The outlook for the global and domestic macroeconomic environment has been clouded over the past week by rising geopolitical tensions in Eurasia. In addition, rising inflation and faltering mortgage applications have added to the turbulence of U.S. financial markets. However, despite these challenges, California’s broader economy and its housing market are showing strength thus far in the face of rising headwinds. Home sales continue to exceed the pre-pandemic average, the market remains incredibly competitive, and active listings have finally tarted to rise in earnest in advance of the Spring home buying season. We even had a brief reprieve on interest rates last week. There’s no question that uncertainty has risen over the past 10 days, but the housing market continues to outperform expectations nonetheless.
Active Listings Statewide Trending Up After Long Winter
After falling in absolute terms for 14 of the preceding 15 weeks leading into the new year, active listings have been rising in California in 7 out of the first 8 weeks of 2022. Last week, the total number of actives rose above 20,000 for the first time since Christmas and are approaching levels seen at the beginning of March 2021. If the trend continues, listings could rise on a year-to-year basis for the first time in more than two years in March, which will provide much needed inventory to potential home buyers.
California Existing Home Sales Hold Up Despite Higher Rates
Despite the rapid rise in interest rates so far this year, existing home sales continue to hold up well. In fact, the first 4 weeks of February saw more homes close in California than during the same 4 weeks in January. Given that January’s pace of sales was still roughly 5% above pre-pandemic levels, this suggests broader resiliency for the market. Sales are still down on a year-to-year basis from the nearly 15-year highs where the market began 2021, but maintaining or exceeding last month’s level despite higher rates and still-depressed inventory levels is an encouraging sign that buyer demand remains relatively robust.
Mortgage Interest Rates Take a Breather Last Week
After rising precipitously during the first 6 weeks of 2022, the average 30-year fixed rate mortgage ticked down by 3 basis points in the latest Freddie Mac survey. This is only the second time in the past 10 weeks where rates have ebbed, and although the reprieve is expected to be temporary, it is welcome news for home buyers looking to lock in current rates before they resume their uptrend. Fortunately, 10-year Treasuries also saw a small reduction in rates last week and with mortgage spreads having increased sharply since the uptrend began, the mortgage market may see rates climb more slowly when they do begin to rise—especially in light of the geopolitical issues discussed in more detail below.
Home Sellers Taking Property Tax Base with Them
Although official statistics from the State Board of Equalization and from individual county assessors is not expected to be available for some time, there are some preliminary indications that some homeowners are taking advantage of recently enacted changes to move to a new home without losing their Proposition 13-protected property tax base on their current home. A survey of more than 800 California REALTORS® conducted late last year showed roughly 30% had worked with a seller who has or will transfer their property tax base to another home. For nearly 1 out of 4 of those, the ability to transfer their property tax base was the motivating factor in the sale, which suggests that property tax portability could help to unlock some additional inventory in 2022.
Global Tensions a Double-Edged Sword for Economy
The recent conflict developing between Russia and the Ukraine will introduce competing economic and housing market impacts in the weeks and months ahead. On the downside, this will introduce more inflationary pressures as global oil supplies from Russia are impacted by sanctions. Increased financial market volatility is likely as well, which could introduce macroeconomic headwinds as consumer pull back from lost wealth and rising prices. On the other hand, global turmoil will likely increase demand for U.S. dollars and for U.S. Treasuries, which could alleviate some of the recent upward pressure on interest rates and could result in less domestic inflationary pressures.
Need help navigating today’s housing market? Call or email us today, we can help!
Consider these 6 cleaning tips for maintaining your stainless steel appliances and surfaces!
Stainless steel is a beautiful finish, but to keep it looking its best, especially if you have a family of little ones, can be a big job. Here are a few quick cleaning tips to help you keep your stainless steel gleaming.
1. Remove Knobs for a Complete Clean
When cleaning yourstainless steel range and oven, remember to remove the control knobs to reach hidden dirt and grime. Just cleaning around knobs can cause a buildup that’s unsanitary and hard to remove.
2. Stainless Steel Handles Need Extra Attention
Since the handles on your stainless steel appliances are used the most, they should be wiped down weekly with a damp microfiber cloths. Fine-woven microfiber cloths, such as the ones used for cleaning eyeglasses, can be found at retail chains and grocery stores. They work great to remove dust and don’t leave any streaks or smears. There’s no need for harsh chemicals to clean your stainless steel appliances and surfaces.
3. Fight Oxidization
Stainless steel oxidizes over time. To remove this film, you can use pumice powdermixed with water. Pumice powder can be found online and at most hardware stores. Apply this paste following the “grain” of the stainless steel then rinse with warm water. You will be surprised to see how black the cloth is when you finish.
4. Clean Those Countertops
Stainless steel countertops are the choice of professional kitchens because they are designed to hold up to constant abuse.
To keep them looking clean and shiny, you want to avoid using an abrasive cleanser. Instead, try using just a drop of a gentle dish soap and warm water. This mixture will keep your counters clean and scratch free.
5. Give Your Hood a Helping Hand
Stainless steel stove hoods need to be cleaned weekly to prevent a buildup of grease and dust. Cooking grease mixes with dust in the air and lands on the stove hood, making it thick and hard to remove. A simple cleaning remedy is to spray a cloth with rubbing alcohol and wipe it over the top of the hood. Make sure not to use the rubbing alcohol near an open flame.
6. Banish Burn Marks
If you have some burn marks that just won’t come off your stainless steel stove, try this simple DIY recipe:
1 cup baking soda
¼ cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons Borax
Club soda (for rinsing)
Combine the first three ingredients to make a cleaning paste. Apply this paste to the entire stained area with a soft cloth. Scrub in the same direction as the grain of the stainless steel. Rinse with club soda and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
This article was originally published on houzz.com.
