Casart Coverings 1,000 Houzz Tours is quite a celebratory milestone! These are lovely but I also agree with bubblyjock, it's the more eclectic tours that I remember most and the example of Kristin Nicholas' house (photos by Rikki Snyder) are dear to me, since we are now carrying Kristin's murals as one of our artists and Rikki did a photo shoot for us -- as a direct result of this Houzz tour. They are the best! I would have never come in contact with them had it not been for Houzz. I just checked the stats and their post may be one of the most commented on posts that I remember: Comment 251 !

Shavonda Gardner @catbirdfarm it may be based on the number if hits or post visits each feature got, or it might be determined by how many comments the posts received, whether positive or negative, as well.

catbirdfarm @Shavonda Gardner - we can speculate all we like, but I'd like to know the actual methodology.

Visits to a tour aren't stamps of approval - I see many tours I don't care for but I've still clicked through. And I doubt Houzz moderators have time to keep track of the tone of comments for a "positive vs negative scorecard." Besides, sometimes comments are both!

Let's hope it's a lot more scientific than clicks or comments. I'm guessing it has something to do with the number of photos being added to Ideabooks, but if that is the case, it would have been more informative to say these 10 house tours had *photos* that were added to the most Ideabooks. But, and I know I'm being a stickler here, even that doesn't work because I find I often like a single photo in a tour but don't like of the rest of the house. I can't be the only one that happens to.

Ok, well now that I've beaten that topic to death ;-) I hope Mitchell Gardner gives us the real scoop. :-)

margaea I enjoy "visiting" the various featured Houzz homes. This is the first one I've loved so much, I felt I had to comment. Just looking at the photos lifted my spirits.

Samiha Sanwar i just love your house, your pets are adorable, i have been looking for ideas for decorating my bedroom your is been a big help. i m from south east Asia, here we have beautiful crafts in fabrics, i wanted to use it, now i got a lot of idea how to:) thanks.

Casart Coverings Emma, great suggestions. Love the striped rug. It reminded me of the multi-striped and individual stripes we have just added to our designs. The individual stripes are an easy, quick way to change a look that can be done seasonally. Just look at the big difference resulting from changing the configuration of the green and brown stripes and the direction; horizontal with the green and brown and vertical with the orange and brown.

Casart Coverings Just moved the pair of candlesticks previously flanking the fireplace mantel to one side. Now the new design dilemma is to decide on which side do they look more pleasing to the eye! Think I need to get a life?

patscats2 What happened to having one beautiful object on the coffee table and not junking it up with 5 or 6 things to where it looks like a garage sale is about to start? I'm definitely a minimalist when it comes to decorating. When rooms are decorated with too much stuff I lose interest immediately because it's too much work just looking at all the stuff. Less is more for those you who can't stand to see a spot empty on your flat surfaces. LOL

the_misfit "If you don't own books, buy some at a yard sale or library sale..."

My blood ran cold.

katwishing It looks like the perfect artist's space. It has charm and comfort, an edge that gives it a unique touch, and the owner's personality comes through without being overwhelming. Nicely done. Thanks for sharing.

Casart Coverings Charmean, be sure to alleviate your clients' fears about replacing that 60s wallpaper. Let them know that the products available today have eliminated the problems of the products of the 60s. Hope they realize what a treasure they have in their house and in you!

dmoran0 Vintage umbrella wallpaper...

bmcgraw1 We just purchased a mid-century modern house that was built in 1961 and we bought it from the original owners. They had done very few updates. It still has a turquoise oven built into a rock wall that extends into the kitchen from the den. I had planned on doing major remodeling but the longer I am here the less I want to change. I love it.

jabalshams I get it. My home is full of journeys, seasons, memories. You said it well Mr. Dietrich.

Pamela Bateman Garden Design There are stories in homes so I agree with you Bud. Our old farm house was built sometime in the 1940's. Although I don't know the details of the everyday lives of the people that lived here there are clues that add to the richness of our home. I know that someone planted a wonderful Philadelphus right outside our kitchen window and when that window is open and the plant is in bloom I am enjoying the same fragrance that they did when they worked in the kitchen many years ago. That same person may have planted an orange tree right outside the window of the master bedroom that also gives us wonderful perfumed breezes on warm nights.
I know that someone had kids that signed the cement when they poured the garage floor in 1948 and that they had a dog that walked across that floor when the cement was still wet.
I know that a family that used to live here hung up their clothes on a laundry line anchored by two metal T posts that someone welded together out in the workshop that still exists. We still enjoy hanging our clothes out to dry on this old laundry line.
I also know that the former owner purchased a green wall to wall shag carpet in 1968 (the tag was on it when we tore it out in 2003). I am sure that they were very happy with their purchase because they never replaced it in all those years!
I know the builder loved large windows and every room in our old house has great big windows to take advantage of the views of the surrounding farmland.
I have planted roses that look in each window of the house and I hope many years from now they are still giving a flowery display to the future owners.

