Houzz Tour: Fun Living Spaces for 5 and Rooftop Garden

This house is built in a very urban fashion, but it’s really located in the seaside neighborhood of Silver Strand in Marina Del Rey, Calif.. The houses in this section of town are really close to each other, so builders are often made to build up instead of out.

The owners of the home had a space that could have lasting design and grow with their three children. Designer Joani Stewart-Georgi infused the house with a transitional look that combines contemporary and classic design, and took good advantage of the home’s height with a stunning rooftop deck and view of the ocean.

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The rooftop was a blank canvas if Stewart-Georgi first came across it. The chimney has been its just structure up there, so that she worked with it, covering it with piled stone.

The flooring is made with smooth epoxied pebbles, a material the customer spotted on the ground of a regional Pinkberry.

Side tables:
Crate & Barrel
Umbrella: Berks Patio
Stone on Fireplace: Bourget Brothers

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

A kitchen has been set up beside the fireplace. Since the weather in this region is ideal for outdoor entertaining nearly all the year, the clients wanted a space where they could host parties and make the most of their outdoor space.

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The rooftop is split into two areas, with an indoor sofa aboard. Stewart-Georgi is working on turning the other half of this rooftop deck to an outdoor play area for the children.

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

A recreation room, guest room and bath and laundry room fill the floor. This multipurpose room has been outfitted with a pool table and sliding Nana doors that open to a private patio with a different outdoor kitchen.

Flooring: Rhomboid Sax
Rug: The Rug Company,”Cowhide Morocco”
Sofa and seats: Seva Home

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

This was a space the husband actually wanted to be his — and with a place to shop and celebrate his love of wine was a massive part of the. A cherry wood bar with stainless steel inserts was built against the back wall, together with an impressive wine storage method tucked behind two glass doors.

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The third floor houses all the bedrooms. The unbelievable wall mural in this nautical themed nursery was painted by Sedi Pak out of Sedi Studios, who also designed the mural from the girls’ room (adjacent ).

The clients wanted a mattress in the nursery for a place to rest and relax while taking care of the baby. The room was a bit too small for a fantastic daybed, therefore Stewart-Georgi compromised by locating a seat that folds out to a bed. The major floor pillow was custom made so that their son could play on the ground comfortably.

Carpet: Contempo Floor Coverings
Red Chair: American Leather
Bedding: Gordonsbury Company,”Sailing Away”
Murals: Sedi Pak out of Sedi Studios

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

For the girls’ room, Stewart-Georgi needed to take care to balance out the limited space for the 2 children. Two small wardrobes take the area of closets, plus a built-in bookcase has been added for extra storage. Everything was designed to be within the women’ reach.

Carpet: Contempo Floor Coverings
Wardrobes: Stanley Furniture
Murals:
Sedi Pak out of Sedi Studios

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The playful contrast of pink and brown was motivated by a photograph Stewart-Georgi came across in a magazine. She found perfect white and pink polka dot fabric, and had it made into duvets with small brown pom-pons at the top. The beds were custom made in a plush brown cloth with contrasting pink piping.

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The 2 children’s rooms are at one end of the ground, while the master suite is at the end of a long hallway on the other side. The master bedroom was designed to be an area of supreme comfort and relaxation. Soothing sage greens and soft off-whites were chosen for the color scheme, also Stewart-Georgi set up a small seating area near the foot of their bed for the couple to relax at the end of a long moment.

Mattress framework: Room & Board
Arm seats: Michael Berman
Bench: Room & Board
Table lamps: Barclay Butera
Carpeting: Contempo Floor Coverings

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The master bath’s long and narrow design made it perfect for a large his-and-her dressing table. Travertine floors and Caesarstone counters complete the luxe look.

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The kitchen in this brand new spec home was done in a very traditional style when the couple moved in. They wanted to redo it, but didn’t want to go too contemporary or trendy. Stewart-Georgi had the surfaces refaced and fresh alder cabinetry and Caesarstone counters installed. The pantry has been outfitted for supreme organization, and an integrated desk has been added beside the refrigerator.

Counters: Caesarstone “Blizzard”
Backsplash: Mission Tile West

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

Stewart-Georgi produced a transitional look throughout the home’s interior, relying on habit and classic investment pieces.

The living room plays off black-and-white tones, however, the combination of textures keep the room warm and comforting. A glistening travertine floor reflects the abundance of natural sunlight. The fireplace surround is made from cement painted with a faux finish for a classic look.

