January, 2019 - SkirtingBoards.com®

The Top 5 Household Emergencies and How to Deal with Them

January 12, 2019 by admin

Unexpected household emergencies aren’t just inconvenient— they can be expensive, too. Whether it’s a problem in the middle of the night or you’re just looking for ways to stay prepared, there are steps you can take to prevent a small emergency from turning into a large— and costly— one. Here are our tips to help you prepare for and deal with the most common household emergencies.

Getting locked out

Taking the wrong steps to get back inside when you’re locked out can make a bad situation worse. Instead of trying to get in by yourself and potentially damaging your locks, try these two tips instead.

Look for a spare.

Who has your spare key? While it may inconvenient, it’s smarter to call a friend than to break your locks. If you don’t have a spare already, consider buying a key hider for future lock-outs.

Call a professional.

Call a local locksmith and wait for them to let you back inside, rather than damaging your door.

Losing power

The way you handle a power outage is important to both your safety and your wallet. Before you head to the breaker panel during this household emergency, take care of these things first.

Shut the fridge.

Leaving the refrigerator door closed seals in the cold air and minimizes the chance of your food spoiling. This can prevent you from getting sick and spending money on new groceries.

Unplug electronics.

Random power surges can damage or destroy anything still connected to an outlet. Avoid costly replacements by disconnecting sensitive electronics.

Pipes freezing

When the weather cools down, the last thing you want is the hot water to stop flowing. Frozen pipes are at a real risk of bursting during the winter season, but being prepared can save you thousands of dollars in flood damage and more household emergencies.

Turn off the faucet.

If the water in your faucet has slowed to a trickle or even a full stop, you might have a frozen pipe getting ready to burst. Turn off the faucet to prevent further damage and call a plumbing professional.

Turn up the heat.

If the blocked pipe is behind a wall, turn up the heating in your house and wait for the ice to thaw, or use a hair dryer to heat the area manually.

Toilet overflows

When your toilet is backed up and overflowing, you’ll need a combination of quick thinking and immediate action. Avoid water damage and expensive repairs by knowing what to do for this common emergency.

Take control of the water flow.

Don’t worry about towels for now — stop the flow of water. Take the lid off of the toilet, press down on the flapper valve, lift the float to cut off water supply, and wait until the water level drops back to normal.

Take matters into your own hands.

If you’ve got a plunger nearby, it’s time to take action. Make sure there’s enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger, and keep plunging until the suspected blockage is gone.

Air conditioning or heating goes out

In the heat of summer or cold of winter, it’s important that your heating and cooling system is up and running. Have a plan to stay comfortable in extreme weather and keep your HVAC unit in good shape.

Get out of the house.

Extreme heat or cold isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous to your health. When your HVAC system breaks down, don’t lose your cool. Take the family out for a pool day or matinee, grab a bite to eat, or visit some friends.

Maintain your system.

Don’t wait until your HVAC system is on its last legs to give it some TLC. Make sure you’re replacing your air filters when they get dirty, and take note of any strange noises coming from your HVAC unit. While it may cost a bit in the short-term to replace parts as they wear down, the money you save long-term by preventing household emergencies is worth the extra time and preparation.

Get help from a professional.

If your heating and cooling system breaks, don’t try to fix it yourself — leave it to the experts. Make sure you call a local professional to get HVAC equipment up and running again. It’s also important to schedule seasonal maintenance service to make sure you’re ready for whatever weather comes your way. Additionally, here’s our home maintenance checklist for fall with tips to make sure your home is ready for the cooler weather.

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4 Secrets To Successfully Decorating a Tiny House And Making It Work For You

January 12, 2019 by admin

Here’s a quick guide to decorating a tiny house. Image: Calvin Hanson Creative

Congratulations, you’ve finally taken the leap and bought a tiny home! Now all that’s left to do is decorate it. Decorating a tiny house is not difficult. However, there are a few unique considerations to keep in mind.

We’ve laid them out below. Read them over to learn how to create a tiny home that’s equally functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Make the room’s function clear. Image: Sol Haus Design

Put function first

In a tiny home, there’s so little space to work with that it’s especially easy for your design to become muddled. Having too many items in that small amount of square footage can result in things getting cluttered fast. There’s a risk of losing your design in the midst of it all. With that in mind, you need to take extra steps to ensure your intent stays clear. You can do that by putting function first in your design.

