Category: Decorating Guides

Last week we looked at dramatic black bedrooms, so let us go several notches lighter this week and investigate the numerous shades of gray for bedrooms. I really like gray for its flexibility. You can go dark or light, warm or cool, and set the neutral with almost any other color. Cool grays appear fantastic combined with warm wood tones, or go for a warmer gray and add a few black, white or metallic accents for a clean, sophisticated vibe.

Read on for a sampling of stunning gray-clad bedrooms on , along with suggestions for pulling together your very own gray-hued room.

KYZLINK ARCHITECTS

This trendy gray wall color gets heated up well by the rich wood tones in the room. Touches of apple green and white around out this pleasingly modern palette.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar appearance with Englewood Cliffs out of Benjamin Moore.

Chantel Elshout Design Consultancy

Add immediate elegance to your bedroom with grey walls. It is a great pick for showing off decorative white-painted trim because of the contrast it offers. Of course, a dark hue could eat up a great deal of light in the area and look somewhat apartment. Counteract by adding sparkling elements to the room, like the stunning chandelier found here.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get the Appearance with Down Pipe out of Farrow & Ball.

Kat Alves Photography

Here is another example of utilizing gray to set off intriguing architectural details — a dramatic sloped ceiling. A medium gray like this won’t compete with other colours, including artwork. But it offers just enough shade to help break up the walls in the ceiling.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar appearance with Carolina Gull from Pratt & Lambert.

Vicente Burin Architects

Conversely, you can leave the walls white, or another light hue, and add gray to the ceiling. This makes a more intimate vibe, perfect for a bedroom.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar appearance with Gray Stone out of Pittsburgh Paints.

i3 design group

So dark it is almost black, that this profound gray is a very dramatic choice. To keep your bedroom out of feeling gloomy or cave-like, it can help to have a minumum of one big window that brings in abundant sunlight. White linens also brighten the space and appear crisp and clean against the darkened walls.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar appearance with Five O’Clock Shadow out of Kelly-Moore Paints.

j&o studio

Utilize a bold or dark shade to create a focal point in the room, like about the headboard wall. It produces a wonderful background for art art and fabrics. Your accent wall will stand out, if you keep the remaining walls and ceiling light-hued.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar appearance with Sealskin out of Sherwin-Williams.

Chris Snook

Not a lover of walls? On the lookout for something lighter and thicker? It is OK, you can still go gray. I find that gray is among those few colors that is gratifying no matter how dark or light you go. Even the lightest shades won’t ever read as pastel or thin and one-note. This super-soft gray adds a layer of color and contrast to the soothing bedroom.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar appearance with Paddlewheel Grey out of Glidden.

Anders Adelfang

My favorite shades of light gray possess a bit of green or blue. They are a nice “new neutral” option to white, white, beige or authentic gray. The hint of watery green or blue gives them a calm vibe that is ideal for a bedroom.

Jennifer Ott Design

Get a similar look with Chapel Spire out of Mythic Paint.

Inform us : Can you go gray in your bedroom? Are you a lover of dark and dramatic or soft and serene?

Just for fun (and color swatches): 50 Colors of Gray

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My family makes several trips each fall to a nearby farm to take part in the seasonal rituals of pumpkin picking and apple cider producing — and without fail, every year I’m drawn in by the healthy warmth of farmhouse style. In the fresh, bright colors and perspectives of wide-open spaces into the reminders of honest hard work and a connection to the past, there is a lot to be inspired by.

By weaving together the bits and pieces that talk to you and mixing them into your own private way, you can tap into the soul of farmhouse style wherever you reside. Have a look at these 15 fresh examples of farmhouse design, along with ideas for integrating the important elements into your own house.

Dona Rosene Interiors

Keep it easy. The fantastic thing about farmhouse design is its utter simplicity. Workable basics like ladder-back seats and farmhouse tables build the base, while a fresh wall color and oversize art add personality and provide enough interest that you can go without a lot other adornment. When picking art, you can’t go wrong with paintings or prints featuring horses, cows, sheep and other farm animals.

