Browse Month: August 2019

Eclectic Repurposing Fits First-Time Homeowners in Utah

Described as a “type of mutt,” this 1911 home in Salt Lake City has been an perfect match for first-time homeowners and stepbrothers Ian Wade and David Kamp. The group benefited from upgrades done by a former homeowner, who had gutted and remodeled the home after it had been neglected for a long time. Two add-ons raised the living space: a rear room, and also the stepbrothers have since transformed into a lounge area using a DIY bar, plus another floor, which they turned into a guest room.

The inviting, open layout proved to be a major draw for both, who share passions for creating artwork, entertaining and cooking meaningful dishes for family members. Wade, 24, says he’s “filled the shoes of a philosophy student, bartender and athlete”; he is now co-owner of fashion boutique Fresh. Kamp, 25, describes himself as a “decorative scholar and explorer,” and works as an independent designer and a server at a neighborhood pub. During their combined wallpapers, a hybrid minimalist-meets-rustic design has blossomed.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Stepbrothers Ian Wade and David Kamp, and their bichon-terrier combination, Earl
Location: Sugar House neigborhood of Salt Lake City
Size: 2,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 baths

Lucy Call

Wade and Kamp had been purchasing furniture for three months before they got the keys to their own residence. “We’d all these components which were theoretically going to work together, but we could not really tell, since they were set aside at distinct antique shops and furniture stores,” Wade says.

The stepbrothers maintained all the furniture pieces neutral, so when they’d finally all sit under precisely the same roof, they’d be cohesive and work nicely with the existing tan walls. “Each element would appear in spurts. We got the dining room set up, then the couch showed up, and each of the pieces came together real quick,” he says.

Wade remembers the very first day alone at the home: “After the hustle of moving in and getting things sorted in their proper place, I spent a Saturday night unwinding from this process with a few beers, and it sunk in that this was my property.”

Lucy Call

A sizable reclaimed wood table matches the dining room space, in which Wade, in white, and Kamp love dinner and coffee with friends (not shown). The table is from the early 1900s and was initially used at a farmhouse and then by a traveling salesman.

Dining set: Urban Vintage; pendant light: Elemente

Lucy Call

Wade enjoys pieces that achieve a lasting impact through thoughtful layout, such as this early-20th-century coffee table from Urban Vintage and midcentury green chair from Elemente. “My decorating style is one which adheres to usefulness,” he says. “I really don’t like clutter, and I don’t like things to be there without a real purpose.”

Couch: Lofgrens

Lucy Call

“I’d call my design a rustic fusion of midcentury and turn of the century,” says Kamp. This blend of styles is observed in his pairing a century-old coffee table which initially was an old hay bale cart using a midcentury-style tufted couch. The corner painting, by painter and friend Morgan Richard Murphy, is creatively hung with binder clips.

Lucy Call

Kamp and Wade decided to not hang drapes or blinds on any of those double-pane windows, therefore they’d have to rely on organic light than artificial.

Kamp wishes to finally replace the carpet with wood.

Lucy Call

The stepbrothers discovered this old ladder out an antiques store, and Kamp had the idea to use it as a shelf to balance out the low profile of another living room furnishings. They simply closed the ladder closed and leaned it against the walls, creating shelves on each rung for book display.

“Aesthetics are the largest driving factor in my life, from my home down to my smallest trinkets. I enjoy the world I build to represent me as honestly as possible,” Kamp says.

Lucy Call

Kamp and Wade maintained the kitchen easy, as it is a high-traffic region which will get dirty quickly. However, it soon became Wade’s preferred place. “We’ve got a record player and coffee there. Having the ability to put on an LP and also make good coffee are just two things which give me so much satisfaction,” he says.

Lucy Call

Kamp’s bedroom is full of items that reveal his personality and resourcefulness. The big typographical painting was awarded to him from the artist, Morgan Richard Murphy; it reminds Kamp of if he lived in Portland and went to school together with Murphy, when they were both start to develop their creative talents.

Lucy Call

Kamp cleverly repurposed an older photography enlarger for a shelf.

Lucy Call

Wade repurposed old crates as shelves in his bedroom, to exhibit some of his cherished things at a boutique-like way.

Lucy Call

Wade bought the crates via Craigslist from a set designer. He believes that a bedroom should be a place for sleeping and getting ready for the afternoon, so the shelves were designed with practicality in mind. The bottom shelf shows things that he generally puts in his pockets. The next one holds watches and similar products.