When we say “put function first,” we mean “let furniture carry the room.” While every space needs aesthetic touches, those should take a back seat to essential items like a sofa, table or bed frame. Get those in place first. In an ideal world, the purpose of each distinct functional area of your home will be clear with just a glance.

For an example of what we mean, look at the picture above. Notice how it’s very pared down. Yet, thanks to the furniture and directional visual cues, you can clearly tell that there’s meant to be a work area that’s separate from the main living space.

Plan out your storage even when it seems unconventional. Image: Tiny Digs

Get creative with storage

The biggest challenge when it comes to setting up a tiny home is finding enough storage. While you undoubtedly decluttered before moving in, there will likely be many things leftover for which you need to find a home. While standard storage options like closets and cabinets will undoubtedly be necessary, you’re going to need to get a little creative and include storage options in unexpected places.

To do this, go over every inch of your tiny house with storage in mind. Challenge yourself to think of a way to add storage everywhere, whether it’s adding under-mount storage to an existing piece of furniture or bringing in more shelving. You don’t have to utilize all your ideas but, odds are, you’ll be glad for any added functionality.

Every piece should add functional and aesthetic value. Image: Shelsi Lindquist Photography

Choose items that do double-duty

Since you only have a limited number of items to work with in a tiny house, you need to choose them carefully. Here, your focus should be on what kind of value they add to the space. Is it functional value? Is it aesthetic value? Or is it both? Ideally, when you’re designing a tiny house, each piece that you bring into your home will offer both.

As for how to pull this off, it’s all about going bold with style. Choose items that have bold colors, patterns and textures.

Leave a little room for decor. Image: New Frontier Tiny Homes

Don’t forget accessories

Lastly, we know that when you’re living in a tiny house, you can spend so much time figuring out how to make the space work for you that you completely forget about the traditional elements of design. However, we’re here to remind you that they’re important – and accessories can help. After all, that’s how you infuse your personality into the space and make it feel like home.

Don’t be afraid to add a design element that solely adds aesthetic value to the space. Your accesorizing decor could consist of any of the following:

Area rugs
Throw pillows and blankets
Wall art and mirrors
Decorative bowls and trays
Coffee table books
Candles
Picture frames
Flowers and vases

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Traditional House in Spain Incorporates a Contemporary Layout

January 12, 2019 by admin

The creative team behind Dom Arquitectura completed this House in la Cerdanya. An inspiring traditional house in Spain, it blends classic elements with contemporary living. The residence neighbors a beautiful natural park and takes advantage of the surrounding valley.

Faced with local building constraints, the developing team had to limit the design to local materials. “As a start, we decided to build the home with a wooden structure, facing the project from a bioclimatic strategy, to achieve an efficient and sustainable construction,” the architects explained. “The project included three different textures: the stone and the clay tiles as stated in the regulations and the timber as structural material,” they also said.

The L-shaped house is partially buried in the ground. Only the garage and main entrance are at street level. The site dictated this structure because of its steep slope. An open-plan living and dining area acts as the core of the traditional house in Spain. This also ensures expansive views of the surrounding area.

“The exterior wall draws a series of slopes and counter slopes providing the house with a singular geometry. The roofs of both wings create a continuous porch that surrounds the house and generates a wide lounge area in one of its end,” the architects added. “In the traditional rural architecture of the region,” they continued, “the houses where enclosed towards the exterior in a gesture of protection. This project aims to open up the living room, the garden and the views.” Information provided by Dom Arquitectura; photography courtesy of Jordi Anguera

Take in the views from this traditional house in Spain

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How to Decorate With Living Coral – Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year

January 11, 2019 by admin

Living Coral, Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year, is a warm and cheerful color that’s perfect for accessorizing your home. Image: Pantone

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We’re in love with Living Coral, Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year. After the beautiful but tame blue and purple color trends of 2018, a vibrant coral is shaking up the decor and fashion industry. Living Coral happens to be an awesome accent for cool colors like blue and gray, so it’s going to be easy to add it to our existing palettes.

Just how did Pantone arrive at such a bold choice? “Color is an equalizing lens through which we experience our natural and digital realities and this is particularly true for Living Coral,” says Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute. “With consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanizing and heartening qualities displayed by the convivial Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord.”

