February, 2019 - SkirtingBoards.com®

Buyer Beware! 4 House Hunting Mistakes To Avoid If You Want To Find Your Dream Home

February 11, 2019 by admin

Looking for your dream home is tricky. Especially if you’ve never been through the home buying process before, it can be easy to make missteps or to get caught up in small details that really don’t make much difference. With that in mind, we’re here to help. We’ve pointed out four of the most common house hunting mistakes, as well as how to avoid them. Keep reading to make sure you stay on track.

Don’t forget to get a pre-approval before shopping. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Mistake: Not getting pre-approved before looking

Getting a pre-approval should be every buyer’s first step toward buying a home. This document, which comes in the form of a letter from the mortgage company, will tell you how much money you’ll be able to receive in a loan. It’s crucial in helping you set your own budget, as well as showing sellers that you’re serious about buying their home. You’ll include a copy of the letter with every offer you submit in order to prove you’re financially fit to purchase the property.

The Fix: Go see a lender before you even talk to a real estate agent. He or she can help you figure out how much of a loan you can be approved for as-is and, if needed, assist you in figuring out what steps to take to improve your financials and increase your loan amount. Once you have a satisfactory pre-approval in hand, then you can start shopping.

Work out your own budget. Image: Pics721/Shutterstock

Mistake: Forgetting to set your own budget

While a pre-approval is a necessary tool to have, it should not be the only detail that factors into setting your house hunting budget. Remember, the pre-approval shows the maximum amount that you’ll be given in a loan. You don’t have to spend that much, though, and you probably shouldn’t. You need to make sure that you’ll be able to handle your mortgage payment on top of your other recurring monthly expenses.

The Fix: Make your own budget – and stick to it. You can start by using a mortgage calculator to estimate what your monthly payment could look like at a variety of loan amounts. Then, when you find a point where you feel comfortable, work that figure into your monthly budget to make sure it makes sense when combined with the rest of your expenses.

Hire a good real estate agent whom you trust. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Mistake: Not hiring an agent

Especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer, navigating the world of real estate can get tricky. Though hiring an agent is an extra expense, it’s a necessary one. An agent is there to be your advocate. He or she will help guide you through the process, steer you clear of house hunting mistakes, answer any questions that you may have and negotiate on your behalf. You don’t want to go through this process without someone in your corner.

The Fix: Make sure you hire a good real estate agent whom you trust. Do your research and check out several agents’ backgrounds before you commit to working with anyone in particular. Read online reviews to get a sense of how their other clients felt about working with them. Interview them in person to make sure you feel comfortable.

Look beyond the aesthetics. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Mistake: Fixating on aesthetics

We get it: when interior design is bad, it’s really bad. It can be hard to get past having a thousand shades of paint on the walls or a kitchen that looks like it was last remodeled in the 80s. However, if you let yourself get tripped up by those small details, you could be missing out on the ideal property for you. At the end of the day, aesthetics can be fixed.

The Fix: Do your best to put aesthetics aside when you look at a property. If you decide to buy it, you can always work on remodeling down the road. Instead, focus on features that can’t be as easily remedied and make sure you’re happy with those first. Here, we’re talking about things like the location and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms.

The post Buyer Beware! 4 House Hunting Mistakes To Avoid If You Want To Find Your Dream Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

8 Ways to be the Perfect Weekend Host

February 11, 2019 by admin

Whether it’s just for the night or you’re having family come for a holiday weekend, it’s up to you to make sure your guests feel comfortable and welcome. Sure, you might have a guest who’s impossible to please, but making sure they have everything they need can help reduce some of the stress you feel. The perfect weekend host anticipates guests’ needs and limits issues ahead of time. Make their visit the best ever with these simple and smart hosting tips.

Clear out personal belongings for a more welcoming space. Image: LKW Design

Set a specific timetable

You know what they say: house guests are like fish because they both start to stink after three days. When inviting family or friends to stay at your place, make sure you’re specific in your offer. Have a clear arrival and departure date and help coordinate travel so you don’t have guests that linger past their expiration dates.

Stock the guest room

Asking a weekend host for the essentials can be embarrassing for guests, so make sure the guest room is well-stocked. Whether traveling via train, plane or automobile, guests almost always need a drink of water and a place to freshen up as soon as they walk through your door. Supply a bottle of water and a fresh towel in the guest room for arrivals and then stock a guest room basket. Snacks, drinks, toothpaste, a comb, a face towel and other small personal items make your guests feel totally at home.

Use folding screens to add privacy. Image: Hande Koksal

Offer privacy

Privacy can make all the difference in how guests feel in your home. Even if your place is on the small side, there are definitely ways to make sure guests have their own space. Direct other family members to use another bathroom to free up one for your guests. Use a folding screen to section off an area if your guests will be sharing a space or room with someone else. By giving guests their own dedicated space, they’ll feel like less an intruder and more a part of the family.