Artificial trees may have increased in popularity, but for the purist, only a real tree will do. No matter how realistic it looks, an artificial tree can’t compete with the scent and feel of a real evergreen. It’s a living part of nature that, for a short time, we give a place of honor in our homes.
And no matter which kind of tree it is — spruce, fir, pine or cypress — once it’s indoors, the goal is to keep the tree fresh and green. This means keeping the needles pliable and on the tree until the holidays are over. And the only thing that does that is water, lots of it, every day.
Get the Tree in Water Immediately
Once you get your tree home, put it into water as soon as possible, within eight hours. If the trunk wasn’t freshly cut at the place where you bought the tree, then saw an inch or two off the bottom of the trunk and put it in a tree stand filled with fresh water. If you’re not ready to set it up, put it in a bucket of water in a cool place. The water temperature doesn’t matter.
Use the Right Stand
It should comfortably fit the diameter of the trunk. Whittling the trunk down will only dry the tree out faster. The National Christmas Tree Association recommends that a tree stand should provide 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. Be sure the tree stand you choose has a large water reservoir. A tree can take up a gallon of water in its first few hours in the stand.
Water, Water, Water
Big trees mean lots of agua. Watch that the cut part of the trunk stays below the waterline. Adding aspirin, lemon soda or other concoctions to the water won’t extend the tree’s life, but it might sicken pets or children if they drink out of the water reservoir.
Once indoors, a live tree’s branches will relax and open. Allow enough space when siting the tree for the lowest branches to fall open and not get in the way of foot traffic.
Keep the Tree Cool
To an evergreen that spent years growing in a field, your house is as dry as the Sahara Desert. Position the tree out of the sun and away from heat sources. Keep the temperature in the room as low as is practical.
As magical as it seems to come home to a sparkling tree, don’t leave the tree’s lights on overnight or when no one’s in the house.
Even with daily watering, cut trees will eventually dry out. When needles drop when you touch them, and branches droop so low that ornaments are hitting the floor, it’s time to take off the lights and decorations, wrap the tree in an old sheet, and take it outside.
You can saw off some of the tree’s branches and cover garden beds with them to protect plants, or turn them into mulch with a chipper or shredder. If you have the acreage, drag the tree to an out-of-the-way spot for birds and animals to use as cover. Most communities now collect spent Christmas trees and make mulch or compost from them, which they offer back to residents. The saddest end for a tree is for it to be hauled off to a landfill, instead of being turned back into soil — allowed to decompose and feed living creatures, the way nature intended.
This article was originally published on houzz.com.
As the holiday season approaches, you may be considering a dining room refresh — so it’s a good time to gather some design inspiration. Whether you’re looking to create something bold and showy or casual and comfortable, start with this countdown of the most-saved dining room photos of summer 2021.
10. In Contrast Beautiful palm leaves add a touch of nature to this transitional dining room in San Diego. Live Interiors leaned on a white-and-black palette for high-contrast drama, and used midtone wood chairs and a textured wood sideboard to provide visual warmth. A Sputnik-inspired chandelier adds a retro detail above the chunky black tabletop, while a geometric gray-and-white rug adds texture below.
9. Multiuse Nook EKAA Studio added a multiuse wallpapered nook in this contemporary dining room in India, which has overhead cabinets, a wood bench and glass shelving for dinnerware and decor. White-and-gray marble flooring anchors light wood chairs with fabric cushions around a wood-and-white table. A jewelry-like chandelier with five gold rings descends from a recess in the ceiling.
8. Traditional Meets Rustic A crisscross white tray ceiling and wall moldings at different heights add layers of texture to this Charlotte, North Carolina, dining room by Pike Properties. The juxtaposition of hard and soft carries through to the rustic gray wood table and traditional chairs in a pale neutral color. A large patterned rug with an abstract design in shades of blue pools below the furnishings. A six-light chandelier with white shades and gold accents adds an elegant touch.
7. Easy Breezy
Situated between an outdoor pool area and a kitchen is this breezy Florida dining room full of wood, metal and glass details. Emcy Interior Design added two Windsor-style chairs to the ends of a wood picnic table with benches to create a setup with character and charm. Minimalist lights with exposed bulbs that point in different directions hang from a whitewashed paneled ceiling. And close by, glass-and-wood built-ins store wineglasses, serving bowls, charcuterie boards and books.
6. Bubble Up
Haus Love Interiors hung a frosted bubble chandelier in the middle of this contemporary Indiana dining room to make an impactful design statement. Black window frames provide contrast to the muted notes of the light-colored walls, beige curtains and light wood table and accents. A winding wall mirror adds to the room’s sophisticated aesthetic.
5. Down by the Bay
This space’s large bay window with built-in seating is perfect for enjoying nature views or as extra seating for entertaining. J.P. Hoffman Design Build gave this Westwood, Massachusetts, dining room a solid wood table in the center of the room, tons of pillows and six high-back upholstered chairs to make it feel comfortable. A large chandelier in a light metal finish sits low above the table without obstructing views or encroaching on dinnertime conversations.
4. Green Scene
Green is predicted to be a popular color in 2022. And this earthy Coral Gables, Florida, dining room by True Designs is a good example of why. A green accent wall and windows capturing leafy surroundings create a welcoming atmosphere. A wood floor, sideboard table and chairs adds to the forest-like feel, satisfying the homeowners’ love of nature. Meanwhile, gold in the chandelier, art frames and curtain rod complements the wood tones and brings in a contemporary touch.
