. The first step to clutter-free living is to get the stuff out of sight.

Originally posted on HOUZZ, by Gillian Lazanik

Wandering Paths That Take Joy in the Journey

“Even if you don’t have a large area to work with a path can add texture and visual interest to your yard and landscape.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

The best aspects of life are sometimes off the beaten path, and the same could be said about your garden. While brick paths and concrete driveways are certainly functional, necessary and expected, don’t overlook the possibility of creating or rejuvenating secondary paths that forge a strong organic relationship with the land and tell its story. With innovative design and proper planting, any backyard can provide the place and the experience, even if the path leads to that secret spot behind the garage, or simply to nowhere in particular.

Blasen Landscape Architecture

1. “Not all those who wander are lost,” J.R.R. Tolkien wrote. Wandering is good for the soul. Paths play a crucial role in the art and process of wandering. While major paths and sidewalks need to be paved to be safely navigated, secondary paths need not be. These paths may not be lit at night, as their usefulness may be limited to daylight, or they may be navigated by flashlight or candle after dusk. They may flirt more with curves and shrubs than the average path, but flirting evokes emotion. This is what makes these paths special and worthwhile.

The path shown here embraces its sense of place and begs to be explored. The best paths embrace their environment. With its curves and unknown destination, this path calls to those who dare to wander far enough to discover its hidden story.

PermaScapes Unlimited Inc

2. There are times when the suggestion of a path is all that is necessary. In the landscape shown here, strategically placed groups of flagstone hint at a pathway through a lawn. This works because they lead the eye; where the eye goes, the body follows and the journey commences.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

3. Wanderers know that a path doesn’t have to lead to anywhere in particular. This free-form gravel path, barely 25 feet long, has a Japanese maple at its end and could easily fit into an average suburban yard. For those who walk there in the late afternoon, this path partners with the setting sun to offer a 15-minute light show that is nothing short of spectacular. And for the wanderer, that is more than enough.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

4. In this landscape, the honed stone stair treads bring an element of antiquity to a very modern home. Their rhythmic placement has a meditative quality that makes the act of ascending this hillside path almost ritualistic. The depression in the center of each step gives the garden visitor both sensual and comforting feelings.

Rebecca Smith Garden Design

5. Paths can be mown through meadows. Additionally, many types of sedge (Carex spp., USDA zones 4 to 10; find your zone) can be planted, mowed and walked on. Some sedges are extremely drought-tolerant, an important concern in many parts of the U.S. The path’s configurations are easily changed. Paths of this type can trigger memories of childhood exploration.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

6. Unused secondary paths can be rejuvenated. This all-but-forgotten path was given new life with the introduction of five ceramic spheres, placed rhythmically along its curves. In a garden, pattern can establish a rhythm that sparks a connection with our internal rhythm, whether it be our pulse or that song that plays nonstop in our mind. This is the reason you feel so comfortable in certain gardens: their rhythms speak to yours.

MTLA- Mark Tessier Landscape Architecture

7. This Los Angeles garden could be found in any large city where land and privacy are precious commodities. A path such as this could wrap around any building, leading to that small private garden forged from a useless space behind a garage. Multitextured plants spilling over into an organic path create the sense of a journey.

Classic Nursery & Landscape Co. / Alan Burke, asla

8. An ascending path formed with raw stones that are partially obscured by ground covers begs to tell its story; perhaps this one leads to a sitting area on the highest point of the property. The highest point is a place of power, and sitting there after a hard day at work is a perfect opportunity to recharge. In the animal kingdom, the leader of the flock always sits highest in the tree.

Erik Block Design Build LLC

9. Rustic bridges always kindle feelings of mystery and exploration, and they frequently transport us mentally back to the simpler times of childhood. The bridge shown here is no exception. An impromptu path leads to the bridge, continuing on the other side of the creek.

Jay Sifford Garden Design

10. The path shown here is mulched with commercially available double-hammered hardwood. The serpentine stacked-stone wall, somewhat reminiscent of Andy Goldsworthy’s installation at Storm King Art Center in New York’s Hudson Valley, provides order similar to how a hard margin provides structure to a paragraph. The pathway’s right-hand side playfully flirts with the surrounding woodland while embracing its negative space.

Prassas Landscape Studio LLC

11. This paver pathway leads to a postage stamp-sized patio between buildings, then continues on the far side. A tight planting scheme creates the illusion of a forest right in Chicago. Two chairs may not be enough for a party, but they’re certainly enough for a memorable conversation.

Rebecca Smith Garden Design

12. The rustic, almost primitive placement of these steppingstones lends an air of antiquity to this secondary path. Their offset pattern is contemplative, giving the path a mystical sense similar to a labyrinth.

Princeton Design Collaborative

13. A tree trunk intersects and interrupts this Philadelphia path. Its unexpected placement and sculptural form elevate it to the status of living art, and the thoughtfully placed nearby bench offers the perfect place for brief contemplation.

