Tropical Style

Fantastic Design Plant: Black Mondo Grass

| Ause1977

In the soul of Black Friday, one of the most highly anticipated unofficial American holidays, this week’s plant select features — you guessed it — a black plant. Black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’) has gained fame as one of the most uniquely-hued and easy-to-grow plants on the market. Much like many perennial grasses, autumn is a great time to plant black mondo grass. Elect for well-drained, humus-rich soil for a positive planting. Botanical name: Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’; Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Arabicus’; Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Black Night’Common names: black mondo grass, black lilyturf USDA zones: 5-10Water necessity: Moderate to regular, based on climateSun necessity: Full sun to partial shadeMature dimensions:12″ tall x 12″ disperseTolerances: Drought Distinguishing attributes. Striking matte black foliage resembling a sea anemone immediately catches your attention and draws you to the plant. Droopy leaves reach 15″ in length, leading to an overall plant height of around 10-12″. While the…

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Coastal Style

Early 20th Century Meets Contemporary

| Ause1977

The home of the Dutch and Argentinean couple is in Marlot, a residential area on the outskirts of The Hague. It was designed and constructed in 1925 by Dutch architect Co Brandes (Jacobus Johannes Brandes), among the most important architects of this Nieuwe Haagse School, popular between the 1920s and 1950s. Brandes made four other homes in the neighborhood, all constructed in precisely the same style. The façade includes a stripe of black bricks that runs horizontally around the house. This is a normal quality of Brandes’ work and of this period, as is the symmetry of this construction, the large chimney along with the mansard roof. in a GlanceWho lives here: Geert, Cecilia and their one-year-old daughter, IsabelLocation: The Hague, South HollandSize: The home is a 375 sq. meter, three-story detached house, with four bedrooms, two baths and a huge office. There is also a spacious kitchen, a semi-combined…

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Eclectic Homes

Quick Fix: Protect Your Mirrors!

| Ause1977

If you are like me, you often decorate your house without thinking about afterwards, when you might have to remove something. My walls are littered with nail holes, my doors will have holes from the coat hooks I screwed to them — and do not get me started on the mirror on my closet door. Removing a wall mirror can be tricky. If you’ve implemented anything sticky to keep it there, then chances are you will get a cracked or broken mirror from yanking it off the wall. I know this from experience. Michelle Turner and Brian Rigney of By Design Custom Remodeling at Maui, Hawaii suggested this clever trick to keep your looking glass undamaged via a move. Simply Grove When installing your mirror, Turner and Rigney suggest putting glue carpet protector on the back of the mirror. This sticky plastic movie is usually used to keep carpeting clean…

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Kitchen

2012 Color Trends: Get of Green Kitchen and Bath

| Ause1977

This 2012 Color Trends show is about five hot color trends projected for the year. In particular I’ll be showing you how you can incorporate them into your toilet and kitchen in a means which is logical for your taste and your property. Green is going to be a solid color for the new year with leaves, moss, earth, forest and blossom sprouting on Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr and Yolo palettes, among others. Green is a relaxing shade — some even consider it a brand new neutral — which makes it particularly great for master bathroom retreats. It can work well in kitchens and other living areas, too. (I painted each the walls within my first condo sage and loved it. The master bedroom of my last home was home, too.) Below are a few ways to incorporate it into your kitchen and bathroom, sensibly and stylishly. Read bathroom remodeling…

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Lighting

Frame the View Using Divided-Light Windows

| Ause1977

Some windows might feel just like pesky glass and framework obstructing a great view, while others are so stunning that they render the view secondary. Divided-light windows, also referred to as multi-light, fall into the latter category, in my own book. At a divided-light window, the panes of glass are separated and held by muntins — strips of metal or wood. Also referred to as glazing or sash pubs, muntins divide a single window sash or casement into a grid system of little panes of lights or”lites” (also known as glass). Multi-light windows came about because of the unavailability of large glass panes before and in the start of the industrial era. Little panes were cheap to make and easy to arrange in a grid (split by muntins) to create large windows and doors. Expensive homes were often outfitted with window panes laid out in ornamental patterns which reflected the…