Wall paint: Palladian Blue HC-144, Benjamin Moore

Going Home To Roost

Create a cozy nest with patchwork quilts, raw wood and individual treasures. Classic quilting is a can’t-overlook accent, providing immediate farmhouse style to a bedroom (or some other room). Throw in something produced from raw, unfinished wood (such as the DIY pallet headboard shown here) to make rustic heat, and customize your space with a meaningful word spelled out to the wall. Fling a necklace over the corner of your headboard or sip photos to your mirror — that is your most personal space, so just do what makes you happy.

Etsy

Geometric Quilt, Bricks by B Perrino Quilts – $325

Find your perfect modern quilt. If folksy quilts in primary colors are not your style, there might still be a quilt for you. Many artists today are giving this age-old handicraft a contemporary appearance with crisp geometric designs and complex color palettes.

Barbara Perrino, whose work is shown here, and Denyse Schmidt are two of my favorite maker-designers.

REFINED LLC

Add history to a new build with sliding barn doors. If you want you lived in a rambling old farmhouse but have to make do with a plain-Jane contemporary house, consider adding a salvaged wood barn door — this one modification can modify the appearance and feel of your whole residence.

Cary Bernstein Architect

Lighten up with the perfect white wall color. Using lots of white is a fantastic way to open up a room and make the most of the light — but it can be unbelievably hard to choose just the right shade. All of the ceilings and walls in the area featured here were done in White Dove out of Benjamin Moore, a crisp and clean white that looks great in natural light.

See more white paint picks

Stephmodo

Fresh ideas for farmhouse blossoms. Farmhouse blossoms should have that wild, just-pulled-from-the-garden appearance, so keep the styling minimal. If you have a big armful of fall flowers, just plunk them into a galvanized pot or wax and then call it a day.

For smaller posies, which can be even more charming, split flowers among an assortment of bud vases and place a grouping of vases of different heights down the center of your table. You might even offer a single tiny container more presence by anchoring it inside a bigger bowl and basket, as shown here.

Arkin Tilt Architects

Recipe for a magical kitchen. If trimming is in your future, consider adding a remodeled classic or vintage-look stove along with a classic farmhouse sink into the mixture. A small chalkboard is an affordable accent anyone can add, perfect for keeping a running grocery list or menu ideas handy.

Mary Prince Photography

Budget finds out of your farm-inspired makeover. Farmhouse classics, such as barn lights, painted cabinets and butcher block counters, are hot, authentic and extremely inexpensive. Repaint existing cabinets to save even more cash, and whether the flooring are appearing shabby, paint them or cheer them up with a vibrant braided rag rug.

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc..

Hang pots and expose beams to add space overhead. There’s something so comforting about the clatter of pots in an overhead rack — and this setup is a great space saver, to boot. Exposing beams generates a higher ceiling, which may make even a small kitchen feel more spacious.

Produce kitchen essentials a part of the decor. Glass storage jars and wooden boards on a rusted metal cart are a simple way to bring a really beneficial touch of the farm into even a city flat.

Mix textures and finishes. In this gracious entryway, a weathered barn-wood mirror hangs over a smooth-polished drop-leaf table to good effect. If a room is feeling somewhat flat, try adding a feel that’s missing for comparison — wood or rusted metal in a room full of gloss may be welcome surprise.

Tammara Stroud Design

Soften a contemporary kitchen with vibrant farmhouse accents. The kitchen shown here appears friendly and warm with its mixture of contemporary finishes and fixtures along with low-key farmhouse furniture. Painted chairs along with a base table sit atop that most humble of accessories, the braided rag carpet, while a galvanized pail of sunflowers adds a cheerful note.

