‘A Little Bold Color Goes a Long Way’ and Other Houzz Quotables

Does anyone else feel a bit scattered this week? Between traveling, holiday prep and dramatic changes in the weather, I’ve had trouble figuring out which task to tackle first. But this week’s Houzz stories gave us good projects to choose from, whether prepping our homes for winter, making a wreath, decking the mantel, making plans for a reclaimed-wood wall or choosing a new color palette that balances a bold hue with complementary neutrals. Oh, and I learned something new and interesting: In 17th-century Scotland, castles included their version of a panic room, and it was called a laird’s lug. Here are just a few of this week’s highlights.

“My father-in-law’s Santa collection, now displayed every Christmas on the mantelpiece in our dining room.” — Houzz user kpelk

I love seeing how Houzzers are decorating for the holidays! Please keep adding your mantels to the post below so that we can keep the tradition going. If enough of you do it, I will be able to post a fresh roundup with your 2014 holiday mantels.

Full story: 25 Gorgeous Holiday Mantels by Houzzers


“Follow along to create your own fresh front door adornment.” — Rikki Snyder

More than a thousand of you have already bookmarked this much-needed, superhelpful how-to! I love Snyder’s wreath-making series, which also includes how to make a twiggy natural wreath and how to make a eucalyptus and juniper wreath.

Full story: Make a Traditional Fresh Holiday Wreath the Easy Way


“A few years ago, I inherited a collection of my grandmother’s china that I simply couldn’t part with. Every visit to her house had consisted of cups of tea, a slice of jam-oozing sponge cake with generous dollops of cream, remarks on the escalating price of eggs and gossip about the relatives. She was a lady of small means, but she was proud of her dishes. I loved the thought of her generous hands holding her favorite cup while she sipped Earl Grey.” — Cate Holst

I tried to cut this quote down a little, but I loved every word too much. Holst expresses what these items mean to her so beautifully. Then she goes on to show us the wonderful way she honored her grandmother’s treasures, repurposing them into something she’ll use and enjoy every day.

Full story: Create a Pretty Jewelry Stand From Vintage China


“Put your mind at ease that you are prepared for emergencies by making sure you have a well-stocked emergency kit in the house and in the trunk of your car.” — Laura Gaskill

OK, so those were some fun projects, but it’s time to get serious for a minute. Make sure you and your home are ready for storms, freezing temperatures, emergencies, gloppy boots, snowy hats, gift wrapping and guests. Gaskill talks us through it all.

Full story: To-Dos: Your December Home Checklist


“Indeed, Marsala, Pantone’s pick for 2015, does remind me of a pair of Toughskins pants I sported as a kid growing up in the 1970s.” — Jennifer Ott

This made me laugh, because as soon as I saw this color, I thought, “Ah … um … hmmph?” and wondered how the earthy tone would work in fashion and cars and the like, as Pantone’s color pick isn’t just about home decor. I’m really curious to read what you all think of the choice. Take a look at Ott’s guidance on where to use it and how to complement and contrast it around the home and see if it colors your opinion.

Full story: How to Use Marsala, Pantone’s 2015 Color of the Year


“After all, a little bold color goes a long way, and it’s all too easy to go from ‘wow!’ to ‘ouch.’” — Jennifer Ott

If you’ve checked it out and decided Marsala is not for you, don’t fret; Ott offers lots of other options in other ideabooks. With her keen eye for color, she shows us in this one how to punch up a neutral palette with coral, cranberry, nectarine orange, soft yellow, gold, fern green, teal, navy and purple. More important, she shows us the neutrals that work with them, sharing the specific paint colors.

Full story: How to Give Neutral Paint Colors a Subtle Jolt


“In any reclaimed-wood pile, there will be unusable scraps. The key is finding pieces in good condition that are not overly warped.” — Rebecca Pogson

We’ve all been tracking the trend of reclaimed wood accent walls, and it seems the warm texture they bring to a space gives them staying power. But many of us attracted to the idea haven’t committed because we don’t know the nitty-gritty details. Pogson helps us with advice on the best spots to place a reclaimed-wood wall, how to choose the best boards, color palettes that complement it, who to hire and which tools you’ll need if you decide to do the installation yourself.

Full story: What to Know About Adding a Reclaimed-Wood Wall


“The laird [proprietor] of the castle needed to have somewhere to hide should the castle be attacked. It’s between floors, so you wouldn’t know it existed. That’s typical of castles.” — architect James Maxwell

I loved this entire story so much. I expected a castle built in 1620 to be cold and damp, but an extensive renovation has made this 11-bedroom dwelling, dare I say, downright cozy! The story is also full of interesting nuggets, like the explanation of the laird’s lug. I had no idea they had panic rooms in the 17th century.

Full story: Houzz Tour: New Warmth for a 17th-Century Scottish Castle

Did you learn something new or start a project because of a Houzz story this week? What are the top five things on your project list? Please share with us in the Comments.

URL: ‘A Little Bold Color Goes a Long Way’ and Other Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25168.html