Houzz

Basement of the Week: Modern Style Converts an Empty Concrete Box (10 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:00:01 PDT

This Minneapolis couple needed more living room: a space where they could hang out together, where they could entertain, something that could double as a guest suite. But their lot size and city restrictions would have made an addition difficult, if not impossible. The solution for their...

Bedroom Color: The Secret to More Sex and More Sleep (21 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:03 PDT

More sleep and more sex? Yes, please! A new survey involving 2,000 Brits shows a strong correlation between the color of your bedroom walls and decor with how much sleep and sex you're having. The takeaway: People with blue rooms appear to be getting the best night's sleep, while people with caramel-colored...

My Houzz: Newly Sustainable in New Orleans (12 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:02 PDT

Like so many people in New Orleans, Jared Zeller and Jennifer Pearl had to start their lives over after Hurricane Katrina wrecked their home in 2005. But like many other resilient residents along the Gulf Coast, the couple turned the devastation into an opportunity to create something special. Pearl,...

See 6 Homes That Rise to the Rural Landscape (12 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:00:02 PDT

From the dawn of time, humankind has built various forms of shelter in all types of landscapes. Our ancestors' primary concerns were shelter and protection. Modern design concepts and the notion of building sensitively were not part of their vocabulary. However, by building from local materials, their...

Runway to Room: Fall in Line With Camouflage (10 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:03 PDT

Since fashion and home decor have long been kindred spirits, it's no surprise to see the fashion du jour, camouflage, popping up in home design. Spring 2013 fashion collections by designers like Perry Ellis,...

Take Your Garden on a Rural Route With Plant-Dominant Designs (8 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:03 PDT

Bringing the countryside to the contemporary landscape is a popular movement, both in town planning and also in garden design the spectacular opening ceremony at last year's London Olympics even included an idyllic pastoral scene with sheep, cattle and meadows set in the rolling English countryside....

Spring Patio Fix-Ups: Install an Outdoor Fireplace or Fire Pit (10 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:02 PDT

More than nearly any other outdoor feature I can think of, a fireplace (or fire pit or bowl) instantly makes the yard the place where everyone wants to be. It easily becomes the focal point of a space, drawing friends and family together around its warm glow. Whether your ideal vision includes kids roasting...

Opening the Kitchen? Make the Most of That Support Post (14 photos)

Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:01 PDT

Before you tear down a wall to open your kitchen to the dining or living room, you must determine if it is holding up part of your ceiling. If it is, you will need to install a header beam and one or more posts in its place to provide the necessary structural support. Your contractor or architect can...

Owners Find Their Bliss in a Wine Country Ranch House (9 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:00:01 PDT

When a San Francisco couple was looking for a second home in Sonoma, California, they saw past the dark and awkward spaces in this 1940s ranch house, the former home and office of a beloved local doctor. They knew a renovation, master suite addition, back courtyard and pool would make it the retreat...

Great Native Plant: Baptisia (4 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:02:39 PDT

You want a shrub in that dry corner, but no shrub will work. You want something that looks different. You want superlow maintenance. I've got just the right perennial for you: Baptisia is a quick-growing, uniquely blooming wildflower native to areas from the U.S. Central Plains to the East Coast. It...

3-D Printing Takes Furnishings to New Heights at ICFF 2013 (16 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:38:37 PDT

Today's printers do so much more than put ink on paper. Now printers use layers of plastics and metals to create custom decor and even building materials. Not too long ago, new fabrication technologies like 3-D printing and laser cutting were limited to one-off prototypes and large-scale mass production....

Guest Picks: 20 Fab Outdoor Kids' Toys and Furnishings (20 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:03 PDT

All parents wish for their children to play safely and comfortably outdoors come springtime. Houzz parents wish the same for their children but with unique and stylish items to aid in playtime. I've compiled 20 top-notch outdoor toys designed for hours of entertainment. Rachel from...

Are These the Best Houses in the World? (11 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:02 PDT

A white box covered in Teflon-coated fiberglass fabric in the Netherlands. A Cor-Ten-clad volume cantilevering over a glass shop in Pittsburgh. A house in Tokyo composed solely of glass and small platforms of white steel. A raised concrete box in West Africa designed by two German artists. A seven-story...

New TV Remote Controls Promise to Do More — Without the Struggle (3 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:04 PDT

Mad Men fans might have noticed that in the last season or two, the television remote control has made an appearance on the show. The series began in 1960. But the current season takes place in the late '60s, and thats when TV remotes were becoming standard. (In fact, they had been around since...

How to Design Anything (12 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:04 PDT

Design might seem difficult, mainly because it is, but with the right approach, you can overcome even the most difficult challenge.

