Design Tips

9/29/2023 3:01:56 AM -07:00

A focal point is an important consideration when designing a living room. If a fireplace is present, it naturally becomes the dominant feature. But coordinating furniture around a fireplace isn’t always straightforward. Sometimes competing interests such as a TV, traffic paths or a picturesque view vie...

9/29/2023 2:02:28 AM -07:00

To find out which design features people are asking for right now, we reached out to more than 50 home design and remodeling pros on Houzz and asked them to tell us the colors, materials, styles and other trends homeowners have been asking for. Here are five trends everyone is talking...

9/28/2023 3:03:12 AM -07:00

Sometimes finding more space to expand a kitchen is like moving pieces of a puzzle around to see what fits. That’s what designers Alicia Held-Morris and Jillian Lare faced when these homeowners tasked them with enlarging their U-shaped 1990s kitchen. The couple wanted more room for entertaining and a...

9/27/2023 3:01:58 AM -07:00

Pattern returned in force to the recent Maison & Objet, illustrating the Paris trade fair’s Enjoy theme. Many of the booths relied on patterns to captivate, and trend watcher Elizabeth Leriche devoted her What’s New exhibit, The Pattern Factory, to the topic. “Since COVID, the context in which we...

9/27/2023 2:00:18 AM -07:00

Even a minimalist outdoor space generally benefits from some storage options, whether that’s a spot to tuck in your bike, stash clippers for the potted herbs or keep fuel for the barbecue. Plenty of out-of-the-box options are available that will work well. It’s even better, though, if you end up with...

9/26/2023 8:02:00 AM -07:00

Knowing the latest bathroom remodeling trends can help you plan for a successful project. You can make better decisions about which features to include, where to spend your remodeling dollars and which pros to hire for the best results.
The just-released 2023 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study

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9/26/2023 2:01:51 AM -07:00

When planning a lighting scheme for a client’s kitchen, I like to think about cake. Let me explain. On my birthday, a red velvet cake always comes my way, and it includes four layers plus a cherry and icing on top. Just like that cake, a well-lit kitchen should also have multiple layers for different...

9/25/2023 3:02:23 AM -07:00

Appliance garages conceal countertop appliances such as blenders, coffee makers and toasters while keeping them easily accessible and organized. While they’ve been around for decades, they’re enjoying a resurgence in popularity as homeowners incorporate more gadgets into their kitchens — and as pros...

9/25/2023 2:00:30 AM -07:00

Fall is a time when the garden to-do list becomes shorter and you have time to enjoy the growing season’s final days. For some, that might mean adding final touches to their yard’s fall show or starting to think about next year’s plans. For others, it’s about slowing down and taking the time to appreciate...

9/25/2023 1:00:21 AM -07:00

Yes, the building permit process can be a frustrating, costly and-time consuming affair, but there is purpose to the process and no getting around your local jurisdiction if you want to do your project right.
Here we recap the building permit basics, with links to more in-depth analysis of

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9/24/2023 3:02:33 AM -07:00

When interior designer Jody Lewis purchased adjacent, dilapidated 1920s cottages in quaint Ojai, California, she envisioned a village-like setting with multiple structures connected by open space. So she hired architectural designer Vina Lustado and they worked together closely for more than three years,...

9/24/2023 2:01:50 AM -07:00

I often get asked, “What are the rules in selecting the size of rug to use in a room?” Deciding what size rug is best for a space can be hard since there are many “rules” and just as many opposing opinions.
One popular rule is that the rug should be large enough to slide under the front legs of

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9/23/2023 3:00:06 AM -07:00

An outdoor space of any size gives you additional living area and a chance to enjoy the outdoor world. These 15 small patios show how stylish designs for outdoor living can be achieved in a variety of spaces.

9/23/2023 2:00:16 AM -07:00

Feel-good designs, bright colors and timeless craftsmanship were on display at the London Design Festival 2023, which took place in various locations around the capital Sept. 16-24. We put on our walking shoes to bring you a roundup of the main interior design trends, themes and innovations popping up...

9/22/2023 3:02:32 AM -07:00

A backsplash typically takes up a prominent amount of visual surface space in a kitchen, making it a crucial design decision that can affect all other elements in the room. But when treated like the star of the show, it can have tremendous results. Here, designers share how they leaned on various backsplash...

