Monthly Archives: July 2019

Practical Style for a Family Home in Calgary

The perfect place doesn’t always have the perfect residence. This former two-bedroom bungalow at the Altadore neighborhood of Calgary, Alberta, is close to schools and dog parks, but the closed-off layout and limited bedrooms didn’t make sense for Jennifer and Derek Stuart’s rising family. Jennifer, an interior designer, redesigned the house along with Copper Brook Homes. By gutting the main floor, focusing on ecofriendly attributes and including a second level, they left a place that feels spacious, bright and family prepared.

at a Glance

Who lives here: Jennifer and Derek Stuart, their two sons and two puppies
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Size: 2,600 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths

Copper Brook

The house was remodeled by Jennifer Stuart around its living room that was original. Because it had the most ordinary light, she took advantage of its own orientation and turned the space into a two-story space with massive windows. Double-paned glass using an SPF coating minimizes the heat gain and loss, as well as the fading effects of the sun.

She incorporated many eco-friendly features, but the family’s budget didn’t allow for the solar panels they had hoped for. Instead, Copper Brook Homes prepped the house for them by conducting a tube from the roof into the electrical panel, so they can one day be installed with minimal interruption.

Lamp: EQ3; coffee table: Florence Knoll

Copper Brook

Instead of investing in a costly sofa, Stuart bought an Ikea Karlstad sectional and replaced with the telltale wood legs with metal ones. Affordable sea grass rugs from Home Depot help specify the living and dining areas. “With a young family, it simply does not make sense to sink a lot of cash into rugs and upholstery,” says Stuart.

Vintage dining room seats were reupholstered in Ultraleather — a more durable and easy-to-clean leather alternative.

Mirror: Pier 1 Imports

Copper Brook

Marble tile on the fireplace adds a luxe touch; utilizing tile instead of slab cut down on cost. Stuart used the exact same Benjamin Moore Natura paint for both the walls and trim to make touch-ups easy.

Fireplace surround: Ames polished marble; hearth: concrete, Caesarstone

Copper Brook

The house’s clean appearance continues in the kitchen with custom cabinetry, the exact same marble tile from the fireplace on the backsplash and Caesarstone counters.

The oak flooring on the primary floor includes a vegetable oil finish. Not only is the end nontoxic, but it provides the floor a matte appearance, so scratches aren’t as noticeable. “The idea is that the floor will create character as we reside on it,” says Stuart. “It can be hard to keep in mind that as the dings and scrapes are actually happening, though!”

Backsplash: Ames polished marble; countertops: Caesarstone in Blizzard; cabinetry: Huntwood Custom Cabinets; light: Carrington Lighting; pub stools: Emeco 20-06; range hood: Roma, Zephyr

Copper Brook

A custom serving and storage area for wine and other beverages only off the kitchen’s work area helps keep guests from the cook’s path.

Beverage storage area: Calmark Cabinetry and Woodwork

Copper Brook

Stuart chose materials and finishes together with as many green and nontoxic characteristics as possible. These endings will also be designed to alter and earn patina over time, so the house will grow together with her family. “For me it is worth it to invest a little extra for the healthier option,” says Stuart.

Copper Brook

Much like the rest of the house, Stuart’s house office feels easy, clean and fresh. “I am trying to cultivate my house decor — finding paintings here and there and bringing them home,” she states.

Bookshelves: Billy, Ikea; desk: Ikea; seat: EQ3; chandelier: Carrington Lighting

Copper Brook

The restrained palette of white walls, gray tiles and wood tones enables Stuart to experiment with attachments. A very simple background within this sitting room makes method for seahorse pillows along with a zebra rug.

Rattan seats: Caban (currently closed); zebra rug: Home Sense; coffee table: classic; mirrors (left to right): Pier 1, Home Sense, classic

Copper Brook

The nursery sticks into the easy palette with a couple blue accents.

Dresser and altering station: Oeuf; crib: Nursery Works

Copper Brook

Aimee Wilder Pigeon wallpaper adds graphic interest in the older kid’s room. “I had wallpaper and a chair railing in my bedroom as a kid, and I believe I needed to replicate that for my own son,” Stuart says.

Dresser: Bermanfalk

Copper Brook

Stuart re-covered a classic chair from her husband’s grandfather in gloomy Ultraleather to get a sentimental but functional touch in her kid’s room.

Copper Brook

She had a bit more fun with colour in the kids’ bathroom. Red industrial lights, light blue walls and playful prints and fabrics add simple style which can be readily updated as the boys grow.

Lights: Barn Light Electric; wall and accent tiles: DalTile; print: John W. Golden, Etsy; wall paint: Polar Sky, Benjamin Moore

Copper Brook

Most of the wall artwork in the house appears in this bedroom. While she occasionally gets remarks about her relatively bare walls, Stuart wants to choose things she actually loves instead of fill the room with random pieces. “I am only waiting to stumble across the ideal thing,” she states.

Bed frame: Caban (currently closed); light fixture: Cartwright lighting; trunk: Pottery Barn; bedside tables: Caban; bedside lights: Home Depot

Copper Brook

The master bath feels soothing. A contemporary chandelier and industrial mirror lights add cheap visual impact.

Lighting fixture: Carrington light; floor tile: Euro Habita; wall tile: Euro Planks; mirror light: Barn Light Electric

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Guest Picks: Autumn Wreaths

Every year that I count the days before the New England foliage changes from emerald green to a kaleidoscope of fiery color. One of my favorite decor choices is picking an autumn wreath, but it’s often too hard for me to pick only one. As my wreath collection swells, I am discussing my favorites for fall and the approaching holiday season. — Erika out of Radiant Republic

Balsam Hill

Gourd Fall Wreath – $99

Authentic gourds and walnut leaves include stunning texture to this pretty piece. It is such a kaleidoscope of fall color.

Etsy

Decadent Extra-Large Cranberry Wreath by The Wright Wreath

In New England, cranberries are a resounding sign of fall. Adorning a front doorway, they include a perfectly red punch of color.

West Elm

Paper Flower Wreath – $49

The combination of ivory and white paper blossoms is ethereal. This would be darling juxtaposed against my red front door or any doorway for that matter.

