Browse Author: Extres

Austin Haven with Amazing Views

Sharon Radovich of all Panache Interiors was occupied renovating four bathrooms in Herb and Nan Schwetman’s home when she got a call from Nan. Nan advised Sharon to quit working on the bathrooms because a whole lot the few had wanted for years finally came in the marketplace. The Schwetmans purchased the whole lot immediately and collect a team of award-winning designers such as Barley & Pfeiffer Architects, Panache Interiors and Botanical Concerns Landscaping.

The Schwetmans told that the design team they wanted something modern, but with natural components to tie their residence to the gorgeous panoramic views. With a strong focus on the topography, the architect created a linear house with tall north-facing windows to bring in cool light, shield the home’s south-facing walls, and protect it from exposure to sunlight.

Once the architects finished the design, Radovich came to the plate with an array of organic materials to promote the ambiance of the home’s setting. The Schwetmans could not be happier. As it pertains to working with design professionals, Nan says,”We believe we understand what we enjoy, but sometimes you just need a little nudging in the right direction.”

in a Glance
Who lives here: Herb and Nan Schwetman
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 4,000-square-foot, two-story home with 4 bedrooms

The architects in Barley & Pfeiffer made an open floor plan for the primary living area, employing the lot’s natural incline to conceal all secondary living spaces. Detaching the garage and placing the deck and screened-in porch on the south side protects the house from harsh winds. The design team further highlighted the property’s energy efficiency by employing premium non-degrading exterior materials.

Two bridges connect the futon into the home, allowing entrance to the home through the primary entrance or through the kitchen and utility area.

Barley & Pfeiffer utilized stone, wood and steel in the property’s exterior to make a contemporary aesthetic while allowing the home to blend with the surrounding landscape.

Panache Interiors used Mesquite wood floors in the major area of the home. Horizontal wood panels counter the casing fossil limestone fireplace surround. Radovich chose grey for the walls. Sliding doors lead from the living area on to the deck, showcasing the home’s spectacular perspective of the Austin Hill Country.

All furniture and rugs rugs came from Room & Board. Nan says,”We simply love this store. Their pieces are contemporary but still seem comfy and they’re really reasonably priced. It was perfect for us”

Radovich selected Verde Marinace as the material for the kitchen island countertop. The Marinace is constituted of large colored river rocks fused together. “Everyone is always asking me what this stone is. It is quite unique,” Nan says.

Ayers green granite has been placed on all of the remaining kitchen counters along with the kitchen backsplash has been covered in a combination of horizontal limestone and glass mosaic tiles. Green-gray cabinetry in Sherwin Williams Rare Gray 6199 further emphasizes the home’s contemporary look.

While the floor plan encourages energy efficiency, it also serves as a great way for Herb and Nan to entertain friends and family.

A custom booth built into the kitchen give the pair a place to enjoy their morning coffee. A Varaluz recycled steel and glass chandelier adds contemporary sparkle.

SLIC Interiors

The decks are made of sustainable Ipe walnut hardwood. “Among my favorite things about this home is its normal setting,” Nan says. “We attempted to bring as much of the setting indoors with our choice of colors and with some of the artwork we used.”

SLIC Interiors

A screened-in porch outside the dining area enables Herb and Nan to enjoy the outdoors without being completely exposed to the outdoor conditions.

A nook on the screened-in porch gives the couple a spot to enjoy the view and meals by the fireplace.

Outdoor furniture: Room & Board

In the master bath, Radovich combined honed seagrass stone with mosaic bamboo flooring for the floor. “The bamboo is warmer to the foot when Nan and Herb step out of the shower, they are not stepping on cold tiles,” Radovich says.

From the master bedroom, a glass mosaic backsplash provides visual interest to the room. It also adds a dash of natural color that works well with another stone in the restroom.

Faucet: Pfister

More Inspiring Tours:

Artful and Efficient at Austin

Minimal and Soothing in Austin

Warm and Modern at Austin

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Divine Lighting: The White Chandelier

White chandeliers come in a wide selection of breathtaking styles, from daring new designs, beautiful antiques dripping with crystals, or simple shapes with colors. No matter its design, hang it centre stage and it’s likely to be your area’s showstopper.

I recall my first white chandelier. I was finishing a foyer renovation, and rather than buy a new ceiling light, I sprayed on the light using white paint. It looked like a totally new light, but was exactly what this narrow corridor needed to glow. Read on for more ways to attract the glow and glam of a white chandelier into your home.

Browse white chandeliers

Horchow

White Baroque Chandelier – $1,185

Want the look of a white chandelier without any dripping crystals? Move big and daring, allowing the foundation itself glow. Receive a luxe traditional appearance or more modern feel by adding drum colors or by choosing a chandelier with a rustic foundation in a high-gloss white.

Holly Marder

In the market for a tasteful chandelier with a new texture? A white finish gives any traditional arm light a new clean appearance. Perfect perched over a table that you would like to liven up.

Garrison Hullinger Interior Design Inc..

Want to add a luxurious feel to a kitchen? Instead of hanging a set of pendants over a kitchen islandchoose a chandelier in white to keep it bright and airy.

Occasionally other metallic finishes are just too much for a space. A white chandelier inside this space allows the gorgeous wood ceiling to glow.

