You Said It: ‘I’m Never Leaving’ and More Houzz Quotables

This collection of some of my favorite Houzz moments from the week is all over the place, but that’s a good thing — variety is what keeps me coming back for more. One writer broke down back-to-school routines while another broke down the painting “American Gothic.” I learned the ins and outs of installing glass garage doors in a living space and the ins and outs of disclosure forms. We toured three homes where the owners absolutely loved their beds for various reasons and learned about very small-space living from a modest Manhattan apartment and a tiny California house. I also got to break up my day by taking an amusing quiz, with surprising results. Here are some of my favorite highlights from Houzz this week.

“It’s not temporary. I’m never leaving.” — tiny-house owner Vina Lustado, as told to Mitchell Parker

While the Tiny House movement is very interesting to me, so far most of the examples I’ve seen are too rustic and sparse for my taste. This tiny house, owned and planned out by a designer, is turning me around. All of the attractive multifunctioning pieces and well-curated accessories, and the lovely setting of Lustado’s efficient home, are very appealing. For example, a well-placed skylight over her loft bed lets her admire the stars as she nods off each night.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Going off the Grid in 140 Square Feet


“Look closely at the house in the painting, and you’ll see a bright green screen door making a colorful statement. Given the dour expressions and conservative clothes of the subjects, it’s akin to a woman in a scarlet evening dress driving a hearse.” — Mary Jo Bowling

This is the cleverest ideabook I read this week, and the analogy above made me giggle. Bowling deconstructs the painting “American Gothic,” then reconstructs it piece by piece into a variety of style secrets. These include tricks from adapting the window’s shape to adding board and batten siding, from hanging an apron in plain sight to hanging tools on the wall.

Full story: So Your Style Is: American Gothic


“Each riser in the reclaimed-wood staircase leading to the sleeping area conceals drawer storage.” — Annie Thornton

In just about any apartment in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighborhood, square footage is scarce, so one needs to make the most of every inch. Each element of this apartment was carefully planned out, including these stairs; there’s also a kitchen island that can serve as a workstation, houses a laundry hamper and can seat 10 for dinner. In addition, the overall design, which includes newly exposed beams and reclaimed wood found at a Brooklyn shipyard, is smart and stunning.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Lofty Ambitions Transform a Manhattan Apartment


“It may seem like a lot, but if you break it down, you really only need to get a few systems in place to have your children coming and going with ease.” — Alison Hodgson

Ring the bell; school’s back in — Hodgson breaks it down! (I’ve always wanted to incorporate MC Hammer lyrics into a Houzz ideabook.) For many of you parents, the first day of school is looming or has already taken place, and Hodgson is here to help you create routines for organizing backpacks, papers, homework space, schedules, lunches and more. She advises not only on how to set up systems but on how to get your school-age children to stick to the routines. After a tough first week, the hard work will keep you from that scene where you’re frantically looking for the permission slip while your kids are still barefoot and lunchless as the bus barrels toward your stop.

Full story: Your Back-to-School Game Plan


“I love my bed!” — artist Lauren Decatur, as told to Rikki Snyder

Sometimes I don’t know if I can stand to call another bedroom “a relaxing retreat,” but it’s exactly what your bedroom should be. Decatur’s room is serene, cozy and full of her personality. If you don’t love your bed, let Decatur’s bedroom inspire you to take a look around your own bedroom. Remove any items that are causing you stress, add a favorite piece of art and pick some fresh flowers for your nightstand.

Full story: My Houzz: Creativity Flows in a New Hampshire Cottage


“Sawits’ favorite part about the master bedroom is the comforting environment and visual interest provided by the bark patterns in the wooden beams overhead. She loves to sit in bed and read under the slanted eaves.” — Rikki Snyder

This is another success story of an inviting bedroom. When a bedroom is not alluring, it’s a recipe for too much late-night Netflix binging and insomnia.

In fact, this entire home is very inviting — its rustic touches give it old Hamptons charm without any of the modern-day Hamptons pretensions. Take the tour and join the Hamptons set for a few minutes, no jitney ride involved.

My Houzz: A Deconstructed Saltbox in the Hamptons


“What should you expect to see in a disclosure agreement? And can you do even more to protect yourself?” — Christine Tusher

I find myself saying this about Tusher’s articles every week, but if you are ever planning to buy a home, bookmark this ideabook! Once you have your heart set on the home you want, getting into the nitty-gritty real estate legalese may make your eyes cross, but you must.

Tusher examines what may be missing from disclosures, why you should be extra thorough when it comes to foreclosures and what some of the potential red flags are in the language.

She also helps you figure out how to research the condition of the house and what kind of pro to hire to help you assess potential disaster areas. Finally, she offers advice for those who, in spite of due diligence, may have been duped by an owner’s knowing lack of disclosure.

Full story: What Those Home-Sale Disclosures Are Really Saying


“I’ve heard complaints from many homeowners who regret putting in a hard flooring material in their kitchen because of the subsequent knee, hip or back pain they feel after standing or walking on it for a long period.” — Jennifer Ott

One thing often undisclosed about some of the most popular flooring options is how unforgiving they can be on the body. Ott walks us through softer alternatives, such as cork, linoleum, bamboo, laminate and more, including the pros, cons and cost per square foot for each.

Full story: 7 Kitchen Flooring Materials to Boost Your Cooking Comfort


“While originally intended for purely utilitarian spaces, some garage doors have adopted such a level of finish and style, you wouldn’t want to park a car anywhere near them.” — Eric Reinholdt

We design writers go on about bringing the outdoors in, but interiors and exteriors don’t get a stronger connection than with an opening the size of a large garage door punched right in between the two. Reinholdt provides us with all the important details, mostly focused on sectional doors, like headroom, tracks, size, materials, operation, thresholds and more.

Full story: Design Workshop: The Case for Big Overhead Doors


“Pick a king:
Louis XVIElvisKing Ranch Casserole”— Mitchell Parker

I know that whenever Mitchell has written the questions, the Houzz quiz will be fun to take. I was surprised to get midcentury — I like the style a lot, but I’ve always thought of myself as a cottage gal. However, note that the quiz says “What style of house should you live in?” Perhaps Huck Finn and martinis are trying to tell me I need more clean lines around me and to stop being such a clutterbug — er, I mean, collector. Were you surprised by your results?

Full story: Houzz Quiz: What Style of House Should You Live In?

What caught your eye on Houzz this week? Please share it in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘I’m Never Leaving’ and More Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-24423.html