Remove personal items

Nothing reminds guests that they’ve usurped your master bedroom quite like seeing your hairbrush on the dresser and your picture frames on the nightstand. If you’re repurposing a space as a guest room, do your best to make it as neutral as possible. If using a kids room, for example, declutter the toys and swap out bedding for something a little more grown-up. Stash your personal stuff in a linen closet or attic and your guest won’t feel like they’re putting you out.

Get tech-friendly

Want to be everyone’s weekend host hero? Make sure their tech needs are totally taken care of. Post your wifi password somewhere (or add it to the guest room basket) and keep extra chargers and battery packs on hand. Give guests instructions on how to operate the TV and keep Netflix and other streaming service passwords handy. While it’s important to spend quality time together, it’s equally as important to make sure guests have some time to decompress with their tech.

Give guests access to tech. Image: California Closets

Schedule foundational activities

You don’t need to schedule your guests’ every waking moment. Give them control over their own schedule by offering a few “foundational” activities each day. These are things like a family dinner, an outing to a museum or a movie night. Choosing one or two activities each day gives guests a flexible schedule that they can work around. If they have things they want to do, they’ll have plenty of time. If they’re planning on taking it easy, they have a little structure. This gives you the chance to reconvene, check-in, and stay connected throughout the weekend.

Plan snacks and meals

There’s nothing worse than having to ask for food at someone else’s house. And, even if you think it’s no big deal, your guests might rather go hungry than ask you to open the kitchen. Planning easy snacks and meals (and directing your guests to find them) takes some of the pressure off. Instead of insisting everyone show up to the table for breakfast, offer muffins and juice. Stock your pantry with grab-and-go snacks like granola bars and crackers and put yogurt and drinks in the fridge. Let guests know when you’ll be making meals and when they’ll need to fend for themselves and you’ll reduce some of your weekend host stress.

Share simple tasks

A good house guest will always ask to lend a hand and you might think a good host always refuses. But it’s a great idea to have a few easy tasks set aside for guests. You don’t need to do all the heavy lifting solo and asking for help makes guests feel like they’re pulling their own weight. No, you shouldn’t ask your aunt to scrub toilets, but you can definitely ask for help washing up after dinner or for a hand in the kitchen. Stop your knee-jerk reaction of saying “no” when someone asks to help and you’ll feel less frazzled.

When you have friends and family visit, you don’t have to stress. By taking some time beforehand to make your guests feel truly welcome, you’ll create a space that always feels warm, welcoming and drama-free.

The post 8 Ways to be the Perfect Weekend Host appeared first on Freshome.com.

10 Bedside Pendant Lights That Will Rock Your Bedroom

February 11, 2019 by admin

Gorgeous bedside pendant lights transform the Houchins Upholstered Storage Platform Bed in a contemporary bedroom. Courtesy of Wayfair

Bedside pendant lights are the ultimate bedroom multi-tasker. They provide light from above for reading and relaxing, but also remove the need for table lamps. We love the idea of creating more space on our nightstands — this is also the perfect opportunity to style your nightstand.

Installing a pendant or swag light over a nightstand is not a new idea. This was a popular style in the 1960s, especially with kitschy chains draped from the ceiling. Today’s bedside pendants are more refined and are available in all decorating styles.

Here’s Why Bedroom Pendants Are So Hot Right Now

Minimalism Rules – Our need for simplified spaces is still strong. Eliminating the need for a table lamp creates a clean look.
They Transcend Style – Bedside pendants are now available in every decorating style.
Renters Love Them – Pendants are available as plug-ins, too. If you’re able to attach a hook in the ceiling, you can add a swag light to your bedroom without any wiring.
They’re just beautiful – Installing a pendant light next to your bed is an instant design update that’s more than just adding a light to your bedside. It’s a strong style statement.

Once you’ve decided what type of bedside pendant light you’ll need in your bedroom and the size requirements, it’s time to have fun choosing a style. Don’t be afraid to venture out of your style comfort zone if you see a light you love. With the right accessories, any pendant or swag can work with your bedroom decor. Here are the bedside pendants we’re loving right now:

Geometric Beauty for Your Nightstand

The bronze finish of the Alrai Wire 1-Light Geometric Pendant is perfect for mixed-metal bedroom decor. Courtesy of Wayfair

Clean lines and geometric shapes are on-trend right now. Airy light fixtures are wonderful when you want to keep things light. The latest geometric shapes are versatile and work with contemporary, rustic and mid-century modern bedroom decor.

Banded Gold Contemporary Globe Pendant

A band of gold turns the West Elm’s Banded Glass Pendant into something special. Courtesy of West Elm

Look for special style details if you’re shopping for a focal point pendant. If your pendants will be the center of attention for your bedroom decor, it’s okay to be a little more extravagant with your choice.

