Category: Eclectic Homes

Last winter my shutters began to peel and rust at an alarming rate. By early summer, my house’s exterior was looking a lot like Grey Gardens. Although I allowed money for new folks back in the spring, I am pleased with commitmentphobia.

You see, I’ve always desired shutters with adorable little cutouts. In Maine you see pine tree cutouts, on Cape Cod you see starfish and scallop shells, and within my Atlanta area you have a tendency to see a lot of card matches, mostly diamonds together with the occasional heart or club thrown in. I’ve decided I don’t want a shape that shows off a lot of the siding supporting it, because who knows what condition that’s in or if the color will match after being covered up by a good shutter for such a long time. (There certainly is NOT money allowed for repainting the house.)

The decision was harder than I imagined. Pine trees: so adorable, but we do not really have them in my own neighborhood. We’ve got oak, maple and beech trees. Unfortunately, the neighbors throughout the road already have adorable oak cutouts on their own porch railings, and that I do not wish to become a copycat. Acorns are darling, but their fat bodies show off too much siding, as do maple leaves.

One company has adorable squirrel cutouts, but I am afraid they’d give me the”Crazy Squirrel Lady” nickname. Hearts are the dating equivalent of having a bed covered in stuffed animals and 17 cats (I am single).

Crescent moons: I like them, however they aren’t quite what I am choosing. Starfish: Love’em, however I live in Atlanta; it’s kind of silly once you’re landlocked. Fleur-de-lis: I am not from New Orleans, and I wasn’t a Kappa Kappa Gamma. Four-leaf clover: I am only 1/16th Irish.

See how hard this is? What’s a woman to do? I suppose browse and look for inspiration…

Blue Sky Building Company

I’m looking not only at shutters, but also at doorways, railings, cabinets and everywhere else a cutout grabs my eye. This very small fish family is one of the very charming details I’ve seen in a while. Have a look at the extra-clever wavy top of this timber.

M.A. Corson & Assoc., Inc..

A school of bass makes its way throughout the lavender shutters with this Key West home. The cutouts are the icing with this cake that is amazing.

Quatrefoil shapes have different meanings in various cultures, including great fortune, harmony, the four ends of the Earth, the Christian cross and much more. These board and batten shutters were hand-crafted in Tennessee by Advantage Shutters.

Tim Andersen Architect

The arrow-shaped cutouts with this balcony railing give the traditional Arts and Crafts style a spin, and harshly draw the eye up. They also go together with the structure, mimicking the form of this dormer’s roof. A exceptional detail like this stamps a home with personality.

Between Naps on the Porch

What I love about this porch’s fantastic railing is that in the distance it’s quite subjective…

Between Naps on the Porch

… while shut up one sees simple silhouettes of cats.

Troy Rhone Garden Design

I certainly didn’t mean to emphasise hearts in my debut; they’re so beautiful and inviting with this garden gate. Browse more garden gates

I think that it was a trip to Branford, Connecticut, that sparked my love of shutters like these. The houses had so many hanging plants and window boxes, funky colours and special cutouts. I am pretty sure that these are trees, however I like to think that they’re broccoli, just because that would be odd.

On the other coastal Connecticut home, sailboats add a beachfront touch. Most shutter companies have this cutout inside their choice. There are so many to pick from; Exterior Shutter even offers a flamingo, which is quite tempting. By the way, most shutter business create any custom cutout you like, which frankly makes my decision even tougher!

Stephen Fuller Designs

These are mix cutout and louvered shutters. This designer has chosen a portrait color that’s very close to the color of the shingles, giving the cutouts a subtle, sophisticated appearance.

Well, I feel so much better after producing an ideabook that I’ve ordered catalogs from a few firms and am leaning toward a tulip cutout. (It is here; inform me what you think. Yes, I understand, I do not Reside in Holland or Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.)

Tell meIf you were looking for the perfect shutter cutout, which model would you select? Allow me to know in the Comments section below.

More:
11 Ways to Repurpose Shutters
Add To Your Home’s Curb Appeal With Whimsical Balusters

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All these chilly days are getting long and gray. Including a couple touches of green in your décor may help combat those seasonal blues and usher in character’s freshest season. — Danyelle from Dandee Designs

Anthropologie

Fringed Clematis Shade, Green – $98

Switching an present lampshade for this green fringed style will add colour, texture and a great deal of character.

Anthropologie

Appellation Utensil Jar, Green – $28

I adore the idea of freshening up the most utilitarian items in our houses, like a utensil jar.

