Find Patio Party Style

When the weather is fine, it is time to take the party outside. Whether you love planning elaborate menus and decor, or prefer simple last-minute cocktails with friends, the important thing is finding the fete to suit your style. Get inspired by these eight outdoor party ideas, from beachy cocktails into just desserts.

McGuire Furniture Company

1. Chill in an outdoor living area. Make your patio cozier by attracting a few home comforts outside. Roll out a rug, plump up the sofa with additional pillows and maintain a gentle toss within reach.

If you’re short on outdoor furniture, then haul a few pieces out from your living room briefly — sitting real furniture outside feels luxurious.

Molly Wood Garden Design

2. Sun bleached and beachy. Conjure a summery mood with pale tones of sand and white. Hang white drapes or suspend fabric overhead to give coverage from sunlight. Decorate the table with white shells, hurricanes filled with sand and miniature tea lights.

Scot Eckley, Inc..

3. Italian or French style, outdoor dining. Draw inspiration in the Italian and French customs for long, leisurely lunches al fresco. Set out large platters of simple, seasonal foods household fashion, along with wine from glass carafes.

Maintaining a basket of essentials (shades, straw hats, sunscreen) available for guests to grab as required is a thoughtful touch.

The Cousins

Tip: Make the celebration budget friendly. Hit budget-friendly stores such as Ikea and Target to stock up on party supplies in goes-with-everything white. Paper lanterns, string lights and candles set the mood, along with an inexpensive set of dishes and unbreakable cups will see you through several parties. Give a basic picnic table a DIY upgrade by stenciling words onto the surface.

APLD, Susan Cohan

4. Tropical takeout. Who says you have to cook to throw an awesome party? Purchase from your favorite neighborhood restaurant instead and concentrate your effort on the decoration.

A coffee table placed on vibrant outdoor mats and surrounded with floor cushions creates a fun spot for a small dinner party to congregate at. Set out brilliant parasols, lanterns, potted succulents and sculptures or other artwork borrowed from inside.

Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates

5. Homegrown-edibles swap. Get with garden-loving friends for a party that celebrates the bounty of the year. Invite guests to bring something they’ve grown, picked or made from scratch — by a basket of ideal juicy tomatoes from their garden to jars of homemade jam or pickles, or even home-brewed beer.

MTLA- Mark Tessier Landscape Architecture

6. Australian cinema. With a small projector (either bought or leased) and a notebook, it is possible to display a movie right on your backyard. For a classy evening, set up tables outdoors and show a foreign movie along with dinner.

For a twist spin, show an independent children’ picture and also follow up with s’mores around the fire pit. Check out the DVD listing in the New York International Children’s Film Festival for ideas.

7. Just desserts. When you’d really prefer to have people over, but dinner sounds like a lot of, host a dinner party instead. Invite friends to appear after dinner and then surprise them with an elegant dessert table set up on the terrace.

A few desserts, perhaps a cheese plate, plus tea and coffee are all you want. Finish off the day with a unique dessert wine if you like.

Katie Leede & Company Studio

Tip: Create mood lighting. Beautiful lighting is the key to hosting an outdoor party that really wows guests. And the wonderful thing is, it doesn’t need to be expensive! Line up hurricane lamps or tiki torches across a route, scatter tea lights on tables and hang lanterns and series lights overhead. If you’re worried about fire, stick with battery-powered candles rather than the real thing.

Spinnaker Development

8. Cocktails at dusk. Ask guests to arrive just as the sun is beginning to set for cocktails and small bites on the terrace. Since the sun dips lower, turn on the landscape clusters and lighting of candles on every surface.

Tell us What was the very best outdoor party you have ever had?

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A Single-Wall Kitchen Might Be the Single Best Choice

Kitchens are normally laid out with their counters, cabinets, appliances and fixtures in a few shapes; the designs are typically U shapes, L shapes and galleys. Less popular, but no less functional, are single-wall kitchens, in which the three elements of the semisacred work triangle — refrigerator, sink, stove — are aligned on one wall.

The efficacy of single-wall kitchens occurs through the spacing and place of these three elements, the sizing and articulation of their countertops, and the usage (if any) of a nearby kitchen table or island. These examples illustrate these efficiencies, but also how the single-wall kitchen is related to the rest of the home, particularly the adjacent living and dining spaces.

Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly

The idea to write about single-wall kitchens came to me when writing about the Dialogue House in Arizona. In that minimalist house, the usage of a single-wall kitchen followed by the place of storage along with other service areas in the perimeter, so as to free the center to get an expansive view of downtown Phoenix.

This kitchen Sweden functions according to some similar logic; it’s pushed along a wall to maintain the dining area spacious and never block the big windows. This kitchen is more generously sized than most we’ll see, however, it comes with an arrangement that we’ll see repeatedly: refrigerator on the far right or left, followed by the sink, and then the stove. The simplicity and clean lines of their walls and cabinets tiles make the kitchen work very well covering one wall of the space.

