Small Spaces from Creators Syndicate

Your House's Smallest Room Has Endless Possibilities for 02/15/2012

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Sometimes the smallest room is the most luxurious one in the house. Imagine a jewel of a powder bath, butler's pantry or wine cellar. Alternatively, it might be a pet room or even a basic mudroom that garners attention. Most of the sumptuousness is found in the fact that a household is even able to afford to allocate space dedicated for a very narrow purpose.

There is indeed a sort of de ...

Updated: Wed Feb 15, 2012

Customizing Your Kid's Room -- Again for 02/08/2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

These days, loads of 20-somethings are living at home with parents again. It's quite likely that many are OK with this reality and that some are frustrated. The kids don't really like living at home again any more than the parents like giving up that spare room once they've captured it for other purposes. And once you've lived on your own, it's challenging to go back home.

Parents my fin ...

Updated: Wed Feb 08, 2012

Retrofitting Bathrooms for Handicap-Accessibility Is Easier Than Ever for 02/01/2012

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0800

I always thought of the walk-in bathtub as something you would see advertised on TV back in the day — but only after midnight, when they also advertise a weird assortment of kitchen devices.

Yet oddly enough, I just specified one of these for a pretty, hip retiree and her husband. She's tiny and fit and full of life. So why would she be interested in such a tub, and why do you want ...

Updated: Wed Feb 01, 2012

Think Simple, Smart and Stylish When Renovating Your Space for 01/25/2012

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

We want smart, warm and snug spaces where we can bond. Those who predict home trends resoundingly proclaim that American homeowners are scaling back and settling into cozier, smaller spaces. As our economy slowly strengthens, remodeling and home renovations are also creeping along an upward path.

"Homeowners are looking for ways to update their current homes, rather than buying a ne ...

Updated: Wed Jan 25, 2012

Expanding Counter Space Possible in Even the Smallest Kitchens for 01/18/2012

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

You really don't have to wait for the perfect house to improve function in your kitchen. While you might wish for an enormous kitchen, often the best chefs can function perfectly well in a compact yet well-planned area.

I've interviewed restaurant owners who design their own kitchens, and a surprising number have little kitchens. Success, in their estimation, can depend on roll-out drawe ...

Updated: Wed Jan 18, 2012

Think Long-Term When Shopping for New Furniture for 01/11/2012

Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

Many believe that the days of conspicuous consumption are over for good. In some ways, this is a relief for those of us who are serious about the importance of home to the human spirit; of how a family place should function and the role that aesthetics plays in serenity.

When I first began as an interior designer, people were still interested in quality. Young married couples would recei ...

Updated: Wed Jan 11, 2012

Maximize Your Space With Some Clever Contraptions for 01/04/2012

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0800

A brand new year is a good time for fresh ideas. There are dozens of gimmicks for how to save space, ranging from rather goofy to very inventive. This is a perfect time of year to spend some rain- or snow-days indoors rethinking household organization and perhaps considering some space-saving items. It's also a good time to sort through belongings and mount an effort to create a little more roo ...

Updated: Wed Jan 04, 2012

De-clutter and Reconsider Furniture for a Space-Conscious New Year for 12/28/2011

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

A new year approaches, so this is an ideal time to think of fresh ways of living in your space. I'm not talking a remodel or a major investment here. Rather, I mean simple ways of looking at your rooms differently so that you can enjoy the essence of each space more easily.

The first and most critical step is to make a hard and realistic analysis of a room and de-clutter it! This is the ...

Updated: Wed Dec 28, 2011

Some Things to Think About When Considering Home Improvements for 12/21/2011

Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

There's a time and place for investing in custom cabinets. You're guaranteed maximum use of odd space when you seek the help of a professional to design specially made cabinetry. Whether that means you go to a local kitchen-and-bath center or engage the services of an architect or interior designer, people who are trained to see space three-dimensionally can lend an expert hand. Those who desig ...

Updated: Wed Dec 21, 2011

Nesting With Grace: Miniature Luxuries Amplify Comfort for 12/14/2011

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Nesting with grace means different things to different people. I would like to suggest that by introducing just a tiny bit of luxury into one of your private spaces at home, you could achieve a wonderful vacation sensation that lasts and lasts.

In fact, "staycation" has slowly seeped into the vernacular since the days of uncertainty following 9/11. For years now, we've seen lot ...

