When the mercury rises, houses without air conditioning can get stuffy and uncomfortable, making it difficult to relax, eat or sleep. Even if you have air conditioning, you may want to save energy and use it sparingly. Try these tricks to cool down your rooms during summer. 1. Blow Cold Air With a Fan If…
Read More“How much storage space do I need?” The trick is to assess what you own and decide how you will store it for convenient access. Carefully consider this challenge because poorly organized spaces often become daily irritations, impeding the pleasure of being at home. Kitchens top the list of rooms in which you need to get…
Read MoreOne of the ways you as a home professional can attract new clients is to showcase your work with appealing photography. David Duncan Livingston, a top interiors and architectural photographer based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has years of experience photographing high-end residential spaces for design pros. Livingston shares his tips on how to shoot…
Read MoreDesigners love powder rooms. That’s because these small, intimate spaces offer an opportunity to incorporate a surprising color or pattern that might not work for the rest of the home. Here, designers share the adventurous details they included in six new powder rooms. 1. Bamboo Wallpaper and Green Tile Designer: Laura Irion and Laura Peacock of Laura…
Read MoreBuilt-in bookshelves, saturated color schemes and plump armchairs create cozy spaces made for enjoying books. Searches for “book nook” are up 69% this year, while searches for “reading corner” increased 45%. Whether you have so many books you need a rolling library ladder or you simply crave a place to relax with a good novel,…
Read MoreFind out which option is the ideal partner for your shower-bath combo. If you don’t have the space (or budget) for a separate shower enclosure and bath, you’ve probably decided on a combined shower-bath. But should you go with a shower curtain, or choose a glass shower door or panels to enclose it? Some of…
Read MoreListening carefully, not overpromising and being transparent with homeowners can help your projects run more smoothly. Trust is important in any professional relationship. Home remodeling pros need the trust of their clients to work effectively and complete standout renovation projects. And without good working relationships, issues are harder to resolve and miscommunications can turn into…
Read MoreTo recharge your batteries, think about what you want to do, not what you have to do, during your precious respite. So often we look forward to the weekend, but once it arrives, it gets swallowed up by errands and chores — and before we know it, it’s over. That hardly seems fair! If you’re…
Read MoreA client’s budget and their perception of the value your firm offers can have a huge impact on whether they hire you — and it can affect your professional relationship as the project progresses. That’s why it pays to follow these simple steps to make sure your customers have faith in your pricing and feel…
Read MoreThe dog days of summer are upon us. With intense sunlight streaming over our gardens, we’re reminded of just how brutal it can be in the heat. The tricky part is that spots in the garden that are hot now may be less so at different times of the year. Good landscape design understands these…
Read MoreA family’s yard in Southern California was due for an update. Principal designer Sacha McCrae helped them add curb appeal with plants, pathways and an inviting sitting area in the front yard of their corner lot. McCrae describes her clients as warm, lovely and friendly, so it makes sense that they wanted a yard that…
Read MoreAdding storage components to an entry can help corral items before they clutter up a home. Including lively color and pattern can help set the mood for the rest of the home. You’ll find great examples of both approaches in these stylish mudrooms. 1. Blue-Green Cabinets and Handmade Tile Flooring Designer: Dana Bass Designs Location: Plano, Texas…
Read MoreFrom the first days, which probably still feel like summer, to the last, when you may notice that first chill in the air, September is a time of transition. Get your home ready for the season ahead by ticking off these to-dos, from adding cozy layers to scheduling necessary maintenance — and then curl up in…
Read MoreA bathroom wet room combines a separate shower and a tub in the same area, allowing water from either element to be contained in one location, often behind a glass enclosure. This setup looks great and can save space and improve accessibility for people with mobility issues. For ideas on layouts and style, check out…
Read MoreThere are many areas of a home where you can place a laundry room, such as in a basement, entryway or mudroom. Or off a hallway or in its own dedicated room. You’ll find plenty of inspiration for those setups, plus ideas for outfitting your space with functionality and style, in this countdown of the…
Read MoreThe popularity of terrazzo flooring peaked in the 1950s and 1960s as an economical option for slab construction houses in quickly developing Sunbelt states. But this versatile, durable, customizable and easy-to-maintain material deserves its second act. Terrazzo is made of chips of marble or other aggregates suspended in a binder. It was created by 15th-century…
Read MoreWhether you’re setting up house for the first time or you just hope to streamline your setup, this guide to creating a welcoming front porch is a good place to begin. It helps to start with a clean slate, so when the weather permits, consider thoroughly tidying your porch as step one. Dust off cobwebs,…
Read MoreCould that junk drawer in the kitchen be put to better use? In this episode of Houzz TV, watch as kitchen organizer Wiebke Liu, founder of Blisshaus in Oakland, California, turns a cluttered junk drawer into an organized spice collection. In four steps, you’ll go from mess to masterpiece, and your family might find a…
Read MoreCountertops often account for a significant amount of surface area in a kitchen. So in addition to providing workspace, countertops also have an important effect on how a kitchen looks. Here, design and remodeling pros share details about various countertop materials, colors and pairings they used to bring durable work surfaces with style to eight…
Read MoreConsider your space, entertaining style and outdoor living needs when determining your outdoor kitchen’s configuration. You’re ready to take your outdoor space to the next level with an outdoor kitchen. You’ve researched grills and amenities and know what features are on your “must have” list. But before you begin buying and building, it’s important to…
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