Helen Rose Wilson Garden Design

14. Who says paths can’t be fun and gardens are not for children? This raised path made of cut logs is a thoughtful way to engage those children who don’t seem to mind an occasional skinned knee. The vertical flower inflorescences add to this garden’s jubilant nature in a way that prostrate ground covers and weeping conifers couldn’t.

Aaron G. Edwards Landscape Architect

15. Here we see another raised path, this time taking the form of a narrow boardwalk. It’s in an open space between a forest canopy and undergrowth, and the visitor is suspended so as to appreciate the fullness of the forest. This path’s narrow width forces visitors to walk singly. On a philosophical level, this speaks to the fact that we enter and leave this life alone and that our journey is, in reality, our own.

www.KarlGercens.com

16. This New York garden path incorporates the best aspects of the former two gardens. Made of vertical logs, it leads to a simple, narrow bridge. The palette of large and colorful foliage creates a sensory experience for those who take the challenge. The best gardens are cognizant of their audience and immerse their visitors in an unforgettable experience.

Island Gardens Company

17. This narrow path deliberately slows visitors and forces them to interact with the plants. Don’t underestimate the immense value of that branch that grows just a little too low or long and extends into the personal space that a path generally provides. A good gardener recognizes its tactile importance and purposefully leaves it in place. It only looks serendipitous, and looks can be deceiving.

Originally appearing on HOUZZ, by Jay Sifford

Mastering Your Morning Routine

“Streamlining your routine and making it easier to get out the door is always a good thing.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

With the first weeks of school underway, and most adults settling back in to work (however grumpily) after vacations, mornings are bound to be more hectic. From searching for missing shoes, backpacks and important papers to remembering all of the minute details of shifting daily schedules, the tasks of the early hours of the day can put everyone out the door in a sour mood (not to mention late). A well-choreographed morning routine, on the other hand, can help start the day on a positive note, and can give you the opportunity to connect with your family or gain some extra personal time. Take a deep breath — tomorrow is another day, and with a bit of planning (and these 10 strategies), it can start off without a hitch.

Regan Baker Design

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First figure out what’s holding you up. If you find yourself running late (or nearly late) in the morning, the first step to taking control of your time is to identify how you are spending it. Where does your routine tend to veer off track? Look over this list and see if any fit.

Hitting the snooze button repeatedly, or sleeping through the alarm, then rushing to get ready
Getting the kids ready takes forever
Just sipping coffee, reading and browsing online make the time get away from you
Can’t find anything to wear
Can’t find essential items (keys, phone, bag) as you’re about to head out the door
Forgetting about things you need to bring (lunch, signed papers, gym bag) until the last second

House of Beatniks

The Strategies

1. Get dressed first. Instead of sipping coffee in your PJs, try making a practice of getting dressed first thing. Whether or not you have kids, if you leave your own getting ready to the last minute, mornings will always feel crunched for time. If choosing an outfit tends to eat up a lot of time, select it the night before, including accessories — then you can just put it on in the morning, and you’ll already be a step ahead.

2. Review the calendar over a cuppa. Make a habit of looking over the day’s schedule while you sip your first cup of coffee or tea — knowing what’s on deck will help ensure that you don’t forget any key papers or supplies. Whether you prefer old-school paper or an app, be sure to use one calendar for the entire household so you can sync activities. And if checking the day’s schedule reminds you of some key item you need to bring with you, grab it right then and put it in front of the door where you won’t miss it.

Claudia Georgi Photography

3. Use a big wall clock to stay on track. Sure, you can always glance down at your phone,but there’s something about having a nice, clearly marked wall clock that makes it easier to keep schedules running smoothly. Plus, if you tend to get distracted by your phone when you check the time, this can help cut down on aimless browsing.

If you’ve been underestimating how long it takes to complete morning tasks, keeping track on the clock can give you a clearer picture of how much time you need to get ready and leave. You may find you need to get up earlier, or shift some activities to another time of day (like prepping lunch the night before), to get out the door on time.

Shop for wall clocks

Regan Baker Design

4. Use a timer. If there is a particular part of your morning routine that you either (a) dread or (b) spend too much time on, using a timer can help speed things along. For instance: Set a timer for 10 minutes to enjoy your coffee and catch up on email, but when the timer goes off, immediately get up and move on. Or set a timer for five minutes and see if you can pack all the lunches before it goes off.

For kids, using a stopwatch can be even better than a timer, since it turns getting ready into a race — use it to time them putting on shoes or cleaning up toys, and see if they can beat their own record. Just don’t make breakfast a race … no one wants to start the day with a stomachache!

Rusk Renovations

5. Dangle a carrot. It was impossible to get my son motivated to get ready for school in the morning, until we started leaving early enough to play on the playground or have a scooter ride before the start of school. Now (most days, anyway) all it takes is a reminder about the extra playtime to get him to cooperate.

