Nature Meets Nurture in a Canadian Island Retreat

Organic beauty, a booming surf community and also a laid-back, small-town lifestyle made Ucluelet, British Columbia, an ideal match for Eoin Finn and his wife, Insiya Rasiwala-Finn. As yogis, ocean worshippers and also the founders of Blissology — a holistic lifestyle and doctrine — they left their oceanside home an idyllic location for relaxing and reconnecting between global training sessions for yoga teachers.

The couple purchased their ground-floor, open-concept condominium five decades ago as a vacation rental, “but now we live inside when we aren’t traveling and teaching elsewhere, so it really feels like a little bit of our soul,” says Insiya. Collected furniture, art, vibrant touches and what Insiya describes as eco-boho-modern design have since made the interior a location that both nurtures and inspires.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Insiya Rasiwala-Finn, Eoin Finn and their son, Ananda Lion
Location: Ucluelet, Vancouver Island
Size: 1,700 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 2 baths
That’s intriguing: The condominium sits across the street in the open Pacific, which stretches unbroken to Japan.

Megan Buchanan

Designed as a family space in which to relax, create and be inspired, the living room is bright and open, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the west-facing views. “I had this idea to make a focal point along the back wall,” says Insiya. “We purchased the house the exact same year we got married in Tofino, and some of our friends who were artists and photographers gave us some lovely pieces.”

The black and white tree photograph is by Alex Jowett of Toronto.

Coffee table: Drake, Gus Modern

Megan Buchanan

A neutral tufted sectional from Gus Modern anchors the room with some cheery coloured throw pillows, including one with an elephant-print cloth that speaks to Insiya’s Indian heritage. The treasures of the couple sit atop the Ikea Expedit shelves housing their book collection.

Megan Buchanan

Fantastic for reading, a leather armchair from Gus Modern that has been Eoin’s pick faces toward the terrace and views. “We put a decorating budget of $25,000 Canadian [about US$24,416] for all the soft and hard furnishings, which we slightly exceeded if we splurged on this chair,” Insiya says. “That is probably my husband’s favorite article of furniture. We had been pretty much on track.”

Megan Buchanan

Beyond the foyer the home opens to the gathering spaces. Ten-foot-high Granite and ceilings beams frame the living , kitchen and dining areas. An earthy yet daring Ferm Living wallpaper defines the living room, with fitting hits of aqua found in the ottoman, throw pillows and area rug brought back from a trip to India, where Insiya is from.

The spacious mantel above the slate-wrapped gas fireplace holds votives and lanterns, while comfy oversize pillows create a place for lounging in front of the flame.

Megan Buchanan

The homeowners enjoy shared meals and gatherings in the dining room in a modern teak dining table and chairs passed by friends. The set fits perfectly in the space with another wooden bits. On the far wall above the console is one of the few first home buys: a hand-carved cedar moon by local artist Keith Plumley.

Megan Buchanan

The wood and natural elements are taken into the kitchen with all the cabinetry and butcher block countertops. Stainless appliances keep things modern. The openness and the views of the ocean while cooking together or washing up are just two of the family’s favourite things in their kitchen. “I love our big glass windows and doors that orient toward the ocean. In addition, I love the high ceilings and the cedar columns that actually ground the distance,” Insiya says.

Megan Buchanan

“I’d call our design eco-boho-modern. We are drawn to organic finishes, warm woods, however love the simplicity of white from the wood,” adds Insiya. Both bedrooms branch from the primary living space, and walls retained neutral showcase more art by friends. A glance into the master bedroom indicates another picture wall treatment.

Megan Buchanan

A navy and white wallpaper, Family Tree from Ferm Living, wraps the wall in the master bedroom. Insiya says, “We have some recommendations from a buddy who’s a designer, Kelly Deck, in Vancouver where to provide the wallpaper for our home, but we chose what and didn’t work with a designer or contractor.” Another beautiful painting coordinates textiles collected from journeys, especially India.

Megan Buchanan

This can be Insiya’s favorite place in the home. “The aged antique white desk that I recently got painted and distressed white in our bedroom is the perfect place to write and journal,” she says.

Megan Buchanan

On the other wall of the bedroom, the couple created a space for relaxing and enjoying the gas fireplace in the foot of the mattress. “We have used sustainable furnishings everywhere potential — none of this upholstery has fire retardants, the mattress mattresses are organic latex, and we use only eco friendly cleaning products,” says Insiya. The soft furnishings and pillows are all organic linen or cotton, and our throws are pure wool.”

Megan Buchanan

Opposite the tub in the master bath are his-and-her vanities with boat sinks and sleek faucets. A large sculpture, evocative of blossom, hangs on the adjacent wall.

Megan Buchanan

The master bath features a large jetted tub surrounded by natural slate tile.

Megan Buchanan

Guests use kid Ananda Lion’s bedroom once the family is away.

Megan Buchanan

The condo’s second bath features a large glass-enclosed walk-in shower and fitting vanities.

Megan Buchanan

A large foyer with built-in closets to the left and also a vintage leather bench gives a fantastic space for browsing or beachcombing prep. The slate tile floors and natural-fiber area rug are perfect for accommodating wet gear.

A painting by Eoin’s mother, Carole Finn, depicts the surrounding Vancouver Island landscape.

