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9. Two-tone cabinets. Throughout this article you can find many examples of two-tone cabinets, which feature upper and lower cabinets in different colors. Here’s a twist that takes the idea to another level: using two-tone doors on individual cabinets. For example, this breezy kitchen uses a single row of wood drawer fronts on otherwise white cabinets to get just a little touch of natural interest and a fun personality.
7. Gray. Is gray the new white? It’s hard to say for sure, but for those who like a light and airy look but are tired of white, a sumptuous gray or gray-beige is the next best thing.At first thought, you might expect gray to seem cold and off-putting. However, as you can see in these examples, a wide range of tones, from charcoal to clay to just-off-white, make an excellent complement to wood floors or shelves for a welcoming palette that feels anything but chilly.Read more about designing a gray and white kitchen
Metal mesh inserts are a great middle ground, giving a slight peek at what’s inside the cabinet but without putting your stored goods on full display.I’ve used mesh inserts instead of glass on many recent projects. It works beautifully in both traditional homes and contemporary designs with some transitional flair, bringing a slight sense of old-world charm.Consider using mesh inserts on the “upper-upper” cabinets in a tall space on a full pantry wall …
1. Seating nook. This is a classic way to make use of the space on a stair landing, particularly if there’s a spot in your home (or planned home) to build in a window seat, as shown in this photo. If your landing has additional space beyond what you need for the bench itself, you can add more features.
7. Laundry. If you’re one of those folks who prefer laundry on the floor level the bedrooms are on, a landing laundry closet could work well for you. In this photo, a stacked washer and dryer unit is built into a long closet at the top of the stairs. Sliding doors conceal it when it’s not in use. This is definitely something to remodel for, or to plan ahead for if you’re building a new home, as you’ll need to have the washer and dryer hookups and waterlines installed.Find a plumber near youMoreGot Stairs? Here’s How to Choose the Right Runner for YouThe Savvy Staircase: What to Do With the Space Below the Stairs
For example, in the landing at the end of the hallway pictured here, built-in cabinetry along with a banquette creates a cozy alcove. While the bench offers a place to sit and read, the shelves add a place to store and display books and photos. White panel molding completes the charming, built-in look.
Spice storage, pots and pans, and cooking utensils placed immediately around cooking equipment ensure convenient and intuitive access to the tools and staples you need in meal preparation. Personal preference determines whether you want to place these items in upper shelves or cabinets, as in the previous photo, or in drawers and pullout cabinets that are below eye level, as shown here. Either can work, so decide what is best for you and conforms to your design aesthetic.Find cabinet pros in your area
3. The Range CenterTwo configurations, a range or a cooktop with wall ovens, comprise the range center, where cooking food and preparation for serving takes place. Place these functions toward or near the dining room. Anything that involves the cooking process needs to be within the range center. Ovens with ample countertop space next to or closely across from them provide a spot to set down hot items quickly. In immediate and obvious proximity to the range center, put potholders and other items that aid in handling hot cookware. Also use this location to transfer cooked food to serving dishes. Plan to store platters, bowls and other equipment used to get food to the table around the range center.
Most people store drinking glasses in wall cabinets near the sink and dishwasher, which works well, but drawers designed to hold glassware offer another solution and can make access more convenient. In any case, maintain a location convenient to the sink and dishwasher for your glassware and everyday dishes.
2. The Sink Center The sink center should be between the refrigerator and the range center, or cooking area, for maximum efficiency. Since sinks get the most use and traffic of any spot in the kitchen, centrally located sinks and dishwashers work best. Plan to have the most uncluttered countertop space in the sink center. The area in and around sinks is used for food-preparation tasks involving cleaning and cutting, as well as washing and cleaning up after meals. Place trash and recycling containers strategically so that tidy disposal happens effortlessly.Storage at sink centers includes places for everyday flatware, dishes and glassware, as well as activities involving waste management, dishtowel placement and storage, cleaning supplies, polishing and drying.