Etsy

Fall Wreath by 2 Inspire You – $85

The hydrangea in my lawn have been trimmed back for the cold season, however, it doesn’t mean that I must go without them this Thanksgiving. I adore the trifecta of color in this fairly hydrangea wreath.

Mills Floral Company

Preserved Boxwood Wreath, Square

This square boxwood wreath is fairly on its own. I’d use it like an interesting frame for my favorite fall photograph.

Pottery Barn

Live Succulent Wreath – $99

This dwell succulent noodle takes the cake. With three kinds arranged together, it’s genuinely a one-of-a-kind piece.

Etsy

Fall Wreath, Moss Monogram by Privileged Door – $89

Have you ever seen such a pretty monogram? I love the moss letters and burlap decoration. It may need to marvel this (nearly ) newlywed’s door this year.

Pottery Barn

Live Magnolia Leaf Wreath With Burlap Bow – $89

These hand-harvested magnolia leaves are reminiscent of a southern collapse. The burlap ribbon adds a welcome element of whimsy.

Contemporary Wreaths And Garlands – $49.95

If you are like me, you love pomegranates in the fall. Coupled with gold magnolia leaves, both combine the natural colours of fall perfectly.

Williams-Sonoma

Pumpkin Patch Wreath – $99.95

In the fall, I love to regular regional farms and pumpkin spots for color and decor inspiration. This wreath oozes the same rustic charm.

Williams-Sonoma

Grains Wreath – $49.95

This spectrum of fall grains is guaranteed to turn heads. I love the natural feel of this fairly wreath.

Garnet Hill

Red Pinecone Wreath – $108

This reddish pinecone wreath is a glamorous addition to fall decor. The pinecones are finished in a high gloss, which makes them shine like rubies.

Wayfair

Fall Fruit and Pinecone Wreath – $43.50

I love baking with fall fruit nearly as much as I love integrating it in my fall decor. The pears and apples on this wreath are subtly magnificent.

Williams-Sonoma

Star Wreath – $99.95

Step outside the box using a star-shaped wreath. This one will take a front doorway from collapse through the holidays.

Anthropologie

Layered Wreath Mirror – $248

If you would rather maintain your wreath indoors, this chamomile wood wreath mirror is a charming addition to any area.

Pumpkin Harvest Wreath – $61.93

The colours of this fiery wreath allow me pine for pumpkin. I love the orange and crimson hues.

Purchase

Etsy

Fall Berry Wreath by Country Prim – $40

This twig-style wreath is almost too pretty to place outdoors. I love using a smaller wreath with an antique hurricane adorning the centre as a grand centerpiece.

Etsy

Harvest Fall Wreath by DeLaFleur – $65

The foliage and berries adorning this wreath are fairly reminders of why fall is my favorite season. The colors blend beautifully.

Garnet Hill

Sparkle Pinecone Wreath – $58

The delicate appearance of this Sparkle Pinecone wreath makes me wax nostalgic for cozy nights and frost-kissed mornings.

Garnet Hill

Preserved Boxwood Wreath – $48

A wreath collage is guaranteed to be the envy of almost any neighborhood. The grouped wreaths add a whimsical touch to a fall tradition.

Next: When to Paint Your Door Bright Red

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A Luxurious Home Embraces the Landscape

Lauri and Mike Hamer originally hired Lori Smyth to get a pool installation, but what began as a little project soon evolved into a complete house remodel. “This massive fireplace obstructed a lot of the view — it needed to go,” Smyth says. “If they had kept it, they would have had this stunning pool that nobody could appreciate from inside, not to mention that there wouldn’t have been a fantastic way to get to the pool in the house. A lightbulb had gone off in them as well; they understood that the outside needed to be pulled into the house and that the problem was bigger than the pool installation.”

Despite a wildfire that threatened an entire derailment of this redesign, the Hamers, Smyth and her team forged on. “What is fantastic is that we did not have to modify the footprint of the house,” says Smyth.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Mike and Lauri Hamer and their kids, Zach and Chloe
Location: Santa Barbara foothills, California
Size: 3,500 square feet
That’s intriguing: Lauri’s dad, Fred Glenwinkel, constructed this home; it has been in her family for 3 years.

Lori Smyth Design

The landscape layout leads the eye out of the pool to the house, with stairs resulting in the house. Chloe, Zach and friends spend a lot of time in the garden and in the pool, which makes this place an entertainment hub.

Smyth and her team replaced the fireplace wall using floor-to-ceiling sliding glass walls, opening up the interiors to the outdoor living spaces and panoramic views.

Landscape Design: Lane Goodkind; Landscape Contruction: Stonetree Landscape

Lori Smyth Design

A wraparound deck and one of 2 outdoor living rooms give views of the foothills and the Pacific.

“The original house had this little deck, with just a little door, that was hanging off the mountain,” says Smyth. “The soil around it was a big weed area on a mountain. This remodel makes the property’s design more present and reflective of their family living in the house now.”

Lori Smyth Design

Split-level steps lead to a formal dining room, in which glass windows and nonobscuring balcony railing materials let in plenty of light.

Sectionals: Ferla

Lori Smyth Design

The glossy contemporary kitchen works hard to get a family who entertains frequently. A walnut island foundation and hardwood flooring warm up the area, which also has a sleek white lacquer bartop and a stainless island countertop.

“Mike and Lauri adore contemporary design, but they did not need a house that felt cold and aloof,” Smyth says. “We worked hard to evoke the family’s warmth and openness in the property’s design.”

Island and bar high layout: Lori Smyth Design and Bomo Design; bar stools: Soluzioni; backsplash: Walker Zanger (discontinued)

Lori Smyth Design

Smyth and her team ripped out the stairs from a enclosed wall and also redid it entirely with glass panels that expose the structure. A picture of Chloe in three parts fills part of a wall.

Lori Smyth Design

“Being in the house is almost like a hot tub experience,” Smyth says. You feel relaxed, and you only wish to be there since it’s so cozy and there’s not a lot of knickknacks lying about. Rooms just flow into one another and although you’re indoors, you always feel attached to the perspectives along with the living spaces outside.”

