h o m e s t a y b e i j i n g 2 0 0 8

In my home, we are completely enjoying the new season of Parenthood on NBC. Watching all the interactions of parents, grandparents, siblings, and cousins reminds us of their own family and all of the joy and angst that households bring.

However I have to admit, once again, that among those aspects of the series I truly enjoy is the set design. It is the way every home tells us who these individuals are. There’s Zeek’s and Camille’s hippie-chic style; Adam’s and Kristina’s upgraded traditionalism; Julia’s and Joel’s jettisoning of the past for the brand new, and Crosby’s bachelorhood.

The designers have done a remarkable job portraying the cast — without even viewing actors in these settings we know a whole lot about the characters they will portray.

So how can we get our houses to tell our story? How can people learn about us even with met us? Let us have a look.

More: ‘Pan-Am’ Inspires Flight Back to the ’60s

Bosworth Hoedemaker

Zeek and Camille’s house isn’t quite as “high style” as it will have the identical feeling of a life well lived with its assortment of meaningful objects.

Tomar Lampert Associates

Nor is Zeek’s and Camille’s house as pastoral as this (although it does seem that it might have been in an earlier time). In fact, we get the feeling that Zeek and Camille weren’t any strangers to Haight Ashbury.

Felhandler/ Steeneken Architects

Zeek and Camille would be comfortable in this kitchen. Cheerful, colorful, bright and eclectic, this kitchen doesn’t take itself overly seriously.

Vintage Renewal

Zeek’s and Camille’s oldest daughter, Sarah, has moved back in with her parents after a stormy marriage. Evidence that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, Sarah is certainly comfortable in the comfortable surroundings of her childhood home.

Dorothy Howard AIA, Architect

Adam’s and Kristina’s upgraded Craftsman house tells us that this is a few as grounded from the past as they are forward-looking. A thick, solid wood entrance door with substantial hardware tells us these people want things which are grounded, while the prosperity of wide and handsome white trimming tells us they’re certainly living in the 21st century.

Goforth Gill Architects

Though Adam’s and Kristina’s home is older. It certainly has the upgraded kitchen with the major island that’s now the middle of family life. In this house the past and future blend together such as the stainless steel mixes together using all the traditionally styled wood cabinetry.

WA Design Architects

As befits their relationship (Julia is your earner, and Joel the stay-at-home parent), Julia’s and Joel’s house is all about being fresh and in the cutting edge. No traditional arrangement for those two, there’s nothing holding them to the past, and their eyes are firmly looking forward.

WA Design Architects

It doesn’t mean Julia and Joel are cool and aloof just because everything in their own home is fresh, shiny and contemporary. Such as the generous amount of wood here, both of these are, at their core, warm and intriguing people.

DM Designs

Cosby the bachelor is that one kid who never seems to develop. He lives on a houseboat if we meet with him.

Celia James

The antithesis of the older brother Adam, Crosby is a dreamer content, for the most part, to gaze at the stars.

Next: 13 ways to express your own personality

Bud Dietrich, AIA

Consider the front of your home, the face which you see from the street. If that warm and inviting appearance you desire isn’t there, you can change the roof pitch, swap the aluminum for plaster and then put in a new canopy over the door.

Richard Manion Architecture Inc..

Perhaps you wish to convey a more formal and elegant persona, as the white color, symmetry and Chinese Chippendale does here.

Christopher Templeton

Utilize a color palette which identifies and celebrates each portion of your house to convey your love of detail and craft.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

Collections also help convey who we are. Consider displaying a set of classic maps of places we’ve traveled to.

James Cleary Architecture

Perhaps it’s an assortment of artifacts, such as pottery. All the better if they are things you’ve made.

So ask yourself regarding your precious stuff. Where do you keep it? How could you display it? What does it convey about you?

Bud Dietrich, AIA

Even things in your toilet can tell your story. Where’s your engraving from? Was the plant stand an inheritance or flea market find? Is the clock in your bathroom an effort to overcome chronic tardiness?

Envision living

You can tell your story using photography. I can be large and in a position of prominence and of a cherished family member or two. The visitor has to ask, “Who are these people, and what is your relationship to them?”

decordemon

A wall size replica of a favourite photograph that tells us a bit of the story of you and your family.