Elizabeth Gordon

A sculptural light finished in white adds an eclectic vibe into some space.

This intricately beautiful white chandelier keeps a great equilibrium in this dining area’s mixture of dark wood and white painted finishes.

Horchow

Janice Minor White Coral Chandelier – $1,650

Here’s a closer photo of this chandelier in the previous image. So beautiful!

A white chandelier is so airy and soft when utilized in a mild blue bedroom. If you don’t have a white light, it’s quite easy to find this particular French shabby-chic feel with any mild you find on sale. Using spray paint (for metal), you can change it to white in no time. When thoroughly dry, you can rub it using adhesive to give it a worn, antiqued appearance.

Kasey Buick

White sets the ideal tone for a chandelier with sweet details. The milky finish allows these birds perched with this mild foundation to be seen and admired.

Horchow

White Abbi Chandelier – $675

Insert glam to your room using a white chandelier dripping with beads. This is a really feminine appearance, ideal for a tasteful bedroom or dining room.

Burnham Design

Would you love eclectic design? Insert a shiny finish to bamboo-inspired lighting.

Shoshana Gosselin

A bamboo lantern may be beautiful over a kitchen island.

Elad Gonen

This light looks like leafy branches; just how beautiful it must be to see it overhead because you sit at this table. The white finish keeps the intricate design feel soft. If you are seeking something different but not overwhelming, try out a white finish.

Lightology

Leaves Sus from Lumen Center

Here is another whimsical spin on a leaf-inspired light.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

Small spaces seem unique when a chandelier is inserted. Try one with a white finish to maintain the petite space open and airy. So keep a white chandelier, like this traditional one with crystals, in mind for a home office or walk-in closet.

Can you have a white chandelier? Post a photo below!

More: How to Receive Your Own Pendant Light Right
Browse white chandeliers

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See-Through Storage: Clear Choice for Maximum Space

The average American home is around 2,000 square feet — and if you add a household, it can feel pretty cramped. But take away cabinetry and closet walls to open the space and you eliminate storage. How to proceed? Add! Glass-front closets, spacious shelving, mirrors as well as reclaimed windows can be your tool for providing relaxation without solitude. Continue reading for some see-through options.

Does your home have? Do you feel cooped up in the kitchen while everyone else is having fun? Do not rip those cabinets down and shed the storageopen them up and enclose them for see-through storage which retains the view open, the more light flowing along with the storage intact.

mark gerwing

For an even more seamless appearance, take the cupboard frame and install shelving to replace the cabinetry.

To receive a similiar look in front of a window, attempt DIY glass shelving.

Chr DAUER Architects

Stealing distance is a recipe for claustrophobia. A glass cabinet is ideal for displaying accessories while keeping sight lines available. The look is classy and fresh.

Cary Bernstein Architect

1 little glass shelving unit dramatically opens up this distance. This design allows for an excess cupboard, a drawer, a counter and three shelves, while visually dividing the spaces with no cloistering them.

Mirrors are another great solution; they can open up a space by representing light and creating the illusion of a larger space. Try using a back pack mirror to split the room.

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

You may have to look twice in this picture to view all of the see-through elements. This distance matches a dining room, a living room, a stairwell, a kitchen and a balcony. Doesn’t it looked like a crowded dorm room? See-through storage.

Open shelving divides the dining room from the entryway yet leaves the sight lines available all the way to the stairs. The spacious banisters upstairs add to the feeling of spaces that are open yet distinct and the light.

Built-in closets are a classic split between the living and dining rooms in Arts and Crafts houses. Try upgrading this traditional look for your home with spacious, geometrical cubbies.

SGH Designs inc..

Adding open shelving near the foot of the bathtub provides a separation while allowing light to flood the rest of the room.

Living2Design

Aged windows occasionally show up on Craigslist and may make a terrific see-through divider to your little space.

Getting a good deal on more windows than you need? Craft your own saltwater.

Mosby Building Arts

Try creating see-through storage which mimics another piece of furniture in the room. This shelving unit echoes the lines and color tones of this hutch in the background but stays open to mild. Wouldn’t this seem be ideal at that long, narrow open area in your ranch home?

Whether you are working with a very small bathroom, a spacious living area or even a cramped kitchen, see-through storage can be your solution.

More:
18 Ways to Make a Small Space Appear Larger
7 Big Ideas for Smaller Kitchens and Bathrooms
6 Methods to Magically Enhance Your Small Space

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How to Produce Beautifully Untamed Floral Arrangements

It Is getting down to the wire for Thanksgiving. Side dishes are chosen, the turkey was purchased, and the wine rack has been well stocked. Luckily for all of us florally contested, Jill Rizzo and Alethea Harampolis of San Francisco’s Studio Choo are decked out this holiday by adding the life of the celebration — literally — with flowers, foraged branches, and maybe a persimmon or two in tow.

After sitting on one of the in studio courses, an epiphany struck me. No longer will I need to rely on vibrant corn and miniature pumpkins to decorate my Thanksgiving table. With a few tips from these pros, not only can I too have the ability to arrange flowers (almost) like an expert, but I also have discovered how to allow the flowers be my guides and allow my arrangements to mature wild.