Bookcase: Lori Smyth Design (concept) and Bomo Design (drawings and implementation); sofa: B&B Italia; chair: Vioski

Lori Smyth Design

Zach’s room communicates his imagination and musical inclinations without feeling overly kitschy: An electrical keyboard leans from a Bob Marley poster, along with an electrical guitar and a yellowish lounger are within arm’s distance of one another.

Lori Smyth Design

The customers realized the kids got older, they were spending less time in the home, so they turned what was a two-car garage into a game room.

Before the redesign, Smyth says that Lauri lamented over how the kids spent an increasing number of time away in the house. “She wanted a house that the kids needed to bring their friends to. And the kids love staying home and having their friends over.”

Lori Smyth Design

Lori Smyth Design

The outdoor cement and kitchen fire pit region extend the living spaces to the surrounding topography — fitting for a family with origins in the region. You feel like you’re on vacation the moment you arrive.

“So some of the houses in Santa Barbara have been upgraded,” Smyth says. “It is referred to as the mecca for Spanish colonial architecture and homes, so there aren’t many houses that look and feel this open and present”

Architect: John Beauchamp; Contractor: Bomo Design; Landscape Design: Lane Goodkind; Landscape Contruction: Stonetree Landscape

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Hot New Greens for Fall Decorating

Several shades of green have arisen at the hottest colors for fall. One interesting green showing up on the runways is a cross between pine green and army green — a dark green with a brown inside. Along with the people at Pantone, a business that creates color management methods for designers, are touting two greens for autumn: Ultramarine Green (a dark jade) and Bright Chartreuse.

If you are a fan of the color green, then keep reading for inspirational pictures and suggestions about how best to incorporate these hip hues into your house.

Read about fall 2012’s hottest blues

Jennifer Ott Design

This year’s popular greens, clockwise from top left: a vibrant chartreuse, Nervy Hue SW6917 from Sherwin-Williams; a army/evergreen color, Woodland Park KM3352-5 from Kelly-Moore; a subdued chartreuse, Adobe Sun 082-5 from Mythic Paint; and a hue similar to Pantone’s Ultramarine Green, Ming Jade 2043-20 from Benjamin Moore.

TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design

Bright Greens

Chartreuse plays nicely with light neutrals like the whites, grays and timber tones shown here in this gorgeous, contemporary kitchen and dining room. As a bonus, colorful finish materials — like backsplash tile — and bold-hued furniture and accessories can pick up the slack when you lack wall area for artwork.

Bright chartreuse is a great option when working with contemporary architecture. Clean lines and simple forms can take large swaths of bold color.

NOA Architecture Planning Interiors

One of my favorite ways to use color in a residence is to paint the interiors of wall niches. If you want more neutral interiors, you could keep the wall color white, beige or gray then inject a bit of bold color just inside the market for a fun little pop.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

Include a vibrant green hue on your bathroom for a fun, young vibe — perfect for the kids’ bathroom or a powder room in a contemporary house. This is one of my favorite colours, but for all those worried about growing tired of this kind of glowing hue on a vanity, consider adding the color via easily changed out accessories.

Texas Construction Company

If chartreuse green is too lively to your interiors, consider finding ways to use it outside. The lighter, brighter, and more spacious the distance is, the less intense the chartreuse will appear.

Robin Amorello, CKD CAPS – Atmoscaper Design

Here, chartreuse is used to highlight fascinating exterior architectural components. Additionally, it is a great color for front door or window trim. To maintain the look somewhat subtle, pair it with neutral hues, like the steely blue and wood tones here. Utilize the vibrant colours on things you wish to really stand out, and utilize the darker, longer neutral hues for anything you would rather blend in the background.

Raymond Jungles, Inc..

Chartreuse also works nicely as a background color for the garden. It pairs nicely with the cooler greens on your landscape and will help soften hardscaping, like this concrete wall.

Timothyj kitchen & bathroom, inc..

Blue-Greens

Jade green creates a soothing, sophisticated vibe at a bathroom. This cool blue-green colour evokes a spa much from home and close to the water — the supreme destressing color.

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

Ultramarine green works with traditional, contemporary and all design styles in between. This kitchen features a nice balance of neutral and bold colours.

Witt Construction

Brown-Greens

The wall shade in this year’s warm walnut hue, is a handsome take on impartial green. The rich color makes this area ready to host autumn gatherings.

Daniel M Martin, Architect LLC

Army green — a hot green with lots of brown inside — reads like a neutral, perfect for the exterior of a house.

Camber Construction

Army green can also work well in your exterior trim. This green shade works nicely with the timber shingles, but you might also pair it using brick, rock or other neutral-hued siding. It’s a rather dark hue, so if you would like contrast between the siding and trim colours, choose a lighter colour for the siding.

Diane Bennett Bedford

Green Accessories

You do not have to paint your walls a vibrant colour to get a nice dose of color in a space. Instead, collect and exhibit decorative accessories on your favorite colour. They’re much easier and cheaper to change out than wall furniture or paint.

CB2

Nucha Vase – $14.95

If you like chartreuse but can’t invest a great deal of time or cash to bring it in your house, choose one of those fantastic, well-priced accessories available in the favorite color, like this vase from CB2.

IKEA

Bernhard Chair, Chrome Plated, Kavat Green-Yellow – $149

The cheaper an item is, the more I tend to be more adventurous with color. All these chartreuse chairs from Ikea are a relatively cheap way to inject fun color into a casual dining space.

CB2

Julius Grass Twin Sleeper Sofa – $999

When investing in furniture, try to locate pieces that can perform double duty, like this combo loveseat/twin sleeper in fashionable chartreuse.

West Elm

Aydin Rug

This gorgeous rug from West Elm comes with a rich pattern in this year’s hip green hues.

Sundance Catalog

Texas Spinning Stool – $225

I can view this charming stool functioning in a variety of interiors — from a conventional antique-filled house into an industrial loft space.

Picture Frames

I really like the organic, asymmetrical type of those vases and that they have a nice patinated finish in our featured colours.

