Browse Month: September 2019

Designing Your Kitchen: How to Select a Sink Size

In addition to picking the best material, mounting kind and number of bowls to your kitchen sink, you’ll need to pick from a variety of size options too. An additional kitchen sink will definitely give you more space for food preparation and cleanup, and you might prefer it on the limits of a bigger sink, however bigger sinks typically cost more and will take up precious property in a little kitchen.

Feeling helpless? Don’t worry. I have pulled together kitchens which feature various sink dimensions, along with tips that will assist you figure out the perfect sink size to your own cooking and cleaning requirements.

Carla Aston | Interior Designer

Size your sink into your kitchen. If your kitchen is on the smaller side, consider installing a smaller sink. An oversized, triple-bowl model would have defeated the charming kitchen shown here. This more modest-size single-bowl apron-front sink is large enough to accommodate any kitchen task, but it doesn’t take over the room. Countertop and base cupboard storage areas are likely at a top in a smaller kitchen, therefore a smaller sink may enhance overall function too.

Erica Islas / EMI Interior Design, Inc..

Size your faucet into the window above it. Homeowners often install kitchen sinks underneath windows, rather a window with a wonderful view. However, some homeowners overlook how these two components work together. Now, that’s not to state your window and sink have to coincide with widths exactly, but it might look odd to have a superwide spout set under a skinny window or vice versa.

Arciform

Size your sink for a focal point. If you choose to go with an extra-wide sink, it’s going to be hard to disguise it. My advice would be to take the reverse strategy and make your broad sink a focal point. Repurpose an interesting salvaged sink or consider an unusual substance, like copper.

Joan Heaton Architects

Size your sink into your budget. This might be evident, but it’s all too easy to fall in love with a massive, stunning, apron-front sink you see on only to discover that it’s priced well above what your budget will allow. Many people can afford to install top-of-the-line materials, fixtures and appliances in a kitchen, so it’s useful to strategize what it is you are going to spend money on and where you could save.

Personally, I’d rather splurge on my countertops or kitchen floor in relation to the sink. In the end, you can find a perfectly nice 20-inch-wide stainless steel undermount sink for under $200. Check out eBay, Craigslist or your local salvage yard or construction material resale shop to get a deal.

Case Design/Remodeling Indy

Size your sink based on what you need. If you’re an avid cook who needs hand washing dishes into running the dishwasher, then a massive divided-bowl sink with an integrated drainboard is a great alternative. The wider sink allows multiple individuals to work at the sink without getting in each other’s way, and that built-in drainboard gets the work of draining and air drying dishes of a wet mess.

A sink that this size will need an extra-wide sink cupboard and will take up quite a little space, so it’s best to get a generous-size kitchen. A sink such as this begins at about $900, whereas a smaller, single-bowl version costs about $400.

Angela Otten; WmOhs Showrooms Inc

Rather than a extra-large double- or triple-bowl sink, think about installing two single-bowl sinks. The bigger sink by the window is excellent for washing large pots and pans, while the smaller prep sink in the island works nicely for hand washing and food prep. Since these sinks have been set aside, a traffic jam in front of the sink is less likely.

Modern home architects

For those who have the space and budget for this, this really is a wonderful set up for a multicook family that does lots of entertaining. Three separate sinks allow several people to work from the kitchen concurrently. Not one of those sinks have to be exceptionally large, but this configuration has got the potential to be expensive because of the duplicate pipes fittings and setup fees.

Pyramid Builders

Fun-size sinks. I adore these linear sinks. While it’d be hard to wash dishes in among these, they work just fine for pulling a glass of water or dumping out abandoned drinks when the party’s over. You could also fill one with ice and stash cold drinks inside, a wonderful option to keeping an unsightly cooler at the kitchen or having guests hunt through your refrigerator for a cold one. Plus it doesn’t take up much space on the counter tops.

Watch more kitchen sink guides

Inform us : What is your ideal kitchen sink installation?

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How to Find Help

A foreclosure can be a financial event for any homeowner. Facing a foreclosure may leave you feeling fiscally isolated, overpowered by what may be an unyielding mortgage firm. No homeowner needs to confront a foreclosure. Help is available throughout the procedure; you could have the ability to stop a foreclosure in its tracks and save your home. Timing is the key, nevertheless; the sooner you seek help, the more successful that help could be in cutting down the price and anxiety of foreclosure.

Approach your lender to discuss your payment problems. Ask about other payment strategies that are meant to return on the path to making your normal mortgage payments again. Opt for the reinstatement option if you can afford to pay the past due amount in one payment. Go with a repayment plan if you have less than the full amount but can make normal payments, plus additional money to pay down the past due amount. Opt for a mortgage forbearance to stop or reduce payments for a set period of time if you want to recuperate from a temporary lack of funds.