3. Bold Appétit
Dark wood flooring, black walls and a black-and-white stencil-like ceiling create a dramatic look in this Atlanta dining room by Pineapple House Interior Design. Black wingback chairs amp up the mood. Crisp white wall paneling and molding help break up the dark walls and add contrast. French country-style wood chairs, green accents and a beaded chandelier give this space eclectic elegance.
2. Natural Fibers
Pure Salt Interiors emphasized natural textures in this Orange County, California, dining area, using plenty of plant fibers and wood. A large round table with five Wishbone-style chairs and an oversize rope pendant light are front and center. A muted backdrop of white walls and curtains, dark stone countertops and pulls, glass cabinets and a sliding glass door bring balance and light to this laid-back dining space.
1. Wood Slab
Rich colors, materials and details come together in this Fort Lauderdale, Florida, dining room by DKOR Interiors. A serving area features a white marble countertop, backed by a stunning accent wall with deep blue tile set in a herringbone pattern. The tile also runs behind a recessed display area that holds plants, decor and cocktail items. Ceiling lights illuminate an abstract triptych hung on textured wallpaper, while two midcentury modern chandeliers hang over a natural wood slab table that can seat eight. An area rug with saturated blues, grays and browns ties all the room’s colors together.
This article was originally published at houzz.com
The combination of wood and white brings beautiful contrast to a kitchen. The natural look and feel of wood cabinets adds warmth, and mixing in bright shades of white creates a fresh, balanced look. Check out these before-and-after photos to see how pros designed three luminous kitchens with wood and white leading the way. Then let us know in the Comments which one you think had the biggest transformation.
1. Wood and White in the Light
Before: An active family of five in New Jersey had been making good use of their existing kitchen, but it had issues. The homeowners desperately needed to replace a bare plywood panel on the dishwasher that was being used as a temporary fix. Upper cabinets were crowding the window above the sink, contributing to a lack of adequate lighting. There was insufficient counter space due to the layout. A small granite-topped island with seating for three didn’t function well for the family, and the uneven heights of the upper cabinets didn’t look good.
The couple hired interior designer Ioana Curovic to remodel their kitchen. After browsing photos on Houzz for inspiration, they decided they wanted a bright room with wood and white surfaces, clear lines and better flow.
After: Curovic pushed the kitchen 5 feet into the backyard to create an additional 80 square feet. This let her bring in a more robust island with seating for four and incorporate a large three-pane window to flood the room with natural light. The new sink wall has a more open feel with no overhead cabinets, matte paint (Winter White by Benjamin Moore) and a hidden wood-paneled dishwasher.
Shaker-style white oak cabinets painted white and a modern white tile backsplash with bright white grout focus the eye on the oak-lined vent hood and custom gas cooktop wrapped in the same white quartz as the countertops. “A lot of the inspiration photos from the client included white with wood accents, which bring some nice warmth to the space,” Curovic says.
Stained red oak flooring throughout the kitchen and backless oak wood stools with iron bases help give the room new character. The upper cabinets and modern kitchen accessories add to the wood-and-white motif without adding clutter.
2. Wood, White and Blue
Before: Having lived in their Colonial-style Massachusetts home since 2000, these homeowners felt it was time to give their kitchen a new look. The couple hired designer Amanda Ortendahl and Maynard Construction to complete their kitchen remodel, including dealing with the overwhelming amount of wood cabinets and wasted floor space.
A ceiling soffit was causing the upper cabinets to sit low, leaving less space for the tile backsplash and food prep. Dark granite countertops that nearly circled the kitchen gave the room a heaviness. A peninsula with overhead glass-front cabinets separated the kitchen and formal dining area.
“I definitely think the layout before was functional for [the female homeowner], but they wanted to enlarge the kitchen, update the style and gain the functionality of all the accessory options you can get in cabinetry today,” Ortendahl says.
After: The design team started by stripping the kitchen down to its bare bones and removing the ceiling soffit. Ortendahl pushed the kitchen wall out 2 feet into the backyard and axed the peninsula and overhead cabinets. The additional 200 square feet allowed for a fluid U-shaped layout with an 11-foot walnut island topped with white quartz. Creamy white cabinets and a contoured walnut range hood set the tone for this wood-and-white kitchen.
Navy stools with gold legs as well as blue knobs on the stainless steel range add splashes of elegant color to the white countertops and rich walnut surfaces. The wood floors were refinished in a lighter color to add to the kitchen’s new look and feel.
“She wanted the opposite of the wood cabinets she had before — to keep things light but bring in the wood tones of the hood, island and floor for some warmth,” Ortendahl says.
3. White with Rustic Wood Touches
Before: Seventeen years ago, when Todd and Tina Gifford were ready to transform their muddy brown kitchen, life and young children got in the way. Once the kids were grown up and out of the house, the couple hired designer Gina Loewer to give the space a new wood-and-white look.
Honey-brown floors that nearly matched the oak cabinets, along with laminate countertops and an aging cooktop on a narrow island, defined the old kitchen. A large desk area and a protruding fridge that hindered kitchen traffic became daily sources of inconvenience. “The kitchen just felt drab,” Loewer says. “It was enclosed, compartmentalized, and the aisleways were tight.”
After: Loewer started by opening up the back wall to expose a hidden dining room, adding 24 square feet and more natural light to the kitchen. Greige walls and maple cabinets, ceiling and trim in various shades of white brighten the space. A larger island with a hickory base, white quartz top and wood stools adds rustic charm.