Thrifty Decor Chick

Smaller framed photos reminds us of the people who have dwelt here.

Look around your home. Whose pictures are on display? How could you display them to convey something about yourself and your loved ones?

Ward-Young Architecture & Planning – Truckee, CA

You can personalize a room using a bright, daring and favorite color. Remember an all-beige world wouldn’t be compelling.

Do you have a room painted your favourite color? Do not be concerned about resale. A paint color can always be changed. So do what you would like.

Canyon Design Build

Do not hesitate to use bright, bold colors and appliance fashions that convey your fun side.

Jill Seidner Interior Design

Give a wall which now is a shopping list and tomorrow a few scribbles. Do not hesitate to just throw things up there to express who you are and what’s on your mind.

Momoko Morton

A chalkboard, bright colors and personalized objects infuse a room with the story of the people who inhabit it.

More: Locate Your Design Mode

‘Pan-Am’ Inspires Flight Back to the ’60s

True-Blood: What should Sookie Just Moved Off?

Browse 200,000+ house photos by styleliving room and metro region

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This home tucked in the hills of Northern Utah was created in 1995 to balance the husband’s love of contemporary style and the wife’s love for much more of a cottage look. Salt Lake City architect Warren Lloyd of Lloyd Architects utilized cedar shingles and aluminum roofing to strike a balance and give the exterior a warm and organic design that will blend with its surroundings. About a decade later, the clients called on him and interior designer Susan Taggart to redesign the house, a project which included a gorgeous brand new kitchen and living space. “The trick was to incorporate modern elements in warmer and more comfortable colors and fabrics,” Taggart says.

Lloyd Architects

The house in Logan, Utah is perched on a hillside with views of rolling hills, a profound valley, and thick scrub oak forests. Its dramatic sloping roofline echoes the curves of this hillside. Because of this roofline, most of the ceilings in the house are sloped, creating a massive variety in ceiling height throughout the house. “The sense of spatial compression is a really powerful tool,” says Lloyd.

Lloyd Architects

“We thought of this house as connected pavilions,” says Lloyd. “There are two bungalow-sized forms which are pulled apart, with an arced living space connecting them.” Each bungalow is about 26′ x 40′. Together they hold the house’s five bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.

Lloyd Architects

Outdoor living areas flow easily from the interior the house. There’s a clear view to the outside throughout — when entering the home, the outside terraces on the opposite side of the house are visible.

Lloyd Architects

Because the house was built on a steep incline, Lloyd and his team used terracing to make walls and garden spaces. This outdoor terrace is paved with concrete in a stamped cobblestone pattern.

Lloyd Architects

When Lloyd first built this house, the clients requested he put a laundry room next to the kitchen, and he put one in which this little family room is currently. Through time, the owner realized her family members and friends loved to collect in the kitchen, and the laundry room was stifling that space. When they did the remodel, Lloyd moved the laundry room to another area.

Lloyd and Taggart utilized quite a few special ceiling treatments, such as the woven plywood with a cherrywood finish above the family room in this shot. Split-face Travertine tile has been implemented to the wall behind the TV, contrasting the polished appearance of the plywood ceiling treatment and the cherry-stained bamboo flooring.

Chair: Flexform
Coffee tables: Zanotta Ambo tables

The kitchen became much more contemporary, as the wife’s tastes had changed considerably since the house was brand new. Stainless steel appliances, vivid colors, and bold lighting all create a contemporary look in warm hues.

The actual jaw-dropper is the custom made dining table, created by a local company called 3-Form. The base is stainless steel, and the shirt is made from pressed glass.

Countertops: Lemon Grass granite
Fridge: Sub-Zero
Island: Straight grain mahogany with stainless steel banding
Backsplash: Walker Zanger

Lloyd Architects

The kitchen cabinetry is straight-grain mahogany, with some cabinet doors and doors in back-painted glass. The pure orange tint in the mahogany contrasts perfectly with the kitchen’s lime green accents and dark cherry hardwood flooring.

Range: Wolf
Pendants: Tobias Grau Sea pendant
Chairs: Montis Spica Chair

Interior designer Susan Taggart chose comfortable furnishings with modern lines. Engineered wood, textiles, and colors balance the appearance. “Often people think that contemporary is cold and uncomfortable, but it does not need to be the case in any respect,” says Taggart.