And if you’re the one who has trouble getting out the door on time, find a treat worth leaving the house early for, whether that’s a refreshing walk by the water or a cup of coffee at your favorite place.

Angela Todd Designs, Portland, OR

6. Have a precise place for every single thing you need in the morning. The more specific, the better. A dish for the car keys, a tray for your phone and wallet, wall hooks for backpacks and jackets, and a wall-mounted letter sorter can all be useful additions to the entryway, if used consistently.

Papers can be especially problematic, so it helps to be a stickler about sorting — letter sorters are great, but only if each slot is labeled and used as intended. Sort in a way that makes sense for your household. Just make sure to have a way to keep important outgoing papers (like school forms that need to be returned or bills to be payed) separate from the rest of the onslaught.

apartmentjeanie

7. Add little conveniences to the entryway. For instance, I’ve started keeping a hairbrush in a drawer by the front door to give my son’s hair a swipe before we leave, which saves a last-second trip back upstairs to search for it. Other items you might find helpful:

A pen for signing school papers
Sharpie and name labels for sticking on things before they go in the backpack
A spare phone charger
A stash of clean kids’ socks
Nonperishable grab-and-go snacks

Regan Baker Design

8. Try some alarm clock tricks. If all the strategies in the world won’t help because you simply can’t seem to get out of bed on time, you may need to change your waking-up routine. Here are a few tricks to try.

Put your alarm out of reach, so you have to actually get out of bed to turn it off.
If you’ve been using your phone as an alarm, try an old-fashioned alarm clock — they tend to be louder and more annoying.
Pretend you have something super important to do. Have you noticed that it’s easier to get up early on an important day, like your wedding, or the first day of a new job? Before going to sleep the night before, take a moment to think about what time you need to get up and why it’s important that you do. In my completely personal and unscientific research (on myself), this does seem to help.
Get up earlier gradually. If you’ve been waking up way too late, start shifting the time you get up by no more than 20 minutes earlier each day.
Get to bed earlier. If you’re short on sleep, mornings will continue to be hard.

Clean Design

9. Unpack first thing. Your getting-home routine is just as important as your morning routine in ensuring that you get out the door on time. When you arrive home, don’t just fling your things down anywhere. Take the time to unpack all of your bags, hang up coats, file papers and put your keys and phone in their places. If your children are having trouble following a getting-home routine, hold off on an after-school snack or screen time until their stuff is away, and pretty soon it will be second nature.

Kid-friendly tip: Add a few low hooks. Starting young children on positive, doable habits, like hanging up their own backpack and coat, paves the way for more complicated responsibilities later on — not to mention makes your life a bit easier! Hang a few sturdy wall hooks within reach to make the job easier for little hands.

Olivier Chabaud Architecte

10. Set your routine in stone. The great thing about a routine is that the more you do it, the less you have to think about it. It’s like how a dancer learns a complex routine. When you practice the same movements over and over again, your body remembers. So, while it may feel a bit regimented at first, deciding on a certain order of business for your morning (and sticking to it) will make things easier in the long run.

By Laura Gaskill, originally published on HOUZZ

Can You Spot the TV?

“Where to put the TV? You’re going to have one, but you don’t want it to dominate the room. These creations offer up lots of new options you may not have considered.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

By Grace Chamia, originally published on HOUZZ

Sometimes a room design doesn’t seem to allow for a 60-inch television — maybe it disrupts the aesthetic flow and clean lines the designer worked so hard to achieve. Cue these now-you-see-me, now-you-don’t entertainment systems that blend in with their surroundings so well, they rival chameleons with their camouflage.

Eoin Lyons Interiors

Winston Churchill has my attention … so much so that I almost missed the TV behind him. Slidable artwork is a striking way to conceal a flush-mount TV.

Here’s Looking at You: Supersize Portraiture at Home

Wolveridge Architects

Where you don’t want to make a feature of a wall-mounted TV, a sliding floor-to-ceiling panel that blends in with the wall is clever at discreetly concealing it. In this Melbourne, Australia, living room by Wolveridge Architects, the good looks of the lower-level cabinetry, which can double as a bench seat, further distracts the eye away from the panel and, just as a magician never reveals secrets, physically distances the viewer from getting a peek at its nuts and bolts.

Howden Homes

You can minimize the impact of a TV simply by surrounding it with framed prints.

How High Should Your TV Be?

Kurt Krueger Architect

The custom wall unit in this Los Angeles living room has a certain je ne sais quoi, with sleek white glossy cabinetry set against dapper walnut wood. The TV goes unnoticed behind the cabinet above the fireplace, with its sliding cover.

Walnut Wows in Traditional and Modern Settings

Kurt Krueger Architect

Tom Stringer Design Partners

This cozy cabin might look like the type of place in which you’d shut out the outside world — no phones, computers or television. But it boasts a huge TV screen that rivals the stone fireplace. Hidden beside the chimney, it is out of eyesight when not in use, and slides out to cover the windows when the mood for a movie kicks in.