After. The black-and-white ceramic tiles on the floor make a fun and fresh statement in the narrow space. Designer Susan Klimala of The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn then added in more black, white and gray features to keep the palette calm and inviting. The most dramatic change comes at the end of the room, where Klimala replaced the brown tub with a sleek white tub and sliding glass door. Wall paint: Solitude, Benjamin Moore; tile: Twenties Classic, Merola Tile, Home Depot; Damask vanity with rollout shelves and internal outlets: Kohler; mirrors: Levico, Restoration Hardware; sconces: Cafe Series, Gatco; faucets: Kelston, Kohler; bathtub: Bancroft, KohlerRead more about this bathroom remodel
After. A mellow blue and white palette for the walls and vanity complements the new shower tile and vanity countertop. Lynott had the contractor remove everything that existed in the space and found materials that gave her an elevated look for less. For example, she used porcelain tile in the shower instead of marble and used imitation marble tiles on the floor. Wall paint color: Woodlawn Blue HC-147, Benjamin Moore; vanity: Brook Haven, Presidio Raised, Wood-Mode; knobs: Atlas; toilet: Kohler; medicine cabinet: Robern; faucet: Devonshire widespread bathroom sink faucet, Kohler; sink: Devonshire undermount sink, KohlerRead more about this bathroom remodel
20. Dedicated broom closets. It takes a lot to keep a home looking clean: brooms, brushes, mops, dusters, Swiffers, cleaning supplies. And finding space to keep these things organized while always at the ready shouldn’t be an afterthought. That’s why homeowners are gravitating toward a dedicated broom closet or cabinet. Clever rollouts and design tactics that make use of slim spaces, such as the inches between the side of a fridge and a wall, can turn out highly functional storage units for cleaning tools. See more space-saving broom closets
11. Defining kitchens in open floor plans. Every time a bell rings, an interior wall gets knocked down. OK, maybe not that frequently but it seems like the open floor plan has dominated homes in recent years, and not all homeowners love it. And some are going the other way, seeking some sort of delineation of space, such as in the photo shown here. A half wall of cabinetry creates a semi-closed space between the kitchen and living room. See more semi-open kitchens
8. Concrete accents. Concrete has always been a popular material choice, but don’t be surprised to see it in more unexpected ways, such as in furniture, decorative accessories, wallcoverings, countertops and tile. “My clients are expressing a desire to use materials in unusual ways,” says designer and Houzz Contributor Jennifer Ott. “Concrete is as popular as ever, but it’s showing up in unexpected places such as in furniture, decorative accessories and even as concrete-look wallcoverings.” Designer Yanic Simard agrees. “The humble material and its comforting cool tones mixed with light linen and pearl grays add relaxed air to any space,” he says. And the concrete look is carrying over into other materials as well. The stoneware tiles shown here (Beton Chic from Ricchetti’s Manifattura del Duca range) mimic the texture of concrete and come in a variety of colors.
5. Dining tables in the kitchen. Not everyone is in favor of a big island, especially for eating family meals. Who wants to face the same direction all the time, as in a diner? Many homes, especially those with smaller kitchens, are reconsidering a traditional dining table in place of an island.Browse dining tables
3. More color in kitchens. White will always be a classic palette for kitchens, as the annual Houzz kitchen trends study continues to show. But its increased popularity means there’s going to be some all-white-kitchen fatigue as homeowners look for ways to personalize their space. So while white kitchens aren’t even close to going away, expect to see a rise in color for the kitchen, especially other neutrals like gray and blue. Plus, warm wood tones are becoming a popular replacement for painted cabinets, leading to sophisticated, rich palettes.3 Modern Kitchens That Rock Warm Wood Cabinets
However, made-to-order windows and doors don’t just mean direct replacement windows. There are some exceptionally cool accordion-style folding doors and massive sliders that, as you can probably guess, are manufactured on a case-by-case basis. Worth the wait? Definitely. But still, there is a long wait.
21. Year-round use in Kentucky. Even in the warm months, Amanda Hervey puts the fireplace in her family’s home to good use. She fills it with candles, and lines the mantel with green and clear bottles. Both create a fun space with lots of visual interest. The rest of the room isn’t lacking in visuals either. The patterns and shapes differ from one spot to the next, creating a playful energy. Read more about this farmhouse-inspired, fun-filled homeYour turn: Which fireside do you want to curl up next to? Tell us in the Comments!MoreFind Your Fireplace StyleHow to Remodel Your FireplaceDesign Debate: Is It OK to Hang the TV Over the Fireplace?
20. Turning a corner in Seattle. Rebecca West and Damian Konasiewicz replaced their original living room fireplace with a custom corner one. It used to be a dark brick color but now sports light-colored stone. These colors continue in the living room decor. Around the corner, they have a mantel made of natural rough-edge granite. Read more about this Seattle bungalow
15. Fireplace-turned-art in a Southern California beach house. Kelly Mack wanted the fireplace in her family’s home to look like art. During the remodel, they chose to cover the white brick surround with handmade turquoise, red and bronze ceramic tiles in a linear design. Above the fireplace, a framed piece of an opium bed hangs on the wall. Read more about this global-inspired beach home
3. Online finds in an enclosed Connecticut porch. Homeowner Ellen Allen designed the enclosed porch that surrounds her treasured custom-built fireplace. The room is full of handmade brick, granite and recycled barn wood. To complete the charming spot, Allen tracked down all the furnishings — the fireplace and mantel came from eBay. She finished off the wall with a garden planter from an antiques store, wildflowers from her garden and a commissioned mirror frame that she rusted with ammonia. Allen retreats to this porch after a dip in the hot tub. It’s one of her favorite things to do in the fall. Read more about this 1745 farmhouse
5. Out with the old and in with the new in California. The weight of the original fireplace was literally dragging down this Berkeley house, causing it to sag on one side.Homeowner Susan Berry turned to an architect and a civil engineer to fix the problem and design a new fireplace. The architect drew up a limestone fireplace to match the large scale of the living room. Once it was complete, an interior designer restyled the room with new furniture. Read more about this California home with boho flair
Laundry lockers. Here’s a clever idea from one of the year’s most popular laundry rooms, which is a multipurpose space that functions as a laundry room, entry drop zone, home office and place for storing sports gear. This solution won’t work for everyone, but with enough space, building in individual lockers can be a neat way to corral equipment for various children and their activities, including game time uniforms and gear. That way, dirty items can get dropped off here, cleaned, and stowed for the next game, all in one place. These lockers feature custom-built cabinetry and welded wire panels, according to Tim Brown Architecture. Of course, the feature that dominates the room is not the lockers but the metal slide.