More: Ingredients of a Perfectly Wild Bouquet

A sturdy base is essential. Five seconds into this course the free grasp I thought I’d on the basics of flower arranging is swiftly swatted away. The foundation layer is the framework for the rest of the structure — it’s not just inexpensive filler.

Consider how the leafy leaves will add another decorative layer to the structure to complement the flowers. Grab 6-10 strong stems to be used for the foundation of your own arrangement, with 2 especially bushy pieces. If you are a newcomer like me, a solid foundation will make the rest of your organizing job much easier.

Measure twice cut once. Before you begin randomly stabbing stems into your vessel, gauge and test out how you would like individual stems in your foundation layer to lie in the vase. Utilize their natural kinds as guides for placing in the vase.

If using a thinner cylindrical vase, the stalks can be approximately 2-3 times the height of this vase, otherwise opt to get an arrangement about 1 1/2 times the eyebrow height. Put the bushiest pieces in first, using a clean and leafless stem beneath the waterline.

Construct your foundation. Require the first two foundation layer plants, make an X with their stalks and set them in the vase, as Rizzo demonstrates using a scented geranium and chokecherry stem. Carefully work round the border, putting stalks in a similar way by crossing the stalks — almost like you are constructing a nest.

Watch more amazing bouquet ingredients

Remember where you anticipate using this particular arrangement. A fragrance for a mantel will be more spreading and linear while a table centerpiece will have to be more rounded and interesting on either side.

When you have completed, the foundation should be sturdy and able to defy the prodding and poking of this flower stems you are going to put in later.

Add primary flowers. The largest and sturdiest flowers which you’ve chosen for your main focal flowers will proceed next. Rizzo starts with a stunning’Coral Charm’ peony stem. Continue to allow the plants do the work for you by changing the overall form and contour of this arrangement.

You’re able to keep it low and compact or really angle the stems out to get a large arching arrangement. Choose around 3 focal flowers and scatter cluster them in the arrangement. Keep the arrangement intriguing by choosing plants that blossom at different angles and different heights — ideal uniformity isn’t something you should feel like you need to strive for.

Add some astonishing accents. Incorporate beautiful succulents and even seasonal fruits in your arrangement to really highlight the overall autumnal mood.

Using wooden skewers carefully dipped in floral glue, softly stab the fruit or succulent, careful not to puncture all the way through, and add the skewer into a growing centerpiece — following the crisscross pattern of the stalks.

For continuity and stream, Rizzo suggests group similarly colored flowers within the arrangement. Add to your heart’s content, pausing every so often to admire your work, always keeping in mind the crisscross pattern of your stalks and orientation of your own arrangement.

Here, chokecherries and’Coral Charm’ peonies make a luscious cluster of pinks and reds…

… that segues into golden hues of Heuchera‘Peach Melba’ and skewered persimmons.

Finish off with bits and pieces. There are not any real prescribed rules for your superbly manicured seasonal centerpiece. Finish by adding the supporting flowers and more fragile grasses and blossoms you may have picked from the market or perhaps from your own yard.

Do a final check. Once you believe you have a successful arrangement or run out of plant material, do a final check for stalks that may not be securely placed or require another trim. Then set the arrangement and enjoy.

Care for your flowers. Stick into the following suggestions to make sure your arrangement survives long enough that you thoroughly enjoy and to allow your family and friends to compliment your mad floral organizing skills.
Cut flowers are thirsty. Keep the vessel as full of water as you can and make sure you change the water and wash out the vessel frequently. Bacteria buildup in old water is a sure way to kill the structure faster.Keep the structure out of direct sunlight and away from ripening fruit, which gives off ethylene gas. Both can cause the flowers to start more quickly and result in a shorter lifespan. “The best advice we can give when creating arrangements is to just try it,” adds Jill. “The most frequent thing we hear in course is’I am not sure it’ll seem right…’ So put it in there and try it! It can always be removed. We are constantly playing with different materials and colour combinations — that is what keeps things interesting!”

More: Ingredients of a Perfectly Wild Bouquet

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Geometric Detail Inspires Artful Home

Dana and Joe Sheppard lived in their tiny home in Ocean City, N.J. for at least 20 years until they decided it was time for a large shift. As they outgrew their 2-bedroom, 1-bath cottage, they gradually incorporated bigger improvements, but the time came when adding on to their home yet another time simply didn’t make sense. Regardless of the memories their previous home held for them, they decided to tear it down and start from scratch.

The Sheppards collaborated with architect James Chadwick and contractors Fuschillo & Hamilton, and the end result is the envy of the area. It is filled with fresh, geometric details using a color palette inspired by the sea glass Dana gathered on local shores. As a painter and stained-glass artisan, she believed each design decision a manifestation of her creativity. The contemporary home, peppered with her art, serves as Dana’s personal gallery and her proudest bit of work.

Colleen Brett

at a Glance
Who lives here: Dana and Joe Sheppard
Architect: James Chadwick; Builder: Fuschillo & Hamilton
Location: Ocean City, New Jersey
Size: 4,000 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bath

Colleen Brett

Joe and Dana Sheppard tore the home they lived in for more than 20 years to make room for their dream home.