Casart Coverings Funny story about the hutch, but is that an original Eames chair in front of it? I didn't see any reference to it although it is in a focal point in the picture. We had chickens when the children were young. Wonderful "pets" and they give you something in return besides unconditional love. We enjoyed them but the neighbors took exception to the rooster's early crowing every morning!

Jackie Nooner Aren't most lived-in homes hodge podge? I understand why she's smiling in the last pic.

Jennifer Hodges Wow! Thanks you guys. I'm kinda embarrassed to say I don't really know the paint colors EXCEPT the white interior is just basic white Kilz paint. I purchased the H shield from a friend who bought it (of course!) at a garage sale. The Eames chair is actually the real deal although I did get it at a consignment store. Thanks so much for the kind words.

Casart Coverings Perfect solution to personalize your dorm room

Casart Coverings Those Liberty smooth, round knobs are a great look and so practical when it comes time to clean the evidence of any grimy fingers and hands. Tile is great but if you're renting, can't afford or don't want to commit to the permanency, try removable and reusable vinyl wallcovering that can be wiped clean and even further protected with a glossy water-based sealer. Here's just a sampling of the design and colorway options.

Susan my mistake! I thought this was glass tile.

julie77777 Thanks for all the tips and info!

Casart Coverings Living in a warm, humid area in the southern part of the U. S., this plant has always been a mainstay of my outdoor garden. I have 2 large containers on either side of the garage. They receive a lot of light, not much water and, I confess, very little TLC. They reward me with blooms every year and no complaints of neglect!

manderson19610 We thought we would give them a try in our patio home yard. Since it is quite protected the Mother in Tongue has held up well despite the Houston TX weather. Everyone is surprised when they see them used outside. We are going into the second summer and they look great.

Laura I love this plant as well! My bedroom is smallish, but always has room for a tall, narrow plant such as this. I actually did kill on once from over-watering - thanks for the tips on how little they actually need to be watered!

jannie It's been a bit of a ragged day and I needed this prod toward the appreciation of community. When I was diagnosed with cancer, like you with your fire coverage, I was fine. My insurance was comprehensive, and excellent treatment was close at hand. However, many people offered support that seemed, at times, to be overwhelming. One woman in particular was nearly smothering me with her good intentions. Her heart was in the right place, though. One day, she delivered a cashier's check to my office which was payable to me, and would not take it back, her concern being that I would not be able to afford my treatment. I was uncomfortable but I could not convince her that our finances, thankfully, were not terribly strained. Ultimately, I had to embrace her sense of generosity, and accept the check. I donated the check toward our hospital foundation's fund for mammograms for indigent women. This woman's effort was a sincere kindness to me, which invisibly extended our "community" to women who were legitimately in need. Your article was a reminder that inasmuch as we try to give, sometimes we need to be reminded to accept aid to give others the joy of giving.

Casart Coverings Yes, all of our designs can be customized. Here is the link to the size and color options for the artichoke.http://www.casartcoverings.com/botanicals.html and also the link for information on customization http://www.casartcoverings.com/customize.html

Casart Coverings Love the VanGogh inspiration and blue and white patterning. Would love to see the big reveal as well but these remind me of a copy of VanGogh in Arles painting that I did, our Fireflies at Night (T3 Collection) and the new navy and white geometrics designs from the Libby Langdgon Collection (http://www.casartcoverings.com/libbylangdon.html)

victoran So love anything Van Gogh and this is all fabulous! Such a tribute and blue is my favorite color.

Fenstermann LLC-Newport Beach Stars and Moons Blackout shades by Fenstermann

Casart Coverings Such an unusual approach to using wallpaper. Unconventional and really makes this kitchen memorable.

Kathryn Peltier Design @flynne: agreed. I think too much is being made of the term "French Country". The term really relates to elements of style, not what an ACTUAL French country kitchen would look like. I mean, we also call kitchens Victorian, Craftsman, etc. That doesn't mean we have wood burning stoves or gas light fixtures or Gustave Stickley furniture in them. It's a concept, borrowed from many facets of design - not a replication.

mrsobbs True enough Peltier - And having worked in publishing for the past twenty-five years, there's also a certain amount of literary license re: choice of terms (such as French Country) within the author's crafting of a piece.