Megan Buchanan

The unit is in a condominium building that sits atop a ridge, taking advantage of the west-facing viewpoints. Large paned windows and clear glass patio railings allow ample all-natural light and are excellent for nature viewing. Cedar siding speaks to the unit’s organic design.

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Remodeling Brightens a Row House at Washington, D.C.

This Washington, D.C., household was ready for a simpler life if they discovered this historic row house on Capitol Hill — a good size but roughly half the square footage of their prior residence. While less space was expected (and desired), the home’s layout was due for an update. Contractor Darren Kornas, interior designer Jackie Sink and architect Steve Lawlor worked together to incorporate an airy interior that suited the household’s present furniture and eclectic style.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Two and their 3 teenage daughters
Location: Capitol Hill area of Washington, D.C.
Size: 2,400 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

ThinkMakeBuild

The row home’s southeast-corner location provides great light on either side, and Lawlor and Kornas completely gutted the home to open this up. A remodel in the 1980s had removed most of the home’s original details, so there wasn’t much to preserve.

Lawlor made the interior with gallery-like walls, cozy nooks and built-ins for plenty of screen opportunities. The dining room built-ins — just visible past the living room — hide a wall, add storage and generate a buffet.

ThinkMakeBuild

The family had plenty of existing furniture, but Sink nevertheless had her work cut out for her, since the furniture’s bigger scale didn’t always fit this smaller home.

Some pieces, however, could be used for drama — this massive mirror and chandelier in the dining room, for example.

Bar stools: CB2

ThinkMakeBuild

Lawlor and Kornas reshaped the interior layout, rearranging the floor plan along with moving the kitchen in the centre to the rear of the home.

The new color palette is based on the wonderful cement backsplash tiles from the kitchen. The tiles are set up in two little spaces, but they are visible from many points on the principal floor.

Tiles: Popham Design (no longer available)

ThinkMakeBuild

The kitchen’s fresh location was the home’s back porch. As in most row houses, the porch was enclosed, surrounded by a bank of windows. Lawlor maintained this look from the brand new kitchen replacing but replicating the first windows. Gray cabinetry and counters add to the style.

ThinkMakeBuild

The original miniature galley kitchen wasn’t much bigger than a hallway. Moving the kitchen to the back of this home gave it more light and additional square footage.

ThinkMakeBuild

Sink chose two Benjamin Moore colours — Light Pewter and Nimbus — to the cabinetry and the exterior, which help balance out the wood tones in the home. “All these are warmer grays, which are very comfortable to live with,” she states.

ThinkMakeBuild

Sink had the family’s old living room couch reupholstered. Durable, inexpensive painter’s drop cloths became custom slipcovers for the armchairs.

ThinkMakeBuild

Virtually everything else in this room, with the exclusion of this Pottery Barn carpet, is in the previous home or was discovered at a yard sale.

ThinkMakeBuild

Upstairs, one of the girls’ bedrooms feels fresh and youthful with soft sage-green walls and a bright paisley bedspread. Sturdy texture is added by A Pottery Barn jute carpet.

ThinkMakeBuild

The other two daughters share a bedroom, with a crisp navy, white and green palette inspired by this Serena & Lily duvet.

Over the beds Lawlor opened up the ceiling to expose false dormer windows — a frequent accession to row home facades. Light now pours through those vents. Sink painted the inside of every vent Pear Green from Benjamin Moore to get a lively touch.

ThinkMakeBuild

Long, open halls today join the bedrooms, preventing them from feeling overly closed off. Original wood floors run through the entire upstairs.

ThinkMakeBuild

White trim highlights conventional details from the master bedroom. A cozy custom-upholstered bed frame along with a lush Persian rug give this space a new look using classic fabrics and colours.

Trim paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore

ThinkMakeBuild

This corner view of the home indicates the enclosed rear porch, now the kitchen.

ThinkMakeBuild

The row home is one of many in this Washington, D.C., community. As it’s in a historic district, updates to the home’s exterior were confined to the exterior color.

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Able to Try Something New? Guides to Color for Your Kitchen

Vibrant reds, bold oranges and electrical greens all have their place in the kitchen now — it is only a matter of locating the right tone and utilizing it correctly. Are you ready to get cooking with color? Take a peek at a few of ‘s finest kitchen color guides, complete with suggested paint picks and color palettes, and start sampling some new new hues in your own kitchen cabinets, island and backsplash.

Amazing Spaces

Red

Stimulating shades of crimson have are purported to up the appetite, making it a fantastic kitchen color for families who like to cook (and eat). But should you make use of a hot reddish or a trendy red? And just how much? Get plenty of paint samples prior to deciding upon a last tone and be mindful that reddish requires at least 2 coats for complete coverage.

Paint picks: When to Use Red in the Kitchen

Kingston Design Remodeling

Orange

Like crimson, orange grabs the attention right away and is best used on great characteristics which should be exaggerated. Take care when playing with mild tones, though — occasionally orange can seem like a pastel, therefore search for oranges with yellowish or brown in them if you want something that isn’t too vibrant.

Paint picks: When to Use Orange in the Kitchen

Barbra Bright Design

Green

Green can be a tricky color to work with — although the right colors feel refreshing and playful, the wrong colors can look almost sickly. This manual has some fantastic advice to get you started: Proceed for a hue that reminds you of your favorite green meals.