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Kitchen

Kitchen of the Week: Big, Bold and Crimson in Texas

| Ause1977

This Dallas kitchen, initially constructed in the 1960s, was in dire need of a makeover. The clients were a busy and expanding household having a kitchen that would allow them to cook, clean, do homework, eat, and interact smoothly. Ralph Stow and his team at Dallas Renovation Group tore down the span fur-downs, brief closets, and big console island and replaced everything with luxury country-style materials. By reorganizing the work triangle at the kitchen and constructing a large, bright red island, they designed a cheerful and trendy kitchen is effective for everyone. Dallas Renovation Group The kitchen’s new layout revolves round the 9-foot-long island. Stow and his team kept the customer’s need for a multipurpose kitchen in your mind and designed a large island that could serve a number of functions. The island includes two different seating areas, with under-counter closets for children’s crafts and knickknacks on one end. The…

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Garden

Indoor Gardens: Duplicate Nature Inside

| Ause1977

Together with the frosty days of winter fast approaching, it’s time to deliver the grace and attractiveness of vegetation inside before it melts outside. Designate a room where your plants can get sufficient light and get creative; there are numerous ways to exhibit and enjoy a garden inside. Plants aren’t just aesthetically pleasing and soothing, but they also refresh atmosphere for a healthier home. From mobile planters to vertical gardens, showing green living things could be fun and easy, giving new and better vibes to your house. decordemon Want to take your garden with you around the house? This mobile planter is a flexible and fun way to bring living green into whichever room needs it all. See how to create this mobile planter box Amazon Garden365 Mobile Garden – $224.99 This mobile planter, made by Garden365, comes in 3 distinct colours: latte (shown), graphite and terracotta. Made of recyclable…

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Home

'Pan Am' Inspires Flight Back into 1960s Style

| Ause1977

Okay, I admit it. We have been seeing the new television show Pan Am. So what if the characters are not as developed and deeply flawed and the story isn’t is not as gripping as Mad Men? If for no other reason, I watch the series because the costumes and sets are wonderful. Let us face it, the 1960s were decade. Any era that was ushered in by Jackie and Camelot had to be! So let us bring back some of that ’60s optimism, that can-do spirit and that openness to do what is hard. This time around, let us keep an eye on the future and eschew the “throw away” for a sustainable approach. Gary Hutton Design The early 1960s was the start of the Space Age and the Jet Set, and also the finest of our homes looked ready to take flight. Modern Homes Realty These homes were…

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Home

Houzz Tour: A Urban Castle at Pasadena

| Ause1977

Van-Martin Rowe added his own unique contribution to the rich architectural tradition of Pasadena, California, when he designed and built an”urban castle” for himself and his spouse, Barry Storch. The landscape and interior designer chose a nondescript two-bedroom, one-bath home and transformed it into a one-of-a-kind residence with details from the Mediterranean, Europe, Asia and Morocco. Inspired from the sequoia that has burst on the land for more than a century, Rowe envisioned a home having an indoor-outdoor sensibility along with a vertical accent, which more than doubled the present structure’s square footage. Fourteen-foot ceilings give mass to the spaces, without sacrificing livability or comfort. “I attempted to maintain it so that it lived just like a larger home,” he says. Van-Martin Rowe Two of the seven towers lend a fanciful air to the home, while a tall hedge guarantees privacy. Earth-toned textured stucco provides a link to the earth…

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Roofing

How To Choose The Best Roof For Your House

| Ause1977

Your home’s roofing is the primary line of defense of the entire household against the elements. It’s also the property’s crowning glory. Routine maintenance is essential if you want to preserve the character and safety of your home. If you ever notice huge problems with your roofing, you may have to replace it. roofing Glendale replacement is an extensive and expensive job, making it a task best left to experts. Uninformed contractor and purchasing choices will compromise the roof’s structural integrity. In order for you to hire a competent service provider and get your money’s worth, you should consider the following factors: Style Glendale roofers contributes the same aesthetic value as the doors, siding, and lawn. So, take your time when choosing the color and the roofing materials that complement your home and your neighborhood’s architectural style. The roofline is among the first things that you see in a property….

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