Houzz

Fresh Idea: Accent Color Brightens Up the Sink (4 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:24:08 PST

Are you looking for a clever way to add an accent color to your bathroom? Think about painting the outside of a wall-mounted sink. You've probably seen painting applied to the outside of clawfoot bathtubs; simply apply this idea to the sink. It will give a vintage or vintage-style sink a fresh, updated...

Modern Mexico (10 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:43:19 PST

The problem with themed design is that it can so easily tip over into kitschy. No one really wants to live in a Moroccan souk, or a French bistro, or a summer camp cabin. We simply want to evoke the feeling, to remind ourselves of the places that bring about the relaxed, happy, peaceful versions of ourselves....

10 Great Laundry Room Ideas (10 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:52:30 PST

Many would agree that the task of laundry could be a hair more pleasant should the spaces be beautiful to work in. Add a few time savers, handy storage and colorful details, and you may never have your wash loads stack up again.Browse laundry...

Houzz Tour: Step Inside (and Out) a New Florida Showhouse (27 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:13:08 PST

This year's showcase house at 2012 International Builders Show is without a doubt a celebration of the Florida lifestyle. Designed around a central courtyard, pool and patio, it features large glass walls that slide and fold out of the way, balconies accessible from bedrooms, and retractable screens...

Guest Picks: Bring in the Beauty of Bamboo (20 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:48:49 PST

Appreciated for centuries thanks to its versatility and beauty, eco-friendly bamboo is enjoying a surge in popularity these days. Its rapid growth, high mechanical strength and durability in adverse weather conditions make it ideal for architecture. In addition, its flexibility and warm, rich tone make...

Find Your Window Treatment Style (13 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:46:07 PST

There isn't a secret kept by interior designers or other design professionals on how to best dress your windows. But I can't tell you the number of times I go into someone's home and one of their biggest complaints/issues is which window treatments would be best given their personal aesthetic. Key...

My Houzz: 1920s Colonial on the Lake (20 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:41:45 PST

A serene view of Lake Hopatcong, a woodshop getaway, and vintage kitchen cabinets are just a few upsides of Paul and Barbara Barnish's 1920s hillside Colonial-style home. Using Paul's engineering, woodworking and architecture skills, the couple added a new...

The Family Home: Living Rooms You Can Live In (8 photos)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:28:01 PST

Designing a home with children in mind is a balancing act. How do you create a space that inspires you while making sure even the smallest of family members is comfortable? In this series, The Family Home, I'll be exploring tips and techniques to satisfy your desire for design while keeping your kids...

Houzz Tour: Tahoe Ridge House (20 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:20:42 PST

The name Tahoe Ridge House concisely sums up what the design by David S. Wilson of WA Design is all about. It's located in Tahoe, California, on a large plot of land near the world-famous lake a location that inspired Wilson to tap into the...

Guest Picks: Get That Kitchen Organized! (19 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:03:23 PST

When I'm in the kitchen, one of my top priorities is staying organized. An organized kitchen helps things run smoothly so that you can focus more on creating great meals. Here are a few items that I think would help organize a kitchen without making it look too industrial. Natalie from...

Classic Pieces: The Four-Poster Bed (11 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:11:59 PST

The four-poster bed has sustained its popularity for centuries. It is believed that it was first designed in the 1400s in Austria, and that its popularity spread across Europe and eventually to the rest of the world. Popular with the Tudors in England, the four-poster became known as "the bed of kings."...

Fresh Ways With Wood Paneling (9 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:18:36 PST

Wood paneling of the '70s may have gotten a bad rap for being dark and gloomy, but todays styles, mixed with a variety of white or bright accents pave the way to chic interiors that feel anything but drab. The trick is with what you choose to balance the look of the wood paneling perhaps a white...

If This Shoe Were a Room ... (14 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:59:01 PST

Christian Louboutin, shoe designer of the stars, celebrates his company's 20th anniversary with the launch of a capsule collection at the end of the month. Before you take a look at the shoe-inspired spaces below, here are a few Houzz-related tidbits about the craftsman behind the towering,...

Give Me a Wall, a Roof, or a House of Glass (11 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:09 PST

Sometime around one year ago, I sat down and typed one of my first articles for Houzz. It was the dead of winter and sky was washed in a palette of tired grays. The bleak atmosphere quickly became rather routine, and soon I began seeking the most sun soaked rooms of my house. It got me thinking...

My Houzz: Comfortably Modern in San Francisco (13 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:09:05 PST

Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) librarian Jason Galloway moved to San Francisco to be a part of a city he already knew so much about. "I loved San Francisco so much and knew so much about it before moving here that my first job was a concierge at a hotel, and people thought I was...

