You Said It: ‘Art Is a Lot Like Food’ and Other Houzz Quotables

This week we checked out which photos excited Houzz users the most, did some trend spotting at one of the biggest furniture markets in the U.S., learned about the many features of a Hoosier cabinet and dreamed of sitting in a beautiful seaside spot. What else caught your attention this week?

“I personally plant a garden for the deer and one for me. Seems to work, as I put the plants they like least as a barrier between the two. We all get to eat and are happy.” — Houzz user spacecadetlms, in the Comments

I like this sentiment so much. I’ve heard of butterfly gardens and bee gardens but had never heard of deer gardens before, and I have a degree in landscape architecture! It is still a magical thing for me to see a deer in the yard, but not so magical when it’s eating the heads off prized perennials. Benjamin Vogt gives us a great list of flowering plants, from agaves for the desert to columbines for New England, that are more or less deerproof, helping us admire rather than abhor our graceful four-legged friends.

Full story: Oh, Deer! 10 Native Flowers That Stand Up to the Herds


“Who wouldn’t want to sit here and enjoy life?” — Houzz user Robert Kooijman, in the Comments

Annie Thornton’s article about a sublime piece of land on Vancouver Island shows that a tough, durable design can also be beautiful. Dreaming about sitting here enjoying the view, the fire and a glass of malbec is a great way to kick off the weekend.

Full story: Beachfront Garden Stands Up to the Elements


“Art is a lot like food; it’s all about taste — and taste is such a personal thing.” — interior designer Terrie Koles

This could not be truer, and it’s certainly why this apartment in Manhattan is so appealing. I watch a lot of Million Dollar Listing New York (mostly because I find Frederik Eklund highly entertaining), but as luxe as the apartments shown are, they leave me cold and all start to look the same to me.

But this apartment, filled with a very personal art collection, really moved me. I only once wondered how expensive the place was and then was quickly distracted again. I think it was because it was so personalized by the two art collectors’ bringing their pieces together, and the way their interior designers made this merger work. It makes the place so personal for both of them.

Full story: Houzz Tour: An Artistic Blend in a Luxe Manhattan Loft


“Yes, they store staples like flour, sugar and spices, and utensils. However, they also have workable parts inside, like flour sifters, meat grinders and rotating spice carousels. Some have fold-down ironing boards.” — Karen Egly-Thompson

When I hear “Hoosier” I think, “Gene Hackman.” I had no idea the word also described the Leslie Knope of cabinets. Egly-Thompson gives us a thorough description of the history, the details, the materials used, how the cabinets can work in today’s interiors, where to buy them, how much they cost and where to get them restored. It is a most enjoyable lesson.

Full story: Must-Know Furniture: The Hoosier Cabinet


This one has no quotable line, because a group of photos told me the story. The group is the latest roundup of the 10 most popular photos on Houzz. I was so fascinated to see that half of them were of storage, mostly in kitchens, and in all of the photos, the cabinets, doors and/or drawers were open to show us just how much they hold and the clever ways they hold it. To me this says that the overwhelming interest is in building smarter, not larger, and figuring out the best ways to make the most of what we have. And that makes me happy.

The full list: Best of Houzz 2015 — U.S.


“It just occurred to me that we need to revisit this site a year or two from now and see what everyone thinks once these concepts are realized in real-life situations. Right now it’s like being at the grocery store and seeing all the cans, boxes, produce, meats, etc. before they are combined into the mouthwatering recipes that we all love. When design ‘chefs’ get their hands into these ingredients, we all may be salivating over the results.” — Houzz user whynottryit, in the Comments

I think this is a fantastic idea, and I’m trying to figure out how to turn it into some sort of drinking game (it’s got something to do with gold leaf and Goldschläger). It seems from the rest of your comments that out of the trends interior designer Shannon Ggem spied at the Las Vegas Market (rose gold, egg shapes, organic shapes, gold leaf, fun and games, and wood and resin), wood and resin was the one people took the biggest shine to. I look forward to seeing how designers and homeowners fold these ingredients into their projects.

Full story: Top Design Trends From the Winter 2015 Las Vegas Market


“Applause to Ronda for this great DIY. And the $400 spent earns her bragging rights for a very long time!” — Houzz user cyprise, in the Comments

Yes, it does. Homeowner Ronda Batchelor is my new DIY hero. She outfitted her laundry room with drying shelves, an ironing board cabinet, folding space and even a new sliding door for just $409, and it is a beautiful and brilliantly functional room. How does a woman with six children and all that laundry to stay on top of find the time? I think for many Houzzers, this article will earn the “favorite project I’ve seen so far” award.

Full story: See an Amazing $400 Laundry Room Remodel for a Family of 8


“[Designer Alisa] Hofmann put the drain under the doors so the water drips directly off the doors into the drain, preventing puddling outside the shower.” — Mitchell Parker

I would not be surprised if I have looked at more than a million photos on Houzz over the past five years, but I had never seen this solution before, and it’s so smart. The entire article was full of solutions and helpful tips for adapting a not-so-spacious bathroom to make it accessible by wheelchair. If you are looking into a universal-design renovation for your bathroom, I recommend you head over there right now and bookmark it.

Full story: Bungalow Bathroom Gains New Accessibility


“Oops, I left my nose prints all over the inside of their windows. How can anyone stop looking out?” — Houzz user nnigrt, in the Comments

I shall bid adieu to you for the weekend with this breathtaking shot from Waiheke Island (off the coast of New Zealand). While the views of the surrounding farm and water are spectacular, be sure to check out the interiors as well. I’m particularly fond of the large colored glass sliding door.

Full story: We Can Dream: Maori-Inspired Island Home With Views of Land and Sea

URL: You Said It: ‘Art Is a Lot Like Food’ and Other Houzz Quotables http://www.decor-ideas.org/cases-view-id-25465.html