Versatile Contemporary Bedside Pendant

A simple contemporary pendant light like the Cayden 1-Light Globe Pendant works best in a supporting role for your bedroom decor. Courtesy of Wayfair

Contemporary pendant lights are so easy to add to any bedroom because of their simple lines and shapes. Complete your contemporary bedroom decor with a platform bed, floating nightstands and monochromatic bedding.

The Glamorous Crystal Pendant

Glam it up with the Chatteris 1-Light Crystal Pendant. Courtesy of Wayfair

Sometimes all your bedroom needs is a little glamour. A pair of gorgeous iridescent crystal pendants bring the sparkle to your life. Crystal pendant lights are available in a variety of colors, giving you personalized bedroom styling options.

A Traditional Bedside Pendant Light

Simplicity is the secret to choosing a traditional bedroom pendant light like the West Elm’s Sculptural Glass Geo Pendant. Courtesy of West Elm

If you’d like to soften the light in your bedroom, a frosted glass pendant can give you the ambiance you need. You can change the softness of your bedroom light just by changing the bulb. When you’re shopping for a pendant light, be sure that you know which bulbs are specified for any fixture you’re considering.

Industrial Loft-Style Pendant

Dark bronze metal and chunky details give the PB Classic Industrial Cord Milk Glass Pendant a pretty, industrial, style. Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Love industrial and loft style? Look for bronze or iron and strong details when you’re shopping for bedroom pendants. You can mix and match metal finishes in an industrial-style space, but the dark metals should rule the room.

Give Your Bedroom a Vintage Vibe

Add a little vintage style with the PB Classic Ribbed Glass Pendant. Courtesy of Pottery Barn

Bring the vintage vibe back from where it started in the 1960s with a retro-looking bedside pendant that’s a fun addition to any bedroom decorating style. To get this look, shop for globe shapes, chain swags and vintage finishes.

Modern Farmhouse Style in the Bedroom

Wood details bring a modern farmhouse vibe to the Shelbi 1-Light Geometric Pendant. Courtesy of Wayfair

Bring your favorite modern farmhouse style into your bedroom with rustic pendants. The secret to farmhouse style is comfortable shapes and materials. Wood and rustic metals, along with Edison bulbs, capture the modern farmhouse style perfectly.

Mid-Century Modern Bedroom Pendant

The Anello Spun Cone Pendant has mid-century modern-style, and is an easy way to pull together a contemporary bedroom. Courtesy of Rejuvenation

Mid-century modern decorating never seems to go out of style. The iconic lighting of this style can be used in a contemporary bedroom to give it a mid-century look. Corded pendant lights are the truest to the mid-century style and give your bedroom a more authentic vibe.

Boho Swag Light

Express your boho style with Andino Rolled Edge Pierced Dome global-style pendant. Courtesy of Wayfair

Bedroom swag lights are perfect for boho style. Look for pendants in natural materials like rattan, wood and metal with intricate patterns. A swag pendant with a chain or cord gives your boho bedroom a relaxed and casual vibe.

The post 10 Bedside Pendant Lights That Will Rock Your Bedroom appeared first on Freshome.com.

Bored With Your Interiors? Here Are 4 Inexpensive Ways To Get Out Of Your Interior Design Rut

February 11, 2019 by admin

It happens to the best of us. Sometimes, despite our best intentions of creating a visually interesting room, we get stuck in an interior design rut. When this happens, there’s no other choice than to shake things up and do your best to create a new look. Luckily, this process doesn’t necessarily have to break the bank. We’ve brought you four inexpensive ways to breathe new life into your interiors. Read on below to see how you can make it happen.

Try rearranging the furniture. Image: Jodie Johnson/Shutterstock

Rearrange your rooms

It may sound simple, but sometimes all you have to do to create a new look is rearrange your existing furniture and accessories. To start, stick with one room at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed, but consider anything in that room fair game for a change. Rework the layout of the furniture. Put your accessories in different spots. Switch up the artwork on the walls.

The key to making this work is keeping an open mind. Sometimes a new layout can feel so strange and out of place that it can be tempting to immediately set your layout back to the way it was before. We’d advise you to wait at least a few days before giving into this urge. It may take a few days to get used to your new setup, but you’ll likely find that you’re glad you waited it out.

Edit out any unnecessary clutter. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Practice editing

In interior design, sometimes less is more. We’ve already talked about why every room needs to include some negative space and now is the perfect time to make good on that resolution. Think about giving the room a new look by editing out some of the unnecessary clutter, especially if you’re the type of person who likes to hang onto lots of odds and ends.

