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Bathroom of the Week: Modern Organic Style With a Shower Room

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For these homeowners, a built-in jetted tub, glass block shower divider and funky layout weren’t giving them the style and function they wanted in their primary bathroom. Seeking a modern organic style with European flair, they hired designer Joey Snow to bring the entire California ranch home in line with their vision. Snow uses Houzz Pro software to manage her design business.

For the bathroom, Snow replaced the built-in tub with a smaller, sleeker freestanding model that adds breathing room. She ditched the glass block wall that divided the shower from the toilet area and added a wall that better separates the two spaces. The new private shower room has an arched doorway with glass door, walls with handmade Moroccan zellige tiles and a marble bench. A custom white oak double vanity improves storage, and its reeded front adds texture. Genuine limestone batons in a herringbone pattern for the flooring, along with plaster walls, provide more texture and interest.



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Kitchen of the Week: Casual Elegance With Ample Room for a Chef

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This retired couple bought a Colonial-style home in Sterling, Massachusetts, on 4 acres to be closer to their growing family and granddaughter. While they loved the classic architecture, they wanted to update the home’s neutral interiors. A big focus was revamping the kitchen and its basic honey oak cabinets, angled two-tier peninsula, standard white appliances and laminate countertops. The husband, a trained chef and former restaurant owner, wanted ample room for prepping and serving. The wife was looking for some color for the cabinets and wanted an elegant look and feel. For help they hired designer Ruth Bergstrom.

Bergstrom replaced the angled two-tier peninsula with a spacious L-shaped peninsula that adds work surface and seating. Updated appliances in a more user-friendly layout enhance function, while a polished marble-look quartz for the countertops and backsplash adds elegance and durability. Gray cabinets with subtle green and blue undertones bring a soft and soothing feel.



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How to Decorate a Living Room

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Whether your style is traditional or modern, relaxed or formal, bold or subdued, your living room should be a place where you can feel comfortable, let down your guard and spend quality time with friends, family or just yourself. There’s an art to decorating a room that looks great and works well for you. So before you dive into a living room redesign with your pro, arm yourself with a few designer tips and tricks. Here are some of my favorites.

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1. Mix Light and Dark

When a living room is all white and bright, it can feel too “clean” and unapproachable. When it’s all dark, it can feel like a cave. But mixing dark and light colors creates a dynamic look that has depth and balance. The design of any space benefits from the inclusion of at least a little white and a little black.

Find an interior designer to help you decorate your living room

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2. Contrast Your Neutrals

Beyond including some white and some black, decorating a living room with a variety of contrasting neutrals goes a long way toward making it feel rich and welcoming. In this example, the white walls, beige brick wall and flooring, caramel leather settee and pillows, dark tables and white sofa all contrast with one another, which highlights their different finishes and undertones. This makes the palette feel rich even before other key elements, such as pattern and texture, are added.

Shop for sofas on Houzz

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3. Play With Texture

Texture is easy to overlook when decorating a living room, especially since we don’t see it so much as touch it. But it’s important for making a living room feel cozy, and that goes for plush textures that appeal to the touch and harder textures that add contrast. Include leather, cotton, wool, metal, stone, glass, plant life and as many other textures as you can.

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Pillows are a great place to start, especially if you’re decorating a living room on a budget. Look to other accessories and furnishings to add new materials to the palette, even in small doses.

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4. Work in Some Wood

We can’t talk about texture without talking about wood, one of the top materials for bringing a sense of warmth to a living room.

There are so many ways to add wood, any of which will make a space feel a bit more inviting. Consider wall paneling, side tables, movable stools, picture frames, sofa legs and carved pieces of art as just a few of the many options.

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5. Mix Up Your Upholstery

Sure, most furniture stores give you the option of purchasing an entire living room set in matching upholstery, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. In a formal seating area, matching upholstery can give a sense of maturity and order, but if you want a living room to feel cozy and welcoming, mix and match your upholstered pieces to give the design a bit more personality.

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One of the safest ways to do this is to mix leather chairs with a fabric sofa or vice versa, so the materials contrast in an obviously intentional way. It gives the living room design some diversity, which can also give members of the family different options to suit their seating preferences.