Tom Stringer Design Partners

Corben Architects

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In this Sydney home, by Corben Architects, a black wall in open cabinetry camouflages a free-standing TV and fireplace set in front of it. Integrated this way, the high-shine TV screen acts almost as a lustrous finish.

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Despina Design

A TV that doubles as a multifunctional room divider — how’s that for state of the art? This timber structure, which features an ethanol-burning fireplace and a rotating TV, divides an open kitchen-dining-living area and allows the homeowners to enjoy the warmth of the fire and a view of the TV from any part of the room.

The transparency of the fireplace and stunted height of the structure keep the piece from intruding on the space or blocking the flow of light.

C O N T E N T Architecture

Sometimes you just want to be able to pack away your television like you would a PlayStation. Cue this Houston loft and its custom wall unit with tempered glass sliding doors in a satin finish. When the doors are closed, the eye shifts to all of the homeowner’s interesting pieces — artifacts from her travels and a book collection.

Sandkamp Woodworks

That is indeed a rooftop hot tub with what must be a weatherproof television. The industrial steel frame mimics the silver in the skyline, blurring the line between the city view and what’s on TV.

Ad-Notam Miami

Here we have a TV unit that can seem to vanish into thin air. One minute the viewer is staring at his or her reflection in a mirror, and the next it’s replaced by a live stream of the Grand Prix.

TV mirrors like this have come on the market as consumers look for entertainment systems that won’t disrupt their room designs. You simply select a frame that suits your decor or choose no frame at all. Just think, now you won’t have to worry about getting your laptop or tablet wet when watching a movie in the bath. Just direct your attention to your bathroom vanity mirror, sink in deeper and say, “Ahhh.”

Bacic Group

Mastering minimalist design, this built-in TV floats above a frameless fireplace and completes the floor-to-ceiling wall feature without affecting the simplicity of the space.

Patrick Meneguzzi Interiors

A luxe piece of cabinetry can elevate a space, and this one in particular has a highly effective multifunctional purpose: Not only does it create a feature, lining the wall with something that catches your gaze, but it also stores and displays items and subtly accommodates the TV.

Forsythe General Contractors, Inc.

Who needs a dedicated media room when you can combine it so beautifully with a library? This San Francisco home nails the combo with a mammoth built-in floor-to-ceiling bookcase that sets aside just enough space for a flush wall-mount TV, which can disappear with a simple sliding panel. Should you tire of anything else on display with a unit like this …

Forsythe General Contractors, Inc.

… you know what to do!

V6B Design Group – Kitchens & Fine Cabinetry

A TV in the kitchen is quite a treat, especially when it has its very own cupboard. Guests in search of a drinking glass will be particularly taken aback.

14 Ways to Put a TV in the Kitchen

Frame My TV

You might not believe me when I tell you this, but that framed piece above the fireplace … yeah, that’s the TV, disguised by what is called a TV art cover. With the simple push of a button, the canvas painting rolls up into the decorative frame to reveal the relatively large, can’t-miss-it TV.

Canvas Gallery

A windowless bedroom shouldn’t be denied a view. Here, the designers cleverly created a sense of an outlook with pseudo curtains, which open to reveal a flat-screen TV.

Eclectic Living Room Eclectic Living Room

You can’t fit much in cupboards this size, surely …

Oh, but you can. How about your DVD collection and a flat-screen TV that swivels on a panel and slides into a cavity when not in use? That’s media storage, display and TV viewing all in one.

Lindy Donnelly

Like something straight out of a Nancy Drew novel, the middle section of this custom-made bookcase swivels to reveal a built-in TV, so as not to disrupt the cozy, scholarly vibe of the room.

Lindy Donnelly

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11 Smart Decorating Ideas for Wall Niches

“Do you have an interesting little cubby or niche and not sure what to do with it? Here are some ideas that just might help you out.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Originally published on HOUZZ, by Yanic Simard

Sometimes a wall niche has an obvious purpose — a cubby for firewood, for example. Other times, not so much. Either way, if you’re not sure what to do with your functional niche or awkward alcove, here are foolproof ways to fill, conceal, feature and otherwise turn that negative space into a positive.

Two Ellie

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1. Firewood. A classic, and obvious, use for a niche near a fireplace is to store clean, uniformly cut firewood, which creates a beautiful rustic effect even if you don’t actually burn logs in your fireplace. Generally small logs can fill any shape of niche, turning a rounded edge or an odd angle into a fun feature.

See more on firewood storage

ACRE Goods + Services

2. Firewood and art. The look of stacked wood works even in a modern setting. Feel free to get creative with it and add some art, or paint the ends of some logs in a bright shade to add graphic pops of color.

