View a Guesthouse Carved Into a Washington Cliff

Living smack dab on the rim of the Columbia River Gorge in Washington state, Vince and Carol Bryan possess some postcard-perfect views. Grassy plateaus along with charcoal-gray basalt cliffs plunge thousands of feet down to the canyon and twisting waterway below, while the bright blue sky stretches apparently to infinity. It’s the kind of opinion you do not need to muck about with.

So when they set out to create a royal guesthouse and entertainment space that sleeps four — a four-car garage is on the ground floor — they made certain the encompassing beauty not only took center stage, but eventually become a part of the layout also. Four large dormer windows capture the magnificent scenery outside, while the structure backs right up to a western-facing cliff, with 6 feet of natural, untreated basalt stone rising into the large second-floor living space. The twisted rocks discuss inside space using a Ping-Pong table along with a billiards table.

in a Glance
Who lives here: This really is a guesthouse owned by Vincent and Carol Bryan.
Location: Near George, Washington, on the Columbia River Gorge
Size: 4 bedroom alcoves, 1 bath and recreation room upstairs; 4-car garage downstairs

Kimberley Bryan

To capture the perspective, the building required to be oriented into the west, which meant backing to the west shore face. The Bryans heard a lot about building around basalt stone while constructing their main house; their grandma’s outgrowing that home lacked the few to construct the new guesthouse (dubbed The Carriage House).

“We knew that the rock found anywhere here wasn’t going anywhere, and we also knew we can build to it with very little disruption to the surroundings,” Vince says. “This property is about a melding of structures and nature, a mix of inside and outside. We love that.”

Kimberley Bryan

The guesthouse sits atop a four-car garage and comprises one large room with four bed alcoves created by large dormer windows. Rising well more than 6 feet in the floor, the natural basalt stone creates the entire back wall of the space. It was left completely natural and untreated. “There’s really a small odor it provides off,” says Vince. “When we built, there was lots of lichen growing on the rocks. That’s no longer there, but the odor remains one of vegetation, very much like the yeasty odor of [wine] fermentation, which,” states this wine grower and winery owner, “is a scent we love and are very knowledgeable about.”

The Ping-Pong table was made by joining a Ping-Pong surface into a large farm table.

Kimberley Bryan

Every dormer window confronts the jaw-dropping gorge. The four-car garage below homes machinery and supplies — and wine occasionally — utilized from the Bryans’ agricultural processes.

Having learned the hard way that clay roof was exposed to the often-high winds of the gorge, the Bryans chosen for steel roof in a color of red that complements the clay tiles on the main residence.

Mediterranean-inspired iron sconces flank every garage doorway, adding another layer to the mixture of stone, sagebrush, wood and cement plaster.

Kimberley Bryan

“This chamber is about get-togethers and having fun,” Carol says. “We needed a place for everyone to sleep, but also for children and grandchildren to just hang out and have fun. The main home is a wonderful gathering place, however it wasn’t designed with a lot of bedrooms or a lot of solitude — it’s very open. This guesthouse has made visiting much more comfy.”

Kimberley Bryan

Just large enough to accommodate a complete bed, every alcove delivers a gorgeous view, an adjoining closet and enough comparative privacy for multiple visiting family members to sleep in comfort.

Kimberley Bryan

A short, steep staircase contributes to a large storage space tucked behind the basalt. The large beam is composite wood.

Wide-plank wood laminate covers the floors and stairs, and highlights the identical tone from the variegated colors of the basalt.

Kimberley Bryan

The dormers let daytime light flooding into the space, while may lights illuminate it at night.

Kimberley Bryan

“We’ve naturally gathered items throughout the years that reflect our family and our interests,” Carol says. “This chamber is turning into a memorabilia room. The furniture is frankly hodgepodge right now, but it’s also private: The couch belonged to Vince’s mother, the blue chairs are out of our house in Edmonds 30 decades ago, along with the cane seat comes in the Mercer Island house we lived in throughout the 1990s.”

Kimberley Bryan

The basalt stone cliff blends seamlessly into the rock-faced carriage home wall, making a natural, unobtrusive appearance.

