Casual Casa

European Double-doors and garage doors

2025-12-29T14:57:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for some fancy double-doors or garage door inspiration, check out the examples below. European cities have some great doors with lots of character. If you'd like to see more examples of European doors click here: Doors - Historic and current European front doors

All photos by Sinan Yucel shot in Trier, Germany

DIY Stick Fences - Beautiful and Practical

2025-08-21T04:19:00.000-07:00

There are many benefits of using stick fences (see below) but there is no substitute for the easy-going and natural beauty they provide!

There are other kinds of natural fences using unprocessed sticks and twigs, like wattle fences and hurdle fences, but a basic stick fence (or a twig fence) has most of the same benefits plus they are even simpler to build and maintain. Consider stick fences, or at least appreciate them more, for the many worthwhile benefits they provide:

Ease of maintenance: If and when parts of your stick fence need to be renewed it is a relatively easy and straightforward task, and since they are natural materials with varying colors and textures you don't have to worry about matching textures or colors. This same natural texture also makes them maintenance free when it comes to appearance, you do not have to polish/stain or paint them.
Simple and inexpensive to build: They make and sell ready-made stick fences also, but if you just have enough sticks available of similar lengths and some stainless metal wire, it is relatively easy to build stick fences. (Even ready-made ones are inexpensive compared to most alternatives.)
Natural and Beautiful appearance: time spent in nature has proven benefits to people and more natural-looking spaces soothe our souls and create more easy-going, chill, and relaxing spaces. Stick fences, with their natural forms and textures provide these benefits and look great doing it.
Eco-friendly and efficient: Eco-friendliness of stick fences is multi-faceted: The materials; stainless metal wire and sticks, are both eco-friendly and harmless at disposal; the wire can be recycled, and the sticks will biodegrade. Also, the sticks are minimally processed so there is a lot of energy and chemicals saved in production. Sticks/branches of this size can't be milled and are mostly ignored by the wood industry so you'd be productive use out of materials that would not be used otherwise and you'd be reducing demand on more processed alternatives. Finally, since there is no paint, stains, or finishes involved you will avoid more exposure to harmful chemicals.

^Besides the stick fence in the foreground, you can also see a wattle fence/hurdle fence used as a privacy screen here.

The pic above and below show sturdier versions of stick fences using thicker sticks and horizontal beams instead of metal wires.

^Photo by Robert Mabic

All photos by Sinan Yucel, except the bottom two.

Doors - Cozy and Charming European front doors - V5

2025-08-08T04:45:00.000-07:00

5th installment of pictures of front doors with lots of character, taken all in Eifel, Germany. Most of them are currently being used as residential front doors, and a few are front doors to apartment buildings.

If you enjoy these and would like to see more, see my other posts on doors with character (links below.)

All pics by Sinan Yucel @siyu_adam.

For more pictures of charming European front doors see:

Doors - Historic and current European front doors
Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V2

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V3
Doors - Cozy and charming European front doors - V4

Natural stone retaining walls - Beautiful and practical

2025-05-01T08:16:00.000-07:00

Retaining walls are sometimes a necessity, and sometimes optionally used on sloped lands to provide more useable flat space. Whatever your need and reasons are, consider using stacked natural rocks and stones. They offer significant benefits like:

Ease of maintenance: Natural rock/stone retaining walls don't need painting, discoloration/moss growth/aging does not hurt the look, it actually enhances it
Longer life: while subtle movements of the soil may crack or damage more rigid and concrete walls, stacked rocks can shift and work with the soil without needing difficult and pricey repairs, and if necessary any or all of the rocks can be restacked or adjusted without having to redo the entire wall
Better drainage: Natural rock/stone retaining walls are more permeable and therefore less susceptible to issues that may arise due to poorly engineered or crafted drainage systems of less permeable solutions like concrete or mortared stones/bricks.
Natural and Beautiful appearance: time spent in nature has proven benefits to people and more natural-looking spaces soothe our souls and create more easy-going, chill, and relaxing places. You can also easily add seasonal flowers, ground covers, hanging plants etc. between the rocks to soften the look add even more rustic appeal.
Eco-friendly: Rocks are natural materials and don't need to be produced at a factory. And since there is no mortar or concrete involved, if you ever decide to get rid of your retaining wall you will just end up with clean soil and rocks that are ready to be reused in another project or even safely returned to nature, instead of construction waste and rubble.