Anthropologie

Green Leaves Framed Art – $2,200

Just a little artwork goes a very long way, especially one with such a lovely color scheme.

West Elm

Little Rectangle Lacquer Tray, Sprout – $29

A simple lacquer tray packs a large punch.

Anthropologie

In Clouds Wallpaper – $198

This pretty background looks like clouds but turns into something completely different upon further identification. I adore small bits of surprise in house decoration.

West Elm

Allegra Hicks Printed Harlequin Jute Rug – $39

This carpet would assist freshen up a house with a neutral colour palette.

Crate&Barrel

Bexley Pear Throw – $69.95

When it comes to freshening up a space, nothing is easier than throwing a throw in a fun hue over a chair.

CB2

Hanging Glass Terrarium – $6.95

I adore the idea of adding real plant into a space with these amazing hanging terrariums.

Modern Pillows – $49

Sometimes all you need is a simple stripe.

Crate&Barrel

Ming Green Side Chair – $199

This is the best shade of green to my eye. The lines of this chair also make it a showstopper.

The Land of Nod

Crow’s Feet Rug, Green – $179

Even modern spaces can be elastic with this geometric area rug.

Qing

Ceramic Stool, Green – GBP 130

I’m imagining my favorite magazines placed on the top of this ceramic stool beside a bright window. Sounds perfect, right?

Etsy

Owl Pillow Case Apple Green Owl Silhouette by Classic by Nature – $32

This small owl is so sweet and would look fantastic in a nursery or child’s room.

Etsy

Pale Green Polaroid Photography Neutral Ocean Art Print by Bomobob – $30

Why don’t you bring the outdoors in? This picture will help you do exactly that.

Etsy

Live What You Love Letterpress Print, Yellow by Heartfish Press – $12.50

Positive reinforcements never hurt anyone.

Design Public

Produzione Privata Acquamiki Pendant Lamp, Transparent Green – $590

This translucent pendant lighting is your best find! The shape is lovely and the colour has me green with envy.

Terrain

Bayberry Candle – $20

Adding a pretty candle to some space goes a very long way. They can add colour, play and sweet scents. Throw in excellent packaging, and I can not resist!

Terrain

2012 Purchase Local Towel – $20

This tea towel could be a nice touch in any kitchen.

Amazon

Greendale Home Fashions Toss Pillows, Zig Zag, Village Green – $32.99

I don’t believe the favorite zigzag pattern is going anywhere soon. Pump up the throw pillows on your bed by incorporating this pop of colour.

West Elm

Café Mugs, Lime Green – $4

Why don’t you try substituting your old dull coffee mug with one in a pretty color?

Next: Mix and Match Greens in Design

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When the weather is dreary, be it raining or snowing, the first thing comes to mind is curling up with a good novel. I believe every home should have a particular place to sit, relax and read. Whether you fancy a house library or a reading nook, these 20 items will ensure that your space will feel a little more like your new preferred escape. — Trina from La La Lovely

Anthropologie

Stacked Paperback Wallpaper – $198

If you’ve got a reading nook or corner, I believe this background is beyond fun. It will play up the”library” feel when space is tight.

Etsy

Read by Carmyn Joy Photography – $20

This photograph of a genuine library in Sweden is magnificent. It is going to surely add any drama your small reading corner may lack.

Graham and Green

The Jester Armchair – GBP 895

It’s hard to locate a furniture piece that’s both friendly and formal. This velvet chair would definitely be quite convenient, in both style and comfort, for a library or dining room.

Amazon

Fiddleleaf Fig Tree – $12

Just a small greenery in a dark reading corner always adds an excess touch of life, especially when it’s cold or rainy out. I’ve been needing a Fiddleleaf Fig like this one for quite some time.

Graham and Green

Lighting totally sets the ambiance for a space, and what actually creates a reading room into a library is the best sconce. Mount these straight onto a bookshelf for a small extra drama.

Gift Republic

First Class Bone China Mug – GBP 9.99

After reading, a cup of tea or coffee is obviously in order. I would love to sip milky tea from this bright mug while reading a classic.

Terrain

Burlap Backed Bookcase – $2,998

Aside from books, a library or reading room requires a bookshelf the most. I am in love with this one, as it looks like it just jumped out of an old English manor.

Anthropologie

Embroidered Penguin Classics, Black Beauty – $11.20

Of course you will need your favourite books to fulfill your bookshelves, however you will want to displayfront and centre, a couple books that are equally as pretty on the outside as the words printed inside.

