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7. Incorporate Biophilic Design
Interior designer Shannon Ggem thoroughly studied how design can affect health in health care-related settings. Then she worked on two self-contained room types for immunocompromised children undergoing lifesaving treatment, and for their accompanying family members, for the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House. She is also a speaker on biophilic design for the National Kitchen and Bath Association.
Biophilic design is based on the idea that people have an innate tendency to seek connections to nature. Because we spend so much time indoors, bringing organic materials, shapes and colors that remind us of nature to interiors helps us feel connected to the natural world. In the bedroom seen here, Ggem used natural colors and fibers to promote wellness. For example, the cotton velvet settee is a deep leafy green.
A fiddlehead fig adds a natural element to the corner of the room and helps with air filtration. The homeowners also wanted wall-to-wall carpeting in the bedroom for sensory purposes — softness under their feet and sound control. “This carpeting is 100% wool, which is natural and which humans have figured out how to keep clean for many years,” Ggem says.
Simple Pleasures: The Joy of Fresh Sheets
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14. Incorporate Sliding Panels
Sliding doors are popular for fully opening up interiors to outdoor spaces, but the concept can just as easily be applied to interior spaces.
In this San Francisco home, sliding panels can completely shut off or open up a workspace to the main living areas.
For this arrangement, you need bulkheads or another system for supporting the tracks from which the panels hang. If tracks are going in the floor, that’s something that will require extra thought and planning. Also, keep in mind that some setups might be more difficult to clean than others, so it’s worth doing your homework. If the panels permanently overlap, for example, it can be hard to clean the space between them. If the tracks are on the floor, dirt and other debris can settle in the nooks.
Where to Splurge and Where to Save When Decorating
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4. Increase the Height of Your Vanity
The standard vanity height is 31½ inches (not including your countertop). This isn’t high enough for some homeowners. Raising the cabinet height to 34½ inches (this will reach standard kitchen counter height, including a 1½ inch countertop) can prevent you from having to hunch over as you’re washing up.
There are two exceptions to increasing the vanity height. If you’re more comfortable with the standard vanity height, don’t increase it. Or if you want to make your vanity wheelchair-accessible, choose a counter height of 34 inches maximum, as specified in the American Disabilities Act guidelines.
Browse bathroom vanities on Houzz
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3. Dine Al Fresco
Move meals outdoors if weather allows. If mornings and evenings are still too chilly, take advantage of the warm, gentle sunshine for brunch, lunch and afternoon gatherings.
Re-create your indoor dining setup outside to turn even a quick meal into an elevated garden experience. Set a table, complete with placemats, dishes and glassware. A potted plant can serve as a centerpiece both for meals and the rest of the day.
Tip: If you find yourself heading outside often for meals or a coffee break, think about investing in outdoor-friendly tableware. Store it in a spot that’s easy to access when it’s time for a meal.
Shop for patio furniture on Houzz
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5. Tile With Restraint
Unless you’re planning a wet room, you don’t need to cover every inch with tile, Ghaly says. Not only is tiling just part of the room cheaper, both in terms of labor and materials, but also it’s often more practical.
“The advantage of part-tiling is that the bathroom becomes much more flexible,” he says. “For example, you can paint the rest of the walls, which means the bathroom can be redesigned more easily in the future, using different colors.
“Hanging pictures on bathroom walls is also becoming popular, and part-tiling gives you this option,” he adds.
When it comes to tile prices, Ghaly says, ceramic tiles are generally cheaper. “Imitation tiles — marble-look, for example — can be inexpensive yet will give your bathroom a similar luxury look and feel like the real thing.”
Shop for bathroom tile on Houzz
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9. Government-Backed Loans
The Federal Housing Administration backs several home renovation loan options offered through private lenders.
If your renovation goal is to make your home more livable, useful, accessible or energy-efficient, you might qualify for a Title 1 fixed-rate loan. The maximum loan amount for a single-family home is $25,000, and amounts less than $7,500 are usually unsecured. The payout is a lump sum, and the interest rate is fixed.
If you need to borrow more than $25,000, you might qualify for a 203(k) loan (for major work). This combines a renovation loan with a mortgage. A portion of the loan goes toward purchasing the home, and the rest is paid to the contractor as needed. The interest rate can be fixed or variable.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
9. Government-Backed Loans
The Federal Housing Administration backs several home renovation loan options offered through private lenders.
If your renovation goal is to make your home more livable, useful, accessible or energy-efficient, you might qualify for a Title 1 fixed-rate loan. The maximum loan amount for a single-family home is $25,000, and amounts less than $7,500 are usually unsecured. The payout is a lump sum, and the interest rate is fixed.
If you need to borrow more than $25,000, you might qualify for a 203(k) loan (for major work). This combines a renovation loan with a mortgage. A portion of the loan goes toward purchasing the home, and the rest is paid to the contractor as needed. The interest rate can be fixed or variable.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
9. Upgrade Your Window Treatments
Replacing bland window treatments with elegant draperies or shades makes any room look finished. But the right window treatments can do much more, including dampen sound, provide insulation, block light and enhance privacy — all critical in a bedroom. If yours are failing in any of these regards, think of an upgrade as an investment in your well-being.
Sheer curtains can be layered over a roller or cellular shade for privacy and light control. Thick or lined draperies don’t necessarily need to be layered, but if you go without, swap your straight rod and finials for a French return curtain rod, which bends all the way to the wall, to block more light. Similarly, if choosing Roman shades, you’ll have less light leakage if you select an outside mount shade than an inside-mount design.
That said, while we need darkness to fall (and stay) asleep, the morning sun is helpful for waking us up. Blackout shades can disrupt that natural cue. If you need them, one solution is to install smart shades that are raised automatically at a designated time in the morning.
Which Window Treatment Should You Choose?
What to Know About Curtains and Drapes
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6. Set the Table
Forgo the everyday tableware and pull out things you save for special occasions. This means a favorite tablecloth or runner, Grandmother’s plates or rarely used crystal glasses. Bring out the cloth napkins and candles.
This shouldn’t feel like a chore, but rather a time to appreciate the finer things you have at home. Treat it like a creative project and have family members take turns so they can play with color, mix and match china and experiment with centerpieces. If you have kids, have them make place cards. It will make meals feel like an event.
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You don’t always have to go with an all-plywood construction. Thermofoil and laminate are both excellent budget-friendly options.
Thermofoil is a type of plastic finish applied to a medium-density fiberboard or other type of engineered wood core. It’s durable and easy to clean, and costs significantly less than wood. Laminate is likewise much less expensive than wood. It generally holds up well over time, though it isn’t as strong as wood. It’s more susceptible to moisture as well.
There are a few considerations to make if you decide to buy thermofoil or laminate cabinets. You will need to place delamination heat shields near your range. You may also want an all-plywood sink base or a sink mat for extra protection against moisture.
As a bonus, you can use the extra savings from laminate and thermofoil to add details to your cabinetry, including crown molding, corbels and a decorative door style.