Lighting: Flos Fuscia pendants

The tilted ceiling in the living room is a great illustration of how the sloped roof transforms the sense of a space. The cast concrete fireplace reaches to the Douglas fir rafters, making a gorgeous intersection of contrasting materials.

Interior colour: Benjamin Moore Timothy Straw

While the traces of this house make for a daring design, Lloyd and Taggart chose a comparatively simple palette of materials, colors and products. Lighting was kept understated to prevent from disrupting the flow of the space. Sconces, recessed lighting, and a few pendants dominate the lighting scheme.

The ceiling screen in the master bedroom is a customized piece from local artisans, faux finished with silver foliage. Light from the outside goes through the piece to light the master bedroom. “It almost resembles a Turkish tent,” says Lloyd.

Bed framework: B&B Italia
Bedding: Bella Notte custom bedding

The glass tiles in the master bath were carefully selected in the exact same sage green which echoes throughout the house, and Taggart installed sconces along the sides of the mirrors instead of overhead lighting to get a more flattering glow. More of the eco-resin out of 3-Form could be viewed here in a few of the organically inspired patterns.

Flooring: Walker Zanger Porcelain tile
Wall tile: Walker Zanger 1×1 glass mosaic tile
Cabinets: Green Onyx
Sconces: Leucos Diana sconces

Lloyd Architects

The extremely low ceiling on the upper-level bridge is another illustration of the drama created by the house’s sloping roofline. The custom made railings are made from steel and a structured bamboo eco-resin panel out of 3-Form.

More Houzz Tours:
A Modern Romance in Ontario
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Fireplaces are and always been a hot commodity, and also the demand of modern convenience has birthed various options to the wood-burning design. Yet, there’s one component that retains many faithful and accurate to the first, wood-burning fireplace: wooden logs.

The presence of firewood immediately evoke feelings of warmth, relaxation, and admiration for nature and her bountiful supply. When cut and piled vertically or horizontally, wood takes on a sculptural look frequently taken for granted. Rather than storing logs outdoors, they now are being saved in convenient wall nooks that display their natural beauty.

Lozinski Architecten

While stylishly and conveniently accommodating the area’s source of firewood, this storage alternative maintains the consistency of form and design in this contemporary den.

Tracery Interiors

A special compartment for firewood is an especially clever solution in a room with limited floor space. The cutout eliminates the need for freestanding storage and becomes a secondary focal point because of the tall, rectangular form.

Taylor Lombardo Architects

An accommodating nook alleviates the need for fireplace accessories also retains the focus on the dining room furnishings, the formidable stone hearth, and the stunning mountain view.

A hearty heap introduces a rustic element in this contemporary design and becomes a beautiful disturbance to the area’s and blank lines and neutral colour palette.

Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

Logs stacked inside a firebox have a natural sculptural quality that turns out to be an attractive and affordable alternative when fireplace isn’t being used.

InHouse Design Studio

A storage doorway makes it possible for this living room to take on an alter ego. After the door is closed, it maintains its contempory atmosphere. After the door is open and the timber is on display, the room instantly appears warmer.

Splendid Willow

Ikat Baskets – $39

If you missed the opportunity to make customized lodging for your wood-burning fireplace, these durable ikat baskets result in a beautful yet functional storage solution to firewood and accessories.

1800Lighting

Neatly contained in a charming basket, firewood is handily within arms reach while simulateously softening the lines of the square fireplace surround.

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The basement might be one of those rooms in your house that has been neglected for a long time and is crammed full of stuff. However, if you treat this space just as well as you treat the other rooms above ground in your house, it could have so much potential. This might be one of those flooring Santa Ana that end up being your favorite space in the whole house.

Here are some tips on how you can transform this space:

The Floor Layout

Plan the living area well. Sitting areas should be in spots with lots of natural light. The bedroom should be located along the perimeter wall with a window to let in light and fresh air. Any TVs should be in a dark spot to minimize the glare from natural light.

What to Do Before Getting Started

Before getting started on your Santa Ana flooring, first assess if the room is in good condition.

– Tape a plastic sheet on the floor and leave for a few weeks. If moisture forms underneath the sheets, it means the foundation hasn’t been sealed. If it forms on the sheet, you need to dehumidify the room.