Serena & Lily

Hammered Metal Tray Table – $225

This tiny table would be just right in a library or reading corner. It would be absolutely comfy next to a table or window seat and pleased to maintain your cup of java.

Jayson Home

6-Foot Field Bench – $3,650

This stunning bench could make a window seat in a moment’s time. I believe that it would also be just as happy tucked into a small corner or corner. Curling up on this bench with a book in hand would be pure bliss.

West Elm

Seagrass Basket, Oversized – $129

Baskets are excellent catchalls for publications, books and papers. This basket will work good in both conventional and contemporary reading rooms.

West Elm

Alphabet Candles – $10

Reading by candlelight — what could be more relaxing? I love the design and quirk these candles would add to a home library. Their letters set well with the books.

Utility Canvas

Printed Throw Blanket – $145

Getting lost in a book on a snowy or rainy day asks a blanket. This blanket would do just fine. It’s neither overly stuffy nor overly casual.

Etsy

Brass Coated Shell Bookends by Vintage Lancaster – $18

Bookends are like the icing on the cake so far as books are concerned. I love these metal seashells. They are shiny and take my thoughts adrift to sunny days.

Anthropologie

Twin Beacons Lamp – $798

A reading lamp is a must for a house library, reading corner or even just a chair in quiet corner. I adore the style of the twin lamp; it’s double the fun.

Jayson Home

Vintage Oushak Rug – $2,095

This classic rug are the very best thing to produce a rather ordinary room into a house library. The dark colours are so rich and the routine is perfection.

Etsy

Vintage Brass Bamboo Tray from Vandrey Industries – $26

A menu which sits on your bench or shelf and holds your cup of tea or coffee is a must. This gold bamboo tray is so interesting.

RedinFred

Sage Decorative Pillow – $117

This routine would add just the ideal amount of interest to a reading chair or bench.

Traditional Armchairs & Accent Chairs – GBP 950

Leather chairs are almost a must in a house library. I believe the worn feel of the chair, particularly, fits the bill. I’ll take two, please.

Nursery Works

Tree Bookcase – $850

This is 1 way to think beyond the box when it comes to saving your books. If you are likely to make a reading nook, why not make it inviting for small ones while also incorporating some interest for adult eyes? I would love to have these bookshelves for my children.

Next: Get Ideas for Cozy Library Spaces
Great books for your home library or reading nook

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Homeowners insurance is designed to protect your house in case of real damage. So if your house is damaged or destroyed by a fire, as an instance, your homeowners insurance company will cover rebuild you house and replace your belongings. However, before it is possible to get that new home constructed, the debris from the fire has to be eliminated. Homeowners insurance does pay for some removal, but based upon the damage and the type of debris, it may not be adequate.

Debris from a Fire

Most property insurance policies include payments for debris removal, under a category called “additional coverage” Provided that the damage was due to a covered loss — like a fire — the insurer will pay your expenses to eliminate debris. But how much? Typically, the policy provides for a maximum quantity of coverage equal to 25 percent of the amount paid for the direct physical loss, and also 25 percent of the amount of the deductible. Let us state the fire damage was40,000. Twenty-five percentage of this is $10,000. If you’ve got a deductible of $1,000, 25 percent of this is $250. So the maximum you’d be paid for debris removal could be10,250. Anything beyond that amount would come from out of your wallet.

Storm Damage

Cleanup after a massive storm can be pricey. If your yard is full of debris following a storm, it’s covered by your homeowners insurance company, but just 25 percent of their total claim may be used for debris removal. Depending on your total insurance amount, this may or may not be adequate to pay for the costs. What if a large tree branch falls onto your roof or yard but there’s no damage to the house or other construction? Since there’s no damage — and you don’t have to submit an insurance claim — cost for removal of the division and any following mess wouldn’t be covered by your policy.

Added Coverage

Most homeowners insurance policies will provide an extra $10,000 in debris policy if you’re ready to pay a greater premium. This is referred to as an “additional coverage” debris removal motorist. Typically, this type of coverage is only needed if you live in place where storm damage is a frequent occurrence.

Check Your Policy

Distinct insurance carriers have different rules on debris removal. So it’s a good idea to check the debris removal part of your homeowners coverage to determine specifically what’s covered and for how much.

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Whether your motivation is sentimental or just a matter of curiosity, determining whether a vase is a real antique is necessary to set up value, understand proper care and to get the piece insured. Five measures, ranging from inspecting the outside for distinguishing markings to consulting with a specialist, can help you pinpoint the approximate age of the vase.

