10 Contractor Scam Warning Signs

Natural disasters bring out the very best and the worst in people. Sad to say, the disorderly environment they produce is a prime setting for illegitimate builders, sometimes called “storm chasers” or “fly by night” contractors. “That is a vulnerable time for homeowners,” says Rick Lopes, chief of public affairs at the California Contractors State License Board. “Be very careful about giving somebody else too much electricity.”

After something really traumatic, it seems sensible that a homeowner would want things to return to normal as quickly as possible. Nonetheless, it’s important to take the time to find the appropriate person to perform the job correctly. Do additional research if something doesn’t feel appropriate. Be mindful, and you’re going to prevent scams and the builders who get jobs only when people are desperate.

Below are some key warning signs to search for.

Before Photo

Federal Emergency Management Agency

1. Lack of licensing. Request proof or look online at your state licensing board’s site to be certain a possible contractor has a permit to work on your region if a permit is necessary. (Find out about your state’s contractor licensing requirements here.) Lopes warns that builders coming door to door might not be from a local, based business, and many state licenses don’t allow builders to run in another state.

Of course, there is always a danger even with someone who’s licensed. “Just because someone has a permit and insurance doesn’t necessarily mean they will do the very best job,” says George “Geep” Moore, remodeler chairman at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “But it does mean they are a legitimate contractor and they are doing the right thing.”

2. Unbelievably low bids. Before hiring someone to fix up your home, you’re going to want to get no less than 3 bids on your job. “Have your choices in mind before you get your quotes,” says New Jersey contractor Lucy K.H. Kalian. The more details you can provide a contractor, the more likely it is that you are going to get a precise estimate. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) suggests using the very same specifications, materials and labor for each bid.

“If you buy a bid that is a lot less than others, there is usually a reason for this,” says Lopes. “The cheapest deal is seldom the best deal.” The contractor might be cutting corners, might not have insurance, might use bad substances or might pay employees under the table. Regardless, you do not want to get involved.

3. Requiring a massive deposit. Each state has different regulations regarding the amount a contractor can request an up-front deposit — it ranges from less than 10% to around 30 percent. Check your country’s law regarding contractor deposits before agreeing to pay an especially large amount up front.

4. No permanent place of business.
Not every contractor who might come knocking on your door is going to have scam — a few might have the abilities to repair your home, but they might not know how to deal with all the complications that come with a natural catastrophe and water damange. Be extra cautious and make certain that anybody who helps you following a natural catastrophe is qualified and state licensed. The NAHB advises that any contractor you work with should have a physical office (not only a P.O. box), a mailing address, a legitimate telephone number and an email address. This can help you find out if they are licensed and will ensure that you can contact them constantly.

Before Photo

Federal Emergency Management Agency

5. No contract. The judgment is unanimous — prevent anyone who says a contract is not necessary, particularly after a natural catastrophe. Make sure your contract summarizes specific work performed, materials used, a cost breakdown and a payment schedule. While a few smaller subcontractors might not work with contracts on a regular basis, the likelihood of a person getting taken advantage of in a crisis situation is high, so don’t take the risk. There are a lot of general contractors that specialize in smaller jobs, too.

6. No insurance. Every general contractor that you work with should have two kinds of insurance. General liability insurance guarantees that your property will be protected in case any damage happens during the job. Employee’s compensation insurance protects a general contractor’s employees in case they are injured on your property. Lopes advises requesting a possible contractor’s insurance policy number, then calling the insurance company to ensure the contractor has each single worker covered.

7. Inadequate references.
Get at least three references for each possible contractor and really check them. Ask about the standard of the job, how the job has stood up over time and also what it was like to work together with the person. “The second you see an inconsistency, you know [they are] a flake,” claims contractor Bill Reid of RemodelWest. Your insurance carrier can provide recommendations, but do not trust someone who shows up on your door stating they were shipped by your own insurance until you obtain confirmation from your claims adjuster. Do your research through external sources as well — local professional associations and the BBB can offer great insight.

Before Photo

Federal Emergency Management Agency

8. Special deals. Avoid anyone who offers you “special” pricing, particularly if you sign on the dotted line right then and there. You do not want to rush into an agreement until you know precisely what you’re getting yourself into.

