Home Decor Ideas

Renée del Gaudio architects completed the design of a project named Big Cabin | Little Cabin in Fairplay, Colorado. The new pair of cottages are surrounded by a thick forest on one side, opening up to a magical landscape on the other. Large windows frame views of Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo mountains, the Collegiate Peaks, and the South Platte River.

“The cabin’s gabled roof form and rustic materials recall the area’s early vernacular buildings,” the architects explain. “Exterior cedar siding is stained dark to blend the house with the surrounding forest. Plywood interior walls and ceilings keep the cabin low key and rustic.”

The “Big Cabin” accommodates the master bedroom, living and dining areas, kitchen, pantry, gym/sauna and a bathroom. An extra bedroom, with a bathroom for guests, is located just nearby, in the sister cottage, connected to the larger cabin through steel decking.

Step inside, and you will find welcoming, airy, contemplative interiors. Soft colors create a friendly ambiance. Scandinavian design influences are visible in the clean lines, uncluttered spaces and simple accents.

“We all carry preconceived ideas of the word ‘cabin’ in our collective memory: a family gathering place, a place of rest after a long day in nature, pegs on the wall to hang your coat,” the architects say. “Ultimately, a cabin tells a story of it’s particular place and time in history, and of the people who dwell inside. “Big Cabin | Little Cabin” strives to embody the character and sensation of a traditional cabin, and tell the story of this particular family, all within a purely modern framework.” Photos courtesy of David Lauer Photography

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The new Lucas Museum lands in LA’s Exposition Park. Image: New England Public Radio

Sci-fi is becoming reality all around us. Video calling, once something straight out of The Jetsons, is now commonplace. Our cars are learning to drive themselves. And the breathtakingly sleek, starship-esque architecture of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, coming soon to Exposition Park in Los Angeles, would look right at home in its namesake’s signature film franchise. 

The museum, funded by Star Wars creator George Lucas, is a massive addition to LA’s landscape. It will include roughly 11 acres of green space and 290,000 square feet of interior. A third of that square footage will be dedicated to gallery space.

The museum will celebrate all forms of narrative art, from amphoras to comic books. Excitement builds for the collection planned for the museum, almost entirely gathered by George Lucas and his wife, Mellody Hobson. The building itself is generating some buzz, too, thanks to its innovative architecture.

Green space surrounds the building. Image: LA Times

As you approach: an outside look at the Lucas Museum.

In 2014, the Lucas Museum announced its plan to hold an international, invitation-only contest for the architecture design contract. MAD Architects won and put Ma Yansong, a young and innovative architect, on the job.

Yansong’s design looks like something straight from Lucas’s famous film franchise. The long, graceful curves of the building seem to softly touch down with the earth, giving the illusion of a spaceship alit on terra firma, awaiting it’s next takeoff.

The building blends beautifully with the surrounding green space. Trees and other greenery coat the museum’s sloping roof, and visitors will be able to walk the perimeter of this elevated park.

The spacious interior is designed to look like a bright cave. Image: Arch Daily

Step into the cave: exploring the museum.

The Lucas Museum carries its lofted, airy feel into its interior. When heading through the primary entrance, visitors are welcomed into what MAD calls, “a huge bright and open cave.” Natural light will fill this large public area. Glass-encased elevators and sloping archways give visitors access to other areas within the building.

Beyond expansive gallery space, the museum will include movie theaters, restaurants (both fine dining and casual options), a 4,200 square foot library, lecture halls, and event spaces.

The collection at the museum will including paintings from Rockwell, Degas, and Renoir; movie props, costumes, and sets; and digital art. The majority of the art showcased at the museum’s opening comes from Lucas’s personal collection. He says, “I think it’s important to have a museum that, I used to jokingly say, supports all the orphan arts that nobody wants to see but everybody loves. So that’s my dream for this.”

The museum will sit on 11 acres in LA’s Exposition Park. Image: Dezeen

Breaking ground on a groundbreaking building.

The Lucas Museum was originally planned for Chicago. When those plans fell through, the project’s team looked at locations in San Francisco, before ultimately settling on Los Angeles. The long process began bearing fruit in March, when George Lucas, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, Steven Spielberg, and others gathered to break ground.