Speak to a foreclosure avoidance counselor. Both private and publicly financed counselors are available, who can help you work your way into a potential solution short of foreclosure. The counselor can help you to find state and federally funded programs such as refinancing options or loan modification programs. The counselor also can assist you with the foreclosure time-line, giving you a good notion about what to expect during the procedure, and also what counter-moves to make if any are available for you. Locate a foreclosure avoidance counselor through the research form located on the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s web site.

Speak to a real estate lawyer. Review your mortgage documents with the lawyer to be able to seek any potential legal redress that will stop or slow down the foreclosure procedure. You’ll need to pay a fee for your attorney’s time.

Telephone the legal aid office in your area for assistance if you cannot afford an lawyer. The workplace will either give you the legal help that you need, or guide you to an lawyer that will work with you throughout the foreclosure free of charge. A legal aid office is a nonprofit corporation; contact with the nearest courthouse and ask the court clerk to get the phone number of a legal aid office in your town.

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If You Need Real Housekeeping Assist

I’ve a confession to make: I saw Dance Moms on Lifetime this weekend. It’s my preferred vice (and also for the record, however, I do not watch Honey Boo Boo Child.) While I was seeing, a promo for a new Lifetime series, Devious Maids, came on.

I checked out an early preview of episode one through On Demand — I mean it stars the queen of exactly what most grandmothers used to call “my stories” (aka soap operas), who is also my own grandmother’s favorite: Susan Lucci, alongside the brilliant Judy Reyes, otherwise called Carla from Scrubs. (And her character’s name is Zoila, that must be a tribute to my favorite TV housekeeper, Zoila Chavez of Flipping Outside). How can I resist?

For those of you that are enticed, the series premieres Sunday, June 23. Sudsy TV customs aside, it made me think about hiring a professional to help round the home.

Do you employ someone to assist you with your housework? Which are your favorite activities to get assistance with? What are you willing to cover, and what budget item would you exchange to have the ability to manage it?

Are you a professional housecleaner? If yes, what are some great guidelines for a successful working relationship?

While I only dream of having cleaning assistance in my finances, my mom has had the lovely Gayle come and assist her out for a couple hours each week for many decades, and I have heard a lot from seeing their great relationship.

Here are a couple of suggestions about how to find some assistance with your housekeeping needs. Please augment these tips.

This poster resembles a Robert Palmer video matches Dexter. I would expect nothing less from Lifetime. But I digress — on to this information portion of the ideabook.

Molly Brandenburg

How to Hire a Cleaning Pro

In case you are feeling overwhelmed by your cleaning jobs and want to employ someone to help, here are some tips.

Get references. Start by assessing around with friends who have housekeepers they could not live without. Also, ask other professionals that you trust to do work around your house if they can recommend anyone.

Create a list of jobs you need help with. Discuss them during the interview to understand how many hours a week they will take. It could take a couple of weeks to determine whether or not the estimate is achievable. Ensure the interviewee allows you to understand which activities he or she is and isn’t keen to perform.

Talk pay. Ask how much money is likely per hour ahead. You might require a trial or two to figure out how much could be achieved in the allotted time.

HAVEN Natural Home Care

Haven Clean House Starter Kit – $84

The Ideal Way to Communicate

Talk supplies.
Request what you are expected to provide or if the expert is going to be providing anything: vacuumcleaner, rags, window cleaner etc..

Make your tastes clear. If you would rather go earth friendly, then make this apparent. Many cities have ecofriendly housecleaning services. If you like things done a certain manner, be specific.

Leave the housekeeper a notice each week. Prioritize what you need done in the time allotted, from most to least important, in case there’s not enough time for each and every endeavor. Before you get to that, begin off the notice with how much you really appreciated the way sparkling clean the home was the former week. In the close of the notice, make sure you ask if the individual has any questions, if there are any problems and if there are any supplies you are running low on.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

Know that injuries happen. Would you have favorite plates on display, a breakable heirloom or some priceless coil pot your child made that you would be devastated to lose? While it would be wonderful to have shelves like these dusted for you, maybe you ought to do yourself. Let your housekeeper understand about any keep-away zones.

Parkyn Design

Have a plan for your pets during cleaning period. If vacuum cleaner terrify your furry friend or Fido loves to attempt to escape when anyone opens the door, ensure that your pet is in a room that will not be washed, a crate (if your furry friend is cool with that) or even a fenced yard when your house is being washed. Your housekeeper is helping you clean up your beloved pets’ shedding and paw prints; having the monsters leap on or nip at him or her isn’t a part of the deal.

Roomba 650 Floor Cleaner – $399.99

If the characters on Devious Maids intimidate you, then you don’t have a budget for housekeeping or you would just rather keep your house clean youself, below are some helpful alternatives.
Think about moving high-tech; see Where Is My Robot Housekeeper?Keep jobs from overwhelming you; see Can-Do Cleaning Strategies for Busy PeopleCommunicate with your spouse; see Why We Can Work It Out: Living (and Cleaning) TogetherGet the kiddos involved; seeClean Routine: Housework Plans the Entire Family Can ShareMore: Read the Housekeeping section on for additional approaches.