9. Cash payments required beforehand.
“Your cash is your very best leverage,” says Lopes. Protect yourself and limit the sum of money that goes into a job prior to completion. The BBB suggests never paying money — notably beforehand. Moore indicates that you carefully record how you hand out your cash and get a receipt for each payment.

10. Mechanic’s liens. Legally, an unpaid contractor, subcontractor or provider can record a mechanic’s lien against your property, which can finally force the sale of the property in lieu of compensation. “it is a means for professionals to guarantee they get paid,” says Reid. Make sure you’ve got a listing of all the subcontractors, laborers and materials suppliers that your primary contractor will be using, and request proof that everyone was paid before releasing your final payment — otherwise you could be held responsible. Homeowners can wind up paying for equipment twice otherwise — both to a subcontractor and to a provider who ended up not being compensated by said subcontractor. “You can also compose a two-party check,” says Reid. “it is a small pain, however, your contractor will need to visit the provider so as to cash it.”

More: What to Look for in a Contractor’s Deal

Resource Guide: Recovering from Sandy

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Candy Adds a Sweet Design Touch

Who among us can resist the appeal of lemon drops, pinwheel suckers, chocolate kisses and other sweet somethings? Candy isn’t just a treat for the tongue; it’s a feast for the eyes as well. And though you may assume it’s appropriate only for kiddos’ rooms, there are approaches to give it a grown-up demeanor. Have a look at these sugary spaces for inspiration.

Laura Bendik Interiors

Sweet-tooth accents and a palette of advanced brights give this playroom/media space lots of child appeal. A cheery plot works especially well for a space which has little to no natural lighting.

Laura Bendik Interiors

Here is another view of the exact same room. Actual lollipops ordered as decorative beams, and oversize toy balls in apothecary jars, execute the theme.

Isolina Mallon Interiors

Subtle sucker-print wallpaper feels youthful but not juvenile. It can transition to the tween years without missing a beat.

Branca, Inc..

There’s the restrained approach to candy-theme decor, like this peppermint-stripe bedding …

… and then there’s full-on sugar shock. This sweets-studded nursery takes its inspiration from some giant mural of the classic Candyland board game on one wall.

Look closer: Jars of sweets on the dresser pick up the rainbow colours in the mural, a smart and affordable accent (at least before the baby is old enough for them to become choking hazards). The mirror reveals a candy cane ceiling therapy.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

This distance takes precisely the exact same tactic in an entirely different direction: Jars of green and yellow candies on the coffee table enhance the palette and add a lighthearted touch.

UncommonGoods

Unzipped Glass Zipper Bag – $16.25

I love this cheeky spin on the traditional candy jar: a zipper-lock bag left in glass.

Etsy

Candy Child Art by Simply Bunch – $56

Sweet treats elegance a darling quartet of prints for a young child’s room.

1stdibs

French Red Ticking Pillows

These ticking pillows remind me of peppermint drops. They’d look just right in a French-inspired cottage.

Bridal Elements

Love Letter Ceramic Dishes – $5.95

You can hang these letter dishes on the wall, or you might fill them with candies and arrange them on your own coffee table. Which one sounds like more fun?

“Candy Twenty Five Cents” Framed Print – $432.37

This print has a hipster vibe which will blend well with an industrial-style space.

Pink Fabric With Candy by Robert Kaufman – $8.38

Would not this dainty fabric make a cute throw pillow or Roman shade for a nursery?

Terrain

Candy Cane Mug – $14

Sipping tea or coffee from a candy-striped mug couldn’t help but begin your day on a bright note.

Jonathan Adler

Gumball Jar – $48

Need a stylish vessel for storing your favorite treats? This one would fit the bill. It would be cute for bathroom sundries too.

Etsy

820-Thread-Count Lollipop Total Duvet Cover Set – $186

Sweet! A lollipop-print duvet cover and shams lend a little levity to a modern space.

VivaTerra

Puffball Pouf – $198

This ottoman appears to be covered in tiny gumballs. What kid (or kid at heart) can resist?

Etsy

Nostalgic Candy Coasters – $15

If you are nostalgic for old-school candies, these coasters are the next greatest thing.