– Check if there’s any decay or damage by insects. Use an awl to probe the floors, window sills and header beams.

– Assess whether the floor beams are sagging. Climb up a ladder until you are able to see the underside of the beams to see if they all align well.

– An expert should assess any fuel-burning appliances you use to ensure there will be no carbon monoxide build up.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

– Whether the height of the room is at least 7 to 7 1/2 feet according to building codes

– Have a backup pump in case your first pump stops working and also a battery backup for the pump.

– Make sure water is not leaking into the room by installing a gutter that drips water at least ten feet away from the foundation. Ensure the ground slopes away from the foundations, and ensure water pipes are not leaking.

Fixing the Walls

Get rid of any mold on the walls, and make sure you have a professional finish. You can go for insulated stud walls, interlocking panels or a proprietary modular system. Don’t add in too many partition walls and if you add any partitions, make sure they have cutouts that allow light to pass through them into the inner rooms.

Other Ways to Give the Room a Facelift

There are some things that you can do during flooring Santa Ana CA so that the room doesn’t look so bland.

– Hang a classic ceiling

– Add lots of light fixtures spaced closely together so that the room isn’t dim

– Use prefab wells for your window wells instead of corrugated metal, topped with plastic covers or grates to prevent people from falling into it.

Have a place where you can have a mini-fridge stashed with food and drinks and a microwave. Also, leave enough space for any games that you might want to play in there. Use wall to wall carpeting and also soundproof the room to keep all the noise down there.

The colour red is powerful, both in its appearance and meaning. In certain cultures red represents good luck, and in regards to emotions it’s emblematic with love, passion and maybe even anger. In our homes, the colour red is equally as potent. Some colour psychologists believe that this colour increases your blood pressure and also quickens the heartbeat. While I am sure that does not apply to everybody, I really do think that red definitely creates an impact and leaves a lasting impression. It’s a bold colour choice that should be used with careful consideration but it does not need to be intimidating. Employing red should be a creative experience. Here are some suggestions on how best to make it fun — and 4 paint colors I adore.

More colour guides

(m) + charles beach INTERIORS

Just like a red dress or stilettos, a red room could be elegant and sexy. This is a good colour for a dining area in which you want guests to be comfortable, careful and prepared for a lively conversation.

Olga Adler

If red walls seem just too overpowering, introduce the colour with cloths such as cushions, upholstery and draperies.

David Churchill – Architectural Photographer

Turn the heat up in your kitchen with red cabinets. This is a great way to add colour and style to a little area. Employing a high-gloss finish, along with chrome accents will give your kitchen a very contemporary sense.

Marie Burgos Design

One red accent wall is simply sufficient to bring electricity and warmth to a small dining area.

Glenn Gissler Design

If the colour red is in your art, an equally red wall will tug those fiery hues out of your painting or print, and make it look more vibrant.

Giulietti Schouten Architects

Nothing says’welcome’ greater than being greeted with a red door.

Webber + Studio, Architects

Do the sudden and paint your powder room red. It’ll serve as your home’s element of surprise.

Designing Solutions

If it comes to traditional settings, red is a traditional color. It functions well in formal rooms such as a living room or library. Here, red walls create a very wonderful contrast when paired with white wainscoting.

My Red Paint Picks:
Real Red 6868 (vibrant and bold) by Sherwin Williams
Red Tomato 6607 (orange-y reddish ) by Sherwin Williams
Moroccan Red 1309 (spicy and rusty) by Benjamin Moore
Drop Dead Gorgeous 1329 (fuchsia red) by Benjamin Moore

More:
How to Find the Right Coral
How to Find the Right Gray
How to Find the Right Blue
How to Find the Right White
How to Find the Right Green
How to Find the Right Yellow

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When I first found Etsy, I believed I had struck the art jackpot. I had been searching for something similar to it for so long and did not even know it — such a myriad of stunning and affordable art. This is just a sampling of some of my most favorites (many from Etsy, some from everywhere ). Any one of these would include such warmth and personality to a house. I hope you enjoy and find a new favourite for yourself! — Melissa from Melissa Loves

Etsy

“As soon as the Sea Turned to Purple…” by Amanda Blake – $45

Artist Amanda Blake has such a magic view of the world. The men and women in her work appear from a different time, but the environments they live in are fresh, magical and almost always populated with stars.