Dyna Contracting

Frequently a single-wall kitchen can be utilized for the efficacy of distance within the whole home, rather than only for the efficacy of the kitchen. This houseboat is a good example of a house where the footprint of the kitchen required to be lessened. Like the preceding case, it’s a handsome design that fits well on one side of their living space.

Also, this layout illustrates one change since the days of the center of the 20th century, once the work triangle has been developed: The oven and stove are not just one appliance. Here a double oven sits next to the refrigerator at appropriate, while the stove is located between the refrigerator and the sink on the far left.

Space Kit

Here’s a very carefully designed single-wall kitchen, in the cabinets and integration of appliances to the framing of their work surfaces and spacious shelves. The kitchen is part of a gut renovation in Manhattan’s West Village, a locale pressed for space.

The intentional design of the kitchen in this Portland, Oregon, condo could be seen in the balance of the refrigerator on the right together with all the cabinets on the left, along with the way the tile and shelves work together with the hood over the stove. As this and the preceding examples show, it’s important to get an attractive layout when one wall of a spacious living space is characterized by the whole kitchen.

These kitchens also exemplify another change in the middle of last century: The kitchen now is a social hub within the home, be it to get daily activities or entertaining. Single-wall kitchens offer you the openness that goes along with this socializing, yet without consuming as much room as island or galley kitchens.

Sandrin Leung Architecture

The distance constraints in this Vancouver home’s living/dining area are apparent. The single-wall kitchen is a clear choice, provided the width of the room. As in the previous case, tall cabinets bookend the kitchen, with the refrigerator on the left, then the stove and then the sink. This kitchen occupies the order of the stove and sink out of earlier cases, but it’s less important now that people’s activities progress from the kitchen in the refrigerator (getting out the meat, legumes and veggies ) to the sink (cleaning them) and to the stove (cooking them); more significant today is having a zone or place to function in. Single-wall kitchens may have less room for this than other shapes, so every piece of surface is significant and should be utilized to its utmost capacity.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

This 540-square-foot home in Portland, Oregon, is served by a kitchen that suits into one conclusion under the gable. A hutch takes over for the lack of top cabinets, however, the reclaimed timber is well worth highlighting; its usage on the stove hood is particularly wonderful.

mango design co

Help can also come in the form of a island work surface, space permitting. This kitchen goes from the refrigerator (from frame only to the right) to the sink in the front of the window, then to the stove on the leftside. The integrated design of the upper and lower windows, lower cabinets and upper shelves, and paint color is quite attractive.

Case Design/Remodeling, Inc..

So when can it be good to have a single-wall kitchen? This restricted room is a great example of when it’s ideal. A galley kitchen could make the floor area too little and eat into the window opening.

Rad Design Inc

Urban lofts are great areas for single-wall kitchens. This miniature kitchen is tucked partially below a stair, by which some secondary storage comes in handy.

LUX Design

Here is another loft area, one with room for a determined eating island. This island provides an extra work place, even as the three chief elements are located along one wall.

mango design co

City condos will also be good areas for single-wall kitchens, since many new high-rises have large expanses of glass. If a kitchen is near the exterior, rather than put back toward the hallway and core of the building, this layout allows for more light coming into the flat.

Design Matters

This last example is just another condo apartment with a small kitchen along one wall. I like how even in this restricted area, the top cabinets provide the kitchen a rhythm that works together with the stove and sink.

More:
Single-Wall Galley Kitchens Grab the’I’

10 Reasons to Bring Back the Humble Kitchen Table

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11 Elements of the Fantastic Sunroom

Sunrooms encourage leisurely living and boost square footage — often with reduced construction costs than a completely completed room. If you’re considering adding a sunroom or turning an existing space into a sunny retreat, here are some features to consider. And if you’re not, your thoughts wills change.

Related: The way to outfit your sunroom

Lucy Interior Design

1. Comfortable seating. The ultimate sunroom functions as a second living room. It shouldn’t scream wicker. You may bring in upholstered seats, plush cushions and throws, indoor-outdoor rugs and occasional tables that you would think to use indoors. A appropriate sunroom has electric outlets to support table and floor lamps also.

Fraerman Associates Architecture

2. Multiple functions. Ideally a sunroom could accommodate both a seating arrangement and a dining table, therefore it can be used as frequently as you can.

Balodemas Architects

3. Environmental controls. Many sunrooms are constructed without heating and air conditioning systems.But it’s still nice to have the ability to cool down with a ceiling fan if the atmosphere becomes too stifling, and to warm up with a fireplace on chilly nights.

Tom Stringer Design Partners

4. Privacy sunglasses. Sunrooms get glowing, of course. They tend to boast floor-to-ceiling insulated glass doors and windows. Even in the event that you have high-quality doors and windows, the space may still get overheated. Curtains or shades are must-haves to make certain you don’t overheat because you browse home design photographs and drink iced tea on a lazy day.