Lucy Call

The back add-on to the first home is where Wade and Kamp like to amuse with their residence pub. The windows look out to the yard, where both plan to put in a garden.

Lucy Call

One of Wade and Kamp’s first projects for their home was the bar, made from repurposed old crates and salvaged transport tractors. The crates function as shelves and are styled with mason jars and bottles.

Lucy Call

This Kamp takes a turn throwing darts at a board set up in the bar space. Both leaning scoreboards have been a DIY project made with scrap pieces of plywood and chalkboard spray paint.

Lucy Call

The stepbrothers found the home through a group of youthful Realtors and designers known as the City Home Collective. Both were attracted to the diverse and growing Sugarhouse neighborhood, filled with new eateries and a healthy mix of young professionals, first-time homeowners and small families. Kamp says, “I love the capacity of my town. It’s young and cheap, and is full of beautiful old buildings and houses waiting for the right owners.”

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It Takes a Village: Two Homes

While most people wish to construct a home that’s under a single roof, there are instances when building the home as a series of connected or freestanding pavilions is desired. Perhaps the home serves multiple generations or have to accommodate an ever-changing mixture of family members. Or maybe the home develops over time, to ensure a home expansion is a new pavilion instead of simply an addition.

Here are just two houses which were made to resemble small villages instead of being monolithic structures. While both have their roots set deeply in their various locales, coastal Maine and Piedmont, Virginia, equally take a decidedly modern approach to family living, with the best of both traditional and the modern, the individual and the family.

Elliott + Elliott Architecture

The first home is in coastal Maine and looks like, on strategy, a small Maine fishing village. From the waterside the home looks like a fishing village so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see locals pull up in a boat to roam around, procuring a new lobster in the process.

Elliott + Elliott Architecture

From the roadside the home clearly shows off its Maine heritage, with traditional gable roofs, wood shake siding and roofing, and soft grays and browns which are, in spirit if not in actuality, the end result of that weathering that can happen only in Maine.

Elliott + Elliott Architecture

Each freestanding pavilion is a simple, gable-shaped structure which has small windows and a taut skin to withstand the bitter-cold Maine winters.

Elliott + Elliott Architecture

And while each arrangement is separate from its neighbors, there’s an urbanity for their arrangement, just like one finds at the best of Maine’s small towns. A consistent substance and color palette in addition to a consistency in form and detail be certain that the whole “village” is just one.

Elliott + Elliott Architecture

The interiors are where the saying of modernity takes hold. Open floor plans, tall ceilings and massive expanses of glass to look at the water out of are where this home separates itself from the traditional.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

Traveling down the Eastern Seaboard a couple hundred kilometers is where we encounter the second home that’s been created as a small community. But in this case, a rural Virginia home, the layout was inspired by local farming estates.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

It’s a closely dressed group of pavilions that seem like they might have been assembled over time. The main building mass is unmistakable, with its big chimney and notable central position, and the structures are organized in a hierarchical order that’s unmistakable.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

While the arrangement and types of the structures are, like the house’s Maine cousin, steeped in convention, there is no mistaking that this house belongs to our century. The materials, crisp detailing and simplicity of this are completely modern.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

And that modernity is accepted indoors, where an open plan which enables a casual 21st-century lifestyle is to be found.

Bushman Dreyfus Architects

Light-filled volumes of distance replace the traditional ceiling.

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Red and Black Pop in a Penthouse

As they say: It pays to wait. For interior stylist Angelo De Bock, his individual, yearlong search led him to an enviable penthouse in Cologne, Germany, blessed with a rooftop terrace and a view of the famous Cologne Cathedral. Located in the Belgian section of the inner city — known for its art shops, trendy restaurants and proximity to the old city — De Bock’s penthouse is spread across the top two floors of some grand A-frame, five-story construction. But with all the benefits of snagging the top floor came columns and eaves’ struggle. De Bock tackled both layout challenges with semi displayed international finds, a concentrated color scheme and tactical paint remedies.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Angelo De Bock
Location: Inner city of Cologne, Germany
Size: 145 square meters (1,560 square feet) plus a 50-square-meter (538-square-foot) roof terrace; 1 bedroom, 2 baths, home office

in3interieur

Thanks to expansive windows, the living area is flooded with light, at the top level. The pristine white walls complement the floor and furniture, but De Bock says, “I am thinking of painting the central pillar a darker color to make it less current.”

in3interieur

The massive jewel chandelier near the seating area is by Dutch designer Jurgen Bey. Wrapped in a contemporary reflective lampshade, the lighting fixture is a marriage of styles.