The ground break is particularly notable because the city’s approval and permitting process was extensive. Experts involved report that this building wouldn’t have been possible just a decade ago. The construction of the Star Wars-like addition to Exposition Park leverages the newest, most innovative construction technology.

Once complete, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will add to LA’s arts and culture offering in two significant ways. The first is the obvious contribution of a gathering of art available to the public. The second is the addition of another notable Los Angeles building. The large-scale, spaceship-inspired museum will be worth the visit for the architecture alone.

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The latest HGTV Smart Home 2018 giveaway is here! This two-story, Southern-style home is located in a private resort community called Palmetto Bluff in the coastal low country of South Carolina. The home is 2,850 square feet, with three bedrooms and three and a half baths; and, as the name suggests, it uses smart technology everywhere.

The Southern-style smart home features an open floor plan and a hybrid of coastal, farmhouse and industrial styles.

Here are 7 of the coolest tech features from the HGTV Smart Home 2018:

1. A paper-thin TV masquerades as a high-definition art display

A flat screen TV above the fireplace displays high-resolution art or photos when not in TV mode. “Invisible Connection” technology eliminates wire and cables.

2. Customize smart beds for every sleeping style

All bedrooms contain programmable Sleep Number beds, including this master suite Flextop King, i10 Sleep Number 360 smart bed with air pressure monitoring. Customize firmness, adjust head positions and even warm your feet.

3. Smart skylights make your life sunnier

As well as adding brightness throughout the house, VELUX skylights automatically close when rainfall is detected. What’s more, they’re solar-powered and energy efficient.

4. A connected kitchen keeps you entertained

Appliances feature wireless internet, and the CabiTV’s integrated cabinet door above the oven doubles as a sleek television without requiring counter space.

5. A smart toilet in the guest room will fascinate your guests

Kohler’s Numi toilet’s motion-activated cover and seat facilitates hands-free opening and closing. A seat warmer and foot warmer ensures you’ll be comfortable even on the coldest of days.

6. The kids will love the secret virtual reality playroom

Nanoleaf Aurora Rhythm’s modular, geometric lighting draws you in from behind the sitting room bookcase. The panels include endless color choices that can be customized from a home computer system.

The small VR gaming room of the HGTV Smart Home 2018 is high-tech and comes with the latest Play Station 4, which incorporates connected gaming, personalization and integrated social capabilities.

7. The master bath keeps you up to date with current events

The mirrors in the master bath do more than reflect. These Smart Touch Vanity Mirrors also project the latest news, stock updates and social media feeds. An Ocea waterproof bathroom television is mounted in the shower and blends into the design with a mirror glass finish. The TV also has Wi-Fi networking for streaming smartphone content.

A coffee station is also at your disposal, which self-stores when not in use, thanks to the Nexus21 hidden storage lift.

You can enter twice per day until Thursday, June 7 at hgtv.com/smart for a chance to win the $1.6 million grand prize. Photography by HGTV.

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It’s time to take an in-depth look at what classifies a Craftsman home. Image: Creative Architects

If you’ve ever watched an episode of House Hunters, you know that Craftsman homes have an appeal that many people find irresistible. Whether you’re drawn in by the cute front porch, elegantly sloped roofline, or those oh-so-charming architectural details, one thing is certain: this style’s popularity isn’t going anywhere. However, have you ever stopped to wonder what makes a Craftsman home so unique?

Here’s an in-depth look at what makes a Craftsman home just that, including the history behind how and why this architectural movement came into being. Plus, an overview of the distinct features that set this style apart. Read them over with an open mind, and by the time you’re finished, you’ll be more in love with these homes than ever before.

Craftsman homes are a result of the Arts & Crafts Movement of 19th-century Britain. Image: Coombs Design

History of the Craftsman home

Believe it or not, the credit for this beautiful style of architecture goes to a late nineteenth-century British social movement. At the time, Britain was experiencing an industrial revolution like no one had seen before. The contrarian Arts & Crafts Movement, however, was all about rejecting this new, mass-produced construction style in favor of handcrafted products made by artisans.

Eventually, around the turn of the century, this movement made its way to America, championed by Gustav Stickley, founder and editor of The Craftsman magazine. His publication sold blueprints for homes that were designed in the Arts & Crafts style, with the intention of making”serious architecture” accessible to the masses.