Pantone’s Living Coral is generating a lot of buzz in the fashion and decor industry and it’s easy to see why. Coral is the best of both worlds, with the energy of orange paired with the softness of pink. Living Coral is easy to love, but how can you incorporate it into your decor right now?

Quick Ways to Add Pantone’s Living Coral to Your Home

Living Coral, or any warm and vibrant color, is an easy addition to a cool or neutral color scheme.
Give your front door a makeover with a cheerful coral paint color.
Your bathroom color scheme is an effortless spot for new towels and accessories in Living Coral.
If you’re not sure about committing to a vibrant accent color, start small with two or three throw pillows for your sofa or bed.

Pantone’s 2019 Color of the Year is more versatile than you might think. This coral can be used as an accent color in place of a pastel or even a neutral. When Colors of the Year are announced, they are meant as trend statements to inspire you. Living Coral is a beautiful orange with a pink glow, but the perfect coral for your home may be warmer or softer. Here are some of our favorite ways to decorate with coral at home:

Living Coral in the Living Room

You probably already know that adding a throw pillow or artwork is the easiest way to update your living room’s color palette, especially with a bold color like coral. But don’t be afraid to be more adventurous with a coral rug or even furniture. Pantone’s Living Coral is easier to add to your color palette than you might think.

A throw pillow in Living Coral adds color to a neutral sofa. Image: Wayfair

Look for rugs with your coral accent color along with the other colors in your palette. Image: AllModern

Navy blue is one of the most popular 2019 color pairings for coral. Image: Joss & Main

You can bring bright colors into your living room with fun accent furniture like this. Image: Hayneedle

A coral/orange sofa is a bold choice to show off the 2019 Color of the Year. Image: AllModern

Spice Up Your Home’s Color Scheme With a Living Coral Accent Wall

Accent walls will always be a wonderful way to rev up your color palette. With a vibrant color like Living Coral, you might want to consider non-traditional ways to create an accent wall. An accent ceiling or trim color may be just the right amount of coral for your space.

An accent ceiling may be the perfect spot for a bold color like Living Coral. Image: Benjamin Moore

Embrace the warm and bright vibe of coral in a fun color scheme. Image: Sherwin-Williams

If you’re not ready to paint an entire wall in coral, a strategic paint color trim is a stunning alternative. Image: Behr

Brighten Up a Boring Bathroom With Coral

If you’re tired of your bathroom’s neutral color scheme, a bold accent color like coral can warm things up. A white or beige bathroom can benefit from coral towels, or even a shower curtain, to add warmth. Plus, these are inexpensive updates that can be done in a hurry.

A new shower curtain in a warm accent color can transform your bathroom instantly. Image: Wayfair

An ombrè design makes a dramatic statement in a simple bathroom. Image: Hayneedle

Add Pantone’s Living Coral to Your Bedroom’s Color Palette

Even a retreat-style bedroom can use a touch of warm color like Living Coral. Pairing coral with a dark neutral like navy blue or greige can maintain the relaxing vibe of the space. If you love a bright and energizing bedroom, coral is a fun accent for boho and mid-century modern styles.

Pairing navy blue with Living Coral in a color palette works in a variety of decorating styles. Image: Bed Bath & Beyond

Love boho style? Coral completes this energizing color palette for a boho bedroom. Image: Overstock

Sometimes all your bedroom needs is a new accent piece. An upholstered bench with coral accents changes everything. Image: Wayfair

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Transform Your Basement with these Creative Ideas

January 11, 2019 by admin

Basements are undergoing a renaissance right now. “Traditionally, basements were filled with a sectional, a big screen television, a pool table and a mini fridge for small refreshments,” according to Patrick Garrett, real estate broker at H&H Realty in Trussville, AL.

However, he says the basement is now transitioning from man cave to family room. “Many modern-day homeowners are now going for the ‘wow’ factor,” Garrett explains. From movie theaters to offices and even kitchens, homeowners are using their basements for way more than storage.

Here are some imaginative ways that you can transform your basement.

Home theater

Entrance to a Westborough, MA basement home theater. Image: CHIC Redesign

This basement home theater certainly looks opulent – but that’s actually a basic solid core door with upholstered vinyl panels. The photo below shows the inside of the theater.