The old honey-hued floors were refinished to complement the new island and decorative hickory beam. A stainless steel hood, range, soda fridge and double ovens provide a nice contrast to the neutral colors of the kitchen. A covered fridge that moved to a new wall maintains the design’s crisp white surfaces and black hardware.
This article was originally published at houzz.com
“Open-plan layout” is a generic term used in interior design and architecture for any floor plan that makes use of large, open spaces and minimizes the use of small, enclosed rooms. They are, for the most part, free of interior walls or partitions. Open floor plans became popular in the 1970s, but over the past year, as people have been isolated at home, all that openness is causing some to reconsider. It turns out those walls, partitions and other barriers are useful for minimizing noise and giving a visual and physical sense of privacy. Here are 15 ways you can create that separation in an open floor plan.
1. Arrange the Furniture
This is definitely the place to start when it comes to defining zones for your interior, and it likely won’t cost you a thing.
Turning the backs of chairs and sofas to the rest of a space is an immediate way to signal a separate area. Rearranging your furniture to carefully create cordoned intimate sections may be the most powerful tip for redefining an open layout.
For example, if your living room is alongside your dining room, make sure your sofa has its back to the table or that your chairs are facing the fireplace, like in the space shown here. This will create a notion of separateness.
Having textured portions of wall, like the dramatic stone fireplace here, also helps visually signal different areas.
Adding surfaces behind furniture zones can also create a barrier. A console table behind a sofa, like shown here, is a nice way to add height and definition.
The more height you add to your console table in terms of accessories and items you place on the surface, the more of a visual barrier you’ll create. Consider tall vases, high stacks of books and table lamps.
2. Add an Area Rug
Another strong way to create a visually distinct area is through the placement of rugs on floor surfaces. They also enhance your decor and add softness to the overall space. Rugs are also great for absorbing noise, which is helpful when multiple activities are happening in one space.
Be sure you select a rug that is the appropriate size. It should at least fit the main piece of furniture, such as a sofa, on it.
If you’re unsure on what style of rug to go for, my recommendation would be a bold pop of color to really define the zone and give it a radically different personality.
3. Introduce a Folding Screen
One low-commitment way to divide a space is with a decorative folding screen. These vertical barrier pieces can also inject pattern and color into a room. And they can be easily moved around to other areas of the home or taken out completely when you’re ready for a full open floor plan again.
Notice how the screen here creates an intimate seating area while adding color and pattern. The striking light fixture carries weight and also helps define this space. At night, the light will punctuate the zone even more.
4. Accent the Ceiling
Sometimes the best ideas come from above. The inset ceiling in this living room is dressed in wallpaper and finished with multiple bulb lights. This feature stylishly characterizes the sitting area.
For a more subtle but still effective approach, consider enhancing a ceiling with paint or molding
5. Use a Bookcase
I love the idea of using an open bookcase to separate areas because it serves double duty: division and storage. Be cautious how you dress the shelves, though. I highly recommend that you do not stuff your bookcase to the gills. Leave some open space to allow brightness to filter through and highlight the objects.
Also, choose a high-quality, sturdy unit. This is not a piece to skimp on because you do not want this unit to tip over. You should always anchor and secure a freestanding unit that you’re using between spaces. Or, as in the example shown here, the bookcase unit is attached to the ceiling above and a pony wall below, ensuring it stays in place.
You could also consider a solid bookcase, which will create a more definitive separation. In that option, you could place two bookcases back to back, so you have storage on both sides or hang art on the back of one bookcase.
6. Put In Drapery
Curtains can go far beyond just dressing your windows. They can make a plush room divider too. It’s a look that will create softness and enhance a room’s ambiance. But because there’s no standard size curtain and rod for a room application, going custom is probably the best route.
7. Install a Decorative Divider
A stylish fixed screen divider is an elegant way to break up a room. It can also add an arty feature to your space. Consider your surrounding design and architectural elements when selecting the pattern, color and material for a fixed screen. You want it to feel intentional, as if the divider was always part of the space rather than an afterthought.
Here, classic midcentury modern-style breeze blocks coordinate with the Eames-style dowel leg chairs and other midcentury-inspired details.
8. Incorporate Plants
A large leafy green tree can add a lively optical barrier. The ficus tree in this home in Austin, Texas, helps separate a living area from a dining spot. Also, notice how the homeowners painted a single wall on the left a different color than the other walls to signify a transition space.
9. Put Up a Glass Partition
A glass partition helps block noise while letting light pass between spaces. If you want to obscure the view to further separate rooms, consider etched or textured glass.
10. Build a Wall
It might seem counterintuitive to put up a wall where one was previously taken down or add one to a new-build home intended to be open, but sometimes you have to be honest about how you use your home and what your needs are.
And you don’t have to add a full wall. Sometimes a pony wall or a partition wall like the orange one shown here that stops just short of the ceiling is enough. Plus, a simple non-load-bearing wall made with two-by-fours and drywall is relatively easy to put up and take down.
11. Take It to the Next Level
Changing the level of a room or creating a sunken room is a method that will definitively separate spaces within an open layout. A level change down from a main floor area can offer increased headroom and a feeling of spaciousness. A level change up will create a more intimate space.
Keep in mind that level changes in homes can be difficult to navigate for people with mobility issues, so always consider handrails or other support structures.
12. Create a Kitchen Island
If your kitchen feels too open to surrounding rooms, like if you’re trying to cook and guests or family members keep coming in and getting in the way, investing in an island could be right for you.
