You Said It: ‘Limit the Gifts’ and More Houzz Quotables

The running theme I found in this week’s ideabooks was a lighthearted sense of enjoying our homes, whether it be through showing off collections, remembering to actually use that soaking tub, reusing things we love, making the most out of the front yard, getting color just right or writing the funniest thing we can think of on a chalkboard wall. Perhaps it’s all the holiday cheer in the air and the rum balls we’re chowing down, but everyone seems to be in the mood for some fun. Enjoy it while you can, because come January we’ll be getting a little more serious about getting things done and organizing!

“Limit the gifts.” — Alison Hodgson

While Hodgson’s family doesn’t quite stick to the ‘Principle of the Three Wise Men’ of giving three gifts (one thing needed, one thing wanted and one surprise), they are thoughtful about editing the gifts down to a level where things are still meaningful.

Full story: Gift Giving the Simple-ish Way


“One quick trip to the local coal mine … done.” — Houzz user chambers1589

Sometimes a comment makes me burst out laughing, sitting here by myself with my laptop like a crazy person. This one did just that today. The conversation going on in the Comments section for Alison Hodgson’s aforementioned story is a really, really good one!

Full story: Gift Giving the Simple-ish Way


No words here, just hilarious illustrations that are worth a thousand of them.

Full story: Find Your Christmas Tree Personality


“For the dining room, Poris designed a reclaimed wood table around sections of a 20-foot-long grain auger — a machine that moves grain from wagons to silos — that are used as legs. The tabletop is crafted from old-growth wood mottled with nail rust marks. The benches and buffets were made by a local artist, and the light was fashioned from a 1950s-era bell frame.” — Mary Jo Bowling

This home has some of the most clever and original reclaiming and reusing projects I’ve seen. The whole house is full of history and really interesting details. While there were a slew of fantastic home tours on the site this week, if you have time to peruse only one of them, I recommend this one.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Hand Crafting Rehabs a Michigan Farmhouse


“I lived here for a year before I used the tub,” says Enman. “I really have to do it more often and make a point of enjoying every room in my home.” — Jenn Hannotte

When was the last time you enjoyed your formal living room, dining room or guest room? Make a point to seek out new favorite spots in your home.

Full story: My Houzz: Reviving a 1902 Row House in Toronto


“The couple has collected bottle caps over the years and incorporated them into the top of the outside bar. (The orange caps were arranged to spell out the family name.)” — Mina Brinkey

I love seeing different things people collect and how they display them. Bottle caps on an outdoor bar are downright poetic.

Full story: My Houzz: Collected and Creative Appeal in Tampa


“Even large paper swatches from paint companies can’t compare to what you learn when you paint on the wall in the finish you are considering. Always paint test patches before committing to a color.” — Amy Krane, as told to Tiffany Carboni

Go for the 2-foot by 2-foot sample on the wall. It’s worth the extra effort.

Full story: Paint-Picking Help and Secrets From a Color Expert


“ I would never advocate using a color for your backsplash just because it’s trending, as the expense and hassle of changing it once the trend passes are much too great. So if you aren’t sure you’d want this color in your kitchen for very long, paint it on a wall instead. It’ll be much easier (not to mention affordable) to swap out down the road.” — Jennifer Ott

Sage words; if you’re doing something for the sake of being on trend, make it something that’s easy and inexpensive to replace when the next trend comes along.

Full story: Kitchen Color: 15 Beautiful Blue Backsplashes


“The Shoup family moved into a nonatrium Eichler. Stephen created his own courtyard by installing a fence with horizontal planks in the front yard.” — Mary Jo Bowling

Sometimes we forget how much design potential our front yards have. A front courtyard creates a true outdoor room and enhances the sense of entry. It also improves the facade on this home, in my humble opinion.

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Marinwood Eichler Evolves


“Creating a sense of order and coherence in our homes will promote those same qualities in ourselves, Bloch maintains.” — Fred Albert

According to Albert’s review, it seems that Karen Lehrman Bloch’s beautiful new book, The Inspired Home: Interiors of Deep Beauty, inspires decluttering even more powerfully than watching a marathon of Hoarders on A&E. It sounds like we should all pick it up on January 1, when we’re all fired up with resolutions.

Full story: The Seduction of Reduction


“Remember … As far as anyone knows, we’re a perfectly normal family.” — hilarious homeowners

Usually I would not include an ideabook I wrote in one of these roundups, but Houzz user Joanne Padvaiskas told me to, and I aim to please. So in the spirit of all the fun I saw this week all over Houzz, I collected the best chalkboard art I’ve seen around the site.

Full story: The Best Chalkboard Wall Art on Houzz

URL: You Said It: ‘Limit the Gifts’ and More Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22306.html