Not a Big Cook? These Fun Kitchen Ideas Are for You
September 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Would you rather sip wine and read than cook every night? Consider these kitchen amenities
Kitchen design tends to be centered around the presumption that you will be spending loads of time in your kitchen cooking. Not so earth shattering, right? But the fact is, not everyone loves to cook. Not everyonecould really use a supersize fridge, dual ovens and an enormous island. So what do you do when it’s time to think about a kitchen design, when all you’ve used your oven for is storage? While it makes sense for certain basics to be in place (sink, stove, dishwasher) even if you rarely cook, there is plenty of room for creativity. From wine storage to a library wall, here are a few ideas to consider.
Simple Pleasures: Movie Night for Film Buffs
September 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
In a world of rising cinema costs … at a time when gathering comes naturally … small screens are hitting the big time
What could be better on a crisp fall night than curling up on the couch with a soft throw, a bowl of popcorn (or perhaps a glass of wine) and a great movie? Avoid the crowds at the theater, save a little cash and embrace the simple pleasure of movie night at home. Whether you keep it spontaneous or start a film club complete with movie-themed snacks (blini and vodka for Dr. Zhivago, anyone?), let these ideas inspire your next movie night at home.
Window Wizardry: 7 Clever Approaches to Privacy
September 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Do you want more privacy without losing your view or feeling boxed in? Take a look at these creative building solutions
Creating privacy while letting in light and views can be an issue for many suburban homes. We often see frosted windows or deliberate screens as the only method of dealing with the issue. Luckily, we now have design alternatives that not only offer privacy, but also look good while doing it.
How Merlot Can You Go? 8 Enticing Ways With Wine-Inspired Hues
September 23, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Add warmth and drama to your home with these deepest shades of red
Count me as a big fan of burgundy, whether I’m enjoying a glass of it with dinner or using it as an accent wall color. Decorating with shades of red wine can add drama, depth and a delicious cozy feeling to any room. But the hue can make a space appear somber, busy or even claustrophobic when overused or combined with too much visual clutter. So here are eight elegant examples of red-wine hues done right, along with suggestions for similar colors to try out in and on your own home.
A guide to pet-proofing your home [infographic]
September 22, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Your pet is a beloved part of your household, so just as the house gets turned upside down with a smile when it’s time to baby-proof — because we know it’s to keep the little one safe — there are steps pet owners need to take to ensure those furry, little ones live a long, healthy life as well.
A Home Designed to Make Work a Pleasure
September 20, 2014 By Leave a Comment
A house built for working, cooking, gardening and entertaining opens to the landscape while offering shelter from the summer sun
If you’re going to work from home, you want it to be a home in which you like working, and that’s exactly what these homeowners set out to create when they embarked on building their house in far northeastern New South Wales, Australia. With help from architects Sarah Aldridge and Jason Trisley of Space Studio, the couple created a home that would meet their needs for work, rest and play.
“Both clients carry out consultancy work from home, so a good home office space was an essential part of the brief,” Aldridge says. Their children live a distance away, and tend to visit infrequently but for longer periods, so it was important to the clients that they had a separate space for them. The guest bedroom has plenty of storage and its own en suite bathroom, and a refurbished onsite guest cottage is well used. The home office doubles as an additional guest space.
The owners are excellent cooks and gardeners and enjoy entertaining, so in addition to a kitchen and a butler’s kitchen, the architects designed a generous covered area next to the back door with gardening tool storage and a sink for washing vegetables picked from the garden.
Sound Advice for Designing a Home Music Studio
September 19, 2014 By Leave a Comment
How to unleash your inner guitar hero without antagonizing the neighbors
Most musicians will admit to sharing a single core skill necessary for mastering their instrument: control. When it comes to designing spaces for practicing, performing, recording or just jamming, control is equally important to acousticians and architects. We aim to control the sound entering and exiting the studio, the heat and humidity inside and, of course, the acoustics.
While a home music room may not have the demands of a professional recording studio, many spaces can benefit from the sound isolation and acoustic treatment applied to rooms designed for playing music. I’ve designed spaces for music at all scales, from auditorium halls to private listening rooms, and have learned a few basic sound concepts that can dramatically improve the aural environment of any space.
What Is Organic Architecture, Anyway?
September 18, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Practitioners of organic architecture seek to connect houses more closely with their natural surroundings. Here’s how they do it
We know that our environments affect our moods, and that buildings play a major role in that, but how can we change the way we build our homes to help improve our sense of well-being?
There is growing evidence that suggests being cooped up in buildings is bad for our health and that having connections to the exterior environment has positive health outcomes. Studies have found that views of nature from the home provide a significant improvement in general well-being.
Improving the connection between the interior and the exterior of a building is the driving force behind the organic architecture movement started by Frank Lloyd Wright in the early 1900s. And that connection is integral to designs by contemporary organic architects. Take a closer look at how this style of architecture might work for you.
12 Ways to Get a Luxe Bathroom Look for Less
September 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment
Your budget bathroom can have a high-end feel with these tricks for choosing tile, stone, furniture and more
Although we all love to drool over images of gorgeous designer bathrooms, we may not have the budget to go all-out when the time comes to spruce up our own washrooms. But that doesn’t mean your remodel has to be generic and uninspired. There are many ways to get a high-end look without a hefty price tag. Here are 12 tricks to do just that.