I love my backyard. It’s enchanting. But no matter how large or small, I bet most of us thoroughly enjoy our backyards as it is where we can spend time simply relaxing or grilling out with friends. Whether it be on warm, sunny days or crisp, fall evenings, backyards are a special place.

Some backyards are lucky enough to have lush woods as a backdrop. If this is your scenario, you will agree it is a wonderful view that changes with the seasons and affords great privacy from the neighbors behind you. Other backyards can be on the small side, especially here at the beach, but it’s amazing what you can do with that space—squeeze a small splash or cocktail pool in them and you have your own tropical oasis.

In year’s past, during the dead of winter, my backyard was mostly dark by the time I get home from the office. Of course, I never seem to get up early enough on weekday mornings to thoroughly enjoy my backyard as I am always rushing off to work, trying not to be late. But now that daylight savings started, relaxing evenings in my backyard are more frequent. But even in the thick of winter, or when we stay outside past dusk on delightful summer evenings, there is a remedy to a dark backyard—landscape lighting!

If you have a pool, the pool lights can help brighten up the backyard at night and a fire pit can create flickering light—both of which are very nice, but are they enough? Or more importantly, are they creating the effect you are looking for? Turns out, they don’t always provide what you are looking for. Sometimes this light can completely overwhelm the rest of the yard. There is a fine line between too much light and light that creates a soothing ambience.

Over the holidays, we put up one string of soft white lights in the bushes. Nothing fancy, but it suddenly clicked. Or should I say, I saw the light! We could actually see the landscaping, and if you are lucky enough to have a pool, the reflections of these lights on the pool can be stunning.

So, recently we added low voltage landscape lights. WOW—they are transformational! I feel foolish for not doing this sooner.

We have lights shining up on our crepe myrtle trees. Even this time of year when they are sticks, they look interesting and very sculptural with the uplighting. I can’t wait to see them later this year when they are in full bloom.

We have lights shining on our privacy hedge, creating a perimeter. The greenscape enclosure is magical and comforting.

But my favorites lights are the ones lighting the woods behind our home. What once was a black abyss is now a charming and dramatic backdrop. As a bonus, the lighting makes nighttime putting possible! When inside, I can’t stop staring out the windows at my beautiful yard.

What an amazing transformation these lights offer when it comes to making the most of your backyard landscape. With spring upon us, I encourage you to add some uplighting, or even just a strand of lights on a tree—it is truly uplifting and will enhance those lovely evenings spent outside!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

When it comes to having enough storage in our homes—there is just never enough! And it seems that the problem of not enough storage has gotten worse since the pandemic. Apparently, Americans have become too good at ordering “stuff” on Amazon or other online retailers and not as good at throwing “stuff” away. These super-fast, convenient shopping experiences appear to be contributing to storage challenges. So the question becomes, where do you put all this stuff?

Holiday Décor

Finding places for holiday decorations used to be easy—limited to a couple of boxes for tree ornaments and outdoor lights. Not anymore! Decorating for Christmas has become a competitive sport! It’s all about who in the neighborhood has the best décor. But wait—competitive outdoor décor isn’t just limited to Christmas. Many folks go all out for Halloween too. Again, this adds to our storage dilemma.

Self-Storage Units

According to Yardi Matrix, there has been tremendous growth in the self-storage business since 2020. There are now more than 14.5 million people utilizing self-storage—which is up by close to a million in two years. Some believe the demand for self-storage is increasing because of housing affordability issues—especially in urban areas. Another factor is downsizing. The 55+ market is famous for wanting a smaller house but failing to adequately downsize the amount of stuff they keep.
It’s clear to me that our storage needs are only growing—so where can we expand our storage in the home?

Kitchen

Ever since we fell in love with the open concept floor plan, finding adequate upper cabinet storage in the kitchen has been more challenging. During the lockdown, the number of kitchen gadgets we “needed” increased. The result—we quickly ran out of storage and our kitchens became a disorganized mess. The once adequate corner pantry no longer provides enough storage. Large walk-in pantries are a better solution. Be sure to consider this if you plan to remodel your kitchen or are in the process of designing a new home.

Should space permit, the addition of the Messy Kitchen is another great storage solution. This area is especially helpful for our favorite kitchen gadgets like the juicer, blender, coffee maker, and toaster oven.

I also love the tall upper cabinets with the glass cabinets above the uppers. What a great place for the display of collectables that is safe and relatively dust free.