Barn Light Electric Co

Mig Retro Steel Pendant Light – $149

Do not overlook lighting as a way to present an interesting shape or form, as well as color, into your house. This cool decorative necklace would look fantastic lined up at a set of three or two over a kitchen island.

Inform us What is your favorite green hue? How have you utilized it in or around your property?

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Guest Picks: Curvy Coffee Tables

I’ve been on a hunt this month for the ideal coffee table to complete my living space — and what a quest it was turned out to be! The range of innovative and creative designs out there’s quite overpowering. Luckily, I had a couple of criteria to help narrow the options: it had to be curvy, organic in feel, neutral in colour, kid-friendly and reduced. So here, for the other coffee-table seekers on the market, are the outcome of my hunt. — Lucy from Four Walls And A Roof

Carved Wood Coffee Table – $349

This table has been my beginning point. I adored the Moroccan vibe; it’d be great with a few floor cushions for extra chairs. But I quickly realized that adding still another wood species in to my area would be an error.

Lucy McLintic

This is the family room. The java table needs to tie together the sectional sofa and the Cherner chair, but without taking up too much space. Plus, it has to compete with my beloved (but instead loudly) zigzag rug.

Z Gallerie

Zanzibar Coffee Table – $599

This table also has an ethnic feel to it, resembling Indonesian carved wood. I love the metal information, and the drawers will be so sensible. Nonetheless, it is somewhat dark and heavy for my space.

Chista

Meteor Coffee Table

I had been attracted to the concept of a burl wood table. It will not get a lot more organic than that. The highly polished follicles are so very perceptible. But I could envision beverages being pumped over on this beauty.

Woodland Creek Furniture

Driftwood Coffee Table

Here is another option for burled wood. It’s a rougher finish, but the glass top is much better for balancing food and beverages. Regrettably, glass isn’t an option when you have two small boys that love to climb.

MidCentury Modern Finds

Vintage Mid-Century Burl Wood Slab Coffee Table – $600

Another wood option is a table with a live edge. One day I would love a huge dining table similar to this, but a coffee table would be a fantastic beginning.

Chista

Stone Slice Table

A number of the businesses which make wood tables also provide petrified stone tables. These are magnificent, but maybe they’re better suited to a more formal living room.

CB2

Bright round marble top coffee table – $349

This table is beautifully simple, and the marble fits with my neutral scheme. But, again, stone is cold to the touch, and marble could stain, so it is best saved for a grown-up space.

Candelabra

Oly Studio Pico Cocktail Table – $1,725

A casing shirt has the clean appearance of marble but at a more stain-resistant finish. The curvy legs in this table are distinctive, and the design would fit in a variety of spaces.

Blu Dot

Pi Coffee Table – $599

This table includes a powder-coated steel shirt which has a much warmer appearance than and doesn’t stain like marble. Together with the timber, it’s a natural feel which will fit nicely in my area.

Blu Dot

Lily Pad Coffee Table – $399

Then I hit on the idea of multiple tiny tables instead of a single table. This Lily Pad Coffee Table achieves that effect but is just one piece of furniture. I enjoy the combination of white paint and timber.

Spacify

Designer contemporary Adelphi Coffee Table – $614.91

A pair of tables works nicely also. These have a creamy leather coating, that’s the utmost in glamor, but maybe it isn’t as practical as my family needs.

CB2

Lucent Nesting Tables – $349

Or, I could select three nesting tables which operate together. The shot of turquoise would be great in my room, but the general effect might be too busy for my liking.

Design Within Reach

Noguchi Table | Design Within Reach – $1,399

The Noguchi Table is a classic, and it emulates the exact same irregular shape as the previous example. I adore this bit, but glass is a no-go.

All Design Awards

Cute Cut Cocktail Table

These tiny tables from Roche Bobois are also irregularly shaped, like smooth pebbles found on the beach. The metallic colors would include some vibrancy to the space. But, unfortunately, anything that’s tagged “price on request” is likely not a fantastic idea for a family space.

Ruby LivingDesign

Bruno Cocktail Table – $2,050

By today, however, I had been sold on the idea of a metallic end. This circular table has a beautiful burnished bronze finish that will do the job nicely.

DwellStudio

Curtis Table, Silver Leaf – $468

DwellStudio makes it right again with this innovative silver-leaf hourglass table. It also works as an end table if you stand it upright. I love the flexibility of the piece, but it is somewhat too rectangular for our needs.

PLANTATION

Catalan Iron Table – $1,375

A circular option is this iron table which resembles a huge java bean! I would snap up this in a heartbeat, but it is somewhat beyond the budget.

Zinc Door

Arteriors Malcolm Coffee Table – $886

A similar option is this drum-shaped table in a dark silver iron with brass details. It is the ideal size and shape and really is a true contender.

Digs

River Stone Cocktail Table, Silver – $949

But I wanted a bit more vibrancy in the room, which has dark walls and a lot of black finishes. This table includes a more silver finish. Apart from how it may seem like a meteorite has crashed in my living room, this one pretty much has what I’ve been searching for.

PLANTATION

Thimble Metal Coffee Table – $995

This hammered silver table could be the best solution. A bit more tasteful and classic compared to the previous option, it’s a metallic end but a beautiful, organic shape and texture. Plus, there are no corners for small heads to bump into. Maybe, just maybe, this table will probably be coming to a living room near me shortly.

What’s your pick for Lucy’s living room? Let us know in the comments below.

Next: 8 Ways to Reimagine the Coffee Table

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Lake Perspectives Lead a Luxury Vermont Home

The transfer from Siberia into Vermont was a large shift, however Svetlana and Donat Stern were excited to create the United States their home. After seeing their brothers in the University of Vermont, the couple fell in love with the state along with its natural beauty.

They found that a narrow couple minutes from downtown Burlington and collaboratively designed a new home with architect Ted Montgomery of Groundswell Architects. With energy efficiency, luxury along with a waterfront location in mind, they established a house with vistas of Lake Champlain, passive and active solar, a thermal wrap along with an indoor sauna to produce the space warm and inviting throughout the long Vermont winters.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Svetlana and Donat Stern
Location: South Cove, Burlington, Vermont
Size: 4,000 square feet; two bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, including a sauna
That’s interesting: a number of these windows and wall angles were designed to resemble those of a boat.