Town and Country Conservatories

5. Greenery. A vertical space between the indoors and outside begs for flourishing potted plants as the connecting element.

AVP ARCHITECT VIEW PRODUCTS BY IMASOTO

6. A home office. When you have a table on your sunroom, then you can use the area as a home office involving foods. A supportive seat, a Wi-Fi connection and a view to a own backyard will make for a productive morning.

Crisp Architects

7. A setup for entertaining. When you have a large group dinner on the calendar or some particular event, consider the sunroom the ideal place to set up your celebratory meal. Ample dining room, light and atmosphere circulation, plus proximity to the kitchen, will make for a memorable event.

LLC, Penguin Random House

8. Decorations. If your sunroom has sealed windows and French doors, then there is no reason to hold back from decorating it with your favourite home accessories. Framed prints, books, candles, mirrors, vases etc. will really kick it up a notch.

Frank Shirley Architects

9. Whimsy. It’s possible to use this space as an chance to be lively with thrifted locates and salvaged pieces you do not deem proper to display on your formal spaces. Find new applications for a classic sewing table or fruit crates, as an example.

KohlMark Architects and Builders

10. Rugs. Insert plushness and texture on a hard, moisture-resistant flooring — like tile, sealed or stone concrete — with a rug. Jute and cowhides will hold up.

LDa Interiors & Architecture

11. Simplicity. Don’t overthink or overaccessorize your sunroom. A fairly and simple plot is all that’s needed, such as in this slightly nautical blue sunroom. Notice the framed artwork, hurricane lamps and flower arrangement added to make it seem homey.

More: How to outfit your sunroom

A Kit Greenhouse Becomes a Creative Private Office

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Kitchen Cabinets: Slate Surfaces Rock for Power and Style

On the lookout for a new kitchen sink material? Look at stepping back in time and benefiting from the natural beauty of slate. Heavy-duty slate countertops are antibacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and unrivaled in strength and endurance. Most often installed using a front exposure, they’ve a low-maintenance farmhouse feel that may be just what your kitchen is overlooking. Learn the fundamentals and costs here in order to check whether this substance can work on your residence.

More kitchen sink choices

Whitten Architects

The fundamentals: Actual masterpiece is a metamorphic stone with distinctive properties and excellent performance capacities. New England slate, which is famous for its superior quality, is especially suitable for kitchen sink usage.

Century Bay Builders

Cost: A slate sink for a standard 30- to 36-inch cabinet base generally costs between $900 and $1,200 and is generally made to order based on external dimensions.

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Benefits: Every slate sink is unique and hand crafted. Constructed based on outside measurements, slate sinks are constructed like fine furniture. The slate is cut and fitted together by hand, ensuring quality and endurance.

Often called bulletproof, slate makes for a rocky work sink that’s resistant to fading, scratching and burning. Custom decoration and designs may likewise be inserted into slate for a really one-of-a-kind farmhouse sink.

Ironwood Builders

Disadvantages: on account of their made-to-order temperament, slate sink aren’t inexpensive and simple projects to set up. Homeowners might also feel that these countertops are limited to kitchens with a certain aesthetic.

Moran + Associates

Sustainability: “We use no chemicals in production,” states John Tatko of Maine’s Sheldon Slate Products. “We recycle our water, and the only waste we make is slate sand, which we use as fill.” Installing and installing antique slate countertops is also quite popular now. Reduce, recycle and reuse!

Polhemus Savery DaSilva

Care: Slate sinks are nonporous, which makes for an antibacterial, stain resistant, noncombustible and easy-to-clean surface. While regular cleaning practices must perform the tip, elbow grease, scouring pads and cleansers won’t damage your slate.

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc..

Are you a lover of slate kitchen countertops? Let’s talk! Share your ideas in the Comments section below.

More kitchen sink options

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Merge Your Tub Space into a Shower — the Planning Phase

There are many examples of large bathrooms, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that most of us have bathrooms that are about 50 square feet (5 by 10 ft). A fantasy shower may frequently become a reality only if it fits to the footprint of a dated tub. But what’s the best method to go about this conversion?

The very first step to convert a bathtub to shower would be to put down everything on paper. Before you start ripping out tile, bringing home sale items or looking for the best grout color, be sure that you measure, plan and research.

Mabbott Seidel Architecture

Measure the toilet exactly. Yank on the finished wall dimensions, right down into the 1/8 inch. Most bathtubs are 60 inches wide, which is a good width to get a shower. The depth is the kicker. Aim for at least 32 to 34 inches from the finished tile wall into the upcoming glass shower door.

You will also need to to have a finished ceiling height of 80 inches minimum and a shower that’s at least 30 by 30 inches to comply with the National Kitchen & Bath Association’s guidelines for bathrooms. In case you decide to plan to get a seat, be sure it doesn’t crowd this distance of 30 by 30 inches minimum.