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist

You can not have too many white dishes. Lotion or white platters, pitchers and dishes are quite possibly the perfect farmhouse decor. They’re useful and practical, and they fit in almost everywhere. Try lining up white pitchers and platters on open shelving or create a plate screen on a wall, as shown.

The best way to hang plates on a wall

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Get cozy with a woodstove. Nothing else can match the homey comfort of a blazing fire in a woodstove. Simply add thick socks, a good book and a mug of warm tea or cider, and you will not be able to resist relaxing for a charm.

Learn about clean-burning woodstoves

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Open shelves are equivalent parts pretty and practical. An open china hutch filled with pretty and useful things is so much more comfy compared to typical glass-front version. White wall cladding gives the whole space a fresh cottage appearance, and baskets of bountiful produce on screen are a welcoming touch.

See the rest of the home

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Inform us What elements of farmhouse style appeal to you?

More: How to Get the Modern Rustic Farmhouse Look

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White and black. It always brings to mind images of text drifting along with a creamy white page of my favorite Sunday newspaper. Or the beauty of high-contrast photography, such as that of Ansel Adams. The combo of those two colors (or noncolors) has a long and varied history.

The most recent fad in black and white turns toward an abstract lineup. Picture, bold and full of angles, this trend is not for the faint of heart. But if you’re tired of brightly colored interiors, this may be the best way to switch up your style without going back to beige. Or, take a more moderate approach. Insert a few black and white elements to an present space — individuals will still sit up and take notice.

Iacoli & McAllister

Large-Frame Light Cluster Chandelier – $3,995

Clustered pendant lights are all the rage today. This version is one of those few that focuses on geometry.

Jamie Laubhan-Oliver

Wire-frame baskets, white and black artwork and frames, and also a black table give the exact same high contrast without losing the heat.

Art.com

Eva Carter’s printing provides a solid nod to one of those first abstract expressionists, Franz Kline. Her softer (and more affordable) painting provides more colors and tones into your room.

Eclectic Chairs – $425

This chair is reminiscent of baskets,’60s graphics and my high school doodles. A pair would be stunning against a white table.

Regan Baker Design Inc..

Bold and picture can nevertheless have a natural mindset. Stark white and black branches in a little bathroom add a lot of movement to the room.

Eclectic Chandeliers – $5,500

Just like a hard-line drawing of a beautiful stone necklace, this chandelier seems back on convention in a contemporary way. At the exact same time, it would fit well in an older Arts and Crafts house.

Rubie Green

Habibi Fabric – $90

Use a big print to re-cover a boring old wing chair, and you’ve got an ideal marriage between this daring, linear trend and your own style.

Urban Outfitters

Folding Library Bookshelf – $279

The lines of this bookshelf are so fascinating, I would hate to see it filled with books. Leave some open space on those steps, maybe using organic vases and succulents to split it up.

m.urbanoutfitters.com

Abstract Shower Curtain – $24

Bathrooms are a terrific spot for moving a tiny layout mad, and also this energizing shower curtain doesn’t disappoint. In fact, it may help wake you up first thing in the afternoon.

Etsy

Wave Bracelet by Nervoussystem – $80

Three-dimensional printing is taking the design world by storm. This bracelet is a fascinating example of what is possible: blending organic forms and contemporary lines.

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Would not it be lovely to put in your bedroom at the end of a long day to find a clean, tranquil oasis of calm instead of a tangled disarray of dirty laundry and piles of clutter?

If that looks like a stretch, then you are not alone. It could be simple to put off decorating and sprucing up this personal zone, but because sleep (and by extension, quality of life) depends upon it, it is worth it to create your bedroom a location you can not wait to relax.

The following steps cover simple tasks (most of that may be finished in a weekend) that will make your bedroom cleaner, fitter, less cluttered and more serene — a gorgeous, harmonious space where you are able to let go of daily.

1. Envision a deeply restorative area. The best way to begin any design project is using a clear vision of your hopes for the final result. Have a moment to ponder what your ideal bedroom area would look like and how it would feel — that the odor, the textures, the noises. Create as clear an image as you can, and hold that in your mind while you move forward with the project.