Mary Prince Photography

“We wanted to see what working with a real architect was like,” says Donat. “We found the procedure to be very friendly and collaborative.” The couple worked with Montgomery to design an open floor plan with vistas of Lake Champlain. This wall of windows creates a casual summer vacation home ambience year round, preventing the beginning of wintertime cabin fever.

Countertop: Vermont Danby marble, Burlington Marble and Granite

Mary Prince Photography

The lot is 64 feet wide. That narrowness was a challenge, along with the site’s slope and also the minimal land between houses, which generated privacy and erosion concerns. Montgomery carefully positioned each of the rooms — especially the second-floor bedrooms — to maximize privacy and views of the lake.

Glazed south-facing windows and active solar panels onto the roof help keep the house warm. The solar panels also heat nearly all the house’s hot water.

Mary Prince Photography

The couple hired landscape designer Rebecca Lindenmeyr of Linden L.A.N.D. Group to create a three-level terraced landscape extending from the English flagstone terrace to the water. The terraces are built with rock sitting-wall retainers to absorb storm water runoff. The horizontal walls create an illusion of spaciousness, and the lawns are great for entertaining guests, incuding their active grandchildren.

Mary Prince Photography

The family area, dining area, kitchen and entrance foyer all flow into one another. The slightly slanted wall helped create space for the stairway.

Kitchen island, dining stalls: Cheers Collection, Tech Lighting, The Lighting House; furnishings: Furniture World; cabinets: Calligaris; rugs: ABC Carpet & Home; table, chairs: Inmod

Mary Prince Photography

The contemporary furniture in the foyer contrasts with the slick kitchen cabinetry.

Faucets: Close to Home, Burlington; cabinets: Alno, Dalia Kitchen Design; appliances: Boston, Miele; refrigerator: Viking

Mary Prince Photography

Drenched with mild, this comfy sitting area provides a great climate for Svetlana’s orchids. The early-morning light makes it one of Donat’s favorite spaces, since he’s an early riser.

Mary Prince Photography

Off an office the first-floor foyer provides a daily workspace for Donat, who telecommutes into the workplace of the Russian partners. Svetlana frequently uses it in the evenings to work on her pictures of Lake Champlain. “The view from the seat provides a gorgeous sight of the lake at any time of day,” Donat says.

Mary Prince Photography

“The whirlpool hallway was Ted’s idea and one that we loved,” Svetlana says. “We’ve always had many books, and this is an ideal place for them.” The hallway contributes to a glass doorway, a little terrace and the master bedroom. A doorway to a guest bedroom is on the right.

Hall chandelier: Crescendo, Tech Lighting

Mary Prince Photography

Natural light fills the hallway just outside the master suite. This set of paintings by Russian artist Postoev V.D. reminds the Sterns of nature back in Siberia, where winter frequently lasts up to five months.

Mary Prince Photography

Donat’s favorite space, the upstairs game room, has a luxury cruise boat ambience, with nautical round windows and Brazilian tigerwood flooring.

A granite gas fireplace, full wet bar, wall-mounted television and pool table make this the greatest location for relaxing and entertaining. The few often engage friends and family in a game of pool, Chinese or chess checkers within this space.

Bar, fireplace granite: Capalavaro-Brazilian Quartzite, Burlington Marble and Granite

Mary Prince Photography

The fully equipped game room bar keeps food and beverages within convenient reach.

Mary Prince Photography

Place only 50 feet in the lake, the master bedroom enables Donat and Svetlana to see and hear that the lake in all of its beauty at any time of day.

Mary Prince Photography

Repeated round windows in the master bedroom direct the eye into a walk-in cupboard and bath.

Mary Prince Photography

Svetlana loves the master bath. “I was really careful to keep it manly enough for Donat with my colour and stone tile choices,” she says.

Flannel limestone and smoke marble onto the bathtub surround create that manly vibe. Linear stick rock from North Country Tile in Williston, Vermont, adds sudden interest into the walls.

Mary Prince Photography

A slick, upholstered platform bed and fur pillows make the guest bedroom welcoming and warm for when the couple’s daughters visit.

Mary Prince Photography

The hall bathroom is connected to the guest bedroom with a walk-in cupboard. Both rooms have their own doors into the hall.

Tile: North Country Tile

Mary Prince Photography

“If the wind on the lake is powerful, we move to the front terrace and enjoy the outdoors and views of our garden,” says Svetlana.

Mary Prince Photography

On the exterior, deep colors contrast with the rock and clapboard siding. “The exterior of the house is inspired by nautical layout, with the right lines, protruding left angle and round windows,” Montgomery says.

Mary Prince Photography

A glass pergola over the front terrace lets in light and heat whilst providing shade and shelter from the rain.

After five years in their new house, it’s apparent that Donat and Svetlana are content. “We are so happy and comfortable, being near downtown, our daughters and their growing families,” says Donat. “What can be better?”

Architect: Ted Montgomery, Groundswell Architects
Landscape layout: Rebecca Lindenmeyr, Linden L.A.N.D. Group
Interior layout: Tami Esbjerg, Tami Esbjerg Designs
Contractor: Roy Rabideau, Royal Design and Construction

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Show Your Team Spirit With Colours

In Alabama, where I live, sports — especially college soccer — are king. Nearly every conversation eventually turns to the way (insert team here) appears at spring training, or how they will fare in the upcoming season, or the way they blew it at the big game last weekend. Therefore it goes without saying that folks here aren’t shy about putting their fandom on screen in your home, inside and outside.

From mailboxes to door wreaths and bookcase bric-a-brac to media rooms, team colors, logos, mascots and mementos feature prominently in my local decor. However, as faithful as I am to my alma mater, I don’t think I could bring myself to put my lover equipment out for public viewing. Rather, I’d take a subtler approach: team-appropriate colour combinations that don’t sacrifice style for spirit. It’s fine to take a few liberties with the palette you won’t get a stern letter from the alumni affairs office should you stray somewhat from the official college hues.