Etsy

“You Could Be Amazed At What You Grow to Love” by Amy Rice – $60

Amy Rice is a wonderful artist. In Amy’s words; she likes to paint with”spray paint, acrylics, gouache, and inks, and print on antique papers (preferring handwritten love letters, envelopes, magazine pages, sheet music and maps).” I’d really like to own one of her originals someday, but thank goodness she makes prints too.

Etsy

“Drift Butterfly” by Hadley Hutton – $28

Hadley Hutton is among my all time favorites. She uses beautiful colors, soft lines and always brings stunning nature into her work.

Etsy

“Wilderness” Print by Sweet William – $20

Sweet William is a collaboration between two sisters: Shelley Gardner, who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, and Paula Mills who is located in Melbourne, Australia. Sweet William’s work is lovely and soft. Stunning use of color and often a very sweet message.

Etsy

“Mae” Portrait Print by Holli – $10

Lovely Paola Zakimi, the gift behind Holli, has such a sweet soul and it shows in all of her delicate and gorgeous work. Sweet faced and lovely girls replicate her work. Peaceful and tranquil.

Etsy

“Blue” by Geninne – $30

Artist Geninne D. Zlatkis is a multi-talent through her artwork, her house and the manner she continually integrates character into all of her endeavors. She prefers critters, and this one with its dark environment is indeed beautiful to me.

Etsy

“Vintage Flowers” Print by Britt Hermann – $18

Britt Hermann has a way with black, no? This print is among my all-time favorites and if you check out her store you will understand this is actually the first of several beautiful dark beauties.

Etsy

“Heaven’s Blue Through Me” by Dan-ah Kim – $90

Dan-ah Kim is an wonderful artist that produces beautiful fantasy worlds. She often incorporates stars too. I am definitely a fan.

Etsy

“Milkweed Pod” Print by Amber Alexander – $20

Amber Alexander does beautiful watercolors of soft and sweet creatures and lovely pieces of character. This really is my favorite for its soft colors and simplicity.

Melissa de la Fuente

“Nov 02,2009” by Sarolta Ban – $100

Sarolta Ban is an amazingly creative and inventive artist. Her work integrates digital photo manipulation and every one tells an wonderful story.

Etsy

“Hide” by Maria Elina – $25

Maria Elina Méndez is a new favorite of mine. I really like her line work, her usage of gray and touches of soft color.

Etsy

“Botanical No. 5551” Print by Kari Herer – $100

Kari Herer’s photographic still-lifes are so beautiful and have such a stunning depth to them.

Etsy

“Take Me Out Tonight” Print by Danna Ray – $45

Groundwork is the art store of Danna Ray. Her work is really beautiful and so quiet. One of her pieces was among the very first purchases I made out of Etsy, and remains among my favorites.

Etsy

“On the Back of a Tiger” by Elly MacKay – $20

The store Theater Clouds is a new favorite of mine. Elly MacKay”s process is really cool and I’d really like to own many of her pieces. Here is a snippet from her store describing her process:”I make these images by inking yupo paper and cutting it into layers that I put up in a tiny theater. I play with the lights and filters to create atmosphere and then picture the scenes”

Etsy

“The Night Owl” Print by Janet Hill – $38

Janet Hill’s work is soft and beautiful. She specializes in acrylic, but lucky for us she has cheap print variations inside her Etsy store.

Paul Ferney Fine Art

Cake Spread by Paul Ferney – $39

Paul Ferney’s cake bits are merely happy-inducing. I fell in love with the oil bits and was so happy to see he began offering prints for a less expensive alternative. So we can all have our cake and eat it too!

eskayel

“That really is a Holy Cow” by Eskayel – $60

Shanan Campanaro is a new favorite of mine too. She’s such a delicate hand and stunning use of pen and ink. There is such nobility and elegance from the critters she pulls and her routine work is unbelievable. This beautiful”holy cow” would add a lot to any dwelling.