Incorporated

2. Wash the air. Air quality affects health and wellbeing, and poor air quality may affect sleep. The easiest way to clean the air in your bedroom is just to open your windows. Dedicate to letting fresh air in your bedroom for 10 or more minutes every day, and the air quality is sure to improve. To take it a step further, you might choose to add several potted plants and an air purifier.

Incorporated

3. Limit technology and remove emotional jumble. Once you visualized your ideal bedroom, I’d bet it was not full of clutter or the tangle of wires dangling from your notebook. Giving yourself a break from technology apparatus during the night will help promote deeper rest and is probably a good idea healthwise too.

Additionally, take a moment to consider the situations you have saved on your bedroom. Are there any boxes of bills and paperwork that make your stomach knot every time you see them? Piles of clothing that no longer fit, workout tools you don’t utilize or photos of friends you’ve got a tense relationship with? Each of these things can give rise to anxiety and sleeplessness, so out they need to go.

4. Clean thoroughly and naturally. Often our bedrooms fall way down to the base of our cleaning to-do listing, just because not many others have to observe these personal spaces. But keeping your bedroom tidy and dust-free is essential for creating a healthy, restful atmosphere. It is time to stop procrastinating and break out the cleaning materials.

Working with an all-purpose natural cleaner hot water and a microfiber cloth, wash bookshelves, windowsills and baseboards, where paint dust and chips have a tendency to collect. In case you’ve got a hanging light fixture or fan, mirror, mantel or window shades, give those a wipedown too. Vacuum floors and mop (for hard floors) or steam wash (for rugs).

A+B KASHA Designs

5. Leave your shoes at the doorway. Now your bedroom is clutter-free and wash, it is time to devote to keeping it that way. Start a no-shoes plan — in your entire house if it is possible, but at least in the bedroom. Put a basket or table outside your bedroom door to remind one to drop work materials, cell phones and other gadgets before entering your new zone of tranquil.

Organic Chamber Pillows – $29

6. Create an organic bed. If you’re in need of a new mattress (and can afford to spring for this) by all means go for a few of the wonderful organic versions in the marketplace today. However, if not, this doesn’t mean you can not green up your mattress. Consider topping your mattress with a natural mattress pad and adding organic pillows and sheets. Organic goods are so mainstream now, they may be found at all price points.

West Elm, for example, is a great source for organic bedding basics, such as the organic cushions exhibited here, and enjoyable sheets at a affordable price.

A+B KASHA Designs

7. Consider the walls and flooring. While it does require more effort than any of the prior measures, addressing your walls and flooring is an important part of creating a more ecofriendly bedroom. If you’re looking to change the wall color, seek out paint comprising low or no volatile organic chemicals (VOCs). In case you’ve got older, peeling paint that may contain lead, use caution and seek professional advice for the best way to cover it.

For the ground, I suggest picking hard flooring over wall-to-wall carpets, which is notoriously hard to wash and will contain VOCs. If you already have wall-to-wall carpeting set up, you may opt to have it removed or just cover a lot of it using a natural fiber area rug.

The Couture Rooms

8. Pick the right color palette to suit your needs. Can you find it even more difficult to get to sleep at night or to get going in the morning? Should you need help unwinding during the night, picking cool colours such as blue, lavender, silver and gray can set you in the ideal frame of mind to relax. On the flip side, if you conk out through the night and need to hit the snooze button multiple times before pulling yourself out of bed, you might choose to place warm, energizing tones, such as stone, honey and sunshine yellow, to work for you.

Tell us : What would your ideal tranquil bedroom look like? Dish on the details below.

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Getting mail is just one of the best parts of the day — as long as you’re expecting more than junk mail. Particular houses only call for an attached mailbox that adds curb appeal. When it’s hanging around your front porch, the garage or the wall enclosing the house, right mailbox is one of the details that can’t be overlooked. Following is a little design inspiration for choosing your box.

Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

First things first: Before you get excited about transferring your street-side box to front porch, be certain you contact the U.S. Postal Service. You may be able to move at will, but your mailbox needs consent.

Mahoney Architects & Interiors

If you’re building a new fence or wall, it’s a great time to consider where you would like your mailbox to be. Would you like it on your porch so you can reach it easily? Or is your daily walk to the mailbox somewhat of a treasured ritual?

Should you fall somewhere in the middle, creating your mailbox into the wall around your house could be the ideal option. It will blend seamlessly into your house’s construction, and you’ll still get your daily walk.

Michael Lee Architects

When it comes to picking the dimensions, there are no rules. If you’re the sort of person who gets bigger packages and enjoys your accessories to produce an impression, then a bigger, bolder-color box is most likely right for you. If you’d rather your design elements mix together, then a bigger box might be just right.

Either way, it’s a fantastic idea to tape off the measurements of the box you’re contemplating on the potential place with masking tape. This will allow you to get an notion of just how much space you’ll truly be using. If you’d prefer not to have a mailbox in any way, a mail slot at your front door is always an alternative.

Sicora Design/Build

Many homeowners pick the colour of the mailbox dependent on the colour of their house and another accessories on their own porch and front lawn. Black is our favourite option for adding contrast and curb appeal. It is clean and classic and stands out.

Spiritual Rice Architects, Inc..

If black seems too harsh, think about the other materials on your home. Copper is a gorgeous option that weathers into a stunning patina. It works particularly well when your home has copper gutters or flashing.

Restyled Home

This scrolled mailbox is almost as charming as the cabin itself. When contemplating choices from the supersimple to the curly, scrolled and ornate, be aware that the primary rule for picking a mailbox is the same as for picking art: Find one that speaks for you, and it’s hard to go wrong.

GI Designs

Teardrop-Style Copper Mailbox – $800

This copper box is an ideal color choice from brick. The tones and shades mix together beautifully.

Pottery Barn

Antique Envelope Mailbox – $49

For the appearance of aluminum with no cost, this mail pouch is available in bronze and nickel.

Etsy

Conventional Modern Mailbox by Austin Outdoor Studio – $245

A modern exterior calls to get a coordinating mailbox. This decision is sleek, stylish and up-to-date.

Ecco E7 Wall-Mount Mailbox – $167

This mailbox is a good compromise between the very straightforward and the heavily ornate. It’s just enough detail to stand out but not so much that it occupies attention.

Ecco E6 Victorian Wall-Mount Mailbox – $118

To blend in with the appearance of an older dwelling, this Victorian mailbox is a fantastic option. It coordinates nicely with the texture of the home.

Have a Fantastic mailbox? Please post a photo below!

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A lean-to describes a roof using one slope, or to a construction that has three walls and one sloping roof. Lean-tos can likewise be exterior additions that abut an present wall and have a roof that slants downward.

Lucid Architecture

The reduced roofline in this image is really a lean-to roof, and the upper is called a skillion. Combining the two creates a fantastic area for clerestory windows.

Blackburn Architects, PC

Lean-tos were added to existing barns to get more storage area.

Sandra Howie

This duplex has two lean-tos.

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One of the ways to go overboard along along with your decor would be to choose natural fibers whenever possible. A go favorite of decorators the world over, natural fibers work in every room in the house. And because they are made from crops and the harmless shedding of animals, organic fibers are free from toxins and completely biodegradable.

Just be sure you’re purchasing products that are untreated. Stain guards, fire retardants and other endings negate some of those eco friendly benefits.

Get inspired from the many methods you may bring these beautiful all-natural materials — from cotton and nubby linen to hemp, wool and silk — into your home.

