krichard's ideas
More Info 8. Take the idea of "pantry" to a new level. Less pantry, more wow! There is something so romantic about a small room completely outfitted with all you'd need to bake a cake or can the year's yield of cucumbers. Do you have an unused closet or small room by your kitchen that might serve this kind of purpose? It could change the way you view your kitchen completely.
4. Special hardware accessories are great for full utilization of a space. Spinning, rotating, moving, sliding, oh my! This seemingly complicated storage system provides one simple function: use nearly every square inch of this space for storage. Racks on the doors are perfect for spice containers. The other shelves hold larger items. By using this type of system, you can create a deep pantry and still get to items in the very back without having to crawl into your cupboards. If you are just trying to redo an existing cupboard or pantry, talk with a local cabinet maker about incorporating some of the many storage options.
. For a walk-in pantry, look for a way to incorporate your pantry into the existing cabinetry. There is a huge number of pantries out there (most built in the 1980s and 1990s) that are small rooms within a room. Recently, I've been taking these rooms out and incorporating the pantry into the cabinetry layout. This photo shows a completely different take on that idea, leaving the walk-in part intact and disguising the pantry door as part of the cabinetry. I really like this idea and will most likely be using it in an upcoming design.
The screened-in porch on the back of the house is made of Ipe, a sustainable exotic wood that's naturally water and decay resistant. Double-hung Weathershield windows allow light from the spacious porch to seep into the great room. The exposed rafter tails at the edge of the porch add to the authentic Southern farmland vibe.
Originally the far end of this space — now a dining area — was a bedroom. Urrutia knocked out a wall to transform a 14x45' room into this 14x65' room. At right is one of the home's most popular innovations: two 22-foot folding doors that open to the pool and outdoor kitchen. "Before, it was all lit with windows, with a door to the deck at each end," Urrutia says. "I wanted to connect the indoors and the outdoors."
Lanteri suggests looking into getting a custom iron cover made. "You can get a custom cover with your favorite fabric without spending a lot of money," she says. "Hang the board on cute black and white hooks from somewhere like Anthropologie. It will actually add to your decor, rather than detract!"
Look closely on either side of the countertop, and you'll see what appears to be an old fashioned gas heater grill. Since Mace loves to listen to music while cooking, he repurposed two heater grills from the bathroom as speaker units on either side of the kitchen.
the ceiling
A vignette in one of the hallways showcases the client's taste for vintage goods and a classic, well-worn look.
Framed black and white photos of the family hang from delicate chains in the entryway as a way to welcome guests into the family's home. "To me this home is clean, crisp, and inviting, but also with a little edge,"
Add a vaulted ceiling and skylight. In this steam shower/tub, the homeowner really wanted full access to the sky. Sunlight pours in during the day and at night, she can look up at the stars while enjoying a good steam. Doesn't get much better than that.
8. Mirror the shelves but don’t mirror the contents. If you have mirrored shelves across a room, as in this example, vary each shelf’s display while utilizing the same overall theme. The same items have been used to fill these shelves, some of the books turned face-forward, but because each shelf display is slightly different, they feel connected, interesting and definitely balanced.
Half of this large glass wall slides open to connect the large living-dining area to the patio outside. The glass wall is articulated with a horizontal mullion and two smaller lights at the base, making the assembly appear fixed.
Our primal connection to art and fire have gone hand-in-hand ever since cavemen created art on the walls of caves by firelight. This sculptural steel fireplace surround makes me think of seeing a fire through the opening of a cave. It feels simultaneously ancient and modern.
I like that this dish towel storage space is right next to the sink. That's where I tend to use my dishtowels the most. And it looks like you can pull out the entire towel rack, a smart way to make the towels easily accessible.
A plate rack right over the dishwasher and sink makes the dreaded "putting away" much easier. Note how the smaller plates dot the shelf underneath, adding order to the display of collected items
More Info I bet you thought I was going to leave out clawfoot tubs entirely, but this beauty has a contemporary flair with its pretty chrome feet.
Concrete is one more material to consider for a modern bathtub. Since it can be poured and molded into any shape, the possibilities are endless.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is a granite bathtub. These can weigh more than 2,000 pounds. With the surface polished on the inside and hand chiseled on the outside, they give a tactile experience unlike any other material.
If white porcelain is what you really love, it doesn't mean there aren't new and cool choices. This one gives you have the lighter feel of a free-standing tub with the convenience of a surround. After all, a place to set that glass of champagne is a great feature!
The first time I ever saw a sunken bathtub, I thought it was the most luxurious thing. There is something so wonderful about not having to step over the side of a tub to get in and out. Using a sunken tub in this bathroom leaves an unobstructed view to the floor-to-ceiling window.
This is the photo that got me busy writing this ideabook. I had never before seen a glass-sided bathtub, and this one completely appeals to my minimalist tendencies. The architect, David Stern, says the client wanted this custom made tub for the kids bathroom and wanted it to feel fresh and fun. Well, he succeeded. But here is what I want to know: Why should the kids have all the fun? I have a rubber ducky. Don't you? Doesn't everybody?
