Design Tips

9/17/2021 6:01:24 AM -07:00

In a previous article, we looked at kitchens that embraced a classic farmhouse style. Here, we showcase beautiful kitchens that feature a more modern-day spin on a farmhouse look. Wood...

9/17/2021 5:01:05 AM -07:00

Maison & Objet has returned to Paris with the first in-person edition of the decor, design and lifestyle fair since the start of the pandemic. The eagerly awaited event gave us a chance to discover the products and trends coming out of manufacturers’ new collections. Our editorial team was on site...

9/16/2021 6:01:47 AM -07:00

Space was at a premium in this 1,200-square-foot bungalow in Burbank, California. And the small, closed-off kitchen wasn’t making it feel any bigger. Design-build firm owner Jonathan Litinsky, who trained and practiced as an architect in Europe, was used to making the most of every inch in tight...

9/16/2021 5:01:33 AM -07:00

As we move into fall, our homes and gardens can offer something different than they did in summer. A pot of brightly colored flowers on your porch can help lift your mood and brighten your street. Setting up a badminton net or hanging a swing gives kids a place to burn off some energy after school. Installing...

9/15/2021 6:00:58 AM -07:00

Fall days are still long and bright enough to make being outside pleasant but cooler than the summer heat, so the idea of taking on a landscape project is inviting. If you’re looking for ways to take advantage of fall days and also get a jump on gearing up for winter or spring projects, think about what...

9/15/2021 5:01:04 AM -07:00

With more people working from home than ever before, our houses and how we use them have taken on even greater importance. One spot that shouldn’t be overlooked is the garage.
Share: Have you decided that your garage has a better purpose than housing a car? Please post a photo

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9/15/2021 4:01:03 AM -07:00

Like a blank page or canvas, an empty room can be either an opportunity or a challenge. With so many ways to fill it, how do you know where to start? I’ve taken some of the basic rules of furniture arrangement and distilled them into 10 simple tips. They’ll help you work with your interior designer to...

9/14/2021 6:01:37 AM -07:00

This Dallas couple’s bathroom was cramped and tight, but there was some room for expansion: Next to the bathroom was a vanity area that was open to the bedroom. Because the bathroom had another vanity inside, this was a waste of valuable space. General contractor Brandon Spruill came up with a new layout...

9/14/2021 5:01:38 AM -07:00

If you want to know what people are interested in right now, just look at what they’re searching for online. We recently looked at searches on Houzz from this year and compared them with searches from last year to see how home design interests might be evolving. Based on what we found, here...

9/14/2021 4:01:18 AM -07:00

The home design industry is raring to go. After a long pause due to the pandemic, people are hungry for fresh ideas and industry change. At a recent online event, the Heimtextil Trend Council presented its 2022-23 trend predictions for home textiles. The forecast offers a taste of what will be exhibited...

9/13/2021 5:01:16 AM -07:00

Many of my clients struggle to eliminate paper clutter in their homes. Often, kitchen countertops become drop zones for mail, receipts, coupons, brochures, meeting notes, political ads, school forms and real estate flyers. As a professional home organizer, I recommend implementing a simple paper management...

9/13/2021 4:01:01 AM -07:00

It’s easy to love weekend mornings (who doesn’t love a leisurely start to the day?), but weekday mornings don’t need to be rushed through. In fact, by reclaiming a bit of time for yourself in the morning, your workdays can begin on a note of inspiration, creativity and pleasure. The sun is up, the birds...

9/12/2021 6:01:01 AM -07:00

Timing was everything for this newly blended family of six. FineCraft Contractors completed construction on an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, in its Arlington, Virginia, backyard just as the pandemic hit. With four children in the household, some extra getaway space improved life as the family members...

9/12/2021 5:01:27 AM -07:00

It’s easy to jump to late-blooming flowers as a default for fall container gardens, but foliage plants can be just as beautiful and easier to maintain over the season. Take the jewel-toned leaves of coral bells, combined with texture-rich autumn ferns or a cascade of a weeping conifer, and you have a...

9/11/2021 6:01:25 AM -07:00

When a “plantaholic” who likes to socialize inherited a small backyard with scant greenery and broken paving, there was only one thing to do: call in landscape designer Pippa Schofield and ask her to create an entertaining space surrounded by masses of colorful plantings.