Check the Bottom

Gently flip the vase above so you are looking straight at its bottom, and scan for distinguishing logos or signatures. Such marks frequently incorporate the name of the company that manufactured the vase, as well as the name of its designer or artist. This producer’s mark may be painted to the vase’s bottom or appear in the kind of an engraving. Because manufacturers diverse the signatures to symbolize unique decades, it is possible to research the corresponding year as soon as you discover a discernible producer’s mark.

Identify the Mark

Once you find it, you can usually recognize the producer’s mark working with an online search engine. A reverse picture search — where you upload a picture of this mark and the outcomes yield related images from all over the web — is beneficial in case you have trouble explaining the mark. Kovels and Antique Marks contain comprehensive listings of famous manufacturer’s marks.You can also inquire at the local bookstore or order an antique marks glossary, such as Miller’s Antique Marks.

Inspect the Informative

The proliferation of reproductions — also, unfortunately, counterfeits — can produce confusion when attempting to approximate the age of a vase. But you can search for many indicators to determine whether your vase is a unique. Since most genuinely old vases were created using wood-based kilns that lacked temperature controls, little alterations were inevitable. Alternately, modern gas-based kilns rely on mass production using moulds. As a result, variations and imperfections are unusual. Coarseness along the mould markers, crackling or bubbles in glass, asymmetry of shape along with a strong luster or iridescence are a couple of telltale signs that your vase is the real deal in lieu of a reproduction or forgery.

Try to find an Overmark

An overmark is just what it sounds like: a mark placed over the company’s original mark.To see whether your vase bears you, you will once more need to carefully flip it over and analyze the bottom. Smudging of the first producer’s mark is a common byproduct of the glazing process used to seal overmarks and, as such, hints at authenticity. Since this technique was used on vases made of 1880 to 1930, it is possible to date your vase to this range if you discover an overmark.

Receive an Appraisal

Because forgeries can be hard for the untrained eye to distinguish, the very foolproof way to discover if your vase is a real antique is to take it to a skilled expert from the antiques field. To find an appraiser in your area, visit the Appraisers Association of America site and click on the “Find an Appraiser” tab to search by name, location or specialization. You can even take your vase to a reputable antiques dealer, though seeking a licensed appraiser’s valuation ensures no conflict of interest exists — an appraiser cannot offer to purchase an item he or she appraised, unlike an antiques dealer.

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Ever wonder how performers decide on a price for their imaginative work? Why it usually costs more to buy in the art gallery than in the artist’s studio? Just curious about daily, what professional musicians do? Here are 10 insights from five artists working in a variety of mediums; included are painters, photographers and a ceramicist.

D. S. Brennan Photography

1. Inspiration comes from observing the world around us. “My work is heavily influenced by my background in environmental science,” says Rhode Island fine art photographer Diana Brennan. “My education and experience interpreting the natural world has informed the way I see natural subjects throughout the camera lens. I would like to share this outlook with my viewers and help them to see the natural world in a new manner, to notice details they’d previously overlooked, and to be reminded that nature is both strong and delicate.”

Brattleboro, Vermont, ceramic artist Natalie Blake says, “Inspiration from the outside comes from nature, history, sciencefiction … in general, I’d call it the hum of life”

Cynthia White Anderson, a fine art pet portrait painter in California, adds, “I find inspiration through daily observation of nature, playing with my two dogs and through my pupils. I’m both a studio artist in addition to an art teacher to a wonderful elementary-school-aged artists. My students challenge me so I’m constantly experimenting. One of my newest inspirations is how sunlight filters through an animal’s ears and fur — that I just love trying to capture the ideal color of warmth in almost any color fur.”

Natalie Blake

2. Inspiration also comes from celebrating fantasies, the self and the world. “I get my inspiration for my own art from fantasy imagery and intuitive inspiration that comes through me onto the sketch clay or paper canvas,” Blake says. “I’m searching the inner spiral of what we call intestine — intuition, faith, patience and hope in the creative procedure.”

Brennan adds, “It’s true that it’s yourself you put into artwork. I’m a quiet, joyful introvert, along with also my work will be composed and introspective. My still-life subjects are generally isolated on a simple backdrop, with emphasis on the details and textures. My landscapes and seascapes have a tendency to be uninhabited, almost verging on desolate, and contain soothing natural greens, blues and neutrals. Generally speaking my style will be both quiet and strong, mirroring the highly effective fragility of nature.”

