Photo: interi0r-design.net
Without a major renovation, it might not be possible to create the minimalist, modern bath of your dreams, but you can get pretty darn close by making these low-effort, big-impact changes.
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Author Archives: Rebecca Thienes Cherny
- Bathroom >
- 5 Simple Ways to Modernize Your Bath
- Kitchen >
- Top Tips for Better Kitchen Organization
Photo: HometownDumpsterRental
Now that the new year is in full swing, it would be easy to lose the resolve with which we started 2013. But let’s keep up the momentum and train our thoughts (within reason) on cultivating better versions of ourselves… and our kitchens.
Few things are more satisfying than having a place for everything and keeping everything in its place. Right now—before it suddenly becomes 2014—revolutionize life in the busiest room of your house with these simple kitchen organization tips.
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- Kitchen >
- Galley Kitchens: Unique, Compact, and Efficient
Photo: Katie Hastings Design
The term “galley kitchen” originally referred to kitchens aboard ships, trains, and planes—compact spaces with tight footprints allowing for maximum efficiency.
Home kitchens can also be galley-like, typically featuring two lines of parallel cabinets separated by a central aisle and, occasionally, a U-shaped return at one end. Galley layouts promote ideal work conditions, requiring minimal movement while working. Though efficient, galley kitchens are tight on space and do best with a single chef at the helm.
Slideshow: 11 Gorgeous Galley Kitchens
- Doors & Windows >
- Beyond the Farm: Using Barn Doors at Home
Photo: House*Tweaking
Barn doors are notable for their distinctive use of space. Rather than hang on vertical hinges and swing open, they go on horizontal tracks and roll open, remaining relatively flat against adjoining walls.
Since the weight of a barn door is distributed over the width of its track, a heavier- or larger-than-usual door can be accommodated.
Using barn doors at home is a common practice of architects, designers, and homeowners whose aim is to create a better “flow” without sacrificing the ability to partition spaces for private use. Where floor space is limited, barn doors are an ideal solution.
Slideshow: 10 Chic New Ideas in Barn Doors
- Walls & Ceilings >
- Hang Time: Making a Case for Picture Rails
Photo: Fougeron Architecture
Picture rails are strips of molding that adhere to walls and run horizontally around the room, typically aligning with the tops of any windows. This type of molding was once an elegant way of hanging artwork on hard-to-penetrate plaster walls.
Popular in New England and Southern townhouses during the Victorian era, picture rails may seem like a quaint throwback, but they can also look fresh today and serve a purpose.
For an art collector who often rotates works, rental houses and apartments with frequent tenant changes, and those who simply like walls free of nail holes, picture rails offer a practical solution.
- Major Systems >
- Hot Fireplace Inserts
Grand I35 Fireplace Insert from Heat & Glo
Fireplace inserts are a great way to update an existing masonry fireplace.
A traditional open-front wood-burning fireplace usually has an efficiency rating of just 5-10%, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. A new fireplace insert constructed of durable steel or cast iron utilizes an insulated closed-combustion system that increases heat output and promotes efficiency.
- Green >
- Smoke Detectors for the Design Set
Overgrown insect or smoke detector? Surprisingly, both.
The long arm of design reaches new territory with the advent of designer smoke alarms. Why shouldn’t this safety product also be stylish (as long as code is met)? Forward thinking designers in Finland and the Netherlands have applied their talents in the art of beautifying the functional.
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- Kitchen >
- Luxuriating on Kitchen Islands
A chic kitchen by Jessica Helgerson Interior Design showcases a large multi-functional island.
Cursed with a galley kitchen like most apartment dwellers, I dream of the day I’ll upgrade to a space big enough for a luxurious kitchen island. First popular in the mid-twentieth century during the Modern movement, these freestanding dividers often separate grand open-plan spaces that include dining and living areas.
The key to good island design is first considering the best possible use. Make a list of all the functions you’d like the island to perform. Storage is a top need for homeowners, making cabinets on at least part of the island a capital idea. Adding utilitarian details like recessed bookcases for holding favorite cookbooks and linens close at hand should also be explored.
- Lawn & Garden >
- Give Your Facade a Facelift: Simple, Affordable Ways to Boost Curb Appeal
Photo: Benjamin Moore
Just like windows are the eyes to the soul, the outside of a home gives viewers a first impression of what’s inside.
This fall, take the time to improve your home’s exterior entry area. The National Association of Realtors says curb appeal sells 49% of all houses, but you don’t need to have your house on the market to try out a few easy and affordable change-outs.
Slideshow: 10 Simple “Under $60″ Curb Appeal Updates for Any Home
- Lawn & Garden >
- Fab Doghouses
"Frank Lloyd Bite" doghouse from the 1999 Barkitecture exhibit at Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron, OH. Photo: brightandspacious.com
We dog owners are a strange breed. We obsess about the day-to-day comfort, happiness, and health of our pets. We own multiple pet beds so Fido always has a soft place to relax; we’re always trying to find him the perfect toy; and some of us even make sure Fido adheres to a doggy diet not unlike a human being’s gluten-free regimen. But since dogs are purportedly man’s best friend, shouldn’t we treat them as we ourselves would like to be treated?