A true home entertainment experience. Image: CHIC Redesign

“From mass in-home family game rooms to full-blown home theaters, you can expect to see oversized recliner theater seating, high-resolution LCD projectors which produce theater quality images mounted to ceilings, and images the full width and height of the walls.” Garrett says. You could even add a popcorn machine to complete the movie theater theme.

Multipurpose game room

Washington, DC-area multifunctional basement with a maple hardwood floor and custom bar. Image: Moss Building and Design

“Homeowners are also creating multipurpose fun areas and using a vast array of lighting options to brighten or soften the atmosphere,” Garrett says. “In my opinion, basements are still a highly sought out home amenity, even if just for the luxury of entertaining guests and friends.” This basement game room offers multiple areas for guests to relax and play.

Basement bar and brewery

This Ottawa home has a bar and homemade beer. Image: Just Basements

What’s on tap? In this Ottawa basement home bar and brewery, there’s actually an 8-tap chrome draft tower. For complex basement redesigns, it’s especially important to plan ahead. “If you’re planning a basement remodel, establish your budget in advance,” advises J.B. Sassano, president of Mr. Handyman. Whether you’re doing the work yourself or hiring a professional, he says it’s important to make sure that any work meets local ordinances.

Home office

This Fulham, UK, town house basement has plenty of light. Image: MH Costa Construction Ltd

A home office in the basement can provide a nice, quiet place to work away from distractions. This minimalist home office in this townhouse has a cantilevered steel staircase and offers plenty of natural light.

Basement suite

This Toronto basement has separate living quarters. Image: Rebecca Purdy Design

When you transform your basement with a separate bedroom, bathroom and office that look this inviting, be advised – guests may not want to leave. “If you are adding another bathroom, you will need to hire a licensed plumber,” says Sassano. “If you are simply enhancing an existing bathroom, some paint, a more modern vanity, new fixtures, towels, and accessories can make a huge impact,” he says.

Basement kitchen

The kitchen is in the basement of this sleek London space. Image: Casey & Fox

Garrett says another trend he’s seeing among homeowners is kitchens in the basement. This London basement kitchen has a blue-grey glass backsplash, a quartz island, and a micro concrete heated floor. If your basement is cold, air may be seeping in, according to Sassano. “Hold a wet hand in front of a light switch plate or outlet; if you feel air, you have a leak,” he says. “Installing foam gaskets behind all the light switches and outlets can stop these energy leaks.” Other ways to boost your energy efficiency in the basement include using low-VOC caulk and foam strips around windows and door frames that leak air, advises Sassano. “Also, add door sweeps and door shoe gaskets around threshold and exterior doors,” he says.

Craft and laundry room

This basement area serves dual purposes. Image: RW Anderson Homes

In addition to being the laundry room, this Seattle basement also serves as a craft room. The spacious table provides plenty of room to work, and the storage bins hide all of your supplies. This basement would certainly make laundry less of a chore.

Kid-friendly basement

This Burlington basement has a custom storage system to keep toys neatly organized. Image: Peregrine Design Build

The best way to keep your house neat and clean is to give the kids their own space. Bright colors and natural light add to the allure of this kid-friendly basement. “It’s important to determine the scope of your basement remodel, since load-bearing walls play an integral role to your home’s structure,” Sassano says. This can be a factor in how to best use the space when you plan to transform your basement.

Home gym

Portland-based home gym in the basement. Image: Rhonda Divers Interiors

You’ll never have an excuse for not exercising when the gym is downstairs in the basement. This Portland basement gym includes a recycled rubber floor, and everything you need to get (or stay) in shape while watching your favorite show.

Do any of these ideas inspire you to transform your basement? Let us know in the comments.

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14 Times Open Shelving Looked Oh-So-Soothing (And How To Bring Order To Your Own Home)

January 10, 2019 by admin

When it’s done right, there’s something about open shelving that is so soothing and aesthetically pleasing. It’s no wonder this look has been trendy for a while and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. If you’ve been wanting to put this trend in your own home, you’re in luck. Below are 14 of the most unique open shelving ideas, plus some tips on how to make the look work. Read them over to find a style that works for you.