Kimberley Bryan

Keeping the base of the cliff intact meant making a sloping path up into the second-floor quarters. The basalt made for a durable surface with traction, significant throughout the snowy, freezing winters of Central Washington. The roofline extends out at a small angle in the pond, mimicking the point of the cliff tops in the distance and allowing for snow and water drainage.

Kimberley Bryan

Just across the driveway from the main home, the carriage house “helped bring about a feeling of completion” into the residence, says Carol.

Kimberley Bryan

The fountain was a DIY labor of love. “When our upcoming son-in-law told us that he was planning to marry our daughter, we suggested that he do a labor of love,” Vince says. “The result was this fountain.” The roses are mulched with grape seeds, a by-product of the winery operations; this mixture is just one of the few mulches the Bryans have tried that have enough weight and density to withstand the gorge’s high winds.

Kimberley Bryan

An effective visual halt for cars making their way down the steep driveway, the fountain anchors the space between the carriage house and the main house.

Kimberley Bryan

The Bryans planted a small orchard at the bottom of the cliff above the main house to supply pears and peaches as well as shade for grandchildren along with the bountiful wild rabbits.

Watch the Bryans’ Most Important Property

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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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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!

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Urban Cottage Style in a Woodsy Wonderland

Through a decade of remodels and difficult work, Yvette and Don Hatch have changed their Orange County, California, cottage into a house better suited to his or her own style. Previously paneled in dark wood, it’s currently a modern cottage-style house with fresh outdoor amenities, refreshing white walls, lush native garden terraces and a guest home. The few put their artistic and construction skills to operate redesiging the home, which can be in a woodsy area filled with equestrian paths. “Donny’s really great for the bones of everything,” says Yvette. “He could visually just see something. I’m good in decorating, so the two of us worked well together”

in a Glance
Who lives here: Yvette and Don Hatch and their 4 daughters
Location: Lemon Heights, Orange County, California
Size: 3,600 square feet plus 1,620-square-foot detached garage and guest suite; 5 bedrooms, 3 baths

Dana Nichols

A mixture of old and new furniture creates a warm, lived-in ambiance. Yvette and Don have had the couch and leather chair since they were wed, the coffee table is from a flea market and also the classic pieces across the far wall are from Don’s old office.

Dana Nichols

Yvette replaced a conventional kitchen island using anantique draper’s dining table from Lyman Drake, adding a granite counter tops. “In 1 aspect I overlook the island, because it had more storage, but this bit is great. I wanted the kitchen to feel like it had a little character,” she states. The cabinetry is first to the house, but the few refreshed the faces to match the wainscoting.

Light fixtures: Restoration Hardware

Dana Nichols

The house lacks a formal dining room, but the family does not miss it, as a result of the warm Southern California weather. “We tend to perform all our eating out, especially when we have guests. If it rains it’s just a free-for-all where inside the home,” says Yvette. “We’ve been married a very long time, and I’ve never actually missed with a formal dining room.”

Dana Nichols

The Hatch daughters share their mum’s artistic abilities. Here, an ocean-inspired work in advance by daughter Drew sits in front of the tree-lined backyard.

Dana Nichols

Steps from the rear door result in a swimming pool, surrounded by natural stone. The Hatches outfitted the space with all-new slate and decking.

Dana Nichols

A fresh slate fireplace next to the pool area gets lots of use, since the household loves to entertain in their yard.

Dana Nichols

The first proprietor, a carpenter, built what Yvette calls “a Hansel and Gretel house.” Dark paneled walls, carved wood accents and lots of plaid had left the house feel like it had popped out of a storybook.

“If you drove in, you felt like you were in the woods somewhere. It was really magical but wasn’t my style,” she states.

Dana Nichols

Yvette picked the mirrors at the master bedroom at an antiques shop in New Hampshire. The bench, bed frame and side tables are custom constructed.

Linens: Restoration Hardware; blanket: Ralph Lauren Home

Dana Nichols

Contractor Justin Hille helped with the vast majority of the renovations, including adding marble into this master bath. “We’ve worked together with Justin for the previous five decades, and he is part of their family now,” Yvette says.