CAROLE MEYER

3. Inspiration, in fact, can come from anywhere. Nice art writer Carole Meyer, who divides her time between Portland, Oregon, and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, says, “Inspiration comes from everywhere and anywhere. I find I’m quite inspired by my own home. I really like interior decor, and my art is an extension of the art form.”

And from Blake: “My inspiration to run a small company comes from working together with my friends and coworkers to place beautiful things out in the world which people can touch and live with for centuries, ideally. I love cocreating with a gifted team so as to support each other and the neighborhood”

kittypuppytown.com

4. Communication is key — notably at commissioned work. “Matching a customer’s vision to my capability sometimes proves challenging,” Anderson says. “I have discovered that taking time through the first stages of planning the portrait makes a massive difference. It’s important for the customer to understand that first communication is key to make sure that the last painting matches their desires with as few revisions during the painting stage as possible. I like updating the customer along the way through the full process. I will never get enough of the enthusiasm from a customer when they discuss with me that the painting is beyond their expectations”

Juniper Wind Designs

5. Artists are entrepreneurs, too. Philadelphia fine art photographer Nancy “Weezy” Forman shares, “Being an artist, designer and business specialist, my day is made up of wearing many hats. Putting myself out there on social media, , Facebook and Pinterest takes time, in addition to advertising my artwork to magazines and neighborhood meet-the-artist events in galleries and restaurants where I show my work”

Blake adds, “My favourite part of conducting the company is the juggling act I have to do. I feel like I am juggling eight balls in the air so as to maintain the ball of true creativity one out of eight times. Until the day when my company creates its own momentum, then I might need to keep my hands and eyes many facets of the company, shifting from task to task, decision to conclusion, as needed. This merely frees me from the concentrated time for enjoying and dabbling needed to discover that inner voice”

kittypuppytown.com

6. Art is purposeful into the artist and patron. “One of my absolute preferred things about my work is painting a portrait of a beloved pet that has passed,” Anderson says. “I’d like to feel that through communicating with the customer, I can capture the heart and soul of the animal that they loved a lot”

D. S. Brennan Photography

Specimen 652 – $35

There are two best things about having an art photographer, Brennan says. “The first is watching an image on the computer monitor for the first time and recognizing it came out just as I needed it to. There is something so fascinating about that second of creative satisfaction,” she clarifies. “The moment is the pure pleasure I believe when I see that my work resonates with someone. That connection is what it’s all about.”

D. S. Brennan Photography

7. Artwork prices incorporate many things. “prices is based on a combination of time spent, materials and other costs, and the markup/percentage that a gallery or shop will require,” Brennan says. “I generally spend two hours processing images for every one hour spent shooting. I must also cover time for bookkeeping, advertising, sales, order fulfillment etc.”

Even with no gallery markup and promotion, artwork can cost more to create than you might think. “Material costs include the actual prints, framing or mounting, and any packaging required for display or shipping,” Brennan says. “Other costs include matters like the fee to take behind the scenes at a natural history museum. Overhead expenses have to be covered as well, whether or not a one-time equipment update, the recurring cost of printer the booth charge for an art festival”

Natalie Blake

“I consider what others are selling their work for, imagine a price which feels right and go with it,” Blake says. “I then fix pricing for the logical arrangement of dimensions, labour and creative time. My materials are relatively cheap. It’s the labour, including preparation of materials — clay processing and readying, glaze mixing and testing, fixing equipment, ordering supplies etc. — advertising and marketing, application and proposal preparation, client relations, travel expenditures, studio equipment, equipment purchase and upkeep, that costs the studio so much”

CAROLE MEYER

8. Galleries are an entirely different ballgame from retail stores. “prices is tough,” says Meyer. “If you’re represented by a gallery, as I’m — Gallery 903 at Portland, Oregon — your gallery will allow you to set a price. If you’re selling from your own studio, which I also do, then you have to keep your pricing at precisely the same range because it is in the gallery”

Brennan weighs in: “The last piece of the equation is pricing to market through galleries or brick and mortar stores. Galleries typically take a 40 to 50 percent cut of their sales price to pay their own expenses. Retail stores, having to turn a profit, expect to buy work at 50 percent less than retail cost. Pricing is always a tough balance between covering costs and being competitive on the market.”

CAROLE MEYER

9. Making art is enjoyable. “For me one of the most fascinating areas of making art is experimenting with different techniques and new materials,” Meyer says. “I have no training as an artist, though I had been a professional photographer for 35 years; I simply love to try new things. I’m very cluttered whilst functioning — quite cluttered. A typical day painting for me is to get up, brush teeth, don’t bathe, don’t fix hair, put on very messy paint clothing, don’t do dishes, go to cluttered garage and have a blast all day.”

