Innholdsfortegnelse for April - May 2016 i Cottages and Bungalows

AFTER MY LAST DOCTOR’S APPOINTMENT I GOT A CALL ABOUT MY ANNUAL PHYSICAL LAB RESULTS. The call alone was enough to scare me. Each year, my checkup comes and goes uneventfully (thankfully). “We’ll call you if there’s anything unusual,” they say. A call never comes. “See ya next year.” But this time, just a few days after my appointment, a call came. My heart quivered a bit. What could it be? I thought to myself as I anxiously dialed the office. The answer was vitamin D deficiency. Eh? That’s a thing worth a call from the lab? But dutifully I picked up a prescription for a few doses high enough to get me back on track, and the doctor’s orders were go outside. I felt bad that I needed a…

LEAP FROG These vintage flower frogs can get a new lease on life in your home office. Reuse the grid style as pen and pencil holders, and the spiked versions are great for holding photos and notes. 1. PLANTING STYLE An outdoor potting rack makes a wonderful indoor display shelf or étagère. Paint the metal for a smoother finish, or leave it chippy for a rustic look. 2. WORK IT Reinvent a shabby old ladder as a place for storing indoor elements such as scarves and hats for your bedroom, or try one in the bathroom for a vintage-inspired way to store extra towels. Wash, sand, wax and seal it before use to avoid snags and splinters. 3. FROM BATH TO GARDEN This tiered birdbath doesn’t stray too far from…

1. Old distillery barrels get a new lease on life in your garden with these reclaimed-wood planters. Reclaimed whiskey barrel planter, $50. (888) 365-0056 or uncommongoods.com. 2. Made from heavy-gauge steel coated with galvanized zinc, this watering can sports two handles, ensuring perfect balance and effortless watering. Traditional Peter Rabbit Design Watering Can, $88.75. (866) 530-4155 or hayneedle.com. 3. Take your pool party to the next level with this terrifically tangerine outdoor sectional. Add powerful pops of color with accent pillows in bright white and orange. Maya modular sectional in orange, $3197. (800) 301-9720 or roomandboard.com. 4. Give vines an elegant place to climb with this stately garden obelisk. 7’ powder-coated steel garden obelisk in antique copper, $59.95. (800) 494-7544 or plowhearth.com. 5. Travel to the Far East without ever…

Flowers may bloom overnight, but your home décor certainly doesn’t. Sometimes, it takes a while for your dream space to blossom. When Lieve Saether from Turnstyle Interior Design met with the owners of a neocolonial house in Austin, Texas, they were on the brink of moving. Frustrated with the house’s layout and design, the Franks, a family of four, were ready to start from scratch in a new residence. However, Lieve knew that the fresh look they needed could be achieved right within the home’s existing shell, and that renovations and styling could give it a stunning second life. “We were given the opportunity to help them see differently, and now they love it long-term and plan to stay to raise their family,” Lieve says. “They really gave us the…

“...WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO COORDINATE WITH THE ADJACENT ROOMS TO MAKE THEM FEEL LIKE THEY FLOWED TOGETHER,” LAURA SAYS. “BY USING SIMILAR COLORS AND TEXTURES, WE CAME UP WITH A COHESIVE LOOK.” There are multiple considerations when adding a swing to your porch. If you’re planning to hang it, consult the experts to make sure it's done properly and safely. You may also want to consider purchasing a glider or framed swing to minimize the installation concerns. Regardless of the type of swing you purchase for your porch, placement is key. “Consider what the view looks like when you sit in the swing,” Laura says. “Do you want to look at your neighbor’s house or the street? Do you have a landscape feature that you admire, or maybe you…

Turn plastic Easter eggs into a year-round décor accent by painting them with chalk paint in muted tones. Display them in bowls, on tabletops and in other decorative vignettes for an earthy chic look. Whether you’re displaying hand-decorated eggs or showing off an egg’s natural beauty, try using egg cups, juice glasses, footed glasses, salt cellars and small bowls as well as ready-made egg stands to vary height and visual interest. Use extra-large eggshells, blown out and dried; then paint them with acrylic color or dip them in a dye bath. Carefully remove the top third of the shell. Add tealight candles to make “candles on the half shell,” and set them atop egg cups before lighting. For more about “Candles on the Half Shell,” “Watercolor Vines in Grass,” and…

LINING. Over time. metal in contact with water will rust. If you want your planter to look aged, then a little rust won't matter. If not, you'll want to line your container with a sturdy plastic sheet to protect it from the moisture. DRAINAGE. Most plants will rot if their roots sit in water. If your container doesn't have holes in the bottom. add a layer of small stones or pea gravel to the bottom of the container before you add dirt. This should help the water drain down without sitting in the soil. FERTILIZER. Plants need nutrients in the soil, and those in containers are no different. Make sure you add fertilizer to the container as often as your plants need-this will vary depending on the species. SUCCULENT SPECIFIC-DON’T…