To do this, go around the room and pick up any items that you think might be considered clutter, one at a time. Then, ask yourself: What purpose is this serving in the room? If you don’t have an easy answer for the item, it might be time to consider donating the piece or tossing it out if it’s in bad shape. In the end, you should have a cleaner-looking, streamlined version of the space.

Stylize your surfaces to help the room look finished and purposeful. Image: Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock

Style your surfaces

Stylizing your surfaces is a great way to freshen up the look of a room. After all, it’s one trick interior designers use to really finish off the space and to make a design look purposeful. If you have bare tables and shelves hanging around your home, you can use them to bring your interiors to the next level. Best of all, depending on what decor items and accessories you have laying around the house, you might not need to spend any money to make this happen.

This maneuver is all about creating groupings. When in doubt, follow the rule of three. Odd-numbered groupings create more visual interest than even-numbered groupings. In particular, three seems to be the ideal number for a grouping as opposed to one, five or even seven because a single item might feel too simple while the latter two run the risk of appearing overly cluttered.

When selecting items to go in your grouping, you want to ensure that they’re different enough to create visual interest while still having a common thread to tie them together. Take the picture above, for instance. While all the accessories have varying shapes, they have a unifying monochromatic color scheme.

When in doubt, switch out your accessories. Image: New Africa/Shutterstock

Swap out your accessories

This last one might cost you a little, but when you’re really in an interior design rut, swapping out accessories is a surefire way to breathe new life into the space. Best of all, even though a few throw pillows and some wall art are an expense, they cost pennies on the dollar compared to redoing the room from top to bottom. When you think about it, you’re still being thrifty.

The key here is to concentrate on bringing accessories into the space that will really make an impact. Choose ones that come in a bold accent color or bring in a dose of pattern. Of course, it almost goes without saying that you also want these new accessories to be different from your old ones in order to create a fresh look.

The post Bored With Your Interiors? Here Are 4 Inexpensive Ways To Get Out Of Your Interior Design Rut appeared first on Freshome.com.

These Are The 4 Foolproof Signs You’re Ready To Stop Renting And Become A Homeowner

February 11, 2019 by admin

At some point in our lives, most of us will stop renting and become a homeowner. The question is, how does one know when it’s a good time to take that leap? If you’ve been thinking about taking the plunge and buying a home recently, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve laid out four signs that you’re ready to stop renting and own a home. Read them over to help determine if now is the time for you.

You need at least two years of steady employment to be able to buy a home. Image: Breadmaker/ Shutterstock

You’ve been at your job for a while

One of the keys to being able to buy a home is having steady employment. Essentially, since mortgage companies are giving you such a large loan, they use your employment history as an indicator that you’ll likely continue having the funds to pay them back. Traditionally, they look to see that you have at least two years at the same company before granting approval.

If you’re a freelancer or otherwise self-employed, don’t worry. There are ways to prove that you have a steady paycheck beyond showing a couple of years of W-2s. In your case, showing steady employment will be all about your tax returns. You want to have at least two years of high-net tax returns in place to prove that you have a steady source of income.

Aim for a debt-to-income ratio of 36 percent. Image: Imagenet/Shutterstock

You’ve got a handle on your debt

Notice we didn’t say that you have to be debt-free. These days, between student loans, car payments and medical debt, most loan companies know that it is unrealistic to expect borrowers to be totally debt-free. Instead, they simply look to make sure you aren’t carrying too much debt relative to what you make. They want to know you’ll be able to afford to take on an additional mortgage payment.

They do this using something called a debt-to-income ratio. Your debt-to-income ratio looks at how much of your monthly income goes toward paying off debts. Ideally, in order to buy a home, your ratio should be less than or equal to 36 percent. To find your current ratio, simply add together your current monthly income. Then, divide that by the sum total of your recurring monthly debts, except rent.

If your debt-to-income ratio is too high to be approved at the moment, you have two options. You can either find ways to generate more income or to pay down your debts. If you’re serious about buying in the near future, you may want to talk to a local lender about which specific moves will have the biggest impact on your finances.

Verify that you have enough money in your budget to save. Image: korisbo/Shutterstock

Your budget allows for some savings

In addition to a steady paycheck and manageable debt, the next piece that you need to have in place before you can stop renting and buy a home is some sort of savings. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that buying a home does come with some sizable upfront costs. While the days of having to put 20 percent down are, thankfully, a thing of the past, you do have to have a fair amount of cash-in-hand.

The first – and biggest – expense that you need to worry about is your down payment. These days, you can get a conventional loan for as little as 5 percent down, while loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) typically only require 3.5 percent. Remember, the amount you have to pay will depend on the sale price of the house you buy, so be sure to factor your savings into your househunting budget.