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15 Ways to Cozy Up a Kitchen With Granite Design

“Worn,” “distressed,” “rough hewn” — these are not the first words that come to mind when we think of kitchens now. While crisp white cabinets, polished nickel hardware and beautiful marble countertops are on trend nowadays, a rustic kitchen may always supply the relaxation of a piping hot bowl of macaroni and cheese on a chilly night. More words that explain the look are “well worn,” “patinated,” “antiqued,” “homey” and “reclaimed.” See if you want to try out any of these ideas to cozy up your kitchen.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Light a flame. The priciest comfy element in a kitchen is a toasty hearth. While including a full fireplace is a big intervention, today’s woodstoves and fireboxes don’t require a significant renovation.

Learn about clean-burning woodstoves

Teton Heritage Builders

Shop beyond the typical appliance options. Standard black, white and stainless steel appliances may remove from the rustic look. Appliances today come in a range of colors and cabinet-front options that will not detract from the cozy atmosphere.

The Workshops of David T. Smith

Look to classic precedents for inspiration. A combination of cabinets that are distressed, curly maple counters, a worn farmhouse dining table, a metallic candle chandelier and a soapstone sink make me believe Ma Ingalls will come around the corner along with her famous sourdough bread.

Highline Partners

Choose elements that show their age. Rough-hewn wood beams and a slate flooring give this kitchen a rustic look from top to bottom. In between, cabinetmakers repurposed the green cabinets via an antique hutch.

Watch the rest of this Home

Peter Vitale Photography

Pay attention to design. A brick arch, stone wall, wood ceiling and recessed range plus exposed rafters pull together to give this kitchen a European country-house look. Details help also; the bull’s head sculpture is from a classic French butcher’s shop.

Slifer Designs

Pair wood finishes with warm colors. This rich reddish island helps tie together the Oriental runners, wood countertops, ceiling coffers and cabinets. Copper pendants add shine and patina.

Birdseye Design

You (almost) cannot have too much wood. You’ll be able to utilize wood from floor to cabinets to ceiling, just make sure you break it up a bit with countertops and a backsplash of a different material. Notice how the space between the upper cabinets and the ceiling adds contrast and definition.

Bruce Kading Interior Design

Add vintage-style touches. A reclaimed sink, an enamel cooker and old-fashioned cabinet latches give this kitchen a lot of its classic charm.

Witt Construction

Consider a rustic wall treatment. This kitchen walls have been painted to give the illusion of texture and age.

Michelle Fries, BeDe Design, LLC

Consider reclaimed wood for your countertops. A couple of coats of polyurethane will keep wood countertops protected from spills and rotting. If you’re renovating an older home, look in the attic for beautiful old floorboards to utilize for countertops.

Watch more tips for wood countertops in the kitchen

Use barn lighting. Gooseneck pendants and barn sconces add a rural sense. This kitchen also has a copper sink, another traditional rustic touch.

Legacy DCS

If you’re afraid a rustic kitchen will probably be too dark, forgo upper cabinets for windows to allow in the light.

Andrea Bartholick Pace Interior Design

Add a cozy spot for collecting and eating foods. Dining from the kitchen is just one of the coziest items that you can do, no matter what your kitchen’s style. It doesn’t matter if it’s a little dining table, a large island or an integrated breakfast nook.

Decor Island

Mico Single Lever Kitchen Faucet With Side Spray – $570

Explore different finishes. This faucet has a mahogany bronze finish; check out options like classic brass, unlacquered brass, architectural bronze, antique copper and shiny brass.

chas architects

Bring in fabrics. You can go for upholstered counter stools or kitchen seats, chair cushions, rugs and tablecloths.

Marcelle Guilbeau, Interior Designer

A rustic kitchen doesn’t need to be dark. You can combine your light-colored-kitchen fantasies with rustic components like reclaimed wood on the staircase or countertops, exposed ceiling beams and a hardwood flooring. This kitchen has a transitional look that brings from the best of the two styles.

More: 20 of the Coziest Kitchens About

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Guest Groups: Shower Curtains Make a Splash

I must admit, I favor a glass enclosure over a shower curtain, but a few homeowners have no other choice except to use a single. If you need to use a shower curtain, then make it a beautiful one! Below are a few of my favorites that are certain to beautify almost any toilet. — Jami from Imagine Design Website

Bed Bath & Beyond

Echo Design™ Jaipur Fabric Shower Curtain – $39.99

Here is just another paisley for you! I can’t help it I have been so attracted to this publish recently. The dim primary colors of this curtain make it quite eye catching, and it would go best with a gentle backdrop — maybe light blue walls with cream cabinetry. For drama, I would accessorize with crimson and coral towels.