Dana Nichols

The corner bar area in the downstairs den has a beverage dispenser, a present by a friend in England. A large replica of a British subway sign adorns the rear wall. “We’re inspired by the British and American flags, and lots of our friends and family are from Great Britain,” says Yvette. “It makes us feel a bit more connected.”

The damask throw pillows are custom made. Always on the hunt for new goods, Yvette often has less costly versions of items seen in boutiques created.

Bar top: Caesarstone; small metal accordion table: Mollywood Garden Design; leather couch: Restoration Hardware

Dana Nichols

The couple didn’t incorporate any square footage into the main home, but they did transform the old garage into a media space. A large-screen TV and a lavish sectional make for comfortable movie nights.

Dana Nichols

A new stand-alone garage with a guest suite upstairs now sits on previously undeveloped land in the backyard.

Dana Nichols

Frequently used by guests visiting from overseas, the guest suite follows the urban-cottage kind of the primary home. The floors were a struggle, as Yvette enjoyed the appearance of reclaimed timber, but it was out of their budget. “We chose to create ourselves,” she states. “We used different textures of wood and painted and distressed it”

Dana Nichols

Bricks give the guesthouse kitchenette an informal feeling. Although building codes banned installing a stovetop, the kitchenette has all of the essentials.

Dana Nichols

Among the daughters painted this whale on the guest bed as a present for Yvette.

Though the whole renovation took about 10 decades, Yvette appreciates the procedure and urges other homeowners to appreciate theirs. “I think the procedure is one of the very exciting items,” she states. “It’s part of this journey.”

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8 Resourceful Nightstand Alternatives

Thinking beyond the box when it comes to home decor isn’t only good for design; it is good on the pocketbook. When providing the bedroom, many homeowners buy two nightstands. If that route isn’t your style or not at the budget, then you’ll love these eight nightstand choices. From suitcases to classic stools, see how taking the road less traveled on your nightstand choices can give your room a gathered, unique vibe.

Scheer & Co..

VIntage suitcases would be the perfect nightstand alternative — they are easily obtainable and full of charm.

Inside my bedroom, my husband’s nightstand is four stacked suitcases we’ve gathered through time. You could easily place one suitcase on top of a stool, such as in the image shown here, and have an equally lovely vignette.

Jennifer Young

If space is an issue on your bedroom, then a classic wooden crate hung on the wall is a easy alternative.

Dreamy Whites

The majority of us have additional chairs lying about, and if you do not, they are a simple find on Craigslist or in thrift stores and make ideal, casual nightstands.

Michelle Hinckley

A shelf could become a nightstand at a snap when hung in an appropriate elevation.

Siemasko + Verbridge

Old trunks make good nightstands due to the instant character they bring to a room, and they are a nice, big storage choice for those people with smaller spaces.

Life in the Fun Lane

Painted to match the decor of a room, a drop-leaf dining table that is lovely becomes a huge nightstand.

Richard Bubnowski Design LLC

In case you have any carpentry skills, developing a easy shelf unit to act as a nightstand can present your room form and function.

XOJY

An adjustable-height classic stool similar to this one is a nice alternative to the traditional nightstand. It is possible to raise or reduce the stool to function perfectly in its role and also have a small space to put away books underneath.

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Gardeners Champion Nature's Cause from the City

Lisa Lee Benjamin wants you and everybody you know to get excited about the bugs that live in your city. Through the invention of urban lands, she hopes to make space for the flora and fauna we desire for a healthy environment — and encourage people to”grapple with where they draw the line between rampant insect and neighbor.”

Urban Hedgerow is a group of San Francisco”instigators” and musicians, formed by Benjamin and horticulturalist Jason Dewees, aimed at creating public awareness of the outstanding — and necessary — environmental processes happening around us every day. By creating pockets of nature deep within the city, they hope to redefine what makes a landscape great.

Urban Hedgerow

Urban Hedgerow team members reuse urban legends to make wall-mounted shelters for pollinating insects and even migratory birds.

Hedgerows were initially used in farms as property divisions and lane lines. To Urban Hedgerow, a traditional hedgerow is”a row of shrubs and trees in the margins of state spaces, one that people gently manage and partly neglect. It is a space that attracts and harbors wildlife also offers people wind protection, enclosure and pest management.”