Follow these tips to style open shelving in your own home. Image: Banda Property

How to make open shelving work

Open shelving may look simple, but it’s actually pretty tricky to pull off. With that in mind, we’ve pulled together four tips to help you make this look work in your own home. They are:

Make it simple: When it comes to open shelving, less is more. Edit your display down to the bare essentials so that your shelves don’t look overly-stuffed.
Color-code: Above all, your shelves need to look cohesive. Help pull them together by filling your display with items that fit a united color scheme.
Vary the heights: That said, things can’t look too matchy-matchy. Vary the heights of your items in order to give your display a sense of dimension.
Keep it clean: After you’re done putting it together, make sure to keep the display clean and in order. In this case, one out of place item can throw off the whole look.

Check out these soothing open shelving ideas.

Don’t miss out on your chance to put this shelving in the bathroom. Though it may seem strange at first, it’s an opportunity to put all those curated bath products on display for your guests. Image: Joy Street Design

In the living room, open shelving can act as a more modern take on built-in shelving. Image: Natalie Fuglestveit Interior Design

Putting this type of shelving in your closet means that you know which outfits you have at your disposal with just a glance. Why waste time rooting around for clothes when they can be within arm’s reach? Image: MITERBOX

If you have an awkward corner in your home that needs to be put to good use, look no further than shelving to get the job done. You can use it to store odds and ends or to display decor items. Image: Scenario Architecture

Open shelving is the perfect place to display all your decor items. Use the shelves as an opportunity to infuse your sense of personality into the space. Image: CAVdesign

Bring your shelving unit out beyond the cabinets and into the dining area. A setup like this one acts as an organizational unit for the whole family. Image: Tipfords

What you put on your shelves is just as important as the shelving itself. Make sure to find items that coordinate. You could match their color, size or shape. Image: Alice Lane Home Collection

If you love minimalism, try open shelving that looks like this. The barely-there feel to it is very on-trend. Image: Moloney Architects

Open shelving is a natural fit for office spaces. Use it to put your credentials and any awards on display. Image: L2 Interiors

This type of shelving doesn’t have to be just for grownups anymore. Consider using it in a playroom or kid’s bedroom. Image: Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design

Lining open shelving up and down your stairs is a trendy way to display wall art. Think about it as an updated take on the gallery wall. Image: Studio 80 Interior Design

If you have the space in your home, consider doing a take on wrap-around shelving. Not only will you have lots of room to store things, but this shelving will become a neat architectural feature. Image: ODS Architecture

No modern kitchen would be complete without some shelving that puts your tableware on display. Notice how this one is styled to match the butcher block on the island. Image: Design Shop Interiors

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Playroom Ideas to Keep Kids Occupied for Hours

January 10, 2019 by admin

Playtime is an important part of your child’s developmental process. While playing, they develop cognitive and athletic skills, in addition to building confidence and learning how to be creative. TV and video games will try to compete for your child’s attention, but with the right playroom ideas and tools, you can create an environment that encourages active play (as opposed to passive entertainment). Below, we’ve provided inspiration for some of the best playroom ideas that will keep your kids occupied for hours.

An enchanted forest

This Denver, CO, enchanted forest playroom creates the perfect fairy-tale setting. Image: Mile High Style

This enchanted forest has real tree trunks (from fallen Aspen trees), which have been bolted to the floor and ceiling. In the center is a ladder made out of tree branches, and there’s a ledge on the left side of the forest. Lights strung throughout add to the enchanted atmosphere, as does the tree wallpaper. Soft carpet and plenty of storage complete this playroom.

A house

The only thing better than a playroom is a playhouse. Image: Studio LA maison

This French playroom is actually a small house – with a basement, main level, and attic! Traditional and porthole windows add architectural detail. On the main level, there’s a tastefully decorated living area that includes furniture, throw rugs, and accent pillows. There’s also a study area with a desk and lamp, and curtains on the front windows. “Outside” there’s a swing and plants.

A Hobbit house

This Salt Lake City, UT, playroom is based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Image: Walker Home Design

This Hobbit-inspired playhouse includes the classic round door and Hobbit-inspired furniture. Those are real stones on the pathway, and the cool wave slide is just for fun. The greenery blends into the mural in the background. It’s important to include your child’s interests in playroom ideas. If they like it, they’re more likely to spend time in this area. Incorporate a variety of activities to keep your child’s interest and ensure that they don’t’ get bored. This room combines physical activities with opportunities to sit down and read or be creative.