IKEA

UDDGRUND Shower Curtain – $9.99

If you don’t understand yet, my favorite color combination is black and white. Basically anything black and white is going to catch my attention, but what I really like about this curtain is that the design and the pattern aren’t too “in mind” This is quite subtle and beautiful, yet it makes a big impact.

Marimekko

Yhdessa Shower Curtain – $69

What I enjoy about this shower curtain (apart from it being black and white) is that the graphic nature of the daring pattern. It’s not typically something I’d source for my customers, but I appreciate its artistic attributes.

Goal

Paisley Shower Curtain

This shower curtain is just sweet. The color palette is soft, and the paisley pattern says nothing but “girlie” to me personally. I would love to find this in a small girl’s bath with soft pink or yellow walls and white cabinetry.

Anthropologie

Sechura Shower Curtain – $128

This is such a serene shower curtain. I like the watercolor impact that it’s in its stripes. It’s not too rigid and formal, but has a much more loose and flowing vibe. It would be perfect for a toilet by the shore.

Urban Outfitters

Peacock Shower Curtain – $49

I have had a long time love affair with the peacock, so this guy had to make my listing. I am actually loving the soft color palette of this curtain. It’d be beautiful paired with classic white subway tile as the shower surround. Again, this is just another one for the women.

Etsy

Standard Tub Shower Curtain Premier Decorator by Maison Boutique – $95

There are a whole lot of chevron curtains out there today, but what I enjoy about this Etsy store is the fact that it supplies a wide array of colors to choose from. Of course, if it were for my house, I would choose the black and white.

Restoration Hardware

Diamond Matelassé Shower Curtain – $89

Following is a more sophisticated, mature selection for a shower curtain choice. The gray diamond pattern is classic and cool, and it will be a great complement to the vast majority of bathrooms.

Etsy

Vibrant Cornflower Yellow and White Traditions Damask by Home Lush – $119

You can’t ever go wrong with a damask. I love this bright and cheery curtain. I think it would perk up any dull space in a rush. It would be a knockout in a black and white toilet.

West Elm

River Rock Shower Curtain – $39

This is a unique pattern on a shower curtain, and that I enjoy it. It’s very natural with the river stone design. A spa-like environment would be best for this curtain, as the soft blue-green color is quite serene.

Ballard Designs

Monogrammed Classic Shower Curtain – $149

This is one of my favorites. I am loving the black and white and also the simplicity of the wide black band at the base. Plus, anything monogrammed is cool in my book. This might look good in a traditional-style toilet.

Crate&Barrel

Marimekko Kivet Black Shower Curtain – $59.95

Holy cow! Here is a few more black and white to you. Polka dots make me grin. I enjoy this curtain since it’s daring in its pattern, yet it’s not too flashy. It kind of reminds me of Twister. This would be cool in a teenager’s bathroom with vivid pink walls to get a girl and bright blue or green walls to get a boy.

CB2

Splish Splash Shower Curtain – $39.95

Very easy, very artsy and extremely hip, this curtain has a sense of humor that I like. It’s unique, which makes me want to utilize it even more.

Pottery Barn

Spring Sparrow Shower Curtain – $49

This shower curtain has a wonderful vintage vibe about it. I adore the colorful birds and the natural green and brown branches. A farmhouse or country-style toilet would be perfect for this curtain.

Pottery Barn

Matine Toile Shower Curtain – $69

What is an ideabook without some toile? I am loving this timeless pattern and how it comes in three distinct colors. This is just another perfect alternative for this country-style toilet, especially when paired with a claw-foot tub.

Kohl’s

Zen Leaf Shower Curtain – $29.99

This is a beautiful shower curtain. The black blended with the gray and white is a sophisticated palette, but then it’s punched up with a pop of crimson. I enjoy that the routine is rather large and takes up most of the panel.