Primary Closet

Ask most folks about an adequate primary closet, and they will respond “it can’t be big enough.” While that’s not always feasible, oversized closets have great appeal. Nonetheless, a built-in closet system can go a long way in terms of storage space even in an average-sized walk-in closet.

Garage

For many, including my household, the garage becomes the catch-all for stuff. However, without a well-planned organization system, this space gets unruly and overcrowded. Eventually, disarray prevails. Capitalize on this space with wall hooks to hang bikes, fishing poles, etc. and cabinets/shelves to keep stuff organized.

Attic Storage

If you have attic space, easy access is imperative to make it practical. If you are subject to pull-down stairs, it can be dangerous when trying to retrieve big boxes. It generally requires 2 people, and all I can say is, be careful. If you are building a home, be sure to incorporate a walk-in attic area or one that offers a permanent staircase for ease of access. And if you want to make the most of this storage area, opt for spray-foam insulation so this space doesn’t experience extreme heat in the summer or get incredibly cold in the winter.

Under the Stairs Storage

Move over Harry Potter. This valuable, albeit small, storage space should not be overlooked as every inch of storage counts. Perhaps you can add an access door in your home to take advantage of this
space.

Yes – We have a problem!

So, is it a lack of storage that is the problem or too much stuff that is the problem? The reality is, most of us aren’t as organized as we’d like to be—why do you think Tidying Up with Marie Kondo was such a hit on HGTV? Even if we take her lessons to heart, we will have to be diligent about purging and keeping things organized.

Have you taken full advantage of storage possibilities in your home? If not, try mastering the art of organization—it is highly rewarding!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

Of course windows play an amazing role in the design, livability, and enjoyment of our homes as they let in natural light and help to expand the space. High glass brings in light without compromising privacy which is important here at the beach. But there are several nuances when it comes to high glass including where to use it and what size is appropriate.

Which rooms benefit the most from high glass?

For obvious reasons, bathrooms greatly benefit from high glass as it is a room that demands privacy. Perhaps you remember when it was common to show a large 4′ by 4′ window above the soaking tub in the primary bath. While it looked awesome and let in incredible light, it offered no privacy. To address this concern, frosted glass or glass block was installed. We’ve long since moved on from those faded fads, and found the perfect application for high glass.

Over The Shower

Although soaking tubs are still popular should your primary bath be large enough, many homeowners have switched to a spa-like shower. If your home has 10′ ceilings, then you have plenty of options to add high glass in the shower area.
If your home has a 9′ ceiling, you could sneak a piece of high glass up at an 8′ head height. A two-foot-tall piece of glass with a sill at 6′ adds a lot of light and still maintains privacy.

Over The Vanities

Another popular spot for high glass is over the vanities. Again, this is easy with 10′ ceilings. But as the ceilings get lower, the amount and size of glass gets compressed. Now you have to consider the top of the mirror. If your light fixtures are placed over mirrors, a good solution is to place high glass between the vanities and their corresponding mirrors.

Dining Rooms

Another popular place to add high glass is to the dining room. Oftentimes this is supplemental glass that acts as an accent/design element.
Many times the dining room is on the side of the house where we have another house about 10′ away. While dining rooms don’t require the same amount of privacy as a bathroom – no one wants to see their neighbor staring into their home while you host a dinner party.

The good news here is the size of the glass in the dining room isn’t constricted by mirrors. Adding three 2′ by 2′ pieces of glass along the dining room wall creates a great look. I recently visited a home where they added only two larger pieces of glass at 3′ by 3′. The result was a larger area of glass and less labor to install. Sounds like a win win!

High glass serves a crucial role in bringing natural light into spaces where we want to maintain privacy. Thoughtful sizing and placement will bring cheer to even the most challenging rooms in the home. So whether you are designing a new home, or remodeling an existing one, be sure to give high glass some careful consideration.

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

The house I grew up in had a tub/shower combo in my bathroom. Inset in the tile wall was one soap dish. I guess the builders of my house wanted me to wash my hair with soap… Of course, my family used shampoo, which we ended up cramming into the corner of the tub. The truth is that today’s homes are well thought out and considerable attention is given to bathrooms. Whether you are building a new home or remodeling an older home, other than the kitchen, the primary bath is where to put your money.

So, I think it should go without saying that a single soap dish is no longer going to cut it. At a minimum, we need space for soap, shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. On top of that, men and women tend to have their own body wash – they may also want different shampoo. And then there’s the guys who like to shave in the shower. They need shaving cream.

