Botticelli marble vessel sink from Kohler
Unlike standard bathroom sinks, vessel designs sit above the counter surface. Reminiscent of historical bedroom washstands that consisted of a wash basin and pitcher for freshening up, current vessel sinks utilize modern materials and designs to sculptural effect.
Having young children fills our house with a lot of noise, and a lot of laughter. They keep us so busy, it also makes me wonder when we will ever get to concentrate on some of the basic home projects on our ever-growing list. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that if we ever want to get anything done, we have to find a way to involve them.
Photo: sheknows.com
Now that folks are more conscious about not sending everything to the landfill, and there are even tax incentives for recycling unwanted building materials, the pickings at architectural salvage yards are better than ever.
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The Biltmore Estate, Ashville, NC. Photo: Jane Dagmi
I recently toured The Biltmore in Asheville, NC—a 250-room estate on 8,000 acres, the largest private home built in America. It is architecturally splendid, wildly romantic, and absurdly luxurious.
Inspired by chateaux in France, George Vanderbilt hired architect Richard Morris Hunt to interpret his vision and Frederick Law Olmsted to landscape it.
Over six years, 1,000 men worked six days a week to complete the estate, with George Vanderbilt and his guests christening Biltmore on Christmas Eve 1895.
This was my first visit to the estate, and from the moment I glimpsed it, my heartbeat seriously raced. I was in awe of the scale, the scenery, and the lifestyle that it must have supported.
Here are six of the Biltmore’s most memorable architectural features:
The smart way to buy today is with resale in mind.
Here are four long-term trends that will likely shape the marketability of your house if you, like most homeowners, sell in seven to ten years.
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Now’s a great time to do a whole-house electrical inspection, and you can do this kind yourself.
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Lots of home-buyers look for “short sales”, because on the surface, they can seem like a bargain.
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If you’re looking to bring charm and variety to your outdoor space, a bird bath is the perfect choice. Not only will it add a decorative accent to your garden, it will provide a welcoming oasis for your yard’s feathered friends. We’ve done the bargain-hunting for you, and as the end of summer approaches, there are some great deals to be had. Here’s just a sampling of what you are likely to find this weekend.
Hadley Birdbath at RH, from $315
In the current real estate market, it’s not hard to find foreclosed properties to buy. But a home that looks like a great bargain on the auction block may not always be one.
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The common privet. Photo Courtesy: Villagewalkbonita.com
Whether you’re looking to create a privacy enclosure, windbreak, or wildlife deterrent, or simply bring some traditional appeal to your outdoor space, hedgerows are a versatile, beautiful addition to any garden. Although commonly used in reference to any type of hedgerow, “privets” are actually a specific type of plant; members of the genus Ligustrum that includes about 40-50 species of evergreen, semi-evergreen, and deciduous shrubs and small trees. While actual privets do the job beautifully, hedgerows can be created from a variety of plants, offering an option to fit any purpose and style.