Juniper Wind Designs

Forman loves photographing old, rusted-out trucks which were abandoned on dirt roads and in areas. “The fun part is traveling along with having the ideal gear and looking for old pickup trucks to photograph,” she says. “We create a lot of U-turns and sometimes need to wait some time for the ideal light. I do other images as well, so along the way I may stumble on something which must be photographed. I also have pleasure giving the images titles, which add to their own character — there’s nothing I dislike about what I do.”

CAROLE MEYER

10. It’s purposeful work … but it’s still function. “Creating art is tough work,” Meyer says. “At least for me personally, the toughest part is to receive a painting to the point that I really like it. And if I don’t love it, how can I expect anyone else to appreciate it? I’m never done using a painting before I love it. Regardless of what hard work it is, I want to take action and love to do it. Like ski or mountain climbing or running a marathon, it is all hard work, and if we were not forced or if we didn’t like to do it , it would just be work”

Tell us : What do you want to understand about what artists do?

More: 10 Design Strategies for Art Lovers

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This Seattle couple has more passion for gardening than they do for sports, and so that they substituted a complete tennis court on their property with a vegetable garden, greenhouse and tool shed with a living roof. Located close to Discovery Park in Seattle, the backyard’s greenhouse provides a respite from cold and rain in winter. Gold, orange, yellow, purple and red blossoms, leaves and furnishings offer a riot of bright color that enlivens the whole lawn, even under Seattle’s frequently gray heavens, although raised vegetable beds offer plenty of fresh produce for your table.

Berger Partnership

“It’s a great space to pot up plants in winter once you really wish to work in the garden, but do not wish to have completely drenched,” says landscape architect Jason Henry of Berger Partnership.

The greenhouse, full with citrus and other tender plants that emerge from the flagstone paving, has a big counter and sink. It backs up to a new shed, which has a green roof planted with sedums and a water harvesting system for your greenhouse. “The shed was a big part of the program for the design; there was a strong desire to arrange and visually comprise all of the stuff such as pots, tools and toys for the grandkids,” Henry says.

Berger Partnership

Continuous bluestone flagstone paving and gorgeous custom glass doors make a smooth connection between the greenhouse and the remainder of the garden.

“There has been a lot of cut bluestone used for the paving around the home, so we needed to tie into that, but did not want replicate it,” Henry explains. “Together with the bluestone as flagstone allowed us to be softer on the edges and weave the plantings and paving together.”

Pavilion doors: Architectural Glass/Greg Carman

Berger Partnership

Raised beds arranged in meticulous lines give the garden a pleasing and coordinated modern arrangement. The beds are irrigated by drip tubing.

While the beds are aesthetically pleasing, work has been the best priority. “Raised vegetable beds were the principal focus, and we all spent a lot of time contemplating the advantages and disadvantages of the prospective substances in the early stages of the job,” Henry says. “We settled on concrete because of its durability over hardwood and its ability to serve as a heat sink” In addition, he added chairs to the two long sides to make it even more comfortable to work at the beds.

The fiery orange blossoms on the left are dahlias, developed for cut flowers.

Berger Partnership

An orange trellis covers the main crushed basalt path; the other end (supporting us) provides a view out to Puget Sound. “The trellis is exactly the identical color as the Pyracantha that are espaliered on the primary house,” Henry says. “There are several vines clambering over the trellis, but my favorite is a dark foliaged grape.”

Berger Partnership

This quote from Mary Oliver’s poem The Leaf and the Cloud retains a particular spot in the homeowners’ hubs: “Eternity isn’t afterwards, or at any unfindable place. Roses, roses, roses, roses”

Berger Partnership

Golden Adirondack chairs perform the backyard’s color palette. They also supply a comfortable place to gather after a long day of gardening, enjoying the warmth from the fire pit and also seeing the grandkids play bocce.

Pictures: Read thousands of beautiful patio designs

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Men have been kicked out, stuffed into corners, pushed into spare rooms, crammed into garages and restricted to wooden sheds. But do we care? Heck, no! We would not have our guy caves any way.

Many of you uploaded your own man spaces (or your husband’s or boyfriend’s) to the Opinions section within our latest ideabook, however we just can’t get enough. We’d love to find out more.

Please post your guy cave photograph in the Remarks section below. We are going to feature some of the best in an upcoming story. (And yes, we’ll be doing exactly the same thing for women’s private getaway spaces, also. Stay tuned.)