Bottom line – it takes a lot of “stuff” to make us beautiful and fresh smelling! This means our showers need an adequate spot to house all these items.

Welcome the niche!

THE SHAMPOO NICHE

Fortunately, the plumbing industry understands this and has started including shampoo niches in their prefab tubs and showers. While some of the prefab shower enclosures of the past have been uninspiring (to put it mildly), the industry has stepped up their game.

You can find a tub enclosure that looks like tile, has a shampoo shelf running the entire length of the tub, and you can also add accent tile to the recess for a more custom look.

And speaking of a custom look, if you’re installing tile only to your shower or tub walls, you can get a prefabricated leak-proof shampoo niche ready for tile or accent tiles. Accenting the shampoo niche with contrasting tile is a great design concept. These extra touches confirm just how important a great shower experience is to kick off the day on a good note.

THE SHOWER SEAT

Of course, every shower must have a seat – right? The answer is, absolutely, if possible. However, most shower seats aren’t for sitting. Many are there to enable woman to shave their legs and all bathers to wash their feet and ankles…

If you have the room, consider a shower seat that runs the entire width of the shower.
Better yet – how about the entire length of the shower? Now we’re talking! This shower seat is multi-functional. Great for shaving your legs, large enough if you must sit down, and can hold body wash, shampoo, conditioner, shaving cream, razors – and even soap!

Of course, today’s showers are fabulous for a variety of other reasons. Incorporating elements like an elegant frameless enclosure, a transom window, making it zero-entry, adding a cool linear drain or a spa-like rainhead are but a few items that make today’s bathrooms shine. Gone are the days of the basic shower, here to stay is the luxury bathroom, which is not only beautiful to look at, but highly functional!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

The other day, I walked into my closet and hit the light switch. Nothing changed. No, the light wasn’t burnt out. There wasn’t an electrical problem either. My closet was simply too dark for my 55+ eyes.

As many of you know, the lens of our eyes thickens as we age. It starts in our thirties. As the lens thickens, it lets in less light. A sixty-year-old needs six times as much light as a twenty-year-old. This is a gradual process, and before you know it, you’re in a “romantically” dim restaurant and can’t read the menu without blinding other guests with your iPhone flashlight. In addition to emitting less light, the thickened lens can’t bend and flex like it used to, making it harder to focus on items up close.

But back to my closet. During the walk through of our home several years ago (please note–I was pre-50), my closet with white walls, white shelves, and lightly colored carpet was brightly lit. We thought we had made a smart lighting decision as we didn’t want one of those ugly fluorescent lights because we knew they didn’t provide full spectrum light. Full spectrum allows you to more accurately see color, helping you avoid wearing mismatched colors.

We also didn’t elect to hang a pretty pendant fixture in our closets, deciding to stay utilitarian with our closet lighting and save the decorative lighting for other rooms. Based upon its size, we installed two fixtures in my closet, each with two sixty-watt incandescent lights.

What could possibly go wrong? Five years older and a lot of shopping – that’s what. I happen to wear a lot of dark colors – especially black. These dark colors consume precious light to the point that my bright and airy closet was more like a cave. To make matters worse, the top row of clothes was blocking the light to the bottom row of clothes where all my black tops were hung. Once again, I would find myself bringing out flashlight feature on my phone just to be able to select a garment from the bottom row – always a humbling experience.

Of course, the best option for closet lighting is the LED rope light above each rod. However, this is not always easy to add after the fact! And adding a higher wattage incandescent bulb could work, but it also produces more heat than the fixture was designed for, creating a possible fire hazard. Fortunately, it isn’t difficult to find an LED fixture that fits the same size. This was my solution, swap the fixtures out and voila–there was good light in my closet again. The old sixty-watt incandescent bulb only gave off 800 lumens of light and were amber in color. My new LED fixture emits 2000 lumens resulting in more light, fuller spectrum, less heat and energy consumption.

Whether you are building a new home or remodeling an older one, adequate closet lighting is a must.

And while you are at, think about the configuration of your shelving and built-ins. Making the most of your primary bedroom closet will serve you well for years to come!

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

It is finally fall. The air is cooler, and the days are getting shorter.
It is the perfect season for enjoying the fireplace!

THE MAGIC FLAME
Of course a fireplace brings warmth to a chilly morning or evening, but in reality, it does so much more. The timeless quality of the light coming from the fire is simply magical as it adds an ever-changing glow to the surroundings. The flickering flame seems to be alive as it twists and turns and changes shape. Like flowing water, the flame is never the same shape twice. Truly amazing and mesmerizing.

