You Said It: ‘We Call It Character’

This week the Houzz ideabooks ranged from covering the nitty-gritty details of spray-foam insulation to describing one man’s quest for the perfect mailbox. One writer helped us figure out if we’d love or hate having soapstone counters; another taught us all the ins and outs of building a secret doorway. In terms of inventive architecture, prefab architecture has graduated from ho-hum to fabulous, and intrepid homeowners have created a home out of recycled structures, including a former fast-food Weinerschnitzel restaurant. If that last one doesn’t pique your interest, I don’t know what will. Here are some of the highlights from Houzz this week.

“If you’re telling yourself that constant oiling could keep the counters free of these markings, I recommend you think very carefully about installing soapstone countertops. They will never be perfect, but that’s exactly what those of us who love them most appreciate. We call it character.” — Alison Hodgson

Hodgson does a wonderful job of helping us discover if we’ll be in the love camp or the hate camp when it comes to soapstone. She discloses every little chip and scratch in her own soapstone countertops, and reveals the maintenance required to keep them in tip-top shape.

Full story: Soapstone Counters: A Love Story


“Nestling a sandbox within a planting bed not only will help integrate it into the garden, but also will let kids get up close and personal with plants and the butterflies and birds they attract.” — June Scott

Scott’s article is full of ways to engage your children in your yard. As a bonus, she shows us ways to do it without having the yard completely overrun with play equipment and toys.

Full story: 9 Ways to Make Your Yard More Fun for Kids


“It’s important to understand each material and how it works within your home’s construction and the environment in which you live.” — Mariana Pickering

This photo looks like it’s a still from some movie about a viral outbreak. Which brings up a very important point Pickering makes in her article — not to mess around when it comes to spray-foam insulation (that is, don’t do it wearing shorts and a T-shirt).

In this new series, she will be leading us through thermal insulation options and helping us figure out which one is best for our circumstances. She kicked if off by exploring the pros, cons, misconceptions and potential pitfalls regarding spray polyurethane foam (SPF). This option is able to effectively fill in holes and can be installed with ease. She also leads us through the potential problems that can arise (usually caused by improper mixing of chemicals, bad installation or miscalculating climate-based specs) and how to avoid them.

Full story: Insulation Basics: What to Know About Spray Foam


“I didn’t obsess on it, but it always kind of bothered me.” — homeowner Greg Kelly, as told to Annie Thornton

Kelly is talking about someone’s saying his mailbox’s 1915 design was incongruous with the midcentury architecture of his home. And the quest for a midcentury modern mailbox that followed certainly sounds obsessive to me. In a good way — he tracked down his favorite mailbox design, improved upon it and finally installed the result at the end of his driveway. His beloved Modbox is now in production; if you’re interested in one, check out the Modbox Kickstarter page.

Full story: Follow One Man’s Midcentury Mailbox Dream


“The designer tried 15 shades of paint before he got the color just right.” — Fred Albert

Obsession pays off again. The rich, deep color in this room was worth all of the effort. I enjoyed this tour of a townhouse where every detail was just as carefully considered as this hue. Fabulous trim, floors, ceilings and windows give the new build the look of a home that is 150 years old. Modern surprises add more delight. I could have sworn one painting was a Basquiat, but it turned out it’s a Ralph Turturro (brother of actors John and Nick and cousin of actor Aida).

Full story: Houzz Tour: Artistry and Illusion Season a Baton Rouge Townhouse


“There used to be limitations in design, but today there are none.” — Sheri Koones, in her latest book, Prefabulous World: Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Homes Around the Globe

I thought I had been keeping up with prefab, but after seeing Matthew Ankeny’s coverage of this new book, I realized I was way behind. Koones has scoured the globe looking for the best examples of energy-efficient prefabricated homes, and the examples she’s featured are absolutely stunning. Take a peek in this ideabook.

Full story: 8 Fabulous Prefab Homes Around the World


“The couple took recycling to a new level when they built their home, piecing together a derelict house, a lakeside cabin and a Wienerschnitzel fast-food restaurant — all of which were trucked from their original locations to the homestead.” — Sarah Greenman

I have to admit, any home story that involves the word “weinerschnitzel” grabs my attention, especially when it’s fast-food weinerschnitzels — what? Something tells me that fare was not exactly Von Trapp family lodge caliber, and the building is much better off as part of this Texas co-op. Goats, bottle trees, beekeepers, sculptures, edible gardens … this is one of the most interesting and inventive homes I’ve toured in a while. Don’t miss it.

Full story: My Houzz: A Handcrafted Bohemian Homestead in Texas


“And no, under your mattress or at the bottom of your sock drawer isn’t going to cut it.” — Mitchell Parker

I remember when my family was searching for a home outside of Boston in the late ‘80s; my father had his eye out for a bookcase that opened to a secret room like his aunt had had in her 200-year-old colonial home when he was a boy. I always thought of it as a feature found in an older home, but today’s designers are embracing this Murder Mystery Night kind of feature. Parker leads us through the options and the costs and time required to conceal a secret room with a bookshelf.

Full story: How to Create a Secret Doorway Behind a Bookcase


“Of course, some people with large spaces want to use their laundry room as a craft or sewing area, mudroom or dog washing station, or to hide the litter boxes. These are very specific to each of us; planning spaces with a little extra room for these functions lets individual habits dictate.” — Steven Randel

Once relegated to tight closet spaces, laundry rooms have expanded exponentially. It’s not all about luxury; these utilitarian spaces are the hardest-working rooms in the house, incorporating features like coat and boot storage, gift wrapping stations and spots for ironing and drying. Randel walks us through how high countertops should be, where to place the sink, how deep cabinets should be and how much room to leave so that the washer-dryer doors can swing open and allow room for people to pass by. Just because these rooms are utilitarian, they don’t need to have a stripped-down look; Randel also shows us a variety of finishes to glam them up or give them another unique style. If you’re building new or remodeling anytime soon, bookmark this ideabook for future reference.

Full story: Key Measurements for a Dream Laundry Room

URL: You Said It: ‘We Call It Character’ http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-23893.html