Originally, the term “Craftsman” was reserved for homes built from one of Stickley’s plans. However, it has since evolved to cover a specific architectural style. Today, what we consider to be Craftsman homes do include some common identifying features,  and yet, true to Stickley’s vision, each one also includes unique details, making the home more functional for its owners.

There are four distinct sub-types of Craftsman homes. Image: Carley Montgomery

Why are Craftsman homes so popular?

The Craftsman’s popularity can be attributed to Stickley himself. He is thought to have been inspired by travels to Bangala, India, where he was first exposed to bungalow designs. When he returned, he published an article about them in his magazine, and many American architects followed his lead.

To him, the beauty of these bungalows was in their simplicity. Craftsman homes were meant for the working man. While Victorian homes—another popular style of the time—led with aesthetics, Stickley sought to create a design that put function first. Craftsman bungalows are relatively modest. They’re small and easy to care for, which made their design particularly attractive to hardworking homeowners.

Today, their popularity continues because their functionality doubles as an added sense of charm. Remember, most original bungalows were built by their owners, meaning that no two are exactly alike. Most feature unique details that are impossible to commission these days. In doing so, these homes have become an irreplaceable part of history.

Craftsman homes are all about the charming details. Image: The Works

Defining features of Craftsman homes

Even though Craftsman homes are known for their individuality, there are a few structural and aesthetic details that bring them together. You can identify these homes by the following:

Exterior details:

• Low-pitched rooflines, usually done in a hip or gable (triangular) style
• Wide, overhanging eaves
• Exposed rafters under the eves
• A covered front porch
• Pillars lining the entry
• Double hanging windows, which have separate panes of glass on the top and bottom
• Single, protruding dormers

Interior details:

• Prominent fireplaces
• Nooks and window seats
• Built-in storage
• Plenty of natural materials, such as wood

What do you think of Craftsman homes? Do you hope to own one of your own someday? Tell us all about it in the comments!

The post What Classifies A House Style: What Makes A Craftsman Home? appeared first on Freshome.com.

There are plenty of reasons you might opt for a new home with a production home builder. And, like most owner-builders, you probably had the chance to choose some of your home’s options. Still, from carpet to paint color, cabinet finish to lighting fixtures, production builders keep costs consistent by offering only a few choices for each detail of your new home. Even after choosing your favorite options, your brand-new home may still lack the charm and character of an older home, our the uniqueness of a truly custom one.

The last thing your brand-new home needs is a total renovation. Instead, here are a few details and easier upgrades that let you add your own personality and character to your builder-grade home.

Try a ceiling treatment

Source: O’Hara Interiors

Look up! Most builder-grade homes don’t do much with the ceilings. Usually, they’re simply painted white, leaving more budget for other areas and details of the home. However, adding character to your ceilings can give your home a more lived-in, custom look. Try installing decking to give your ceiling more texture, or add a ceiling medallion to bring attention to a unique light fixture. Suddenly, your ceiling becomes less of an afterthought and more of a feature.

Swap out your hardware 

Source: Highmark Builders

Builder-grade hardware is pretty generic; it’s meant to appeal to as many homeowners as possible. Luckily, upgrading your hardware is a quick and easy fix that doesn’t require years of builder expertise. Get personal with your hardware: scour flea markets for interesting knobs and latches, or opt for timeless hardware that’s more your style. Just keep in mind that your new hardware should still complement the existing features in your home, creating a totally cohesive look.

Add trim to your mirrors

Source: Jaffa Group

Builders are notorious for bare-bones bathroom design, especially when it comes to mirrors. They usually provide you with the option to upgrade fixtures and even lighting, but most builder-grade homes simply have unframed mirrors that lack personality. Taking an afternoon to trim mirrors in stained or painted hardwood gives your bathroom a completely custom look that is anything but generic. Try matching your cabinetry finish or stain for a more refined look, or go for a bright color for a fun kid’s bathroom. Getting rid of the harsh, plain edges of unframed mirrors adds character, and, best of all, doing so doesn’t require a complete bathroom renovation.

Add feature lighting 

Source: Eleven Interiors

Builder-grade homes often rely on plain, recessed lighting to get a brighter look in kitchens and living rooms. Sure, they’re effective, but recessed lighting won’t do much for adding character to your home. Since you’re more or less “stuck” with the lighting plan (no DIY electrical renovations, please!), you can add floor (and table) feature lighting to warm up your space and illuminate some of the more charming parts of your home.