While working at Maison & Objets in Paris this year, De Bock brought home this cosmetic red bird to miss his dining and kitchen room.

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A strong wooden dining table De Bock purchased because of his previous home is combined with a custom-built tufted high-back seat by Job Interieur.

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The large windows lining the walls frame rooftop views of the inner city.

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A black and red cosmetic clock bridges the two floors and De Bock’s color idea. A corner reading nook offers smart storage space and perspectives of the rooftop terrace.

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While the upper floor is swathed in neutral and also understated colors, the lower floor is dressed up in black and red. This is the home office. De Bock painted the bull against a checkered background as an ode to his love of its own culture and Spain.

Paint: Picture Gallery Red No. 42, Farrow & Ball (wall); Railings No. 31, Farrow & Ball (column)

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Shades of black and red and also a whimsical checkered pattern are replicated throughout the room.

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De Bock enjoys collecting art pieces throughout his trips abroad. A Pinocchio doll from the Czech Republic is exhibited in a transparent presentation box under his desk.

Glass instance: Polspotten

in3interieur

Another among De Bock’s original paintings is set against a sharp white background. Neighborhood he painted a rectangular place red to create a digital bookcase with three mounted shelves to display his artwork and style books.

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The spacious master bedroom also keeps with the color palette.

Over the tufted headboard is an icon of a house soul. According to Eastern European tradition, a home spirit is thought to protect the home, looking after certain important members or the entire household. This mythical creature is a significant source of inspiration for the function as an interior designer and decorator of De Bock.

A plush bench and a collection of Moroccan cushions give more luxury and relaxation.

Bed: Scapa Home

in3interieur

Opposite the bed, a large drum table, vintage traveling purses, Moroccan ottomans and a glass box displaying antique books and a world highlight the homeowner’s eclectic tastes.

Side table: Brass Drum Lamp Table, Timothy Oulton

in3interieur

A mask on the cupboard handle winks at the global style of the room.

Paint: Dauphin Brown and Picture Gallery Red No. 42, both by Farrow & Ball; cabinet: Flamant

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Into a bedroom turned . He reversed the color scheme, with black as an anchor and red as an accent.

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He painted black squares and rectangles to creatively frame paintings and family pictures. A daybed out of Ikea doubles as a seat and guest bed.

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Entering the apartment out of the building’s elevator, people are satisfied with closet mirrors that reflect a trailer of their air and reveal part of their home office, the stairs to the upper living area floor and the hallway resulting in the bathrooms and dressing area.

Paint: Vert de Terre, Farrow & Ball

in3interieur

All rooms on the lower floor are fitted with adjustable spotlights. These strong light beams create an additional visual dimension and may be readjusted for mood lighting.

Ceiling lights: Delta

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From the upper level, glass doors lead to a large rooftop terrace ready for its first sign of spring.

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This photograph, taken by De Bock, shows his terrace in the summer.

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This is the terrace around Christmas.

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The olive tree branches on the terrace leave room to get a peek at Cologne Cathedral, with its impressive darkened Gothic tower, in the distance.

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De Bock awakens in his reading nook. “When arriving home from a day in the city, my home feels comfortable, safe and luxury,” he says. “Since I’ve lived here, it’s been endless enjoyment.”

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Your turn: Show us your Residence

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Basement of the Week: Garden Beauty Inspires a Space

Following three decades of living in their new home, this Georgia family had an upgrade: The toddlers had grown into lively kiddos, and they all wanted for more room for family fun and fun.

They contacted builder John Willis Homes to revive the house, and he brought in Jeff Thomas to plan the space and design the inside. The natural beauty of the home’s yard instantly inspired Thomas to create a design which connected with the outside, literally and stylistically.

Basement at a Glance
Who lives here: A few with a 5-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son
Location: Atlanta
Size: About 2,000 square feet

John Willis Homes

The center of the new fantasy basement is a cozy living room and fully equipped bar; the room now opens out to the lawn. New steel beams added structural support, which makes the wide-open space potential.