In addition to the down payment, there are also closing costs to consider. Closing costs account for any fees necessary to facilitate the transaction. They usually amount to an additional 1-2 percent of the sale price and are split between the buyer and the seller at closing.

Make sure you’re ready to settle down. Image: romakoma/Shutterstock

You’re ready to settle down

This last sign is a bit more subjective than the rest, but it’s just as important. Owning a home is a big lifestyle change and, before you take the leap, you need to make sure that you’re ready for all that comes with it.

One sign you’re ready to settle down is that you like your area and you intend to stay there for the foreseeable future. Conventional wisdom states that, if you buy, you should be prepared to stay in your home for at least the next five years in order to get the most out of your investment. If you can see yourself putting down roots for that long, you may be ready. However, if you think your life could change drastically in the next five years, it may make more sense to continue to rent.

Another sign that you’re open to the idea of staying put is that the idea of doing home maintenance no longer intimidates you. Unsurprisingly, owning a home means taking care of its continued upkeep. If you’re comfortable with the idea of making these tasks part of your ongoing routine, it’s a good sign you’re ready to stop renting.

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5 Surprising Things I Learned on My Tiny Home Vacation

February 11, 2019 by admin

Staying in a hotel with my family – husband, three kids and springer spaniel – isn’t always my idea of a vacation. Let’s face it: most hotel rooms are pretty bare bones. So, to foster a spirit of relaxation and actual sleep, I usually opt for condos or townhomes whenever I can. This past fall, instead of booking our usual condo for a weekend getaway, I decided to book a tiny home.

I won’t lie; I did it a little as a joke. My architect husband has long bemoaned the tiny home movement. He’s very considerate of a family’s lifestyle when designing homes and it’s usually his opinion that tiny homes are better on paper than they are in practice. When he found out that I’d booked a tiny home for our vacation, he rolled his eyes and I was ready for a round of “I told you so.”

What we learned over a three-day stint in a tiny home surprised me. As it turns out, small space living isn’t for everyone, but it’s probably not as crazy as you’d think. Here are five things I learned about tiny homes that I couldn’t have grasped without actually staying in one.

Layouts aren’t always ideal

Tiny home layouts can be strange. Image: The Tiny House Project

Okay, first, some of the drawbacks. While the tiny home we stayed in was cleverly laid out and made use of every inch of space, it also meant the floorplan wasn’t exactly ideal. To fit a full galley kitchen and range, the full-sized fridge opened directly across from the bathroom door. In fact, you couldn’t walk through the kitchen if the fridge was open at all. You definitely make a few concessions when it comes to a dream layout, especially if you’re trying to utilize standard-sized appliances and cabinets.

Outdoor space is everything

Consider outside space as part of your square footage. Image: Sol Haus Design

Because tiny homes have such limited space, your outdoor living situation becomes more important. We found ourselves spending a lot of our time playing outside. With three active kids (and a hyper dog!), staying inside would have meant cabin fever – and probably a few broken lamps. If you really are considering a tiny home, I think your location and lot will be even more important than that of a traditional home. Simply building a tiny home under the premise that you’ll just park it wherever you can could mean getting stuck inside – and that could lead to some major cabin fever. A great porch, open lot and outdoor seating made all the difference to us.

You have to compromise

You might need to compromise on ceiling height. Image: Sol Haus Design

It’s no secret that tiny house living comes with some major compromises. You’re trading off a high house payment with square footage and a simpler lifestyle. Still, some of the compromises surprised me because I just hadn’t thought of the day-to-day of living in a tiny home. Take laundry, for example. Tight space usually means tiny homes don’t have the space for a washer and dryer. Another compromise is understanding that some areas of the home are inaccessible to full-sized adults. Our home had a sleeping loft that was great for kids, but I don’t think it would be ideal for adults. My 6-foot husband didn’t even attempt to go upstairs.

It’s great for community

Tiny homes foster a sense of community missing from other neighborhoods. Image: Steiner Art and Design

We rented our tiny home as a part of a group of friends. The home was in a development of a handful of tiny homes, all just a few feet apart. That made it a great option for traveling with a group since everyone had their own space but wasn’t as far removed as we would have been in different hotel rooms. It was great to light a fire and cook dinner with everyone, so I can definitely see tiny homes as a way to foster a sense of community. As long as you liked your neighbors, of course.

It’s not great for entertaining

A tight squeeze means less room for entertaining. Image: The Tiny House Company

On the last night of our getaway, our plans for a BBQ were derailed by some bad weather. No big deal, we just moved the party inside. Problem? Tiny homes don’t have the typical space and comfort you’d expect when entertaining. In fact, dinner that night felt more like a game of Tetris than anything, with kids eating in the sleeping loft and adults taking turns on the small couch. It reminded me that tiny homes probably aren’t the best option for those who love to entertain. Sure, you could plan to entertain in your outdoor space, but there’s not much of a plan B. I can definitely see this roadblock becoming a major lifestyle change for some people.

