How to Hide the Toilet

Screen Shot 2015-05-04 at 1.59.17 PMIf you don’t want your toilet to be the main feature of your bathroom, here’s how to let it take a backseat in your bath’s decor

What is the one item that no one wants to be the star attraction in the bathroom? Yes, you guessed it — the toilet! Camouflaging a toilet in a bathroom is surprisingly easy. If you have the space for the toilet to be separate, then it is very easy; however, most of us do not have the luxury of an abundance of space. This is when the trick of distraction comes in handy.

But just how do we employ the art of distraction to our advantage? Put simply, it’s all about clever design. Installing an interesting bath, vanity, feature wall or shower, or championing an outside view, can help make the toilet practically disappear from the foreground. It will still be there — but won’t be what you remember when you depart from the space. Let’s take a closer look.

Let’s Walk Through the Latest Door Trends

Screen Shot 2015-05-04 at 1.55.56 PMThe functional feature has been getting a dose of flexibility, creativity and glamorous detail

A just-right front door or interior door is a finishing touch that can really make a home sing. Interior Design Principal John Day of LDa Architecture and Interiors says, “Doors are very much moving from a utilitarian item with relatively few options — raised-panel, four-panel, natural wood or paint, hardware — into a design feature that can add architectural detail, color and texture to interior spaces.”Read on for style ideas and design considerations for your next door.

The World’s Most Unusual Homes

This infographic features some of the most unusual, unique and awe-inspiring home designs in the world today. From a Flintstones inspired home to an ultra modern transparent home in Japan, this list has a little something for everyone.worlds-most-unusual-homes

58 Instruments that Made Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Songs of All Time

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10 Rules for Your Next Painting Project

Screen Shot 2015-04-29 at 3.44.15 PMTake your next painting journey from ‘argh!’ to ‘ta-da!’ with these designer tricks

Color has always held a special place in my heart. When I was about 9 years old, my parents came up with the great idea that they would let my brother and me redecorate our bedrooms. For me, a young, creative and somewhat excitable child, this was the equivalent of being let loose in a dream world. Off to the paint store we went to choose our new hues. I remember this moment vividly, because I ran around picking out swatches and making color combinations I thought were fantastic. Had my parents known that they would walk out that day with a can each of Sunflower Yellow, Lime Green and Wedgwood Blue, they may have thought twice about giving us the ultimate creative control. Sorry, Mum and Dad!

A little knowhow can go a long way when painting, whether you’re choosing neutrals, pastels or brights. Follow these rules to help guide you to your next color triumph.

Built-In Bed And Storage For Almost Everything

contemporary-bedroom_260415_02Russian design firm INT2architecture, have created a contemporary bedroom that features a built-in bed with plenty of storage. It even has a screen projector.

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How High Should Your TV Be?

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 4.10.45 PMToday we look at an important question to consider when locating your television: How high should you set it?

A home without a television is like a castle in the clouds — it exists only in fairy tales. And that’s only a slight overstatement. The Nielsen Company reports that 96.7 percent of U.S. homes have television sets. In my experience, over the course of hundreds of home construction projects, I can’t recall a single instance in which one of our clients designed a home without the television’s location in mind.

This reality creates design challenges as home designers consider room orientation with the competing possible focal points of exterior views, fireplaces and televisions. Today we will look at one critical factor to consider when locating your television: height. It’s not the only thing you should think about, to be sure, but if you place your television too high in relation to its space and intended use, you might end up with regrets and, quite literally, a pain in your neck.

What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 4.07.54 PMOne-of-a-kind lumber warms a room and adds age and interest

Everyone is buzzing about reclaimed wood. But why, how and where should you use it? In the kitchen, there are plenty of fantastic opportunities, from floors and cabinets to island accents and floating shelves, all the way up to ceilings and ceiling beams. You can also add the material in furniture, accessories and light fixtures.

Why choose reclaimed wood in the kitchen? For one thing, lots of these woods are no longer available — today’s lumber comes from much younger, less dense trees. “The warmth from the natural colors from the reclaimed wood’s patina is remarkable, and the integrity of the wood due to the tree’s age is unmatched,” says Malachi Milbourn, who creates furniture from reclaimed wood. “We enjoy uncovering the character, texture and beauty that salvaged timber has to offer.” And so should you. Reclaimed wood will bring warmth, rustic charm, character and a sense of history to the heart of your home.

What to Know About Controlling Dust During Remodeling

Screen Shot 2015-04-28 at 4.04.07 PMYou can’t eliminate dust during construction, but there are ways to contain and remove as much of it as possible

Dust is everywhere, all the time. But during a remodeling project, it’s particularly abundant — and potentially hazardous. All sorts of nasty stuff gets kicked up while demolishing walls, taking apart cabinets and removing tile. And it’s not for the faint of heart. Waste from bugs, mice, spiders and bats; silica from drywall; lead particles from old paint — if it was in your walls or subfloor, it’s probably going to be in your home (and lungs). Unless, that is, your remodeling crew has a solid strategy for containing and removing the dust from your home.

“Construction can produce inhalable respirable particles that are regulated pollutants; they’re unhealthful, so it’s entirely appropriate to do some kind of mitigation when doing construction activities,” says Brett Singer, an indoor air quality scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. There are several strategies for doing this, and if dust is a concern to you, it’s important to have a conversation with your contractor when taking bids to determine how they plan to contain construction particles. Here are some things to think about before having that talk.

8 Ways to Use Plug-In Sconces in Your Lighting Scheme

SconcesPlug-in, wall-mounted sconces help unclutter desks, add visual interest and more. See if they are right for you

If you’ve dismissed plug-in sconces in the past, you may want to give them another look. Without any wiring work, a pluggable sconce can improve your lighting scheme, reduce tabletop clutter and add interest to a room. Here’s how.