2017’s Furniture Trends
November 2, 2017 By Leave a Comment
10 Keys to a Well-Functioning House
October 31, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Sure, looks are important. But practical matters like layout, storage and lighting directly affect your comfort
The design of a house can have a profound effect on how we feel, but we often attribute this to aesthetics. In fact, it’s about so much more. Good design should enhance our experience of a space, and the way a room looks is almost the icing on the cake. Here are 10 key tips for achieving a comfortable, well-thought-out home.
Bold Dining Room Doubles as Workspace and Play Space
October 17, 2017 By Leave a Comment
A multipurpose dining room serves up style and function for a creative family
Two things were immediately clear to designer Tracy Martin Taylor when she walked into the dining room of this modern home in Dallas’ family-friendly Lake Highlands neighborhood: First, this would be no ordinary dining room, and second, this was no ordinary client. The homeowner — an occupational therapist by day, roller derby player by night, and mom always — wasn’t afraid to take over the formal dining room for use as a bold, colorful work-and-play space in which to dream and create with her kids.
Cool Kitchen Island: Wrapped in Wood and Movable Too
October 11, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Durable new materials and custom cabinets make for a functional and lasting design
A Fresh Take on Tradition
September 22, 2017 By Leave a Comment
A mix of abstract art, fun wallcoverings and contemporary furniture updates this suburban Chicago family home
The young professional couple had loved high-rise condo living in Chicago’s Lincoln Park and had begun raising their family there. But with their children growing older, they felt it was time for a move to the suburbs. The bones and airy floor plan of the traditional house they bought in Winnetka, Illinois, were ideal, but the aesthetic didn’t quite match their style. Enter interior designer Jeannie Balsam, who infused the family’s traditional suburban home with a fresh, modern aesthetic.
Typical Garage Turns Into Vibrant Home Theater
September 12, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Cozy, durable furniture and colorful lights give a Florida family a multiuse space that they use every day
It took some persuading, but Giselle Loor talked her husband, Brett Sugerman, into converting their garage into a home theater. The couple had explored adding on to their house, but it would have been double the expense of a garage conversion and would have created problems with the home’s roofline. A garage conversion made the most sense, so the cars would have to go outdoors.
Breaking the Rules: Lamps Where You Least Expect Them
April 14, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Amp up the wattage in your bathroom and kitchen with stylish lamps
Architecture and interior design can be the seats of great innovation, where novel ideas and a healthy dose of rule breaking have the power to change the way we experience our homes and organize our lives. But too often we settle for the safe bet, what we’ve seen before, what’s easy to find. This series sets out to explore the offbeat and celebrate the viagra espana comprar road less traveled. Let’s begin with adding lamps to your bathroom and kitchen.
8 Accessories That Make Modern Life a Little Better
April 10, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Add any of these relatively easy upgrades to your home to quickly elevate your design
Looking for a quick decor pick-me-up to start 2017 off right? These eight accessories may not change the world, but they can make your life and your home just a little bit better.
11 Smart Upgrades for a New House
April 6, 2017 By Leave a Comment
Some upgrades are difficult or impossible to do later. Tackle these projects now to save yourself the headache
Building a new home is a pleasure not everyone gets to experience. You get to construct your home exactly to your taste, with the components and finishes you want and can afford. Often you’ll be deciding what is worth the money to do now and what you’d prefer to save as a renovation project to do later. There are a number of factors to consider, including how long you plan to live in the home, whether you’ll be able to put upgrades directly onto your mortgage or pay out of pocket, and what upgrades are valuable for resale.
Upgrading later by doing it yourself can sometimes be a good plan allowing you to avoid paying the builder’s premium. But sometimes waiting will not only not save you money, it will cost you more in the end or create a headache when the upgrade is finally addressed.