All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. I preferred having my own tiny home over crowding everyone into one hotel room. Even if the square footage is similar, tiny homes are well thought-out and utilized so you have all of the comforts of home. In fact, my skeptic husband reluctantly admitted that with a few tweaks, a tiny home could be a livable option – especially for a vacation home.

As it turns out, small spaces can have a big impact, even if it was just for the weekend.

The post 5 Surprising Things I Learned on My Tiny Home Vacation appeared first on Freshome.com.

Vietnam Residence Hosts Family Home and Rice Business

February 11, 2019 by admin

Lan House, a Vietnam residence and rice business venue in Ba Ria–Vung Tau Province, is a dual-purpose home designed by H2 Architecture Studio. The unconventional dwelling accommodates working spaces and a rice storage unit on its bottom floor, while the upper level serves as a welcoming family home.

They split this Vietnam residence into two parts by a staircase and central hallway. “The front side hosts the kitchen, dining room, living room and restroom with laundry. All interiors are neighbored by a green garden. The space behind the stairs encompasses two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a large terrace that connects them,” the architects at H2 explained. Ventilation bricks were used between the two floors, in order to keep away dust from the rice processing unit below.
Home to three family generations, the Lan Residence offers an optimum balance between private and common spaces. The owners wanted an environment where they would feel comfortable both physically and spiritually. This is why religion played a major role in the overall design. The dome-shaped windows add a bit of mystery to the living areas. The dwelling merges traditional design with modern function and is extremely versatile. Information provided by H2 Architecture; photography by Quang Dam.

Take a look inside this dual-purpose Vietnam residence

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These 16 Gorgeous Home Office Design Ideas will give you Total Workspace Envy

February 7, 2019 by admin

Even though your office space will largely be used for work, there’s no reason for it to be strictly utilitarian. We wholeheartedly believe that offices and workspaces can be a beautifully-designed feature of your home. All it takes to come up with stylish office design ideas is a little forethought and planning.

With that in mind, we’ve brought you 16 gorgeous office design ideas to help inspire you. Look them over, in addition to our helpful tips and tricks for putting together the perfect office space, and we guarantee that you’ll be ready to give your space a major makeover.

Follow these tips and tricks to design the ideal office space for you. Image: SeventyFour/Shutterstock

Tips for creating the perfect office space

Too often when people design a home office, they get stuck on the idea that the space has to be totally utilitarian. However, we believe that in order for you to love spending time in your office, there needs to be a good mix of functionality and personality in the space. Follow these office design ideas to create an office space that you won’t want to leave.

Create focus areas: Your office doesn’t have to be simply a desk and a chair. You can create individual focus areas for the different tasks you need to accomplish. Consider adding a seating area if you meet with clients or a reading nook for going over paperwork.
Invest in seating: Seating is the most important element of any office, as it’s how you’ll spend the bulk of your time. Make sure to splurge on the chair that feels most comfortable to you.
Bring in plenty of lighting: Nothing’s worse than squinting over paperwork. Do your best to add plenty of lighting to the space so that seeing clearly is never an issue. Remember AAT – Accent, Ambient and Task lighting make for a well-lit space.
Don’t forget your personality: Finally, your office should feel like a space that’s uniquely your own. Remember to bring in a sense of your personality through the colors and prints that you use, as well as accessories like wall art and décor items.

Check out these swoon-worthy office design ideas

Normally, we’d advise against having your furniture line the walls. However, when you’re working with dual desks you can use the whole room to facilitate the feeling that each person has his or her own space. Image: PlusONE/Shutterstock

The goal with any office is to make the time you spend working as enjoyable as possible. Whenever possible, treat yourself to a beautiful view. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Don’t think that using a formal desk and chair is the only way to set-up an office. You can customize your office layout to fit whatever type of work you’re doing. Image: jovana veljkovic/Shutterstock

t’s not about the space you have, it’s about how you use it. Even if you don’t have a formal office, you can still find space to build a workspace that works. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

This workspace proves that size doesn’t matter. Even with the smallest of square footage, you can still design an office space that you’re happy to be working in. Image: Robert Kneschke/Shutterstock

Consider a sliding door rather than the traditional option to give your office a more modern vibe. Image: Zastolskiy Victor/Shutterstock

Having a proper seating area is important to any office space. This is especially true if you ever plan on hosting clients or other visitors. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

The area above your desk should always be well-lit so that you can see what you’re working on. Think about including a light fixture that will do double-duty by also adding aesthetic value to the room. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

If you really want to get fancy, consider creating an office that can be hidden from sight when it’s out of use. That way, when work is done it’s out of sight, out of mind. Image: Monkey Business Images