Area Rug: Tufenkian
Side Effects: Custom created by Arden House, Andrea and Frank

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

The living room is a long and narrow space, therefore Stewart-Georgi broke it up into multiple seating areas, contrasting the black Barcelona chairs with a white pair of contemporary armchairs and a couch. The second floor of the house includes all the home’s main common spaces, including the kitchen, dining room, living room, and living space.

White sofa: A.Rudin Designs
Armchairs: David Edward”Lolita”
Artwork: Karen Sike, Bradford Stewart
Coffee table: Mies Van de Rohe Barcelona Table

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

Stewart-Georgi enjoys contemporary art. The painting and the mirror inside this dining room were designed by friends of hers — the stunning mirror is made from stainless steel tubes welded together to look like bamboo.

Mirror: Susan Landau Designs
Chandelier: Charles Jacobson
Chairs: Room & Board
Artwork: Amadea Bailey

Joani Stewart-Georgi – Montana Ave. Interiors

Though this neighborhood was once close to the water, the construction of canals have placed it further back from the shore, which makes that rooftop deck even more significant.

Photography by Douglas Hill Photography
Contractor: DC Williamson General Contracting

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Modern Shingle Style in Utah

A Home Full of History and Surprise

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Design Mix: Organic Glam

I recall the days when your taste was categorized as eclectic if you needed more than 1 decor style in your property. Currently I am designing a space I refer to Organic Glam. It’s a well-curated mix of weathered wood, reflective furniture and accessories, and lavish fabrics. It’s both organic and glamorous.

The juxtaposition of raw and finished, glistening and dull, rough and smooth is the main attraction from the space. The play on texture is a delight for the senses. The designers of these chambers would concur.

More: What’s Your Design Style?

Brown Glaws Contractors Fine Custom Homes

In the midst of clapboard walls and towering ceilings this oceanfront house boasts not one, but two pretty chandeliers made from natural elements. The casing wall mirrors emphasize the area’s openness and bounces light across the space.

Brown Glaws Contractors Fine Custom Homes

Planked walls are softened with a coating of creamy paint and be complicated when paired with a neutral palette, soft upholstered furniture and accessories that are shining.

Signature Design & Cabinetry LLC

A driftwood mirror organically matches a color palette mimicking a white sandy surf. A marble surround further enhances its understated elegance.

Signature Design & Cabinetry LLC

The neighboring kitchen reveals the rest of the treasured marble and includes another stunning element, a lovely multiarm chandelier adorned with wooden beads.

ROMABIO / Interior & Exterior Mineral Based Paints

Whitewashed seats, exposed wood beams, a rustic chandelier go glam in the midst of gilded framed art and a lavish burnt orange couch.

ROMABIO / Interior & Exterior Mineral Based Paints

An area layered with texture then multiplied with an installation of wall-to-wall mirror seduces the senses. A soft hide rug against a layer of seagrass, followed by antiqued columns, vibrant color, and French seats has to be the epitome of rustic glamour.

Brown Glaws Contractors Fine Custom Homes

Looking for organic fashion mixed with casual attractiveness? Try a relaxing mix of slipcovered furnishings, wooden lamps, textural shades, and a pair of toss pillows in trendy fabric.

Designer tip: Having a neutral palette like this one, substituting the toss cushions alone will effortlessly change the direction of the space.

More: How to Produce Your Neutral Palette Shine
Nation Glam at Woodstock
Sleek Bachelor Pad Mixes Minimal Style, Organic Touches

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Reader Kitchen of the Week: Modern Clean and Clutter-Free

Houzz user aimzter wanted her kitchen for a place of serenity and calm, which was far cry from her original kitchen space. “Our previous kitchen always seemed somewhat cluttered and comfy even when it was clean because of all the open storage spaces, and various tile and surface work,” she says.

By incorporating two layers of above-counter storage, together with simple cabinetry and countertop materials, and accenting with contemporary accessories, aimzter was able to create a fresh and clutter-free space, while still working within a limited budget.

The two pendants hanging over a Caesarstone kitchen island are the focal point of this kitchen. Despite contradicting advice, aimzter decided to not place a sink in her kitchen island. “I needed a giant workspace in which we could distribute cooking, crafts, or homework projects,” she says. “It was important to me to have a good surface for flexible use.”