Chic living rooms. Materials in organic fibers, like a coir or sisal rug and upholstery in linen or cotton, are a grounding choice for any living room strategy. The soft neutral colour and diverse texture of these materials adds warmth and simplicity into a living room, and provides a serene backdrop for the layering of colour, pattern, and shape.

Kate Jackson Design

Easygoing spaces. Crisp white cotton slipcovers may be unexpectedly child and pet friendly — simply throw them in the washing machine to keep them looking brand new. If you crave something softer underfoot, try out a 100 percent wool rug or some wool-silk blend for a luxurious feel. Bamboo blinds are a decorator staple that may go solo for a casual, beachy vibe or be combined with drapes for a sophisticated layered look.

Ecofriendly DIY. Burlap, with its abundant, diverse texture, may be employed to pay virtually anything, from bulletin boards to furniture — even whole walls. Burlap is remarkably affordable and seems particularly chic as a background choice with a nailhead trim. Search for traces of burlap in the local hardware or fabric shop, but do check to make sure it’s untreated.

Liz Williams Interiors

A natural sleep. The bedroom is a great place to start incorporating more organic and natural fabrics. Create a serene area with layers of blankets, blankets and cotton sheets. Or attempt linen sheets. They are not cheap, but they last forever, feel great and look as though they belong in a Tuscan villa.

LDa Interiors & Architecture

Roman blinds or shades made from pure linen look great in any room in the house, though they are less often seen in bedrooms. Why in the world not? They strike an ideal balance between crisply specifying the window and suggesting ease and softness. If you’re worried about privacy, you may always purchase a top notch style that lets light in from above.

Thom Filicia Inc..

Spalike Information. Since the toilet tends to be a small area, even the tiniest of details can make a large effect. Try fringed cotton hammam-style towels, a rattan or cork stool, and woven baskets for storing requirements in plain sight. Hang a plain cotton bath mat above the bathtub between uses, but leave a “real” wool or silk rug on the ground near the sink for some luxury.

Julie Holloway

Natural elegance. Vintage pieces such as linen or hemp-covered chairs; a hot, neutral rug; table linens in go-with-anything greige or sour chocolate set the stage for vibrant food and conversation.

Tell us What are your favorite all-natural materials to work into your decor?

More:
Stylish, Ecofriendly Furniture
Nontoxic Paint 101

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In case a blue and white nautical theme feels too over the top, evoking a sense of the boat in an area might be a more appropriate style choice. A gorgeous antique model sailboat, recovered sails utilized as cloth or classic pieces from boats no longer in usage are great ways to recreate the feel of the ocean. For boaters and seafaring people, bringing a bit of a favourite hobby house can make it seem like summer annually.

Lisa Tharp Design

As the centerpiece on a dining table or an accessory on a desk, a classic sailboat conjures the texture of the sea in a sophisticated way.

Made for withstanding wind, rain, water and salt, shade sails are a lasting alternative to a normal awning.

ducduc

The nursery might be among the most fun rooms to decorate, but its design can be the most fleeting. Combining baby touches with decor that can grow with your little one is a great idea. All these sailboats will be stylish even when the crib is a distant memory.

Amy Noel Design

Reclaimed sails can instantly transform an outdoor space into something joyous and fabulous.

Russell

If you can not get into the ship, bring the ship to you. This boat-shape kitchen island is only for the true, unwavering sailing enthusiast.

Town & Country Kitchen and Bath

Accessorizing the kitchen can be complicated, particularly when wall space is at a premium. Using a ledge for a model sailboat is a wonderful way to spice up things.

Halo Design

We love rooms that allow little boys’ big imaginations soar. Even if he isn’t old enough to be the captain of a ship, he could still be the captain of his bed.

Mackle Construction

Three-dimensional artwork makes wall pop. We love how this gorgeous sailboat instantly draws the eye.

Shannon Malone

Sailcloth or a mini boat isn’t the only way to integrate a boat feel into your decor. This antique sailboat ladder is a gorgeous touch without being too gory.

Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID

If you aren’t spending a day at sea, enjoying the view of the pool out of a lounge chair complete with its own sails is the next best thing.

More:
Guest Picks: 19 Ideas for Nautical-Theme Rooms

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I recently learned that many universities now offer advanced degrees in Environmental Decision Making. I’m not surprised. Even after decades of practicing sustainable design, I find that sussing out the best green products could be challenging. There are many environmental aspects to consider, plus there is a constant barrage of new, better, greener goods. So, save for enrolling in a postdoctorate app, what is a guy or gal to do?

Sorting through the countless choices of any construction material could be made simpler with the assistance of industry-independent organizations who provide their endorsement, or certification, to goods that fulfill the business’s guidelines for sustainability. For countertops, you will find three significant certifications I search:
GreenGuard certifies construction products for low chemical emissions, which improves indoor air quality.Cradle to Cradle focuses on products which are safe for both people and the world, and are also made for a long life cycle.The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) ensures that wood products come, in part, from intelligently chosen forests.Be they accredited, salvaged or recycled and wood, glass or resin, below are a few countertops which get the green light.

Buckminster Green LLC

Salvaged Wood

You will feel great about your selection and add personality and richness from the timber’s history. I look for wood which has a narrative — maybe it is salvaged from a iconographic construction or even from the job’s remodel. Just remember, wood is more susceptible to damage by water and heat, so it is best located away from the sink, dishwasher and range. An island is a great alternative.

Cost:Varies

More about hardwood countertops for the kitchen and bath

Butcher Block

Composed of smaller pieces of wood, butcher block can make great use of reclaimed or stained material. Sustainable butcher block can come from varied sources, including retrieved transport pallets or deconstructed buildings. Your knives will adore this surface and, once it shows any age, it’s possible to just sand the wood somewhat and refinish with a food-grade natural oil.

Cost:$30 to $85 per square foot for the material only

Gardner Architects LLC

Bamboo

Bamboo’s best green feature is it is a rapidly renewable resource, plus it is naturally stronger and harder than most other hardwoods. Teragren, one of the best-known producers, offers an FSC-certified product called FSC-Pure. Be aware, however, that nearly all commercial bamboo stems from China, therefore a lot of energy goes into transporting the product to the USA.

Cost: $26 to $36 per square foot for the material only

Brennan + Company Architects

Recycled Paper

Paperstone, one of many recycled paper counter materials, is FSC certified and made of 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper, petroleum-free pigment and resin. It has a handsome monolithic look, and its texture is often compared to some warm, soft rock, like soapstone. The material is just heat resistant to 350 degrees, so you need to exercise care with your hottest utensils.

Cost: $18 to $30 per square foot for the material only

Agrestal Designs

Squak Mountain Stone – Hazel

Squak Mountain

Squak Mountain’s countertop reproduces the handsome and natural flaws of rock using a mixture of recycled paper and glass along with cement. This can be a stout and durable countertop; however, like stone or concrete, it’s susceptible to rust and etching, therefore either use additional care or embrace the patina.

Cost: $30 to $40 per square foot for the material only

Kitchen Countertops

IceStone

Engineered glass countertops differ greatly in appearance. IceStone, which can be Cradle to Cradle certified, gives an opaque, refined character with its own fine glass particles put in pigmented concrete. Because the material is porous, recommendations involve sealing twice a year, so make sure you’re up for the upkeep.

Cost: $40 to $54 per square foot for the material only

Woodmeister Master Builders

Bio-Glass

Bio-Glass, yet another recycled glass countertop material with Cradle to Cradle certification, has an ethereal, translucent look, as it is made of 100 percent glass. Much like glass-based counters, it is not knife friendly, so maintain your cutting boards useful.

Cost: $85 to $115 per square foot for the material only

Beckwith Interiors

Resin

The recycled-content resin-based counter options from 3-Form never fail to spark creativity with their innumerable colours, designs and finishes. Their products are PVC free, and GreenGuard has accredited the Varia EcoResin, Chroma, 100 Percent and Alabaster lines. The business walks the green talk by working toward zero waste and being neutral.