I adore this rich wood guy cave in Charlotte, North Carolina, built by Walker Woodworking. There are a lot of books and leather chairs and a fully stocked bar.

This is my type of guy space. The noise you can create.

Craig Helmreich posted this picture of his household cave, where”we could combine together in the things I love… (and yes, the drum set is kid sized),” he writes.

Masterpiece Design Group turned this garage apartment into a guy cave in the design of an Irish pub. The space has really become”a very family-friendly hangout,” the firm says.

Many men love sports. Some men actually adore sports. That is why many man caves are likely to feature sports memorabilia.

user campbellbraves’s husband is”over the top with baseball collecting,” she says. “I’ve spent many years taking deep breaths as I see him add to it. I went right downstairs and took a couple of pictures to share. I look forward to incorporating a few of the ideas within our retirement home when we have to attempt to move all this. Yes, there’s a TV and a complete bathroom.”

You can tell that things become manufactured in gavinleigh’s garage.

Your turn: Show us your private man cave in the Remarks below! Please inform us how you use the space and what amenities you added to customize it.

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Charles and Ray Eames are just two of their most influential designers of the 20th century, having made a number of iconic pieces of furniture that many contemporary houses cannot function without. The husband and wife team did not limit themselves to furniture, though. They produced movies (the most famous is Powers of Ten), made toys and games (House of Cards), and even designed multimedia environments (IBM Pavilion at the 1964–’65 world’s fair). Of interest here is your house and studio that have been an extension and impetus for much of their successful output.

If very little is discussed about the structure of the Eameses aside from their very own home, it is because they made very little architecture besides their very own residence. Frustrated with the work of design and the cancellation of a couple projects, they abandoned structure in favor of furniture soon after their home was completed. Nevertheless their home and studio are as influential in architecture since their seats are in the world of furniture design. The structures simultaneously embody the universal and the personal, pointing the way to how the steel and glass of contemporary architecture could be vibrant, creative and, most important, dwelt in.

Eames House in a Glance
Year constructed: 1949
Architects: Charles and Ray Eames
Location: Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles
Seeing info: Reserved self-guided exterior tours only
Size: 1,500 square feet (home) and 1,000 square feet (studio)

More: 10 Must-Know Modern Homes

The complete title of the job is Eames House, Case Study House No. 8. Charles began designing the home in 1945 with Eero Saarinen, when they were commissioned by John Entenza, the editor of Arts & Architecture magazine. The Case Study House program conducted until 1966 and saw the realization of 23 modern houses that embraced industrialization.

Eames and Saarinen’s first design positioned the home and studio volumes in an L-shaped plan atop a mountain on a 3-acre site in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, overlooking the Pacific. The home was dramatically cantilevered from the mountain, away in the neighboring Case Study House No. 9 (planned in precisely the same period and made by Eames and Saarinen), but by 1947 the Eameses (no longer functioning together with Saarinen) simplified the plan and tucked the house to the hillside along a long retaining wall.

The home is hidden among the trees within this aerial. Many of them were implanted in a new mound constructed from the home’s excavation, helping to block the views between No. 8 and No. 9.

Basically what Charles and Ray did using the next plan was to simplify it while still using the same standard steel construction that was arranged prior to the redesign. This opinion of the west facade indicates the 12-inch-deep joists that support the roof and therefore are exposed inside. The home is organized around 71/2-foot-wide bays that are 17 feet high and 20 feet deep; one bay is out around the west, but the rest are enclosed.

Both house and studio are aligned along a retaining wall around the north (left in this photograph), together with the studio on the east, the home on the west and a courtyard in between. The far east and west ends characteristic double-height spaces. Here we’re looking into the living room’s two-story space on the west.

This view from atop the retaining wall looking west reveals the east side of the home facing the courtyard and studio. Notice how it is more powerful than the west facade. This is because the Eameses placed the service areas across the retaining wall around the north but also across the courtyard, in effect freeing up the ends for the double-height spaces. (A floor plan is seen at the conclusion of this ideabook.)

The courtyard divides the home and studio (the studio served as a home office until 1958, when the office was transferred to Venice, California), but in addition, it provides some relief to what would have been a bunch of service spaces if this were just one long building. The courtyard was designed to be covered but was built as an open space, enclosed on three sides.

Eames saw the home as a progressive means of extending wartime industrial production to the problem of the housing shortage. In this way the job was regarded as a prototype for future houses scattered throughout the country, but it’s clear upon coming to the home that it is highly idiosyncratic. Reyner Banham humorously described Charles as having a “hot-rodder mindset into the elements of building,” customizing standard components in unexpected manners.