The classic hedgerow is a clear interaction of the wild and managed landscape — darkened trees beside closely planted farm areas. In a similar way, Urban Hedgerow installations like this one bring fragments of the wild into the city, redefining the fringe.

Urban Hedgerow

Public awareness and support are all critical to Urban Hedgerow’s achievement, so the team aims to create pieces that are appealing, possible and fun.

This weapon of foraged and recovered substances designed and built by Benjamin and Kevin Smith hangs at Flora Grubb Gardens at San Francisco. This art piece and possible habitat invites us to inquire just how willing we are to invite nature into our domestic arenas, even in a subtle way.

Urban Hedgerow

This Urban Hedgerow prototype is designed to hold bundles of foraged twigs and plants for bug habitats. It was exhibited at the Farmer’s Block exhibition at San Francisco.

Urban Hedgerow

Benjamin and collaborator Moose Curtis made an Urban Hedgerow installment at London’s 2012 Chelsea Fringe Festival. It focused on building awareness of 2 species of a neighborhood blossom: Vanessa cardui and Vanessa atalanta.

In an installment titled”I Love Vanessa,” Benjamin tagged countless street plants and weeds with butterfly-size tags identifying them as critical butterfly habitats. Being presented with sidewalks as hosts to the beautiful Vanessa blossom, passersby may rethink the value of”weeds” and what they mean to animals.

Urban Hedgerow

Curtis power washed images of the butterflies on walls and sidewalks surrounding the installation as an additional reminder of the wild animals that occupy spaces that are managed.

Urban Hedgerow

Take a look at a map of butterfly image places. The installation will stay intact in Chelsea until the artwork naturally weathers away.

Urban Hedgerow

Many things go into the choices of places chosen for Urban Hedgerows. Public spaces are significant, because they optimize exposure and enable pedestrians to take note and ask questions. Proposed habitats in San Francisco match critical avenues for migratory birds.

“Reclaim Market Street!” (shown here) was made as a temporary green space in the center of San Francisco’s Civic Center. By simulating a native habitat in this political and pedestrian center of San Francisco, designers, artists and plant experts were able to talk about their expertise and collaborate with the public on a communal stage.

Urban Hedgerow

Nesting birds and insects can find shelter inside this habitat built with Green Roof Shelters. Native plants and collected organic materials like wool and bark are tucked within recycled and reused construction materials.

While Benjamin works with artists to make attention-grabbing shelters, the real needs of nesting birds and bees still must be met. Even after that, the end result is not always foolproof. “I watched a bee go straight into a screw hole following a week working on a hand-crafted sand concrete panel for nesting bees,” Benjamin says.

Urban Hedgerow

Little hedgerow prototypes, such as this, empower portability.

There is still a lot left to be found about the lasting importance of these mini urban habitats. The environmental benefits that humans receive from indigenous plants, bugs and insects is undeniable — pollination, decomposition and carbon removal are only a couple. Benjamin believes that consciousness at the personal level will determine the way we influence our environments moving forward.

“The pests will well survive without us, but we will not survive without them,” she says. “Overall we are just a different animal, so we should begin behaving like one.” Pay attention to what is happening right around you and respect what is there, she says.

Urban Hedgerow

Rolled burlap, twigs and other organic materials cost small and create vibrant and textural habitats.

Benjamin suggests leaving some areas of your backyard organic, or planting host or pollinator plants. Think about backyard”problem” regions differently. If considering your hedgerow, Benjamin reminds us to to be creative, intentional and resourceful with materials. Ask yourself if they were in your place, exactly what the animals would select.

Urban Hedgerow

Urban Hedgerow invites everybody to effort and collaborate together on their own for”the unseens that fuel our existence,” Benjamin (revealed ) says. “I hope soon we could only be a place for people to give all the fantastic things they find to inspire each other to create.” Check out Urban Hedgerow to Learn More.

