tegr's Ideas
7. Bring a bit of wildness. Welcome native birds, bees and butterflies to your rooftop by hanging a feeder, adding a water source and choosing plants that provide food or nest-building materials.In contrast to the concrete landscape of the city, one could imagine this Chicago rooftop would look like an oasis to our feathered friends and beneficial insects. The rooftop includes a fresh water source and deep plantings of pollinator and seed-eater favorites, including black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia sp.), purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea, zones 3 to 9), ‘Autumn Joy’ stonecrop (Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’, zones 3 to 10), lavender and salvia.4 Tips for Designing a Wildlife-Friendly Small Garden
2. Grow a green screen. To make your rooftop feel more like a secluded garden retreat and less like a fishbowl, invest in screens, fences and planters, and grow vines and shrubs to block views of adjacent buildings. In this London terrace the designer used a wooden lattice fence to provide support for a leafy screen of confederate jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides; USDA Zone 8; find your zone), screening nearby buildings and perfuming the terrace with a citrusy-sweet fragrance.Go a step further and cover an area of the rooftop with a pergola or shade sail. You’ll benefit from both the shade and the added sense of privacy from neighbors’ windows.Grow a Lush Privacy Screen
Hammock hangout. If what you crave is a space where you can unwind and relax, a hammock may be just the ticket. Greenery has a calming effect, so be sure to include plenty of potted plants and window boxes spilling over with flowers. If a hammock’s not your cup of tea, consider a pair of laid-back lounge chairs instead.
The kitchen in this new spec home was done in a very traditional style when the couple moved in. They wanted to redo it, but didn't want to go too contemporary or trendy. Stewart-Georgi had the surfaces refaced and new alder cabinetry and Caesarstone counters installed. The pantry was outfitted for ultimate organization, and a built-in desk was added next to the refrigerator. Counters: Caesarstone "Blizzard"Backsplash: Mission Tile West
Although this neighborhood was once close to the water, the construction of canals have placed it farther back from the beach, making that rooftop deck all the more important.Photography by Douglas Hill PhotographyContractor: DC Williamson General ContractingMore Houzz Tours:An Eclectic and Open Home in SydneyModern Shingle Style in UtahA Home Full of History and Surprise
More: More Houzz guides to urban gardensTell us: Do you have a rooftop garden? Share descriptions of it and pictures in the Comments section.
In fact, if you like an eclectic or casually chic look, you can go ahead and use two rugs that are completely different. Try pulling in rugs from other spaces, or making use of a company’s return policy to test out the look of a rug (or two) in your kitchen to see if the look is right for you. You might be surprised at just how different, and more welcoming, your kitchen will look.More11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break ThemA Rug Can Make a Room — but What Kind to Choose?Browse runner rugs
Take this space as a perfect example of how a rug can “colorize” a room. This kitchen appears to have a strong presence of blue, but on close inspection the only blue items are the rug and the serveware pieces on the island.Look for a few accessories that pull from the primary color in your rug and — ta-da — you’ve got a colorful kitchen you can live with.Browse stain-resistant blue runners
2. Get in shape. Among the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get in better shape. But that doesn’t mean you have to join an expensive gym. Finding a space in your home to use as a gym or yoga studio will allow you to get the job done under your own roof. Tip: Any room in your house with enough floor space for a yoga mat can be transformed into a studio.Read: 10 Elements of an Inspiring Workout Zone
2. Cabinet with drawers. This solution is similar to the previous one, but here you’re able to push the cabinet against an adjacent wall to gain just a few more inches of space, which is crucial in a tight bathroom. Cabinets wouldn’t work along the wall in this case, so drawers and baskets below solve storage needs. Keep in mind that the two top drawers might interfere with plumbing and need to be cut shorter. See more of this walk-out basement
After wiping the marble surround with a dry microfiber cloth, dip the cloth in warm distilled water. Wipe the damp cloth on an inconspicuous area of the marble surround to ensure the distilled water doesn’t have any minerals that can damage the marble.If the soot does not come off with the distilled water, try using a cleaner specifically designed for cleaning marble.