Paint picks: When to Use Green at the Kitchen

Ecologic-Studio, llc

Blue

This relaxing shade can make even the most chaotic space feel relaxing. But be careful when using it in the kitchensince blue may be an appetite suppressant. Rather than going overboard with this watery hue, consider using it in small doses — on cabinetry, islands or backsplashes.

Paint picks: When to Use Blue in the Kitchen

Design Line Construction, Inc..

Dark

There is a good reason black is always in style — it goes with everything. Neutral and colorful kitchens can equally make use of this stunning and dark color. But be careful — black absorbs a good deal of light, therefore it may not be the best option for a kitchen that doesn’t get much sunshine.

Paint picks: When to Use Black at the Kitchen

NVS Remodeling & Design

Cabinet Colors

If a new wall shade just isn’t giving your kitchen the upgrade you want, painting your cabinetry can be an affordable way to amp up your kitchen’s design. Nevertheless, it is not only a matter of slapping on a paint — painting cabinets can be a great deal of work, therefore be careful to choose a palette that you know you will love.

Paint picks: 8 Great Kitchen Cabinet Color Palettes

Shelter Interiors LLC

Cabinet Stains

Torn between painting your timber cabinets or leaving them in their unadorned beauty? Fortunately, there is a compromise. Staining your cabinets can add subtle color to your kitchen but still retain the texture and authentic wood grain.

Shade picks: Stain Colors for Kitchen Cabinets

Domiteaux + Baggett Architects, PLLC

Color Combinations

The good news: You’ve finally decided what color you want for your kitchen. The good thing: This is only the start. Just take the opportunity to choose accent colours, fabrics and the proper paint software to produce the perfect palette for your chosen colour.

Paint picks: 8 Great Kitchen Color Schemes

Miss your favorite hue? Get designer kitchen palette ideas for Each color

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From Dark and Dim to Cheerily Colorful in Pennsylvania

Lu-in Wang and her husband, Dave Herring, needed some drastic changes to perk up their dark and neglected Pittsburgh home. They replaced old windows, then tackled the dim and obsolete kitchen, working with architect Mary Cerrone to incorporate light and color. A brand new deck plus a rainbow-like palette then helped turn the remainder of the home to a bright and inviting location.

in a Glance
Who lives here:
Dave Herring and Lu-in Wang
Location: Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh
Size: About 2,100 square feet;3 bedrooms, two bathrooms

Adrienne DeRosa

The brand new kitchen makes sensible use of this narrow space. Open cabinets and plate racks bring about the spacious feel and store things within arm’s reach.

Cerrone made custom maple cabinets with a bright yellow aniline dye complete. This process allows the natural grain of the wood to come through, giving subtle warmth and texture to the space.

Before Photo

MCAI

BEFORE: Formerly, the outdated kitchen has been split into three small rooms — a highly impractical design.

“No room was large enough to be helpful,” says Wang. “Each can accommodate no more than one or two people at one time.”

Adrienne DeRosa

They included a fresh workspace, integrated to the cabinetry, in the kitchen’s entry. The countertop is the perfect multitasking spot and can be transformed into a drink area if they entertain guests.

Stool: Model Six Stool, Jeff Covey; wall paint: Mt. Rushmore Rock, Benjamin Moore

Adrienne DeRosa

Cerrone replaced a window with a glass door to get instant access to a new outdoor balcony. A sliding screen solves the space challenges of the narrow thoroughfare. The screen tucks into a pocket behind the stainless steel fridge.

The doorway frame went through the exact same dying process as the cabinetry to get a more textural look.

Door hardware: Flat Track Series, Barn Door Hardware

Adrienne DeRosa

Herring and Wang’s excitement for colour greets visitors as soon as they enter the house. “We like warm, vibrant colors and tend to be attracted to the same ones, which is fortunate,” says Wang. “We did take into account the colors of adjoining rooms — particularly on the first floor, where each room has views of the others.”

Vibrant and contrasting colors highlight the house’s original features, like this archway and little wall cutout.

Entry paint: Bay Coral, PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Adrienne DeRosa

Light floods the living area from the back of the home, bringing the principal colors to life. Wang and Herring considered the colors of adjoining rooms when planning their own palette, leading to vibrant layers of colour and space.

Fireplace wall paint: Forsythia Blossom; media wall paint: Butterfly Bush, both by PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Adrienne DeRosa

Saturated colors in the dining area, such as the vibrant Savannah Moss green walls, feel particularly warm paired with organic wood furniture.

The combination of modern and traditional pieces creates a comfortable yet efficient atmosphere. “We get ideas by looking around wherever we are, particularly when we travel,” Wang says. “We love the functionality and feel of little, simple spaces”

Living chairs: Wrap Dining Chair, West Elm

Adrienne DeRosa

Wang enjoys spending time composing in this blue home office.

The antique chair was a wedding present in Herring’s sister, who rescued it out of their father’s pharmacy. The Bellevue print came out of a local artist and friend.

Wall paint: Monet Blue, PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Adrienne DeRosa

Wang and Herring redesigned their master bath in 2012, installing a tiled bathroom to save a fresh Cambria granite counter. Long subway tiles at a monochromatic scheme visually elongate the wall.