If your budget is about $700: Get hampers, fresh paint and a new rug, and then swap out the lighting. Ample lighting is important when you’re trying to check laundry for stains and read labels, so pay attention to the recommended wattage of any light fixture you are considering — anything less than 75 watts may not shed enough light (especially if it’s the sole light source in the room).Get started: A guide to common light fixtures
If your budget is about $500: Get hampers, fresh paint and then a soft new rug. You’ll appreciate the dose of color as much as the softness underfoot. If moisture is a concern (for example, if your laundry room is in the basement), you may want to choose a sturdy indoor-outdoor rug.Get started: How to pick the right rug
19. It wouldn’t be hard to relax in this extra-deep hanging bed. Screened sides on the porch keep the breeze flowing and the bugs out.
15. In Palo Alto, California, a dark porch on a historic home gets a brightening lift with the light cushions of a hanging wood swing. The colorful pillows pull out the playful persimmon trim.
14. This screened porch features another take on the porch swing with a woven hammock. Hung at an angle, the swing provides a prime view of the backyard.Browse more hammocks on Houzz
12. Plush throw pillows and breezy curtains envelop this screened porch to create an intimate, comfy environment. Gas lanterns keep the party going when the sun goes down.
4. L.Bonadies General Contracting used reclaimed wood when fabricating this rustic porch swing in New York.
3. While this porch was built in the 18th century as a means of climate control in the hot, muggy South, it’s just as welcoming and inviting today.
2. The porch of this Florida vacation home features a custom hanging swing that also doubles as a place to sleep at night. The shutters and curtains can be closed, transforming the sunlit space into a cozy sleeping porch. The shutters and shades are by New Horizon Shutters and painted in French Quarter Green by Sherwin-Williams.
4. Go with a waterfall-edge countertop in an open floor plan. When you enter a kitchen that’s housed in its own room, you mostly approach — and view — the island from one side. But in an open plan with a great-room-style layout, you could be viewing the island from all sides. In these cases, consider adopting a waterfall-edge countertop, as was done with this rich walnut island, to give a bit of a peek at a design detail from any room.See more of this home
3. Embrace glass-fronted cabinets. The idea of open shelves or glass-fronted cabinets can turn off many homeowners. Why would I want people to see my disorganized stack of mismatched dishes? But if you’re going with a mostly white color scheme, it’s a great way to give yourself the option of adding a few hints of bolder colors. It’s much easier to swap in and out some colorful dishes here and there than to change, for example, a vibrant backsplash choice that you later come to regret. See more of this kitchen and house
1. Never underestimate the power of cabinet hardware and finishes. Cabinet knobs, pulls and handles might not seem like an exciting design decision in a kitchen. But they shouldn’t be overlooked. This compact 90-square-foot kitchen in Nantucket, Massachusetts, is a wonderful example of the power of hardware selection, especially when carefully coordinated with other finishes, in this case the faucet and gorgeous stove details. And if you look closely, even the outlet plate joins in on the jewelry-like adornment that amplifies what otherwise could be a boring, run-of-the-mill white kitchen. See more of this kitchen
2. Hardworking WallDesigners: Tom Wilcox of Wilcox Architecture and Ann Linck of Linck InteriorsLocation: Cincinnati, OhioSize: 50 square feet (4.6 square meters)Homeowners’ request: Relocate the laundry room from the basement to an unused space in the footprint of the large master bedroom and create adequate storage and drying areas.Special features: Stacked washer and dryer. Folding station. Hanging rod. Storage cabinets. Roll-out drying racks. Laundry basket storage below countertop. Graphic backsplash tile. Transom window for more daylight. Designer secret: “With all the natural light in the space, a dark wall color was used to provide contrast and complement the colors in the backsplash tile,” says designer Ann Linck. “Uh-oh” moment: “The room was originally designed with a side-by-side washer and dryer,” Linck says. “When it came time to lay out the cabinetry we realized that this did not allow enough usable storage for the homeowner. The switch to a stacked washer and dryer opened up the space, allowing for a better utilization of the square footage as well as more organization features that were important to the homeowner.”Avallon Navy tile: Cement Tile Shop; black soapston...