Updated: Wed Dec 14, 2011

Shrinking Christmas Doesn't Mean Giving up Traditional Decor for 12/07/2011

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0800

I've been looking around my living room and trying to decide how to shrink Christmas. What I need is more open space and less stuff so that I can accommodate an active toddler around the holidays this year. Toss in two huge dogs, and the room is a classic recipe for cracked ornaments, dog tails accidentally removing ribbons from gifts and delicate decorations from a tree.

Honestly, I cou ...

Updated: Wed Dec 07, 2011

When You're Staying Put, Consider Customizing Your Space for 11/30/2011

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Baby boomers aren't going anywhere. In fact, most boomers say they don't have any plans to move after they retire, and that's mostly due to a drop in the value of their homes.

A recent poll, conducted by Associated Press-LifeGoesStrong.com, surveyed more than 1,000 adults born between 1946 and 1964 and discovered that this group is looking for smaller, more affordable homes that are easi ...

Updated: Wed Nov 30, 2011

‘Chicago Spaces' Offers Plenty of Interior Design Inspiration for 11/23/2011

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

I fell in love with Chicago on my first visit. Greedily absorbing the intricate architectural details block after block, my camera documented ironwork elegance, stone and brick — a city built on boom and commerce. As I strolled around, it was easy to see why in 1833, Mark Twain said, "It is hopeless for the occasional visitor to try to keep up with Chicago. She outgrows his prophecie ...

Updated: Wed Nov 23, 2011

Craft a Colorful Space for Your First Child Without Breaking the Bank for 11/16/2011

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

First-time parents are super-excited, and who can blame them? Their understandable exuberance often makes them easy targets for advertising about all sorts of products and ideas for their child's first bedroom. They get easily swept up in making their little one's room an ideal environment.

But trust this grandma: Any search for the perfect solution is much more for the parent's edificat ...

Updated: Wed Nov 16, 2011

Tree-Free Holidays for the Space-Strapped Decorator for 11/09/2011

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Now is the perfect time to begin planning for holiday decorating. When you're space-challenged, it can feel like a daunting task, but plenty of options exist for decorating, without a large Christmas tree taking up precious space.

First, look for ways to festoon the windows in garlands or wreaths. You can buy wreaths that are enhanced with battery-operated twinkle lights. Or you might se ...

Updated: Wed Nov 09, 2011

Turn Dingy Basements and Garages into Welcoming Playrooms for 11/02/2011

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Weather changes signal challenges for young parents: What to do with the kids on a rainy or snowy day?

Well, going up and down the stairs to the basement occupies a toddler for only so long. You can drag out the toys — and then put them away. You can read books and listen to music. My daughter-in-law knows every community indoor playgroup in the city of Seattle for those cold, rain ...

Updated: Wed Nov 02, 2011

Convenient Storage Solutions Make for a Happier Holiday for 10/26/2011

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Right about now, along with an energizing chill, the sights and sounds of the approaching holiday mega-season float in the morning air. This lasts for months. All things orange appear in the markets, as we see mounds of pumpkins, gourds and dried corn, plentiful and pretty.

For some, the idea of the holidays feels troublesome because we get a subconscious cue that things inside the house ...

Updated: Wed Oct 26, 2011

Multi-Generational Households Require Smart Use of Space for 10/19/2011

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Americans remain in love with the dream of home ownership, according to the results of the Hanley Wood Housing 360 survey. The poll reveals much about the state of the housing industry, what Americans think about the market these days and how they perceive the future.

Pulitzer Prize-Winner Ellen Goodman has written in the past that our romance with home ownership is rooted in the fact th ...

Updated: Wed Oct 19, 2011

Accentuate Built-in Quirks, and Use Them to Your Advantage for 10/12/2011

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Never lament quirky architectural features or idiosyncrasies that feel odd in an old house. You can turn anomalous details into some of the most amazing features that not only make your home completely unique but that also deliver tons of personality to your environment.

Indeed, one of the most adorable homes I've ever worked on is a little cottage built in the 1930s and added onto in a ...

Updated: Wed Oct 12, 2011

Younger Decorators Spur Wallpaper's Retro Resurgence for 10/05/2011

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0700

Depending on where you live, wallpaper may or may not be popular. We tend to presume that traditional homes in New England, the Midwest and the South favor the use of papers more than those out West. Theoretically, contemporary homes use fewer tiny patterns and a bolder blend of materials, color and more texture; the homes are more sculptural and less fussy.

Open floor plans can make the ...

Updated: Wed Oct 05, 2011