Contemporary Living Room Contemporary Living Room

3. Plants. For an organic touch similar to wood, use a hardy live plant (one that can survive away from sunlight), and let the leaves softly spill out of the niche to play against the hard lines.

See 10 of the top plants to grow indoors

MPD London

4. Shelves. Spanning shelves across a shallow wall niche is one of the most efficient uses of these spaces. It gives you extra storage and display space, and can turn what seems like an awkward area into something that looks planned and organized.

Shift Interiors

The horizontal lines of shelves can also visually correct awkwardly uneven walls (narrow or wide). Meanwhile, painting the backdrop elevates the niche to an architectural feature instead of a problem.

See 8 ideas for floating shelves

Paint by Benjamin Moore: Street Chic CSP-45 (backdrop); Balboa Mist 1549 (walls)

Regan Baker Design

5. Bright hues. Of course, an alcove doesn’t have to be shy. Consider making one the center of attention with a coat of bright paint. If a niche doesn’t have a physical border, simply tape off a 1- to 2-inch edge before painting to give it a stronger physical presence.

See more bold colors for niches, nooks and crannies

Similar paint color: Rumba Orange 2014-20, Benjamin Moore; bike racks: CB2

6. Mirrors and glass. Filling an alcove with glass shelves and a mirrored back adds a lot of layered depth, making the niche feel almost like a window or a passageway into a distant room. Here, the overall effect extends the apparent eaye line so the niche and room feel bigger.

Toronto Interior Design Group | Yanic Simard

7. Grating. Rather than filling the unusual niche between this front room and the adjacent foyer with drywall, I added decorative faux wrought iron grating to add structure while keeping the open feeling. Now the spaces are better defined without the foyer’s being closed in.

Light: Yves, Nuevo; sconces: Elte

Gayle Wainwright

8. Carved panels. Similarly, the designer of this bathroom filled the pass-throughs between the shower and main space with decorative panels, but in a more opaque way that preserves a sense of privacy.

Found Associates

9. Built-ins. Sometimes the best way to deal with a really unusually shaped niche or bulkhead is to build it out to make a flat wall. Here, the built-in storage also acts as an interesting headboard, giving the room a more structured feeling without wasting space.

Nova Tayona Architects

A similar effect has been achieved here, in a more minimalist modern look, with built-ins used at multiple depths to turn the whole wall into a subtle feature.

Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.

10. Reading nooks and open storage. The alcove under a stairway is often turned into closed storage due to the unusual shape, but it can also make a great reading nook or open storage for attractive coats, bags and other accessories that don’t need to be stashed behind closed doors.

See 8 clever ideas for the space under the stairs

Cabinets: Crystal Cabinets

Kelly Rogers Interiors

11. Furniture. When filling a niche with a furniture piece, you can opt for something subtle that blends in with the walls, or take the opportunity to make the furniture a feature, like a jewel in a case.

Chest: Butler Specialty Co.; wall paint: Cool Breeze, Benjamin Moore; carpet: Delmar in Iris Green, Prestige Mills; bed: Pottery Barn

Your Guide to Choosing Patio Stones

“Creating that special outdoor space to relax in takes some planning. Patio stones are an easy choice that you can usually do yourself.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Originally published on Houselogic

By: Andrea Nordstrom Caughey

Published: April 9, 2013

With so many patio stones on the market, it can be hard to choose. So we’ve done the research to help you make the right choice for your home.

Brick

Brick pavers are classic. They’ve got lots of character, and you can explore your creative chops by setting them in intricate patterns. Thinner than typical “builder bricks” used on home siding, they’re made to hold up under heavy foot traffic.

Brick pavers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and finishes, and can look old or new. Because they’re smaller than other pavers, they take a while to put in place, and installation costs can be higher.

You can do the job yourself for $3 to $5 per square foot. You’ll need to rent a brick saw — a heavy table-mounted saw that makes cutting masonry a snap. Cost: $60 to $95 per day. Don’t forget: You’ll need to figure out a way to get the brick saw to your house.

For a pro-installed brick patio, you’ll pay $12 to $18 per square foot, professionally installed.

Concrete

Concrete can be finished off in lots of imaginative ways — brushed, acid washed, scored, and stamped — and lots of colors. Its long lifespan and relatively inexpensive installation make it a popular choice.

“For colder climates, consider adding $1 to $2 per square foot for a specialized base preparation and concrete additive,” says Chris Fenmore, principal with Garden Studio Landscape Design.

Stamped concrete can simulate flagstone, brick, cobbles, and other decorative patterns, but adds about $3 per square foot to installation costs.

Figure $6 to 12 per square foot, depending on finish and color.

Concrete Pavers

Concrete pavers offer an embarrassment of riches — there are shapes, sizes, textures, and colors galore. Some are plain; some look like real stone; others have intricate patterns embossed on their surfaces. They’re readily available at home improvement centers and are well-suited to DIY patio projects.