Wallpaper is an easy way to change up the look of a space, but many people shy away from it for fear that it will be too much or look old-fashioned. Wallpaper is still a great décor choice—the trick is to make it look fresh and modern instead of stuffy and outdated. Here are a few tips. USE BRIGHT COLORS. This floral print by Thibaut Design employs vivid pinks, blues and yellows against a pale aqua background. Notice, however, that the whole pattern doesn’t have to be bright to give a fresh feel to the room. The pastel aqua complements the brighter floral pattern. OFFSET THE WALLPAPER WITH WHITE. The wallpaper in this breakfast room doesn’t reach all the way to the floor. Instead, white panels with a border of…

WORD OF ADVICE: START WITH A UNIFORMLY SHAPED CONTAINER TO MAKE FITTING THE FABRIC SLEEVE EASIER. IT’S SPRING-TIME for fresh flowers and redolent roses in the house. How about a new vase to go with them? In her new book Raw Crafts: 40 Projects for hemp, jute, burlap and cork, Denise Corcoran explores the raw materials that give a fun and personal style to craft projects. “The use of natural fibers in your DIYs, especially restyling discarded items, is an exciting way to explore your creative side,” Corcoran says. One such material is jute. “Jute comes from the stem and ribbon (outer skin) of the jute plant,” Corcoran says. “It’s affordable and easy to find in craft, dollar or hardware stores.” Deck out your house with a new upcycled vase;…

ATTENTION ALL NON-GREEN THUMBS: MOTHER NATURE HAS A PLANT FOR YOU. Tillandsias, commonly known as air plants, require no soil, no pot even, and very little water. In fact these spiky, fuzzy little plants with their spectacular and sometimes peculiar shapes feel more like living sculptures than anything that comes from a garden, and yet anyone who’s killed their last houseplant and sworn off gardening should think again. Author Zenaida Sengo extolls the many virtues and joys of growing and cultivating tillandsias in her new book, Air Plants: The Curious World of Tillandsias. In it, she not only provides readers with a basic primer on the care and maintenance of these delightful plants; she also offers some creative and inspirational ideas for displaying them. Here are some of our favorite…

Thirty-five years ago, Dinah Frieden found the perfect home for her young family, which included her husband, Cliff, two daughters and a son. She liked that it was nestled in the residential planned community of Irvine, California, surrounded by suburban villages, parks and outstanding schools for her children to attend. However, there was one thing about the house that ran counter to the interior designer’s creative nature: It was one of many similarly designed tract homes. So since she couldn’t do much to modify the façade of the structure due to housing regulations, Dinah focused her design skills on the home’s interior and grounds. “PLACING CANDLESTICKS THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE WARMS IT UP AND CREATES A SENSE OF REST. CANDLES ARE LIKE WRAPPING A HUG AROUND YOURSELF; THEY ARE SO INVITING.”…

Terrariums are all the rage today, but did you know these glass-encased charmers have a long history that predates any current trends? It all began with Dr. Nathaniel Ward in 1829. Ward was a physician in London and, like the rest of the empire, obsessed with collecting things. Colonies, animals, plants—Britain’s thirst for all things exotic was in full swing. Transport took a long time, often many months, and most birds, bees and trees didn’t make it to London. Dr. Ward kept moths’ cocoons in sealed glass bottles and by accident he found a fern had germinated inside, followed by some grass. And so the Wardian case was born. “THE 1970S SAW A REVIVAL OF THE CASE, AS WHAT WE NOW REFER TO AS THE TERRARIUM GARDEN.” CASE CLOSED The…

1. DON’T OVERDESIGN. “The key was to get the proportions of the [bathhouse] just right and to maximize the tiny footprint,” Heidi says. Getting the correct scale of the doors and windows was crucial, as was simplifying the details. 2. DON’T COMPETE WITH THE SURROUNDINGS. The bathhouse was designed to complement the existing farm buildings and dairy land. A design anomaly would have interrupted the harmony of the property. 3. DO LIMIT THE CHOICE OF MATERIALS. Especially in a pastoral setting, using a few materials suited for the project and environs will go a long way. 4. DO KEEP THE COLOR PALETTE SIMPLE AND BRIGHT. “Select a single color palette,” Heidi recommends. “We opted for a bright palette of primary colors with a strong red-and-white story.” 5. DO INVEST IN…

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS, so it’s time to get your hands dirty and create some living accents. In her new book DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts, Laura Putnam shares 35 techniques and projects that use galvanized metal. “Galvanized materials are simply iron or steel items that have been coated in a layer of zinc,” she says. Durable and sturdy with cottage-worthy rustic charm, galvanized metal is your new DIY material of choice. The galvanized look is perfect for both outdoors and indoors, and works especially well with live plants. “I love the contrast of the color and the texture of the flowers with the rustic texture of the galvanized metal,” Putnam writes. Here are the basics you need to get started. VINTAGE OR NEW? You can use either weathered…