Take a look at the distances below for ideas on the best way best to pull off this particular tactic. I couldn’t feature every faculty team from the U.S. on the market, of course, so to narrow down it, I went together with the top 10 as chosen by ESPN in its annual Power Rankings. In case you have a chic space decorated in the colors of your own favorite group, post a photograph in the Opinions section — we would love to see it!

Rikki Snyder

1. University of Southern California Trojans: Cardinal and Gold

Warm, cheerful and lively, gold and red create natural decorating partners. In this cozy area, red tones from the carpet, pillows and other accents help ground those gorgeous, luminous yellow walls.

Tom Meaney Architect, AIA

With vivid reddish wicker furnishings along with a gold and red checkerboard floor, this terrace sizzles in the sun.

Throwing a football party? Think beyond helmet-shaped chip bowls and group pennants. Rather, cloak the table with sophisticated linens and fresh blossoms from the colors of the big event.

Amber Flooring

2. Louisiana State University Tigers: Purple and Gold

Purple and yellow tones lie opposite each other on the colour wheel, so these two colors create a gorgeous contrast in tandem. A plum-colored wall along with a muted gold column spark this tranquil space.

FOCAL POINT STYLING

Stylish lamps with golden yellow foundations and sheer, muted purple shades deliver a more subtle message in your fandom compared to a giant foam finger.

Momoko Morton

Powerful and punchy, this kitchen is just fun. Repeating the island hue on the bottom of the purple cabinetry can help to connect the 2 components and prevents the kitchen from feeling choppy.

Peg Berens Interior Design LLC

3. Alabama Crimson Tide: Crimson and White

Crimson kitchen cabinets — any daring cabinets, for that matter — are a big commitment. However, if you are a diehard lover or simply in love with the way this rich, hot color enhances a kitchen, then they can create significant drama. A healthy dose of white at the furniture can help to cut their strong impact.

Crimson Design Group

Svelte crimson bar stools add a classy note to a neutral area.

These bright, happy crib sheets create a refreshing change of pace from nursery pastels. (Bonus spirit points such as the elephant theme.)

Vanessa De Vargas

4. Oklahoma Sooners: Crimson and Cream

Here is our second crimson contender, this time enriched even further by warm cream. A reddish birdcage-style light fixture provides just the right focal point to a very simple space.

Visual echoes are among the keys to color victory, and red accents layer together beautifully in this living room vignette.

Timeless Architecture

Willing to take your spirit outside? Forget the giant mascot flag mounted from the front porch; rather, dab your team colors across your entire residence. Of course, this is easy if you’re lucky enough to have colors that work naturally together on an exterior — it is a little trickier with, say, orange and purple (sorry, Clemson fans).

Caitlin Creer Interior Design

5. Oregon Ducks: Green and Yellow

The Ducks are known almost as much for their parade of eye-popping uniforms because of their fireworks on the field. Luckily, you can combine these two colors at a far more sophisticated way. Emerald greens along with a yellow that goes one particular shade beyond lemon give this space a vibrant and fresh yet mannerly atmosphere.

Leslie Lundgren Design

Green velvet is an appealingly unexpected selection with this particular pair of bérgères. Combined with the electrical yellow wall, it modernizes a decidedly traditional room.

Rikki Snyder

This room is about the greens — that the yellowish art on the wall is merely a supporting player. Nevertheless it somehow brings the entire scheme.

decordemon

6. Georgia Bulldogs: Red and Black

Red and black is among the most striking, classic colour combinations on the spectrum, and I’m not just saying that since I’m a University of Georgia alum. A tight red and black palette joins together the disparate elements in this endearingly funky dining room, and whitened lightens the whole package up.

Fougeron Architecture FAIA

When you really take a look at this area, it is basically neutral — the red and black are restricted only to a little slice of the space. Nevertheless their intensity makes the plot read as red and black.

decordemon

As befits this glamorous Hollywood Regency area, a voluptuous red mirror steals the show amid a sea of black.

Cecilia Staniec

7. Florida State Seminoles: Garnet and Gold

These two colors may not be the first you would think of pairing indoors, but they really complement each other very well and create a warm, gentle impact. Quite subtle gold walls in this bedroom form a quiet backdrop for the garnet accent wall, which helps to cozy up the space.

Erika Bierman Photography

Garnet draperies provide this bedroom an amazing feel. Dark curtains can feel oppressive at a material such as velvet or corduroy, so maintaining them sheer helps to enhance their own intensity.

Kendall Wilkinson Design

Otherwise to the palette, this living room would feel ultratraditional and comfortable. Brighter shades of golden and deep red give it a sassy, fresh spin.

Darci Goodman Design

8. Michigan Wolverines: Maize and Blue

It’s tough to go wrong with blue and yellow in any form. The happy color combo, and the Roman shade and the bow-tied seat cushions, give this dining area a French country-meets-coastal vibe.

1 bright element frequently is all you need to balance a dark area. This striking yellow chaise rises to the challenge admirably.

Grace Home Design

Zany zigzags, a mod oil seat, an asymmetrical coffee table … could this chamber be any more entertaining? Mod furniture and accents help to earn a classic colour palette feel fresh all over again.

Carolyn Miller Interiors

9. West Virginia Mountaineers: Gold and Blue

Here is a brighter, more luxurious spin on the blue and yellow pairing. Rich royal blue seats and walls are alive when paired with gold-tone lighting and artwork.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

Modern golden armchairs and a tufted blue ottoman make an oasis of colour in this transitional bedroom.

Susan E. Brown Interior Design

Color junkies will be over this brilliant bathroom. Blue countertops, golden yellow walls and intricate tilework give it a Mediterranean flair.

Rachel Reider Interiors

10. South Carolina Gamecocks: Garnet and Black

Whereas garnet and golden feel as a layer of fall leaves, garnet and black may be a bit edgier. The rusty orange seat pillow adds yet another dimension that keeps the scheme from feeling flat.

John Lum Architecture, Inc.. AIA

A textured garnet island foundation and black countertops anchor this romantic kitchen.