Interlocking concrete pavers have tabs and slots so they fit together like pieces of a very simple puzzle. They’re fairly inexpensive, have minimal maintenance, and install quickly.

Concrete pavers are $2 to $8 per square foot. If you’d rather have a pro do it, you’ll pay $7 to $15 per square foot, including materials.

Rubber Tiles

Rubber tiles are made from recycled tires. They’re designed to go over any surface, and their light weight means you can use them on decks. They look like concrete tiles, with finishes that resemble brick and terra cotta. They’re fairly new on the market, so the jury is still out on how they perform over time.

Rubber tiles are strictly a DIY material, and they snap together with connector clips. They’re good for quickly covering up old, cracked, worn patio surfaces. You’ll pay $3 to $5 per square foot.

Flagstone, Slate, and Marble

Almost any stone can work as a paver, but most are either sandstone, limestone, slate, or granite. The materials you select will be especially cost-efficient if they come from locally operated quarries; check your local stone supplier before looking at national home improvement chains.

Stone pavers are cut into modular shapes; 6-by-12, 12-by-12, and 18-by-18-inch sizes are standard. Uncut pavers have rough, irregular edges and come in various sizes.

When it comes to installing uncut stone, an experienced pro works quickly and is your best bet for a good-looking patio with even spaces between stones.

Pro installation is $12 to $28 per square foot, depending on the stone you choose.

Want to see some stone patios that really rock?

Decomposed Granite and Pebble Surfaces

Decomposed granite is made up of very small pieces of granite, ranging in size from 1/4-inch to the size of sand. It’s an affordable way to go, and some folks really love the slightly crunchy texture underfoot, and the way rain disappears — no puddles!

You’ll probably have to refresh and replenish the granite now and then, as the surface can erode with time, so there’s some preventative maintenance involved. Figure about $1 per square foot every three years for upkeep.

Also, decomposed granite isn’t solid and furniture legs tend to sink into the stones. Adding stabilizers that help bind particles together can strengthen the surface.

Cost: $1.50 per square foot without stabilizers, $2 with stabilizers.

Finding Your Own Recycled Materials

Like the idea of upcycling? A patio is a good way to reuse old building materials, and it’s a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to new materials. Plus, you’ll be building a one-of-a-kind creation. Tip: Look for materials that provide uniform thickness.

Cast-off concrete sections from a neighbor’s old driveway or sidewalk.

Check nearby construction sites for old materials — be sure to ask permission before hauling anything away.

Know of a building scheduled for demolition? See if there’s any old brick or stone is going to be discarded.

Although the materials are usually free, it’s a good idea to enlist some strong-backed helpers and the use of a pick-up truck. For a typical 12-by-12-foot patio, you’ll save $500 to $800 versus new pavers. Spend some of that on a patio party for your helpers.

(If you’re a salvaged materials aficionado, check out our slideshow on clever ways to use salvage in your home.)

Mixing Materials

Remember, you’re not stuck with one type of patio paver. Combining different materials — such as brick together with concrete, or stone with rock trim, can create a cool, customized look.

Southern California designer Chris Fenmore notes, “Too much hardscape can be tedious. I often like to use four-inch troughs separating masonry from concrete that can be filled with gravel, beach rocks, or ground cover. They provide a bit of relief from the hardscape and nice detail, adding to the custom look of the yard.”

Getting on Base

Choosing paving materials begins with a basic: the base or foundation. The base supports your pavers, and it’s got to be firm, strong, and designed to stand up to years of wear and weather. A poorly installed base leads to shifting and settling that’ll crack concrete and make your patio pavers look like choppy seas.

A sand-and-gravel base is a good DIY project; leave a concrete slab base to the pros.

A gravel and sand base is a simple foundation that lets you “dry set” pavers — you put the pavers on top of the base, then sweep fine sand into the joints to hold them there. Building a gravel-and-sand base is an easy (but time-consuming) DIY project. You’ll pay $2 to $3 per square foot for a DIY job. If you’d rather have a pro do the work, figure $3 to $5 per square foot.

With a sand or gravel base, chances are there’ll be some settling over time. Every couple of years, plan on resetting individual pavers that have gotten out of whack because of settling.

A concrete base offers greater longevity and stability, with less potential for settling. On a concrete slab base, the paving materials are set permanently with mortar, and ongoing maintenance is minimal.

Working with concrete is a challenge for weekend warriors, so skip experimentation (mistakes in concrete are permanent) and go with a pro. You’ll pay $5 to $8 per square foot for a professionally installed concrete base.

If you’re a fan of concrete, check out these imaginative ways to use concrete inside your house.

Your Guide to 10 Landscape Materials

“Sometimes you want to do something ‘different’ in certain areas of your yard, but your not sure what that might be. Here are some great ideas as alternatives to grass for your outside areas.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Paving a landscape investment, and the cost varies considerably based on the type used and how readily available it is. Cast-in-place concrete is usually the cheapest and most easily installed paving option, but those who live in regions with naturally occurring stone like limestone, granite or slate can use that local stone at a more affordable price.