More:
9 Flowers That Draw Butterflies

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1970s Style Finds Groove Today

I recently took a drive along with my husband the coast and we played a Name That Tune sort of game. He knows his music, and his favorite music genre is ’70s rock: bands whose songs I know but whose names — Little River Band, Eagles, Bob Seger, Credence Clearwater Revival — elude me. We had a California retro moment driving up the coast in our van, ’70s music playing along with palm trees everywhere.

What do you envision when you consider taking a drive in the ’70s? Do you have postcard imagery in mind of joyful people forcing in convertibles with palm trees and tie-dyed tops?

While my husband beat me at Name That ’70s Song, I recalled my living room from the ’70s and decided to examine some retro-inspired spaces to see how performers are bringing the colour and fun of those times into new insides for today.

Grace Blu Designs, Inc..

When I was a kid in the ’70s, my area had pink and orange polka dots. This chamber just made me laugh as it inspired a flashback. The only thing missing is the bright yellow doughnut telephone I had with a long, curly cord. It used to get tangled following hours of talking on the telephone.

UBERDESIGNHOUSE

Remember those rainbow bumper stickers everybody used to have in their cars? This ’70s-inspired rainbow wall along with arc lamp look ideal for a game room or basement hangout. The comfy chairs are great for relaxing with friends while playing a few rounds in an Atari.

Ninainvorm

The pillow designs along with the patchwork rug remind me with some of jeans that I had when I was a kid. The ’70s aesthetic was all about primary colours.

Anthony Baratta LLC

Even though there are a few midcentury chairs blended in this, the designs and wall art are legendary ’70s. Notice all the different geometrics blended in together with uniquely shaped furniture.

More primary colours, a love-inspired stencil with a quilt on mattress. This Bohemian space is completed by A Moroccan pouf.

Simone Alisa

A silver upholstered bed with mirrored nightstands and a grey shag rug — now that’s disco!

Roger Hirsch Architect

The very first time that I saw a dialogue pit was in a James Bond film from the ’70s. To this day that is my notion of a great entertaining layout.

Integrated

This distance looks like Marcia Brady’s room, with large flower-power wall art, hanging bubble pendants along with a white shag throw rug.

Vintage Renewal

A vintage Bohemian-style barrel chair sits boldly with primary colours. See illuminates the pillow on the chair.

A vintage pattern on homemade-looking curtains coordinates using an orange macramé wall hanging.

maison21

A bright orange Malm Lancer fireplace brightens up the mood in this ’70s-inspired living room in Palm Springs. Malm Lancer fireplaces have been first first produced in the 1960s in Sonoma County, California. This style gained fame in the ’70s and still looks fresh today.

Anthony Baratta LLC

More rainbow colours and geometric patterns have been blended fearlessly by Anthony Barrata in this living area. Note the orange, yellow and red blended with mirrored furniture.

Inform us : What’s your favorite ’70s-inspired style?

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Lofty Living in the Heart of the Randstad

On a few of the most renowned shopping streets in town of The Hague stays this top-floor flat in three-story building dating back to the early 1800s. Its inside is a cozy blend of traditional and East Asian styles, with loads of diverse charm. With a subtle colour scheme and well-placed furniture, this loft-style apartment is a balanced composition of both new and old.

Owner Peter Blom is located in Switzerland and visits his home in The Hague a few times a year. While it was heavily under construction, the property was bought by him from 2004. His prior home was a large property in rural Utrecht, and he was looking to buy something less isolated. He was instantly attracted to The Hague for its upscale yet quiet way of life. The building also houses a store on the ground floor and an apartment on the second floor.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Peter Blom
Location: The Hague, South Holland
Size: 130 sq.-meter, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, living/dining room, kitchen, office, rooftop terrace.

Holly Marder

The exposed wood beams are an original feature of the house and give the room a critical wow factor. Not only can they radically increase the size of their room, they also allow ample light to enter through the large placed windows looking out on the rooftop terrace. Painted at a coat of black, the beams tie in beautifully with the neutral palette of this room, working especially well with bits Blom bought from Asia.

Holly Marder

The apartment looks out on the Denneweg, one of the oldest streets at The Hague. The first building in the road dates back to 1390, once the street sported wooden houses that ran all the way to the North Sea.

