Eclectic Homes

A New Texas Farmhouse Pulls a Neat Trick

| Ause1977

A farmhouse almost sounds like an oxymoron. Normally the constructions are conventional and nostalgic, have been in existence for decades, and so are only added on to or remodeled. That’s why builder and architect Eric Rauser’s new-build farmhouse on an organic farm in Austin, Texas, is so unusual. Rauser studied historic farmhouses in Central Texas and forced it seem like a very old house. He realized the impact by producing add-ons he imagined would have been done by generations of households over time. A living room punches from the structure and mixes different materials to mimic an expansion job that would have come in a different period in the house’s life. “People say it’s a great remodel, which is a compliment because we needed it to feel as if it had always been there,” Rauser states. in a GlanceWho lives here: Glen and Paula Foore, organic farmersLocation: Springdale Farm, Austin,…

Continue Reading
Kitchen Guides

Kitchen Sinks: Enameled Cast Iron for Beautiful Durability

| Ause1977

One of the vast array of kitchen sinks available today, a few materials have earned a top place. Cast iron is one of them. Cast iron sinks have been around for some time, because they’re long lasting and attractive. And today they are available in plenty of colors, styles and price ranges. Kohler The fundamentals: Cast iron kitchen countertops are made up of 2 layers. The foundation layer is a thick, durable iron alloy, which is then coated in a thick tooth top layer. Together the layers produce an impervious surface with a lustrous finish. Price: $200 to $900 on average, depending on the dimensions and configuration. Avenue B Development Benefits: in regards to durability and beauty, a cast iron sink surely fits the bill. A heavy foundation means these sinks may take a lifetime of usage. Despite their durability, these countertops also boast an attractive end. The thick enamel…

Continue Reading
Eclectic Homes

Double Take: This External Screen Makes Game Day a Snap

| Ause1977

Browsing the other day I came across an outside media pavilion that stopped me in my tracks. What’s the TV protected from weather? Just how large is it? Who are these individuals? It turns out this is a family of large Michigan State University fans, and they like to have their friends over to enjoy game day and film nights in their own dream outside media space, entertainment patio and living space in Ann Arbor. Colorworks Studio And by “fantasy,” we do suggest “dream” A pavilion this dimension, for example, exterior finish materials, remote-controlled bronze and glass entrance door, prewiring and interior heating and air conditioning, can run $55,000, states Barbi Krass, proprietor of Colorworks Studio, which did the whole exterior layout, including the pavilion. A projector inside designed for both day and nighttime watching shoots the image onto the rear of a 9-foot-wide glass display. Little speakers are strategically…

Continue Reading
Small Bathroom

Bathed in Colour: When to Utilize Gray in the Bath

| Ause1977

Gray is a favorite neutral to use with more attention-grabbing colors, but I have been seeing gray stand on its own own more and more in residential interiors. The trick to working with gray is to counterbalance its coolness so it doesn’t wind up feeling sterile and institutional. You can do it by adding warm timber tones or by choosing a shade of gray on the warmer end of this spectrum. Of course, when you live in a hot climate, a predominantly cool gray bathroom can feel calming. Here are some gray paint selections that run the gamut from light to dark and cool to warm, as well as seven stylish examples of how to use gray in a bath. Jennifer Ott Design Gray paint picks for bathrooms (clockwise from top left):1. Slip of Silver 139-3, Mythic Paint2. Shadow Gray 2125-40, Benjamin Moore3. Timeless Gray 29-23, Pratt & Lambert4. Seattle…

Continue Reading
Budgeting Your Project

Contractor Tips: 10 Strategies to Get the Remodel You Need for Less

| Ause1977

Everybody knows remodeling is expensive, but it usually ends up becoming even more expensive than you thought. So, how can you get the home you desire while adhering to a strict budget? Take some advice from this contractor — the tips below will help you complete your job without veering off your strategy. Buckminster Green LLC 1. Complete the Strategy. The more time spent exercising and finalizing the program with your architect and contractor, the more time you’ll have to find cost savings and avoid expensive change orders down the road 2. Locate a contractor willing to value engineer your job. Value engineering is when the design group, you and the contractor discuss creative ways to achieve the design intent for less. Be frank about your financial plan from the beginning — if you discover a builder that you wish to work with and he knows you are serious about…

