Design Tips

5/25/2022 6:01:10 AM -07:00

Barn homes evoke verdant pastures, wide-open spaces and a simpler way of life. At the same time, they boast the clean lines, soaring ceilings and open floor plans prized in contemporary homes. It’s no wonder that homes built to resemble barns — as well as those repurposed from existing agricultural structures...

5/25/2022 12:01:26 AM -07:00

If you’re lucky enough to have a kitchen island, then you’re also lucky enough to have a great design opportunity. Adding an accent color to an island is a relatively easy way to add personality to your kitchen. In this first article in a series on kitchen island color ideas, we’ll look at some of the...

5/24/2022 1:00:08 PM -07:00

Whether you enjoy slow-cooked barbecue on a Sunday afternoon or firing up the grill for quick weeknight dinners, having a properly equipped space and well-maintained grill makes backyard cooking more of a joy. These tools, cleaning tasks and tips will help make grilling...

5/24/2022 6:02:05 AM -07:00

Coming from a cottage with low ceilings and a closed-in feel, London designer Jessica Spencer wanted to make the main living areas in her new home one big light and airy space. She knocked down walls and relocated rooms to create...

5/24/2022 5:01:29 AM -07:00

Color preferences vary as much as personalities. Some folks love the bright and the bold, while others feel most secure surrounded by neutrals. The good news is that when it comes to color, there really is no “correct” palette.
That said, we’ve all been inside homes where

...

5/23/2022 6:01:28 AM -07:00

Ninety years after its original completion, the home and studio that modernist architect Richard Neutra designed for his family along Los Angeles’ Silver Lake Reservoir remains an inspiration. The live-work arrangement shows how we can sensitively add density to the existing fabric of cities while still...

5/23/2022 5:01:18 AM -07:00

More and more homeowners are employing sustainable practices when it comes to designing and maintaining their landscapes. But what about when it comes to installing that landscape? We turned to landscape pros on Houzz for their advice on practices to make landscape construction more earth-friendly.

5/23/2022 4:01:23 AM -07:00

Contemporary furniture companies are kicking sustainability goals up a notch, going all in on wellness and merging technology with traditional craftsmanship. These were the key takeaways from this month’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and WantedDesign Manhattan, which...

5/22/2022 6:01:19 AM -07:00

The following bathroom makeovers range from 52 to 75 square feet in size. While most people wouldn’t describe these bathrooms as tiny, the designers and remodelers still had to make wise decisions to maximize space and utilize every square inch.
Ditching a radiator for in-floor heating, combining

...

5/22/2022 5:01:51 AM -07:00

Lawns have their place in the American landscape. They are visually uncomplicated and easy on the eyes. As play surfaces, most turfgrass types are able to take some abuse and are relatively easy on the abusers. But it is safe to say we have way more lawn than is needed, considering all the other options...

5/21/2022 6:00:22 AM -07:00

It’s all about indoor-outdoor living at this North Carolina lakeside home of a mother and her three boys. The project started with an interior designer helping the homeowner, who had recently downsized, find some new furniture. But over a period of about two and a half years, it evolved into a much more...

5/21/2022 5:01:36 AM -07:00

Bedrooms are great spaces to get creative with design and decorating. That’s because there are many opportunities to play with color, pattern, furniture, lighting and scale. But these often-small spaces can be challenging. Beds today take up a lot of square footage, leaving homeowners struggling to find...

5/20/2022 6:01:18 AM -07:00

Picture clouds in the sky or Ming dynasty porcelain and ask yourself: Is there any more timeless combination than blue and white? Here, pros share their approaches to five bathrooms that showcase the power of that palette, both on its own and warmed with natural materials.

5/20/2022 5:01:22 AM -07:00

It’s easy to see why raised beds are perennially popular among vegetable gardeners. They can help correct many common garden problems, including poor soil, weeds, drainage issues and uneven slopes. These simple structures provide a defined space in which to build up concentrated areas of...

5/19/2022 6:01:41 AM -07:00

After 30 years of living with their closed-off kitchen, poor appliance layout and checkerboard flooring, this empty-nest couple decided it was time for a new phase in life. One with a brighter, more open kitchen where they could gather with family and friends.
They turned to designer Raquel Swartz

...