Etsy

Girl With the Golden Swan Motorcycle by Sophie Blackall – $40

Sophie Blackall’s work is captivating. When I was first introduced to her, it was through her”Missed Connections” series and I was instantly smitten. The series features pieces inspired by the column of the exact same name on Craigslist.

shop.maiautumn.com

“Whole” by Mai Autumn – $18

Christine Lindstrom’s”Whole” was at the tippy-top of my wishlist for quite some time now. The colors are so beautiful to me. She has a way with blues, greens and acrylic.

jillbliss.com

“Black Bear Forest” by Jill Bliss – $22

Jill Bliss’s focus on detail, soft lines and colors are so beautiful to me. I wonder how long each piece takes her as there are a lot of tiny details. Lucky for us her work is available in many forms, making it affordable and accessible.

Next: More guest blogger product picks

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Fall is coming, and the kids might have to find pursuits. Have you got a place for them to receive their creativity blazing? A location where they won’t be in your way? Basements are great options for game rooms; so are converted attics, guest bedrooms and bonus rooms. You may even converting a living living room or dining room into a kids’ play space. These places do not all have to be solely for your kids to romp around in: They can function as game rooms without always appearing like a kids’ space.

Once you’ve got a room in mind, write down what you may want your kids to be able to do in that room, then think about methods of decorating to make it more entertaining. Here are some ideas to throw around:

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Convert a bonus room into game room for the whole family. Take advantage of the low walls by creating built-in dividers so art supplies and board games can be put away. Ensure to have the space for your ping-pong table that could measure 9′ x 5′. You are able to get tables that fold to escape your way.

Ninainvorm

A lot of individuals think about using their front rooms/living rooms as a kid zone. This is the very first room visitors view, and it may get messy. Instead, consider having a rarely-used dining room. I dig the concept of bookcases which may be used as cubbies for holding toys. (Get baskets which fit inside to maintain the small stuff together and off.) Along with the dining table is a fantastic space for art projects, building with Tinker Toys or Legos, as well as homework.

8 Strategies to reinvent the dining area

LLC, cristi Holcombe Interiors

Turn an upstairs attic into an action area for projects and relaxation. Paint an accent wall a creative colour that designates this area as a fun zone. The bubbly wall treatment is extremely enjoyable.

The best way to Produce a pizza-box wall stencil

Nunley Custom Homes

Create a cozy game room out of your living room. Make it seem smart with bookcases for heaps of novels. Put a 40- to 50-inch dining table at the middle of the space. This will allow for 4 to 6 seats for playing board games.

I favor a base table to squeeze an extra seat in. Use comfy leather seats for long hours of play time or studying.

Rossington Architecture

Give your kids some freedom with a computer to do homework, then a round of swimming as a reward. Bonus rooms are great spots for creating a place that’s fun and practical for your kids as they grow.

Maureen Fiori, AKBD, Allied Member ASID, CAPS

If you plan to put in a pool table to a space, measure for the size of the table plus clear space to permit for a cue stick to be put and stroked easily round the dining table. Cue sticks are usually 58 inches . Therefore, if the table is 5′ x 9′, you may add 5 feet (60 inches) all around, which makes the floor space you want 15′ x 19′ feet.

Jamie McNeilis, Accredited Staging Professional

Turn a loft into a rec room for teens to hang out, also for your parents to sponsor get-togethers.

Cristi Holcombe Interiors, LLC

Horizontal stripes may be another enjoyable wall treatment which is easy to create. Soft colors such as grey blues, chocolates, creams add whimsy without shouting”kids room .”

The best way to paint stripes

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

A game table may fit readily into an adult environment without taking it over. For a living room with a spacious, calming vibe, try gentle leather couches, rich forests, and neutral paint palette. The foosball table provides a fun component without making this space feel like a sports arena.

Designing Solutions

Just had to add this one in since it so cool. A rock wall and basketball hoop! How do I add this space to my home? I shall add it to my honey-do list.

Next: Browse more ideas for kids’ spaces
8 Ways to Reinvent the Dining Room
How to Make a Pizza-Box Wall Stencil
Guest Picks: Finds for Your Excellent Playroom

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A dining room is the perfect place to let go of any restraint and bring out your hidden sense of style. Make a statement here by heading big, adding detail, a popular color, a surprising feel, and treasured conversation starters. Remember, it’s the first, unusual touches that give your room a unique feel. Have fun with it!