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Let's Put a Price on Art: Your Guide to Art Costs and Buying

A bit of original artwork can make a room, be treasured for many years and be passed down for generations. Plus it can be unbelievably inexpensive or very pricey. Why do some types cost more? “Artwork has to be among the most difficult items to price,” says Kate Singleton, creator of Arthound. “There is no standard framework as there is for a pair of underwear or a bottle of champagne. Major aspects come into play.”

The artist, gallery, moderate, style and charm of a bit all can affect how much it costs. And if you come upon a one time function you enjoy, it may be worth any price to you.

Interested in using the power of art to power your interior design? Here are three experts’ hints before you shop to think about.

Adrienne DeRosa

Guidelines for Purchasing Art

Buy what you love. Should you feel strongly about a piece of artwork or it really speaks to you, buy it, regardless of trends or expertise.

“Art is worth the additional money once you really enjoy it and feel fairly confident you won’t find anything else you like just as much,” says Singleton.

Do your research. Proceed to galleries and exhibits, and ask a great deal of questions. Individuals in the art industry are enthusiastic about their job, and you’ll be able to find out a great deal about what goes into certain mediums and artists’ work. Looking at a great deal of artwork will help train your eye, also. You will create a style and start to find out what prices more and why. Visit art and design websites to find out what emerging artists do and how artwork is being used in houses.

Take your time. “Give yourself time to come up with your taste in artwork and, once the moment comes, to contemplate whether you really love a bit and want to live with it,” says Singleton.

Think long term. Alex Farkas, gallery manager at UGallery, recommends using the exact same buying fundamentals for other home objects when you’re purchasing artwork. What is practical? What is Well worth the cost? What will you still love in five years? “A year or two back, everything was coated in resin,” says Farkas. “However, do you really need that in your house? Think of what’s popular versus what is classic.”

Sweet William

How to Establish a Budget

Learn everything you’re working with. Have a good idea of how much art prices before you set your budget. Visit local galleries, art fairs, student shows and online galleries to find out what different kinds of art cost normally. Once you set your budget, you can choose how much artwork you need to purchase: one big bit or several smaller pieces? What can you manage in the medium you desire?

Consider repayment programs. If you’ve found “the one” and it is way beyond your set budget, don’t stress. Talk to a gallery staffer (whether it is online or in person) to find out what custom payment programs are available. “Depending on the price of the item and the customer’s budget, we are pleased to work out a custom payment program,” says Farkas.

Get creative with framing. Framing can be the costliest portion of the art-buying process for some. Forget the framer and try hanging it as is instead. Stretched canvases and posters specifically can look great with no frame. “We encourage our musicians to always finish the border of the pieces so the work could be hung unframed,” says Farkas. I have been hanging artwork unframed in my home for many years and have observed a great trend towards this in decorating”

Works Photography Inc..

What Determines the Cost

The performer. A artist’s profession, popularity and scope of job have a big impact on a piece’s price. Examine the artist’s education, past exhibitions and earnings history. Many artists base their prices on what previous pieces have sold for. “Some artists purposefully price their work around the lower end because they need it to market,” says Singleton. “Others will continue to keep their prices higher and await the right buyer to come along.”

Prices tend to be lower when an artist is new out of school, “emerging as a artist and yet [appearing] to have many exhibitions,” states Rebecca Wilson, head of artist relations in Saatchi Online and manager of Saatchi’s London gallery. “As an artist sells more works and has more exhibitions, then their prices will increase.” Where the artwork is sold — straight through the artist, at a little gallery or inside a high-end gallery — affects price too, as the entire price in a gallery will include a commission.

Turn Collaborative

The moderate. The medium of the work plays a huge role in pricing, also. Farkas notes that paper works are the cheapest, and drawings often cost significantly less than paintings. Consider how much time it took to complete, how big the bit is, how much the stuff and framing cost, how much it will cost to ship and what the need is for this particular style — all will affect the price.

Wilson says photography is usually less expensive as a music genre, because photographs come in editions and it is rare to purchase a one-of-a-kind work. That said, photographer Andreas Gursky once sold a picture for $4.3 million. “Once you gain fame and an international reputation, the prices of the photos can increase dramatically,” Wilson says.

Economy Interiors

Originality and style. Sometimes style has an effect on price, especially when the style is in high demand. Farkas notes this will be especially true of expressionist works.

Original artwork is almost always more expensive than prints. Make sure you know what you’re purchasing: Original artwork is the only one of its kind; a limited-edition work is just one of quite a few copies, each signed and numbered; an open-edition print is among any number of copies.

