whitshat's ideas
Hand in hand with a change in color is a change in texture. Different materials just tend to want to be finished in different ways. Flatter, more planar stucco wants to be bright and lively, while more heavily textured shingles want to be more natural and earth toned. And do separate the parts at a logical point — say, the window head or sill. Doing so will give an order and structure to the whole.
Color is also used to complement and reinforce a home's particular style. If you have a house covered in wood shingles aging to a soft and silvery gray, consider using a bright white for the trim. The white will be a strong contrast to the shingles, giving the home a tailored and refined look. Make sure that the areas to be painted white are significant. You don't want to have thin lines of white, as those would get lost in the overall scheme. Look to bold trim, larger columns, deeper overhangs, wider window trim and corbels instead for the white treatment.
In some ways selecting the exterior color palette is not unlike applying makeup. While there's the overall color to consider, there are also the details that draw the eye in and enliven the face. Try a bright red for the window frames and other architectural elements to add some zip to an exterior. With the new finishing technologies, some incredible color choices are available. So go beyond white, beige and brown in your details. Consider reds, greens, blues and more.
Just as the interior colors you select are expressions of your personality, so should the exterior colors be. You can use color to draw the eye in and call attention to an interesting architectural detail. You can also use color to play with scale. The same color in the door placed higher on the wall will call attention to the entry's location from blocks away, confirming that this is where you'll find the front door.
If your home is predominantly stone, brick or some other material that isn't painted, you can select the right accent color by pulling out a color that exists in that material. For example, if your stonework has a soft pale green hue scattered throughout, selecting that color for details and trim elements can be quite nice. Just stand back and survey the material, looking for those spots of color you notice and want to bring out.
Take seasonal changes in the landscape into consideration, such as green grass and leaves as well as blue sky in summer to blankets of white snow and gray sky in winter. Live in a snowy area? Consider a creamy off-white, something with a bit of yellow in it, in lieu of a stark white. The creamier color will give your home a strong presence and stature whether it's surrounded by the grays of winter, pastels of spring, greens of summer or oranges and browns of autumn.
Bluish-green gray paint picks. Warm up these cool hues by pairing them with a light wood floor, such as beech. From left to right: Confederate 27-21, from Pratt & Lambert; Water's Edge 1635, from Benjamin Moore; Sterling, from Serena & Lily; and Uncertain Gray SW6234, from Sherwin-Williams. Tell us: What's your favorite go-to neutral hue?
When staining or painting cabinets, I like to pick a dark version of my chosen hue and then go with a much lighter shade of it on the walls and ceiling. You get contrasting colors that don't fight one another.
If you opt for a darker version of the color, try painting a swath of wall and ceiling rather than the entire space. You'll get the drama without making the space look too dark and heavy.
Deep taupe paint picks. As neutrals, these colors work with any color floor, but if your particular space doesn't get much light, you might want to choose a light-colored flooring, such as maple. From left to right: Bronzed Ivy GLN23, from Glidden; Urbane Bronze SW7048, from Sherwin-Williams; Fair Fieldstone KM3959-3, from Kelly-Moore; and Gargoyle 1546, from Benjamin Moore.
This bright white molding looks clean and crisp against the rich, dark wall color. The turquoise accent via the seating adds a nice dash of color in this elegant dining room.
Cool khaki paint picks. These soft, subtle hues pick up the warm, rich shades in a walnut wood floor nicely. From left to right: Universal Khaki SW6150, from Sherwin-Williams; African Delta 159-4, from Mythic Paint; Pebble Stone 750D-4, from Behr; and Silver Fox 2108-50, from Benjamin Moore.
Who wouldn't want to soak in this bath for hours? When you have a large space, interesting architectural elements and a nice view out the window, you don't need to go wild with color. This dark khaki offers drama without being distracting.