Twist on Tradition: Blue and White Porcelain (9 photos)

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:56:25 PST

There's a place for classic blue-and-white porcelain in nearly every room in any style house. Whether in a large collection or a few well-placed pieces, this popular color combination is easy to incorporate, whether it's dressed up or dressed down.While it's commonly thought that using blue...

Decorate with Intention: Clutter Clearing 101 (10 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:21:21 PST

Getting organized is something of a passion of mine. Yes, I consider cleaning out my junk drawer a leisure activity I love labels and have been known to put my books in rainbow order, so make fun if you must! But over the years I have honed a simple routine for paring down and creating order in the...

Off the Wall: 9 Clever Ways to Ease Into Wallpaper (9 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:42:47 PST

I realize there are still people who associate wallpaper with the Brady Bunch. But, the wallpaper revolution is in full swing, and the thousands of fresh, modern designs are showing up all over the place. Wallpaper is to the 21st century what the painted accent wall was to the '90s. But maybe you're...

Architect's Toolbox: Wash the Wall With Sunlight (7 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:18:43 PST

Architects and designers relish the opportunity to explore ways to bring natural light inside. Whether it comes through a side window, skylight or indirectly, natural light enlivens a space.One of the wondrous aspects of this design element is how the light changes with the time of day and...

My Houzz: Wild Triangular House in Boulder (12 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:46:24 PST

For many people, this unusual, many-sided house in Boulder, Colo., would present a design conundrum. For Judi Lesta, "It's the love of my life, a fantasy space where nothing is out of bounds." An aerial view of the modernist architect's design on Boulders architecturally traditional University...

Houzz Tour: Balancing His and Hers Style (14 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:27:24 PST

It's a classic design dilemma a couple is ready to make a house a home, only to discover that their styles couldn't be more different. When this Beverly Hills family of three was ready to build their dream home, they recruited architect and interior designer Tim Barber to create a cozy but spacious...

Simple Ways to Express Sweet Nothings (9 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:20:06 PST

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, but if you ask me, every day is an opportunity for expressing love. If you're lacking the words or you're having trouble composing rhyming couplets, these accessories and home details will help send the message, soft and clear.More: Our...

On Trend: A Continuous Lean (8 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:33:19 PST

Straight-laced and staid? No way. The newest trend popping up in products is all about the lean. Forget the 90-degree angle for furniture design and focus instead on the up-and-coming 45- or over 120-degree slants instead. Here's how:

Fun With Scrabble Around the House (10 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:58:23 PST

Pay attention Scrabble nerds, this ideabook is for us (yes, I am one too; while I'm not good enough to make OXYPHENBUTAZONE happen, and I haven't been thrown off a plane for refusing to stop playing, it is an obsession of mine). Lots of Scrabble lovers appreciate the Scrabble aesthetic, and the graphics...

Great Design Plant: Sally Holmes Rose (5 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:32:30 PST

In the plant world, little can rival the beauty and legacy of a rose. It's a classic choice for any garden, and I find myself transfixed by their perfection yet intimidated by all that encompasses the rose world. Which type should I choose, and can I even grow one? I enlisted the expertise of ...

Kitchen Workbook: 8 Elements of Classic Kitchen Style (9 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:56:20 PST

Many people are at a loss when it comes to defining their style. Some people know what they like but are afraid of getting the terms wrong, or they're afraid of being pigeon-holed into one style when they feel like they're in between a few different ones. The truth is, most spaces have elements...

Handmade Home: How to Design a Gallery Wall (8 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:48:27 PST

A gallery wall is a great way to fill a blank wall with a pretty collection. The wall opposite from our bed has been blank for some time. I decided to make use of it, so I took a few things that I have been collecting to create a wall that reflects my personal style and showcases my finds.I...

Guest Picks: A Gender-Neutral Nursery (20 photos)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 08:07:59 PST

My husband and I are expecting our third child this spring and have chosen not to find out the gender. Ever since I revealed our decision, I've gotten so many emails asking how I would decorate a nursery without knowing whether the baby is a boy or a girl. I've compiled a selection of items...

A Fine Balance Makes the Space (9 photos)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:46:35 PST

When considering basic design concepts, there is always an overarching theme of balance. Balance in weight, color, texture or function is key to a cohesive, comfortable and pleasing space. Today we are going to tackle the basics of balancing weight in a space. Join me as we dissect a few beautiful...

5 Spectacular Australian Homes (15 photos)

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:41:18 PST

Some of my favorite designs are coming out of Australia. Whether it's stunning contemporary architecture, just the right amount of collected/eclectic in an interior, a lush landscape or charismatic bloggers full of creative ideas, the ideas coming from Down Under are inspiring and unique. Get inspired...