“The first time I saw the home, I was struck by how amazing their backyard was,” Thomas says. “It really inspired me to present them with a resort-style design for the space that brought the outdoors in and mixed the spaces.”

John Willis Homes

The basement living room outside is extended by A terrace. Thomas thought carefully about how to link the two spaces with substances too. He used the same rock that’s on the outside of the home through the basement, on the bar, around a fireplace and also in a wall of built-ins.

Folding glass doorways: NanaWall

John Willis Homes

Pool table: Treviso in Espresso, Brunswick Billiards

John Willis Homes

The room is filled with fun activities for adults and kids; Thomas planned room for a shuffleboard game and a pool table.

John Willis Homes

A massive wine cellar was a big-ticket thing on the couple’s wish list. The room retains 1,000 bottles in an assortment of racks which break up the room with horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.

Glass doors offer you a view of the wine cellar from the primary living area. Thomas chose black walnut timber accents and rock to match the landscape and complement the substances in the remaining portion of the basement. “The terrace floor has been used in the wine cellar to place the continuity of their exterior and interior finishes,” Thomas says.

John Willis Homes

“We added an additional natural finish of wood on the walls,” he states. “We then used crisp, clean paint finishes and furnishings for comparison.”

The media room is a cozy, enclosed space, improved by ceiling runner beams. The family loves many movie nights in front of the projection display.

John Willis Homes

Georgia’s mild climate allows the family to enjoy the new outdoor space nearly year-round. Thus far they’ve used their new basement and terrace to sponsor birthday and game-day parties, al fresco dinners, backyard cocktail parties and wine tastings — not to mention enjoying it for everyday movie viewing and relaxing in the backyard.

Have a fantastic basement redo? We’d really like to see a picture!

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Kitchen of the Week: Warehouse Roots Inspire a Manhattan Loft

Chemically outdated steel, hewn walnut along with a fiberglass backsplash include the expression of background to this attic in New York’s Tribeca area. Architect Steve Schappacher and his team used these simple materials to play off the attic’s warehouse origins. The proprietors of the attic — it was originally two lofts, now united — wanted a space that felt open and clean but still suited each of their requirements. A hidden pantry, seamless layout and wet bar gave them the look and function they desired.

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

Montauk black slate countertops contrast with white cabinetry. The cabinet faces are ashes and therefore are stained — rather than painted — white, or so the grain is still visible. Hewn walnut on the front part of the island matches with the custom flooring.

Even though the family needed more storage, they also wanted their new kitchen to have a fresh look, therefore Schappacher and his team put in a pantry right behind the kitchen. The left and right end panels on the backsplash have pivoting windows that open up into the hidden pantry area, allowing the family to pass items back and forth.

Bar stools: Restoration Hardware; facet table: clients’ own; oven: Miele; range: Viking

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

A doorway round the corner opens up into the pantry, which spans the entire 18-foot length of the kitchen. The windows not only let in more light but also allude to windows a more traditional kitchen might have.

Sconces: custom; pantry shelving: Metro Shelving

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

Possessing an open, combined living area was significant to the household, but they also wanted their new house to respect its origins as a New York warehouse. Steel and hewn walnut cover tribute to the original materials, whereas the vaulted ceiling and spacious layout keep the attic ambience. The fiberglass onto the kitchen backsplash brings to mind fireproof windows in old lofts, while all the exterior windows at the attic are original to the structure.

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

Around the corner a wet bar helps take some of their entertaining load off the kitchen. The majority of the same materials were used for cohesiveness — including the slate counters and ash cabinetry but Schappacher used crackled subway tile out of Artistic Tile to your new backsplash. Charcoal-colored grout highlights the cracks in each tile.

SchappacherWhite Architecture D.P.C.

A wall remedy Schappacher calls”liquid metal” ties in with the rest of the warehouse-inspired materials — including the customized iron capitals and bases on the columns. Schappacher had a custom metal fabricator utilize hot-rolled sheets of metal and chemically age them for this unique look.

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About Trend: Get a Leg up With British Tables and Chairs on Design

Perhaps it’s just me, but sometimes everything I look at becomes anthropomorphic. The grille of the car has a certain smile, the teapot spout is tooting to be an elephant and those chairs and tables all seem about to walk off. It is just something about these legs.