A table lamp near a houseplant helps brighten up a dark corner. Or, create a comfy reading nook with an overhanging floor lamp and an overstuffed chair. You don’t need to change out fixtures, and you can still swap out feature lighting whenever you want to try something different.

Paint your molding

Source: Thompson Custom Homes

Plain white molding is to builder-grade homes as tile is to grout: you can’t have one without the other. Some homeowners love the clean, bright look, but white molding can seem quite sterile. For a completely personalized look, consider painting your molding to add depth to your woodwork. Black molding creates a modern contrast, while a light brown makes for a more peaceful room. White might be bright, but bringing color in always adds more character.

Your new builder-grade home probably doesn’t need a full renovation. In fact, the last thing you want after the building process is to add major projects to the list of things to do. However, you can try small fixes to make what may seem like a generic home more interesting. After all, it’s your personal touches that turn any house into a home!

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Getting creative with small spaces opens up new possibilities. Image: Twelve Chairs

If you have an unused small space in your home, it can be a little frustrating trying to figure out what to do with it (no apologies for that pun, by the way ). Maybe you feel like whatever you do, the space just looks cluttered. Or, perhaps nothing seems to fit where you feel it should.

By getting creative, you can bypass the frustration and create a small space you’ll love. Below are several interior design tips you can use to make your small space not only work, but look it’s best.

Look for alternative uses for your floor space

Previously ignored space under the stairs goes a long way with some creativity.  Image: General Assembly

There are many areas in your floor space you might view as completely useless. For instance, you may have a little floor space under an outcrop from the wall. Or maybe there is some floor space between two support beams, or a corner behind a chair.

The truth is, these spaces have plenty of potential. For instance, a small table could go between support beams, creating an instant display area, storage space or worktable. A small sofa could go under that awkward outcropping. That corner behind the chair could be home to a floor lamp.

Unused floor space under the stairs? Get creative! We’ve seen everything from chairs and reading lights, customized bookshelves, foldout desks, and TVs added to this space. Of course, a much more common (but much less fun) use for this space is basic storage.

Make use of small space furniture

Loft beds open up new possibilities in a small room. Image: Lark Architecture

You can find special furniture made specifically for small spaces. These piece usually have fold-up, or multi-use, functionalities. Pieces of furniture with small space functionality include:

• Fold-out desks
• Murphy beds
• Loft beds
• Fold-out, or extendable, tables
• Ottomans or coffee tables with storage space inside

Don’t think of loft beds as simply college dormitory staples: there are some stunning styles made for “grown-up” spaces. Hoisting the bed off of the floor adds a new dimension of unused floor space you can fill with a reading nook, a writing desk or a sofa.

Invest in floating shelving

Floating shelving creates a whole different dimension of storage.  Image: Alex Maguire Photography

One of the best ways to organize a small space is to utilize shelving that doesn’t take up floor space. That’s where floating shelving comes in.

With floating shelving, you can add a makeshift bookcase without taking up flooring space. You can display your valuables on floating shelves without having to add a space-consuming curio. You can even use them to hold file boxes, making them a great tool for organization.

Another benefit of floating shelves: they fit almost anywhere.  Place them in nooks, over bookcases, under stairs, over the sofa or even over doorways.

Take stock of everything you own

Large corner sofas like this one work well in small spaces.  Image: P + A Interiors

Take a look around your house and decide what you don’t need. For instance, do you really need that huge decorative lamp, when a ceiling light or recessed lighting could do the job while freeing up space?

With small spaces, adopt a “less is more” attitude. For instance, instead of many cluttered small art pieces that barely fit on a wall, try going with one large piece that makes a statement.

Or, try trading all those tiny knick-knacks for one larger statement piece. You could also get rid of some unnecessary bookcases or display cases that way.

The principle also applies to furniture. How much do you really sit on that chair? Could it be replaced with something that folds up and is put away when you don’t have company?

You might also want to invest in larger furniture, which seems counterintuitive. But when you have a small chair and love seat, they actually take up more room because you have to leave space between them. You’ll actually get more sitting space out of one large sofa than a bunch of small chairs, which can make the space look more cluttered.

Planning on incorporating any of these tips to make the most of your small space. Have any tips of your own? Leave a comment and let us know!

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