Colleen Brett

Geometry is king in this home, as it is possible to see the minute you walk in the doorway. Looking up from the entryway, you are going to see the hexagonal ceiling which frames the very simple light fixture, and a large stained glass window Dana designed.

Colleen Brett

Plush curtains hang from the ceiling of this lofted staircase to make a slight branch of space in the open floor plan of the floor. Showcased involving the curtains is an elegant wooden dining table, with a sleek, curved standalone. As it turns out, Dana is not the only performer in the family. Her son Justin built and designed this table in his high school wood shop class to mimic a 3,000 table from among his mum’s inspirational magazine clippings.

Colleen Brett

Spilling out of the entryway is the entire first floor: a large and inviting gathering room which flows easily into the kitchen. The walls are the colour of sand, and the furniture, in soft shades of teal and brown, right relates to the sea glass exhibited on countertops and tables.

Couch and chairs: Century Furniture

Colleen Brett

Sea glass is exhibited throughout the home, as it had been the inspiration for both the colour palette and the prosperity of glass details in the home.

Colleen Brett

Joining the two rooms is a curved eating nook. As opposed to go the conventional route using a high countertop and line of bar stools, Dana wished to make a place to eat that was part of both rooms. The fan-backed seat occupies the round glass table and supplies function as a kitchen table, as well as additional seating close to the fireplace.

Colleen Brett

Straddled between the kitchen and family room is a large air conditioning duct, among the significant design issues in this home. In order to hang out a light right above the kitchen table, then it would have been required to go directly through the duct. Dana collaborated with the architect to look this custom fixture fixture. It comes with a round base and thin sheets of textured glass to be built round the duct, preventing any damage to the beam and getting art from a essential light source.

Colleen Brett

Glass is also artfully showcased from the kitchen, among the most gorgeous rooms of the home. The mosaic tile backsplash is reminiscent of sea glass in colour and feel. The tiles have been tied into the delicately backlit geometric contours of this stained glass strip above the cabinets, which Dana created.

Colleen Brett

Even the cabinets are facing textured glass, which divides the contents of each one, but keeps the airy, open feel of this downstairs.

Kitchen design group: Holloway Home Improvement
Cabinetry: Heritage Custom Cabinetry

Colleen Brett

The kitchen is filled with geometric details, from the curved counter of this island to the stained glass above the cabinets. Even the throw rug and hardware on the cabinets honor geometry in this room.

Colleen Brett

Colleen Brett

The fireplace is the focus of this first floor. Dana chose southwestern stones in keeping with her earthy colour palette and enjoy of simple geometric shapes. A massive slate hearth provides warm additional seating on harsh winter days.

Colleen Brett

I had to share a glimpse into Dana’s art studio, hidden from this open floor plan of the first floor. She loves painting the Ocean City sunsets that her husband, Joe, photos. She’s looking forward to an upcoming juried show at the Ocean City Arts Center.

Colleen Brett

Leading up to the second floor is a geometric stair railing, using a Mondrian-like grid at each post. There are also beautiful lighting fixtures set against the backdrop of marble-like faux painting.

Colleen Brett

The master bedroom awaits at the peak of the staircase. They sacrificed space here to let for a private balcony, which feeds in a lot of light, which makes the dark plum fabrics and mahogany furniture texture tasteful without overwhelming the smaller room.

Colleen Brett

Here you get a close look at the cloth installment that Dana created behind the headboard. She originally wanted a window to move above the bed, but when structural limits stopped that, she went directly to her sewing machine.

Colleen Brett

Having built on precisely the same place as their original home, they knew where the light and views were going to be the best. The balcony off the master bedroom provides a lot of sunlight, as well as a view of the house’s beautiful landscaping, and even a glimpse of the bay.

More:
Broad Cottage on the Jersey Shore
Geometry and Art in Chelsea
From Building Blocks to Buildings: Balanced Geometry in Architecture
Modern Icons: X Marks the Spot

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Warm Up Your Rooms With a Gorgeous Off-White Paint

One of my favourite clothing items is my off-white winter coat. Though it’s such a light color, it has a hot glow, looks comfy, and I will wear whatever with it. That is exactly how I feel about using off-white paint in a room. Unlike stark white, warmer tinted whites bring a subtle radiance to a room that produces a cozy neutral setting or a blank background for unlimited color choices. Off-whites are classic but they are also on-trend, and that gives you countless design options that are both fresh and timeless.

More: How to Select the Right White Paint

Michael Knowles, Architect

If you’re not certain which kind of off-white to use in your area, take clues from the existing furnishings or materials. In this foyer, the parchment wall color is close to the lightest hue in the floor. This type of coordination creates a nice flow from 1 surface to another.

Stonewood, LLC

The yellow-green tint in this warm paint color is also seen in the upholstered chairs and area rug.

MANDARINA STUDIO interior design

Off-whites aren’t restricted to ivory, ivory and pale yellow. Expand your range by using whites that are tinted with colours such as coral or apricot. These hot peachy-pinks are ideal to traditional spaces and they are always in vogue.

Maraya Interior Design

Ivory is a common neutral for Spanish and Mediterranean homes. This allows other architectural features, such as wood beamed ceilings and ironwork, to really stand out.