Esther Hershcovich

A Caution About Art as Investment

All three specialists agree that first-time artwork buyers should avoid purchasing for investment reasons. There is a lot to think about, and it brings an entirely new level to the choice process. While something you purchase in the emerging artist may increase in value, there are no guarantees. “it is a mistake to purchase art as a financial investment, unless you’re extremely knowledgeable about the art market,” says Singleton. “Even so, it is a gamble. Most artwork never makes it to the secondary industry.”

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Tidewater Homes

Tidewater homes have been gracing the coast of the American Southeast because the 1800s. Designed for wet, hot spaces and for owners that like to entertain, they’re famous for having at least a expansive porch, sheltered with a broad hip roof. Wood building, broad eaves and waterfront many are also common features. Today many new-construction tidewater homes are built on supports or pilings with top-level main living spaces to assist weather coastal flood. But no matter if a tidewater house was built, it’s certain to welcome sweet-tea intake on its broad front porch.

Alix Bragg Interior Design

Tidewater homes are especially widespread in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, such as this Charleston beauty.

Soorikian Architecture

The roof of a tidewater house can be hipped. A hip roof on a rectangular plan has four faces which all slope down at precisely the exact same pitch.

Allison Ramsey Architects

Tidewater-style homes always have an expansive porch, which often surrounds the entire home and is protected by a broad pitched roof.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Always built from timber, tidewater homes bring the beauty of the outdoors in.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Situated on a bluff in Charleston, this tidewater house is intended for wet, warm ponds.

JacksonBuilt Custom Homes

Originally designed for the harshness of a Southern coastal existence, tidewater homes are usually raised on affirms or pilings, intended to protect them from coastal flood.

Cowan Incorporated

Many tidewater homes have two tales with porches on both levels. The home’s roof extends over the porches without disturbance.

Artistic Design and Construction, Inc

Tidewater homes often have the primary living areas on the topmost floor, meaning these often-used spaces have additional protection from potential coastal water damage.

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Travel Guide: San Francisco for Design Lovers

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.” Mark Twain may or may not have said this, but the statement often rings true from the City by the Bay. Although it’s mostly bright here, temperamental weather fluctuations may leave you shivering and sweat over the hour. However, as long as you are prepared, San Francisco will treat you nicely.

Whenever it’s a little city — just 7 miles by 7 miles — San Francisco is dense. Its population of over 815,000 means roughly 17,000 people per square mile normally. The bright side is that almost every block overflows with technology, architecture, great food and background.

You’ll want at least three days to get a true San Francisco experience. And pack your walking shoes — the town may be modest, but the steep hills could be brutal. Do not let this prevent you from climbing, however. Whether you’re walking down the curves of Lombard Street or up the slope into Fort Mason, or walking to the top of Twin Peaks, all of your hard work will be rewarded with all epic views of the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.

Here is how to experience San Francisco design like a local, from a local.

Must-Sees
Ferry Building

Location: 1 Sausalito, San Francisco Ferry Building (Embarcadero)

San Francisco’s historic Ferry Building was initially the primary transportation center for Anybody coming to town from the East Bay or Marin. Nowadays it hosts a bustling marketplace that is open seven days a week. Avoid the packed Saturday farmer’s market and select a weekday instead. Cowgirl Creamery, Blue Bottle Coffee, Hog Island Oysters, Boulette’s Larder and Boccalone Salumeria are a Couple of favorite food booths. Pottery at Heath Ceramics’ vibrant collection is a must-see, too.

More information: Ferry Building

Fort Mason
Location: Marina Boulevard (Marina)

Fort Mason was once a U.S. Army place and the principal port for the Pacific campaign of World War II. Now the complex of military buildings has been remodeled (the first red tiled roofs and white stucco exteriors were preserved) to sponsor concerts, exhibits, festivals along with a wonderful farmer’s market on Sundays.

Explore the park over Fort Mason to get a stellar view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Or rent a bicycle in the primary parking lot and ride along the trail through Crissy Field all the way to the bridge.

More information: Fort Mason Center

Conservatory of Flowers
Location: 100 John F. Kennedy Dr. (Golden Gate Park)
Cost: Adults, $7; ages 12 to 17, seniors and students, $5; ages 5 to 11, $2

Found off one of the primary paths in Golden Gate Park, the Conservatory of Flowers is an unexpected architectural surprise amid the eucalyptus and palm trees. It’s a cherished example of Victorian design, and all its permanent galleries highlights a different tropical plant market. If it’s bright, snag a Popsicle from an external vendor and unwind near the flower beds.

More information: Conservatory of Flowers

Bay Bridge Light Show
Location: Bay Bridge (Embarcadero)

Acclaimed New York LED lighting artist Leo Vilareal lately designed this twinkling light display on the Bay Bridge, which joins San Francisco and Oakland. Vilareal also established the famous light display on the Eiffel Tower at Paris.