This is my favorite bathroom ever. The thought of sinking in up to my chin in this infinity tub and gazing at that dazzling turquoise tile is my idea of a spectacular bath. I could fill it all the way to the top and not slosh any water on the floor. Heaven on Earth!
This sunken tub is lined up perfectly at the same level as an exterior pool of water. The window opens all the way so it looks like a single pool. This would be so peaceful and is absolutely lovely.
A house with strong, clean lines can easily run the risk of looking stark and cold, but not when it's softened by a serene backdrop of lush greenery. It's really a nice balance, and I'm sure the view from the deck would be nothing short of spectacular
Copy the backsplash. This is similar to the previous idea but on a much smaller scale. By pulling the same tile from the backsplash into the floor, you’ll accomplish a sense of unity in the bathroom.
Remember, rectangles may trump squares. If you’ve got a long, narrow bathroom space, lay rectangular tiles instead of square to help the room appear wider.
Mix and match. There are few style rules with bathroom floors: if you can’t decide between several looks, consider combining them. As long as the scales are complementary, you’ll end up with a harmonious floor pattern unique only to you.
Create interest while maintaining the all-white bathroom. Bathrooms in all white are uber crisp and the epitome of clean. Capture the appeal with white furnishings and walls, but sneak in a little interest with marble flooring; its natural state will lend just the right amount of texture.
Complement the tile of your wall with a floor tile in a smaller scale. I know, you’ve heard it a million times: “scale, scale, scale,” but it really is the key to balancing so many looks in design. Don't worry so much about color (choose whatever you like); it’s really about getting the size of the tile right.
Consider the visual weight of the piece. This class glass ring fixture has visual heft in this relatively tight stairwell. By placing it above the piano, the entire area is given a special purpose. I can just imagine dinner guests sitting on the stairs listening to an impromptu concert.
Use different shapes for different rooms. It wouldn't have made sense to place a round fixture above the table in this elegant dining room. Instead, the designer used a simple collection of crystal strands draped over a rectangular frame to cast light down the middle of the table. Even though the fixture is fairly large, the lightness of the crystal keeps it from being too heavy here.
Cluster a number of smaller lights together for greater impact. A two-story tall staircase can be difficult to decorate. This set of 18 smaller lights gathered in a column of glass and light does the job perfectly. It's a simple fixture and an elegant solution for this space.
Consider the movement of the fixture. Reminiscent of wind chimes, this dramatic collection of glass ribbons must be all kinds of gorgeous as they softly sway. I love how the slight twist in the glass reflects the sweeping staircase
Use a little structure for architectural interest. A cascading chandelier doesn't have to be an unstructured set of strands falling from the ceiling. In this straightforward example, the shape of the iron curlicue follows the shape of the staircase. Topped with "candles," this light casts a warm and inviting glow in this entryway.
Why limit a canopy to the entrance when it can also function as a carport? This large country-club-like canopy cantilevers way out towards the driveway, connecting the car directly to the entrance.
wow Don't forget about your closets! (Who doesn't dream about having a divine closet like this?) Recessed, overhead lighting tends to work well in a large closet space. Make sure you have adequate light to see everything — but also flattering light that actually makes it fun to try on clothes.
It's always good to implement a ceiling light with a dimmer, or a piece that casts more of a soft glow throughout the bedroom. While overhead lighting could light the entire room, the ambiance is better when table lamps, floor lamps, and sconces brighten the parts of your bedroom that need it.
Put your collectibles on display. There are no worries about the safety of your treasured possessions when they are housed in custom built-in cabinets. Backlighting also highlights items and lets observers know these pieces are must-sees.
This shower is as open to the elements as it gets (minus that lovely wood deck underfoot). It's adjacent to a hot tub, so one can rinse or cool off after getting out. See this shower in its wider context here.
This shower has it all: a connection to the indoor bathroom, the outdoor feeling, and a bit more privacy.
This shower is covered overhead, but not anywhere else. I imagine this would feel like rinsing off in a jungle treehouse
This trend has started to spread beyond the shower stall. This is an outdoor bathtub on an upper deck of The Hillside House
Often in bathroom design, there are not many windows because of privacy concerns. This means that bathrooms usually get little, if any, natural light. New attitudes toward these spaces (most of which take advantage of the homes' remote locations) open views to the outdoors and let the light in. If you are not quite comfortable with this or are in a less remote location, consider a glass block wall
This shower falls on the indoor side of the dividing line; technically it's indoors, but with the doors open it's completely open to the patio on one side. This kind of setup gives a feeling of being open to the elements with a bit more privacy.
This is an outdoor cold shower at the Kapalua Spa in Maui. Rinsing off here is a bit like rinsing off in a tropical rain forest.
Another new shower trend (or one borrowed from a villa in St. John): Providing an outdoor shower right outside the bathroom. This is the same shower you saw in the previous photograph. There is also a shower on the indoor side of the glass, so the options are open in more ways than one.
love the ceiling
Van Wicklen was inspired by The Lettered Cottage to create this wall display near the kitchen. She used Command Hooks to hang the boxes, which do not leave any marks on the walls if you wish to remove them.
5. Antique white. For a more traditional space, antique whites work best because they provide a lived-in feel to a room. In dining areas, this shade of vanilla is a great choice because it's considered a 'delicious' color.
another pergola
Q