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6. Choose Practical Fabrics

Speaking of upholstery, it’s especially important for living room seating to be not only comfortable but durable. What this means will depend on your family. You may have babies or small children, pets or not, and they may be messy or tidy. In general, mid-tone fabrics are the safest bet, as very light or dark shades will readily show soil and wear.

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Leather is a great material for avoiding stains because it can be easily wiped clean when a spill occurs. However, it’s usually more easily scratched than most fabrics, so it may not endure animals as well. A leather that already has a broken-in look or a pattern can age especially well.

See how to clean leather furniture

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Denim and corduroy are two other materials that can be inviting yet durable. Plus, they add an unexpected twist compared with the typical plain cotton or wool upholstery you often see in stores.

When choosing fabric for your living room furniture, look for a material with a blend of natural and synthetic fabrics to get the practical features of both, and if possible do a bend test of a fabric swatch to make sure the weave appears tight and doesn’t reveal the backing material. A tight weave will be more durable than a loose one (which leaves lots of space for dirt to hide), no matter the material.

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7. Add a Dash of Color

While you can create a beautiful space without any vivid hues, adding even a little bit of color to a living room can go a long way toward creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.

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When in doubt, look to a cheerful blue — it’s a hue that usually everyone can agree on. It perfectly contrasts warm elements such as leather and wood, and it feels just neutral enough to work with basically any other future accent colors.

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8. Add a Patterned Rug

Pattern is a powerful design tool, infusing a living room with energy and minimizing the appearance of stains or wear. A patterned rug brings these benefits to the “fifth wall” — the floor — simultaneously anchoring a seating area and giving the whole room a sense of life. Even if you already have carpeting, consider adding a rug to your seating area. The first time you roll it up to go to the cleaners after a big spill, you’ll be glad you had it there.

See 11 area rug rules and how to break them

9. Choose Movable Tables and Stools

Lightweight tables, stools, ottomans and even side chairs that can be moved around easily make a living room much more comfortable, giving you and your family lots of options on a daily basis for putting your feet up, setting a drink down or seating an extra guest.

Use a few smaller pieces, such as the upholstered footstools seen here, to allow for movement of pieces closer to and farther from the main seating as needed.

10. Consider Conversational Distances

No matter how big your living room, there’s a limit to how large a seating group can be and still make sense for intimate conversation and cozy gatherings. A good distance between seats to facilitate conversation is about 8 feet, meaning if you have several sofas or a sofa and side chairs, the seating area should have a diameter of 8 feet, or 4 feet out from the center.

A huge, 12-seat sectional sofa may look great and be perfect for a party, but if you’re looking to create a cozy living room, it’s usually best to use fewer, smaller seating pieces and push them a little closer together.

Key Measurements for Designing the Perfect Living Room

11. Don’t Take It Too Seriously

A living room is a great space to embrace thoughtful disorder, such as through an artistic gallery wall, mix-and-match throw pillows, open storage baskets and fun furniture.

Trying for perfect order will mean that anything out of place will stick out like a sore thumb, whereas accepting a bit of controlled chaos will mean the occasional dropped toy or draped blanket will look right at home.

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This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .

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How to Create a Living Room for Aging in Place

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2. Aim for Higher Seating

Seating is the heart of any living room and is an area to really focus on. “Higher and firmer seats and armrests really make a difference,” Mullally says.

Becky Storey of Storey Interiors highlights the importance of seating that’s easy to get in and out of, especially for those with mobility difficulties. Seating that’s too low can be problematic, she says. “Or seating that slopes down at the back, because it requires a lot more upper body strength to pull yourself up. The same goes for sofas that have really soft cushions or where the seat is very deep.”

For a lesser change than buying new chairs and sofas, Eva Byrne of houseology suggests that a standard seat height of 18 inches should accommodate yourself and all visitors, and “a raised cushion at your favorite spot will improve accessibility here if needed.”

Vatzeva also highlights the importance of good support for the back to keep it straight, along, potentially, with support for the feet to be lifted. But she also has a word of caution about electric recliners. “Personally, I don’t think they are in our favor,” she says. “They promote less movement and less activity … which can have a negative impact on body, mind and general health.”