The angled legs add life and personality to every one of these simple layouts. Whether legs or four, short or tall, thin or fat, each set of thighs provides added flair to the modern pieces they’re part of. The British are known for their book, and these designs showcase that attribute with no of those stodginess. Now, if you will excuse me, I’d better go catch the side desk running down my hallway.

Note: Bark Furniture and Another Country items are available directly from their sites. Contact Atelier Areti, Assembly Room and Dare Studio via their sites for distribution information.

bark furniture

Beacon Desk – GBP 1,875

Placed against a wall, this desk will give the impression that it is propped precariously, because of its angled front legs — though of course it is really quite hardy.

bark furniture

Acorn Side Table – GBP 395

Its small size and stocky angled legs imply this table name is Baby. It will add just a hint of childhood sitting alongside a more mature couch.

Atelier Areti

Vienna Stool

Wire footrests add visual support to those slim angled legs. The curved top is a stylish addition to anyone’s back end!

northamerica.anothercountry.com

Console One – $710

Simplicity reigns in this table. The angled legs give it stability; the very simple form gives it functionality.

northamerica.anothercountry.com

Another Chair – $540

There are no frills with this chair, just clean repeating angles to support you where it is put: dinner table, studio or office.

Prudence Nesting Tables – $1,850

The inset of the legs strengthens that beautiful repeating angle on every one of those nesting tables.

assemblyroom.co.uk

Allesley Side Table

These angled legs converge nearly into one form, reaching to support the surface of the table. The tabletop includes an inset linoleum center circle, insulated for your coffee cups.

Dare Studio Katakana Ottoman – GBP 800

These lanky little angled legs support a hefty ottoman cushion — visit that the matching couch and chair in Dare Studio’s web site.

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Readers' Choice: The 10 Most Popular Outdoor Spaces of 2012

From large backyards to miniature balconies, outdoor spaces were a large priority for ers in 2012. While these favorite photos show a diverse range of styles and sizes, each room is outfitted to take advantage of its environment. Fire pits, luxurious lap pools and a great deal of shading gave readers everywhere extra motivation to upgrade their outdoor spaces.

Here are the outdoor images inserted to the many ideabooks in 2012.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

1. Beverly Hills back porch. This serene back porch looks like the ideal place for sipping lemonade on a hot day. When saving this photo, readers noted the exposed stone surrounding the space, and the numerous seating locations.

Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates

2. Shaded seating in California. Sometimes a place in the colour is all you need to enjoy the outside. This curved stone seat looks incredibly comfortable but still blends in with its surroundings.

SURROUNDS Landscape Architecture + Construction

3. Outdoor living on the East Coast. This winding walkway via a lawn that is lush brings people to a backyard haven. Leafy landscaping and outdoor lighting are only a couple of the elements ers liked.

Martin Bros.. Contracting, Inc..

4. Straightforward fire pit for Michigan summers. This classic fire pit mimics the form of the octagonal screened porch connected to the home. Traditional Adirondack chairs at a glossy black suit the outside fixtures on the primary residence.

Dumican Mosey Architects

5. Ubermodern at Menlo Park. Merely a pair of sofa seats is needed to appreciate this modern backyard space in California. The contrasting colours — red-orange wood, blue water and blue seats — instantly captured ers’ eyes.

Southview Design

6. Stylish patio in Minnesota. This paver patio and small garden make a great outdoor entertaining space. readers saved this photo for the small-space inspiration and lush landscaping thoughts.

Cross River Design, Inc..

7. European-inspired New Jersey trellis. Just like a spectacle in Provence, the porch outside of this New Jersey farmhouse has a clearly European vibe. The wisteria-draped trellis lets only the right amount of sunlight filter through the plush sofa seats.

TaC studios, architects

8. Pristine lap pool at Atlanta. This lap pool imitates the kind of the adjoining deck beautifully. Its slim shape makes it a fit for many backyards.

Lankford Associates Landscape Architects

9. Secret pathway with a stunning perspective. An easy stone pathway leads to a perfect waterfront view. Fragrant thyme and lovely Siberian irises finish this bright outside space.

Abbott Moon

10. Sunny entertaining in Southern California. Outdoor entertaining is easy with a setup such as this. The simple dining set gets a boost from patterned pillows and rustic lanterns, turning the entire covered porch into an outdoor extension of the home.