Although money was stored on the fridge (a KitchenAid they’ve had for more than 10 years), aimzter decided to splurge on the wall ovens. These high-end appliances have been chosen due to their excellent cooking features, as well as the fact that they might be installed flush into the cabinets.

Bar stools: SEBASTIAN pub stool from IKEA
Island: Caesarstone 6600
Pendants: Powell Street Pendant, 2Thousand Degrees
Granite counters: Miele Master Chef Oven and Miele Speed Oven

Among the biggest challenges during construction was installing the sliding glass pocket doors. From the very start, aimzter and her husband knew they needed to open the wall up into the deck so that they could fully appreciate their small backyard. “Although the system is pretty straightforward, the contractors were really stressed about making this job,” she says.

Flooring: Oak, to meld with the rest of the house

In the original kitchen, the walls, floor, and ceiling were uneven. The ceiling and floor had to be leveled so the new cabinetry wouldn’t appear crooked.

Aimzter made certain to include 3 garbage pull-outs from the island, since San Francisco needs 3 waste bins for curbside pickup (compost, recycling and trash). “I didn’t want to go through the full remodel and still have an extra garbage can to trip on at the end of the counter,” aimzter says.

Counters: Caesarstone 2020
Backsplash: Caesarstone 6600
Cooktop and stove hood: Bosch 36″ Gas Cooktop 800 Series, and Bosch Chimney Wall Hoods 500 Series

IKEA base cabinets over the wall cabinets make good storage space for items which are not necessarily for everyday use — for example particular holiday dishes. The warm wood tones help warm up the space and look custom — but without the extra price. “The goal was not to add top-of-the-line pieces we didn’t need, but to use resources as creatively as you can,” aimzter says.

Cabinetry: IKEA, NEXUS in brown and ABSTRAKT in white
Sink: Mirabelle
Faucet: Grohe

Have an eclectic, vibrant or unique kitchen? We’d love to see it. Upload a photo below!

More readers’ kitchens:
Kitchen of the Week: Quirky Texas Remodel
Kitchen of the Week: A Beautiful and Eco-Friendly Update
Kitchen of the Week: Paola’s Classy and Contemporary Kitchen

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Loft Design: Float the Bed

About 20 years ago some friends were giving us a tour of the new home. After we got to the master bedroom, then their bed was slap in the center of the room, angled to make the most of the view. I was totally enthralled with how glamorous that sensed and have desired to float my bed ever since.

I finally got my opportunity when we moved to our home in Oregon 6 years ago. In my own bedroom, if our bed is straight back against the wall we have a view of the woods, but if we have the bed in the middle of the room we can see the river beneath also. So, we went for it. We state we did it for the view, but there is something extra luxurious about getting that space all around the bed that is hard to describe until you try it.

If you reside in a wide open loft, or if you’re blessed with a specially big bedroom, then drifting your bed away in the walls is an option for you — or perhaps even a necessity!

If you choose to try this, your headboard, side tables and light all require some special consideration. Check out these designers made it feasible to just float off into dreamland.

David Gray Architects

Opt for a bed that is beautiful in the trunk. When your bed is going to be seen from all sides, you don’t want to have an unfinished MDF back showing! This fully upholstered headboard looks great and it provides a cozy place to slim down. The small side table is placed behind it, however, the headboard is low enough to reach over to get the books. Their light comes from ceiling stains.

Hint: in case you don’t have a lamp near your bed, you might want to check into having a remote control so you can turn off the room lights without getting out of bed.

MusaDesign Interior Design

These people have a front row view of town. Can you imagine that view have to look at night with all the city lights?

Speaking of mild: Lamp wires trailing across the floor will not do, and that means you need to organize your lighting nicely. In this room two suspension lights hang from the ceiling. Weights in the base keep the fittings vertical to the cable rather than dangling straight down. It’s a nice detail that offers visual interest behind the bed.

usona

If you want table lamps, then floor-mounted electric outlets are your buddies. The cord can disappear under the bed. In this case, it helps that the bed has room underneath so you can get at the plug if you need to.

No side tables are needed here. The headboard has a nice, wide top to hold the lamp and some other bedside items.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

Most tables marketed as”nightstands” are created to go from the wall and don’t look fine from all sides. This is a wonderful opportunity to get creative with your bedside table! This one is just the correct height to slide over the edge of the table. The tiny table lamp will not fall over when moving the table out of the way and the cord disappears under the bed, presumably into a floor-mounted outlet.