Record the bathroom location. A distance of 15 to 18 inches from the the middle of the bathroom to the glass on the new shower door tends to be comfortable.

Work out the shower-door swing. Where will you set the door on your new shower so it does not interfere with the bathroom or vanity? I love to use a large scrap of drywall to put out the potential shower-door swing, and then check the distances of the drywall into the toilet and vanity.

From the renovated bathroom here, a little 1926 tub was replaced using a curbless shower. The walkway from the vanity into the shower has been too tight to get a whirlpool bathtub door, which explains precisely why this shower has two glass block walls instead.

Hint: In the event the toilet floor is going to become wet outside the shower, then pick a little tile or a different slip-resistant material.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami

Make sure you’ll still have tons of space. When you substitute a bathtub with a shower, the bathroom can start to feel crowded. Make sure that you pay attention to this it seems right to you.

Try to keep at least 15 inches area from the middle of the bathroom to the new shower glass. If your shower ends up being on the side, you can skimp on this measurement a little.

Hint: Hold up a sheet of scrap drywall to function as a fake glass panel and also sit a 5-gallon bucket to mimic the toilet’s location. This could help you decide how close you like the glass and how large you’d like your shower.

Stand at the area where your shower will be. A shower depth of 32 inches feels little to me, however, might work for you. A depth of 34 to 36 inches tends to be perfect, but do not crowd the bathroom. Make sure that you check the local code for minimum distances, too.

Take out the door if it’s causing problems. Who says you require a door anyway? And start looking into heated floors if you decide not to have a shower door. Floor heat is quite good at keeping the toilet floor dry in addition to warm.

Hint: If you intend to get a doorless shower, then you’ll need to be extra careful when using a handheld shower fixture. A fixed showerhead or rain head (such as the one in this photograph) will continue to keep the water inside the new shower.

More tips on working with a doorless shower

kbcdevelopments

Take your time looking for fittings. Shopping for fittings can actually be fun! Research the options and look for specials and potential combos. Do not feel like you need to use all the same brand — I frequently use fixtures from two separate companies that still look good together.

Hint: If you’re building a steam shower, then contemplate Dornbracht fixtures. Bear in mind that a steam shower should be constructed by someone with at least five years’ expertise in vaporproofing.

BY DESIGN Builders

Consider your tile and lighting layout from the start. This is essential to some polished-looking shower. Be certain you include lights on your shower, not just around it.

Depending on your shower size and cosmetics, yet, two or even four lights might look best. When you eliminate your old bathtub and tub surround to make room for the new shower, this is the ideal time to test that your light system can be installed like you had planned. Often the ceiling framing over a bathtub is easily adjusted to accommodate a lighting plan.

Do not tile with no finished light sources set up. Without a light source set up, it is hard to know how any lippage might look. At a shower the lights are often quite close to the wall, which will show every tiny flaw at a tile installation.

Hint: Organize your tile designs early, using the ceiling height as a reference. Attempt to avoid sliver reductions in tile designs. Drawing the layout on paper helps — once you have this finalized, you may use your vinyl grout lines to put out pulp market locations and shower fittings.

More ways to light up your shower

BY DESIGN Builders

Decide what developments you’re going to want. Goal is key here. How will you use the shower? Do you require a seat? Somewhere to place your shampoo? What about a window? All these extras are important to this renovation and help narrow down a construction plan.

Hint: If you’re building a shower that will consist of items like benches, windows and pulp niches, be certain the waterproofing is brought right up the walls and require extra care around the chimney. Kerdi Repair is a superb product for seaming the window into the bathtub’s waterproofing system.

Next: Step 2 — Choosing your new shower fittings

More: manuals to remodeling your shower

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Performed Through Special Occasions With Gracious Home, a Ready

It is simple (and not very pleasant) to get caught unprepared when guests stop by, or even to do nothing to bring to a wedding or housewarming. But with a little additional effort today, you can sail through all your spring and summer occasions easily.

From cleansing shortcuts and long-lasting flower structures to ideas for stocking the ideal gift cabinet, these 13 tips will help make you ready for casting parties, giving presents, writing thank-you notes, hosting unexpected guests and more.

Tres McKinney Design

1. Make an easy-clean entry with considerable storage. A chest of drawers or storage bench from the entry makes last-second tidying up simple. In a smaller space, try stashing stuff in lidded boxes beneath a slender console table or in French marketplace baskets hung on hooks.

Make a habit of keeping the surface of your own storage bit clear, aside from fresh blossoms or a blooming orchid, stowing everything else at the drawers beneath — that way it will always seem new when guests pop by.

Alice Lane Home Collection

2. Keep one cabinet devoted to parties. Never be stuck with no birthday candles again! Pick one place for all things party related: cake plates, fancy teacups, candles and matches, serving trays, the works.

Extra credit:
Learn one fancy fold technique and keep a pile of freshly laundered and folded cloth napkins in the ready.