Find inspiration in more outdoor images on

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7 Tips to Get With a New Minimalist Mentality

Years ago, when my kids were small and our home was awash in toys, laundry and newspapers — to mention the top 3 classes of things I discovered overwhelming — from time to time, when I was feeling exhausted and entirely beleaguered, I’d envision our house burning down. I truly wanted to lose only the laundry room, the playroom, a closet or two and several cabinets, but I understood with fire you can’t be so choosy, and that I discovered the idea of a wiped slate intoxicating.

Obviously I was imagining the best house fire, where all the mess was (poof!) Gone and the insurance provider immediately handed us a big, fat check to begin over soberly and responsibly, without Legos and stuffed animals.

This daydreaming came to an abrupt stop after we remodeled our kitchen. We shot it down to the studs and put in new cabinets, counters, appliances and flooring. Next, the first time that I imagined my laundry area swallowed by flames, I assessed myself. The laundry was just down the hallway from my fresh and beautiful kitchen, which I did not wish to lose; I would have to have arranged the old-fashioned manner.

Tamar Schechner/Nest Pretty Things Inc

The epiphany

That’s what I’d been trying to do for years. I’d spent so much energy and time into setting my house in order, however that I could only ever get into a certain point before it dropped back into mayhem. But then the response came in a holiday that prompted an epiphany, which changed everything.

Our family had rented a small cottage on Lake Michigan. I kept the place as neat as the snare trap, and it was so simple. Wondering why I realized our life at the cottage was limited to meals, books and clothes. And that was that. I determined this was the way I wanted to live all the time. Regardless of what, I was going to get us down to meals, books and clothes. I was finally going to live William Morris’ maxim, “Have nothing in your house you don’t know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

With the help of an organized friend, I started a spree of decluttering and reorganizing, the likes of that our home had never seen. Over the course of several weeks, I went room by room, sorting, throwing away and donating before I’d gone through nearly everything.

And then, in one of life’s little ironies, in the wee hours of June 27, 2010, an arsonist randomly put our house on fire. My husband and I and our three kids were all at home in bed and escaped with the clothes on our backs. I did catch my notebook, because it was right at hand. I didn’t even stop to wear shoes or fetch my handbag, and that I was so thankful to have saved our digital pictures and all my writings.

sarah & bendrix

Our home has been about 2,500 square feet and filled with cherished things, but what I have wept over (my children’s art and writing), what I have longed for (images and videos), exactly what my mind has returned to again and again (more than 30 years of papers and letters) could fit into a little closet with room to spare.

It’s a peculiar experience to have sorted through all my possessions, to have gotten down to exactly what I believed I couldn’t live without, only to get rid of everything and find I managed to live without it all.

I would not wish a house fire on a rat and at the conclusion of the day, it has been strangely freeing. It’s so clear to me that for many, many years, I exchanged peace of mind to items I didn’t truly want and absolutely didn’t need.

How can you define how much is too much?

Bottom line: It’s subjective. If you’ve read the post Clutter vs. Keepers, by Laura Gaskill, or Beautiful Clutter? , by Samantha Schoech, you understand that tastes and comfort needs vary. It actually comes down to what’s too much for you.

Some questions to ask:
Can you really feel overwhelmed?Is organizing and decorate your home a frequent topic, a constant worry?Are you always cleaning, but your home isn’t actually tidy?If you answered yes to any of those aforementioned, you can almost certainly benefit from eliminating some things. Just reading that may bring some anxiety, but if you feel overwhelmed, it is a indication that engaging and starting to consider what you might get rid of would be worth it. And there is going to be stress either manner; you is short term however, another could last forever.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

7 strategies for going minimalist:

1. Begin with the end in mind. Think about how you would like your home to be. Read through the ideabooks you’ve already created and look for topics. Just after you are clear what you are shooting for in case you start to purge.

2. Prepare yourself to feel worse before you feel better. I am sorry, but it is correct, as my afterward 3-year-old explained, when she told me she always loved me but didn’t always enjoy me. When you get rid of things, you’ll focus on what you paid or that you really, really adore an product. You might feel shame about the money you’ve wasted, but holding onto things you do not want or desire is not the answer.

3. Forgive yourself. Once the feelings of pity surface, have a little time to say, “I forgive myself” and then keep going. These feelings will dissipate as you build momentum.