Robert Granoff

I know this bed isn’t floating, but I am including it here because the bedside tables are such a nice oval shape. A lot of the time, when you float the bed, it has its back to the entrance of the room. I like rounded backs to furniture when it has its back to you. That is why I feel these side tables could make a great choice next to a floating bed.

Masterson Studio

At first glance, the bed in this photo looks like it is back against the wall, but they have built a minimal partial-wall/headboard to coincide with the other partial wall behind it. It serves as the headboard and provides a place for wall sconces to be mounted to get light.

Pepe Calderin Design- Modern Interior Design

If the floating bed feels just a little too, well,”floaty” for you, here is a concept: The combination of a significant headboard/cabinet and side tables that match this stage bed create just enough of a framed atmosphere all around this bed so it feels more like it is in its own niche, rather than just loose in the center of the room.

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

This custom cupboard does triple duty. However, we can see, it is a bookcase. Although we can’t find the other side, notice how the endings are closed on this side. I wager that on the side toward the bed there are drawers or shelves for use as the bedside table. Also, judging by the light switches on the finish, my guess is that there are lights on the opposite side also. Super functional!

Trigg Smith Architects

Modern rooms aren’t the only way that can benefit from drifting the bed. In this room, with each the angles and windows, it looks like it would have been hard to set the bed without drifting it. The traditional canopy bed gives this the feeling of being an island in the room.

Anthropologie

Barnwood Hanging Bed – $2,898

Rock-a-bye-baby! This mattress provides a whole new meaning to the floating-the-bed idea. A bed such as this needs space so it can influence a little without banging into anything. I have not ever slept in a bed like this, but I adore swings, so I believe I’d love this too!

More:
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16 Stunningly Beautiful Fireplaces
19 Dream Tubs for Bath Lovers

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Gyms for Every Home

Almost all of us could use more exercise in our lives. More power to you, if you do not! I find it really helps you to make workout space as accessible as possible to decrease the chance for excuse-making. That is why home gyms, regardless of the size, are so beneficial. Gym memberships are great, but there are days when exercising at home would be enough.

Sometimes all we could spare is a few square feet for our home health club, but when done right, that is more than sufficient. Regardless of what kind of space you have, there are methods to make it seem great and inspire you.

Crisp Architects

Trainers and complements to gyms (such as saunas) could be carved from awkward space you are not sure how to use — or if you are one of those lucky few who have an excessive amount of cupboard and not enough stuff.

decordemon

If you’ve got the space for a home gym, do not make exuses for this, celebrate it! I love this challenging concrete flooring and boxing bag, paired with the elegant tufted seat for breaks.

Cosmetic Outburst

If you are like me, all you’ve got to work with is really a strip of flooring and a nearby cabinet. No matter! That is only enough space for impromptu yoga, pilates plus a little light lifting.

Maintain a mat rolled up in the cabinet along with a pair of little dumbbells and also a towel. Your workout will forever at the ready.

A home gym does not have to consist of a room full of workout gear and a rubberized floor (although that is fine ). Half the battle becoming moved and enjoying your surroundings, so if there is a bit of equipment you love to use and also a spot in your home you love to maintain, consider plopping your favourite machine in your favourite spot and you are guaranteed to be motivated to workout there.

Paul Francis Shurtleff Architect

I understand. I understand . We can’t all have this little slice-o-heaven in our homes. But for those who will, more power to ya!

Eisner Design LLC

It appears to me that one challenge for many parents is finding a sitter for the children so that they could go workout. Childcare is already so expensive that adding another hour or two seems indulgent. Nonetheless, it’s important for parents to make time for their wellbeing. Setting up a little workout spot where you are able to keep an eye on the kiddos might be the solution.

Becker Architects Limited

Yes, another luxurious lap pool shooter. But I am focusing on the crops here. Help your fitness spot blend in with a little bit of greenery, which also adds life and freshens the air.

Harrell Remodeling, Inc..

This room looks like it could double as a guest bedroom. Move the mattress aside (or hide it at the wall, Murphy bed-style), and you have yourself a small workout spot.

Although this gym is not at a residence, the layout and total feeling could be modified for use at home. The extended textile is a superb method to separate a workout area from the remainder of a space without blocking light. All of the equipment (and furniture, and accessories, for that matter) in this image looks great. The space is bright, clean airy and does not scream”GYM!”