An island forms a barrier that keeps people on one side and the chef on the other. It also visually denotes the separation of spaces. Counter stools will further highlight the boundary point, but also consider placing a small beverage fridge on the outer side or end to let guests grab a drink without needing to come fully into the kitchen to the main fridge and potentially get in the way of the cook.
For a less permanent option, consider an island on casters that can be locked or unlocked, allowing you to push the piece out of the way to create a more open feel as needed.
13. Design an Artsy Feature
If you lack wall space to hang artwork because of an abundance of windows (not a bad problem to have), consider creating, or hiring an artist to create, an art installation that separates rooms.
In this Montana home, an installation of what appears to be birch trees and trunks cordons off the dining area from the living room. Also, notice how the level change defines the spaces, as does the large light fixture over the dining table.
14. Incorporate Sliding Panels
Sliding doors are popular for fully opening up interiors to outdoor spaces, but the concept can just as easily be applied to interior spaces.
In this San Francisco home, sliding panels can completely shut off or open up a workspace to the main living areas.
For this arrangement, you need bulkheads or another system for supporting the tracks from which the panels hang. If tracks are going in the floor, that’s something that will require extra thought and planning. Also, keep in mind that some setups might be more difficult to clean than others, so it’s worth doing your homework. If the panels permanently overlap, for example, it can be hard to clean the space between them. If the tracks are on the floor, dirt and other debris can settle in the nooks.
15. Construct a Two-Sided Fireplace
A two-sided fireplace is perhaps the coziest and most inviting option of the bunch. Fireplaces always create a striking focal point, and a two-sided option has the advantage of distributing heat and ambiance more evenly to two areas than if it was against one wall at the end of a large open room.
You can also consider bio-ethanol or electric options that don’t require a chimney.
This article was originally published on houzz.com.
With some smart planning, small outdoor spaces can easily be transformed into beautiful, productive fruit and veggie gardens. Come take a look at 10 inviting edible gardens tucked into front yards, side yards, decks and balconies that show how you can really do a lot with modest square footage.
1. Front Yard Beds
Sitting pretty outside a Cape Cod-style cottage in Wellesley, Massachusetts, a pair of raised beds filled with frilly lettuce heads, broccoli and tomatoes look just as ornamental as more traditional flowers beds. While we usually think of placing kitchen gardens in the backyard, a sunny front yard can also be a great spot for growing fruits and veggies, and can also help maximize space in smaller lots.
2. Stock Tank for Crops
Galvanized metal stock tanks provide small-space kitchen gardens a deep soil reservoir for planting. This opens up growing options for larger-scale crops like artichokes, indeterminate tomatoes or dwarf fruit trees and allows for more layered planting in a single container. In this Oakland, California, backyard, a stock tanks holds tomatoes, mixed herbs and strawberries.
3. Contained Kitchen Garden
Measuring just 12 by 13 feet, this veggie garden in Newton, Massachusetts, is a great size for having plenty of produce without too much maintenance. The owners circled the veggie garden with a 4-foot-tall fence made of hardware cloth stretched between cedar posts, and they planted the raised beds with tomatoes, broccoli, beans, herbs and flowers.
4. Edible “Room Divider”
Even though most of the square footage of this 540-square-foot urban backyard in Seattle is taken up by a raised deck and lower fire pit, the landscape architect came up with a smart way to carve out growing space for seasonal veggies and herbs. A series of triangular raised beds act as an outdoor room divider and ease the grade change between the deck and the lower fire pit area.
5. Classic Raised Beds
A pair of 8-by-4-foot raised beds tucked into the backyard of a 1950s beach cottage in Manhattan Beach, California, grows supplemental veggies and herbs for a family of four. “We grow everything from tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, peas and even corn,” says homeowner Julie McMahon. The raised beds are hooked up to a drip irrigation system set on a timer to help cut down on maintenance and ensure consistent watering.
6. Mixed Veggies and Flowers
Crops and seasonal flowers grow side by side in this English gravel garden punctuated by small raised beds and in-ground planting beds. The flowers stand out like islands of color and attract beneficial pollinators to the veggies.
7. Window Box Edibles
Proving that no space is too small for veggies, this window box on a Northern California balcony is filled with bush beans and pollinator-attracting flowers.
8. Front Yard Farm
Chunky stone raised beds march down a slope in this front yard in Portland, Oregon. Bursting with foliage, including multicolored lettuces, mustard greens, collards, kale and peas twining up a trellis, the beds are as decorative as ornamental landscaping and offer more reward for the effort.
Note: Not all municipalities allow for planting veggies in the front yard. Check before planting, and always keep your plot neat.
9. Vertical Veggies
A vertical planting system edging a deck in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood offers a solution for planting in a small space. The four-tiered system provides planting pockets for a mix of herbs, edible greens and perennial flowers. The combination makes a lush, green backdrop that acts as a stunning focal point of the deck.
10. Multilevel Raised Beds
Incorporating a split-level system in raised beds makes for a more dynamic design in a small space by introducing more height variation. Use the different levels to corral crops based on mature heights — planting tall vegetables like tomatoes and corn to the back of the double-height bed where they will benefit from a larger soil reservoir. Plant lower-growing crops like lettuces and herbs in the lower front raised beds.
This article was originally published on houzz.com
Color preferences vary as much as personalities. Some folks love the bright and the bold, while others feel most secure surrounded by neutrals. The good news is that when it comes to color, there really is no “correct” palette.
That said, we’ve all been inside homes where an explosion of color created a choppy feel between rooms — and sometimes, the urge to run. A great way to avoid this result is to hire a designer or color consultant, either to guide your entire remodeling or decorating project or simply to advise you on the best colors for your spaces. We asked pros to share their tips for creating a cohesive flow of color throughout a home. Read on to find out what they said.