5/19/2022 5:01:43 AM -07:00

With the days getting longer, now is a good time to get going on some larger home projects both indoors and out. Hotter weather is also your cue to tune up those irrigation systems, boost shade and (finally) clean out the garage. Check these to-dos off your list to get your home and garden...

5/18/2022 6:01:37 AM -07:00

This three-level home in the Pacific Northwest is nestled in trees yet sits in the middle of a large city. The owners of the home in Seattle’s Central District had great views but craved even more. They wanted to create a kind of urban treehouse, and they enlisted designer Kristine Tyler of Treefrog...

5/17/2022 6:01:43 AM -07:00

Kids outgrow lots of things. And this couple’s teenage daughter had reached a point where she needed a bathroom with more elbow room, better storage and an updated style that she wouldn’t get tired of.
The couple asked designer Deanne Walczak to help rethink the tight and narrow layout and create

...

5/17/2022 5:02:09 AM -07:00

I once heard a story about a homeowner who had a major design regret. During a previous renovation, she elected to put all four counter stools on the same side of her kitchen island, a frequent spot for her family meals. This left her with a beautiful look but turned out to be an unfortunate mistake...

5/16/2022 6:02:11 AM -07:00

A black-and-white color palette is a classic look that always feels fresh and sophisticated, like a perfectly tailored tuxedo. Check out these before-and-after photos to see how three designers used the high-contrast color scheme and other standout features to give their clients’ kitchens new life.

5/16/2022 5:01:45 AM -07:00

As you embark on your patio project, you may realize how quickly costs (and important decisions surrounding them) can add up. To help you navigate this journey, we asked landscape pros on Houzz to share their advice on where you might want to invest in your project and where you can save — all while...

5/15/2022 6:01:30 AM -07:00

When a couple bought a townhouse in Cambridge, Massachusetts, they were attracted to its 19th-century history, funky details and Jenga-like floor plan. The main level contained the primary living spaces and three small lofts. A lower level had a secondary bedroom. After living there a while, the couple...

5/15/2022 5:01:34 AM -07:00

The increase in time spent at home during the pandemic gave many people a newfound appreciation for rooms with specific purposes. Could this mean the formal dining room is set to stage a comeback? If they look like these dining rooms, the answer might be a resounding yes.
Check out these 20 drop-dead

...

5/15/2022 4:01:49 AM -07:00

Is there anything that feels more like summer than fresh fruit and vegetables from the garden? But with water consciousness on many people’s minds, particularly in California and other parts of the West, it may seem irresponsible to keep up with the summer tradition. But you don’t have to eliminate edibles...

5/14/2022 6:01:40 AM -07:00

With the weather warming up, we looked for inspiration in 10 balconies and terraces that particularly grabbed Houzz users’ attention last year. These outdoor spaces combine the best of clever thinking with design trends and offer the perfect slice of the outdoors for that sunset cocktail or getting in...

5/14/2022 5:01:29 AM -07:00

Many people have at least one bathroom in their home that feels a bit small or cramped. But no matter what amount of square footage you have, you can create more physical and visual space within the same footprint by using a few design tricks.

As a designer, I’ve

...

5/13/2022 6:01:41 AM -07:00

A fireplace is a natural focal point to arrange a living room around. In fact, a fireplace is one of the 10 top design features pros always recommend for creating a stylish and functional living...

5/13/2022 5:01:24 AM -07:00

The kitchen tends to be the room in our home that needs the most cleaning. The good news is that, with a little planning, you can have a design that makes cleaning a breeze and allows you to spend less time mopping and more time enjoying your space. Check out these expert tips from Eva Byrne of Houseology;...

5/12/2022 6:01:52 AM -07:00

This newly engaged couple were excited to start their lives together in a home that had been in the soon-to-be husband’s family for years. But while they were looking ahead to their future, they felt the 1980s kitchen was too stuck in the past.
In particular, they wanted to address the aging honey

...

5/11/2022 6:00:21 AM -07:00

This midcentury modern home in Lafayette, California, was beautifully nestled within the surrounding woodlands. But it was nestled too closely to two old oaks. One of them was growing through openings in the roofline, and both trees had heavy branches that extended precariously over the house. In this...