Mark Brand Architecture

While a sitting room in a master bedroom sounds like a fabulous idea, in my experience, it’s rarely employed. How about turning it into a well-appointed and beautiful workout space?

More: Browse more photographs with home gym ideas

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Design Elements: Beautiful Reclaimed Wood

Want to include an aged patina to your home and save a tree or three at precisely the exact same moment? Consider sourcing retrieved wood. These boards include torn-down barns, houses or even factories. If you own an older home, you might already have some gorgeous wood behind the drywall or around the loft floor. Here are a few stellar examples of how architects, interior designers and builders are adding reclaimed wood’s wonderful texture to walls, floors, cabinets and more.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc..

Sometimes reclaiming means looking at what may be hiding behind the drywall or newer layers of paneling. Designer Garrison Hullinger brought the walls down to reveal such 100-year-old tongue-and-groove planks. Bonus: The stunning accent wall eliminates the requirement for a headboard.

Watch the rest of the home

Robert Hawkins

Architect Robert Hawkins utilized reclaimed hardwood for this perpendicular interior paneling. In terms of its prior life, ” he says,”I believe it was in an older barn arrangement in the Midwest originally. It has been milled with a shiplap profile.

“We love the warm character and feel that the material exudes to the space; understanding that the material is getting another life is a good feeling. Because the surface of the wood has a natural aged patina, no stain is necessary or desired, thereby avoiding the potential intrusion of VOCs to the inside surroundings,” he says.

Searl Lamaster Howe Architects

This gorgeous fireplace wall stands up to the scale of the soaring ceiling, making it possible to utilize a small fireplace. The wood was originally in a barn in Texas. “The house was designed to be a part of the landscape. This was accomplished by the way in which the house sits at the site, the positioning of windows and the position of walls for viewpoints,” says Pam Lamaster-Millet, the project’s architect. “We felt that the reclaimed wood was appropriate for its key focus of the living room, as an extension of the wooded site to the house, and a nod to the agricultural region of Algoma.”

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

Architect Richard Bubnowski maintained white walls as a backdrop to emphasize a rich mixture of textures in the home. The fireplace facade is covered in local reclaimed oak, which communicates a sense of era to the new construct and performs the kitchen cabinets and island.

Watch the rest of the home

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

Here’s a glance at that kitchen cabinet wood mentioned before, which has been whitewashed.

Jane Kim Design

The counters and shelves in this industrial kitchen are manufactured from reclaimed barn wood, which navigates between the exposed brick and stainless steel. The wood adds character and a sense of background to this slick attic.

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Dresser Homes

If you’d like the part of reclaimed wood in your home but are not up for a renovation, you can bring it in conjunction with furniture. This coffee table is manufactured from reclaimed railroad ties.

Woodland Creek Furniture

This table’s top used to be a doorway, and is complete with the original rusty and crusty ring door pull.

Holly Marder

If you are great with tools, then you might want to accept a mirrored desk as a do-it-yourself project. A happy accident improved the appearance of the dining table, which can be created from repurposed wood planks. The appearance was inspired by a few spilled paint.

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Rough Linen

Obviously, I can’t talk about reclaimed wood without incorporating Tricia Rose’s one-of-a-kind driftwood headboard.

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Structures, Inc..

The old beams and ceiling boards in this contemporary kitchen give it a charming and hot European feel.

Joanne Palmisano, Salvage Keys

Pairing reclaimed wood with other reclaimed objects is a winning combination. This sink, salvaged from an old industrial building, sits atop cabinets fashioned from reclaimed wood.

Learn more by reading about ‘Salvage Secrets’

Summerour Architects

Engineered wood is a fantastic eco friendly alternative for flooring. If you are recycling floorboards, you can often find boards which are different sizes than the usual standards on the industry today. If you are renovating an older home, mine the loft for unfinished wide plank boards and replace the loft floor with something less particular.

More:
10 Great Picks for Eco-Friendly Tile
10 Ways to Move Greener Through Design
Kitchen of the Week: A Warm and Eco-Friendly Update
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View a Creative Salvaged-Wood Wall

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Finding Part II

It’s fun to check through all the lovely, professionally designed rooms here on Houzz — such as those within this ideabook — for great ideas and inspiration. The designers make it appear simple, don’t they? But if you take a look at the Houzz Design Dilemmas segment, you understand that people frequently have a hard time getting it right and bump into mistakes all of the time.