3. Stock a cart with entertaining essentials. A cart is excellent for holding everything from glassware and paper napkins to bottles of wine and boxes of cheese straws. Keep yours stocked with a couple of favorite things, and it’s going to be simple to create snacks and beverages for buddies in a moment.

Extra credit: learn to make a signature drink, and keep the recipe card tucked off on your own cart.

4. Stow additional seating under a console. An easy way to squeeze in a couple of extra seats in the living space is by tucking a set of poufs or stools beneath a console desk — close at hand when you want them but readily tucked away.

Lux Decor

5. Create long-lasting (or perhaps faux) arrangements. Fresh flowers and greenery can go a long way toward making a room feel festive. Master a couple of simple arrangements which just look like they took ages to collect. Try lining up a series of little square containers down the middle of your dining table, filled with short-cut blossoms stuck into floral foam for strength.

Or, for everlasting green, pick up some high-quality faux topiaries and place them on your buffet.

Kerrisdale Design Inc

6. Get in the habit of picking up flowers in the market. If making fussy arrangements worries you vow instead to keep things clean and simple. Pick up single-color blossoms (white is always posh) in the grocery store or farmer’s market and plunk them at any vase or pitcher you have got. Large flowers (such as hydrangeas) and booming branches offer you a lot of bang for the dollar.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

7. Keep a stash of elaborate hand towels and soap at a bathroom cabinet. Toilet a mess when guests arrive? Duck in for a moment and pull the shower curtain closed, wipe out the faucet and mirror, and then put out fresh towels and soap.

Su Casa Designs

8. Bypass the mess and host last-minute guests outdoors. When the weather is good, entertaining outdoors can be a wonderful alternative. To keep outside cushions from becoming damp and filthy, try storing them at a bench outdoors where they’re still handy but secure.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

9. Make your kitchen attractive, guests will want to hang out while you cook. We might not all be able to have a dream kitchen such as the one shown here, but there is obviously a way to take advantage of what you have. Consider rolling out a true rug on the ground, pull up a few cute stools into the island and be sure speakers are useful for turning on some music while you cook.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

10. Always be ready with presents and wrapping supplies. Instead of picking themed gift wrap, try picking up an assortment of solid colors, together with an enjoyable variety of ribbons and trims. That way you can produce a number of different appearances for any occasion, all with the very same supplies.

Extra credit: Store a couple of go-to presents together with your wrapping supplies, for all those times when you are caught by surprise. Attempt to have something appropriate for baby, child, housewarming and wedding.

Christina Marie Interiors

11. Stock up on stationery for all occasions. Thank-you notes, clean cards and birthday cards must see you through almost any note-writing crisis.

Extra credit: Order personalized stationery with your name or monogram, and use it for all.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

12. Decide on a single place to note important dates and to-dos. Write down birthdays and special occasions, and notice presents you have received, so you will remember to thank the giver.

Extra credit: Store a book of quotes or famous toasts together with your calendar — if you’re asked to talk at a wedding, then you may at least know where to start.

Chandos Interiors

13. Get your guest room ready in minutes. First of all, keep the mattress made so that you do not need to worry about that. Next, dedicate a shelf in your linen closet to storing guest room essentials, so that you just have to catch the whole stack and go. Consider adding: a new set of towels, slippers, a robe and a little basket of toiletries that are spare.

Bonus: Stock the bedside table with intriguing books, books, chocolates and a carafe of water.

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A Modern Renovation at a Colonial-Era Town

English colonists came in Hingham, Massachusetts, in 1633; hence, the majority of the town’s housing inventory is anything but modern. When these homeowners, who lived in a very traditional home in Hingham, adored their preferred town, the wife longed for a modern house. So when this midcentury house went on the market for a teardown using a water view, the household snapped it up.

“The house was in such poor shape that we can not even show several before films,” says architect Don DiRocco of Hammer Architects. (Though see below for just one.) But, his group’s design saved a huge part of the home while they tore down the darkened and dark parts which didn’t get the job done. Both the new and old segments were designed to create a light, bright atmosphere that took complete advantage of their harbor views. The new home has an awareness of entrance; an easy, open stream; and a fresh kitchen hub for gathering cooking, holding cooking classes and doing homework.

at a Glance
Who lives here: A household with 4 children in high school and school
Location: Hingham, Massachusetts
Size: 5 bedrooms, 4 baths
Year built: Original house, 1950s; renovation, 2010

Hammer Architects

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They tore down the old garage and built a new one, along with a brand new breezeway that connects it to the new principal doorway and helps specify an entrance courtyard. “Before, the entrance to the home was tucked around the back of the home and was hard to locate,” DiRocco says. Now “there is not any longer any confusion regarding where to enter the home.” The door on the right is a second entrance that contributes to a large mudroom with cabinets to your kids’ sports gear, coats and shoes.