Casart Coverings Spot on, Valerie! All great ideas but my favorites are the acrylic glasses (wonderful for any not-too-careful holders, especially around a pool) and the hem-stitched napkins.

idonttwantone We wi

idonttwantone We will drive to the vrbo spot so inside my farmers' market basket will go my own linens, my bread and chopping knives, a big vase for flowers, my flower shears, a family photo, and a list to remember to bring it all back home!

Casart Coverings "If you collect things you love, they will inevitably work together, because they speak to you," is wise advice from Gretchen. I'm still trying to envision how she edited to accommodate things from a 2-bedroom home into her small apartment.

Darcy Howe I believe the dog is a pet, and not per se an objet d'art or other such trinket. I would indeed enjoy visiting Gretchen in the LR, but the closet area of the BR is a bit over-stuffed. Shelves?

catherinebeaver Just as a gentle FYI, Native Americans do not dance in "costumes", but in highly individualized and deeply personal outfits known as regalia, which often take years to create or is passed down from generation to generation. Loved a lot of the elements in this space- especially that basket in the fireplace!

Casart Coverings Here are some other easy suggestions. Instead of painting the stairs, try adding faux tile stair risers that peel and stick: easy to put on, easy to take off. Same applies to this beach print. You can apply it right over the frame's glass and it's easy to change seasonally. Adding a few pillows in crisp black and white design is always an easy decor change.

Phantom Screens Great article! It is so true - entryway sets the tone and the feel of the home and especially so during summer! Another great option to make the most of warm weather is to install a retractable screen on the front and back doors, thereby creating natural ventilation and cutting down on having to run the air conditioner to cool the house. Phantom`s retractable door screens are perfect for all door designs and styles, plus they are only visible when in use.

Tru Tech Doors You can also upgrade your backyard appearance by putting in a Garden Door, made by Tru Tech Doors.

Casart Coverings They've got 2 cats. They're hip!

familyideas Sorry...I meant "akdiamond"...my 'spell and check' changed it!

kdynek Thank you for the tour! I really like the mixed wall art, and feel inspired to hang pieces that I have stored. It is wonderful that the homeowners have allowed all of us to visit. My takeaway is warm, cozy, welcoming, colorful, interesting, and beautiful.

Casart Coverings I hope every woman takes a good look at the x-ray picture in the "Show what you love" photos to see what stiletto heels do to the foot! Again, Houzz staff, could you PLEASE number pics in ideabooks, especially when there are so many?

patricia beharry @SusieQ, I have been called on the rug numerous times for being too negative, and I think that I am just as entitled to give my view/opinion as you are. I read yours, saw the humour in it ,and smiled.

cathylenny It touched my heart that so many young people are turning to their homes to find their comfortable haven in this crazy and cruel world. In the process of doing this they are discovering their own personal style and putting that style or look together as a means of self expression. If you see the big smiles on their faces they are are pleased with their outcome. So once again, style is what YOU make it and despite having very little, I think they did a good job. More young people should refuse to follow the trends and continue to experiment with what they enjoy in their own homes. How does anyone think style ever gets popular in the first place! It had to first have a beginning. And remember, it's not so much what we say but how we say it. Just be kind.

Casart Coverings Elizabeth Gordon's ceiling is truly inspirational. So refreshing to see the 5th wall get some decorative attention + a reason to look up! And what a nice surprise to see Kristin Nicholas' patterned walls included (#10). Inside scoop -- it's not wallpaper, it's handpainted! But we carry her removable and reusable wallcovering -- inspired by where else but a post here on Houzz. Now that's crazy, huh, what a pattern can do?! http://www.casartcoverings.com/kristinnicholas.html

Casart Coverings @ Wow Effects Murals and Fine Art -Au contraire, Tom. Today's wallpaper is NOT the wallpaper of the 70s and definitely has a place now. For instance, not everyone can afford beautiful art such as yours but can afford to have a favorite photo digitally printed on wallcovering. Some of today's wallcovering also offers the flexibility of being able to remove it and use in another space at another time. You couldn't do that in the 70s! And the removing process is also not the same. Removable wallcoverings are simply pulled away from the wall in one piece without damage to the wall and without leaving any residue. If it's the reusable kind, you just replace the backing sheet, roll up and store until ready to use again. Great for renters, great for seasonal decorating.. it's nice to have options.