1. Niche and NeatDesigner: Nikki Maeda of Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Location: Portland, OregonSize: A 60-inch-wide niche Homeowners’ request: Recess plumbing connections so the side-by-side washer and dryer didn’t extend into the hallway, as the units had before. Then create cabinet doors to conceal the appliances and add storage cabinets and a folding counter. Special features: Custom cabinet with foldout doors that conceal a large-capacity washer and dryer. Stone-and-mirror mosaic wall tile backsplash. Exposed-wood ceiling. Upper cabinets. Designer secret: Recessed pulls accentuate the clean lines of the flat-panel cabinetry. Front-load washer and dryer, 24 inches, in white: Asko; Thermal Foil cabinets in white: Brentwood; contemporary metal recessed pulls in matte chrome finish: Richelieu; wall paint: White, Miller Paint See more of this home
1. Roll-out shelf. In this compact laundry room, a stackable washer and dryer left plenty of room for storage next to it. The extendable shelf can be pulled out as an ironing board base when needed. Designer Amy Storm says she designed the shelf so that her client could stash a small portable ironing board there and use the shelf as a base for the board. For quick touchups, she could also throw a towel on the shelf and iron an item on it.MoreKey Measurements for a Dream Laundry RoomGet More From a Multipurpose Laundry Room
5. Multipurpose. If you have the extra space, a laundry room is great for incorporating other functions, such as craft areas, work stations, message centers and more. That way you can double up on your productivity during a busy work and laundry day. This laundry room features a multiuse island for folding and gift-wrapping, with drawers, shelves and an open area for leg and knee space or a rolling laundry cart.
4. Custom drying rack. Designer Carly Visser created this laundry room for parents with two young kids. The space features custom drying racks specifically for baby clothes and small items, which can be laid across the bars to air-dry. If anything has to be hand-washed, the farmhouse sink next to the washer and dryer can be used.
6. Pet-washing station. A laundry room is a great place for including pet-friendly features, especially if your laundry area is by a back or side entrance. A pet-washing station like the one pictured here is handy for washing off mud, lake water or that mysterious smell. How to Install a Dog-Washing Station
7. Wheeled bins. The builders of this laundry room worked in ample counter space and large wheeled bins, which is a great way to protect your back from not having to bend and lift a heavy hamper. The wallpaper in this laundry brings an added dose of joy to the space while staying within a neutral color palette.
8. Colored cabinets. Interior designer Cynthia Soda designed this laundry room for her mother. “My mom said she wanted ‘an eclectic-modern-retro-vintage-cheerful laundry,’” Soda says. “I said, ‘Mom, that’s not a thing, those are just a bunch of words linked together,’ but I tried to hit each one of those words in the design.”Soda added some retro charm with light blue cabinets covered in Benjamin Moore’s Gossamer Blue and a vintage-inspired light fixture.
10. Air-dry. Even with ventilation, laundry rooms can get pretty stuffy. This San Francisco space gets around that with a Dutch door to let in breezes and views. While this room does include a dryer, taking some pieces out early to air-dry saves energy and provides a natural freshness that dryer sheets can’t quite copy.
Growing in a greenhouse gives you more options for when you start your seeds or set out seedlings. You can set out seedlings for many of these edibles at any time. You can also start seeds at any time and will need to do so for beets, carrots and radishes, which don’t transplant well. Your one concern will be keeping the soil temperature warm enough that the seeds will germinate. You may need to use a germination mat to warm things up. Be sure to keep an eye on daytime temperatures for the best results. Temperatures can go lower at night, but some of these will not do well if nighttime temperatures dip below freezing.All of these grow well in containers — anything from shallow flats to deeper containers, depending on their growing needs. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you can also build garden beds inside your greenhouse.
36. This large door is doing triple duty for the holidays.
30. Red berries and a poinsettia flourish mark this potting shed’s simple plank door.
21. A log cabin home got musical with its wreath, with a violin in the center hitting just the right note.
20. Extra wreaths flank the front door around the light fixtures.
18. This entry shot gives us live-action snow.
7. Double doors deserve twin wreaths.
1. A green swag and a wreath play off this icy blue door beautifully, while copper on the lights, mailbox and pediment are warm touches.
This kitchen, for example, uses crisp white traditional drawer and door fronts on the lower cabinets and flat, glossy upper doors in a coordinating taupe-hued off-white for a disparate style that comes together beautifully.Find kitchen designers near you
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