Before Photo

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“The original home had a set of strange intersecting gable roofs which caused escapes,” says DiRocco. “They had a small spiral stairs into the roof set up, because they had to move up there and repair it so often.” The house’s problems gave the architects good ideas about what to do. It had been “quite dark and dreary; it had a great water view that it was not taking advantage of,” DiRocco says.

Hammer Architects

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The architects added a new kitchen, a brand new garage and entrance courtyard, along with a brand new master suite, and reconfigured existing spaces (view the programs at the end to get a precise idea of these modifications). The attached greenhouse found in the previous photo was donated and carted away. On the right side of the photo you can see the brand new screened-in porch and master suite.

Hammer Architects

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“Occasionally negative existing aspects such as these inspire the new design. We added glass wherever we could, and the home is now filled with natural light from large windows and clerestories,” DiRocco says. This corner is your master bedroom, in which 6- by 3-foot windows take full advantage of the view of Hingham Harbor.

Hammer Architects

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Around the corner from the garage, big windows make the most of the water views. Exterior doors from the office/fifth bedroom and the living room link to the patio.

Hammer Architects

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Translucent glass on the garage doors expands the Japanese lantern–such as glow of the house at night.

Garage doors: Clopay Avante

Hammer Architects

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Red cedar tongue and groove clapboard siding has a natural stain that may stand up to the sea air and harsh winter climate. The house is well insulated and works nicely in summer, too. “This home can really breathe,” DiRocco says. “They’ve air-conditioning, but they seldom need to turn it on.”

Hammer Architects

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Wood beams and a tongue and groove ceiling are original to the home.

While the clients desired stairs down to a basement family room to be a part of their space, they desired to partly hide them. “We did not have much wall space on the first floor, because we wanted to depart the views as open as possible, so this was a good opportunity to include shelves,” DiRocco says.

Floors: stained walnut

Hammer Architects

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The kitchen is a completely new part of the home and serves as the heart of the house. The wife was a well-known chef in Boston and had a large, workable kitchen in which she could do some serious cooking and also have enough room to hold courses. The household also desired a multipurpose space for spending time together.

Appliances: Thermador; counter stools: Ikea; cabinets: custom, Ted Franklin, Welfleet, Massachusetts

Hammer Architects

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“The kitchen serves as a fantastic hub in the house; all these corridors meet here, and it’s a significant gathering spot. The family is quite tight-knit, and the children do their homework at this table,” DiRocco says.

“The kitchen has a high volume which pops up 14 feet and has wonderful natural light all day,” he says. Clerestory windows bring in light from three sides.

Pendant lighting: Ikea; faucet: Grohe Minta; counters: Surrell solid design in Arctic White, Formica; ceiling: tongue and groove fir

Hammer Architects

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The kitchen glows like a lantern at night.

Hammer Architects

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The long dining/living room goes all of the way into a sitting/TV viewing area which leads out into the patio. This component of the home was spared from the initial structure. All the windows are fresh and are larger than the originals.

Hammer Architects

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The architects also rescued the original large chimney and hearth found on the left. While dreaming of moving out of their traditional home for their new modern house, the owners knew they’d be starting fresh with new minimalist decor and furnishings.

The doors at the end of the room result in a screened-in porch, with the master suite beyond it.

Before Photo

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BEFORE: This is the plan of the existing home when the architects were hired. While the neighborhood was an enclave of quite small midcentury modern homes, most of the original homes have been torn down and replaced with big homes on account of the prime views.

Hammer Architects

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AFTER: This is the brand new plan of this home as it is today. “This home is a anomaly in Hingham,” says DiRocco. “The kids’ friends absolutely love hanging out here, the family loves the design, they continue to be within walking distance from downtown Hingham and live near their schools.”

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Happy Clients Unwrap a New Home on Christmas

Project supervisor Ben Cervantes pushed especially difficult for the rapid completion of this Santa Barbara, California, remodel. “My customers lost their cherished home of 30 years at the 2008 wildfires, therefore our staff and, of course, architect Richard Warner wanted to come through for them by finishing this home remodel by Christmas Day,” says Cervantes. And come through they did — the customers not only came home to a finished house, but more important, to a home with a seamless indoor-outdoor link and an expansive grand room filled with natural light.

in a Glance
Who lives here: A sociology professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a graphic designer and illustrator
Location: Santa Barbara, California
Size: 2,400 square feet

Allen Construction

Cervantes and his staff removed the home’s existing wood siding and replaced it with noncombustible plaster. The stucco exterior departs from the home’s origins as a midcentury ranch home, a sacrifice the customers were eager to make for the interest of safety.

The team also eliminated other poor connections — places at the home where embers can burn off, such as wood veneer along with other combustible exterior substances.

Roofing: fiber cement, Monier

Allen Construction

A large pivoting door greets guests in the entrance and connects the interior with the outside.