Casart Coverings @Wow Effects-Murals and Fine Art. We absolutely understand where you are coming from because our business was born from a professional decorative painter and muralists who has a thriving clientele base that just happens to be in your area. We work with high end designers and carry their collections, along with original artwork from us as well as other artists. We like to maintain sophisticated style with the added factor of convenience. Often you can't tell the difference between what has been painted on the wall and what has not; giving everyone the opportunity to afford a way to personalize and stylize their space the way they want. Unlike die-cut decals, which ours are not, our wallcoverings meet the highest certification for designer type class ii, type A . We like the practical added benefit for our customers to make their investment of art for their walls transportable because it would be a waste to leave it behind or paint over it when you can move it, pass it down or even on for others to enjoy. Wow, stylish sustainability for all.

Casart Coverings frenchdecor, love that you carried your wallpaper in your luggage all the way from France! Now that exemplifies how wallpaper or any wall art can be transportable and how you might want to take it with you + your dedication that you did. @Wow Effects....For more information, you can check here about how we do custom commissions for hand-painted artwork, professional trompe l'oeil and anything else that can be customized to size, spec and color: http://www.casartcoverings.com/customize.html -- Cheers!

tootsweets This is one of my favorite idea books. No, not each photo is something I would want in my home, but I have an incredible appreciation for the sophisticated eye it takes to create this art. They feel like rooms with stories. My favorite is the one where the pillow in the striped chair echoes the pattern in the wallpaper.

Lot 26 Studio, Inc. It's super easy to add texture with adhesive wall decals. I love the idea of adding color and depth to a room with the paper chandeliers: http://www.lot26.com/s/Paper-Chandeliers

Casart Coverings Wonderful piece, Becky, and your last paragraph is truly the "take-away" point. Southerners are always warm and welcoming. They are very respectful of their history and culture and want to share it with everyone.

Jonlyn Nation I've lived in Nashville for 20 years. It encompasses many styles but remains true to its Southern roots. Everyone that visits loves the city. From downtown you can be in the country and enjoy hills and rural beauty in 30 minutes. Come here and you will fall in love!! This is the new IT town!!

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist Vanessa and Becky, come on down and visit anytime!!! Becky, thank you for the fabulous article - I loved how you explored the diversity of my hometown. It's an awesome place to live. BTW, I got to meet Annie Nozawa tonight at the Houzz event here in town - she did such a great job and was really sweet :)

Casart Coverings Red is a hard color to use in interior spaces without overwhelming them but if you're going for impact, why not. These work! They remind me of our Faux Glass Mosaic Tile in multiple colorways. It's wallpaper that you can use and yes, move and reuse somewhere else when you want a change. Here's our example in People Magazine. Does it look like tile? It was originally hand painted.

revss Thanks for the info re a grey basecoat first. Our room now has a very pale yellow; almost cream. Would a fuchia color need the grey base as well?

thedarlingsbecca We use a lot of red in our house. The shade is a custom muxed color Benjamin Moore latex. The color was mixed based on the color of our couch and love seat which have two tones of the red in the fabric with a small amount of yellow-gold. The walls and carpets are a calming, fresh, chic gray; accents are rose and white; high, white, coved ceilings; and olive and cream / gold accents. Lots of Honey-0ak wood trim on windows, sliding doors, around ceiling, entryway floor, front door and staircase to second floor. Family room is same red, but ALL of the walls are painted that color - the love set and two "club" chairs with ottos are also that color or shades and patterns close to it. Carpeting is light gray, fireplace is shades of rose to orange with gray grout. Lots of oak wood trim at ceilings (high, coffered, white), palladium windows with wood trim and honey oak wooden blinds, wall board by edges of carpet and around large opening to kitchen. Coffee table large, oak and glass. Lamp shades are tan to golden tan with bases antiqued / oil- look brass. Club chairs have large paisley pattern of green and golden yellow, but background is red. Pillows are olive greens. Kitchen is full of same oak, wallpaper is red-rose toile on tan/ beige background., red accents. I just love the warmth of it all year long. At Christmas time, it is even more beautiful and so easy to decorate! Will try to take sone photos.

frenchdecor Please don't feed birds in spring-summer-fall time, they have to do their job -eat mosquitoes, fly, bugs and weed seeds, but make sure you fill water birdbaths or any shallow bowl for them in dry season. Only in snow and cold time we have to help survive feeding them.