Amazon

Popular Bath “Sinatra Silver” Shower Curtain – $29.45

Bling Bling! Add some sparkle and pizzazz to a bathroom with this shimmery, silver curtain. I am a fan of anything that sparkles, and this is a real eye catcher. I would keep the rest of the toilet in subdued and silent finishes, just so that you don’t feel like you’re inside a disco ball.

Overstock.com

Laura Ashley ‘Yardley’ 72-inch Shower Curtain – $34.99

What is more beautiful than Laura Ashley? For real. This is the best complement to some little girl’s toilet. The soft palette of pink, gray and white is as sweet as a Siamese kitty.

Cost Plus World Market

Grey/Coral Ikat Shower Curtain – $29.99

I just love Ikat. It’s basically my preferred print. There’s just something so tribal and unique about it. This curtain is stylish and beautiful in style. The gray and coral supply good contrast, and you get a lot of bang for your dollar with this curtain.

Urban Outfitters

Romantic Floral Scarf Shower Curtain – $44

Bam! Here is some color for you. I love this shower curtain. I am partial to floral prints, and the bigger and bolder they get, the better they are. This one is pretty and romantic. I’d source this to any bachelorette.

Next: Uncramp Your Small Bathroom

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5 Foolproof Measures for Brand New Fall Tablescapes

Instead of having the same setup of fruit and candles on your dining table this fall, get creative with what you have in your house. You are able to make a fundamental tablescape with fresh produce, flowers (or weeds!)) From your backyard and a kitchen provides. Try out re-creating the autumn arrangement I created here or use it to inspire your own thoughts.

Amy Renea

1. Start with a foundation group. Collect your materials, keeping them easy and centered around one to three colors.

Amy Renea

With this arrangement, I decided on a trio of fall colors — red, yellow and orange.

You don’t have to use everything you gather. Simply because you have it does not mean that it has to be part of the final arrangement. Edit, edit, edit!

Amy Renea

2. Evaluate your natural materials and their limits. Once you’ve got a set of objects that fit your colour scheme, inspect the natural materials to see what they can do and if they have limits. For instance, the bittersweet I used for this arrangement develops in intertwined braids with stems at 90-degree angles.

Amy Renea

What did that mean for the layout? Well, braided spans of bittersweet create a perfect circular wreath, so I used that as my starting point.

Amy Renea

The stems’ 90-degree angles also ordered how I used the plant. I can’t place long stems of bittersweet in vases the way I would do with a normal cut flower, so the plant required to be utilised in another way.

Amy Renea

3. Produce a focused base. I tied my blossom into a wreath, securing the ends with a little twine, and centered it in my table. Under the wreath I put a simple runner which works nicely with the period of the rustic wood plank.

See how to make a easy burlap runner

Amy Renea

The loop shouted out for a round piece to fill its void. An orange pitcher put in the middle started to set the point.

Amy Renea

4. Balance the simple structure of this arrangement. Use any two items in your colour palette to balance out the arrangement. Keep the heights of the items slightly staggered for interest. I created a group of three with the centre pitcher. You’ll want to stick with odd numbers when balancing your tablescape. If your arrangement needs to have staying power for many weeks, stick to kitchen products, ornamental accents or long-lasting winter produce.

Amy Renea

5. Sprinkle! The final measure: Sprinkle your closing colour throughout the arrangement, bulking up different areas to add balance. In this case, I used simple but striking pimiento peppers.

Amy Renea

Whether you would like to look for a tablescape, a mantel arrangement or a beautifully loaded wheelbarrow by the front door, these basic steps can help you get your arrangement correctly:

• Stick to one to three colors
• Feature natural materials
• Produce a centre
• Balance the structure’s visual weight and colour

Inform us What is your go-to fall centerpiece? Share a photo in the Remarks!

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Fix: How to Patch a Drywall Hole

Homes, even beautifully designed ones, receive their fair share of abuse through the years. Unsightly holes from fix jobs gone wrong, rough and tumble children or those pesky doorknobs can detract from your beautiful home you’ve created. While seemingly daunting, many small- to medium-size holes require little time to fix, and the repair could be done by the many novice handyman (or woman) — getting the home back into become the envy of the cube.

Meg Padgett

BEFORE: This 2-inch divot out of a wayward hammer stroke was in a visible place just beneath the mounting hardware of ourMoen Glenshire Pivoting Mirrorand in desperate need of being patched. Here’s how you can fix holes in your drywall, just like we did.