Flooring: solid white walnut, Old Tyme Floor

Before Photo

Allen Construction

BEFORE: The home had limited windows which didn’t maximize its verdant views. Partway through the remodel, the customers’ daughter seen the home and proposed creating an expansive living room by opening the living area, dining area and kitchen.

“It changed the scope of the remodel — and the budget — but our customers are more than happy with the results,” says Cervantes.

Allen Construction

AFTER: NanaWall doors open the interior to the outside. Cervantes and crew ran the electrical wiring which has been previously stored in the interior wall at a fresh beam running the length of this room.

Armchairs, couch, coffee table: Restoration Hardware

Allen Construction

One of the most significant challenges of this project was finding a way to encourage the roof following the team removed a load-bearing wall between the kitchen and living area.

In the end, the team kept two of the steel columns, but they weren’t very pleasant to check out. “One of our carpenters suggested cladding the columns with 3/4-inch white walnut to match the floors and kitchen cabinetry,” Cervantes says. “For decorative flair, in addition, he proposed adding an oak plinth block in the column bottom.” The exposed beams and pillar accentuate the room’s expansiveness.

Dining table, chairs: Restoration Hardware

Allen Construction

“We refaced both present fireplaces with dark grey plaster, then turning them to focal points on opposite sides of the room,” says Cervantes.

Armchair, couch: Pottery Barn

Before Photo

Allen Construction

BEFORE: The old wall divided the kitchen from the dining area and living area.

Allen Construction

AFTER: The team utilized the customers’ present appliances but applied a few cosmetic changes: The refrigerator had been refaced with 1/4-inch walnut plywood to match the brand new cabinets, the stove hood has been painted and framed, and Ceasarstone countertops and custom cabinetry were installed to get a warm timber and white kitchen.

New low-e (low emissivity) glass skylights drench the kitchen with lots of light. The low-e skylights are more energy efficient than the previous Plexiglas skylights; they block heat gain, reduce heat loss through the skylight and let in a cozy flow of light.

Bar stools: Crate & Barrel

Allen Construction

When the customers left the home to visit their daughter on Christmas Eve, scaffolding and construction supplies were strewn throughout. The couple had already give up the notion of spending Christmas Day at a finished home — but little did they know that a Christmas miracle was awaiting them upon their return. They arrived back to a spotless home: The scaffolding was gone and the painting was finished.

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Boost Backyard Chickens Without Ruffling Neighbors' Feathers

A report in the New York Times tells the story of a Brooklyn community which has turned neighbor against neighbor — all because of this Warren-St. Mark’s community backyard decision to temporarily home eight hens. The chicken war between the urban farmers and longtime residents of this area brings up a problem: How can you maintain the peace while raising backyard chickens?

Photographer and chicken keeper Amy Renea says it starts with neighborly acts: advanced notice to neighbors and strategic coop placement go a long way in keeping the peace. She houses her chickens in a far corner lot on her property where neighbors can’t see, smell or hear the chickens when they’re cooped up. The hens roam free when they are released from the coop, and although they generally stick near her property, the cluckers sometimes drift to a neighbor’s lot. “We find the best way to fight any issues is using a giant basket of eggs every once in a while,” Renea says.

Here are additional strategies for keeping things neighborly.

Amy Renea

Keep neighbors informed. Lyanda Haupt, that has been keeping chickens for more than 12 years, sought her out neighbors’ ideas before building a coop in her Seattle lawn. “I told them about what we were planning to do and asked what they thought about it. Once people are informed, they will determine that real safety and health concerns are minimal,” she says.

Leslie Divoll did the specific opposite in her beachfront Florida community. She retains her coop a mystery since the neighbors complain at the drop of a hat, she says.

For Gwen Weerts, consulting neighbors about the left, right and right behind is essential, but she admits that living in the “crunchy” city (her description) of Bellingham, Washington, ensures that more people are supportive of agriculture. “I can see how urban areas without much exposure to small-scale agriculture could have these community flare-ups because of misinformation,” she says.

Check city ordinances. Kathy Siegel, that used to have a coop in Los Angeles, underscores the importance of adhering to city ordinances. “You don’t wish to be in the wrong when your pets’ lives are at stake. In L.A., they have ordinances that say no roosters could be maintained, that limit the hens to five only and dictate clear space minimums between the coop and your neighbor’s home,” says Siegel.

Most chicken keepers will tell you assessing ordinances can prove to be difficult when chickens are involved, since rules concerning chickens may fall under pet, noise or small livestock ordinances. “The Backyard Chickens website has a fantastic choice of city ordinances regarding domesticated fowl. I would check there,” says Weerts.

Amy Renea

Anticipate noise and odor issues. Although Divoll retains her coop a secret from her neighbors, she proposes having only hens in the coop for noise reduction. And if you keep cows or cows, more means more noise and odor; limit a backyard coop to five to make sure less noise. “I’d also strictly adhere to an odor-free practice,” she says. “It is very easy to do. Individuals who don’t pick up their pet’s poop have stinkier lawns compared to people who have chicken coops.”

