A smart place to consider building a ledge is the kitchen, where we often need a little extra functionality. Backsplash ledge. Here’s a great example of a backsplash ledge made out of listellos, a tile finishing piece. The ledge is deep enough to accommodate kitchen items such as small potted plants, spices or bottles, perhaps filled with soap or hand lotion.
he master bedroom’s walk-in closet is enlivened by blush-colored cabinets, wall-to-wall cheetah print carpet and graphic pink wallpaper. “It’s a little slice of heaven on even the worst mornings, DESK/VANITY IN FRONT OF WINDOW FLANKED BY SCONCE LIGHTING; DESK AS VANITY IN CLOSET/VIBRANT SHADE AT WINDOW W/ FRINGE
Retractable bed. If you have limited floor space but relatively high ceilings, a retractable bed can be a smart solution. In this clever tiny house, the bed is raised and lowered remotely so the space below can be used for other purposes during the day. This option may be chosen if a ladder is impractical due to mobility issues, or if you just don’t like ladders. While retractable beds aren’t the cheapest option, they do add significant comfort and practicality to small spaces. When this bed is needed, the remote-controlled hoist and track system that’s built into a full-height storage wall lowers the bed down to rest, turning the living room into a bedroom. There’s no folding or packing away involved either.
POD To convert an existing garden shed into a relaxing retreat, consider painting the walls a light, inviting color and adding a skylight. Allowing sunlight to illuminate the space during the day and welcome stargazing by night, skylights can be relatively inexpensive to install and offer big rewards.
mother built the interior river rock patio around the garden with a local mason named Matt Chepin. Her mother originally kept plants like philodendrons and rubber trees, but Gray added UV blockers to the windows, filled the garden with more succulents and ferns, and replaced the soil with lava rock. There’s an automated water system in place, but there’s also a spigot in case Gray wants to do some watering herself, as her mother did.
OBVIOUSLY THE CEILING!!!! but also the Gathered Bed Skirts The gathered bed skirt is one of the most popular choices, perhaps because it happens to be the most widely available at stores. It’s always a stylish idea to duplicate the bed skirt fabric as a pillow on the bed. Though you need only one matching pillow, you’ll often see an entire layer of pillows that match the skirt.
Tiles: Ann Sacks Transitional Powder Room by Morgante Wilson Architects Morgante Wilson Architects SaveEmail It’s easy for a mirrored tile to look gaudy, Fortier says, but the classic shape of subway tempers the effect. It comes at a price, though, she adds. The mirrored tiles cost about $87 a square foot, a big jump from the usual cost of subway tile, which you can pick up at a home supply store for as little as a dollar a tile. It’s also worth noting that this is a wall tile, not meant for shower enclosures or flooring, Fortier says.
etA ARCHITECTURE SaveEmail Coursing. Color and an alternative layout blend to create a subtle textile-like design called coursing, says Daniel Ewald of etA Architecture. Subway tiles are offset and alternate in color to look like a basket or textile weave. This is a moderately more complicated pattern, with three colors of 2-by-8-inch tiles. The design does require careful alignment and installation, Ewald says. Homeowners should make sure the installers are comfortable with it, and they should expect to pay more for the work. Tiles: Heath Ceramics
Howells Architecture + Design, LLC Pattern with color. Architect Michael Howells used two color groups of handmade 3-by-6-inch subways to create a straight herringbone pattern on this bathroom floor. No two tiles are alike, which leads to the illusion that more than one hue is in play. He wanted a Western vibe and liked that this was a nice break from the regular subway layout. Tiles: Heath Ceramics
a spacious, light-filled utility room. Give this hard-working space a harmonious look by bathing the walls and cabinets in a soft white, and choose appliances that have the same white tones. If your utility room is a high-traffic area, go for a dark flooring. It will camouflage dirt and add depth to the room.
change the ugly rug to an oriental and I'd love to hang around in this room
wood n stone; colors, furniture...
This is the type of polished wood-and-stone scheme that can woo lovers of traditional, elegant design. It’s natural but with a human touch. This is how you use organic materials without going rustic.
A round of applause. Having your furniture selections mimic a room’s architectural details often makes for a pleasing visual. This Los Angeles dining room makes the most of its decorative ceiling with a round dining table directly underneath the circular molding.
To get that one-of-a-kind amenity, the couple and Franz punched a hole in the roof to create a suspended glass-encased garden that hangs like a green oasis right in the loft interior, shown here. Industrial Staircase by Andrew Franz Architect PLLC Andrew Franz Architect PLLC Save Photo Franz felt that his clients might not be inclined to use a rooftop garden if it remained unseen. By dropping a portion of the garden into the interior, the homeowners can enjoy the view and be encouraged to venture up and outdoors. “It’s like a micro courtyard,” he says. The drop-down garden also allowed light to flood into the unit “rather than cutting a million skylights in the roof,” he says. Franz used the ceiling joists he cut out for the garden to create the staircase treads and landings. The railings are blackened steel.
