You Said It: ‘I Actually Prefer Small Houses’ and Other Quotables

This week we toured some inspiring homes in a range of styles and sizes. We got prepped for the reality of living with renovation construction and for becoming a first-time homeowner. Personally, I got extra excited about learning a new word and how to remember to return my hangers to the dry cleaner. Here are those stories and more of my favorite highlights from the week.

“Here is my lovely bugg, Lady Gerard, enjoying a paddleboard in the pool with her buddies.” — Houzz user sophiapino

It wasn’t fair, having to choose just one of the photos Houzz dog owners have submitted of their summer-loving dogs, but this one slayed me. Whenever I needed my spirits lifted this week, I went back to this Comments section again and again. Please keep them coming.

Full story: Houzz Call: Show Us Your Summer-Loving Dog


“This prickly pear does not have long spines, but don’t be fooled by its relatively smooth appearance — the pads are covered with tiny bristles, called glochids.” — Noelle Johnson

I picked this story because thus far, beavertail prickly pear is my favorite plant name ever. I picked this quote because I learned a new word, “glochid.” I also picked talking about glochids because according to Johnson, removing them from your hands involves white glue or duct tape, which is something you don’t read about every day. This story introduced this East Coaster to a truly fascinating great design plant.

Full story: Great Design Plant: Beavertail Prickly Pear Wows With Color


“Making the right plant choice now will often save time and distress down the road, ensuring the plant thrives in your landscape and does all you dreamed it would when you first read the plant tag.” — Benjamin Vogt

While beavertail prickly pear is a killer name and the plant has bright flowers and glochids, it’s not a great choice for those who live in say, Minnesota. Vogt guides us through how to think beyond the hardiness zone map when choosing the right plants for our landscapes. He provides sources that include climate maps, ecoregion maps and local Pollinator Partners plant lists.

Full story: How to Find the Right Plants for Your Garden


“Take a deep breath and dive into the 11 home maintenance to-dos you’ll need to handle in the first year of buying a home.” — Christine Tusher

If you’re diving into home ownership for the first time, there are all sorts of issues you may not have realized were taken care of by landlords for you in the past. To stay safe and keep bigger maintenance costs down over the long term, review this list. Items including gutters, fireplaces, furnaces, areas with moisture, window and bathroom caulk, and even your garbage disposal will need your attention.

Full story: A First-Time Buyer‘s Guide to Home Maintenance


“I would also add ‘marital stress’ to the list … you think you’re on the same page financially and aesthetically until a major house remodel tests your marriage in ways you didn’t begin to think possible. All that dust, noise, and decision-making can take a toll! (But the party is awfully fun!)” — Houzz user Leslie Kreger

Houzz contributor Anne Higuera is always brimming with great advice to help us plan for and survive a remodel, and knowing exactly what to expect, from “triumphant highs” to “multiple sighs.” The big bonus here is the Comments section, where those who have been through the process are adding lots of advice and their own stories. As I write this, there are already 205 comments, and in addition to the article, I highly recommend giving them a read. And by all means, add your own advice or story if the spirit moves you.

Full story: 11 Things to Expect With Your Remodel


“Almost anything — a pile of wood, a basket of table linens, a row of coffee mugs, a wall rack of glassware — can become a decorative statement when carefully arranged.” — Laura Gaskill

While these money-saving summer style tips were assembled with vacation homes in mind, most of them are applicable to primary residences as well. If you’re ready to make some easy-breezy changes for the season, then rolling up the rugs, repurposing a few hand-me-downs, editing your furnishings down to a spare look, removing upper kitchen cabinet doors and following the other tips here can help you make your home feel like a getaway.

Full story: 15 Ways to Ready a Summer Home on the Cheap


”I actually prefer small houses.” — homeowner Cayley Lambur, as told to Annie Thornton

Thornton points out that no space goes unused in Lambur’s 750-square-foot Venice Beach, California, bungalow. Lambur, an architect, acted as project manager for this remarkable transformation — she managed to get rid of the mold, add functionality and keep the charm of her neglected Craftsman bungalow fixer-upper.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Thrifty TLC Transforms a Beach House


“A simple kitchen with a plastic laminate countertop also helps keeps the view clear. The peninsula range and window sink mean guests never work with their back toward the view.” — Mitchell Parker

And what a view it is. There’s something to be said for fuss-free, subtle finishes that let the surroundings be the star. This guesthouse tour is absolutely awe inducing, from the copper cladding to the playful pipes that support the structure and remind me of one of my favorite Rem Koolhaas projects, Villa dall’Ava. The views from the guesthouse and of it from above, as well as the experience of traversing the steep slope between the it and the main house, drove the design.

Full story: Houzz Tour: A Lakeside Guesthouse Rises to the Challenge


“Since moving into their home in 2010, Ali and Jonny have taken their time to decorate piece by piece, as they believe in building a collection slowly.” — Nanette Wong

This is the key to getting a truly collected look that will infuse your home with your own personality, memories and meaning. Ali and Jonny’s home is full of beloved heirlooms and pieces they have picked up globally, on their world travels, and locally, in their beloved hometown of San Francisco. Almost every piece has a story.

Full story: My Houzz: Eclectic Chic Goes Global in San Francisco


Striped Tote Bags, Vertical - $34“In our family no one wants to hold on to outgrown clothing, dead batteries, returnable bottles and cans, and books we’ve read but don’t love enough to keep. So why can’t we get them out of the house? Why are they piled by the door or on the end of the table, stashed in the back of the pantry or moldering in bags in the garage? Why!” — Alison Hodgson

As I read this, I looked at my giveaway bin that’s been junking up the dining room since May. It’s topped with wire hangers that I’ve missed bringing back to the dry cleaner for the past few trips I’ve made there. Hodgson lays out strategies for scheduling purges and then having stuff actually make it out of the house (and no, carrying them out to the garage does not count.) Because of her, at the very least I vow to get that stuff out of my dining room today. Give it a read, and if you don’t already have a strong system, vow to get one in place this weekend. I promise she makes it easy.

Full story: 9 Exit Strategies for Your Clutter


“When you add the color of the dark thunderclouds so prevalent on a Samoan day, you get yet another magical color combination: green, blue and gray. It fascinates me that a palette born of rain and wind can bring such calm and repose to a room.” — Becky Dietrich

This story caught me from the first few words, and the introduction truly made me laugh out loud. Dietrich’s family sounds like a bunch of people I would love to hang out with, especially in Samoa, which inspired this story. She took stunning elements of the place, from storms to vibrant textured reefs, and showed us the ways they could inspire interior design. It’s a great idea to keep in mind next time you’re going through photos from a favorite trip.

Full story: Travel Takeaways: Design Inspiration From the South Pacific

What struck a chord with you this week? Please share it with us in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘I Actually Prefer Small Houses’ and Other Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-24193.html