The light series commemorates the bridge 75th anniversary and runs each night from dusk until 2 a.m.. The best viewing spot is on the Embarcadero.

More information: The Bay Lights

San Francisco Parklets

as a portion of San Francisco’s Pavement to Parks program, a few road space has been transformed into unique seating areas outside restaurants and cafés. These are affectionately called parklets. A few favorites:

Four Barrel Coffee Parklet

Location: 375 Valencia St. (Mission)

On hot days this parklet bustles with iced-coffee-drinking hipsters whose vibrant “fixie” (fixed-gear) bikes overflood the built-in bicycle rack.

More information: Four Barrel Coffee

Rapha Parklet
Location: 2198 Filbert St. (Marina/Cow Hollow)

Grab an espresso at Rapha or a burger from Roam on neighboring Union Street and kick back to do some serious Marina people viewing. Cleverly built out of a deconstructed Rapha Citroën H-Van, this parklet is open to anyone who happens to walk by.

More information: Rapha

Delfina Parklet
Location: 2406 California St. (Lower Pacific Heights)

Located outside the amazing Delfina Pizzeria at Pacific Heights, this parklet takes a more contemporary approach. A hardy concrete type and low-maintenance plants encircle built-in chairs and individual chairs, all over a few feet of incredibly tasty pizza.

More information: Pizzeria Delfina Pacific Heights

Must-Dos

De Young Fine Art Museum
Location: 50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr. (Golden Gate Park)
Cost: Adults, $10; seniors, $7; youth and students, $50; kids 12 and under, free

Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron and San Francisco architects Fong & Chan designed the de Young’s new building, which opened in 2005. The architects designed the striking perforated copper facade, which has already obtained a gorgeous patina, to mimic light filtering through a shrub canopy.

If you’re fortunate enough to attend a day without fog, be sure to explore the museum’s public sculpture gardens and scale to the observation tower.

More information: de Young Fine Arts Museum

California Academy of Sciences
Location: 55 Music Concourse Dr. (Golden Gate Park)
Cost: Adults, $29.95; seniors and students, $24.95; kids, $19.95; ages 3 and under, free

Round the Music Concourse in the de Young, the California Academy of Sciences offers interactive exhibits for all ages. The massive LEED construction houses a planetarium, an aquarium (having an albino alligator), a natural history museum, a 3-D theater along with a four-story rainforest. A 2 1/2-acre living roof tops off it.

More information: California Academy of Sciences

Contemporary Jewish Museum
Location: 736 Mission St. (Downtown/SoMa)
Cost: Adults: $12; seniors: $10; students: $10; 18 and under: free

Avoid the overhyped Union Square and venture further downtown instead, to the Contemporary Jewish Museum. Designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, the museum houses artifacts and art focusing on Jewish history and culture in a new structure.

It was once a historic power substation, and Libeskind joined the first building with new, bold contemporary spaces, such as a blue steel cube-like addition.

More information: Contemporary Jewish Museum

Xanadu Gallery
Location: 140 Maiden Lane (Union Square)

A Trip to the Xanadu Gallery is Essential for anyone who loves architecture. It’s the town’s only Frank Lloyd Wright building, and in addition, it houses a gallery of antiquities and art from Asia, Oceania and Latin America. Located in a quiet place on Maiden Lane — a fun alley of restaurants and stores off Union Square — it is a great way to acquire an up-close and personal look at Wright’s work.

More information: Xanadu Gallery

Must-Eats

Tartine Bakery
Location: 600 Guerrero St. (Mission)

There’s a fantastic reason this little bakery has gained this kind of esteem — it has offerings are completely delicious. Elizabeth Prueitt along with her husband, Chad Roberston, have turned making bread into an art. Get there early — you’ll avoid a significant line and may liquefy a morning bun along with a place at one of the communal tables.

More information: Tartine Bakery

Proxy (Two-Block Project at Shipping Containers)
Location: 432 Octavia St. (Hayes Valley)

Using old shipping containers, San Francisco architecture firm Envelope A + D designed this temporary setup in the Hayes Valley area. As of this writing, the containers hold six stores, such as four excellent locally based food and drink stops: Ritual Coffee Roasters, Smitten Ice Cream, Avedano’s Meats and Biergarten (shown here).

More information: Proxy

Pizzeria Delfina
Location: 3611 18th St. (Mission)

Although the Pacific Heights place has the parklet, I favor the Mission place of Pizzeria Delfina for its trendy layout. Old-school hexagon tile floors and chalkboard menus comparison with yellowish Eames chairs along with also a funky wall mural — a nod to the restaurant’s old-meets-new approach to food. Hit up neighboring Bi-Rite Creamery following to get a spoonful of honey-lavender ice cream.

More information: Pizzeria Delfina, Bi-Rite Creamery

Bi-Rite Market
Locations: 3639 18th St. and 550 Divisadero St. (Mission)

If you’re in the mood for picnicking at Dolores Park, there is no better place for meals compared to Bi-Rite Market. The fresh fruits and vegetables, prepared foods and made-to-order sandwiches are a few of the best in town.