9/22/2023 2:01:49 AM -07:00

Purchasing a new bathroom vanity can be as simple as measuring your space and choosing a prefab unit online or at a store. You’ll get a set number of drawers with hardware, space for one or two sinks, and often a countertop. Installing a custom-made vanity will cost more and will require the involvement...

9/21/2023 3:00:21 AM -07:00

Fed up with the choppy layout, laminate countertops and worn beige tile flooring in their 1995 kitchen, this couple with two kids reached out to designer Kamila Malewska for help. The family wanted to improve everything — layout, style, storage and entertaining potential.
Malewska got to work

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9/20/2023 3:00:16 AM -07:00

Firms exhibiting new furniture and home accessory designs at the recent Maison & Objet trade fair in Paris brought out their most spectacular color palettes to create new chromatic pairings. “2024 will welcome a playful juxtaposition of invigorating hues and pastel shades. In particular, we can expect...

9/20/2023 2:02:20 AM -07:00

Gardeners tend to get excited about spring, looking forward to trying out new plants and maybe even making a big move and changing their landscapes. And in summer there’s the joy of the garden in full bloom, and most fruit trees and vegetable gardens produce abundantly. By September, though, even the...

9/19/2023 3:01:45 AM -07:00

Just a few minutes’ drive from downtown Missoula, Montana, surrounded by Ponderosa pines, sits a modern house with a modest profile. But inside, the space opens up to a cathedral-like great room with awe-inspiring valley views.
The “wow” that transition elicits is exactly what the homeowners

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9/19/2023 2:01:43 AM -07:00

When remodeling a windowless basement bathroom, many homeowners and designers attempt to make up for the lack of natural sunlight with a light and bright color scheme. But when a Washington state couple found design-build contractor Model Remodel on Houzz and hired the firm to make over their new home’s...

9/18/2023 3:01:40 AM -07:00

Fall is prime time for enjoying a protected indoor-outdoor space like a screened porch. Here you can take a look at how design pros have set up screened porches around the country for fall fun, dinners, conversations and naps. Let them inspire a new setup or activity for your own porch. If you don’t...

9/17/2023 3:01:39 AM -07:00

Designers know there’s more to planning for a large book collection than meets the eye. They measure the books to determine how many linear feet of bookshelves they’ll need, and they designate places for oversized tomes. They calculate how much room to leave for an expanding collection and plan lighting...

9/17/2023 2:02:16 AM -07:00

When designing a new kitchen, many of us have the “three-zone” rule firmly fixed in mind. But what we want from our kitchens nowadays is nothing like what homeowners sought 70-odd years ago, when the concept of the kitchen triangle originated. Open-plan and connected spaces top many kitchen wish lists...

9/16/2023 3:02:08 AM -07:00

When it comes to outdoor living space, bigger isn’t always better. In these makeovers, landscape pros creatively used color, plantings and design details to transform tiny, underused patios into inviting living areas that pack in a lot.

9/15/2023 3:00:22 AM -07:00

The quickest way to create warmth in a kitchen? Just add wood. And if these kitchens are any indication, the more the better. Here, designers share the approaches they took in adding wood features and details to create kitchens with a wonderfully inviting atmosphere.

9/15/2023 2:00:19 AM -07:00

There are many things to consider when planning a new bathroom, but how to keep it clean might not be top of mind when you’re looking at faucet finishes and tile colors. With a little forward thinking, though, you can get a bathroom that stays fresh and tidy with minimal effort.

9/14/2023 3:01:47 AM -07:00

Frustrated with being unable to adequately entertain guests in their cramped, run-down kitchen, these parents of two high school kids turned to design-build pro Gary Rochman, who’d previously helped the family remodel the second floor of their 1930s Tudor home.
Rochman took down a slim wall between

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9/14/2023 2:02:08 AM -07:00

Beige is back big time, and it’s anything but boring. That’s because designers are using it as part of layered neutral color schemes that provide comforting warmth. “Neutrals shouldn’t equate to boring. Rather, they should produce a luxurious, refined space that feels warm and textured,” interior...

9/13/2023 2:01:42 AM -07:00

People aren’t the only ones who enjoy fall temperatures — plants do too. In fact, fall can be one of the best times of year to add new plants to the landscape. The moderate temperatures of fall are relatively gentle to new plants, giving them time to grow a good root system and avoid the shock of being...