Search Craigslist for budget-friendly building materials. If you've been using Craigslist only to search for furniture, you are missing out. San Diego designer Stephanie Norris and her daughter tapped their local Craigslist to source materials (like the tile backsplash and travertine flooring shown here) for this budget kitchen remodel.
Paint the floor. If your wood floors are not in the best shape and you want to avoid professional refinishing, try painting them instead. White is chic but will show every dropped crumb; pale gray and blue are also classic choices. If you want to get creative, try stenciling a design onto the painted floors.
Add sconces. Swing-arm sconces above open shelving provide lovely ambient light and offer more personality than standard recessed or track lighting. Ideally an electrician would install them with the cords hidden, though it may be possible to use plug-in versions with cord covers concealing the dangling cords.
Inspired addition: These doors already are showy, so this is your chance to have a little fun with hardware. Choose a dramatic rail treatment for a sliding barn door or oversize, shapely hinges for a Dutch door. If you really want to make them stand out, paint or stain the doors in a color that contrasts with the walls.
Keep it humble. Wood ceilings and rafters are the perfect backdrop for the vintage sink and stove in this kitchen. It’s not uncommon to see open upper cabinets, yet in this home, the owners left the doors off a lower unit and topped it with wood. It feels like they picked it up along the way and slipped it into place.
Varied widths of wall boards and two-tone paint add interest to this open and airy kitchen. Rather than breaking up the flow with a tile or stainless backsplash, a clear shield covers the wood behind the stove to protect it. Open shelves over the windows and simple pendant lights keep the space bright.
Boasting a color palette of subtle earthy grays and browns, the home is filled with natural textures balanced with sophisticated finishes and fixtures. The open floorplan ensures visibility throughout the home, preserving the fantastic views from all angles.
Make a pinecone wreath. Collect pine cones on a winter walk and bring them home to make this easy crafts project to adorn a doorway. Use craft wire or a child's wire clothing hanger (wrap with fabric or colored tape if you like) to create a wreath form, then attach pinecones with fishing line or hot glue.
Hang delicate window wreaths. Welcome visitors in from the cold with candlelight and simple green wreaths hung from each window. You can create these quite easily using wreath forms from a local crafts supply shop and greenery snipped from the trees outside.
The chandelier's warm amber glass warms up the soft neutral color palette in this dining room.
Sara Milk Glass Chandelier - $2,395.00 » While turquoise seems to be the most popular option, the fixture is available in a range of colors, including white, milky antique, milky chocolate, milky green, milky jade, milky pink and milky lavender. The frame comes in several finishes: antique gold, antique silver, bronze, antique white and black.
Keep a well-stocked pantry. From dried grains, pastas and beans to special condiments and long-lasting root vegetables, a thoughtfully kept pantry is key to pulling together delicious, healthy meals at a moment's notice.
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