Like every other room in your home, your office needs to have a focal point. The wall behind your desk is a natural choice. Think about making it an accent wall or adding a shelf. Image: Breadmaker/Shutterstock

Built-in bookcases are office classics. However, if you don’t have the budget for that, don’t worry. You can recreate a similar look by placing two free-standing bookcases side-by-side. Image: PlusONE/Shutterstock

This space proves that it’s not only possible, but downright fashionable, to have two workspaces side-by-side. Don’t be afraid to share your space with a roommate or family member. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

Your office chair is the most important piece of furniture you’ll buy for this room. Do your best to pick out one that you love. Image: Beyond Time/Shutterstock

Your office is your space. Make sure you’re happy there by designing it to your personal style. As you can see, this office’s owner went Scandinavian, but your options are limitless. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

No office would be complete without a place to display accessories. Make sure you have some somewhere to include a little bit of décor in the space. Doing so helps the space feel purposefully designed. Image: Photographee.eu/Shutterstock

What are your favorite office design ideas? Do you have a home office you want to show off? Let us know in the comments.

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5 Ways to Stay Organized While Building a Home

February 7, 2019 by admin

Let’s face it: building a home comes with a lot of paper. Whether it’s rough plans drawn on a napkin, pictures torn from magazines or a receipt for that perfect neutral gray, it’s easy to find yourself buried in important documents. Then, when it’s time to find the info you need, you’re left paging through a mountain of paper – sometimes to no avail.

Staying organized during your build doesn’t just help you keep your desk clean – it’ll save your sanity. From communication with your contractor to finding your dream cabinets, the construction process means you’re constantly checking and rechecking information. By putting a system in place, you’ll easily be able to locate what you need when you need it. Organization doesn’t have to be complicated. Try these five tips to help yourself stay organized so you can easily access everything you’ll need for a smooth build.

Getting organized keeps your vision in sight. Image: New River Building Co.

1. Delineate between wants and needs

The first step for an organized build is making sure you know the difference between wants and needs. With all of the inspiration, trends, materials and ideas available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The fastest way to gain control of your build is to know where you stand on wants and needs. Take the time to write a list of five to ten must-haves. These should be items that your home needs for you to be happy with the end result. Then, do the same with a few nice-to-haves: things that you’d like, but won’t make or break the experience. By knowing the difference and creating a strict line between the two, you won’t get sidetracked by tasks that don’t really matter in the long run.

2. Create a build binder (or board)

Building a home is an exercise in collaboration. You’ll be working with a myriad of professionals, from interior designers to concrete workers. A build binder helps you stay organized and on track no matter who or where you’re meeting. A build binder is simple: just use tabs to organize your home into different categories. One way is to split your home into different rooms. Or, if you find it easier, go by categories, such as cabinetry, flooring, countertops, paint and so on.

If you’re more comfortable going digital, use a tool like Pinterest to create inspiration boards and invite your contractors to collaborate. Your interior designer can show you some of the hottest trends while you keep all of your favorite layouts, colors and materials in one place.

Create a filing system that goes from the office to your phone. Image: Donald A. Gardner Architects

3. Organize receipts and documents

There’s no shortage of receipts and docs during the build process. You’ll have land contracts and build contracts, material receipts and floorplan print-outs. If you don’t stay organized, you won’t be able to easily refer to them as needed. While you should always keep important home document hard copies in one place, you’ll need mobile versions, too. If you don’t want to find yourself lugging a file cabinet to every build meeting, use your phone as an organizational tool. Create a folder in your phone’s photo album for home documents and snap a picture anytime you receive something important. You’ll have easy access to all of your contracts, receipts and other important docs on the fly.

4. Create email folders

While the building of your home happens on your lot, the logistics will happen in your email inbox. Don’t lose important communication among your work and junk emails. Create a space for home-specific mail.

You can easily create custom folders within your inbox. If you use Gmail, for instance, you’ll click “Settings,” then “Labels” and “Create New.” You can then name your new label anything you want and use that new label to file important messages. If you really want to stay organized, you could create an entirely new email address for your build and create folders for the different categories of your build. Whatever you decide, it’s about having organized and easy access to all of your communications throughout the process.

Keep a tape measure handy 24/7. Image: Covenant Kitchens

5. Carry a home kit

If there’s anything you should know about building a home, it’s that a meeting can spring up anytime, any place. Whether you’re visiting your home site, dropping by the cabinetry showroom or running into your contractor in the grocery store, you might find yourself making decisions on the fly. That’s why you should stash a home kit in your car at all times. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but should include:

A tape measure
A notebook
A pencil
Your build binder
A pair of shoes you don’t mind getting dirty

Wondering if a light fixture will work in your home? Grab your tape measure! Think you might have found the perfect shade of blue for your front door? Scribble it down. Schedule an impromptu walkthrough? Throw on your shoes and take a look. With a home kit, you’re never caught without the tools you need to keep the build moving.