Here are our guides to 10 of the most popular paving materials. Whether you are repaving or paving new, you can use them to understand the basics about paving to make an informed decision based on your situation and where you live.

Arterra Landscape Architects

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Cast-in-Place Concrete: Budget-friendliest

Concrete is the standard because it’s affordable, easy to install and easy to maintain. However, cast-in-place concrete doesn’t have to be boring just because it’s the standard. There are many ways to create patterns, textures and colors to liven it up.

Guide: Pros and cons of cast-in-place concrete

Bagnato Architects

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Precast Concrete Pavers: Best color and texture variety at an affordable price

Precast concrete pavers are modular pavers that come in a dizzying number of sizes, shapes, colors, textures and patterns. Precast concrete pavers are a great choice for those who want a different look but don’t want to pay for natural stone. Modular permeable systems, which soak up water instead of creating runoff, are available for driveways, walkways and patios.

Guide:Pros and cons of precast concrete paving

Morehead Pools

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Brick: Classic style and works in all climates

Brick in the standard 4-inch-by-8-inch size can be used to make many fun patterns, including herringbone, without looking too busy, and its reddish tones bring warmth to the garden. Brick also works well with many other hardscapes, which is why you’ll often see it used with wood decks and other paving materials.

Guide:Pros and cons of brick paving

Butler Armsden Architects

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Gravel: Great for permeability and to soften a hardscape

Gravel is available as decomposed stone by the bag or pallet and can be used for paths and patios where you want a softer look. It needs to be bound by some kind of rigid edge, like in the space shown here, to contain it.

Guide: Pros and cons of gravel paving

Bliss Design Firm

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Limestone: Great for reflecting heat in hot climates

Limestone is typically white to off-white and sometimes a grayish white. Its light colors make it fantastic for warm climates, where it can reflect heat. It also brings a nice brightness to shaded garden areas — lightening up even places in deep shade.

Guide:Pros and cons of limestone paving

Dean Herald-Rolling Stone Landscapes

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Travertine: Best for surrounding a pool

Travertine is harder and less porous than its cousin limestone, which makes it somewhat easier to maintain. It stays cool to the touch and makes a lovely poolside surface for bare feet.

Guide: Pros and cons of travertine paving

V.I.Photography & Design

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Tile: Great colors for warm climates

Tile is bold and funky because it comes in bright and rich colors and is a nice choice for warm climates. It can be tricky to maintain, so be sure you are ready to keep up with tile maintenance.

Guide:Pros and cons of tile paving

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

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Granite: A superior tough stone that’s excellent in cold climates

Granite is expensive, at $14 to $20 per square foot installed, but it may be worth the investment for you because it lasts several lifetimes. If you live near the granite quarries of the Northeast, it’s also a sustainable, local building material.

Guide: Pros and cons of granite paving

The Garden Builders

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Slate: Great for cold climates and deep in color

Slate has a deep, rich color and is available in many tones, from deep charcoal to jade green. Slate withstands the coldest climates and works like a champ in the freeze-thaw cycle.

Guide:Pros and cons of slate paving

Berger Partnership

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Bluestone: Elegant, upscale and fantastic in a flagstone pattern

Bluestone is a flaky kind of stone that is broken along its fissure lines to create some of the most elegant flagstones. It’s also available as dimensioned rectangular pavers, if you want a regular pattern for your patio.

Guide:Pros and cons of bluestone paving

Archer & Buchanan Architecture, Ltd.

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Designer tip: Bricks, precast concrete, stone pavers and all the other modular paver types listed here are available for reuse — you just have to know how to find them. Some municipalities have reuse warehouses where residents can pick up salvaged building materials, and some paving suppliers specialize in historic reclaimed granite pavers and street bricks.

Originally published on HOUZZ, by Falon Mihalic

8 Clever Ideas for Under Your Stairs

“There are so many ways to use that space under the stairs…Sitting Area, Bookshelves, indoor door house.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

The proverb “Waste not, want not” applies to many aspects of life, and interior design is no exception. Making the most of every square foot of your home is a great way to gain the most value (both financially and emotionally) from it. If you live in a house with stairs, the space beneath them is a gold mine of creative possibilities. Here are eight ways to make the most of it.

JWT Associates

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1. Reading Nook

The small dimensions of the space under the stairs make it ideal for creating a cozy reading nook. This Los Angles book nook, designed by JWT Associates, is wrapped in tongue-and-groove wood paneling for a down-on-the-farm aesthetic.

Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.

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With its white beadboard walls and storage cabinets underneath, this cozy Washington, D.C., reading nook is a great place to unwind with a good book.