More information: Bi-Rite Market

The Mill
Location: 736 Divisadero (NoPa)

A joint venture between Josey Baker Bread and Four Barrel Coffee, the Mill is a warm and modern coffee store that is great for refueling after a visit to neighboring Alamo Square.

A Four Barrel latte with almond milk is my own personal favorite; it pairs perfectly with a massive hunk of cinnamon-sugar toast from Josey Baker Bread.

More information: The Mill

SoMa StrEAT Food Park
Location: 428 11th St. (SoMa)

For cheap eats it is hard to beat San Francisco’s food truck spectacle. However, it’s also sort of a pain trying to find out where the top ones are parked. SoMa StrEAT Food Park has helped solve the problem by hosting some of the city’s most popular sellers on a regular basis. Check the schedule to find out who’ll be there, then park yourself on a few of the numerous outdoor tables to get some yummy, affordable grub. Curry Up Today and Roli Roti are favorites. Try your hands at the Joey the Cat Skeeball trailer, too.

More information: SoMa StrEAT Food Park

Jones
Location: 620 Jones St. (Downtown/Tenderloin)

The contemporary rooftop deck at Jones, a downtown pub and cafe, is a surprising contrast to the more conventional neighbors. Massive movable planters, lots of patio heaters and a stunning design by Nottoscale combine at a swanky setup that is easily accessible from most downtown hotels.

More information: Jones

Must-Visit Shops

Nest

Location: 2300 Fillmore St. (Lower Pacific Heights)

The section of Fillmore between Bush and Jackson streets is a great place for researching, snacking and shopping. Grab a coffee at Jane or a sandwich at Bun Mee and visit Nest, a unique, adorable place that instantly feels like home. It’s ideal for finding gifts for friends, and there is an awesome collection of accessories and bedding. Check out the dish, silverware and glass collections, too; lots of things are hand painted and absolutely gorgeous.

More information: Nest

Remedy
Location: 541 Valencia St. (Mission)

Next door to its clothing store, Therapy’s furniture shop is full of fantastic finds. While the small knickknacks are fun to poke, I love the furniture collection. The majority of the pieces are very reasonably priced and can be customized in various fabrics and colours.

More information: Therapy

Public Bikes
Location: 599 Valencia St. (Mission)

Rob Forbes, founder of Design Within Reach, started this San Francisco bike company to create simple, everyday bikes. Beautiful and simple to ride, these European-inspired bikes come in a lot of colors and size combinations. Even when you’re not in the market for a bicycle, it is well worth checking out the shop.

More information: Public Bikes

FL!PP
Location: 1400 Green St. (Russian Hill)

Tucked into a corner place off Polk Street in Russian Hill, FL!PP (Stylish Living in Petite Places) is a hidden jewel on the north side of town. Even though the furniture selection is impeccable, check out the Fuchsia Garden in the back. Bonsai, succulents and garden decor come to life in this magical area.

More information: FL!PP

Perish Trust
Location: 728 Divisadero St. (NoPa)

Exploring the Perish Trust is an experience everyone should experience. Hosting a curated selection of antiques, art and tchotchkes, the shop feels like an conservative library that has been untouched for decades.

More information: The Perish Trust

Flora Grubb
Location: 1634 Jerrold Ave. (Bayview)

Landscape designer Flora Grubb (yep, that is her real name) has created an oasis dedicated to selling plants and garden materials to urban dwellers. Meandering through the shop’s gardens and unique installations is a wonderful way to spend a hot afternoon.

More information: Flora Grubb

Must-Stays

Phoenix Hotel

Location: 601 Eddy St. (Tenderloin)
Cost: $139 to $169 per night

For over 20 decades, the Phoenix has been called San Francisco’s stone Rolex roll resort — and for good reason. Visiting musicians and bands often crash at this swanky place.

A funky mix of retro and contemporary design defines the resort. It’s situated in San Francisco’s gritty Tenderloin place, so in the event that you have kids, it may not be for you. But if you’re searching for experience, the resort’s fantastic design should not be missed. Even in the event that you don’t end up staying here, it is well worth making a pit stop to have a drink at the hotel bar, Chambers Eat + Drink.

More information: Phoenix Hotel

Westin St. Francis
Location: 335 Powell St. (Union Square)
Cost: See website for rates

The first St. Francis resort opened in 1904, just two years before the town’s Great Earthquake and Fire destroyed much of the city and most of the resort. The interior was fully remodeled, along with the Westin opened again in late 1907. Now most of the resort keeps its original glamour. Taking a ride in the glass elevator and making a stop at Harry Denton’s Starlight Room on the 21st floor will give you a taste of classic, old-school San Francisco.