Coastal Designer: Victoria Hessler of Distinguished Kitchens & Baths Location: Lantana, Florida Homeowners’ request: An open kitchen that can function for two cooks and has a coastal cottage look Style shot: Clean, contemporary feel through white perimeter cabinets, with a coastal vibe coming from white oak in a driftwood finish on the island. Blue island stools, a porcelain-tile floor with a natural wood look, a woven wood shade and bronze pendant lights with a linen-shade interior also contribute to the coastal charm. Other special features: Large island; paneled appliances
E. B. Mahoney Builders, Inc. SaveEmail A hallway that was built as part of an addition masquerades as a sunroom here with skylights to scatter sunlight and warm the interior. The homeowners decided to preserve their Georgian home’s gorgeous stonework, so they worked the addition around it. The material preservation plus the inclusion of plants and natural light uphold the basic tenets of biophilic design.
Consider glass doors. Glass cabinet doors allow you to showcase your dishes, collectibles and other special items. And white or cream frames won’t clash with your colorful treasures. Paint pick: Try Nilla Vanilla from McCormick Paints.
Staircase stunners. Using maple hardwood, designer John Prindle designed a knockout staircase that is as interesting as the pattern cut into it. If you thought it was just a matrix of random punches for purely visual effect, you’d be wrong; it’s actually each residing family member’s name cut into Morse code.
ceiling n windows
bones of the room
I love the idea of not just creating a reading nook, but also incorporating your reading material there too. Finish one book and grab another without ever having to stand up.
In one daughter’s bedroom, two alcoves create cozy nooks — one for a window seat, the other for a built-in desk.
In the kitchen, a large island does a tremendous amount of storage work so the Grays can forgo upper cabinets and preserve the view to the water through a wall of windows. The island holds the cooktop, downdraft, steam oven, microwave, dish storage and more. PAINT COLOR: GREY CASHMERE, B. MOORE
Go round the bend. The biggest investment in this small kitchen was almost certainly the custom curved countertop, but the space created by this one design decision was surely worth it.
Carve out a cube. Even in an open-plan room smaller than this one, there’s no need to tuck your kitchen into a corner. You might gain more space by creating a stand-alone open box for it, in the center of your living space, as seen in this Paris space. With clever planning, it could create more storage, and become a more sociable spot.
a wallpaper company to fabricate a custom mural from a cherished photograph, SIMULATED OUTDOOR SPACE!
Spindly tree branches, glittering stones and a glass staircase paired with warm natural wood
Catalano Architects SaveEmail 2. Sensational skylights. There are skylights, and then there are decorative leaded glass skylights. It’s not a look we see every day, which makes it feels like a daring risk with a substantial reward: windows that are unique not only in placement but in material.
Pop-up vents are useful when the ceiling over a range isn’t able to house appropriate ventilation ducts. The fact that they take up little visual space can give a beautifully open look, especially when used in an island. However, they tend to be the least powerful option by far, so for serious chefs who often cook with a lot of steam and grease, the pop-up may not be sufficient. Pop-ups are a fairly modern style in general, but they can still work in more traditional kitchens, especially when combined with stainless steel chef’s-kitchen appliances and a more dramatic range hood to act as a focal point. A pop-up vent is typically sold as part of a coordinating range, so the price will be included in the range cost.
The house has multiple spaces where family members can retreat to, away from the main living areas without feeling cut off. Upstairs, a small library-media room can be closed off with sliding doors to create a fourth bedroom — or just as a quiet, secluded spot.
CHAIRS; YELLOW AND WHITE WITH TOUCHES OF RED- THE ROOM ARRANGEMENTS IS SO COZY- ALL THE DETAILS MAKE THIS A GREAT SPACE
GREAT STUDIO DISPLAY/ART DISPLAY/OFFICE WORK SPACE
glass/arched detail.drapes,everything except pillow patterns
Architect Pi Smith used a thick-wall strategy throughout the home to accommodate the large collection. Here in the living room, multiple bookshelves create a cozy library feel.
the moss wall is meant to encourage interest without overwhelming the space or distracting those who are in it. “We wanted a wall that was breathtaking but encouraged deep breathing just the same,” Blank says. Its primarily monochromatic design features sheet mosses and dimensional mosses, as well as some ferns for texture and layering.
wall paper, overall look, desk, chair materials
Q