Explore 15 cozy book nooks

Jon R. Sayler, Architect AIA PS

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This reading nook, by architect Jon R. Sayler for a home in Seattle, was designed around a full-size mattress. It’s a comfortable napping spot and overflow guest quarters.

Lynn Donaldson & Associates

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2. Bookshelves

The shape of the space under the stairs also lends itself to built-in bookshelves. Unlike standard shelves or bookcases, under-the-stairs units take up just the right amount of space and can be made in a variety of styles.

This angular built-in bookcase in Calgary, Alberta, includes a bottom row of drawers for extra storage.

Wall paint: Lava Gray, PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Glenn Gissler Design

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A curved staircase, like this grand example in New York, creates the perfect space for a dramatic library wall along the stairs.

Texas Construction Company

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A single-shelf bookcase cut into the bottom of the stairs can be eye-catching, as in this contemporary home in Austin, Texas.

Von Fitz Design

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3. Playspace

While putting a child’s bedroom under the stairs à la Harry Potter might be a little cruel, the space can make for a great play area for the young ones.

A narrow door built into the side of this Los Angeles staircase leads to a private retreat for the homeowners’ children.

Von Fitz Design

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The interior of this playspace under the stairs include vibrant green walls, a shaggy throw pillow, faux-fur rugs and a helpful reminder about the importance of brothers.

Wall sign: Pottery Barn Kids

CplusC Architectural Workshop

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This contemporary nook cut into the stairs is a magical place in which kids can play and dream. CplusC Architectural Workshop designed this space for a home in Sydney.

Risinger Homes

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4. Office

If you don’t have an entire room available for a home office, consider the space under the stairs as a great alternative. The built-in desk and bookshelves of this modern office in Austin, Texas, make for a stylish workspace.

Discover 95 dazzling deskscapes

Andrew Snow Photography

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It’s not necessary to build an entire office under the stairs. Sometimes a desk and chair below an open staircase do the trick, as shown in this industrial loft in Toronto.

Eames aluminum Management Group leather chair: Room & Board

Maison de Reve Builders LLC

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5. Pet Space

The space under the stairs offers a wonderful private spot for a family pet. This doghouse in New Orleans features a custom wrought iron gate made to match the stair railing above.

Candlelight Homes

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Simply adding a water bowl, food bowl and dog bed to an alcove under the stairs also creates a custom and stylish space for your pet.

Electric Mirror

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6. Powder Room

Adding a bathroom, even just a powder room, is a great way to raise the value of your home. The space under the stairs may provide just enough space for a toilet and sink, as seen in the marble-clad powder room above.

My Bespoke Room Ltd

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This London powder room, by My Bespoke Room Ltd., makes good use of the small space under the stairs.

Browse 102 pretty powder rooms

Pinnacle Mountain Homes

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7. Wine Storage

For the wine enthusiast, finding storage space for bottles can be a challenge. Consider the space under the stairs as a prime location to add wine racks or even a walk-in wine cellar, as seen above.

Jeri Koegel Photography

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If you don’t have enough room for a walk-in wine cellar under your stairs, a few stylish wine racks might do the trick. This modern space in Los Angeles can hold up to 33 wine bottles.

Eames molded plastic stacking side chair: Design Within Reach

Keechi Creek Builders

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8. Hybrid

If you’re having a difficult time deciding between one option for your space under the stairs, why not try two? This Houston home, designed by Keechi Creek Builders, has both a doghouse and office space under the stairs.

Feldman Architecture, Inc.

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This San Francisco home, designed byFeldman Architecture Inc., includes a built-in bookshelf under the stairs …

Feldman Architecture, Inc.

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… and the bookshelf is also a secret door that leads to a children’s playspace.

Discover secret doors and hidden passages

John Hannah Architectural Design & Rendering

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Finally, this cleverly designed space under the stairs in a Montreal home has a washing machine and dryer, as well as an alcove where the family cat likes to hang out.

Originally Published on HOUZZ, by Bryan Anthony

DC Metro Info – Events, Info & Real Estate Trends

Keeping You Informed About Where You Live

Tag Archives: Painting

Powder Room Vanity Styles With Personality

Design Your Closet for the Real World

13 Storage Solutions to Banish the Clutter

Wandering Paths That Take Joy in the Journey

Mastering Your Morning Routine

Can You Spot the TV?

11 Smart Decorating Ideas for Wall Niches

Your Guide to Choosing Patio Stones

Concrete

Concrete Pavers

Rubber Tiles

Flagstone, Slate, and Marble

Decomposed Granite and Pebble Surfaces

Finding Your Own Recycled Materials

Mixing Materials

Getting on Base

Your Guide to 10 Landscape Materials

8 Clever Ideas for Under Your Stairs

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Concrete

Concrete Pavers

Rubber Tiles

Flagstone, Slate, and Marble

Decomposed Granite and Pebble Surfaces

Finding Your Own Recycled Materials

Mixing Materials

Getting on Base

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