You Said It: ‘It's Not for Everyone, and That’s Fine’

This week on Houzz we found advice about Super Bowl Sunday, ways to get the kids to put down the Wii, how to help our brains and bodies with scents around the house, good ways to light up dark basements and more. In case you didn’t get to all the stories and guides, here are some of the highlights.

“You don’t always have to use Carrara marble to make interesting stuff.” — Brennan Cox

Nothing against the lovely Carrara, but this statement applies to just about every room in and outside the house. In addition, California’s drought situation should have all of us thinking about being wiser about water use, so the timing of Annie Thornton’s story couldn’t be better.

Full story: A Family-Friendly California Yard Wises Up About Water



Football Play on Chalkboard Print by Howard Sokol - $24.99 “My goal in throwing a successful Super Bowl party is keeping everyone happy, well fed and comfortable.” — Sarah Macklem

Are you ready for some football? I’m in it for the commercials, Bruno Mars and the Skyline chili dip myself.

Full story: Touchdown! How to Host a Winning Super Bowl Party



“It’s not for everyone, and that’s fine.” — Jeffrey Pelletier, of his exuberant painted lady in Seattle.

Hallelujah! Someone expressing their individual style and not caring if the people who stop and take pictures every day love it or hate it — it’s something I love to read about.

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Home Built for Legos


“A research team lead by Bryan Raudenbush, an associate professor of psychology at Wheeling Jesuit University, has found that smelling peppermint can help us with tedious physical tasks, such as routine workouts, enhancing our performance and making us think we haven’t worked as hard as we actually have.” — Sally Augustin

Sounds fantastic; sign me up. I am heading to the store to buy a mint plant as soon as I finish typing this.

Full story: 9 Smells You Actually Want in Your Home


“Although these items could be considered misfits on their own, together they form the perfect anchors for a meaningful table setting.” — Sarah Macklem

This is a wonderful idea, and I’ve never seen it executed with such a bold graphic look (it’s usually more of a mostly white Shabby Chic–style table with a few odd teacups mixed in). Go open up those boxes in the attic and put Grandmother’s odd china pieces to good use. It’s a great way to shop your house.

Full story: Got Hand-Me-Down Dinnerware? Make a Memorable Meal


“DuBose broke the space into zones delineated by the floor patterns. The area nearest the door acts as a welcome mat.” — Mary Jo Bowling

This flexible former garage space is just brilliant — spatially, functionally and aesthetically. Sports equipment, a meditation space and a welcoming entry area are made dazzling by the layout and the bold floor she painted that delineates the spaces.

Full story: Room of the Day: The Most Flexible Foyer Ever


“Tossing in a few lamps just won’t do the trick.” — Allison Lind

It’s hard to tell sometimes, because Houzz pros hire amazing photographers, but basement lighting can be very tricky and takes a lot of thought. Pick up some great advice in this ideabook.

Full story: How to Get Your Basement Lighting Right


“Kids need unstructured play in nature, especially diverse nature that has a semblance of the wild and free in it.” — Benjamin Vogt

When I was a kid, I took for granted playing in the tree house, swinging on vines, playing at the bus stop for an hour before school, looking for salamanders and fossils in the creek, and serving as president of the Bob White Fort of Foxtrail Farms. I didn’t realize how kids today need a push outside to run around and play. Vogt’s suggestions on how to help are beautiful and touching.

Full story: Gardening for Happy Kids


“The space is an electronics-free zone — no Wii, no Wi-Fi, no TV.” — Becky Harris

OK, this is me, and I feel cheesy about including it, but my comment is simply paraphrasing what interior designer Justine Sterling relayed to me, so I’m not tooting my own horn. Ideas gleaned from the way she set up this interior space are a good pairing with Vogt’s suggestions for drawing kids outside. She created a space where her kids are at their most creative and aren’t distracted by Angry Birds, Pokéman or texting.

Full story: Basement of the Week: A Creative Space for Kids and Storage for All


“When was the last time you wrote (or received, for that matter!) an actual letter in the mail?” — Laura Gaskill

I’ve been trying to be better about writing letters and postcards in 2014; I write so seldom that my handwriting is officially worse than my doctor’s. But I’m determined to receive something other than the Savvy Shopper coupons and a bunch of bills in my mailbox, and to do the same for my loved ones who live far away.

Full story: Simple Pleasures: Spoil Yourself

Your turn: Did anything on Houzz strike a chord with you this week? Are you implementing an idea you read about? Please let us know in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘It's Not for Everyone, and That’s Fine’ http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-22686.html