A sampling of neutral hues forecast to be big in 2013: 1. A cool khaki that has a bit of green in it: Sea Haze 2137-50, from Benjamin Moore 2. An elegant deep taupe: Mink SW6004, from Sherwin-Williams 3. Pantone's pick, a light grayish purple: African Violet 4. A bluish-green gray: Twilight T13-6, from Behr
'Fuyu' looks different: flat bottomed like a tomato. More distinctively, it is nonastringent and can be eaten before it turns soft. Eat it like an apple or slice it for salads. How to use a persimmon tree. It is shapely enough to stand alone as a garden’s focal point, in a border or on a lawn. In time it can make a decent shade tree. In a big garden, several trees can form a row in the background. Before you plant. Ask what you're going to do with an abundance of fruit. Don’t plant a tree where you don’t want the fruit to fall. If you don’t want the fruit, you can probably give it away — or have the kids set up a lemonade-style stand.
'Hachiya' is the most widely grown variety. Its fruit is large and recognizably pointed at the tip. Not everyone likes eating it — the common gripe is "the texture." And the fruit is puckeringly astringent unless fully soft and ripe; let it ripen on the tree or bring it indoors when deep orange and it will ripen. Eat it fresh (some people pour cream on it) or bake with it; the most popular version is an English-style Christmas pudding. Don't forget the hard sauce.
Distinguishing traits. Even without fruit production, the vivid orange fall foliage would be reason enough to grow this lovely deciduous tree.
Botanical name: Diospyros kaki Common name: Japanese persimmon USDA zones: 7 to 10 (find your zone) Water requirement: Moderate Sun requirement: Full sun Mature size: 30 feet tall and wide Benefits and tolerances: No particular pests or diseases; birds or squirrels may steal fruit.
Natural Cork Branch Coaster - $14.00 » The ideal pairing: woodsy coasters and mulled cider.
Claw Candlesticks - $62.00 » These claw candlesticks are so unique and are likely to garner attention during evenings of entertaining.
Weathered Antler Wreath, White - $299.00 » This rustic wreath made of cast resin antlers is a cool interpretation of a traditional design.
Heavy duty. This intense, vintage style is strictly for heating — you won't be able to view the flames since there's no glass on the doors. Heavy-duty construction means money saved on the heat bill.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...9. Exterior barn doors. Take the barn-door trend outside with thick sliding doors to protect sliding glass doors underneath. They may not work on every house style, but when they do, they're a showstopper!
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...8. Storm windows and doors. These are costlier than some of the other items on this list but could make the most difference. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, adding a storm window to an older window that has been weatherstripped provides the same or better energy savings as a new dual-pane window.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...Energy Film » 7. Insulating window film. This product sticks directly to your windows, providing an extra layer of protection from the elements. Be aware that your windows won't be perfectly clear with window film applied — which is probably fine for windows in some parts of the house, but you may not want to use it everywhere if the look bothers you.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...Door Draft Stopper Snake, Slate Grey/Yellow/Floral by Ogsplosh - $20.00 » 6. Draft-stopping door snake. This may seem a little old timey, but there is nothing like a door snake for quickly and easily stopping a big draft from whooshing under your door. Thankfully there are many stylish door snakes being made now (like the one shown here); a quick search on Etsy is sure to produce tons of cute options.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...5. Layered window treatments. To dress your windows really warmly, bundle them up in insulating shades (or cellular shades) with curtains hung on top. This elegant look makes any room feel more finished and will keep your house warmer.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades » 4. Cellular shades. Also known as honeycomb shades, this type of window covering is made with folds of fabric that create multiple layers of air pockets to insulate windows like a puffy down quilt.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...3. Doorway curtains. In an entry with a glass door, try hanging a floor-length velvet curtain directly behind the door — pulled to the side during the day, it would be a dramatic decorative accent, and at night, when pulled shut, it would provide an extra layer of warmth between the glass and the great outdoors.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows Velvet Drape - $109.00 » 2. Heavier curtains. Like pulling on a nice, cozy sweater when you get chilly, switching out lighter summer curtains for heavier drapes in the winter is a smart idea. Decorating-wise, it looks more appropriate during the cool months to have something lush and rich, like velvet or heavy linen, on the windows, and the fabric provides extra insulation and blocks drafts.