Wall paint: Hot Spring Stones, Benjamin Moore

Adrienne DeRosa

This window within the vanity has been the greatest challenge with the bathroom’s redesign, since it prevented the usual mirror installation. Cerrone had a swing-arm mirror set up on the wall.

Adrienne DeRosa

The aluminum deck — made with elements from a fire escape maker — has doors leading off the kitchen and living room, providing an immediate connection to the outside. During the summer months it is an perfect spot for entertaining.

Your turn: Show us your colorful home!

See related

9 Outdoor Lighting Schemes Which Get Common Style Right

Exterior lighting is equally as important as an inside lighting layout. Universally designed exterior lighting ensures a smooth transition between indoors and out when the evening rolls in. Well-executed outdoor lighting layout also makes all of the difference in transforming your entry from run-of-the-mill to inviting, welcoming and secure.

Other regions of the house, like patios and walkways, also deserve attention, as these are the areas people browse to get to the final destination — mishap free — to relax and rejuvenate. The light options here will make your outdoor spaces simpler for everyone, from those with aging bodies and eyes to small ones trying their wings out.

Sutton Suzuki Architects

The exterior lighting for this particular house clearly indicates the different outside zones, while the front door is marked from the wash of lights. Each one of the entrances are on a single level, with an optional stairs.

McKay Landscape Lighting

Here is another great example of creating a visual cue to a destination point. This house offers single-level access plus a good specifying sculpture to lead you into the front entry. In addition, I love the color and material contrast to help specify the different zones or regions of the house.

Phil Kean Design Group

While the path for this house’s front entry might be a bit long for a few, the LED lighting along its landings indicates the way into the front door.

Soloway Designs Inc | Architecture + Interiors AIA

Large landing zones, brief risers, step lights and strategically placed benches for rest stops allow for an easier way of the front door .

YOGESH WADHWANA

For the patio area of the home, the rope light around the outside of the raised beds offers a couple of advantages: It clearly defines the route into the entry-exit point of the construction and keeps people from bumping to the raised beds.

McKay Landscape Lighting

The down light in the retaining wall lights the road , along with the large coping stone offers a welcoming seat where a person can rest along the way.

Land & Water Design

This wonderful display of uplighting not just highlights and enhances the architectural and landscape characteristics of this space, but in addition supplies a reference point for somebody to judge distances and varying grades in the backyard.

EnvironmentalLights.com

If you have a deck, then consider LED rail lighting, like this one from Environmental Lights. It supplies a small amount of light that’s dimmable without a glare, and readily marks the perimeter of the deck.

über iron

And while you’re at it, do not forget you can also light the newel posts too!

More inspiration and ideas for layout that works for all

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Texas Gardener's February Checklist

Though the thermometer motivates you to remain indoors, February is a fantastic month to get out and get your hands dirty. You are able to begin plants in just about any class this month as seeds or small transplants, and you can work and enhance the soil in preparation for spring planting. So brave the chill and promise yourself a cup of hot tea in the conclusion of the day — your garden awaits, and it will thank you and pay you back in spades in a couple of months.

More regional garden guides

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Plant perennials and annuals. Many perennials and annuals can be directly implanted into the garden today for late-winter and early-spring color, as well as color throughout the remaining growing season.

Plant Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Turk’s cap (Malvaviscus drummondii), blackfoot daisy (Melampodium leucanthum), zexmenia (Wedelia texana), poppies (Papaver somniferum), snapdragons (Antirrhinum spp), stock (Matthiola spp), alyssum (Lobularia maritima), delphiniums (Delphinium spp), dusty miller (Senecio cineraria) and Language daisies (Bellis perennis).

Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates

Prune roses. Valentine’s Day is the traditional time to prune your roses, so get out your hand pruners and rose gloves. Eliminate dead canes (branches) and some other branch that spans over another or develops to the center of this plant, prune for shape.

Pruning your roses this season will make certain that your plant will have more lush expansion, an attractive shape and a profusion of blossoms during the forthcoming months.

Tutorial: See how to prune roses, step by step

Liquidscapes

Shear and shape plants. Prune immature fruit trees if necessary and also shear evergreen shrubs to maintain shape. Ornamental grasses, as well as perennials like esperanza (Tecoma stans), firebush (Hamelia patens) and salvia (Salvia gregii), can be cut back to about 12 inches.

Herbs like rosemary, oregano, savory and thyme will also appreciate a late-winter trimming. Be sure to avoid pruning your spring-flowering shrubs and trees at this moment, as doing so will remove their flower power till next year.

Jean Marsh Design

Sow seeds. Many herbaceous plants, vegetables and flower seeds can be sown directly into the garden dirt this season. Try sowing seeds such as chives, cilantro, dill, parsley, sweet peas, nasturtium, cosmos, beets, carrots, endive, kale, lettuce, parsnips, mustard greens, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips and rutabagas. Seeds for tomatoes and berries can be started indoors.

Fertilize flower and vegetable gardens. Early in the month, use some mulch or organic fertilizer in your flower and vegetable beds so the dirt is ready to go when spring hits. Try compost teas, liquid fertilizers, worm castings, cottonseed meal or compost from your own compost pile. Rake the mulch into the side and also work the fertilizer into the top couple of inches of dirt, then rake smooth and replace the mulch.