Casart Coverings There are so many of these that have become classic, iconic patterns. All are lovely! There's a lot to love about wallpaper -- the instant impact it creates can transform a room and make it memorable but the big caveat is the commitment and then having to remove it when you're tired of it or trying to sell your house b/c others may not appreciate it as much as you do. I hear complaints all the time and having removed it myself and never want to do it again, I came up with a removable and reusable wallcovering solution for my hand-painted, reproduced finishes like faux linen, then expanded into patterns. We just launched a new line of Libby Langdon's Designer geometrics yesterday! Now there's no fear to use! The lobster reminds me of our Crawsfish Cotillion that gives back to Gulf Coast Recovery (since we have New Orleans roots). To answer an inquiry about Chartreuse and to see it in a room, here's some ideas + patterns and stripes from our current Karen Robertson Collection on sale only this week: http://www.casartcoverings.com/gallery.html and http://www.casartcoverings.com/krc.html

oldblackdog These are such diverse choices, it makes me love wall paper once more! Of course they are all for highly idiosyncratic tastes, not so good for resales to folks looking for neutral.

oldblackdog And I just checked out Meg Braff and Philip Jeffries - this is as much fun as checking out great rug designs.

judygilpin I absolutely love the Chippendale style.......but one word of caution, the dining room chairs are not all that comfortable if you wish to linger over dinner enjoying conversation. I learned that the hard way by purchasing a set and found the men (and even me) not liking the way the backs felt on ones back. I kept the 2 host & hostess armed chairs and use them as accent chairs in the living room. I placed pillows on the backs of the chairs ( as in the photo of the vintage chair above) to make them more comfortable. Also kept 2 of the armless chairs and use them as desk chairs in the master and guest bedrooms.

My living room almost mimics the Lori Levine living room shown in this article. Love Asian accents. I truley enjoyed this article. Thanks.

Becky Harris Beautiful - I love the way they pulled blues, oranges/ochres through the space. It's subtle yet makes it all flow so well.

Casart Coverings Way back in the 80s I became the owner of a down-filled custom sofa, selected by my designer and made locally. At the time, it was quite an investment! I loved the fabric although I've long ago lost the name. When it was time to replace it, I couldn't bear to part with it and moved it to a glass-enclosed porch where it still resides. It is the perfect place to stretch out with a good book on a rainy day and listen to the rain. Like Jan Moyer's sofa, this one is a "super keeper" as well as a "super sleeper".

Crystal Burriss Living my entire life in NC (& growing up in Hickory) I have extremely aware of the importance and value of well made furniture and unfortunately it's getting harder to find as many of the old NC companies are having their products made overseas. We have a Clayton Marcus sofa purchased about 14 years ago (burgundy, navy, hunter green plaid) that now livesin the den (aka playroom) and it is by far the most comfortable piece of furniture in our home. We are now on the hunt for furniture for our sunroom and I'm tempted to buy a slipcover and just move my ugly comfy couch in there.

sar555000 Nellie & Diana - thanks for the reupholstery & slipcover suggestions. Unfortunately, I already considered that. The design of the sofa doesn't lend itself to slipcovers, or any reasonable reupholstery project. I am in the process of looking for a new piece. Lessons learned, from this thread as well as others!

Casart Coverings Of course I like the wallpapered wall idea. Going with just one bold design on a featured wall can make a "big" difference. Also, we happen to have wallcovering that can be DIY applied to the ceiling, so no extra help needed with Casart Light (described here): http://www.casartcoverings.com/customize.html. All our wallcoverings are repositionable, removable and reusable and save the cost of professional installation..

Kozai Modern Great tips here! I love the daring first tip of using dark paint, contrary to popular belief, it is shown so well in the photo with using built in white wall shelves to break up the wall. Preferably I shy away from massive modern sofas, but a great way to balance them in a room is to have an armless chair, or a chair with a more delicate frame as to not overwhelm the room. Check out our Polpo Casual Chair and Rivage Casual Chair in fabric, bot hand crafted in Japan. http://kozaimodern.com/collections/casual-chairs

Jordan Mahle Love the dark navy "Drawing Room Blue" in #1...this room is very elegant & looks larger than it is!

Casart Coverings A beautifully balanced mix of traditional and modern décor with a gorgeous outdoor "room" retreat. Wonderful post + photos.

ucsb1980 Oh my goodness, what a beautiful home. Charming and sophisticated. The wall colors are stunning- your home has enough sunlight to be able to enjoy such saturated tones. The patio is so inviting. Wonderful!

geunderwood What are the paint colors for bedroom and living room? Sorry, I didn't see them listed.