Matthew MacCaul Turner

Colors such as sand and tan are a little more earthy than some of the other off-whites. These hues will give your space a more natural, earthy texture. However, the overall feeling is still airy and light.

Jennifer Brouwer (Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc)

Creamy white cupboards are a great way to brighten up a kitchen while also adding warmth and fashion. Here, instead of using snow white cabinetry, see here Boston snow removal services, off-white was utilized which is much more in harmony with the gold tan countertops and backsplash.

Dijeau Poage Construction

Rose and blush are very flattering which is the reason why I love using them in baths. Even an understated rose-tinted white will capture your attention and make you look good.

JMA INTERIOR DESIGN

Who will withstand vanilla? This hot white is delicious and inviting, and it makes everything around it look luscious, too.

Off-White Paint Picks:
Futon 7101 by Sherwin-Williams
French Vanilla 7118 by Sherwin-Williams
Albescent OC-40 by Benjamin Moore
Cottage White 1813 by Behr

Next: How to Select the Ideal White Paint Color
How to Select the Ideal Gray Paint
10 Ways to Make Your Neutral Palette Shine

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Guest Picks: Handicrafts from Rwanda

I have always loved global layout. Once I stumbled upon a few plateau baskets created by women in Rwanda, I searched for more of their beautiful handicrafts. I love that every piece is so complicated in detail and they all tell a story in their own culture. These are the types of things that I love bringing into my home: one-of-a-kind statement bits which also tell a story about the entire world. And all these purchases benefit the neighborhood craft — what could be better than that? — Lillian out of Unstitched

Eclectic Baskets – $44

This plateau basket includes such calming colors, and the special swirl shape is indeed eye-catching — it resembles a wave or even a kaleidoscope. This could be perfect used as a bowl or hung on the wall as artwork.

Shop 4 Rwanda

Friendship Baubles – GBP 1.25

These friendship baubles are perfect little Christmas gifts. Produced from sisal and sweet grass, each is unique.

Indego Africa

Wine Coasters – $15

Each of those wine coasters, made from conventional Dutch fabric, is closely stitched with foot-powered sewing machines. These would make wonderful presents.

Rwandan Peace Basket

These conventional woven baskets represent that the artisan craft of Rwanda. Made of sisal, they’re sturdy and perfect for storage. I especially love the vivid red — we can all use a bit more reddish in our homes, could not we?

EarthLover

Handwoven Sisal Basket – $48

This basket includes such a bright and happy color blend; it reminds me of sunlight. Each of the colors is dyed obviously by plant or tea leaves. This is likely to make you smile each time you see it.

Indego Africa

Woven Coaster Set – $25

This is the perfect cultural piece to add to some cocktail party. These woven coasters are handmade with needles and conventional threads. My favourite part is you can observe the intricate job that went into creating them.

Indego Africa

Plateau Basket – $44

The soft muted colors of the basket are so calming. Even with all the complex details and patterns, it is still so easy to check at. It is just designed enough that is isn’t loud or overbearing — a great piece to add to some room to get a bit of a global feel.

Indego Africa

Banana Table Runner – $48

This bamboo table runner is the perfect organic touch to any table. I love finding unique ways of bringing the outside in, just like this. Each of them is handmade with strips and needles of banana leaves, therefore no 2 will be the same. The intricate technique employed in creating this makes it a really intriguing piece.

Indego Africa

Agaseke Basket – $40

These agaseke baskets are so distinctively shaped, they would make certain to be a statement piece. These are traditionally created for newlyweds, each distinctly designed to represent something about the bunch. They take five days to make, so that you know they’re quite a gift from the heart.

Indego Africa

Large Woven Platter – $75

Dynamic and cultural, these platters would be the perfect unique piece to spice up a coffee table or display. They would be perfect as a tray to group sculptures together or on their own as art.

Indego Africa

Agaseke Basket Ornament – $11

These tiny agaseke basket ornaments make amazing and socially responsible gifts for the holidays. I love the colors of the one — equally relaxing and bright.

In the color to the print, I love the fabrics used to make these wine bags. Simply made yet still representing the civilization, these would be such unique global housewarming gifts (with a bottle of wine inside, of course).

Shop 4 Rwanda

Violet and Natural Fruit Bowl – GBP 10

Produced from earthen materials (sisal, papyrus, bamboo leaf and sweet bud ), this basket is ideal for holding fruit. I especially love the patterns and colors: checkers and dark purple stripes.

Shop 4 Rwanda

Dark Blue Rwandan Table Cloth – GBP 6

This tablecloth is made from East African fabrics. The bright blue color is so dramatic; it would make any picnic or outdoor meal intriguing.

Shop 4 Rwanda

Set of 5 Placemats – GBP 10

These hardy placemats are not only functional, but also so intriguing to look at. You can observe the carefully woven pattern in every and every one. And they’re so durable, they will surely help shield a tabletop from scratches.

Sundance Catalog

Handwoven Wide Nyanza Baskets – $145

The colors of those beautifully woven baskets are simply stunning, and there is that little dash of detail with every line of color. Like all the other crafts, these baskets are made from organic, earthly materials. It is so inspiring to find that beautiful objects like these can be created from natural materials.