1. Pick a Flow-Through Paint
One simple way to create a cohesive feel is to use a consistent paint color on the walls of connecting spaces. “Particularly in homes that have more of an open floor plan, it’s best to choose one color that is going to serve as your main color or your neutral,” says Kelly Porter, an interior designer based in Washington, D.C. “That doesn’t mean it has to be beige or white or gray. But the foyer, the hallways and that main connector room should all be the same color because you want to have that dominant color in your space.”
2. Pay Attention to Sightlines
San Francisco interior designer and color expert Jennifer Ott frequently works with clients who want more variety in their wall colors. When that is the case, she suggests considering sightlines. When you’re standing in the living room, what other rooms will you see? If you have a view into the kitchen, the dining room and the foyer, then the colors for those spaces need to work well together. “It can start to look really wacky if you have a different color scheme in each room,” Ott says.
3. Choose Color Groups
One way to increase the likelihood that a color scheme flows from room to room is to limit yourself to colors in the same temperature family. “Some people will stick to a warm color palette — reds and oranges and yellows or a cool scheme — grays and greens and blues,” Ott says.
Another option, Ott says, is to select one or two colors and then use variations of it. If the main color is blue, you might select a gray-blue, a pure blue and a navy paint as you move from room to room. The same concept can be used for decorative accessories.
For wall paint, you can ask the paint store to create a “tint” of a particular color, perhaps knocking down the main color by 50 percent, which the mixer will do by adding white. “They can create a lighter or darker version of it,” Ott says. “That’s a good way to unite without putting the same color everywhere.”
“I also tell people if they’re going to do their wall in this color, go two or three shades lighter for your ceiling so it doesn’t look like a sore thumb because you painted it white,” says Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri.
Paint decks can also be a good inspiration source for finding colors that work well together.
4. Restrict the Edgiest Colors to Enclosed Rooms
Rooms out of the sightline of other rooms are good places for going wild. Master bedrooms, powder rooms, kids rooms and any other room encapsulated by four walls are great places to indulge, says Carl Mattison, an Atlanta-based designer.
“If you turn the corner and go into a little powder bathroom, which you don’t go in all the time, who cares? Paint it black!” It works, Mattison says, “because it’s its own little box.”
5. For Bold Colors, Use Accessories
Accessories are a less expensive way to introduce dramatic colors than purchasing a couch or rug in the same tone, and they’re also easier to swap out should you tire of a color. Limiting bold colors to accessories also helps you avoid the shocking effect that can happen when a dramatic shade is painted on all four walls. “The key is finding a way to inject the color that makes rooms interesting and exciting without feeling like you need to escape,” Ott says. Bright color is good when you want to highlight a piece worthy of notice.
6. Tie Rooms Together With Accents
Accent colors can change from room to room, but continuing one consistent color throughout the home can help create a sense of continuity. “Let’s say you have green and blue in your living room,” Porter says. “Perhaps for the dining room, you use one of those two colors, maybe just the blue. Or you could do blue and yellow. So the blue is what will tie those rooms together.”
7. Use the 60-30-10 Formula
Another way to create a cohesive flow from room to room is to think of the palette for your home as a math problem. “Use a base color that you really like as 60% to 70% of what you’re going to paint for your interior,” Wardlaw says. “Your next color needs to be 25% to 30%. Then you can do your accents of 5% to 10%.”
In this photo, which shows one of Wardlaw’s designs, gray is the 60% color, blue the 25%, orange about 10% and brown maybe another 5%. “I really try to make people only go with about three colors, four at the max — at least on the interior,” Wardlaw says. “Otherwise it just feels chaotic.”
To pull the colors throughout the home, you might use a variation on the scheme in an adjacent dining room. The walls might be painted blue, and perhaps gray could be used as an accent, with a few small orange accessories providing the 10 percent dose of color. “As long as you keep it cohesive throughout your entire home, it’s going to make more sense,” Wardlaw says.
8. Consider Using Color-Planning Tools
Those who love delving deeper into design principles may want to read up a bit on color theory — or at least ask your interior designer about it. “One of the main things I explain to my client is the color wheel,” Wardlaw says. “To keep that cohesive feel throughout your home, one of the main things you can do is consult that.”
A basic rule of thumb is that using analogous (or adjacent) colors on the wheel will create less contrast and a more calm feel, while choosing complementary colors (across from one another on the wheel) will create greater contrast and a higher-energy room. Understanding the relationships between colors will help you see why certain combinations have certain effects on you.
Designers have studied color and can offer invaluable guidance when you’re decorating or remodeling. You can hire one to take your project from start to finish, or simply as a consultant to troubleshoot a specific area like tweaking your home’s palette so that the colors flow well throughout your home.
Porter, who does a lot of color consultations, says her clients tend to know what color they want to use but need validation that the shade they are considering will produce the desired effect. She did a long-distance consultation with a client who passionately loves orange. “The colors she was telling me about were very bright and childlike,” Porter says. The designer suggested a more adult rusty orange instead. “She tried it and loved it,” Porter says.
This article was originally published on houzz.com
Summer officially begins June 20 this year, but why wait until then to get into the summer spirit? Get a jump-start by prepping your home and garden for warm weather, setting up the perfect drip-dry spot for beach towels, reorganizing the kitchen (hello, smoothie bar) and more. These 21 to-dos cover all the bases, so you can enjoy the season to the fullest.