More information: Westin St. Francis

Clift Hotel
Location: 495 Geary (Downtown)
Cost: $249 to $669 per night

As soon as you pull up to the front entrance, it is clear the Clift is not an average resort. It was designed by Philippe Starck, and the lobby is outfitted with an incredible collection of iconic and authentic furniture, as well as a 35-foot bronze chimney and fireplace sculpture by Gerard Garouste. The downstairs pub, the Redwood Room, is comfy and lavish, with a distinctive interior of redwood paneling believed to have come from a single tree.

More information: Clift Hotel

What design-friendly destinations are in your own do-list this past year?

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The Lowdown on High-Efficiency LED Lighting

When LEDs (light-emitting diodes) came in the market, people were slow to utilize them in home, because the lights tended to provide off a bluish-white hue. Today that has changed. Advancements in technology mean that LEDs may create that warm, yellow light several homeowners prefer in their living spaces.

Although the upfront price ($40 to $80) is much greater than for traditional bulbs, the yield on investment includes lower power bills, longer-lasting bulbs and better-quality light. LEDs may last up to 25,000 hours and use 75% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs.

However, the very best part is their flexibility. LEDs cover the selection of light, from warm and soft to crisp and cool, and come in various design choices which enable you to play with neat lighting schemes. LED tape, panels, pucks, ropes, cans and bulbs work wonders with uplighting, downlighting, accent lighting and much more.

Here is a rundown of the fundamental LED choices you may use to illuminate your living area.

Inspired LED

LED Tape (Adaptive Strip) Lighting

LED tape illuminates this kitchen in 2 colour temperatures. Above the cabinets an LED tape described as “normal bright” casts a white shine, while warmer white tape shines under the cabinets.

LED cassette is a flexible circuit board with attached LED chips which may be trimmed to size. The chips are dots of light spaced roughly every 5/8 inch; they are in various degrees of brightness. The strips have a self-adhesive backing, making them easy to install almost anywhere.

Inspired LED

Undercabinet and Accent Flexible LED Strips – $10

Ultrabright flexible strips are perfect for under cabinets, in offices and at additional areas requiring a great amount of light. Superbright is your middle selection of brightness and functions great in areas which need some light but not overly much. Traditional bright is perfect for accent lighting, such as for above cabinets, inside cabinets, in coves and around toe kicks, and for lighting art and much more.

WAC Lighting

White-light LED tape placed beneath the counter and cupboard inside this kitchen creates a glowing silhouette.

When considering tape for bathroom and kitchen applications, it is a good idea to go with tape that is coated. It is more durable where processors are vulnerable to heat, moisture and food spills. Noncoated cassette works best in areas such as inside closets where the chips aren’t subjected to harmful elements.

The cost of a decent-quality LED cassette is roughly $8 to $10 per foot plus the price of a motorist to power it, which begins at $150.

Tape lighting under this vanity provides the vanity the look that it is floating in space. Tape is excellent for illuminating small spaces such as coves, niches and under countertops. It has a higher lumen output (brightness) compared to LED rope lighting.

Tape lighting illuminates the top edge of each of the stairs. It’s perfect for lighting stairways at nighttime; someone can take the stairs without having to turn on all the overhead lighting.

186 Lighting Design Group – Gregg Mackell

LED Strip (or Panel) Lights

Strips backlight this mirror above and beneath, making a gentle but dramatic look. Because of an additional covering, strip lighting are moisture resistant, which makes them a great selection for lighting a bathroom vanity.

Lite Line Illuminations, Inc..

Mia Strip Light- Made in the USA

Strips have several LED chips built into a metal enclosure covered by an acrylic shield. They tend to be brighter than LED tape, because they have more chips. This LED strip creates over 360 lumens per foot, has a selection of multiple colour temperatures and can be dimmable.

LED strips come in 10-, 20- and 40-inch lengths and range in price from $99 to $200, based on duration and quality.

Urban Colony

Lights that are strips provide a soft glow to this ceiling cove crowning the room. Strips can do double duty as accent and overhead lighting because of the high lumen output.

SKG Renovations

LED Puck Lights

beneath this kitchen cupboard, six energy-saving LED recessed puck lights light the counter work area while emphasizing the quartzite backsplash. LED puck lights are a wonderful replacement for xenon puck lighting fixtures, which give off heat.

Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

Puck lights operate under cabinets, interior closets and in niches. The discs come as corded or plug components, sold individually or in kits at a broad range of costs, from about $10 to $80.

186 Lighting Design Group – Gregg Mackell

Puck lights beneath these bookshelves make pools of dark and light for drama and activity lighting. Pucks have a tendency to create areas of brightness and darkness, whereas LED strips and tape offer an even distribution of light.

WAC Lighting

Color-Changing LEDs

Color-changing LED tape inside this ceiling cove casts different hues around the outside of this space. The lighting alterations from white to warm amber, much like the sun does as it moves from day to evening.

