You Said It: ‘What’s Your Time Worth?’ and More Houzz Quotables

Sometimes the ideabooks that I highlight tell me what’s been on my brain that week. For example, this week I can tell I’m missing living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia, that I long for a real garden, and I dream of having a pool in my small, sloped, jungle of a yard. Escaping into these ideabooks reminds me that I’m spending too much time avoiding the oppressive humidity in the air conditioning and miss nature, but wow, that walk to Piedmont Park last night at 8:00 was ridiculously sweaty. If only I had a small pool, perhaps in the side yard. I digress; here are some of the profound, the beautiful and the bookmark-worthy highlights from Houzz this week.

“Water just what you need to.” — Marianne Lipanovich

Whether your region is suffering a drought or not, conserving water is paramount. Lipanovich show us how to make the most of this resource by watering in the morning (“Consider it your garden’s morning caffeine jolt”), creating watering basins and furrows, grouping plants in blocks and more.

Full story: Edible Gardening Essentials: Watering Tips Worth Soaking Up


“Life’s dreamy moments, intimate snuggles or quiet conversations need a spot where they can occur.” — Debra Prinzing

So often we let our side yards go to waste because they aren’t the size and shape we think can be useful. Get ideas for your own makeover from this collection of clever side yards, including an outdoor lounge, a dining area, a party zone, an edible garden, a sporty space and a foyer.

Full story: 8 New Uses for Your Side Yard


“But when your backyard is on the small side, a swimming pool can seem like an impossible dream.” — Laura Gaskill

You may be thinking your yard is too small for a pool. Perhaps you can’t fit one Michael Phelps could work out in, but there’s a good chance you have plenty of room for one that will give you that cooling dip you crave. Some of these could even fit in a side yard.

Full story: 8 Ideas for Petite Pools


“Let’s find a solution for your sloping yard that really works for your lifestyle, then discuss how to build a garden around it.” — Jay Sifford

Speaking of challenging yards, a sloped one might make you feel a bit hopeless about gardening. Before you give up on those hills, read Sifford’s suggestions for retaining walls, terraced steps, boardwalks and strategically placed boulders.

Full story: How to Design a Great Garden on a Sloped Lot


“We really didn’t want something soulless.” — homeowner Emma Roberts, as told to Annie Thornton

This story gave me a serious case of backyard deck envy. I especially love the way Roberts used a photo of her feet at the beach to inspire the color palette. She also wanted the interior and exterior connection to be seamless, but in a way that always pulled people outside. “We wanted the exterior to be the hero of the whole project,” she says.

Full story: A Melbourne Backyard Entices Everyone Outside


“We want a house where our sheep can graze on our roof.” — clients of Kaplan Thompson Architects

Oh, this is the one that made me miss the Blue Ridge. I thought the exterior of the house was fascinating and held my breath as I read, thinking that the inside might be off-putting, but no, it’s just as breathtaking as the surroundings. The house is not only the clients’ dream home, but it’s also a working farm where they raise water buffalo for cheese production.

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Self-Sufficient Farmhouse With a Sheep-Pasture Roof


“There’s something about the repose of a barn that makes it seem at home in nature.“ — architect Eric Haesloop, as told to Mary Jo Bowling

Yes, there is, and this new barn-like house is an especially beautiful example. Wait ’til you see the living room, presided over by an 8- by 12-foot canvas imprinted with an image of Mexican film star Maria Felix, and its eye-popping valley view.

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Farmhouse in the Dell


“Tip: Use brightly colored cookware as an unexpected source of color in a neutral kitchen like this one.” — Christine Tusher

This is a great idea, particularly if you are lucky enough to be putting together a registry or another kind of wish list for cookware. When you know your pots and pans will be hanging out in the open, think of them as part of the kitchen decor and start a functional collection that accentuates the room’s design.

Full story: Plain-Sight Storage for the Kitchen Stuff You Use Most


“What’s your time worth?” — Fred Albert

So often we sell ourselves cheap, forgetting to factor in what our time is worth when figuring out the true cost of something (not to mention what aggravation and frustration cost us in terms of our energy and sanity!). Albert lays out the pros and cons of hiring a design professional, providing questions that will help you figure out whether or not doing so will be a good individual fit. It’s a must-read for anyone on the fence or intimidated by the thought of hiring an interior designer or decorator. Bookmark it if you aren’t ready now but think you’ll be considering hiring a pro in the future.

Full story: Decorating 101: Do It Yourself or Hire a Pro?


“Before you get started, take a moment to envision the way you want your garage to look when you are done.” — Laura Gaskill

Do you look at the garage here, think about what your own garage looks like and laugh at how unrealistic it would be to try to match it? Chances are you’ve got, say, a stack of strollers, trikes and Radio Flyers in there, and your youngest is headed off to college. Maybe you spring for a weekly landscaper but still have a stockpile of idle mowers and garden tools. It’s not going to be easy, but clear a weekend to get it done. Gaskill lays out a strong plan to get organized and maybe even make room for a car or two in there.

Full story: 7-Day Plan: Get a Spotless, Beautifully Organized Garage

What did your favorite ideabooks tell you about yourself this week? Did they inspire you to clean out the garage, add some soul to the backyard or show off your pots and pans? Please let us know in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘What’s Your Time Worth?’ and More Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-23712.html