You Said It: ‘Work With the Space You Are Given’ and More

We’re more than a week into January, and let’s keep that 2015 resolve going strong. It’s not easy. I can sense my motivation just beginning to wane — how about you? Houzz helped snap me back this week. Stories showed us how to make our home workout spaces more motivating, keep our homes well stocked with just enough stuff and create mudrooms that stop clutter at the door, and gave us seven stylish and ecofriendly ways to get rid of the lawn. Here are a few of the highlights from this week on Houzz.

“The motivation to use your workout space is often the hardest part.” — Laura Gaskill

If the only time of the year you seem to keep a regular workout schedule is January, you need all the help you can get in keeping it up after your new year’s resolve wears off. Gaskill lays out easy ideas to make your workout as pleasant and safe as possible, with tips like using nonslip floors, putting workout programs and entertainment devices within easy reach, keeping storage areas neat and more.

Full story: 10 Elements of an Inspiring Workout Zone


“Sometimes you just have to work with the space you are given.” — designer Arielle Weedman

Acceptance is half the battle. Instead of wishing for a different space, shake off what you don’t like about it, clear your mind and come up with solutions, as Weedman did here. One of her favorite mudrooms is this space, where she created a landing zone with hooks and shoe racks just inside the door.

Full story: Mudrooms That Really Clean Up


“I love living two blocks from the market. I walk there and shop a few times a week. When reconfiguring our kitchen to make room for a powder room, we were able to do away with two sets of kitchen cabinets because we don’t keep an overstocked pantry.” — Houzzer carolbrandywine, in the Comments section

It’s a very American thing to hit the supermarket once a week and stock up, and if that’s all your schedule allows, that’s perfectly fine, of course. But if you are trying to get into new eating habits, shopping more frequently can give you a nudge toward a healthier lifestyle, with less waste. You’re more likely to get exactly what you need, buy less processed food and add more fresh produce to your diet. If you are within walking distance of the store, even better.

Full story: The Well-Stocked Minimalist


“Having too many upper cabinets in a small kitchen can make the space feel confined. Consider replacing those blank boxes with something more unexpected, such as open shelving or a bank of windows.” — Marty Buckenmeyer

If you’re going to the market more frequently and requiring less pantry cabinet storage space, you can incorporate this tip. It’s practically ingrained in us that all of our lower cabinets should automatically have a matching upper overhead. But with all of the great advances in the way lower cabinets are laid out and organized these days, it’s much easier to forgo some of the storage overhead, making a kitchen seem much more open and airier.

Full story: 6 Smart Ways to Work Your Square Footage


“I wanted to be able to use this kitchen without struggling as much as I have in the past.” — homeowner Dave Cornis, as told to Jeannie Matteucci

I loved touring this kitchen in Washington state, not only because it is beautiful but also because the photographs helped me understand how its universal design features work with Cornis’ wheelchair. Those features include engineered bamboo flooring that can stand up to a wheelchair, recessed cabinets under the sink for easy access, a 6-inch-deep sink, a two-drawer dishwasher, a low wall range, ample floor space for rotating the chair and more.

Full story: Kitchen of the Week: Good Looking and Accessible to All


“In addition to creating a much more inviting outdoor space, eliminating the lawn has minimized garden maintenance, reduced water use and welcomed the birds and bees back into the garden.” — Annie Thornton

Perhaps 2015 will be the year you rethink your landscape. Thornton’s article goes beyond the iconic American lawn with this roundup of six spectacular yards where the turf was nixed

Full story: See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

More: Before and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden


“They protect against floods, maximize views and allow homeowners to build on rocky, steep or unstable land. They also keep out animals and vermin, provide ventilation under the house and minimize a house’s footprint.” — Rebecca Gross

I interviewed designers and homeowners regarding two different post–Hurricane Sandy rebuild projects this week for future stories — one had to tear down her Connecticut home completely and start over with a first floor 6 feet off the ground; the other decided to jack his existing Jersey Shore home up a story. So it was very interesting and timely for me to see a wide variety of homes built up off the ground and read about the benefits beyond hurricane protection.

Full story: Stilt Houses: 10 Reasons to Get Your House Off the Ground


“Rather than completely remaking the home, they built on its existing character by refurbishing and reusing existing elements.” — Kate McKee

On a cul-de-sac with the nickname ‘Sustainability Street,’ reusing and repurposing was a high priority during the construction of this addition in Sydney, Australia. The bricks seen here were salvaged on the site, then colored and glazed to give them an overall consistent look.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Home Keeps Its Place on ‘Sustainability Street’


“We are like hoarders of weird, small things, so it needed to be a clean slate for all of our stuff.” — interior designer and homeowner Hannah Crowell, as told to Mitchell Parker

Using all white walls is a good strategy for those who like to collect and display, and there is so much to love about this family’s charming house in Nashville.

Full story: Houzz Tour: New Love and a Fresh Start in a Midcentury Ranch House

Tell us: Did something from a Houzz story strike your fancy as a new idea you’d like to try at home this week? If so, please share it with us in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘Work With the Space You Are Given’ and More http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25385.html