^Photo by Sinan Yucel

^image source

^image source

Natural retaining walls rock! :)

Doors - Cozy and Charming European front doors - V4

2025-01-06T13:12:00.000-08:00

4th installment of pictures of front doors with lots of character, taken all in Eifel, Germany. As the title says, a few of them are from historic sites, such as churches, but most of them are currently being used as residential front doors.

All pics by Sinan Yucel @siyu_adam.

For more pictures of charming European front doors see:

Doors - Historic and current European front doors
Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V2

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V3

Doors - Cozy and charming European front doors - V5

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V3

2024-07-27T14:43:00.000-07:00

3rd installment of pictures of front doors with lots of character, this time taken all in Germany. As the title says, a few of them are from historic sites, such as churches, but most of them are currently being used as residential front doors.

All pics by Sinan Yucel @siyu_adam.

For more pictures of charming European front doors see:

Doors - Historic and current European front doors
Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V2

Doors - Cozy and charming European front doors - V4

Doors - Cozy and charming European front doors - V5

Authentic Log Furniture; Efficient, Resourceful, and Beautiful

2024-03-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

Nowadays, log furniture are usually overpriced, exaggerated (built with unnecessarily large logs, like a caricature of what log furniture is,) and often found in rich people's "thematic" cabins. But honest and authentic log furniture represent ingenuity, using branches that are too small to be milled or used otherwise, and used to be made by readily available branches without having to cut down trees. Log furniture also bring the warmth and the beauty of the outdoors to homes, often becoming treasured pieces. With their organic and minimally-processed appearance, they also age well and are comfortable to live with, making our homes more cozy and easy-going.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3

Real, small, beautiful, cozy kitchens

2023-01-09T16:03:00.000-08:00

You don't need just the right counter-tops, expensive faucets, state-of-the-art appliances or anything fancy to have a beautiful, cozy, practical kitchen. A touch of a color that you like, or a picture or a plant that you enjoy will go far. Don't rip out perfectly good things to "update the look," that's a wasteful and a never-ending game. Appreciating and making the most of what you have, that's the ticket to peace of mind and happiness. Loving touches, and appreciation leads to beauty, not a bigger budget.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5, image 6

Casual and chill living rooms

2021-12-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Creating cozy and comfortable living spaces go hand-in-hand with unpretentious, well-loved pieces of furniture, and low-maintenance natural materials that age well.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, and image 4

Bohemian & colorful kitchens

2019-01-27T14:18:00.001-08:00

^ Image source

If you're thinking about renovating your kitchen, or other spaces for that matter, consider adding some color, and giving your space more character, instead of going for a generic, flavor-of-the-day look that most everyone else is going for at that time. Let your place have a timeless character and soul, and ideally your touch. Mark your territory.

That approach usually leads to a style generally referred to as boho-chic, or bohemian, or gypsy style... What these styles have in common is a relaxed, easy-going vibe, and an original aesthetic unrestrained by formulaic/textbook styles.

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V2

2018-05-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

More pictures of front doors with lots of character taken in Germany & Netherlands. As the title says, a few of them are from historic sites, such as castles, but most of them are currently being used as residential front doors by regular people.

All pics by Sinan Yucel @siyu_adam.

For more pictures of charming European front doors see:

Doors - Historic and current European front doors

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V3

Doors - Cozy and Charming European front doors - V4

Doors - Cozy and Charming European front doors - V5

Inexpensive beauty indoors and outdoors

2018-02-23T13:43:00.002-08:00

You can achieve beautiful environments indoors and outdoors without a big budget by using pieces with character and charm. Natural materials, colors, and textures generally look good, and plants and foliage always add beauty. Be true to your taste. A place with a heart and soul is always pleasant and nothing can creates that warmth like pieces that are well-used, well-liked, and personally meaningful. Avoid status symbols. Because an environment that displays virtues; like resourcefulness, efficiency, creativity, honesty, and modesty is a cozy and an inspiring environment. A place that intends to display wealth and status cannot achieve the same.