Today, the Denneweg is in the heart of The Hague’s shopping scene, even while being one of the last truly upscale areas from the”Randstad” (the region encompassing the major Dutch cities of Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague), and boasts beautiful houses and boutiques.

Holly Marder

Blom had the furnishings for years; things were picked up by him in China on a business trip. The mix of traditional furnishings and Asian accents, as well as several parts of quirky art, make this home an eclectic treat for the senses.

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Nothing about this apartment’s interior has been designed in any particular way with any particular purpose; the things are both old and fresh yet harmonize perfectly with one another. “What is significant is that it fits together, but naturally, that’s an issue of taste,” Peter says.

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The flat has been dotted with interesting art pieces, from quirky to more traditional fashion oil paintings, to bronze decorations and vintage world maps. The art comes from all over the area, but one artist, Ronald Habraken, is featured several times through the house. Habraken has been commissioned by the owner to paint some 30 paintings through the years, many of which are now in the operator’s home in Switzerland. Though the works aren’t all in the exact same manner, the artist’s distinctive flair is clearly identifiable. When asked about his preference for this particular artist’s creations,” Peter said,”I like paintings in the design of Corneille and Herman Brood.” That is evident when looking at the modern, imaginative functions that enhance the flat’s diverse feel. “It is more important to me that I am touched by [the art] than when it is by a renowned artist.”

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The vintage map prints featured in the dining room area are of places that the proprietor has lived, such as Switzerland, South America and Utrecht. “Maps always have to have a meaning for me. I really don’t just buy maps,” Blom says.

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In the lounge area, two sizeable beige linen arm chairs placed side by side are paired together with the caramel-hued leather sofa. The coffee table, using its Asian-style legs, injects a Far-Eastern feel into an otherwise traditional distance.

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Blom bought the little assortment of eyeglasses beside the IKEA bookcase roughly 40 years ago. The large oil painting of Amsterdam, was bought some 20 years ago. These cherished things add historical appeal to the home.

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Perhaps Blom’s favorite piece of art is that the large bronze hen by Peter Peterson. The artist draws his inspiration from the surrounding character, often using typical Dutch creatures as models. This chicken was fashioned for the homeowner.

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The ladder at the center of the living room leads up to a tiny attic study nook overlooking the flat’s living area and the Denneweg below. During the construction, Blom asked the builders to put a window at the slanted ceiling to permit light to input and views of The Hague to be seen. While the analysis is at the primary area of the house, it’s surprisingly private.

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The small kitchen features marble counters atop white matte doorways, although small, has ample storage area — not to mention amazing views on the fashionable Denneweg below.

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The building right opposite the flat dates back to 1898. It is a 3-story exclusive fashion boutique, and undoubtedly one of the most attractive buildings on the road.

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The hallway seems to zigzag its way from the entrance all the way to the bedroomdown the front end of the flat. The hallway is adorned with more art by Ronald Habraken.

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This freestanding cabinet in Blom’s bedroom is just another item he discovered in Asia. “I started at Hong Kong and finished up in Beijing, and somewhere along the way I bought some bits to return to the Netherlands,” he says. This bit sets the scene at the master bedroom.

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The black fold-out chairs with cane seats increase the Asian feel and tie in nicely with the rest of the area’s décor, as does the cane chest at the base of their mattress.

Holly Marder

In the hallway, a varnished wooden staircase winds up to the rooftop terrace. The terrace, formerly the roof itself, has been divided to create a quiet outdoor distance away from the hustle and bustle of the city below. The door to the left leads into a huge storage area, and the big windows to the right look directly into the living area below.

Holly Marder

Though the terrace is practically unused because of the cool weather and the operator’s absence for most of the season, it has enormous potential to become a great spot for hosting late-night soirees at the summer months and also get-togethers year round. Plonk a brazier down, decorate seats with comfy cushions and spend a romantic night gazing up at the stars…

Though Blom is away out of his inner city flat for the majority of the season, he really enjoys returning to it. “I really like the high ceilings, the simple fact that it is rather spacious, the roof terrace, the storage and I love that it is at the center of the nicest aspect of The Hague.”

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