Things to Check Off Your List in an Hour or Less
1. Make your summer must-do list. Beach days, lemonade on the porch, pick-your-own fruit farms — with so much to look forward to in summer, don’t let it zip by in the blink of an eye. Be sure you are making the most of your season by creating a list of your personal must-dos and posting it where you can see it. A big chalkboard or family bulletin board would be ideal.
2. Empty standing water regularly. The best way to keep mosquito populations down is by regularly checking your property for standing water and emptying it. Even a saucer of water can become a mosquito nursery, so leave no pot unturned!
3. Set up a spot to dry beach towels and bathing suits. Soggy, sandy beach towels getting dragged through the house is a mess waiting to happen — but you can easily prevent this with a bit of planning. Choose a dedicated spot, either just outside the door (a covered porch works well) or in the mudroom, as shown, and hang a row of sturdy hooks for wet towels and bathing suits. Once dry, sand can be easily shaken off outdoors, so it doesn’t end up in your washing machine.
4. Corral summer necessities in a bowl or basket. Stash extra sunscreen, shades and bug repellant in a container near the front door for easy access when you’re in a rush.
Tackle These Tasks Over a Weekend
5. Install screen doors. If you use them, now is the time to take down the storm doors and put up screen doors to let the summer breezes pour in. Be sure to inspect screens carefully, patching holes as needed — even a tiny hole can be enough to let in a mosquito.
6. Check play equipment for safety. Over time, wood, ropes and fastenings can degrade, making outdoor play equipment potentially unsafe. Check swings, zip lines, slides and other structures for safety; repair or replace as needed.
7. Hang a clothesline for summer energy savings. While the weather is nice and warm, consider skipping the dryer and hanging your clothes to dry in the fresh air instead. It may not always be possible, but even occasionally putting a clothesline or drying rack to work will save energy.
If hang-drying isn’t an option, you can still reduce your energy bill by washing in cold water, cleaning the lint trap and having your dryer vent serviced to increase airflow.
8. Reorganize your kitchen. The change in seasons is a good time to rethink how you have things arranged in the kitchen. If there are small appliances you use more in the warmer months (a blender for smoothies, perhaps, or an ice cream maker), move them to a more accessible spot, and you will be more likely to use them.
Stations devoted to a certain purpose can also do wonders. If you have children on summer vacation, create a self-help station stocked with healthy snacks. Or create an iced-coffee bar or smoothie-making station for yourself with all needed supplies within reach.
9. Make space for summer crafts. A dedicated space for arts and crafts can provide screen-free entertainment and a creative outlet — and it’s not just for kids! Even if you must work all summer, having a space to devote to a hobby can re-energize and inspire you.
10. Organize and put away school papers. If you do have kids, at the end of the school year, it can be tempting to jump right into summer. But taking the time to sort through each child’s school things will help prevent clutter from piling up, and you can start the summer fresh. Sort through the papers, artwork and projects from the year, choosing the best representative pieces (and those that most pull at your heartstrings) to save in a portfolio or document box and then recycling the rest. If you want to preserve more than you can keep, consider scanning the artwork into your computer and creating a photo book with the pictures.
11. Keep cooling systems running smoothly. Take the time before hot weather sets in to dust ceiling fans, install window air-conditioning units and schedule maintenance for a whole-house cooling system.
12. Lighten up decor. Roll up heavy rugs, put crisp percale or cooling linen sheets on the beds and bring in accents in lighter hues for the warmer months ahead. Breezy white curtains look delightfully cool in summer, but if the weather gets quite hot where you live, you may want to leave heavy window coverings in place. Closing the shades during the heat of the day can actually help keep your house cooler.
13. Plant bee-friendly flowers. Help give pollinators a place to thrive by adding bee-friendly native plants to your garden now for fall blooms. Which flower species you choose will depend on your region; ask for assistance at a local nursery specializing in native plants if you are unsure.
14. Keep an eye on irrigation systems. A faulty sprinkler or irrigation hose that goes unnoticed can quickly cause big problems for your lawn and garden. Make a habit of checking each component once a week, especially in summer.
15. Give your garage or shed a clean-out. Since you’ll likely be spending more time in your outdoor spaces during the summer, it’s a good idea to take some time at the start of the season to clear out space in your storage area. Take old paint cans to a hazardous waste drop-off point, sell or give away items you no longer want and organize what’s left into zones of use: garden tools and supplies, outdoor adventures and sports gear, and household tools.
16. Get seasonal gear ready. What with camping and beach trips, summertime activities come with a lot of gear. Get it cleaned up and ready now, so you’re not surprised by a leaky tent or blown-out beach umbrella when it’s too late to replace them. And if you plan to waterproof anything (tents or outdoor tablecloths, for example), now is the time.
Maintenance and Extras to Do This Month
17. Refresh your bathroom. Shower curtain liner looking a little dingy? Bath towels seen better days? Give your bathroom a mini spa makeover, and swap out your tired old bath linens for fresh, fluffy new towels and a new curtain liner. Use a woven basket to corral rolled towels. And contain toiletries on a tray or in zippered containers.
18. Update first-aid kits and emergency supplies. Be prepared for everything from minor snafus to natural disasters with well-stocked first-aid kits in the house and car, plus emergency supplies for your family and pets. Not sure what to include? The American Red Cross has a helpful checklist.
19. Clean gutters and downspouts. If you did not get your gutters cleaned in spring, be sure to get this essential task checked off your list as soon as possible. Leaf- and debris-clogged gutters can lead to leaks and siding damage with summer storms.
20. Schedule major outdoor projects. Whether you are dreaming of a new patio or need to replace a deck, don’t delay booking a landscape architect or contractor for your projects. Their schedules are especially tight right now.