Amy Renea

Strategize your coop’s location and design. Screen chickens from street perspective and from the perspective of neighbors’ dogs, which might become barking nuisances if they are not utilized to seeing chickens.

“Our neighbor didn’t wish to see that the coop, so we lowered our coop’s roof to them,” says Shannon Demma, that keeps chickens in Santa Cruz, California. “We maintain the coop in a completely enclosed lawn, so from the outside you don’t even know it is there. After watching us chickens, our neighbors now have their very own coops.”

Some chicken keepers purposely assemble coops without windows and lock their chickens in nightly. Haupt says they’re quieter in the dark, and that she doesn’t let them out until after 8% to maintain early-morning clucking from waking the neighbors.

Amy Renea

Know how to manage predators and rodents. Keeping a sterile coop reduces troubles, but occasionally leftover food onto the ground still can encourage mice — nothing which a cat can’t handle. “In an urban setting, I would definitely suggest daily crossing of any spilled or spilled food to avoid rodents,” says Amy Renea.

A high-security coop can defend chickens against predators, like skunks and raccoons. But keeping the area inside and outside the home clean ought to still be a high priority. The effort of keeping up a home is well worth it for these chicken keepers, who state that the cluckers are becoming part of their family. “My children play together; they supply wonderful fresh eggs; they eat our scraps and create compost for our backyard. We feel very blessed to have them,” says Demma.

“I feel like having a flock of hens harkens back to days when most folks had a vegetable patch, evenings were spent collectively on the porch and acquaintances spoke to one another over their fences,” says Weerts. “Chicken possession is an excellent reminder that we ought to go back to this”
Tell us Do you maintain backyard chickens? Please show us your coop and share your experience in the Comments below.

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The Scoop on Chicken Coops
Chicken Coops That Rule the Roost

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Get the Scoop

Selecting a new paint is kind of like choosing out a fresh toothpaste — they look the exact same but may massively differ in price. How do you know which one is right for your residence? Although the least expensive option may seem appealing, costlier paints are high quality and also come in much more vibrant colors.

We spoke with three paint professionals to get the scoop on which is the greater value.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Why is some paints better than others?

Each paint has the following ingredients, says Karl Schmitt, vice president of advertising research and design at Sherwin-Williams:
Pigment: The more pigment a paint has, the more it’ll retain its true colour. Binders: These hold the paint together and allow it to stick to several surfaces. Binders help paint resist blistering cracking and peeling. Liquids: High-quality paints have a higher ratio of solids (pigments and binders) to fluids. “The more liquid a paint has, the more it will vanish during the drying procedure, finally producing the demand for additional coats,” says Schmitt. Additives: Different ingredients that give the paint special properties, for example extra durability or mildew resistance.The ingredients of a paint affect colour as well as quality. “Higher-priced paints can occasionally offer more exceptional colors,” states Philip Storey of Redhill Painting. Some lines offer colors that can not be seen in other manufacturers’ palettes or replicated without high quality materials.

Why is a high quality paint?

For those who have used both high quality and not as expensive paints, the gap between the two is apparent. “Some cheaper paints look chalky or even more plastic-like,” says Storey. “Also, how the paint feels, or the’hand’ of the paintcan make a big difference aesthetically.” More expensive paints can be a lot easier to apply, hide imperfections better, last longer, have more vibrant colors and make washing easier — all because of the higher-quality ingredients in each batch.

If you’re looking for a single kind of paint that’s”the top,” it depends on what you’re searching for. The Paint Quality Institute evaluates paint on different qualities according to manufacturer. Some manufacturers are better at concealing flaws, some on flow and leveling, and many others on adhesion. Each manufacturer has its own particular balance of characteristics. If you want to play it safe, pick the top-quality item from the brand you’re interested in.

Still hesitant about paying the extra cash? Purchase samples of several distinct types of paint and see if you can tell the difference. “While a gallon of Fine Paints of Europe paint may cost you $40 a gallon, the policy will be exceptional, and you might have the ability to pay the surface fewer coats and extend the time between expensive future repaints,” says Storey.

Buying a fantastic paint won’t solve all your issues, though. “A fantastic paint job is only as good as the preparation,” says painter Alex Davison. “That will be roughly 60 percent of the work. A quick prep with the ideal paint won’t continue.”

Erica George Dines Photography

Can low-VOC ingredients make a difference in price?

Today, Environmental Protection Agency regulations ensure that paint businesses produce the majority of their product with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) content. Low-VOC paints used to cost more, but that’s not necessarily true now. Low VOC”is among the several elements in the formula of a paint product, and it’s the overall quality of ingredients and formula of these ingredients which affect the purchase price of the item,” says Schmitt.

Inform us: What would be your favourite paints to utilize? What’s your experience with different brands and price ranges?

More:
How to Paint Interior Walls
How to Use a House Painter

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