Ask your nursery for a fertilizer recommendation — nobody understands the local dirt and typical garden problems better than the team in a good neighborhood garden center.

Establish fruit plants and trees. Blackberries, dewberries, grapes, figs, pears, persimmons, strawberries and pomegranates can all be planted now, but make certain to pick the varieties that are best suited for your specific place. The regional nursery or extension office can offer recommendations for youpersonally, as well as the best times to plant them.

JMS Design Associates

Add herbs and vegetables. There is still time to receive your cool-season herbs and veggies in the floor. Plant broccoli, asparagus, Asian greens, artichokes, cabbage, chard, collards, seed potatoes, onion sets, spinach, mustard greens and lettuce.

Herbs to plant contain calendula, chives, cilantro, dill, lavender, rosemary, thyme, parsley, sage, fennel, sorrel and oregano. The sunnier the place, the greater the return.

decordemon

Test your soil. Take samples of soil from other parts of your garden and have them analyzed for pH as well as degrees of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Most extension offices will execute the test for a fee, and the outcomes will allow you to be aware of how to amend your soil if necessary. Some plants prefer a specific soil pH in order to bloom or thrive, so it is good to know what you are dealing with and make the suggested alterations.

How to begin your spring and summer plants inside

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Time Travel to ers' Childhood Homes, Part 1

The answer you ers had to our call to split the homes you grew up in has been wonderfully overwhelming. I have spent a great deal of time reading through all your memories, and I suggest everyone else do the same. If you want to take a break from work or give yourself a reward, then simply sit down with your laptop or iPad and enjoy the photos and stories.

I’ll be doing several installments during the upcoming few weeks so that each story can get its due. They’re in no particular order and include homes in a variety of styles and sizes, in widespread locations. Enjoy!

Detroit. This is one of user ikwewe’s youth homes (she is the baby in this picture, which reveals four generations), a post–World War II tract home at the Brightmoor area of Detroit. Built in 1946, the home had clapboard siding with salmon trimming.

“I grew up in four different houses, a brand new tract postwar bungalow, a leased Queen Anne, a really flimsy older bungalow along with a 1940s colonial,” she says. “The first one was our base family home. My parents put a lot into it at the seven years we lived there, finishing the attic, redoing the kitchen redecorating, placing in new siding. It was just 722 square feet, with two bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a living room and an eat-in kitchen”

She’s “Back in these days, nobody except the people in mansions really had a good deal of living room. Large families were increased in little houses. The huge spaces in houses today are beautiful, there is no doubt, however when all is said and done, all that space is a luxury.”

Philadelphia. “I grew up at a historical trinity home [a three-story home with each floor containing one room] at the Queen Village section of Philadelphia,” says user lindalaska.

“It was probably just about 800 square feet; the kitchen and second bedroom was added on at some point, the fireplace nevertheless had the iron hardware in it to hang baskets and cook, also there were no doorknobs — it still had the black metal beams. To this day I can run up and down turned steps with no problem.

I took this picture last year, and it hangs in my living room today. Coincidentally this home and my current home both have navy blue doors”

Medford, Oregon. “‘Classic charm’ is what the local newspaper said about my childhood home,” says Jane Engel about her childhood home. “As a child I watched it more as an enjoyable place to explore … the open attic was a giant playroom, the dumbwaiter, turned into a wood elevator, was a great spot to put my infant brother and crank up and down between floors (until my mother abruptly put an end to it!) , the cellar was constantly creepy, except for my dad’s workbench which had formerly been a pub, and housed tools that were curious, along with the lawn that seemed enormous as it was my turn to clip on the yard edges, and pick up acorns around all 24 trees! The family that purchased the home after us reside inside and have remained friends. It’s a treat to stop by every few years and feel home again.”

Hawthorne, California. “My grandparents purchased this on a half-acre lot at the mid-1940s,” says user friendliness. “From my understanding, the previous owner tended an orchard. The strangest aspect of the home proved to be a three-sided pantry space just big enough to stand in on a stepladder that beamed through the ground and into the attic. It was known as the cooler. Consequently I’m partial to modest homes on big lots with a great deal of trees”

She describes, “It was located in Hawthorne, California, a suburb of Los Angeles. It was on precisely the exact same road as the diner used in the film Pulp Fiction. The original Beach Boys were from Hawthorne. There was nothing spectacular about the home; my grandpa did most of his own repairs, add-ons etc.. The place has been home to four generations — my two children lived there together with my mom and I. That old home served us well, but she was drained; it was time to let her move.”

Des Moines, Washington. “This is the home of my heart, approximately 1952 at Des Moines, Washington, south of Seattle near at which end of this Sea-Tac runway is currently,” says user Fl!p Breskin. “The home still stands, and I occasionally drive by. Both my sister and I purchased similar houses when we grew up. Afterwards we lived at a ranch in the burbs, but this one was home.”

Breskin included this happy interior shot, saying, “Mom made all the slipcovers for your furniture, and most of the cowboy outfits as well (except that the hats). Our current 1905 home is 1,200 square feet. I believe this one was two bedrooms: one for parents, one for 3 kids. After we moved I was promised my very own room. Imagine my shock when they wanted me to sleep inside all alone by myself!”