Meg Padgett

AFTER: You would never know there was a gap next to the mirror’s components.

Materials:

• Self-adhesive wall patch
• Spackle or nonshrink drywall joint compound
• Wide putty knife
• Sanding block
• Metal shears

Meg Padgett

Smooth the surface, removing any chunks of shingles. Then clean and dry the area.

Remove the self-adhesive wall patch out of the package, measure the hole and cut on the patch to size or into the form of the pit. Cut the mesh along with the thin galvanized steel plate individually. The steel plate needs to be slightly bigger than the gap, and the mesh needs to be slightly bigger than the steel plate.

Place the patch over the hole and smooth the net onto the surface of the wall. Worried that the patch will create a bulge in the wallsocket? The slim patch is unnoticeable after proper feathering of this spackle or joint compound. Feathering refers to the action of tapering the fix from the top center into the wall around it with a wide putty knife.

Notice: Larger holes often need to be patched with drywall, which might require additional support behind it, like a 2-by-4. The drywall ought to be trimmed to fit snugly inside the pit. Tape and sand the seam to finish. For smaller holes you’ll be able to bypass the patch and only fill the gap with spackle.

Meg Padgett

Apply a thin, even coat of joint compound or spackle into the patched hole by holding the broad putty knife at about a 30-degree angle and pulling it toward you. Feather the spackle or combined compound out from the center to the exterior.

Permit the spackle or combined compound dry completely before proceeding.

Meg Padgett

Once the area is dry, sand it until everything is smooth and apply another coat or spackle or joint compound. Repeat until the patched area is totally covered and no longer detectable.

Meg Padgett

After the final coat of joint compound or spackle has dried, sand the surface and wash it clean. If necessary, apply texture into the wall for a seamless finish. Homax Spray Texture dries fast and makes the procedure practically error proof with customizations for the size and policy.

Eventually, prime and paint the surface.

Notice: Depending on your sheen of paint, then you might need to paint the whole wall rather than just the freshly patched region. Low-sheen paint usually rolls up better than higher-sheen paint, whereas fresh coats of shiny paint tend to be shinier than the original, making the fix much more noticeable.

Meg Padgett

Together with our gap patched, our bathroom is back to being Street of Dreams grade — or at the very least worthy of a trip from the in-laws.

More rapid home fixes

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A Family Home Grows and Gets a New Face

‘I give a lot of the aesthetic credit to my clients. They put their heart and souls into this job,” says residential designer Leigha Heydt. They added 705 square feet, redesigned the floor plan and altered all the prominent architectural attributes, Heydt states. “When they discovered this home, it was an obsolete, modern lodge-style home with two bedrooms and 2 baths which had not been updated since the 1980s. They purchased the home planning to enlarge it and change it into something they loved; they wanted a comfortable but beautiful family home.”

at a Glance
Who lives here: A family with 3 children and a fourth on how
Location: Mill Valley, California
Size: 2,700 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths

Heydt Designs

Heydt clarifies the new style of the home as with Craftsman shingle style and Spanish colonial influences outdoors, with modern elements inside.

This home doesn’t have much of a garden, so the owners treat their front yard like a garden. There is a patio off the kitchen to the right.

Before Photo

BEFORE: This is your front facade before the redesign; its massing seemed disjointed, as did the obsolete architectural components.

Heydt Designs

This entry foyer, the full family space, part of the living area and the breakfast nook are a part of the new addition to the first floor.

Heydt Designs

The foyer includes a side and a casual side, which offers a spot for sitting, removing one’s shoes and stashing them under the window seat — a smart design movement for a family with young children.

Heydt Designs

The relaxed, light floors throughout the home are an engineered, prefinished product by Navarre; the top layer is actual bamboo. The colour is called Montauban.

Heydt Designs

Heydt Designs

An over-the-mantel TV is concealed by an antiqued mirrored cabinet. Its panes offer a link to the curved windows used on the house’s facade.

Heydt Designs

Zoning regulations prohibited a picture window which Heydt had initially intended for the wall in which the hutch is, therefore inside designer Benjamin Dhong created the concept of the blue and white accent wall. “It was a great alternative as a desperately desired focal point,” states Heydt.