SEE MATERIALS INC..

I can not decide what creates the most drama in this bathroom: the deep reddish vanity, the stunning black accents, the wall tile detailing or the asymmetrical placement of the sink and mirror. It’s a stunner all the way around.

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10 Tiny Kitchens Whose Usefulness You Won't Believe

From unfolding flats to smart remodels to creative rentals, these 10 miniature kitchens demonstrate that their owners and designers have not just learned to take care of small spaces — they’ve embraced them. With options including cutting boards for extra counter space, affordable alternatives to background and advanced storage, these tiny kitchens can’t help but inspire.

Kelly and Abramson Architecture

1. Pocket-Size Vintage-Style Kitchen
Homeowner: Robert and Ronna Kelly of Piedmont, California

Robert Kelly’s vintage-style kitchen is only about 145 square feet, but he does not need considerably more room — even with kids and pets round. Kelly’s home was built in the 1920s, also preserving the original design was a big priority. Each appliance and finish was chosen to complement the home as a whole. The gorgeous classic stove was given to him by a friend.

Kelly and Abramson Architecture

The toughest portion of Kelly’s renovation was planning the kitchen in connection to the remainder of the home. The traffic stream needed to be arranged with emphasis on a single side of the distance, leaving more room for cabinets and counters on the other. Transferring the interior stairs, the exterior stairs and also the windows helped attain this but presented some complications.

See more of Kelly’s kitchen

Justrich Design

2. Clean, Modern and Efficient Kitchen
Homeowner: Steve Justrich of San Francisco

Designer Steve Justrich’s renovated 1912 kitchen was carefully designed to make the most of its 90 square feet. Justrich relied on easy tricks — putting the refrigerator flush into the wall in an old doorway and buying small European appliances to save space. Open shelving instead of upper cabinetry along with a turquoise Venetian plaster ceiling create the illusion of more room.

Justrich Design

A very small dishwasher is Justrich needs to get a day’s worth of dishes. A built-in cutting board along with a strainer to your sink enlarge counter and prep area. Colorful artwork and Heath pottery include cheer into the simply designed area.

See more of Justrich’s kitchen

Apt 2B Baking Co..

3. A Tiny, Makeshift Bakery
Homeowner: Yossy Arefi-Afshar of New York City

Yossy Arefi-Afshar likes to bake, and Won’t allow her miniature New York kitchen prevent her. Although she has learned some hard lessons about planning along the way (“I will never forget the time I got overly rough with my menu and ended up doing dishes in the tub the next day,” she says), she has learned to function with what she has got.

Apt 2B Baking Co..

When Arefi-Afshar is operating on a big baking job, she simply clears everything off the counters and moves into another portion of the apartment. For some excess surface area, she will pull out a drawer or two and put a sheet pan or cutting board on top.

See the remainder of Arefi-Afshar’s kitchen

Churreria Photography

4. Space-Saving Spanish Kitchen
Homeowner: Christian Schallert of Barcelona, Spain

This cleverly designed 260-square-foot Barcelona apartment works in different manners — each appliance and piece of furniture tucks into a concealed panel. Panels made of Viroc and timber pop open with an easy push, revealing refrigerators, seating plus a bed.

Churreria Photography

The kitchen panels are on precisely the exact same side of the home. A fridge, an electric stovetop, a sink, a freezer, a microwave and a dishwasher fit into this one wall. After foods, everything simply gets tucked right into its hidden panel.

See more of Schallert’s home

nat the fat rat

5. Eclectic and Personal New York Kitchen
Homeowner: Natalie Holbrook of Manhattan, New York

Natalie Holbrook’s new flat was an upgrade in size and style from her previous miniature, prewar home. While the kitchen was a step upward, it was small and lacked some special style. When she first moved in, Holbrook desired to pay this wall in background, but the possibly messy installation and expensive price tag dissuaded her.

nat the fat rat

Instead, she developed an impromptu, fashionable and affordable collage made of Polaroids, Instagram prints along with other photographs. Adding the cassette, the whole thing cost less than $35.

See more of Holbrook’s home

Big Girls Small Kitchen

6. A Food Blogger’s Brooklyn Lease
Homeowner: Cara Eisenpress of Brooklyn, New York

A leasing kitchen isn’t just limited in size, it’s restricted in style also. Food blogger Cara Eisenpress uses cute art and her prettiest canning experiments to add color and attention to her miniature Brooklyn kitchen.

Big Girls Small Kitchen

A huge portion of maintaining a small kitchen clean is prioritizing possessions. Not everything could fit in her kitchen initially, so the most used items were kept available. On the other side of the kitchen, a wall-mounted wine rack and tall bookshelves benefit from wall space for storage. A small setup chairs four individuals for a casual meal.

See the rest of Eisenpress’ kitchen

Michael K Chen Architecture

7. Luxe Appliances in a Small Space
Homeowner: A Manhattanite who likes to cook

The proprietor of this 400-square-foot New York City apartment loves to cook and understood that his lack of square footage didn’t need to be an inhibitor. Collectively, the client and designers Michael Chen and Kari Anderson came up with a unique “unfolding” notion — a built-in cabinet which carries a cabinet, a desk and a bed, also divides flat into zones.

Michael K Chen Architecture

This unfolding cabinet solved the issue in the great area, but the dilapidated kitchen had some problems. The designers found that a small Viking range to install at the end of the narrow kitchen area. 2 undercounter units replaced a full-size fridge , and walnut and stainless steel open shelving provided functional and attractive storage.

See more of this unfolding apartment

Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

8. Ecofriendly Bare Essentials
Homeowner: Jay Shafer of North Carolina

This movable 7- by 16-foot home is combined with an equally miniature residence next door for a total of 620 square feet of living area. Jay Shafer, founder of Tumbleweed Tiny House Company, calls this home (along with his wife and young son). This energy efficient and ecofriendly housing solution relies on the fundamentals, including a bare-bones kitchen. The front door of the home opens into its small kitchen and dining area. A sink, a prep surface, a portable electric range and a small fridge serve the household’s basic needs. A shelf above the sink holds the majority of the dishes and other kitchen essentials.