Eclectic Baskets – $40

This ageseke basket reflects a piece of historic significance in Rwanda: the reconciliation of the 1994 genocide. Both lines represent two women walking together hand in hand, stopping to meet a friend before moving ahead. This is a slice of home decor that reflects hope.

The large, bold patterns on the fabric of the wine tote are so intriguing. They make the cloth seem so cultural. Tied on the top with a drawstring, these wine bags are excellent little pouches for storing wine.

Indego Africa

Woven Banana Box – $110

These sturdy baskets are made from banana leaves. I love that the weave produces such a pretty routine alone. These are also quite sturdy — perfect for storage.

Shop 4 Rwanda

Keza (“Beautiful”) Sissal Grass Bowl – GBP 8.50

The brilliant mixture of pink and turquoise in this bowl also make it so beautiful. It is woven with a number of all-natural materials, sweet grass among them. You can still smell the sweet grass, including an aromatic component to the room as well as visual eye candy.

Next: More ideabooks from Lillian

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Tastemakers: Talents Shine in New Lighting Designs

What happens when a few — whose combined talents consist of graphic design, photography, advertising, hospitality, large ideas, revenue, woodworking and engineering — get together? If they’re Adam Policky and Dawn Hagin, of Portland, Maine, they wind up heritage a studio which makes unique and beautiful lighting.

The couple met in 1994 when operating to get the exact same graphic design business in San Francisco. They proceeded to begin Rare Brick, a firm that specializes in photographing, branding and advertising boutique hotels. While they excelled at this work, “I needed to work with my palms and I had had enough of sitting in front of my computer for eight hours,” Policky says. The hospitality sector inspired the new enterprise, as a few of their initial commissions were to design site-specific lighting fixtures for their boutique-hotel clients. Thus, Inspired Wire Studios was born.

The few today layouts fittings for many different clients, from their original hospitality clients to private owners and retail and gallery spaces. Combining Hagin’s tendency to say, “Would not it be cool if…” with Policky’s photographer’s knowledge of mild — and the capability to make just about any idea come to life — has resulted in a group of special and truly inspired bits.

Browse light ideas

Launched Wire Studio

Launched Wire Studio

This playful fixture, also known as the Bübingarang, was made for Policky and Hagin’s dining area. The boomerang shape pays homage to mid-century contemporary design, and it is crafted from a beautiful African rosewood known as bubinga (thus the name of the fixture). The piece shows us a lot about the manner Policky and Hagin collaborate. They brainstorm together, come up with a sketch, and Policky builds the fixture while Hagin scouts fabrics and makes the lampshades.

A conversation I had with Policky and Hagin showed me much about the way that they design.

Policky: One of the fantastic things about this piece is the equilibrium. When designing the pole, I needed to balance the burden in order not to put pressure on the junction box…
Hagin: He studied physics.
Me: I wasjust thinking he must have a degree in engineering.
Hagin: He has that rare right brain/left brain equilibrium.
Me: I had been thinking that when he said “junction box.”

The point is, there’s a great deal more to every piece than one notices at first. The Bübingarang ($920) is a bit that Inspired Wire offers as part of their current product lineup, they want to develop along with the custom bits they craft.

Launched Wire Studio

Launched Wire Studio

This next bit, the Zero-C Floor Lamp, was designed for the owner of a eclectic studio. The area it was intended for functioned double-duty for a place to present to clients in addition to the proprietor’s own amusement area.

At 5′ 9″, the lamp includes a impressive presence. The lamp includes a distinct look when seen head-on; its curved shape is undetectable from this angle.

Launched Wire Studio

The Zero-C (beginning at $850) is a excellent example of one of Inspired Wire Studio’s signature moves, mixing metal and wood. In cases like this, it’s a mingling of oiled maple and stainless steel. Policky’s foray to metalcrafting is a recent development. “There’s something elemental about melting two pieces of metal together,” he says.

Though the Zero-C’s beginning was inspired by the site and the customer’s needs, it is now a regular yet customizable bit for them. If you purchase one, they’ll probably want to change something about the materials, lampshade or perhaps just the color of the cord for a nod into your space and style.

Launched Wire Studio

In terms of guidelines, the client had a cherry maple dining table and desired uniformity through the open space. “The client actually sent us a CAD file of the entire building, so I was able to put each light into a 3-D model to inspect the scale,” says Policky. Rectilinear shapes and warm forests carried through each of the light fixture layouts, providing continuity, in spite the fittings’ very different appearances.

Launched Wire Studio

This Washington D.C. condominium was a full job for the bunch. This client had admired their outsized drum pendants in a resort in the Poconos and hired them to design all of his light fixtures.

The JFG table lamp ($520), is a lesson in scale and site-specific design. In 39″, it’s taller than your normal table lamp, yet its own scale and proportions are fantastic for the space.

Launched Wire Studio

All these JFG Wall Sconces are just another wonderful blend of metal and steel and rectangles and curves. A metal frame surrounds a cherry wood plank using a delicate bird’s-eye maple inlay. Perforated steel cages curve round the bulbs. Policky and Hagin are enormous fans of Marconi lightbulbs, which exude a beautiful warm glow.