It’s not all about sofas and armchairs — consider custom solutions too. Vatzeva suggests that a great spot for adding new seating is within a bay window or alcove. “These are good places to install seating at a suitable height,” she says. “They can be standalone pieces or built-in, and offer a wonderful way of combining the practical with the beautiful while being bespoke for one’s own needs.”

Shop for living room furniture



This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .

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10 Principles of Organizing That Work in Every Room

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This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .

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10 Essentials for a Gracious Guest Room

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Getting ready to host overnight guests? Let’s assume you have a bed (or air mattress) and coverings on all the windows. That’s a great start! This list will help fill in all the little things your guests will want to have on hand for a comfortable night’s sleep. What you won’t find here: season-specific decor, extra charging cords, books and other optional extras that your guests might enjoy but can live without. Instead the focus is on versatile, key pieces to get your guest space up and running so you’re ready for visitors, no matter when they arrive.

1. Water Carafe

Needing a glass of water but not knowing where to get one can be frustrating and uncomfortable for guests. And after traveling by car or plane, they probably need to hydrate. Be prepared with a glass carafe filled with water, and add an extra glass if you’ll be hosting a couple.

Find carafes in the Houzz Shop

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2. Coordinated Set of Bedding

Since your guest bed is probably used far less often than the primary bed, there’s no need to go all-out with top-of-the-line bedding (unless you want to). But a good-quality set of percale or sateen sheets and a quilt or duvet in a coordinating hue will make your guests feel well cared for. A neutral palette will look appropriate year-round.

Shop for bedding on Houzz

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3. Bedside Lighting

Good lighting is key to making your guest room feel welcoming. At minimum, place a lamp on each bedside table. Lamps with three settings are ideal so guests can adjust the light levels to suit their preference.

Browse lamps on Houzz

4. Full-Length Mirror

Your guests will appreciate having a simple full-length mirror propped against the wall or attached to the back of the door. If the mirror is in a dark corner of the room, draping a strand of white twinkle lights on it is a quick and inexpensive way to add a warm glow.

Find full-length mirrors in the Houzz Shop

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5. Extra Blankets and Pillows

Help out your guests by providing a few extra blankets and pillows so they can get comfortable. This is especially important on chilly winter nights, but if you have central air conditioning, your guests may reach for an extra blanket even in summer!

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6. Wastebasket

A wastebasket is a small but important detail that will help your guests keep their room neat without having to make frequent trips to garbage cans in other parts of the house. Whether you opt for brass, mirrored or woven, choose an attractive wastebasket that enhances your guest room style.

Browse pretty wastebaskets

7. Extra Toiletries

Have a few spare sample-size toiletries in a drawer? Gather them together in a pretty bowl or basket and add a new toothbrush so guests won’t stress if they forgot something.

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8. Bath Towels

A stack of fluffy white bath towels on the bed is a welcoming touch. Be sure to include a wash cloth, hand towel and bath towel for each person.

Shop for bath towels on Houzz

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9. Wall Hooks

Unless your guests are staying for a week or more, they probably don’t need an empty dresser to unpack their clothes into. A few sturdy wall hooks will do for hanging damp towels and (with the addition of a hanger or two) wrinkle-prone outfits.

Find wall hooks in the Houzz Shop

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10. Coffee and Tea Makings

Considerate guests won’t want to bother you if they get up before you do. Including a little tray with everything they need to make a morning cuppa makes it clear they are welcome to help themselves.

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This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .

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How to Light Your Living Room

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When I was growing up, my childhood living room was strictly off-limits to kids and reserved for my parents and their friends. In my current home, however, we do quite a bit of living in our living room. Therefore, having a lighting plan that covers all of my family’s activities in our living room is essential. My plan for a well-lit living room requires five layers of light.

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The five layers of light are as follows: Light for “doing” helps you read magazines and play games. Light for “knowing” helps you carry on conversations and move through the space. Light for “feeling” makes it easier to relax after a long day at work. Light for “changing” helps you adjust to the time of day and the task at hand. And light to help “tell your story” highlights your personal style and the items you cherish most.

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Layer 1: Light for Doing

We all use our living rooms differently, and that means you can benefit from carefully considering what common tasks you and your family perform in the living room before choosing lighting. Do you like to read? If so, good table lamps or floor lamps are a must. Prefer to watch television? Lamps might reflect on the screen, so dimmable downlights might offer a better solution. Playing games with friends? A brighter living room illuminated with both lamps and downlights can make interactions more enjoyable.