FIREPLACES IN HOUSES
Fireplaces have long been a tradition in our homes. Initially, they provided most of the heat in our homes and large estates had fireplaces in all the main rooms. Of course, those large estates also had help stocking and cleaning out the fireplaces. We no longer need fireplaces to heat our entire home, but they are still sought after for that enchanting quality of warmth and light.

CHANGING FUEL SOURCE
Wood used to be the primary source of fuel for our fireplaces. Indeed, some today still prefer a wood burning fire because of the smell and distinctive snap, crackle, pop sound. However, a wood burning fireplace comes with several negatives. First, there’s the smoke. Secondly, they are constantly in need of more wood to keep the fire going, and clean up afterwards is a chore. The introduction of gas – whether propane or natural gas – has become the de facto low maintenance alternative to wood. Many gas fireplaces come with a remote or button to start and stop them, making lighting a fire quick and easy. Now that it is no longer an effort to build a fire, many homeowners find themselves using their fireplaces more often!

LIGHT WITHOUT HEAT
Alcohol (ethanol & gel) is also used for fireplaces. These fireplaces don’t give off the same amount of heat as a gas fireplace which makes them perfect for warmer climates. Electric linear fireplaces are also gaining popularity. Both of these are perfect for adding the ambiance of a fire without the heat.

OUTDOOR LIVING
The fire pit or outdoor fireplace has helped transform outdoor living. This wonderful gathering place provides just enough heat to keep everyone toasty. A wood burning fire pit does produce smoke making chair placement critical depending on the wind. If that is a concern, these outdoor units are also available with gas or propane options eliminating the smoke factor.

Housing has long moved past needing to burn wood to heat a home, but nothing brings people together quite like the warm glow and comfort of a flickering fire. What better way to welcome family and friends, particularly on a lovely fall day.

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

 

Of the seemingly endless decisions one has to make when designing, building or remodeling a house, window color has to be one of the most overlooked and underappreciated. The response most often heard is “Just give me the standard window color.”

Of course, the color of your window depends on what your window is made of. In production homes, this often means a vinyl window. Depending on your manufacturer, the color selections include white, beige, and darker beige. If you spring for an upgraded vinyl window, you can now get them in dark bronze or black. The latter colors have become very popular as we trend towards more modern looking exteriors. The beauty of a vinyl window is that it doesn’t need to be painted. That is – unless you decide you want to change the color of your window.

If you’re looking at an aluminum clad wood window, your color choices are greatly expanded. Ply Gem offers 8 standard colors, including, taupe, cottage red, and evergreen. If you opt for their signature colors – the list expands to 38!

Selecting the right color window for your home depends on the overall color palette, its style, and the trim color around your window. The last thing you want to do is install the wrong color windows. Unfortunately, during the pandemic home buying frenzy, often the only color that was available was white, and sometimes beige. Colors are once again becoming an option and are more readily available.

Over the past couple of weeks, I have been on a window color photo safari. In some cases, the window and the surrounding trim are one in the same – further enforcing the strength and impact of color.

In other cases, the window and its trim are a contrast making the color of the window pop. And since many homes and buildings have multiple exterior finishes, it is important to select a color that works with all materials.

Of course, the building industry is one of trends, and lately the trend is to move away from the infamous “builder beige.” Enter the farmhouse era with its white paint and black windows. Whether the style is farmhouse or not, a white home with black windows definitely makes a statement–high contrast creates impact for sure.
Of course, black pairs nicely with this soft gray home too.

Let’s face it, windows are a big expense and a vital part of the design of our homes. Take time to consider all the color choices before you make a long-lasting impression on your home.

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

 

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? Answer: The homeowner whose bathroom mirrors and lighting work together!

It seems simple, but if you are getting ready to remodel your bathroom, or build a new home, the design, placement, and lighting of the vanity mirror is vital. After all, you will look into this mirror multiple times each day, every day, 365 days a year. Shouldn’t this warrant more consideration than “What’s the least expensive mirror and light I can hang the bathroom?”

MIRRORS

We all know mirrors can be expensive, and with housing affordability at the forefront of conversation today, it is important to be strategic about the size of the mirror. If constrained by a budget, it is neither practical, nor affordable, to run the mirror from counter to ceiling and wall to wall. One alternative is to frame the mirror like the expensive artwork that it is. This provides a nice look and is certainly less expensive than wall-to-wall glass. I love the strategy of two mirrors in the master bath, one over each sink, enhancing the His and Her vanity separation.