^ It's not flawless craftsmanship, perfectly pruned plants, or luxury furniture that makes this area so cozy.

^ Inexpensive colored glass marbles and a little creativity and can turn a standard wooden fence to something lovely.

^ Sometimes it is not applying a fresh coat of paint that adds charm.

^ Lots of foliage can make any place beautiful and inviting.

^ A varied collection of unpretentious, simple, and honest items are more welcoming than matchy-matchy status symbols.

Sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5

Cozy, rustic, industrial...The eclectic mixed style of Hotel Emma

2018-01-02T01:46:00.000-08:00

There are many benefits to having a mixture of styles; it is truer to life and more compatible with it, usually we end up with loved-pieces of various styles over our lives and they get to coexist in our homes. Such a mixed style is visually more interesting and more stimulating to the senses than a mono-style set up. It also allows you to more easily introduce new furniture or replace pieces without having to worry about them perfectly matching what's already there. When you make those mixed styles also consist of items that age well and gain patina and character from daily use, you get additional benefits like ease of use, livability, and a timeless look.

The Hotel Emma in San Antonio is a great example of these ideas being put to use. They achieved a beautiful timeless look that is sophisticated yet casual, elegant but cozy and comfortable all at once.

Photos by Casual Casa

Doors - Historic and current European front doors

2017-10-01T09:56:00.001-07:00

Part of the charm of a house, a space, and doors, is character. A front door with some color and character adds to the property value and the curb appeal but more importantly, it makes the place a cozier, a more welcoming place.

Here are some pictures I took around Europe of home and apartment building doors. There are some old, some new, some modest, and some fancy options as inspiration but they all have plenty of character and charm. Enjoy!

All pics by Sinan Yucel @siyu_adam.

For more pictures of charming European front doors see:

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V2

Doors - Historic and current European front doors - V3

Doors - Cozy and charming European front doors - V4
Doors - Cozy and charming European front doors - V5

Colorful tiles

2017-06-02T07:42:00.001-07:00

Color is a good addition to life and our environments. Most often we are more likely to have a lack of color and patterns rather than an excess of them, so brighten up your spaces with some color and patterns. Colorful tiles are a great way of making spaces more lively and chevron patterns are easy way to add a good dose of character and visual interest.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3

Simple DIY furniture: Benches

2017-05-16T03:28:00.002-07:00

Substantial solid wood benches look great, are easy to live with, and have a cozy appearance. Here are some examples that you could DIY relatively easily. (Lovegrowswild.com has good instructions on building the bench in first two images, and the rest are for inspiration.) I especially like ones that are a bit rough and rustic. Those age even better and the wear and tear you might cause just adds to their character.

Want more ideas for DIY benches? Check out this post or this one.

Sources: Images 1 & 2, image 3, image 4, bottom image

Colorful window shutters of Mediterranean homes

2017-05-09T13:31:00.000-07:00

Add some casual color to your life. Mediterranean coasts are some of the longest inhabited parts of our world and that collected wisdom taught them how to live a casual, easy-going, colorful life. Painting a whole house a wild color may be too much, but colorful shutters, window frames, and/or doors seem to be just the right amount of lively color.

^ These top two pics are from Alacati, Turkey.

Sources: images 1 & 2, image 3, image 4, image 5

Casual & natural backyard pools

2017-04-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

As with most things, backyard pools also benefit from a generous dose of natural materials, shapes, and textures. Such a look is also easier to maintain and therefore more relaxing to be in and around.

If you're interested in poolside landscaping you would probably enjoy my previous posts here, here, and here as well.

Sources: image 1 (Helena Christensen’s home near Woodstock, NY,) image 2, image 3 & 4, image 5

Mediterranean casual style of Provence and Tuscany

2017-03-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Stone walls, colorful shutters, easy-going gravel, and plants that are allowed to grow into their natural forms make for a pretty and cozy setting. This approach is also low-maintenance and ages well. When people, especially in the US, try to recreate this look they often create an unnaturally pristine version and miss out on the perfectly imperfect charm.

^ Even fully-paved narrow alleys can be charming with colorful stucco, shutters, and wild and free potted plants.