Launched Wire Studio

This two-drum JFG Chandellier ($1,260) over the dining table is a fantastic mixture of metal and wood. It also floats in an eye catching manner, reiterating Policky’s curiosity about the physics of suspension.

Launched Wire Studio

The significant fixture at the entryway was one of Hagin’s “Would not it be cool if…” ideas called The S-Curve. She initially sketched out the plan on a napkin. While her original layout had a metallic curve wrapped around two drum colors, an alteration was made to fit this site.

“Because it was to get a hallway which leads down to a common area, we needed it for a dramatic piece,” Hagin describes. Inside this entryway, the six pendants supply more play and lend a rhythm into a space meant to be moved through.

In 68″ long, the S-Curve ($3,480) is rather hefty, but Policky’s knack for physics lets it hang from the center of the piece without wobbling. Two additional hanging points eliminate spinning.

Launched Wire Studio

Here’s a closer look in the S-Curve. They chose acrylic to encircle the bulbs since it’s lighter than glass, and because of its very contemporary uniformity. “Glass has beautiful stripes, but they can be distracting,” clarifies Policky. Again, Marconi bulbs are utilized to provide off a calm light.

Launched Wire Studio

A finishing touch for the condo was the Monogram Shadowbox ($620). “The area away from the customer’s condo has two doors; one which extends into to the living space and another that leads into a utility area,” says Hagin. “He desired us to help direct people to the ideal door.” The pair looked for their expertise with hotels for the response, gleaning inspiration to the way hotel door numbers are marked.

“That is a highly customizable bit,” says Hagin. “The insert slides into grooves, so there can be multiple inserts created for every fixture.” It can exhibit initials, a house number or office name. The combination of the birch wood framework with rippled plexiglass and perforated steel provides visitors a hint at what awaits behind the front door.

Launched Wire Studio

Moving on to a different home, we spy the Bulbs at a Cage Drum ($640) from the entryway. It holds a half dozen Marconi lightbulbs at a perforated drum. They can transform the room based on the sum of other light and the good time of day. “The O-shapes from the steel produce short vertical lines all around the walls and the ceiling,” says Hagin.

“I added the timber veneers (in the top of the cylinder) since I needed to do something different than what was expected,” says Policky. This size functions as a dramatic lighting in an entryway. They’ve a smaller version in their own house.

Launched Wire Studio

These His & Hers Floor Lamps ($650) were inspired by “a chair the client had that has been Eames-ish,” clarifies Hagin. “It had a square seat and glancing at an angle.”

“We utilized the same-sized structural crossbar on the mild which the chair had,” says Policky. He crafted the initial lamp out of stainless steel (abandoned). “The client saw the lamp and loved it so much he wanted another lamp,” says Policky. “I made the exact same lamp but mimicked it in wood instead of steel.”

While these lamps have identical silhouettes, one is made of hard stainless steel, the other from delicate curly maple. The same structure was achieved using very different materials.

So, what will the future hold for Inspired Wire Studio? “Building our own studio has been a labor of love,” says Hagin. The company is growing and the few are looking to make this their fulltime gig.

Hagin and Policky appreciate the advantages of living in Portland, which, as well as its beauty, include a community of people and city support for small companies. They aspire to expand and use additional craftspeople to help them produce their work. I look forward to seeing what they do.

More:
Sculptor Susan Wallace Turns Screen Doors Into Art
Design Tastemaker: Jared Rusten
Tastemaker: Asaf Weinbroom, Lighting Designer

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Houzz Tour: 19th-Century Farmhouse Becomes Home for 5

When she was growing up in her small hometown in Western New York, Susan Duane would push with a beautiful farmhouse just minutes from her home and daydream about what it’d be like to reside. “There was something about it,” she says. “I couldn’t ever really go by without looking at it. I probably said’I love that house’ countless times to anyone who’d listen.” Not long after she got married, the home went up for sale for the very first time in almost 30 decades. Duane and her husband jumped on it, and was able to seal the deal with the owner the very day that they went to go see it.

Now, Duane — who chronicles her home adventures on the site Enjoy of Home — has lived in this home with her husband and 3 children for 12 decades. The home was constructed in 1890, therefore there was a lot of work. But after several big renovations, she’s managed to make her dream house the perfect home.

Susan Duane

The house is very much a traditional farmhouse, therefore Duane stuck with this frame when decorating. As an older home, it consistently has some task that needs a little extra attention. Since Duane and her family have lived here, they’ve replaced the roof, the majority of the windows, the heating, and renovated the kitchen and the fantastic room.

A classic dining table, chairs and armoire painted in a retro-friendly turquoise brightens the backyard. The chalk-painted flowerpots hold fresh herbs for family meals.

Duane loves to visit estate sales and small local stores to locate furniture for her home. A number of the pieces in her house are refinished, such as several beautiful hand-me-downs from her grandparents.

The back porch looks out over the house’s expansive backyard, perfect for Duane’s kids. Since it is enclosed, the distance could be used year round. Duane designated multiple seating areas for optimal after-dinner entertaining.

A porch swing rests with a small dining table and chairs on front porch, inviting visitors to the front entry. A large jute rug is excellent for this transitional space between the indoors and the outdoors.