A tent

This Dorset, England, tent playroom brings the great outdoors inside. Image: Cuckooland

Camping doesn’t get any easier than this playroom with a tent cabin bed. The two poles hold the cloth side of the canopy bed up. However, the canopy is collapsible to provide a true camping experience. To ensure your little one doesn’t get frightened when the canopy is down, the colorful lights strung from the top keep the tent from getting too dark – and create the appearance of stars in the sky. There’s also another exit on the right side, to ensure no one ever gets trapped in the tent.

A pirate ship

Imagine searching for sunken treasures in this pirate-themed Minneapolis playroom. Image: Kuhl Design Build LLC

Your child can spend hours pretending to be Captain Jack Sparrow (or Capn Crunch) while sailing to far away lands in this pirate-themed playroom. The hull of the ship, which has cannon ports, was built in the area above the doorway and is accessed by a bridge made of planks. Inside the pirate ship, there’s a climbing wall and a slide. Below the ship, there’s a jail cell that includes a lockable gate.

Climbing wall and slide

Kids can slide into this Victoria, British Columbia, playroom. Image: Horizon Contracting

The CDC recommends that kids get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and this playroom idea can help your little ones to meet those guidelines. Since it’s indoors, the weather is never a factor. The climbing wall increases physical strength, coordination, and balance, while the tube slide – well, that’s just fun.

A miniature town

The Grandchildren’s suite in Charlotte, NC. Image: Andrew Roby General Contractor

This playroom has everything from cabins and deer to trees painted on the walls and birds flying overhead. Kids can play with each other in the common areas (which include tables, chairs, and wall-mounted TVs) and also spend time alone in their respective mini cabins, which include a bed, table, lamp, and personal effects. Each cabin is actually a playhouse kit that can be assembled with screws and nails. The kit includes functional windows, flower boxes, a door, wall panels, roof panels, and a handrail.

What are your favorite playroom ideas? Let us know in the comments.

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Residential Neighborhood in France Adds Wooden Terraces

January 10, 2019 by admin

Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés completed the design of a residential building complex in Romainville, France. Integrated wooden boxes used as terraces disrupt the linearity of the residential units. This also brings a much needed feeling of warmth to the new residential neighborhood.

“Fragmentation of built mass opens the way for a continuity with the surrounding context and the creation of visual perspectives, making this city block more porous and open,” the architects said. “This approach also alleviates the perception of density, resulting in quality apartments, with multiple orientations and limited direct views of the neighbors opposite,” they added.

Walking through the newly built paths, you get a sense of shifting perspectives. One can easily see how the playfulness of the surroundings. Hopefully, this will have a positive impact on future residents’ quality of life, as well as their comfort.

“Greenery also has an important role to play, slipping into the building’s interstices and colonizing the interior courtyards of the city block,” the architects said.

Also, according to the architects, “This domestic, vernacular aspect underscores the architectural plan through the treatment of the terraces, which are detached from the façades, served by wooden footbridges and can be imagined as tree houses.” We love the tree house look of these terraces. What do you think? Let us know in the comments if you’re also a fan. Information provided by Brenac & Gonzalez & Associés; photography courtesy of Sergio Grazia.

Take a closer look at this residential neighborhood
ville

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The KonMari Method: How to Get Your Home More Organized than Ever

January 9, 2019 by admin

How tidy could you keep your home if it was only filled with things you love? The KonMari method seeks to answer that question. Image: David Campbell Building

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Different cultures decorate their homes in different ways. Here in the States, we love stuff. In fact, our consumer culture encourages us to buy more and more for our homes. But where do we find the space for it all? Many of us don’t, and we end up with cluttered, disorganized spaces. Does this sound like you? If you feel like your stuff is out of control – or if you have that one closet that you never want to open – the KonMari method could help.

Developed by Marie Kondo, this method is laid out in her compact, easy-to-read book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Borrowing from her own Japanese culture’s love of minimalism, Kondo helps people clear more junk out of their houses than they ever dreamed possible. How? With one simple test.