Timers And Lighting Controls – $35

Color-changing tape functions using a remote control to alter the colors. You can program color-changing tape (also referred to as ribbon) to stay a certain colour, fade out and in, flash or perhaps sync with music.

Southam Design Inc

Color-changing strip lighting inside this kitchen casts a gentle glow behind the custom glass backsplash. The lighting shifts between different colors through the night and day.

The average price for a decent-quality LED color-changing system is $500 for 17 feet using a controller and driver.

Color-changing strips follow the outline of this vanity mirror. This lighting can go anywhere in the home where you wish to get creative and play with light and color.

Watch a home that goes all-out with vibrant LEDs

Pepe Calderin Design- Modern Interior Design

LED Rope Lights

Rope light illuminates this family area’s tray ceiling.

Amazon

Neo Neon Blue Rope Light – $23.49

Rope is a round plastic or rubber tubing that houses LED chips to 1 inch in diameter. Rope isn’t as bright as strips or tape, and will give off a bluer light.

WAC Lighting

Rope lighting works well for outside uses, because it is encased in a durable plastic tubing. It’s perfect for patios, railings, walkways, stairs and landscape trimming.

Karen LeBlanc Design TV Host & Writer/Blogger

LED Downlights

Recessed headphones can be found as self-contained modules with an LED light built into the housing or a simple LED recessed can lightbulb. An LED recessed can module has its own engine to eliminate heat, so it lasts longer and produces better-quality light than straightforward LED bulbs.

A high performance LED module costs about $80, and a market module is roughly $45.

Kickstarter

LIFX Lightbulb

LED Smart Bulbs

the most recent LED merchandise available on the market is referred to as the smart bulb, because you can control it from the smartphone, tablet or Wi-Fi network. With programs and products such as the Philips Hue Lightbulb and many others in the works it is possible to alter the colour and brightness of the bulb and set different illumination effects. Since LEDs are available in all colors of the spectrum and therefore are highly customizable, the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

More:
Smart Bulbs for Better Lighting
12 Ways to Light Your Kitchen With LEDs

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8 Ways to Make an Extra-Full Nest Work Thankfully

When it’s elderly parents moving in with their children, grown children moving back in with parents, or siblings moving in together, multigenerational and extended family living arrangements have made a comeback. Living with family could be a blessing to all parties, helping conserve cash, giving small ones longer time with grandparents and bringing families closer together. Obviously, it is not without its challenges — that is where this ideabook comes in.

Below are hints for taking advantage of living with family. Please share your experiences in the Remarks.

Vin Nevertheless Architecture

1. Have a sit-down chat early on. Before you break out the moving boxes, then take a while to sit down together and discuss how you want to handle the fundamentals. Bills, grocery shopping, showers, noise and pets are a few of the topics you may choose to pay for, but include anything else you want — it is a lot easier to talk about these things until they become an issue.

Jeni Lee

2. Produce a plan for tackling conflicts. It can be valuable to decide beforehand how you want to handle conflicts — perhaps schedule a monthly home meeting when anyone can bring up issues.

Cardea Building Co..

3. Make space. In-law studios and units are perfect when parents are moving, but not everybody has this choice. If you’re all sharing the exact same home, provide a few extras (such as an in-room coffee bar) that will offer your new housemates more freedom.

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

4. Carve out personal space for children. Moving into Grandma and Grandpa’s home can be a fun experience for kids. But even the tiniest family members can benefit from a bit of personal space to call their very own. Encourage kids to hang up their own artwork, unpack preferred toys and customize their space.

For siblings who have been accustomed to having their very own rooms, suddenly having to share could be a jolt. Try hanging drapes to section off bunk beds, and establish a small desk or reading nook for each kid.

Studio Sarah Willmer Architecture

5. Figure out ways to maintain patterns. Routines are especially important to young children, so do your best to maintain the very same schedules and patterns you had prior to the change in your living situation.

Emily Campbell

6. Label and organize. Whether you’re suddenly sharing space together with your little brother, sister, mother or father-in-law, it will not hurt to amp up the tagging and business. Concentrate on a few key areas (kitchen, bath, linen cupboard) and you might find yourself answering fewer “Where is that … ?” questions.

Kaia Calhoun

7. Bond over a DIY project. Call on everybody to pitch in and work on a home project together. Gather a family photo wall, create some DIY artwork, paint a vintage piece of furniture or plant a tree in the backyard. Get creative and have fun with it!

Frederick + Frederick Architects

8. Create a date for household time. Even if you lead busy lives, create a point of keeping a normal date for household time. Pick something that everybody can get excited about — a big Saturday-morning pancake breakfast, a backyard barbecue or film night, as an example.

Louise Lakier

Tell us : Can you or have you ever lived with extended family? Do you intend to one day? Share your tales and tips in the Comments!

Next: More Living Space — Making Room for Family

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