First glances can result in comparisons with Piet Mondrian’s paintings, however James Steele, in a book-length analysis of the home, talks about your home as a personal expression of a specific style. In their short film on the home from 1955, the Eameses present the building via snapshots of flowers, toys, trees, architectural details — just about everything but the wide-angle views of architecture we’re used to today. The focus on details and moments in the movie finds a parallel in the moments of colour experienced about the facade and within the home.

This last opinion of the Eames House reveals how the duo actually dwelt in the home and used it as a casing that comprised and worked with their possessions and furniture. The home was not a container to be kept minimally furnished. It was a total environment, where the smallest artifact was as critical as the largest parts of architecture. It arouses the Eames style at all scales.

The exterior of the Eames House could be visited with reservations. Interior tours are available for members of the Eames Foundation.

References
Banham, Reyner. Age of the Masters: A Personal View of Modern Architecture. Harper & Row. Banham, Reyner. Los Angeles: The Architecture of Four Ecologies. The Penguin Press, 1971. The Eames FoundationFrampton, Kenneth and Larkin, David. American Masterworks: The Twentieth Century House. Rizzoli, 1995. House After Five Years of Living. A short film by Charles and Ray Eames, 1955.
Steele, James. Eames House: Charles and Ray Eames. Phaidon, 1994. More:
Eames on Film: The Architect and the Painter
10 Must-Know Modern Homes

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There is something very cozy about brick floors — they imbue a home with a storied, old-world feel and emit a feeling of relaxation and nostalgia. Bricks unite the durability of tile or stone with the warm colors of wood, and they are able to work with almost any home design. Yet for all those positive features, they stay a relative desktop player on the grand stage of floor coverings.

If you’re thinking about brick floors for your home, keep these concerns in mind.

Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

Experts of Brick Flooring

• Style flexibility. As with tile, brick’s modular character lends itself into an infinite number of patterns. Running bond (staggered), basket weave, herringbone and others are classics, but you can make a customized motif or a mosaic-style therapy. Brick also lends itself well to paint or epoxy, if you would prefer a radically different color than the typical earth tones.

• Sturdiness. Recall the Three Little Pigs? There are good reasons brick has been a building stalwart for centuries: It’s tough to ruin, it doesn’t rot. Also it will not require sanding or painting. Brick withstands extreme circumstances and weathers heavy foot traffic effortlessly, and it’s also heatproof. Individual bricks can crack or chip as time passes, but they are relatively easy to pry out and substitute.

Dennison and Dampier Interior Design

• Affordability. Since brick used for inside design is usually in paver or tile type, it’s thinner and less costly than exterior brick. On average you will pay less than $10 per square foot, uninstalled. Unless you’re a very skilled DIYer, you will want to factor in professional installation prices (typically around $500 to $700 to an average-size room), as brick can be difficult to put properly.

• Sustainability. Clay brick is made chiefly of natural substances, such as shale, kaolin and minerals. Additionally, bricks from older or demolished structures could be salvaged for new programs — especially nice if you’re aiming for a vintage effect.

• Slip resistance. Left pristine, brick has a slightly rough, textured coating that offers traction underfoot. However, if you seal it with a slick or waxy coating, then you are going to have to take different measures to prevent falls.

• Cosmetic appeal. One reason people love brick is its own inherent conventional warmth, which few different substances can replicate. It evokes a feeling of the past and feels like a powerful, reassuring holdover from bygone days. Natural variations in its own coloring provide it a beautifully nuanced palette.

Cons of Brick Flooring

• Hardness. Durability includes a cost: Brick is unyielding under the feet. If you’re using it in a kitchen or a different space where you spend long periods of time standing, then look at incorporating a cushioned mat or a thick rug to ease the strain on your thighs and back.

• Unevenness. The best-laid brick floors are not 100 percent level, so you may want to compensate for slipping shims under pads or furniture under precarious breakables.

• Weight. As you would imagine, bricks are heavy, even in paver form. As a result, they are often impractical to get a home’s second or third story; it’s very hard to reinforce the floor enough to support all this weight.

Wright Design

• Moisture damage. While bricks onto a vertical surface resist water well, bricks onto a horizontal surface are another story. Moisture can accumulate and penetrate the mortar, and whether the bricks are porous, it can seep beneath their face too. You’ll want to apply a sealant occasionally to guard against mould, mold and cracking.

Tell us : Have you utilized brick floors in your property? What tips would you share?

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