Image sources: image 1, images 2 & 3, image 4, image 5

Thomas Jefferson quote on a good, simple life

2017-02-17T02:45:00.000-08:00

I fully agree with Thomas Jefferson's quote below. I used only the essential parts of it on the image, highlighting a simple life with friends and books being preferable to power and luxury. Here is the full quote; "I had rather be shut up in a very modest cottage with my books, my family and a few old friends, dining on simple bacon, and letting the world roll on as it liked, than to occupy the most splendid post, which any human power can give."

Background image is from here and I added the quote to it.

Low litter succulents and cacti by pools

2017-02-07T09:45:00.000-08:00

I love succulents and cacti. Besides using low water, low maintenance, and looking beautiful, they also create very little or no litter which make them excellent choices by pools and ponds. And, as the pictures below show, you can create very lush landscapes using various cactus plants and succulents.

Image sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

Benefits and beauty of DIY stone garden paths

2017-01-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

There are many types of garden paths and many ways to build them but the simplest to make using the most natural materials are the ones that are usually the most attractive. Gravel, flagstone, river rocks, or some combination of those closely laid together over sand create long lasting garden paths that make simple DIY projects. The resulting organic appearance creates a great compliment to the landscape around it and has a lot character.

Such paths are also very cozy and zen looking and add to the relaxing charm that a yard and garden should provide. These paths are also very forgiving and flexible. Maintenance is easier. If one of the pieces start rocking and need to be changed or reset, it is much easier to do. If you later decide that you want to make your path wider/narrower, or add/remove a section, these changes are much easier to make. And if one day you decide to completely remove it, most of the stones can be reused in another project.

^ Found materials such as bottles, or stamped bricks, or other mementos can be added for more personalization and character.

Sources: Image 1. I can't find a reliable source for any of the other images. I found them on pinterest but the source websites are either not up anymore or they link to malicious sites. If any of them are yours or if you know their sources, please let me know so I can link/reference them.

Mixed-style kitchens with character

2017-01-20T02:22:00.000-08:00

Shiny and gritty surfaces, old and new, copper and stainless steel, solid and patterned tiles, light and dark colors, can not only be used together, but it actually creates more interesting rooms when they are.

As with any other room/space, a mix of different textures, materials, and colors add a lot of visual interest and help create kitchens with character. Variety, after all, is the spice of life.

Sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5

Interesting, true-to-life rooms with character

2017-01-12T08:49:00.001-08:00

Mixing various styles, colors, textures, patterns, and materials creates visual interest and is a vital part of creating rooms with character. The opposite starts happening when you keep all those factors similar; you get a less lively, bland, and less satisfying look.

There are other benefits (that sometimes get overlooked in decorating) to this approach as well. It accommodates life and self expression better. Be it artwork, furniture, or something else, most of us like (and may acquire) a variety of items over the years and they would more easily fit in settings like these and even add charm. Also, things get broken, or worn out over time. It is easier to find suitable replacements and you will have more options to choose from when you already have a variety of styles, a more honest to life decor. A restricted color palette/theme/style will not accommodate those situations as well.

Sources: image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4

Beautiful visible repairs

2017-01-09T10:43:00.000-08:00

Fixes and repairs can add useful life to things we love and appreciate. When highlighted, instead of hidden, they can also add character and beautiful flair. Visible repairs also make these objects uniquely ours and allow us to appreciate all the times they've served us.

^ Butterlfy joints hold splitting pieces together and look great.

^ Crushed turquoise or other colorful resins can fix knot holes and deep cracks in wood while adding character and style.

^ Fixing damaged and worn clothing can be an opportunity to add style to an obviously much loved item we want to keep. Elbow patches, which add casual and cozy style, are great examples of good-looking visible mending.

^ Custom cover-ups are also a practical way to add personalization and color to otherwise in-good-shape pieces that just have certain spots that tend to get destroyed. If you are not a fan of this look and style, the same can be done with other fabrics/colors, etc, of course.

^ Kintsugi is the art of fixing broken ceramics with gold. Japanese consider these pieces more beautiful for having been broken. I agree. A similar method can be used to fix cracks in other surfaces, like concrete floors, as they have done in the image below.

^ beautifully and interestingly fixed wooden floor

Sources: Image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5, image 6, image 7, image 8