It’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed by the logistics of building a home. There are a lot of moving parts and contractors to manage. By getting yourself organized, you can feel more in control of the process and easily identify areas that need a little more work. Stay organized and you’ll keep your build on schedule (and the end in sight).

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Art Studios: Ideas to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

February 7, 2019 by admin

Whether you paint, sculpt, illustrate or specialize in another type of art, an art studio provides a place to work in solitude, store your supplies and display your work. While some artists may work in warehouses, lofts or office buildings, you can create an art studio in your home. Below are several art studios to provide inspiration, along with tips for creating the type of workspace that will stimulate your imagination and inspire you to create your best work.

Location

Location may be your most important choice. Image: LightFieldStudios./Getty Images

Your first and most important decision is determining where to place your art studio. An attic or an unused room in your home would be an excellent choice. A basement with sufficient sunlight is also a good option. If you don’t use your garage, consider transforming it into an art studio. Or you have enough space on your property to build or buy a small shed, this type of structure is ideal.

Color

White is a popular color, but yellow can stimulate creativity. Image: AlexD75/Getty Images

The color(s) of your studio will depend on your preferences. Art studios are often white, but Mary Kay Liston, president of Five Star Painting, recommends adding a pop of color. “If your paint colors consist of white, white and more white, you’ll create a sterilized feeling,” she says.

Liston recommends the color yellow. “This is often considered the cheeriest of colors. Yellow denotes a fun-loving, happy vibe,” she says. But there’s another reason to consider this color. “Yellow stimulates the logical side of the brain, creates mental clarity and helps inspire imaginative thinking,” Liston explains.

If you decide to go with a traditional white art studio, she says you can add pops of color through accessories.

Lighting

Art studios need natural light. Image: LightFieldStudios/Getty Images

Ideally, art studios will be designed so plenty of natural light is streaming in during the day. “Lighting is key to reading color correctly and anyone who has worked in art or design knows a piece can read completely differently in one space versus another because of lighting,” says Austin, Texas-based interior designer Stacy Murphy. “Your decorative ceiling fixtures or table lamps could turn the color medium you are working with either too warm or too cool, which is why natural daylight is truly your best friend in a creative working space. It’s also great for your wellbeing; you’ll be more creative if you’re connected to natural elements.”

Workspace

You can never have too much space. Image: ondatra-m/Getty Images

While a small studio is fine, don’t underestimate the value of plenty of space. This will allow you to transition from one area to the next without worrying about accidentally knocking over your easel or stepping on artwork or supplies. “Also, you should get a comfortable chair or stool that is height adjustable so you can alternate between standing or sitting heights, depending on what type of art you are creating,” advises Murphy.

Place for Materials

Keep supplies organized and easily accessible. Image: Hero Images/Getty Images

“Make sure you have an appropriate storage system to keep your supplies neat and organized,” advises Murphy. “IKEA hacks are a great way to get a chic supply storage system for less.” Depending on your type of art, you need a place to store paint, paint brushes and other supplies. Being organized helps you work more efficiently – and hide clutter.

Ventilation

Windows need to be easily opened for ventilation. Image: Tetra Images/Getty Images

Proper ventilation will ensure that you don’t pass out from the fumes in paint, ink, glue, cleaning fluids and other chemicals. The art studio pictured above has a folding glass wall/door system that can create a completely open space in one corner of the room.

Durable Materials

Assume everything could be subject to paint splatters. Image: Monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images

When choosing materials for art studios, make sure that everything is durable and easy to clean – or include well-used items and objects that you don’t mind soiling. The paint splatters on these floors can actually add character. However, if you would prefer not to add character to your floor, consider vinyl or laminate flooring, both of which are easy to clean. As a bonus, the cushion in the underlayment can help ease the pain in your feet or legs from standing all day.

Liston also recommends using paint with a satin finish in your art studio. “A satin finish reflects light for an elegant look,” she says. “Walls can be easily wiped clean and withstand exposure to moisture, making it a top choice for your craft room if things get messy.”

Cleanup Area

Clean up before you leave the studio. Image: Inti St Clair/Getty Images

Because art studios can indeed get messy, consider installing a sink so you can clean your supplies and work area and wash the paint, chemicals, dust and other matter off of yourself before returning to your living area.

Inspiration

Display your artwork in the studio. Image: ADA_Photo/Getty Images

Your art studio should also provide the inspiration to create your best work. “You want your at-home art studio to make you feel transported,” Murphy says. “Dreaming of being a painter in Paris? Pin up some photos that make you feel like you’re there. This space is all about you and your craft, so make a place where you can do you and be you,” she says.

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