Cost: $28 to $105 per square foot for the material only

Studio William Hefner

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel consists of 60 percent recycled material and, since it can be recycled over and over, has an extended useful life. This item offers top-notch durability that stands up to commercial kitchens and their strict criteria for cleanliness. Perfectionists take note: Keeping stainless steel absolutely free of smudges and watermarks can be a chore.

Cost: $45 to $65 per square foot for the material just

More about stainless steel counters

Ken Levenson Architect P.C.

Concrete

Concrete counters might be terrific green choice if they are sourced locally or cast in place (transporting heavy slabs great spaces absorbs a lot of energy). Additionally, start looking for low-impact aggregates, such as raised coal fly ash, and recycled paper or glass.

Cost: $60 to $75 per square foot for the material just (precast slabs)

Inform us What’s your preferred eco friendly countertop?

More:
Kitchen Countertops 101: Choosing a Surface Material
Alternatives to Granite Countertops

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Most of us have favorite pictures, such as family photographs or graphics, we want to display. But there are many different options beyond framed pieces you can use for colour and interest in your interior design. Whether it comes from a group of memorabilia, organic items or covering an whole wall in an interesting substance, decorating with texture and dimension makes a completely different design statement.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

Use natural substances as sculptural items or simply for their feel. These 3 forms of coral on subtle acrylic shelves add much attention for this elegant dining room.

Incorporate a mural into the scheme. There are so many talented artists who will paint favorite traveling schemes, landscape, and interesting vignettes for any room in the home. The mural encompassing this table enables you to feel as though you’re in a few remote and romantic location in the Far East. What a fantastic room in which to spend the evening with friends and family.

Brownhouse Design, Los Altos, CA

The walls in this bathroom are coated in a mural, so there’s less demand for extra artwork. The simple branches and flowers wrapped round the corners cause your eye to flow round the room which makes the space feel bigger.

Tip: When functioning in a smaller room, considering decorative components that move the eye around the room. This may a wall treatment, horizontally oriented artwork or well-structured vignettes scattered about.

Anita Roll Murals

There’s something really special about creating a”tree” from which to hang artwork. It produces a feeling of whimsy and fantasy in a kid’s room.

inspirationCOLOR – Jacki Tate

The wall in this boy’s room is filled with memorabilia from his love of sport. The colour and texture in the medals, ribbons, banners and jersey personalize the distance.

Charlie & Co.. Design, Ltd

This wall at the end of a table is covered in stone to make a one-of-a-kind focus. The juxtaposition of the rough stone, candlelight, slick furnishings — with a little greenery to soften the edges — is a lesson in contrasts and equilibrium.

Tracy Murdock Allied ASID

I tell customers all the time to leave space in their walls or shelves for a collection. There’s something rewarding about the search for intriguing or special items — even tiny liquor bottles. Two back-lit glass cabinets highlight the collection, developing a wall like no other.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Thus, you do not have two large back-lit screen cases? Put sturdy shelves over a buffet or built-in cabinet and meet a collection of sculptural bowls. The mild celery-green walls are a perfect backdrop to each of these wood tones.

A stunning monochromatic group of dishes, platters, tureens and cake racks fill a conventional built-in buffet — and negate any need for additional artwork in this dining room.

Klang & Associates

Produce architectural interest with wall-hung fretwork. A deep, chocolate brown wall and simple panels create a stunning focal wall. I love how the panels play the modified ladder-back chairs.

For additional interesting wall hangings such as these, consider shopping at a regional antiques store. There are many carved panels coming out of China or other South Pacific nations nowadays which will also work beautifully.

What are some other items that you’ve hung in your walls instead of conventional framed artwork?

More: Art of the Unusual
10 Layout Strategies for Art Lovers
20 Alternatives to Fine Art

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