Continue Reading
Coastal Style

The Way to Choose Kitchen Appliances

| Ause1977

There are a number of things to consider when setting up your kitchen to accommodate people with different heights and mobility requirements. The placement of appliances should be planned so they’re simple to operate and secure for everyone. Almost every appliance today comes in a number of styles and with myriad features that have real benefits for people looking for a safer cooking environment for everybody without compromising features and aesthetics. GE Profile Slide-In Induction Range PHS925STSS – $2,759.99 Cooktops and RangesInduction cooktops and ranges would be the most powerful cooking appliances to use, as no open flame or hot burner coils are found. Curious littles ones and endangered individuals can not burn themselves by accidentally touching the stovetop. Induction cooking is based on an electrical process that produces a high-frequency electromagnetic field. This method induces the cooking vessel to create heat — perhaps not the cooktop. Once the vessel…

Continue Reading
Coastal Style

A Midcentury Gem on a Wooded Acre in Dallas

| Ause1977

With a passion for honoring their midcentury house’s background, Mike and Jill Wood decorated it with furniture and color to fit its roots. The home, built in 1962 from Ju-Nel Homes architects Lyle Rowley and Jack Wilson — protégés of Howard Meyer and Frank Lloyd Wright — is one of about 50 that helped to crack the ranch-house mould in Dallas. Open floor plans, exposed rafters, natural materials and expansive windows created for a refreshing change for postwar households, and for the Woods. Using locally sourced classic furniture, both Mike and Jill have successfully paid tribute to the house’s roots. in a GlanceWho lives here: Mike and Jill Wood and brothers Chloe (8 years old) and Devon (4)Size: 2,400 square feet: 4 bedrooms, 3 bathsLocation: DallasThat is intriguing: The previous owners had installed a pet door for Rocky, their domesticated raccoon. Sarah Greenman The previous owners had tastefully upgraded the…

Continue Reading
Dining Rooms

'Dinner at Tiffany's' Design Wins People's Choice Award

| Ause1977

Although the fictional Holly Golightly dwelt in a tiny New York apartment, that this fantasy dining area could have suited her just fine. Made for October’s Serving Up Style 2012 fundraising event in Portland, Oregon, this staged exhibition space beat out 19 additional dining rooms to acquire the People’s Choice Award. Working with a tight deadline and budget, Urban I.D. Interior Design Services designed this glamorous Holly Golightly–inspired dining area dependent on the trademark blue-green colour of Tiffany’s boxes. Urban I.D. Interior Design Services The design team wanted to create an elegant area that hauled Breakfast at Tiffany’s but still felt livable. They utilized beautiful furniture given by Parker Furniture to come up with a creative layout that felt comfy but open. Wall paint: Green Bay, Emerald Collection, Sherwin-Williams; rug: designer’s own Urban I.D. Interior Design Services Cheap furniture and accessories (such as the rug, ottomans and mirrors) combine with…

Continue Reading
Kitchen Guides

Kitchen of the Week: New Traditional Design in a 1900s House

| Ause1977

Set in Seattle’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood, this 1900s home has tons of appeal, but the kitchen was closed off, with just enough room for a mini fridge. Sarah Henry of Gaspar’s Construction worked with the family on a renovation to increase the kitchen’s size to 12 by 12 ft and add modern conveniences while maintaining the home’s unique character. Gaspar’s Structure Knocking down the rear wall opened the kitchen into the dining area and made room for a spacious Liebehrr refrigerator. Henry installed an end-grain butcher block bartop to your eat-in part of the kitchen; Richlite — a recycled paper product — constitutes the rest of the countertops. Gaspar’s Structure Like most families, this Seattle couple wanted loads of storage. Henry installed wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling cabinetry in the adjacent breakfast nook and dining room, and place a few shelves in the kitchen for cookbooks. Marmoleum flooring — an environmentally…

Continue Reading
Basements

How to Switch Your Basement into a Kids' Playroom

| Ause1977

Every child wants a room to release his or her endless boundaries of energy — ideally, this area isn’t in the center of the carefully curated living room. Give your children their very own designated section of the home by altering a basement space into a playroom. Since this room will probably change in function after your kids have increased, it doesn’t need to receive a large or expensive renovation. More importantly, it should be an enjoyable, imaginative area which is going to continue to keep the children occupied. Before jumping into your basement renovation, read a couple of tips and tricks from the pros to get you on the right path. Wentworth, Inc.. Plan the position of the playroom in regard to adult distances. This is particularly important when your children are rather young, as you will want to keep an eye on them while they are at play….

Continue Reading