Dining room pendant: Goodman Hanging Lamp by Thomas O’Brien

Heydt Designs

While Heydt designed the design of these appliances, the corner as well as the windows, the spouse, her mother-in-law (a kitchen designer who lived on the East Coast) and interior designer Dhong and layout adviser Matthew MacCaul Turner chose it from there.

An oversized necklace brings the attention to the middle of the space, lending balance. Cabinet-front panels camouflage the fridge, while bright yellowish industrial counter stools add sunny color.

Heydt Designs

The spouse picked the elegant Calacatta Oro marble countertops. “She’s great flavor, and that made a massive difference with the project,” states Heydt.

A white subway tile backpsplash and glass-front cupboard doors reflect the light and brighten the windowless wall of the kitchen.

Pendant mild: Victorian Hotel Pendant, Restoration Hardware

Heydt Designs

The built-in breakfast nook enjoys a lot of natural light, thanks to the expansive windows and transoms. There is storage beneath the banquette.

The kitchen conveniently opens to front patio, in which the family loves to enjoy meals al fresco.

Heydt Designs

This cozy family room demonstrates that comfortable rooms should not be vast. Smart custom cabinetry and media storage store things from looking cluttered.

The area opens to front porch, a part of Heydt’s careful placement of chambers in relation to the outdoor spaces. “The link to the landscape was quite intentional. The site is quite beautiful, with large, old-growth redwood trees. We wanted to be certain that you feature the house’s connection to the site via the use of strategically placed windows and glass French doors,” states Heydt. Therefore, the family room opens to the front porch, the kitchen opens to the patio, and the bedrooms have private balconies that love views of the top parts of the yard.

Heydt Designs

A jewel box of a powder room joys having a blue faux-bois wall covering and also a perspective outside instead of a mirror. A Chinese garden blossom and smoky foo dogs include Far Eastern flair.

Heydt Designs

The upstairs hall is an ideal example of the new and old combinations seen throughout the home. It features a traditional console table, a classic architectural element, a contemporary drum shade and crisp white walls.

“The present upstairs bedrooms needed vaulted ceilings with triangular windows in the upper parts of the gables,” states Heydt. “Since we eliminated the triangular windows for style reasons, we replaced them with curved windows to finish the look of the new aesthetic. We still wanted windows up there, and circular windows tend to look the very best in a triangular space.”

Heydt Designs

Another dynamic wallpaper accent adds a jolt of vivid colour without overpowering the girls’ bedroom. The space is a brand new mixture of Victorian and contemporary pieces, such as painted Victorian twin beds plus a Swedish contemporary wicker pendant.

Heydt Designs

“We added the balcony to the girls’ space to complement the master bedroom patio and also to make an outdoor architectural element within the breakfast nook,” states Heydt.

Heydt Designs

The guest bath is clean and modern. Boston Library Lights are an unexpected and clever choice for bathroom lighting.

Tip: A vanity on a base like this one or attached to the wall may make a modest bathroom feel much more spacious.

Heydt Designs

The bedroom is based upon the cathedral ceiling’s beam. It also has a private balcony which overlooks the front yard.

“The rooms are extremely streamlined, but the home feels more spacious than it actually is due to the tall, vaulted ceilings, both the windows and the glass doors,” states Heydt.

Heydt Designs

The master bedroom, master bath, kids’ bath and guest bath were a part of the new addition upstairs. The vaulted ceiling, natural light and soft hues of the master bath make it look much larger than it actually is.

Heydt Designs

The space combines elegant finishes and streamlined accessories with the occasional antique, like the dressing table chair along with the urn, and having the eclectic Moravian star pendant light. The result is one each parent of four children deserves, a relaxing and serene area.

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On Trend: 10 Ways to Dip Dye

Would you love traditional lines and classic shapes, but still want a dash of something unexpected? The fashion is for you. Taking last year’s zest for multipurpose ombre treatments to a subtler place, dip-dyed furnishings and accessories bring a tiny dash (or dip) Of the unexpected to the standard types we love.

Vertigo Home LLC

UM Project Milking Stool – $375

Keep the dip-dyed fashion bright and refreshing with those milk stools — wouldn’t they be adorable around a snowy parson’s table in a children’s playroom?