Temple, Texas. “I love the home I grew up, because it reminded me of a Frank Lloyd Wright home — open, a lot of glass, built around trees … ” says user cucolo of her childhood home, which was built in 1961. “It sat up on a mountain and felt really personal. The bedrooms were completely different from the dwelling spaces, so the children could be in 1 end of the home while the parents entertained in a different. Loved it!”

Here’s a peek inside cucolo’s midcentury modern home. The architect was Vail Logdson, of Logdson and Voelter Architects.

Pawtucket, Rhode Island. “Here’s the new home I grew up in with my sister and brothers. It was built in 1966,” says er normpo. “That black spot is Laddie, our dog. He was a part collie and part German. He was a wonderful dog! We had fun in that home. My mom still lives there now.”

Chicago. “My mom, a design nut, worked with an architect on our Chicago area home in the ’50s. It was Miesian in concept but not as strict in its program,” says whalerwoman. “it is a house that would stand up now against any I’ve ever seen. The materials were organic — white oak, rock, brick, cork and glass. The house faced largely south had a open floor planthat was light full of floor-to-ceiling windows, and had the master suite on the floor”

She’s “The wonderful kitchen proved to be a workable galley style, with stainless sink and appliances, brick backsplashes, custom hardwood cabinets and open into the living areas. The entire house was ahead of its time. It’s inspired me for 60 years to love and detect good home design. This home was comparatively small but had everything we needed — only enough space, an abundance of sun and a casual presence.” Unfortunately, this wonderful home was torn down from the ’90s to make way for “a 5,000-square-foot faux-colonial McMansion,” she says.

Tarrytown, New York. “I grew up at a Dutch colonial in Tarrytown, New York. My memories of that great front porch have followed me,” says karenfromkatonah. “There is nothing about a porch!”

Ipswich, Queensland. “I grew up in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia, and this is a standard modest postwar home: large on stilts (better cooling and good in flooding), wide verandas (often later enclosed), latticework, louvered windows and a corrugated iron roof,” says vivapam. “A strong memory is hearing the rain beating down on the roof at a tropical thunderstorm.”

Napa, California. The home I grew up in was built from the mid-1950s at Napa, California,” says er laurajg. “The home is still particularly adored, because the architect has been my dad. Our home was furnished with now-iconic furniture (Eames chair and Nelson benches etc). This beginning definitely influenced the type of design I still adore.”

Here’s a peek inside laurajg’s midcentury modern youth home.

Manhasset, New York. “I have really fond memories of my early youth home in Manhasset, New York,” says Bill Vandersteel. “Having to move away when I was just 10 makes the longing even more fervent. My dad bought it from the original owner, who built it as a summer home in 1929. My mom had it whitewashed, along with also my dad painted the walls in a traditional Dutch routine”

Omaha, Nebraska. “Until I was 9, we lived in a Queen Anne Victorian in Omaha, Nebraska. It was built in 1895,” says user agiesbrecht. “It was gorgeous and wonderful, but was not really big enough — yes, actually! It had just 3 bedrooms, and the area was not safe for children to wander around. We then moved into a lovely oversized ranch on two-thirds of the acre and tons of trees. I overlook ‘the old home’ (as we call it) and its beautiful details — brass hardware, a curved staircase at a tower, tall windows — and now I miss having a bedroom under the eaves. I prefer the Arts and Crafts style today, but the richness and beauty of this old home’s architecture influences my taste in design.”

Tigard, Oregon. “I grew up in my father’s family home on Grant Street at Tigard, Oregon. It was a Dutch colonial that my grandma had made, complete with basement and attic,” says Linda Kurth. “On rainy days, we children had lots of room to play”

The setting also provided lots of fond memories for Kurtz. “Situated on two acres, there was also a small barn which became our playhouse, big trees to climb, wildflowers, picnics in the ‘playground’ and a massive garden. I think my love of Arts and Crafts furnishings and architecture, and the urge to make my own little wildflower retreat are a result of residing in that magical place and time,” she says.

A hamlet near the Welsh border. “In the first part of World War II my mom took us three kids away in the bombing from the London area into some remote hamlet close to the Welsh border,” says user adastra123. “This was taken in 1941 when we kids were 10, 4 and 7 (me!) ,” she says. “What did people eat? Strict rationing was in place, with very large quantities of beef, eggs, legumes, canned products — not sufficient to obtain additional weight on but decent!”

She describes, “Living close to a working farm, we were probably in a better position than many to be the recipients of a few extra rations and fresh veggies. Families with young kids obtained concentrated orange juice along with a mixture of cod liver oil and malt — delicious, I thought!”

“For many years we lived here in Old Church Cottage, so called because it was adjacent to the 12th-century church which still stands today, as does the cottage itself,” adastra124 persists. “There was no running water, no indoor plumbing, no heat, gas or electricity. Lighting consisted of hurricane lamps and candles. The floor of one bedroom has been that the bed had to be propped up to stop it sliding about. My mom fetched water from a well. She cooked on a Primus, and the place was warmed with a kerosene stove which made patterns on the ceiling. My husband and I seen a little over a year ago, my first time back in almost 70 years. The cottage is now a lovingly restored ‘bijou home,’ although not much could be achieved without permission because it’s ‘recorded’ The bedroom floor is still on a tilt!”