Smell This Shocking Flower at Your Own Risk (7 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:00:01 PDT

As someone who's smelled more than one Titan Arum in her lifetime, Joan Leonard has the odor's description nailed: "Roadkill with a little sauerkraut and dead fish mixed in." Leonard, program manager at Ohio State University's Biological Sciences Greenhouse,...

My Houzz: 'Minimalist Meets Manic' Style in Los Angeles (10 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:01 PDT

When someone works in a vintage shop whose fanatic following includes set designers for Mad Men, youd expect the person's home to be something of a knockout. Self-professed thrift queen and social media freelancer for Casa Victoria...

8 Outdoor Playspace Ideas to Nurture Kids' Imaginations (5 photos)

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:55:02 PDT

Isnt it funny that so many of our young children ignore their presents in favor of the box? And why not? A box isnt just a box. Its a fort, a rocket ship, a car, a boat ... And the same idea goes for outdoor playscapes. Jungle gyms can be a fun addition to a yard, but the importance of free...

8 Mirror Types for a Fantastic Kitchen Backsplash (8 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:02 PDT

Mirror was used everywhere in the house in the 1980s. Today it's making a strong comeback on kitchen backsplashes. Today's mirror treatments are so varied that it's easy to find a style that can work in your home. From traditional to antiqued, mirror...

My Houzz: Modern Settings for Old-School Pieces in a Pittsburgh Loft (15 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:02 PDT

When Stan Adamik and Jason Charney moved from a clapboard Cape Codstyle house in rural Pittsburgh to a modern loft 10 minutes from downtown, they faced a dilemma: how to make their traditional furnishings work in a more urban setting.Rather than force their loft into a traditional...

Strike a Balance: Stuff vs. Space in the Garden (7 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:00:02 PDT

I bet I know what youre doing right now. Youre looking for ideas for your garden, hoping to find that one inspiring photo that starts your creative juices flowing. The one that results in an ah ha! moment and breaks a stubborn case of designers block. I encourage my students...

Bathed in Color: Favorite Yellows and Golds for the Bath (10 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:03 PDT

From pale, soft buttery yellows to bold, zingy citrus hues, yellow is a happy color that can bring energy and warmth into a space. It's an especially smart color choice for those who live in cold climates or where sunshine is in short supply you can fake it with a hot, sunny hue on the wall. But...

14 Ways to Style Your Mantel for Spring and Summer (14 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:02 PDT

The mantel is often the focal point of the living room in winter, but it can be hard to know how to decorate the fireplace once warmer weather arrives. Do you play it up with fresh colors and artwork, or let it hide out behind strategically placed chairs and plants? No matter the approach you prefer,...

Reinvent It: An Eclectic Texas Garden Grows From Creative Salvaging (11 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:00:01 PDT

By snapping up the teardown next door, this retired Texas business owner was able to expand her garden to the east side of her Fort Worth home. "East-side gardens are very desirable in Texas, due to the intense afternoon sun from the west; now her house blocks this sun," explains landscape architect...

Hang Your American Flag With Etiquette and Style (20 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:06 PDT

The day before my house burned down, I was thinking about flags. It was the end of June, and we were in the midst of painting our home's exterior. The front and back and one side were finished, and...

Why Men Really Do Need a Cave (16 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:04 PDT

Calm down, ladies. When a man wants his own space in the house be it a cave, garage, bar, media room, billiards hall, woodshop or bowling...

Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large (12 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 PDT

One of the first things I do when I see a room for the first time is study the options for furniture arrangement. Sometimes there can be more than one great option. Occasionally, things like windows, a fireplace or doorways can limit options and stump the homeowner on how to place furniture. Living...

Guest Picks: 20 Outdoor Planters to Green Up Your Patio (20 photos)

Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:02 PDT

Summer is right around the corner, and it's time to get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather. From classic square planters to modern and stylish urns, this seasonal selection offers all you need to make your patio and porch stand out. Show off your beautiful blooms in decorative planters, try your...

My Houzz: Remodeling Modernizes a Neoclassical Dutch Home (15 photos)

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:00:04 PDT

In 1908 in Haarlem, the Netherlands (yes, New York City's Harlem neighborhood was named after this city), architect J.A.G. van der Steur built a neoclassical-style orphanage and a residence next door for its director. By 1988 federal authorities had taken over caring for most of Haarlem's orphans, so...

Want Compelling Garden Minimalism? Think One Plant, One Pot (7 photos)

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:00:04 PDT

It seems like choices for planter filling have become very polarized these days. Gardeners either opt for a stiff boxwood ball to impart minimalist European flair or an ever-more-complex assortment of carefully studied annuals. I am proudly guilty of both approaches. Yet I, too, like to vary the idea...