May 8, 2008
When you think of wall tiles, your mind may go to bathrooms or perhaps kitchen backsplashes, but tiles can look great in other rooms of the house as well. You may not want to line all of your living room walls with floor-to-ceiling field tiles, but they can be used to add an interesting decorative element.
In the living area shown here, a combination of tiles from Meredith Art Tile acts as an alternative to wainscoting. The company features everything from Victorian and Arts and Craft to Harvest and Woodland scenes.
This "Clipped Rhombus & Tack" design was done with 3" crown tiles, 2" x 8" "Hammered Hardware" and "Plain Pencil Liner."
May 5, 2008
How's your doorbell ringer button? A little boring? A little bland?
Maybe you need a ringer that reflects your personality and interests. An oak leaf button for a nature lover, perhaps. Or maybe a pineapple, the symbol of hospitality (so say the Hawaiians anyway). A shell for a beach cottage? Grapes for the wine lover? A dog paw for a pet person?
Well, all these doorbell ringers can be had from Michael Healy who specializes in artistic decorative hardware. Available finishes include brass and bronze, nickel silver, and oiled bronze for starters.
Now go find a doorbell ringer that matches you.
April 26, 2008
I've heard it said that fireplaces are naked without a mantel. I suppose there are exceptions, but I've always thought they look funny without something over the firebox. If your home came with a fireplace but not mantel (as mine did), it's a relatively simple home improvement to add one.
When I did mine, I wasn't thinking about using reclaimed wood, but I wish I had been. You can get all sorts of interesting fireplace mantels and surrounds, but I really like the look of the ones from Mendota Mantels.
They use reclaimed beams salvaged from old buildings, and the wood dates from 300-700 years old. You just can't find the equivalent look from new growth harvested trees, and of course it's eco-friendly to reuse something that was already cut down rather than cutting down new trees.
The unique green of this mantel caught my eye. The white pine was salvaged from the Globe Grain Elevator in Superior, WI, and is estimated at 300-600 years old.
Price: $950
April 25, 2008
Whether your current patio is looking a little drab or you've got nothing there and you're looking to create a low-maintenance outdoor living space, it can be fun browsing the patio designs out there for ideas. After all, we've already spent time looking at interesting deck designs.
Are you looking for creative inlays? Unique brick patterns? Shapes that go beyond the typical square or rectangle? Well, here are a few patio design ideas from around the web:
The work of Sandstone Creation, this grey exposed aggregate patio features a bluestone inlay for interest.
Stamped concrete is a popular patio choice. It's low maintenance, can be made almost any shade, and offers you plenty of patterns and effects to choose from.
When it comes to patios, it's hard to go wrong with brick, and there are plenty of designs and patterns that can be accomplished with this simple material.
Some patio designs incorporate different materials, such as combinations of concrete and stone. In this deck/patio from Living Improvements, wood and brick are used together and contrast nicely.
April 24, 2008
Providing access to a loft can be challenging, since you may not want to put in a full-fledge space-hogging staircase. But building regulations in many areas require more than a fancy ladder.
Well, an alternating treads staircase is a practical way to satisfy building codes and create passage up to a loft while not taking up much space (because the going is shorter and the pitch steeper).
You can find various alternating tread stairs out there, or you can have one built to suit if you're crafting your home from scratch.
Shown here is the Lupus staircase from the Loft Shop.
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