4. Get Assist. Have you got a friend who likes to arrange? Organize a barter. My friend Jane owns a bed-and-breakfast, and that I exchanged helping her there in exchange for her assistance with my purge. My husband, Paul, took over on hauling things away.

5. Give or throw items away. One stall of my own garage was for Goodwill, and another was trash. I have sold a good deal on Craigslist, but when I was doing my hardcore decluttering, I wanted to get rid of things as promptly as possible. In a way it was religious: I have gotten so many bargains over time on Craigslist and at thrift stores, it was a means to resow something I’d reaped.

6. Break it down. Strategy to give yourself weeks, months to experience your home. I recommend going room by room; this keeps the mess contained along with the project more manageable. Have a day or two to perform a room and then take off some time. Once you declutter a space, you can see if you are in a position to keep it should you need to get rid of more.

7. Ask yourself what you would catch in a fire. In an actual fire, you ought to think of saving only people and creatures, but asking this yourself in the abstract can be a helpful exercise in pointing you into what actually matters. Bonus tip: Do not talk glibly about this to folks who’ve actually endured a fire, or you might be throttled.

The 3 stages of decluttering, simplified:
Sort things into “keep” “provide” and “trash” piles.Put away what you keep.Haul the rest away.Like lots of things in life, “easy” does not necessarily mean “simple,” but breaking the process down into these classes can help you keep focused.

Several weeks after we moved to our new house, the fire alarms went off , again in the wee hours. My notebook was next to my bed, but that I walked past it to gather my kids along with the dog and head directly to your door while Paul investigated. He immediately realized it was a false alarm. Only after did I notice I went directly into evacuation mode and didn’t think of a thing.

Next: 4 Obstacles to Decluttering and How to Beat Them

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10 Ways to Keep Your Home Safe While You're Traveling

Even if your trip prep record is a mile, taking the time to go through a few additional actions to ensure your property is well cared for can bring a lot of peace of mind. Installing a house security system might be the very first thing you think of, but there are plenty of smaller measures you can take that are equally (or even more) effective in deterring theft.

Here are 10 things you can do to ensure your house is safe and sound, and also you are able to enjoy your trip without worry.

Peter A. Sellar – Architectural Photographer

1. Tell neighbors you’ll be away. Even when you rarely talk with your neighbors, then it’s very important to provide them a heads-up when you are leaving town for a week or even longer. If you have a fantastic relationship with a neighbor, think about leaving a copy of your key in case of emergency — or at least your contact information as you’re away and the phone number of someone locally who has a key.

Consider twice, however, before sharing particular details about your trip on social media or via a site. I know plenty of people do, and nothing comes of it, but file this under “Better safe than sorry.”

Susan Teare

2. Use light timers and motion detectors. Giving the impression that your house is occupied is one of the surest ways to discourage theft. Pick up a basic light timer at the hardware store and program your inside lights to flick on for several hours every evening — you can also place the TV to turn on too.

If you don’t have motion-sensitive lights outside (front, side and back), consider installing them until you leave. If you already have them, then make sure the bulbs work until you proceed.

3. Employ a pet sitter or house sitter. Better than creating the appearance of someone staying in the home is someone really remaining in the home. Hiring a pet sitter to stop by once or twice each day is a intelligent choice. Not only will your pet be happier at home than at a kennel, however, your home will be looked after too — most pet sitters will gladly bring in the mail and water several crops.

No pets? Consider doing a swap with a friend or relative in the area — he or she watches your home this moment, and you return the favor later on. Or hire a professional house sitter.

Arrowsmith Forge

4. Lock up. It sounds almost too simple to mention. But really, it’s all too easy to neglect to latch all of those less frequently used doors and windows in the rush to grab a plane. Compose a big note and stick it close to your car keys as a reminder to perform a comprehensive lockup before leaving.

Resolution: 4 Architecture

5. Secure sliding glass. Sliding glass doors and windows require particular care to be really secure. Luckily the fix is an easy one; just cut a wooden pole or thick dowel to fit in the groove of these tracks once the door is closed, and put it in until you leave. This will not stop someone from shattering the glass, but it will make your house a less desirable goal.

Debora carl landscape layout

6. Maintain the look of routines. If you’ll be away for more than a week, see if one of your neighbors can deliver your garbage and recycling bins outside to you and back within the following moment.