Here, the previous recipe gets tweaked to include the popular white engineered quartz countertops mentioned in the survey, white walls instead of gray and a paneled refrigerator to tone down the steel. The designer amped up what could have been a monochrome space by introducing glamorous brass finishes in the cabinet hardware, faucet, range detailing and light fixture. A rich stain on the wood floor warms the space even more.Your turn: Share the details of your kitchen remodel project and cost info in the Comments.See the full surveyMoreHomeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your KitchenHow to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any BudgetOther Resources on HouzzFind a kitchen designerBrowse kitchen products
Geographic DifferencesTalking budgets gets even more complicated when you factor in location. Materials and labor cost more in cities where demand is high and real estate is expensive, such as San Francisco, where kitchen remodel spending is the highest in the nation, according to a survey of the top 20 metro areas in the U.S. In San Francisco, homeowners spend $70,000, on average, on a major remodel of a kitchen 200 square feet or more, compared with $31,200 in Riverside, California. (A minor remodel of a large kitchen in these cities averages $35,400 and $22,200, respectively.)The average major remodel of a kitchen under 200 square feet in New York City was $29,200.
One of the cleverest aspects of this studio, though, is the rotating central element in the shelving unit. It swivels to allow the TV to be viewed from the living space or the sleeping area behind the unit.6 Clever Studios Make Multitasking Beautiful
Best of both worlds. Carpet? Wood floor? Why agonize over which option to go for in a bedroom when you can have the benefits of both by opting for an oversize rug. You’ll have the advantage of stepping out on a warm, soft surface in the morning, plus you’ll get the natural beauty a wood floor brings. Other benefits? There’s the small matter of soundproofing. The rug absorbs sound to muffle the pitter-patter of feet.Share: Did you opt for an oversize rug? Tell us about it or upload a photo in the Comments.MoreA Rug Can Make a Room — but What Kind to Choose?11 Area Rug Rules and How to Break ThemBrowse rugs
Don’t want to hide the entire wood floor? This custom supersize rug lets the floorboards shine too. If you’re having a design made, use masking tape to map out the ideal size and to make sure your furniture will fit on it.
Photo by Dean Zhu 2. Patchwork PowerDesigners: Dorothy Tsui and Kevin Chang of Bobeche InteriorsLocation: TorontoSize: 200 square feet (18.5 square meters)Homeowner’s request. After spending years in this condo townhome, the homeowners decided it was time to update the kitchen and dining area to better accommodate their growing family. They wanted to increase the size, natural light, storage, function and countertop space. Backsplash. Blue hexagonal patchwork ceramic tile with hand-painted Portuguese motifs. “The cabinetry and the rest of the room were neutral and modern, so we felt the backsplash should be a highlight for this kitchen,” designer Dorothy Tsui says. “It added a charming character to the kitchen. What made it work so well was, we also incorporated several pieces of solid white, which provided a visual resting spot. It allows the viewer to pause and see the gorgeous detail of this artistic tile.”
Cabinets. The company that made the existing cabinets was Keystone Millworks Inc., which Nelson already loved working with. They painted all of the existing the cabinets, provided the new oil-rubbed bronze hardware, added the columns to the island and custom-made the vent hood.Vent hood. The new wood hood and surround ties in with the cabinet profiles. “It really softens the space,” Nelson says. Countertops. The countertops are a light-colored quartz, which is durable and practical and complements the tile.Cabinet paint: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; hardware: Keystone MillworksSee why a designer chose white quartz for her kitchen counters
Photos by Jaclyn ColvilleMaster Bedroom at a GlanceWho uses the space: Jana and Jeff Garratt, the parents of four busy childrenLocation: Burlington, Ontario, CanadaSize: 234 square feet (22 square meters)Homeowners Jana and Jeff Garratt are the parents of two girls who dance competitively and two boys who play recreational hockey. “They wanted their master bedroom to be a serene and welcoming place,” Bennett says, “and a room that gives them a refuge from their on-the-go lifestyles.’’Wall paint: Aesthetic White, Sherwin-Williams; bed frame and headboard: custom by Karin Bennett Designs; bedding: Restoration Hardware; drapes: custom by Karin Bennett Designs
9. Colorful Kitchen CornerThis once-unused corner became a favorite spot in the house, thanks to this cheery banquette. Its style is India Meets New England — the colors and patterns were inspired by India, where the homeowners grew up, and the overall style (layout, lantern, traditional gallery wall) references its Massachusetts locale. Takeaway: Bright colors and good lighting in the kitchen truly can help you wake up and start your day right. Learn more about this kitchen renovation
Hutch. The hutch was part of the old kitchen. Glass doors for its upper cabinets help break up the color, ensuring it doesn’t look overly bold.Pendants: Schoolhouse Electric; browse pendant lights
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