That will help you get it right, I’ve compiled a private collection of the top 10 decorating mistakes individuals make. See Part 1 here, along with photos showing how Houzz designers have successfully handled these decorating issues.

If a few of those design mistakes are familiar — oh, yes, I am not exempt; I’ve heard some of this the hard way — I hope that you find that this ideabook helpful.

RYAN ASSOCIATES GENERAL CONTRACTORS

This residence is a great illustration of a beautiful color palette that harmonizes with the exterior and flows throughout the house. The colours are warm and vivid, holding their own against the magnificent view of the ocean and landscape.

Notice how all the colours come in the painting, and the yellowish and terracotta have exactly the identical intensity. The square support column beyond the room is the main color of the home’s exterior — almost precisely the same as the wall color in this room.

This averts Mistake No. 6: Lack of color or poor color palette

I often see houses that are a sea of beige and brown with no variation in tone, texture or pattern. Snooze! You don’t need to paint your walls a bright shade, but for heaven’s sake; include just a little shade through art or accessories. Those are equally low-risk approaches.

Artwork is a terrific starting point for a color palette. For adding colours if you find some art you love, use that as your manual.

RYAN ASSOCIATES GENERAL CONTRACTORS

The bedroom of the same home demonstrates how you can use the same color palette in another room to find a different look. Terracotta and yellow would be the main colors again, yet this time, the white is about the walls and ceiling rather than the carpeted flooring.

The hardwood flooring in this room is not technically terracotta, however it is a really similar color. The art also picks up the mixture of colours and adds blue, which will be in full harmony with the ocean view.

The yellow and blue of the dining room may look like a surprise if you had only seen the living room revealed previously, however the exterior of the residence is terracotta and blue and it plays off of the ocean perspective beautifully.

This averts Mistake No. 7: Poor color flow from room to room

I’ve been in houses where it seems every wall is a “accent wall” and each room has a different color scheme with no link to any other room. A Cirque du Soleil point set springs to mind! Outstanding for the queen, however to your house. Bless their hearts for being courageous enough to put color in their houses, but using a well-planned color palette that flows from room to room really makes the house feel larger!

The 3 photos of this home show that each room can look quite different by varying the proportions of colours used from room to room and such as colours in some rooms but not others while still having great color flow.

Garret Cord Werner Architects & Interior Designers

Just like in the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, everything within this dining room isn’t too large and not too little, but just right. The art is the right size for over the fireplace. The rug is big enough to allow the seats to be dragged back without going over the border and not overly big for the room. As is the centerpiece the dining table room is in proportion to the dining table.

And if you look at the back of the room, you can see that the mirror is just the right size for the wall area and sideboard and that the group of candle holders are big enough to be the only accessory on the sideboard.

This averts Mistake No. 8: Incorrect scale and ratio

The most common places where I see scale and ratio out of whack comprise:

1. Art that is too little for the wall on which it is placed: Try to cover 2/3 of the available area.

2. Bedside lamps that are too little for the side tables: The bottom of the shade needs to be about even with or just over your shoulder when seated in bed.

3. Sofas that are way too large for the room: No easy guideline here. If you are having an impossible time placing the couch, it is likely too big.

4. Accessories that are only too small: Just like the phrase “Go big or go home,” a few big accessories will probably always look better than a bunch of small objects.

5. Area rugs that are either too big or too little: there are lots of ideabooks composed on the various considerations here.

Tip: To help you get scale and ratio right, print several large photos of all of your rooms and write down dimensions of current furnishings and room dimensions. Carry them with you and store where you will find artists to assist you get sizes right. Again, I emphasize providing big photos of your spaces or rooms. There’s nothing more useless to some designer than a tiny picture in your cell phone.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

I just can not say enough about the beauty and the wonder of built-in cabinetry. This bedroom cabinetry includes 15 — count ’em — 15 drawers in which to hide your pants, shirts and what-have-yous. The display space above provides an opportunity to respect a collection. Beautiful!

This averts Mistake No. 9: Inadequate or unsightly storage alternatives

I encounter poor storage most frequently in bedrooms and home offices. Do you have a giant armoire plus a few dressers lined up across the wall in your bedroom? I run across this scenario frequently.