Traditional Ralph Lauren wallpaper in the dining room suits the house’s 19th-century origins. A crocheted tablecloth out of Duane’s grandmother matches the walllpaper’s tan hue. Duane completed the look of the room using a traditional chandelier and classic art on the walls.

Background: Ralph Lauren
dining table and chairs: Ethan Allen

Susan Duane

Once they moved in, Duane and her husband decided to fully re-do the kitchen. Off-white cabinets with gas have been selected for their classic, farmhouse feel. A personalized hood was designed to blend in with all the cabinets’ design; white beadboard tile was set up on the counter tops, and simple iron lighting fixtures were picked out of a local light shop.

Countertops: Granite
Cabinetry: Kahle’s Kitchen
Backsplash: The Tile Shoppe
Barstools: Ballard Designs

The kitchen space extends into a large living room, which includes this eat-in space. This is where Duane’s family spends most of their time, and where guests often congregate.

The kitchen table and seats have a much more relaxed feel compared to more formal dining room, due in part to Duane’s decision to set a bench on one side of the dining table. The seats are a mix — 2 are new purchases, and 2 are refinished hand-me-downs out of Duane’s grandparents.

Table: Henry & Co..
Bench: Ballard Designs

Susan Duane

The simple, casual living room is more of a sitting area for guests than a place where the family hangs out. A mixture of Pottery Barn furniture and an armchair out of her grandmother gives it a personalized look. A beautiful wool runner around the staircase keeps feet warm and adds a subtle piece of layout.

Chair: Pottery Barn
Chairs: Pottery Barn
Rug: Pottery Barn
Table lamps: Pottery Barn, Target
Chest of drawers: Pottery Barn

Susan Duane

This beautiful wallpaper in the bathroom was already in this room when Duane and her husband purchased the home. A friend found virtually identical fabric at Calico Corners and sewed curtains with gingham trim to provide a little solitude.

Susan Duane

Duane’s son’s bedroom was designed with an increasing boy in mind — it is a room that could easily last him throughout his teens. A subtle blue hue is boyish and flexible, and the vinyl decal can easily be taken down if desired. The bedframe was Duane’s grandfather.

Decal: Etsy

Susan Duane

Like the rest of the home, the master bedroom is a soft mixture of superbly worn pieces and a mild and soothing color palette. A couple dark accents include contrast to the almost all-white space. The bedframe is wooden, but Duane recently made it white to mix with the rest of her bedroom .

Bedframe: Ethan Allen
Bedding: Martha Stewart,Target self-made throw pillows
Armoire: Ethan Allen
Cabinets: Target

A mudroom within the home’s entrance collects your children’s daily odds and ends until they wind up in a pile on the ground. Assigned cubbies and baskets from Target help keep things neat and clean. A window seat provides a place to pull dirty shoes before walking to the house. Duane coated the cushion herself and made the pleated skirt.

Baskets and cushions: Target

Susan Duane

“I love being home more than anywhere else, so I needed it to feel relaxed, cozy and comfortable,” says Duane.

It’s been over a decade because she and her husband first saw the”For Sale” sign on the house, and it’s truly evolved into a home. “I can not imagine being anywhere else. I think it was just meant to be,” she says.

More Houzz Tours:
A Sweet Southern Makeover

Light and Lovely Home with a Distinctive History

Mobile, Modern Farmhouse

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The Faux Fireplace: A Year-Round Home Accessory

Because I reside in a tropical island, I don’t have any need for a fireplace, but I really like. A fireplace serves as an ideal point within a place because it can be decorated in many ways.

Determined to have the impression of a fireplace during the holidays in my house, I chose to bring a make-believe mantle to my family room. Below are strategies and some examples for implementing a faux fireplace of your own.

The Painted Room

Think about leaving it sporadically, when you find that enviable mantle. This faux fireplace wasn’t painted. Rather, its normal texture of stripped pine brings a rustic aura and patina style into the living room.

Dreamy Whites

For people who wish to put in a faux fireplace which doesn’t catch all the attention, a coat of new paint is going to do just fine. In an all-white scheme like this one, the snowy ring stays silent, employed as a gorgeous base for mementos and ranges.

Dreamy Whites

In a different shot of the identical mantle, we can observe every detail of this item. Itworks with the shabby and rustic.

Cke interior design llc

If the idea of a make-believe fireplace leaves you overlooking the warmth and allure of fire, place candles inside. Add some lighting for a room that is romantic and cozy.

Here is another take on the candlelight thought, where candles are positioned on different levels to add drama.

Hann Builders

Get creative by adding touches of style. Blue tiles adorn an archway within this “hacienda kitchen”

Two Story Cottage

You can fill your chimney with whatever else. A mirror placed inside this tiled fireplace adds measurement and also an unexpected reflection of this room.

SFGIRLBYBAY

A faux fireplace can also frame an interesting accessory, like this seat with books piled onto it. With so many ways to utilize them, I can not wait to have my own faux fireplace. Wish me luck!

Can you get a faux fireplace? Please discuss a picture of it below. I would love to see it!

More:
Ensure Your Fireplace the Focal Point

Design Details: Tiled Fireplace Surrounds

Surround Your Fireplace With Brick, Tile or Stone

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