A wall that is tufted! What a statement. I feel like I am looking to a jewellery box. It makes me want to place my high heels on.

usona

Displaying dinnerware, stemware, or bottles on shelves is a heavenly way to add interest to a dining room. Choose a hanging light to highlight the bits. And select a floor-to-ceiling unit for a stunning appearance.

Klang & Associates

Add in creative woodwork detail. Hung in multiples, large woodwork pieces produce quite an interesting pattern.

Go big — like your own character! Make a bold statement through oversize pieces. You don’t require color to express yourself.

Fiorella Design

Add color to those niches! Fill them . Hang them to the wall or insert ledges and exhibit them.

Ninainvorm

For a more casual eclectic texture, add intriguing art, sculptures, anything you want to exhibit. Love making dialogue about the purposeful decor you see over a long very good meal.

greige/Fluegge Interior Design, Inc..

Mix and match seats. Contrasting finishes make this room intriguing.

Precious decor bits on your table. Utilize a table runner to connect the bits and lift them in the table.

Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc..

Play your buffet. Purchase a piece or refinish yours in a wow conclusion.

Envision living

Contain exaggerated pieces. Include a lavish buffet. Pick what you put on it.

Lauren Liess Interiors

Stamp your style onto your room by choosing elements that feel liberated of conformity. Lighting is a superb way to bring your inner awareness of style.

Abbe Fenimore Studio Ten 25

Sit on your character. Replace your upholstered chairs to new fabric that befits your style.

Add interesting signals that crack you up!

More: Browse more photos of dining room layouts

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When I think about a plate rack, my mind goes to state design. I have a tendency to go more contemporary in my own design taste, but I’ve a soft spot for plate racks. It is their no-nonsense nature that appeals to my pragmatic side. They simply make sense! In my view, they ought to be used for easy access to everyday dishes, not for particular dishes which are infrequently used and may therefore become cluttered. Rather than pulling piled dishes from a wall cabinet, keeping them within individual slots allows one to grab them and put them away with ease, and without repainting! Here are 13 ways to make them work on your kitchen:

Venegas and Company

Unfitted and over the sink. This is a fairly common place for a plate rack. Not only does this feel more open than a cabinet with solid doors, but it’s in the ideal spot for unloading the dishwasher and putting plates away. I love the size and scale of this one and the simple fact that it’s unfitted, or drifting at the center of the wall. This gives it the look of becoming something inherited or discovered instead of designed with all the cabinets (even though it was!) .

Kenzer Furniture

Unfitted and away on its own. If you’ve got a unique space and do not actually have the option of having symmetrical wall cabinets on each side, an unfitted dish rack cabinet is a superb way to acquire storage without having to force the symmetry problem. This solution allows you to have your cake and eat it too: the cabinet itself is symmetrical, but it’s not symmetrical to the general space.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Integrated with other wall cabinets. If you’re going to incorporate a plate rack to other routine wall cabinets, consider creating them glass so that the whole wall has a sense of openness and depth. Do not be afraid to show off your dishes, glassware and other kitchen things – it doesn’t all have to match!

Kitchens by Design

Adding an open shelf as part of a dish rack is a nice way to decorate a kitchen and keep it from looking too pragmatic.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Even contemporary kitchens may incorporate a dish rack cabinet. Here, it’s flanked between aluminum and glass cabinets. What is nice about having a dish rack over a sink like this is that all the wall cabinets may be the same height over the countertops, because you don’t need to be worried about doors opening to your head when you’re in the sink. Most of the time when you see a cabinet with doors within the sink, it’s raised a little to give you enough clearance.

Paul Anater

Contrasting with a accent color. Plate-rack cabinets are all easy ways to incorporate an accent colour into a kitchen; it makes it feel much more unfitted and accumulated. Flanked by two windows, this plate rack produces a visual centre and feel of symmetry, although the base cabinets below are not symmetrical or aligned with what’s on top.

Fitzgerald Studio

This dish rack cabinet combines many features we’ve talked about : It has a contrasting colour and is placed asymmetrically in the kitchen, but is light on its own.

Elad Gonen

Talking of asymmetry, I love the usage of this dish rack off to the side because it balances the hutch cabinet on the opposite end. Both do not fit, but there is a relationship.