One dresser or armoire won’t deal with the storage needs, so another and yet another is purchased and lined up like they’re in a firing squad. Whenever two or even three storage pieces of furniture are lined up at a row on one wall, the room looks busy and oppressive, even if the furniture pieces are good quality and fine looking.

Rather than buying several storage pieces, put your cash to a well-designed built for the best utilization of storage area. Customized cupboard storage is better than regretting several dressers at a room.

Warmington & North

Here is yet another bedroom with beautiful built-in cabinetry. Incorporating window chairs and building at around the windows was a superb idea. They have a single armoire into the left and the rest of the storage needs are cared for by the built-ins. So much nicer than extra dressers would have been.

Ana Williamson Architect

If you have an office lined with a conglomeration of plastic drawers and bathtubs holding everything and have piles sitting on the ground, look at this slick cabinetry made of plywood. Storage solutions don’t need to be high-end to hold all you want and look great.

Michael Abrams Limited

This last space seems to embody everything I’ve been talking about up to now. The window treatments are all impeccable. Furnishings are nicely proportioned, comfortable, durable and therefore are arranged to encourage interacting. The color palette and lighting are all beautiful. Just how does a room get everything? This space was clearly well planned out.

This averts Mistake No. 10: Lack of planning

Have you ever done something and then had to reverse that something in order to do anything else you should have done before? This sentence will make perfect sense to you in case you did not plan your house project nicely.

One of the first things I have my clients do is sit down and compose an inventory of all their wishes and desires for their property. Many clients don’t execute all their decorating or remodeling plans at a single stroke for many reasons. The list is ensured by sense of urgency and budget, but we also evaluate everything to be sure projects follow along at the perfect order.

As an example: if you’re planning to paint the interior walls and ceiling, and you wish to include lighting fixtures at the ceilings or walls, then you should do all the electrical work. Otherwise, you might find yourself having to cut open a wall or ceiling to run wiring and then having to repair drywall and paint all over again.

Coming up with a master plan provides you the best shot at good design. It stops you from making expensive mistakes and out of boxing in because of decisions that were made without respect to future endeavors.

This finishes my best 10 common decorating mistakes. Check out Part 1 out of this week for help on the other five stumbling blocks to good design.

How on your experience? Is there another mistake that you think belongs in the top 10?

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Making the Perfect Guest Room

So, the joke is that you shouldn’t make your guest room overly fine because your friends or family will overstay their welcome. However, that is only an old expression rather than something to be taken. There’s something special about creating a warm and inviting living area for the guests — it shows how much you care. Take a room in your home and fill it with all the best amenities to create a relaxing environment. Then send out the invites. Your guests will appreciate the thought that went into their stay.

Making the ideal guest area is a fairly simple process. Here are six ideas on how to make your guests feel welcome and encourage them to hang outside for some time.

Allied ASID, LORRAINE G VALE

1. Infuse a sense of humor. Tell your guests, “The fish was ‘that’ big!” (While holding your arms out as if you are telling a fishing story). In what is a beautiful and well-appointed guest room, the bluefin tuna mounted on the wall brings in a much-appreciated humorous touch.

2. Play with color. In my view, a guest room should be fun and vibrant with something a little unexpected. This tasteful black green and white area is all about color color and more color. With three or four different shades of green, a tasteful chandelier over the bed and a bevy of black and white patterns, this room is wrapped in color.

Lisa Benbow – Designs that are Garnish

Bright splashes of crimson and a graphic object of art balanced against cool blue make me feel of the beach. This guest room feels like an ideal landing spot after a day on the beach or strolling the boardwalk.

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

3. Create a relaxing environment. The traditional mix of light blue and chocolate brown specify the elegant nature of the relaxing guest room. The coverlet and duvet mix is a great way to supply the necessary flexibility to how your guests like to sleep. Some like lots of covers, some like fewer.

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

4. Don’t overlook the younger guests. I see a huge slumber party going to occur in this guest room made just for your youngsters. Four bunk beds and plenty of storage provide the kids their own spot for an extended stay.

Olga Adler

5. Give a writing desk for an entire vacation experience. Part of the vacation experience is sitting down and placing pencil to book to discuss special memories with those back home. A simple writing desk can be a post card writing station or provide your guest a place to check on the hottest Houzz upgrades.

Inside this spring green area, a secretary doubles as a nightstand, which is also a excellent space-saving trick for smaller rooms.