9 low cost ways to insulate doors and windows...1. Weatherstripping and caulking. The first step in getting the most out of your current windows and doors is to plug any air leaks. Caulk inside and outside your window casing and use weatherstripping in the sash.
Sustainability: Plastic laminate veneers get a green thumbs-up for the modest amount of resources consumed during manufacturing (though they're roughly a quarter petroleum-based resins). Manufacturers like Formica and Wilsonart have boosted the sustainability of their products with the use of FSC-certified wood. And several manufacturers can boast of GreenGuard certification, which indicates that their products contribute to improved indoor air quality.
The basics: Plastic laminate countertops consist of a wafer-thin finish adhered to a plywood or particleboard substrate. That thin finish is a high-pressure laminate (HPL); it's made of three layers of material bonded together by high heat and pressure: a clear melamine top for protection, a decorative layer and a backing made of phenolic resin-coated kraft paper. Well-known laminate manufacturers include Formica, Wilsonart and Nevamar. Costs: $8 to $20 per square foot, including installation.
Because of the slope of the site, it was impossible to get a clear photo of the back of the house. To the left is the garage; off the back you can see the large kitchen windows and the deck; to the right is the master suite addition, which has its own covered porch. "My clients not only built the house to enjoy their retirement and spend time with family," Clark says, "but also to leave as a legacy for generations to enjoy."
Simplicity and a mix of old and new carry through to the new master bathroom. "The claw-foot tub is an old tub from the 1920s that the clients bought. They took it to a company in Alabama that reglazes old bathtubs, where it was stripped to the raw metal and refinished," says Clark. "The fittings/fixtures are all new, but the client always wanted a claw-foot tub. It's a shower and tub combo."
Repurposed barn wood gives the new master bedroom ceiling a sense of history.
The clients already owned this antique dresser, which now serves as a vanity.
If you look closely at the right side of this photo, you can see some notches in the logs over the secretary — the owners decided not to extend the original second floor over this part of the living room, resulting in a light and open room.
The dining room retains the original feel of the log cabin. "My clients had beautiful, Williamsburg-esque colonial furniture," says Clark. "I'm glad they went with that rather than overdoing the mountain-twig-moosehead kind of theme."
The clients love to have their kids and grandkids up from Atlanta, especially for big holidays like Thanksgiving. Thus they wanted a large kitchen where everyone could hang out. Clark built the kitchen off the back of the house. It accesses a deck with spectacular mountain views.
This staircase, crafted from the reclaimed barn wood, occupies the former dogtrot space. The picture was taken from the edge of the new kitchen, which extends off the back of the house. New pine floors were used throughout the first floor, one of the few items not reclaimed. Clark used the wood from the barn for the floor joists, stairs, porch, flooring and some ceilings throughout the new and old parts of the home.
When the stone craftsmen arrived, they were amazed by the amount of stone the couple had from their log cabin purchase, and the clients realized they had saved lots of money in stone alone. "There are pieces of old tombstones within the stone mix," Clark says. "Back then if they had a damaged piece of tombstone or spelled a name wrong, they made sure to use that reject stone one way or another." It's similar to the approach the team took for the house, using whatever materials they already had in new ways.
The lean-to porch is original to the cabin, but the railing was Smith's idea. "Clyde Smith is one of those rare people who can do this amazing quality of work," says Clark. "He approached me with the idea of creating the porch railing out of dogwood trees from the property, and I told him to go for it. He came up with very interesting ways of building things that I would not have thought of." The railing is one of the many ways the team connected the cabin to its new site
This entry used to be the open dogtrot breezeway. When Clark was figuring out how to fit all the pieces together and incorporate everything the clients wanted, he decided to fill it in. The clients found the front door, transom and sidelights at an architectural salvage yard in Atlanta. They were from the first house built in Social Circle, Georgia, after the Civil War. The couple stripped, sanded and finished them themselves, then had Clark figure out how and where to place them.
fireplace
firepit!!!
table and chairs
Q