Texture Transformation. Don’t be afraid to mix different textures. Explore your options, and see what materials will add an extra layer to give the eye something more to admire. Conspicuous Color. Add as much or as little color as the design of the room dictates. Most Parish-Hadley designers tie their rooms together with bold, brightly colored patterns. Say No to Clutter. Gary Hager, one of the designers for Parish-Hadley, asks, “Space is such a luxury, why give it up to clutter and confusion?” You may be a collector of treasures, but consider breaking up your collections and sprinkling them around the rooms grouped by similar palettes and themes.…

THIS SPRING, BRING THE BEAUTY OF THE GARDEN indoors—without the worry of wilting. A chintz china collection lets you have an array of blossoms on the table no matter the weather or season, and the bouquet is sure to last. WHAT’S CHINTZ? Simply put, chintz is dinnerware with busy yet delicate, “all-over” floral designs—although there are some varieties with fruit patterns or birds. These vintage porcelain pieces don blooms and blossoms from rim to rim. Though often with white or soft yellow backgrounds, these charming dishes also have bold counterparts that boast black backgrounds. BACK STORY The name “chintz” actually comes from the floral fabric pattern that was imported from India and can be traced back as far as the 17th century. With chintz ceramic production at potteries holding strong…

Casual luxury is the unique result of COMBINING SPECIAL DETAILS WITH LAID›BACK APPEAL. GRAND IN SCALE AND CLASSIC IN CONCEPT, THIS COUNTRYSIDE COTTAGE IS AN OPULENT FAMILY HOME THAT IS DREAMY YET DOABLE. Homeowner Lauren Searll bought the property when it had a single-story 1970s-era rancher on it. So it’s surprising to know that the current abode, a house of baronial proportions with graceful Old World style, is just over a year old. Lauren worked closely with architect Jacky Cattell for three years to create a vision that was very clear: “I knew exactly what I wanted. A French-inspired, romantic, classic home that breathed warmth and love,” she smiles. FRENCH ROOTS She and her late husband, Aaron Searll, used to visit the legendary Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes in the…

Have you ever felt like an old soul in a modern world? Heidi Maude discovered a whole new side of her design aesthetic when she spent a year abroad in college. Her architect parents raised her in an avant-garde minimalist modern home with sleek, contemporary lines, poured concrete floors and carefully curated pieces of furniture. “I think that my aesthetic is something of a rebellion against that minimalist upbringing,” Heidi laughs. “‘Maximalist’ and ‘magpie’ are words that members of my family use to describe me. I have a lot of things and they tend to be old—I love pieces that have a story.” Today, Heidi’s charming abode is full of hallmarks of her collector’s nature. Her style is shaped by classic French and Swedish style, and her well-edited décor proves…

Ah, the venerable egg. There is no more perfect time to reflect on decorating with this timeless symbol than springtime. Certainly spring is the time to decorate Easter eggs, and many have enjoyed the fun of dipping a hard-boiled egg into a warm bath of color. Some cultures have taken this age-old pastime to a whole other level. Pysanka, Ukrainian Easter eggs, are elaborately decorated with symbols and colors. The technique uses a wax and dye method similar to batik. Most famous perhaps are intricate Fabergé eggs, richly ornate in gold and enamel. The first one was created in 1884 by the House of Fabergé under master goldsmith Peter Carl Fabergé; the Russian czar gave it to his wife as an Easter gift. And then, of course, there is imperfect…

COTTAGE KITCHENS Page 32 For more on Charmean Neithart’s designs, visit charmean-neithart-interiors.com. Construction:Chelsea Construction Corp., visit chelseaconstructioncorp.com. Architecture:Susan Masterman Architects, visit susanmasterman.com. Cabinetry:Charlton Cabinets, visit charltoncabinets.com. Faucet:Country Bridge by Rohl with levers in nickel, visit rohlhome.com. Painting:Johnny Apodaca, visit curreycodealers.com. Paint:Pewter, visit benjaminmoore.com. SPRINGTIME REDUX Page 52 For more on Lieve Saether’s designs, visit turnstyleid.com. Rustic entryway console, striped rug, pillows: Layla Grayce, (626) 356-2133 or laylagrayce.com. Inlay mirror: Zinc Door, (626) 356-2133 or zincdoor.com. Coat hooks: Land of Nod, (800) 933-9904 or landofnod.com. Pillows, dining-room rug: Anthropologie, (800) 309-2500 or anthropologie.com. Shag rug: nuLOOM, (646) 964-5518 or nuloom.com. Leather recliners: Restoration Hardware, (800) 910-9836 or restorationhardware.com. Zambia bench: Safavieh, (866) 422-9070 or safavieh.com. Side table: Gray & Turner, visit bethangray.com. Custom window treatments, custom bench cushion: Turnstyle Design, visit…