Moroso Construction

6. Nothing sweeter than a package for your guests. A converted attic, complete with sleeping arrangements, sitting area and a writing desk gives your guests a home away from your home. Just be careful because they might never wish to leave.

Susan Diana Harris Interior Design

This little modern guest suite provides all of the conveniences of home: a mattress, TV viewing area and a desk. If they are not careful, I just might move in. The deep brown wall can help to make the room look longer than it really is.

How can you make your guests feel welcome?

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Top 10 Modern Swimming Pool Designs

While the phrase ‘modern swimming pool’ sounds like a recent invention, it really refers to a trend that started in the late 1930’s when Hollywood’s rich and famous started building open-plan houses that embraced the indoor-outdoor lifestyle. This is when swimming pool design started really taking a different direction, which was characterized by blending the pool’s design with the home’s architecture instead of considering it as a standalone feature that was ‘added on’ to the house.

Another distinguishing factor about modern landscaping Littleton, CO is the use of gunite in the construction process. Gunite is a mixture of sand and concrete which when introduced was a far cry from the plywood that swimming pools were formerly constructed from. Of course, the kidney-shaped pool design by landscape architect Thomas Donell is a pioneering and iconic design that’s still in use today.

Here’s a list of our top ten favorite modern sprinkler repair Littleton, which feature various contemporary design styles.

Modern Marvel

This pool design was created to perfectly reflect and go with homes that have clean horizontal lines.

Second-Level Pool

As the name implies, a second-level pool is often built on the house’s second floor, which requires the construction of retaining walls to keep the pool balanced.

South Africa’s Spa House

The Spa House pool in Cape Town, South Africa is a wonderful example of how to effortlessly blend natural landscapes and hardscapes with man-made architecture. This pool has a floating deck protruding from its center and a well-positioned spa placed right below the waterline, creating a seamless transition from the house into the pool and vice versa.

Dolphin Mosaic

One of the best ways to expand a small outdoor space is to design the pool in an interesting shape like a circle, and use lighting to accentuate the form as well as a mosaic design at the bottom of the pool like a dolphin or a star fish, for example.

Wet Deck Design

Breaking from the normal geometric design, this swimming pool features a nice curvy shape that really enhances the landscaping around it.

Island Vista

If you’re lucky enough to live by the sea, in a place that enjoys prime views of the ocean and perhaps a nearby island, then you should design your lawn care Littleton, CO and your entire outdoor area to maximize those views. You can do this by creating a linear roofline with a swimming pool that has clean lines and an infinity edge that looks like an extension of the ocean.

Mountain Beauty

A swimming pool with a vanishing edge is the perfect design to capture the beauty of a mountainside view, which often overlooks the city or town below.

Figure 8

The figure 8 design or ‘hourglass shape’ as it’s often referred to, is another timeless swimming pool design that has been around since the 1950s.

Blue Lagoon

If you want your outdoor entertainment area to look like a beach resort, then you should definitely go for the blue lagoon look, which you can enhance with the addition of palm trees, waterfalls, fire bowls etc.

Intersecting Pools

This design is another great way of incorporating a swimming pool into a tiny place. Included in this intersecting pool are a children’s wading pool, a spa and an edge pool, offering something for everyone.

The best way to Protect Budding Plants From Frost

Even though it might be difficult to resist these gorgeous flowers in the thought of getting produce out of your garden before other people or the local nursery in springtime, a late frost can usually thwart these programs. A late frost can usually arrive after times of summer, placing your crops at risk for injury while the greatest defense for the young plants will be to plant them after all risk of of frost has passed.

Select frost-resistant varieties whenever feasible. Plant the plants vulnerable to frost nearest to the home or in other areas.

Keep plants well-watered. All the injury from frost comes in the ice crystals that form using water drawn in the plants. Mulch or straw that covers the floor round the plants will keep the water from evaporating too quickly, this provides some protection to your own plants.

When the weather forecast requires frost place overturned plastic containers or buckets over crops. Ensure that you’ve got covered any holes in these containers.

Cover greater upright plants with pillowcases. Drape table cloths and sheets over garden locations or other crops. Anchor the sheets with stones or bricks to keep them.

Remove all coverings the subsequent morning subsequent to the temperature rises several degrees above freezing. Most injury does occur before sunrise, when the temperatures are the coldest after mid-night and right. Crops needs to be uncovered throughout the day-to permit air circulation if frost is predicted for the subsequent evening.

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