Your turn: ers, get out your photo scanners and records and keep them coming! Insert your youth homes and memories into the Comments section below or from the original Call.

Next: Produce a “Forever House” Connection

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February Checklist to Get a Smooth-Running Home

Stay toasty warm at home while saving energy, enjoy the light of lengthening days flowing through your freshly cleaned windows and take a break to plan next season’s backyard over a cup of tea. In the preventative (dealing with flu-season germs) to the only fun (give your home a valentine), this record is full of helpful suggestions to keep your home running smoothly all month.

Keep warm in your home. It’s possible to stay toasty and save energy with a few straightforward activities:
Close doors to unused rooms.
Move furniture away from heating vents. Be sure the chimney flue is closed when it’s not in use. Utilize door giants and door sweeps to stop drafts.Keep your thermostat set to some fair level and set out plenty of warm quilts and shouts to snuggle under.

Jackson Design & Remodeling

Clean the atmosphere. Refresh your home with green plants or even grass planted in wooden or zinc trays. Also be sure to crack a window or two daily, if just for a few minutes (even when it’s chilly). Getting fresh air into your home is especially important in winter, when closed surroundings tend to raise ailments and allergens.

Taylor Jacobson Interior Design

Disinfect. Pay particular attention to places where germs tend to congregate. Desks, phones, doorknobs, handles and remote controls top the list. And if anybody in your household is sick, be especially cautious in trying to stop it from spreading to everybody in the home.

Union Studio

Touch walls up and make windows glow. With lengthening days bringing a little more light into our homes, now’s a fantastic time to polish up the windows and walls. Fill small holes in walls and touch up the areas with paint, then use your vacuum attachment to clean dust from high corners, and wipe down baseboards and windows.

How to patch a ding on your drywall

Kate Jackson Design

Shield bathrooms from moisture, mildew and mold. It can be tough to give baths sufficient venting at this time of year, and sadly that can lead to mildew or even harmful molds. Now’s a good time to give the bathroom a thorough cleaning, paying particular attention to grout, the ceiling and any other regions showing signs of excess moisture or mildew.

TransFORM | The Art of Custom Storage

Clear out the pantry and upgrade your emergency kit. Midway through winter is a fantastic time to provide your pantry a thorough sorting. Toss the abandoned tins of Christmas cookies, consolidate bulk items into airtight containers and wipe down shelves. Even though you’re in there, be sure you have sufficient emergency supplies available visit the American Red Cross site for an entire list of recommended supplies.

Get It Done: How to Clean Out the Pantry

Debora carl landscape design

Start a project document. Take advantage of winter downtime to daydream about home and garden plans. Maintaining your thoughts organized can help you stay on track to complete your projects, so begin by keeping everything in 1 place. A newspaper document or bulletin board is great for tear sheets, but a basket or box is better for keeping bulky samples. You may even create your to-do list within an ideabook. Choose what’s going to work best for you personally.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Treat your home to fresh flowers. Give your home a particular valentine by bringing residence trimming flowers every week. In February most niches have great bargains on cut blooms, therefore scoop up an armful of everything is on sale. Experiment with new methods for arranging your flowers once you bring them cut them divide them in bud vases of different heights, then plunk them or teapots … get creative!

Inform us : What’s on your home to-do listing this month?

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9 Ways to Unclutter Your Holiday

Since the flurry of vacation action winds down, there is always that alarming moment when you look round the house and think, “What in the world happened here?” Between the delivery boxes and crumpled gift wrapping, decorations, decorations and shiny new toys, it can feel like a major accomplishment just to clear enough stuff to see the living room floor. At times like this it is helpful to bear in mind the bit of information emblazoned on the cover of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy: Don’t panic. Take a moment to savor yet another mug of cocoa and gaze in the tree … and when you’re ready, we can tackle the mess together with the hints below, one step at a time.

AM Dolce Vita

1. Keep only the decorations you use and enjoy. Empty your storage containers completely before packing decorations up after Christmas. Are there anything left in there which wasn’t employed this year? Ask yourself why you didn’t wish to put it up — there is a very good chance you do not need it at all.

Cox & Cox

Storage Bags – GBP 20

2. Decide on a toy to give away for every new item obtained. Children’s rooms can feel overstuffed after a holiday-present-acquiring spree. If your child is young, cull toys that you understand are no more favorites by yourself. With older kids, it’s best to involve them in the process. Make it meaningful by choosing a children’s charity together they would like to provide some of their toys to.

Jeanette Lunde

3. Neaten your present wrapping zone. A great deal of clutter comes from not knowing what we own and purchasing a different (tape, ribbon) rather than finding the one we’ve got and utilizing it. Take some time today to straighten out your present packaging place, and not only will you be well prepared for another present you need to wrap, but sorting out things out will save yourself room to boot. Keep like with like, sorting small items such as tape rolls and embellishments in a shoebox, and position rolls of wrapping vertical in a bin.

Meredith Ericksen

4. Choose versatile gift wrapping supplies. Occasion-specific gift wrapping and tags create clutter. Rather than having to scramble to find a spot for your own vacation paper after Christmas ( and then probably forgetting it’s there next year and purchasing more), combine easy solid-color wrapping paper and pretty ribbons any variety of ways to package gifts throughout the year. Stock up throughout post-Christmas sales to save a few dollars, but beware the allure of this bargain bin. Just because it’s cheap does not mean that you need it.