Additionally, do not let mail pile up on the porch; have the postal service hold your mail for up to 30 days instead. You can fill out the form online here, and that means you don’t even need to step foot at the post office in this hectic time. Likewise for newspapers — contact your newspaper carrier to suspend service when you are gone.

TreHus Architects+Interior Designers+Builders

7. Keep shrubs and trees trimmed for visibility. Make it more difficult for a person to break in unnoticed by keeping trees and hedges trimmed back. Ideally, all doors and windows should be visible, with little room for a individual to duck down and hide.

Susan Teare, Professional Photographer

8. Keep this snow or lawn service coming. Not just is it a relief to come home to a shoveled route and tidy lawn, but keeping up a normal amount of maintenance will help give your home a lived-in look as you are gone.

Taste Design Inc

9. Move valuables away from windows. You may choose to leave a few colors open, since it can look rather odd to see a home all closed up if that is not your norm. But, do be mindful of what is visible from those open colors when someone is peering in from the exterior. Laptops, flat-screen TVs and other expensive gear within reach of a window create an easy mark for a smash-and-grab-type burglar.

RTA Studio Residential Architects

10. Ask a person to check in every now and then. If you don’t have a home sitter (or especially conscientious neighbors), ask someone you know to at least drive by every now and again to ensure everything is OK. Give this friend a secret so he or she can throw any packages or flyers from the porch within the doorway. Remember, even if you have the postal service hold your email, you might still receive packages from other carriers.

And if you reside in a cold area, it’s a good idea to have a friend come by to flush toilets and operate the taps every now and again to check for and prevent freezing pipes.

More: How to use technology to Receive stolen valuables back

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How to Get That Earthy-Chic Look

What is earthy chic? It’s a bright space full of wood and neutral tones. It’s modern and tasty, but not cold. It depends upon sunlight and lots of white and the beauty of the natural world.

The five components for creating an earthy-chic room include:

1. Exposed wood. It can be beams, walls, flooring or details, but it always shows that the grain. And also a pure edge is much better.
2. Natural lighting. Big windows with minimal coverings. Outside is frequently as vital as indoors in an earthy chic room.
3. Neutral colours. Whites, grays, browns and tans, all of them light and reflective.
4. Clean lines and no clutter. Earthy chic is all about showing off the materials, not the collections.
5. Where there are patterns, they are ancient and traditional. Navajo blankets, ikats, suzanis, Indian block prints or African fabrics.

Much like any design style, this appearance is open to interpretation and character. Here are 14 beautiful models of earthy chic.

Jagoda Architecture

A strip of horizontal wood paneling gives this space interest, warmth and major design cachet. And notice the windows no coverings.

Robert Young Architects

This one has everything: white walls, natural lighting, clean lines and big windows. But it would be just another empty modern space it it were not for the wall paneled in weathered grey wood.

Woodmeister Master Builders

This modern eclectic room gets its earthy-chic vibe from the driftwood mantel and all that white.

Jennie Hunt

Where there are knickknacks, they are natural: timber, pods, bones, stones, fishes and shells.

Cornerstone Architects

An accent wall of horizontal wood gives this spare, bright and neutral room a cozy modern cottage vibe.

Risinger Homes

Earthy elegant can be more traditional, also. The neutral, earth-tone palette functions beautifully with a couple ornate pieces and a traditional design.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

This fantastic room is hot and modern, created earthy with exposed wood beams, a neutral palette and all that organic lighting.

Jute Interior Design

This is modern farmhouse style with an earthy-chic flair. Every material used in here is organic. And what’s set off beautifully by the vanilla-white walls.

Mark English Architects, AIA

Shade is not verboten within an earthy-chic room. It just has to be a colour you might readily see in character, such as lavender.

Blackband Design

A cozy, multipatterned space with lots of wood and white. It has depth and lots of character, but it’s totally earthy chic.

This huge modern bedroom has all the ideal stuff, including a cowhide area rug. What could be more earthy than an animal skin?

Sullivan, Goulette & Wilson Ltd.. Architects

This sauna-like bathroom is spare and clean and seems like a spa.

Buttrick Wong Architects

Touches of timber within an otherwise white and geometric bathroom add interest. The beautiful organic line of natural-edge timber is always one of a kind.

Integrated

A concentrate on the outside and natural lighting. This opinion is almost like a mural.

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