Paring down your possessions to only what sparks joy can help you create an organized home – and your ideal lifestyle. Image: Shira Gill Home

The KonMari Test

The KonMari method is a hands-on approach to home organization – literally. It starts with clearing out items that no longer belong in the home. When deciding whether to keep or part with an item, people are encouraged to hold that item in their hands. How does it make you feel? Think about why you have it in your home. Is it because someone gave it to you and you feel guilty parting with it? Is it because you loved it at one point and just haven’t gotten around to ditching it?

The KonMari method says that if you don’t love something, it doesn’t belong in your home. When holding an item, you ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” Unless the answer is a definitive yes, don’t keep it.

The method encourages you to do your whole house in one go. Yes, that includes those stacks of papers that contain who-knows-what and the holiday decor you never get out and the bins of miscellany in your garage and the… well, you get the idea. The theory is that we always put those things off for someday, but someday never comes. With the simple joy-sparking test, you have a tool to make decisions on those long-forgotten items and can make someday today.

The KonMari method’s power to transform your home comes from the way it addresses everything, from art to books to bedding. Image: Bertolini Architects

Organize once and for all

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has sold over two million copies. Why did a book about minimalism do so well in a stuff-driven culture? Perhaps because of its promise to help you organize once and for all. Kondo claims that when you use her method, you’ll get your house completely tidied – and will keep it that way permanently. How does it work? Here are her top difference-making rules.

Envision your ideal life

The stuff in your space should help you create your ideal lifestyle. So before you decide what to keep and what should go, think through your dream life at home. Clarifying this vision will guide your organization.

Do it all, and do it fully

The once-and-for-all claim can really only be effective if you do your whole house or apartment. Every keepsake, every paper, every linen – everything needs to be considered. Don’t start the KonMari method until you’re ready to tackle it all. Then, tidy up (i.e. get rid of items that don’t spark joy) before you start organizing.

Normally when you clean and organize, you probably go room by room. That makes sense, theoretically. But when you’re doing a major overhaul like this, organize by category, not location. If you have some coats in a coat closet, some in your everyday closet, and some in storage, pull them all out and go through them together. This helps you get clarity on what you own and prevents duplicates. You might be surprised by what you find!

Designate a place for every item

Kondo believes that you should treat your objects well, almost like they’re living things. That’s why she has a specific folding method (we tried it; it’s awesome!). With her method, clothes get carefully folded and stacked for ultimate organization while keeping your clothing in top shape. Goop has a great illustrated guide on her folding technique if you want more info.

It’s not just about clothes storage, though. The KonMari method stresses having a place for each item. And, no, the back of some drawer doesn’t count. Once you’ve significantly streamlined your possessions, put them back in an orderly way. The theory is that when everything has a place, it will get put back in the place, keeping your home tidy – permanently.

Have you used the KonMari method in your home? What did you think? Let us know in the comments.

The post The KonMari Method: How to Get Your Home More Organized than Ever appeared first on Freshome.com.

1950s São Paulo Penthouse Gets an Original Upgrade

January 9, 2019 by admin

Brasil based Estúdio Paralelo completed the restoration of a 1950s São Paulo penthouse and revamped it for the needs of contemporary city living. The space has a total surface of 150 square meters (1615 square feet) and also displays an unconventional layout.

“The apartment absorbs both floor-plans of the two apartments per floor of this small building in Santa Cecília, each one with 60 square meters (646 square feet), and organizes the space in a fashion that is curious for the time in which it was constructed,” the architects said.

They kept many of the original elements, such as the granilite in the staircase and the wooden floors. They restored other details, like the iron windows with electrostatic paint as well as the terracotta cementile flooring. The complex array of textures gives the São Paulo penthouse an original feel.

“After being closed for 20 years, the owners bought not just the apartment, but the promise to fight for the necessary renovations, which would be structural and require much patience and planning,” the architects also explained. Some of the major changes included updating the entire piping system and also adding concrete roof slabs for support.

“The result is a clean space, with simple lines and clear organization; without spacial hierarchy. The light spreads to all corners, which serves to show the original characteristics of the building”, the designers concluded. Enjoy the photo gallery below and feel free to share your thoughts with us! Information provided by Estúdio Paralelo; photography courtesy of Ricardo Bassetti.