See more of Shafer’s home

Gut Gut

9. Classy and Custom European Kitchen
Homeowner:Lukas Kordik of Bratislava, Slovakia

This space-saving personalized kitchen is full of smart storage options. The vivid blue kitchen cabinetry provides plenty of color while taking up minimal room. An electrical stove top, a toaster set flush into the cabinetry and incorporated drawer handles keep things easy. Possessing the principal kitchen unit in a single block saves space and keeps open.

Gut Gut

Designer and homeowner Lukas Kordik created an impressive unit of floor-to-ceiling shelving to hold essentials and decorative products.

See more of Kordik’s home

10. Cheerful San Francisco Lease
Homeowner: Kimberly Hasselbrink of San Francisco

Food photographer Kimberly Hasselbrink loves her San Francisco apartment, but her kitchen is seriously lacking in space and natural lighting. She has not gotten the go-ahead to make any modifications on it, so for now she has dressed up her distance with thrift shop accessories and one-of-a-kind artwork.

Hasselbrink keeps the room neat and clean by using hidden storage. She does not like to keep out anything unless it’s useful and appealing, rather adding color and visual interest via easy-to-change decoration, like these prints from Jon Holcomb and Wendy MacNaughton.

See more of Hasselbrink’s kitchen

Do you have a small kitchen? Show us in the Comments section below!

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Green and Clean: Ecofriendly Bath Floors

Toilet flooring play host to water that is drinkable, wet feet, potty clogs and cosmetics marks, so durability and hygiene are crucial. However, that does not mean that you have to sacrifice on personality. Keep those qualities and enhance your bathroom’s appearance with these flooring choices.

Concrete flooring. The ultimate multitasker, concrete may behave as both the end material and structural floor. Adding a intricate flooring system to one substance is smart, efficient and cost effective. Green your concrete with recycled aggregates such as ceramic, glass or coal fly ash (though bypass the fly ash if coal is not produced in your area, since the transport energy negates any green cred).

This bath handsomely warms up concrete’s cool vibe with a slatted hardwood flooring overlay beyond the shower.

Contemporary Tile

Pebble tile flooring. Smooth stones underfoot gently massage weary toes and lend a spalike quality for your bath. While most conventional pebble tiles derive from mining stone, the folks at Modwalls have created a 100 percent recycled glass version of pebble tiles, called ModRocks, that lend the spa vibe without harming the environment.

FORMA Design

Terrazzo flooring. Apparently indestructible, terrazzo receives high marks for durability and great looks. This material, made of chips of granite or marble set in concrete and polished, and can score high to sustainability if you use no- or low-VOC sealers and low-impact aggregates such as recycled glass. Though terrazzo can be pricey, a toilet, with its relatively small footprint, may be a fantastic place to splurge with this elite substance.

The Gaines Group Architects

Linoleum flooring. Linoleum is often mistaken with sheet vinyl, however, the two have little in common. True linoleum is constructed of natural materials, such as jojoba oil, also is inherently antimicrobial — ideal for combating mold and mildew in the bathroom. To boot, linoleum is scratch resistant, fire resistant and water resistant, and has been proven to strengthen over time, earning the nickname “40-year floor.”

Linoleum is available in sheets, tiles or boards. If you are not creating a pattern with tiles like in this charming toilet, I suggest using sheets, since you’ll have fewer joints and fewer areas to the floor to reveal its age. Make sure that any adhesives are free of solvents and labeled “no-VOC.”

Birdseye Design

Recycled glass tile flooring. Recycled glass tile, with its jewellike attributes and bevy of color choices, makes greening your bath a cinch. Nearly all of the products of Oceanside Glasstile contain recycled content, ranging from 30 to 97 percent of the composition of the tile. This tub employs Oceanside’s Tessera string in Spruce, which is 95 percent recycled glass.

TTM Development Company

Ceramic tile flooring. Ann Sacks’ Savoy series (among its Eco-Thinking traces), is made from 21 percent post-industrial recycled content, such as ceramic waste substance from discarded clay and tableware pieces. The refined Savoy series is broad and affordable, plying you with all the field tiles and mosaics a tub could desire.

Modwalls Tile Company

CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Tile – $18.95

Cork flooring. Cork touts a great deal of green cred: It’s a fast renewable and carefully protected resource. Each nine decades, producers in Portugal and Spain strip the bark of cork trees to long, wide slabs, using care to not damage the tree. Wine corks are made out first, along with the bits are subsequently pressed and ground to earn flooring and bulletin boards, so that every bit harvested is utilized. Ensure that your cork water resistant with a non- or no-VOC sealer.

Modwalls has fostered cork’s ecofriendly reputation with its charming CorkDotz Mosaic Penny Round, made from the cork stopper industry’s by-product.

More on bamboo floors

Rauser Design

Wood flooring. Designers and architects are eschewing the idea that wood flooring do not belong in the tub. Instead, wood flooring is extended throughout houses and into bathrooms like this one, lending a seamless appearance. When properly sealed (with no- or low-VOC sealers, please), wood flooring in the bathtub need not pose any additional challenges.

Just bear in mind that, ecologically speaking, wood may be the very best or the worst of materials. It can be almost ideal when harvested. It’s durable, it has a very long life cycle and milling may be easy and requires very little energy. However, wood that is not harvested sustainably could be environmentally harmful. When choosing wood flooring, start looking for the next to make certain you’re making the most sustainable choice:
FSC-certified: The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent service that offers certification, or consent, to wood that has been chosen in a responsible manner. Think of it as wood’s equal of organic. Local species: Wood harvested locally reduces transportation-related energy, supports the local economy and strengthens the feeling of place. Salvaged: The only thing better than recycling is upcycling, or repurposing salvaged materials. Doing this sets the bar high for sustainability and is a chance to bring some history and personality for your kitchen. Salvaged beams from a 100-year-old warehouse roof were milled into tongue and groove flooring for this particular home. More:
10 Best Tips for Getting Bathroom Tile Right
Cork Floors 101: Warm Up to a Natural Wonder
More guides to ecofriendly design

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