LIGHTS

Mirror size and placement is only half the of the design challenge. Lighting is just as critical. Placing lights in the ceiling is great for general room illumination, but not for making us look our best. This type of lighting is as bad as shining a flashlight under your chin and seeing how creepy you look – effective when telling a scary story to the kids around a campfire, but not much of a confidence booster. The most useful and flattering lighting comes when mounted at eye level. The lights really need to be wall mounted so they can adequately light up our faces in the most flattering way – but where? The default solution lately has been to add wall sconces above the mirror; however, this can be tricky. If the mirror is tall because the room has a tall ceiling, say 10’, the light is too high, and we’re back to looking like the “Crypt Keeper.” Keeping the mirror shorter is better for the lighting, but then it looks out of proportion with the taller ceilings, cheapening the look.

MIRRORS AND LIGHTING WORKING TOGETHER

I love running mirrors vertically. This gives a rich, elegant look and accentuates the tall ceilings. This also creates room on either side of the mirror for lighting at eye level. A brilliant have-your-cake-and-eat-it-too strategy if you ask me. Don’t forget to add additional light somewhere else in the room. This can be a single recessed can which is easily affordable or a lovely pendant fixture which is more costly but adds a level of luxury to the bathroom.

TAKE CUES FROM HOTELS

Today, the ultimate cake-and-eat-it solutions are the lighted mirrors, now found in most hotels. They may not be the most cost-effective solution, but prices are coming down as they become more abundant, coming in a variety of shapes and sizes. I like the tall ovals which accentuate the height of the room, elegantly. They even have them with Bluetooth speakers for those who really like to splurge.

Who would have thought there was so much to think about when it comes to mirrors and lights in our bathrooms, particularly the primary bath? Let me know if you don’t think about this blog tomorrow when you wake up and look at yourself in your own bathroom mirror. You will either be glad you did your bathroom properly or you will begin to desire a mirror/lighting “facelift” even if it’s not time for a full-blown remodel.

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog

Perhaps you’ve noticed a proliferation of Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse elevations. I was recently asked why I thought that’s the case. Could it be all because of a popular TV show? Perhaps there is more to the popularity.

THE PERFECT BLEND

I believe the farmhouse style is the perfect blend of nostalgia and modern-day vibe. It is nostalgic with its iconic gable forms. Ask any first grader to draw a house and nine times out of ten, you’ll get a house with a gable. The style also has a current vibe that we see throughout the design – both inside and out. Simple clean lines and not overly ornate. These clean lines are also evident in kitchen cabinets, appliances – even fabrics.

WELCOMING

Not all, but most farmhouse elevations have a front porch – which makes them very welcoming. Whether the home has roughhewn columns or ones painted white, the depth of the porch on a farmhouse is important and generally ample. A minimum of 6′ in depth is considered usable.

NOT BEIGE

I believe another contributing factor to its popularity is that these homes are not typically painted “builder beige.” Picture an entire street of earth tone in various shades of beige. Hey – I get it. Beige was safe. No one wanted to go out on a limb and pick an outrageous color for a home. It was also a byproduct of the popularity of the craftsman style – which the farmhouse will quickly replace as the most preferred style. However, an entire street of white farmhouse elevations is just as lifeless as an all-beige streetscape and will also not stand the test of time.

ROOM FOR EXPRESSION

Perhaps the biggest reason for the style’s popularity is its ability to be either traditional or modern and everything in between. Furthermore, what is considered modern in one location may be considered moderate in another location. We see a lot of white paired with black window frames. Note how the elevation below uses black to accentuate the board and batten, allowing the white stucco to also stand out and highlight the entry. Intentionality matters!

WHAT ARE THE KEY ELEMENTS?

For me, as previously stated, it all starts with a prominent gable element. Mind you, this is not the nineties where the house with the most gables wins. Think simple, clean lines. Then add board and batten siding. Or for a more modern interpretation, the vertical siding could be metal. To complement the verticality of the siding, I like a two over two window grid pattern. A steeper roof pitch for the front facing gable will further accentuate the verticality of the style.

So how long before we get tired of the farmhouse? In some regions, that has already happened, but I think the farmhouse is here to stay. With that said, we need to see more variety in the style and explore more possibilities. To me, the first step in keeping any style fresh is to add color! I believe we will be seeing various forms of farmhouse elevations for some time to come.

Are you ready to take FARMHOUSE to the next level?

Adapted from Housing Design Matters Blog