Anthropologie

Windsor Love Seat – $1,498

This might be the most upgraded piece of Shaker-style furniture you will ever find. A loveseat such as this would bring a fresh breath of sea-salty air to a modern beach bungalow.

LA CLINICA Designs

Comodino

The ease of the side table causes it to be versatile — sidle it next to your bed or an armchair, and you have got fashionably convenient storage as well as a room for coffee.

Take your favorite table, dining table, stools or chairs and create your own dip-dyed look with a favorite paint colour, as revealed on Design Sponge.

Ashes & Milk

White Dipped Spoons – $10

With an extra layer of dip-dyed protection, all these wooden spoons deserve pride of place in your counters, or hung on a wall to display their beauty and their function.

Dip-dyed effects are most striking when combining a bright colour and a pure material — such as these raw timber blocks. What a striking conversation piece at the end of your couch.

Dip Dye Salad Bowls – $56

Bring two trends together at once: a pop of a dash of dip yarn. Add these dipped bowls to a tablescape of whites and neutrals to stand out in the crowd.

Organic Blue Dip-Dye Bag – $68

Even your accessories can add a punch of colour that is simple. Keep this bag in the entrance for quick trips to the store. When it’s not being used, it appears stunning sitting near an entry table.

Design Within Reach

Midas Collection Glasses – $50

Prefer the Midas touch when it comes to accessories? Add some decadence to every meal using a gold-dipped vase gracing your table. Keep it from going over the top by filling it with a very simple arrangement of wild flowers or daisies.

More ways to utilize gold in your Property

Dip-Dye Linen Cotton Blend Duvet Cover – $111

It’s difficult to find modern bedding that is not overwhelmed with patterns or even crying with colours. This subdued dip-dyed set from West Elm exudes the calming influence of a warm, cozy night.

DIY Project:
See the way to dip-decorate a terrarium

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Modern, Staggered Montreal House

This multilevel family home designed by architect Natalie Dionne is unlike its neighbors in lots of ways. For starters, the floors in the home are staggered on either side of a central atrium that divides the home into two components: front and rear. The skeletal foundation linking the levels is also exceptional: It’s a staircase which exudes natural walnut and steel and causes a terrace on the upper floor and a mezzanine level. The resulting home is sleek and cool, energized and heated by a top-floor skylight that matches every degree with natural light.

in a Glance

Who lives here: A creative couple who work in theater, film and television, and their kids
Location: Montreal, Canada
Size: 3,229 square feet

Natalie Dionne Architecture

Models in these photographs (shot before the family moved in) remind us that the home belongs to a family with teenage kids, that will easily belly around the island counter table and love the informality of pub stool dining. The swanlike commercial tap is the centerpiece — and hardest-working part — of the contemporary kitchen.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

Floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding doors shape an easy connection between outdoor and indoor living spaces; they also ensure that light floods the distance, giving the polished concrete floors a gorgeous sheen. Flush cabinetry communicates the walls.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

This photograph shows the house’s staggered layout. A magenta Fatboy beanbag gives a rare splash of colour in an otherwise neutral interior palette.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

Black molded Eames seats with contrasting wood thighs cast dramatic shadows. The black-on-black dining area installation against the white and gray room reflects the sleek spirit of the remainder of the home.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

The steel used in the window and door frames, the table foundations as well as the outside facade is carried out in a staircase which links each degree.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

Art fills what would otherwise be white space. The art compels us to look up to the skylight, the focal point of this vertical plane.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

The staircase mixes steel and walnut. The contrast of espresso and ebony tones is gorgeous, with the steps resembles art installations.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

Wide sliding doors expand the bedroom space, allowing light to enter and adding a lot of intrigue to the expansive opposing walls.

Here, the sliding door partially divides the bedroom (at left of image) from the hallway. When the doors are closed, the distance allows for privacy and contemplation.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

When the doors are closed, the bedroom is totally separated from the outside. One of the other sliding doors in the hallway opens up into a bathroom as polished and contemporary as the dwelling spaces.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

Partially windows provide plenty of privacy in the bath. The vanity mirror slides, showing more storage space for toiletries and daily requirements.

Natalie Dionne Architecture

The house’s rear entrance is as unassuming and contemporary as the interiors. It’s marked with a marine-grade plywood alcove stained an espresso colour and appears to escape in the home.

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