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9/11/2021 5:01:12 AM -07:00

A kitchen island offers many benefits — an extra countertop, more storage, a place where family and guests can sit, improved circulation. But while the advantages of an island may seem straightforward, designing one isn’t. There are countless considerations that go into how an island looks and functions....

9/10/2021 6:01:26 AM -07:00

For some people, using bold wallpaper or high-end materials in a large, prominent room like a kitchen or living room might be too risky — and expensive. But in the intimate confines of a powder room it can be just right. These small spaces, often the most frequently used bathroom in a home, are great...

9/10/2021 5:01:14 AM -07:00

From overwatering to planting too tightly, some of the most common gardening mishaps are born from the best intentions. Some of these mistakes can lead to plant stress and even eventual decline.
We asked landscape experts on Houzz to shine a light on the most common gardening and maintenance

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9/9/2021 6:01:44 AM -07:00

Ryan and Elizabeth Karonka wanted a bright kitchen. What they had was the opposite. Brown cabinets, black-and-brown granite countertops, tan backsplash tile, beige floor tile and taupe walls gave their Prosper, Texas, kitchen a drab look even on the sunniest days.
Working with designers Pamela

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9/9/2021 5:01:27 AM -07:00

Spending time in the garden can be a wonderful mood lifter and stress reliever. For that reason, hospitals and other health facilities have long incorporated healing gardens into their treatment of patients, family members and staff. But these healing spaces aren’t limited to commercial institutions...

9/8/2021 6:01:27 AM -07:00

After a few years of designing and building custom homes and handling high-end residential renovations in Houston, Stephen Heiman began rethinking the local housing market. Heiman, who dabbles in art and music in his spare time, wanted to create something highly designed but easily accessible....

9/8/2021 5:01:19 AM -07:00

Investing in furniture for your first home, or anywhere you don’t expect to stay forever, can almost seem like a waste. Why spend money on pieces that might not fit in or go with your dream home down the road? Well, there are some pieces worth investing in as early as you can — furniture that will suit...

9/7/2021 6:01:15 AM -07:00

DeLisa Menton always wanted an inviting spa-like bathroom with a tub. But the bathroom she shares with her husband Mark had a tight layout that didn’t offer room for a tub, nor much opportunity to create the light and airy retreat she imagined. They attempted a refresh eight years ago but weren’t satisfied...

9/7/2021 5:01:18 AM -07:00

Designer Sara Barron in Perry, Georgia, has nearly 10 years of experience designing kitchens, bathrooms and whole homes. “I love to see a project come together and work with clients to help them visualize their future home and...

9/7/2021 4:01:25 AM -07:00

There’s no need to completely rework your summer containers to give them fall flair. Instead, check out these nine ideas for updating existing container gardens (or, if you’re inspired, potting up new ones), including one plant to add for instant drama, and a zero-effort, lazy-gardener’s trick for covering...

9/6/2021 6:01:35 AM -07:00

Jill and Michael Maremont made a big life change when they moved from Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood to a rural setting in Michiana Shores, Indiana. They purchased a contemporary home with an open plan and fabulous windows, knowing it would be great for entertaining and communing with nature....

9/6/2021 5:01:35 AM -07:00

If you want to cut down on the time it takes to keep your kitchen spick and span, you should take a closer look at your finishes. From flooring to hardware, the materials you select can tack on extra time to your cleanup routine. Wondering which options cut down on dusting, scrubbing and wiping? Here’s...

9/5/2021 6:01:23 AM -07:00

A shade-filled yard with mature trees is an invitation to relax and enjoy time outside, even on the hottest days. Too often though, the deep shade, tree roots and layout challenges keep homeowners from making the most of these spaces. If you’re looking to turn your own shady spot into a luxurious oasis,...

9/5/2021 5:01:20 AM -07:00

Handmade tiles can give a home a wonderful artisan touch that’s hard to beat. They’re often more eco-friendly than machine-made tile; many manufacturers use recycled materials to create them, so you can feel good about using them too. With the array of options out there, it can be a little overwhelming...

9/5/2021 4:01:06 AM -07:00

I don’t know about you, but I live for fall — with its cool mornings, crisp air and quiet evenings. Plus, at least one-third of my plants bloom after August, and the trees, shrubs, grasses and perennial flowers bring a rainbow of colors to the garden until early November, long after summer flowers have...