You Said It: ‘Or Is It Just Me?’ and Other Houzz Quotables

This was a week when I had to play a lot of eeny-meeny-miney-moe. Articles had so many good ideas in them that I had a hard time choosing a favorite tip, comment or idea. I suppose it was because this week’s content was heavy on the most popular hardworking home ideas we saw in 2014 and ideas that Houzz is predicting will be big this year. Roundups of the best ideas for gardens, studio homes, creative home studios and laundry rooms had me wearing out my Bookmark button.

“Hands up if you’ve almost taken yourself out when opening a medicine cabinet door that opens outward. (Or is it just me?)” — Natasha Saroca

All of the ideas in this article are brilliant, but the way this cabinet door slides up really caught my attention. It’s very James Bond — except the only things the revealed weapons can fight off are plaque and wrinkles.

And I love an “Or is it just me?” moment. It makes me glad for the community we have here, because I can ask if something kooky I do at home is just me and 10 times out of 10 find out it’s not. And Natasha, I bonk myself in the forehead with the medicine cabinet door at least once a week. You are not alone!

Full story: 10 Design Moves From Tricked-Out Bathrooms


“Each year provides an opportunity to refresh what’s going on in the garden or rethink what you want to get out of it.” — Annie Thornton

Another great roundup, this time of popular garden-related stories, helped Thornton predict how Houzzers are planning their gardens for 2015. Creating habitats for bees, butterflies and birds, growing food (and cocktail ingredients), replacing the lawn, concentrating on native plants, using greywater systems and more great ideas are gaining steam.

Full story: 15 Ideas to Try in Your Garden This Year


“I was anxious about tearing down the family history and all the memories we had there, so we decided to keep it exactly on the same footprint. We decided to default back to the emotional side.” — homeowner Mike Mulvagh, as told to Mitchell Parker

Tearing down a beloved family vacation home is a tough thing to do, even when there is no other choice. But Mulvagh decided to place the house on the original footprint, even though it restricted the size of the structure. The view is an important part of his memories, and what a view it is. He made the right choice.

Full story: Houzz Tour: Childhood Memories Shape a Lakeside Cottage


“At 7 feet by 11 feet, it isn’t big on purpose, so that I can’t be tempted to fill it up with junk and still be able to work.” — architect Matt Hutchins, as told to Annie Thornton

Hutchins is describing his efficient backyard studio. Studio features are one of my favorite kinds of Houzz stories, and this roundup includes a variety of inspiring examples, complete with advice and creative design moves made by the artists. I had a tough time choosing which one to highlight here.

Full story: 14 Home Studios That Nurture Creativity and Art


“[Interior designer Andrew Howard] filled the space with pieces of cast coral framed by custom shadow boxes. ‘I had my carpenter make these, but basically it’s a box backed with burlap. It would be an easy look to replicate,’ he says.” — Mary Jo Bowling

These burlap-backed framed coral pieces were the first thing that grabbed my eye in this room, and I wondered if they were mounted on special trays. But shadow boxes are even better, and I appreciate the interior designer’s giving us easy how-to advice.

Full story: Room of the Day: Ocean Inspires a Light and Breezy Design


“If these top photos are any indication, 2015 will continue to be the era of the drying rack.” — Mitchell Parker

Last year was the year of the laundry room; the space has expanded exponentially and is getting the same finishing treatment as the kitchen, with elements like natural stone floors, quartz countertops, custom cabinetry and beautiful backsplashes. Stations for wrapping, crafting and washing pets are now a part of these rooms. But out of all the glamorous and luxurious touches, I like the simple throwback, the drying rack. It’s one of those ideas our grandparents knew all about, probably because they didn’t have dryers. Drying racks keep your clothes from shrinking and save energy. And they look charming, at least in the staged photos (as opposed to when they are chock-full of mismatched socks and tighty whities).

Full story: 8 Laundry Room Ideas to Watch for This Year


“If you are honest about what pleases you in life, and not concerned about what’s fashionable or what other people think, you can create a home that’s truly astonishing.” — architect Chuck Swartz, as told to Mary Jo Bowling

I think this is my favorite quotation ever posted on Houzz. I would like to repeat it every day like a mantra! You could even replace “create a home” with “create a life” and it would also ring true.

This home, in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, sounds like every architect’s dream project. The residence was “designed for displaying art objects, drinking and talking about literature and design,” says Swatz. Bits and pieces of it came from cherished memories and favorite works of art. It was like seeing all the pieces of the owner’s soul embodied in the form of his home and what he keeps in it (and where and how he keeps those things). It was the opposite of reading about the most boring home design topic ever, how to make your home neutral and bland for resale purposes. Hallelujah.

Full story: Houzz Tour: A House as Individual as Its Owner


“There are so many gorgeous studio spaces available these days that we can finally put the ‘Does size matter?’ question to bed.” — Bryna Howes

From Manhattan to New South Wales, people are making the most of small studio homes. Creative solutions such as secret drawers hidden in stairs, streamlined cabinetry, multifunctional furniture and loft beds make them very livable. I usually think I could never do a studio, but these made me reconsider.

Full story: Small-Space Living: 8 Stylish Multitasking Studios

Did anything on Houzz make you hit the Bookmark button this week? If so, please let us know in the Comments section.

URL: You Said It: ‘Or Is It Just Me?’ and Other Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25426.html