Kayron Brewer, CKD, CBD / Studio K B

Bring it down to the counter. I adore this plate stand incorporates into open shelves and an uber-functional storage wall in which the cabinets sit on the countertop. It is a mixed-use storage wall which makes sense for a small section of countertop which won’t be used for substantially prepping or tasking. The variety of door sizes and open-vs. -closed storage produce much more visual attention than a bunch of cabinet doors which are all the same size.

CAROLE MEYER

You don’t have to restrict yourself to a plate rack ; you can get more out of the cabinet by producing an appliance storage space under and open shelves over.

Divine Design+Build

Carve out a niche. The little bit of unused wall space produced by the wall and fireplace oven are a perfect spot to create storage in the form of a plate rack. Here it’s being used for both function and display.

K & M Designs

I had to incorporate several examples of plate racks in which the plates have been made to face outwards. Just because those are on display doesn’t mean they can not be used for functional serving dishes. Just a little niche created by unused wall depth is a great way to get additional storage.

Plate racks do not need to maintain kitchens — they can maintain a butler’s pantry or vestibule place as well. Stealing space that might be otherwise overlooked looks fantastic and provides an present kitchen much needed additional storage.

Next:
Tradition Revisited: Plate Racks
24 Hot Suggestions for Storing Spices
More kitchen design guides

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If your living space feels a little too neutral, but you are scared of incorporating color or do not need to invest greatly in making colorful adjustments just yet, test the waters with a few accents that won’t break your bank. Here are a few simple, economical and flexible approaches to accomplish this.

Cathleen Gouveia Design

Use a huge vase to test a new color in your room. I enjoy the big dimensions and different shapes of the Morph Vase from HomeDecorators.

Erdreich Architecture, P.C.

Reupholster portion of a favourite accent chair. Recover only the chair if it could be removed, or add a fun pattern to the back of a chair. I love adding a blueprint to only component of a chair. The pattern adds a trendy vibe without being overpowering.

Erdreich Architecture, P.C.

Reupholster only the back cushions of your neutral couch. If you have loose back cushions, have them recovered at a colorful patterned or solid fabric. You’ll get a designer look without needing to get a new couch.

Dick Clark + Associates

White walls can feel stark. Bring in color and texture by hanging out a huge piece of art like this one called Second City. Large extended canvas art can be moderately priced and not as hefty as large glass-covered framed art.

KannCept Design, Inc..

Try something as simple as adding a colorful tray to the middle of your coffee table or ottoman. I like the colors of the Lacquer Wood trays at West Elm. For large coffee tables, then get two to put side by side.

MANDARINA STUDIO interior layout

Pick a colorful ottoman as your coffee table. Or slipcover the one you have. Center it in the middle of your dialog area. It turns into the enjoyable pop!

Heather Garrett Design

Bring only a bit of color to your neutral drapes by adding a ring to the bottom of your strong neutral drapes. I enjoy going up 30 inches at an 8- or 9-foot large distance.

Economy Interiors

Add color to your chairs using a bold-hued pillow. Try out a 20″x20″ pillow cover using a feather insert. It stays in place better than a smaller pillow and adds nice big color through only one piece.

Melissa Miranda Interior Design

Add greenery. A tall indoor plant brings in a bit of lush color and odor. Request a plant specialist that will help you pick out the right plant so you know how to take care of it.

Brownhouse Design, Los Altos, CA

Drape a colorful throw over a couch back or chair for a color extract. Also consider draping down it the middle of the couch.

VisuaLingual

Paint a accent wall. It will add excitement to the space. Pick a wall that houses has dramatic artwork, showcases an important bit of furniture, or has an intriguing architectural detail you can highlight. In a long narrow room, the very best wall to paint would be the farthest short wall. The color will draw your attention to it, which makes the wall appear closer to you.

Bring in a fresh lamp base that has a vibrant color. Crate & Barrel’s Boka lamps have yummy color options. Or try spray painting your lamp base for a new finish from the color of your own choice.

David Churchill – Architectural Photographer

You can bring the floor to life with color, also. Utilize a large patterned rug so the color comes through in a larger scale.

Michael Fullen Design Group

Insert a garden feces in one of numerous colorful finishes and shapes you can get these days. Strive two side by side for more color and additional seating. They can be moved to wherever you want them.

More:
Color Suggestions for Commitment-Phobes
Obtaining the Accent Wall Right
Ease Your Way Into Bold Color

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