20 Creative Kitchen Islands

Screen Shot 2014-06-18 at 3.06.38 PMNixing ready made for readily imaginative, these homeowners fashioned kitchen islands after their own hearts

For the My Houzz series, we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who live there. Sometimes working with professionals but most of the time going strictly the DIY route, these residents take clever and unexpected approaches to home design.

The heart of many of these homes is the kitchen, of course. And the heart of the kitchen is often the island. Whether using reclaimed materials from their own construction sites, refashioning vintage furniture or discovering clever Ikea hacks, the My Houzz homeowners we’ve featured have built their islands to suit very individual lifestyles and tastes. Here are 20 great examples.

How to Make a Top-Down, Bottom-Up Window Shade

Screen Shot 2014-06-16 at 8.08.38 AMBlock light and control privacy high or low with a no-frills magnetic covering you can whip up for less than $30

Since I deal with privacy issues in my high-density neighborhood, I always coveted the costly window treatments that open from the top portion of the window as well as the bottom portion. So I decided to make one for myself. I was pleasantly surprised by the results — and the less-than-$30 cost. Here’s how you can create your own window panel.

Take It Outside! Inspiring Ideas for Outdoor Dining

Screen Shot 2014-06-16 at 8.03.52 AMMake fresh-air meals as comfortable and genteel as those indoors — and maybe even a bit magical

As the days get longer, the temperatures gets warmer and the light gets brighter, our daily routines undergo a radical paradigm shift. Whereas just a month or two ago, we were huddled indoors eating hearty stews, roasted meat and baked potatoes, we’re now ready to spend time outside in shorts and T-shirts, consuming lighter fare. One of the great joys of the summer is dining al fresco, enjoying the cool breezes, the late-evening light, the riot of garden color and the smells and sensations of warm weather.

More relaxed, more spontaneous, more colorful, al fresco dining is a different kind of experience. Here are some ideas that will inspire your shift to the outdoors.

5 Ways to Protect Yourself When Buying a Fixer-Upper

Screen Shot 2014-06-10 at 3.44.09 PMHidden hazards can derail your dream of scoring a great deal. Before you plunk down any cash, sit down with this

fixer-upper can often seem like a first-time homebuyer’s dream: an older home with great bones that simply needs an update or perhaps a few tweaks to its layout.

Unfortunately, even seemingly straightforward projects can be fraught with hidden problems discovered once work begins. While disclosure laws seek to protect homebuyers, sellers can always claim ignorance to problems like lead paint, and disclosures on distressed and bank-owned properties are nowhere near as complete as they are for traditional sales.

But that doesn’t mean you have to risk getting stuck with a money pit. Here are five ways to project yourself when buying a fixer-upper.

9 Ways to Make Your Yard More Fun for Kids

Screen Shot 2014-06-09 at 12.29.24 PMDraw the younger set outside while keeping grown-up spaces and style intact. Some of these ideas don’t even cost a dime!

Play is at the heart of childhood, and an inspiring outdoor play area can give children many hours of enjoyment. But what if your garden is compact? Maybe you would like to avoid having a playset that takes up precious yard space, or you don’t want to look at toys year-round from the interior of your home. With some simple strategies, you can still incorporate play into your landscape. Here are some ideas for a range of project budgets.

Dream Spaces: 12 Decks That Rise Above It All

Screen Shot 2014-06-04 at 12.32.53 PMTucked into upper levels, these inspiring outdoor spaces provide more privacy and relaxation above the fray

During the lazy days of summer, just give me a deck, a lounge chair, a cool drink and an umbrella, and I’m good to go.

Lately, though, I’ve been considering upgrading my deck desires. Maybe it’s time to move up, to have an outdoor space above the ground floor where it’s quieter, more private and more restful. What about a perch off the bedroom or a rooftop aerie with a view?

These pictures inspired me. See if you’re ready to make the move, too.

Planning Your Perfect Fence

post-up-to-your-perfect-fence

7 Magnificent Oversize Backsplashes

Screen Shot 2014-06-02 at 7.56.30 AMThey go up to the ceiling and don’t fall short on making a major impact. Are you ready to hop on the big-backsplash bandwagon?

As far as kitchen trends go, few are as currently as pervasive as the oversize backsplash.

Designers are using materials such as glass mosaic tile and marble in backslashes that stretch from ceiling to countertop or wrap around entire prep areas. The result is an oxymoron: a subtle design feature that can add that wow factor to even the simplest kitchen update.

Here are seven magnificent oversize backslashes to inspire you.

Small but amazing changes when redecorating

Website pic 1Do you ever get the feeling that your home is just a bit outdated when it comes to design? Maybe you’ve lived somewhere for many years and are just ready for a change. Or maybe you’ve just moved in and really want to create an amazing feeling to your new home. Whatever the case may be you deserve to live in a space that feels uniquely yours and is designed according to your preferences. Many people think that great design has to come at a large cost, so they find it easier to avoid this altogether. But this is simply not true. You can redecorate your home, on your own, for a very low budget and end up with great results. Here are some ideas on how to do it.

Swap out pillows

It’s a small change, but swapping out your old throw pillows for some new and fresh ones can really brighten up your living room. The same goes for your bedroom as well! Toss out old pillows in monotonous colors, they are doing nothing for your room! Instead, bring in some bright colored pillows to add a punch to your space. Add some pillows with fun patterns as well, and don’t be afraid to mix and match! Old traditional design rules might frown upon mixing colors and patterns that don’t match, but you can create a fun and funky feel this way.

Window treatments

If you think about how many windows you have in your house, you’ll see what an impact the window treatments can have on your overall interior design feel. If you have old curtains that aren’t doing anything to add ambiance to the room, swap them out! You can get some more brightly colored curtains or even remove them altogether. Curtains add a more traditional feel to a room; if you’re looking for something more modern, consider polyvinyl shutters or something similar. Shutters create a crisp and clean look in your room.

Fresh paint

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to add new zip and pizzazz to your room. It can be so much fun trying out different paint colors to see what really resonates. Don’t be afraid to use a punchy, bold color you might not normally try. It’s a great way to get out of your comfort zone in a way that’s totally reversible if you really don’t like it. Try painting just one wall a different color for a fun, modern feel.

Lighting

By changing up the lighting style in your room, you can completely change the feeling. So rather than investing a lot of money in new furniture and remodeling just try this quick fix first! Add some soft hanging lamps or lanterns in your kitchen and dining room area to create a great ambiance for meals. Add reading lights to your living room, and fun colored string lights on your porch outside for a festive atmosphere. If you add a dimmer switch to your overhead lights, you’ll be able to adjust the mood of the room. This is a great option for the dining room, bedroom, or anywhere you might want to take the lighting from high to low.