k r a s i v i m e s t a

Granite was used in kitchens and bathrooms for years. But this traditional substance is now making a big splash in new ways. At the 2012 International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) along with the High Point Market, visitors got a peek at just how this timeless stone is on trend with new programs, bold colors and interesting installations. If you like the beauty of marble however are craving a brand new look, have a cue from these spaces. Studio William Hefner Rather than applying it to your floor or walls, present marble to a space in a sudden manner. Inside this bathroom, the tub features a marble backsplash made like a headboard, whereas the doorway frame stands tall and sophisticated with a marble trim. The best aspect of the trend? When marble is used in smaller doses, it is much more easy on the budget. There are ways to get innovative…

You’ve noticed the stunning architectural photos of sparkling glass windows and doors on , and now you could be wondering how to get your own glass surfaces clean, gleaming and ready to their own close-up. “Not all of glass windows and doors have been created equal,” says interior designer Anne DeCocco. “There are several alternatives in glass, and some need special cleaning and care. My primary advice to clients is to read the glass installment literature and talk to the installer for specific care instructions, and also do your job with daily upkeep.” Apart from this, these general tips and suggestions will help keep your glass windows and doors sparkling and clean. Birdseye Design Shower Doors and Windows The glass shower doors and windows in this Vermont home provide unobstructed sightlines to surrounding scenery. The vista would blur. For soap scum and film: DeCocco suggests using a product called Bioclean…

Tammy and Logan Strobel’s house is the size of a parking space. In 2005, after watching a movie on the Tiny House Movement, the couple chose to radically downsize their lives. “At the time we were living in a 1,200-square-foot apartment with two cars, Tammy recalls. “We offered our cars and slowly pared down by shifting to smaller and smaller apartments.” Both Tammy and Logan were enamored by the idea of microliving. Tammy says, “It disturbs what simplicity means to me personally. It’s beautiful, cheap housing, and we could take it with us when we want to move.” Tammy and Logan hired Dee Williams and Katy Anderson of Portland Alternative Dwellings to construct their house. They moved in October 2011 and couldn’t be happier with their small house, which contains a front porch, a kitchen, a bathroom with a composting toilet and convertible shower, a living area and a loft…

After Mark and Debbie Clausen bought their San Diego townhouse, they had been seeking a change of scenery from their mountainside Craftsman at Mammoth Lakes, California. They sought sea breezes and minimalist design, and bought the 1973 home as an occasional shore retreat and a place to their 24-year-old daughter, Tessa, a teacher, to live year-round. To integrate flexibility and function using their outdoorsy design, Mark and Debbie aimed for a clean, hotel-inspired look that wasn’t overly stark. “If a couple of grains of sand creep in front door, it’s all part of this aesthetic,” Debbie says. The townhome underwent an eight-month renovation such as new flooring remedies, bathrooms and furniture, and retextured ceilings and walls. “Our Mammoth home is mountainy and dark, so we needed it light, airy, open rather than a lot of stuff on the walls. Clean and simple, but maybe not supermodern,” she says. in a…