Gabriel TothFejel

5. Gift extra-large boxes into a regional preschool. Rather than pushing all of those giant cardboard packing boxes into your garage or recycling bin, why don’t you bring some to a local teacher instead? Preschools are usually happy to take big cardboard boxes along with other recycled packaging materials to reuse in creative classroom projects.

Increation

6. Use smaller cardboard boxes to offload clutter. Toys are not the only things that pile up after the holidays. Take a look at your own gift haul and select a similar item to get rid of for every new thing you obtained. As an example, in with a new sweater, out with an old hoodie. Use the boxes your presents came in to hold the items you’re carrying to charity, and you will be rid of clutter and boxes in a single fell swoop.

California Closets Maryland

7. Clean up Santa’s workshop. In the event that you hauled out the toolbox to build any large and complicated Christmas presents, today would be a fantastic time to evaluate and reorganize the resources you have. If you’re lucky enough to have a full size toolshed (and it’s kept up), bravo. For the rest of us, cramming arbitrary tools, loose boxes and nails of lightbulbs into a hall closet together may signal that it’s time for a update.

The Cavender Diary

8. Find a smart instrument alternative. In the event that you found while working on current projects that you’re lacking any basic tools, create a list of everything you need. For that which you really do have, try organizing things on a magnetic wall stand: It’s neat and practical, and it fits in everywhere.

www.LUXURYSTYLE.es

9. Ask for clutter-free gifts. It feels great to have an uncluttered house. So another time family and friends ask what you want, tell them an encounter or consumable gift would be much appreciated. Edible treats, concert tickets, memberships to local museums, gift certificates to new restaurants and weekend getaways all create wonderful, memorable presents — and they will not take up a little bit of space in your property.

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New Construction at Minneapolis Keeps a Familiar Face

As we work our way out of this fantastic downturn, new construction starts are on the upswing and sales of existing homes have been advancing. While this is actually good news, and we are all hoping the trend continues and the speed picks up, I, for one, hope we change the paradigm a little. I am hoping that we construct new homes in neighborhoods where the infrastructure already exists instead of focusing on large, green-field improvements to fuel new home construction.

A newly completed new home in Minneapolis’ Fulton area is a case in point. Built in an existing and enlarged base, this home appears from the road almost identical to that which was there before — while employing all-new materials and technologies to create an efficient home for 21st-century living.

Built by Mike Lucas of this gudhouse firm, with design assistance from his architect brother Brian Lucas, the home comprises locally sourced materials as much as possible and continues to be built to the standards of the Minnesota Green Path initiative.

The gudhouse firm

The height, width, hip roof, off-center entrance and window placement are all identical to the home that existed ahead. The only difference is that the original home had a stucco exterior, while the new home is sided with fiber cement. The feeling of familiarity the brand new home has must be reassuring to the neighbors, who don’t have to worry about a McMansion invading their neighborhood.

The gudhouse firm

The designers and builders of the home were so intent on ensuring the new structure will be familiar, they precisely re-created the old layout of the front porch. It is surely reassuring an old familiar face was brought back to life with new construction and new substances.

The gudhouse firm

A view of the back of the home shows just how much the land slopes. Using a total of about 2,700 square feet on three floors, the house isn’t too large or too little, and each of the 3 levels gets abundant light.

Though the home is close to downtown Minneapolis and set in an established area, it doesn’t lack for a yard. In fact, the builder’s son Nick proclaimed, “Dad, this is my dream home. It is an urban home with a suburban yard.”

The gudhouse firm

The area is off the entrance foyer. This is the place for sitting and studying or meeting a neighbor while other actions occurs from the larger family room in the back of the home.

The gudhouse firm

The living room is floor, on the middle, or street-level. The back of the home is a large room that comprises the kitchen. Front door and foyer are easily visible from this field.

The gudhouse firm

Sandwiched between the area and the dining room, the kitchen comes with a highly layout. A breakfast bar provides the perfect spot for catching that morning cup of joe while heading out to do the job.

The gudhouse firm

A nice way to expand the kitchen space was putting the refrigerator nearer to the table and extending the walls of cabinetry. This arrangement allows the kitchen work area for a tight and effective zone within a much larger and spacious space.

In keeping with the exterior look of the home, the interior comprises a simple, clean-lined cabinetry layout, light-colored walls plus a warm-colored, wide-plank, quarter-sawn walnut floor. These elements, combined with easier trimming and detailing, create a fresh and modern appeal.

The gudhouse firm

The remainder of this area is family central — a place for watching television, playing games, getting together for vacations and more. Large glass doors lead from the area to an elevated deck that overlooks the backyard, in order that if weather permits, the living space grows substantially.

The gudhouse firm

The stairway in the centre connects the home’s three degrees. While clearly utilitarian, the stair layout comprises the widened landing you’d expect in an older home.

The gudhouse firm

Three nice-size bedrooms, two bathrooms and a laundry room are located on the third floor. Possessing the laundry room upstairs by the bedrooms and bathrooms avoids anyone’s having to carry loads of clothes up and down 3 flights of stairs. And to maintain the plan effective, the laundry area is an extension of this hall bathroom.

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