21. Catch up on projects and maintenance. No one is perfect, and chances are there are a few home-maintenance projects you’ve been meaning tackle. Why not make June the month to get caught up?
This article first appeared on houzz.com.
Getting your home organized is a great feeling, but figuring out where to start can be overwhelming. Keep the process simple by zeroing in on these 10 principles of organizing, which can be applied to any space, anytime.
1. Get to Know Active vs. Passive Zones
Active zones are the spots in your home that you pass or touch daily (usually multiple times a day), and include the entryway, top drawers and eye-level shelves and cabinets.
Passive zones are the less frequently used spaces in your home, including the guest room, garage or basement, very high and very low shelves, and nooks deep within closets.
A common organizing mistake is to clutter your prime active zones with items you don’t frequently need. For example: Don’t keep your spare lightbulbs in the top drawer in the kitchen when you only need to grab one every few months!
2. Make Open Storage Beautiful
Every home can use a combination of open and closed (i.e., hidden) storage. But what you choose to store on your open shelving should be visually pleasing. In the living room, this is a good place for books and pretty objects, not beaten-up board games and stacks of video games. Likewise in the kitchen, open shelving is the place to put your matching sets of clear drinking glasses or favorite teacups, not the plastic food storage containers.
3. Keep Things Findable
Out of sight, out of mind is an especially apt expression when it comes to organizing. Clear containers are ideal when you want to be able to see the contents at a glance, and open baskets can corral loose items while still letting you look inside.
If you use containers that aren’t transparent, be sure to label them clearly — or take it a step further and label each with a photo of the objects inside. (Instant cameras are ideal for this.)
4. Make It Easy to Put Away
This is most important when it comes to kid stuff, but we can all benefit from this rule.
When you need to go get something, you’ll get it out — it doesn’t really matter where it is — but when it’s time to clean up, we all get a little lazy.
To increase the likelihood of stuff being put back in its place, use easy-to-access bins, baskets and hampers, simple filing systems, and wall hooks for frequently used items.
Are You a Piler or a Filer?
5. Group By Task
I think of this as the first-aid kit phenomenon: When you need a Band-Aid, you may also need some antibiotic ointment, maybe some tweezers to remove a splinter, and a gauze pad; in a first-aid kit, everything you need to complete the task of caring for your injury is conveniently located in one place.
When you’re organizing your stuff, remember this and group everything you need to complete a task in the same place.
For example, you could make one box for medications, another for spare office supplies, one for holiday cookie cutters and sprinkles, and so on. Labeled shoebox-size boxes, buckets or baskets work well for grouping small items together.
6. Create a Way Station for Items In Transit
We all have a certain amount of stuff that’s constantly in transit: library books waiting to be returned, our bag and keys, the dog’s leash, the casserole dish a friend left after your last party.
Instead of allowing these random items to pile up, create a dedicated space that can handle them and keep them neat.
If you have room by the main entrance to your home, this is the most logical spot — a few baskets on a shelf and some wall hooks should do the trick.
How to Keep Your Home Neat When You Don’t Have a Mudroom
7. Subdivide and Conquer
Wide-open drawers are an invitation to clutter. Anytime you have a drawer where you’ll be storing small items, use a drawer organizer. Use them for cutlery in the kitchen, office supplies in your desk, small and useful household items in your junk drawer, and daily essentials (sunglasses, keys) in a drawer near the entry.
8. Go Vertical
What happens when you go for something at the bottom of a pile? That’s right, it topples.
Avoid this organizing nightmare and go vertical instead. Use shelf risers to increase cabinet capacity, store sheet pans and trays in a vertical holder, and use wall-mounted holders to store brooms and mops so they won’t tip over.
9. Choose the Right Container For the Job
It can be heartbreaking to find that some of your most precious items — old family photographs, Grandma’s wedding gown — have been ruined thanks to improper storage.
Take preventative measures by choosing the right storage container for the job. Photographs and paper memorabilia should be stored in acid-free containers or albums, and textiles should be kept in breathable storage boxes or bags designed for that purpose.
10. Store Heavy Items Down Low
You should never have to balance on a stepladder while trying to lift something heavy.
Keep heavy items at or below waist height, including boxes, kitchen equipment (those dutch ovens and stand mixers weigh a ton!) and anything else that takes some real effort to lift.
And if you live in earthquake country, this is doubly important: You don’t want heavy items falling out of high cupboards and landing on someone’s head.
1. Remove Knobs for a Complete Clean
Get the Tree in Water Immediately
Keep the Tree Cool
10. In Contrast
9. Vertical Veggies
13. Plant bee-friendly flowers. Help give pollinators a place to thrive by adding bee-friendly native plants to your garden now for fall blooms. Which flower species you choose will depend on your region; ask for assistance at a local nursery specializing in native plants if you are unsure.
Maintenance and Extras to Do This Month
1. Get to Know Active vs. Passive Zones
5. Group By Task
8. Go Vertical
I love the idea of using an open bookcase to separate areas because it serves double duty: division and storage. Be cautious how you dress the shelves, though. I highly recommend that you do not stuff your bookcase to the gills. Leave some open space to allow brightness to filter through and highlight the objects.
Also, choose a high-quality, sturdy unit. This is not a piece to skimp on because you do not want this unit to tip over. You should always anchor and secure a freestanding unit that you’re using between spaces. Or, as in the example shown here, the bookcase unit is attached to the ceiling above and a pony wall below, ensuring it stays in place.
You could also consider a solid bookcase, which will create a more definitive separation. In that option, you could place two bookcases back to back, so you have storage on both sides or hang art on the back of one bookcase.