Shop for lighting products on Houzz

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Layer 2: Light for Knowing

It’s important to know where you are and where you are going, and general ambient light can help. If you live with other people or have company in your living room, it is equally important to be able to see their faces. In a living room, good ambient light can come from wall sconces, which help define the scope of the room, from a few well-placed lamps at head-level to better see faces and from a ceiling cove overhead that diffuses light throughout the room.

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Layer 3: Light for Feeling

During a sunny day, a living room with abundant natural light flowing through windows can help us feel good. At night, however, we need to replace daylight with a layer of light that will make our space feel more comfortable and relaxing. Light for feeling can come from accent lamps, wall sconces, recessed downlights that highlight stone features, fireplaces and even from table lamps with soft, glowing shades.

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Layer 4: Light for Changing

We watch movies, read books, play games, work on our laptops, enjoy a fire and converse with friends in our living room. We keep the lights low for movies, higher for playing games and in between when relaxing with friends. Light for changing helps us adapt to tasks, the location of the sun and aging eyes. This might mean different lamps for different tasks and different times of day, or it can be achieved by adding dimmers that allow you to customize light from moment to moment.

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Layer 5: Light for Telling Your Story

Finally, the lights in your living room can help tell your story, revealing your style and the items you cherish most. A spotlight on a painting by a friend lets everyone know you value both art and friendship, while a beautiful Tiffany lampshade might tell of your appreciation for artistry and color.

Choosing the style of decorative fixtures that fits you best is a great way to reveal your style, but decorative fixtures are not the only way to tell your story. Carefully hidden lights on a timber-framed ceiling disappear into the woodwork but highlight the craftsmanship of the structure without adding visual clutter to a room. Concealed lights in bookcases showcase collected items while adding a beautiful glow to the space.

More on Houzz
Read more stories about lighting
Get living room design ideas
Find a designer to help you plan your lighting
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10 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Living Room

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4. Roll Out a New Area Rug

It’s a rare living room that doesn’t call for an area rug. Even in a carpeted room, an area rug helps to define a seating area and make a room feel complete. So if you don’t already have an area rug, or the one you have doesn’t reflect your current taste, this is a good opportunity for a refresh.

If you’re trying to make a formal living space feel more casual, consider a flat-woven or natural-fiber rug (such as jute). Tufted rugs with asymmetrical patterns or high-low textures are good bets if you’re looking to add a contemporary element to your room. Color-wise, light colors tend to make a room feel larger while darker colors make it feel more cozy. And the busier the patterns of your other textiles, the simpler your rug can be, and vice versa.

At least as important as the style of your rug is its size. A common recommendation is that all of the legs of your furniture — or at least the front legs of your seating — should be on the rug. If you love your current rug but it’s too small or irregularly shaped, you can layer it on top of a larger one. Natural-fiber rugs or solid, neutral-toned wool rugs are often good, affordable choices as base layers. A small, vibrant but well-worn antique Persian or Moroccan rug can look gorgeous over a large jute rug, for example.

All of that said, the “perfect rug” isn’t a specific size or style. It’s the one that most appeals to you and fits your lifestyle and budget.

11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them

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10 Living Room Features Pros Always Recommend

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3. Comfortable Furniture

This is an obvious one but it’s worth emphasizing: Comfortable furniture is a must-have in a living room. That means using more soft fabrics, deep cushions and rounded edges rather than solid, hard-backed pieces and sharp corners. “I always tell my clients that the most important living room feature is comfort,” says designer Lindsey Machado of Designed With Grace & Joy. “We will always make any space look beautiful, so it’s more important to me that they’re also happy with the way it feels. That not only includes actual materials — think plush rugs, soft pillows and throw blankets, a nice-feeling sofa — but also ambiance.”

Designer Krista McGrath of McGrath Interiors tells homeowners to get the best-quality seating they can afford. “They will spend hours sitting on their furniture,” McGrath says, “so it should be very comfortable and hold up well.”

Designer ​Sabrina Lowe agrees. “The sofa is the one item in the living room that clients should put resources toward,” she says. “Most people who invest in a good couch have it for decades.”

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