Category: Eclectic Homes

I love hosting get-togethers in your home with close friends, particularly in the winter when it is about getting comfy and cozy! This month, I’ve rounded up 20 of my favourite finds to inspire your next party. From European customs like placing a warm blanket on the back of each chair, to a fresh take on all-American s’mores, I hope everyone will find something to appreciate. — Laura from Lolalina Anthropologie Heartsease Bowl – $10 I would function heating chestnut soup in those beautifully patterned earthenware bowls. Of course, they’d also be just right for sipping on cafe au lait or hot cocoa. Terrain Vintage Antler Blanket – $98 It’s normal to see throw blankets draped over the backs of chairs in outside cafes in Europe when the weather turns chilly. How lovely is to adopt this tradition for a comfy party in your home? I love these antler blankets;…

A chair and desk that were not intended to go together may end up being problematic when you attempt to work with them. Chair arms banging against the front edge of the table can chip, scratch or dent the desk, leading to unsightly damage to the desk. Protect the desk edge with a specialty floor mat or with a border protector that fits above the edge of the desk. Chair Mat Solution A chair mat protects the ground from chair wheels or chair legs, but it can also shield the edge of the desk by preventing the chair from moving beyond a specific point. A lip on this type of floor mat breaks under the desk; when the chair is pushed in, the lip prevents it from pushing up completely contrary to the desk, which also prevents harm. Desk Edging Options Desk edging, made from plastic, polyurethane or metallic, protects…

Cutlery has a specific place at a dinner table, if you are using just a couple of pieces or the entire outfit: salad fork, butter knife and soup bowl. The easiest of settings involves only a knife and fork. The fork goes to the left of the plate, the knife on the right of the plate. Place-Setting Specifics Set the cutlery after you put a plate at each place setting; that way it is simpler to tell how many sets of cutlery are required. It also ensures the items wind up in their proper locations. The fork goes to the left of the plate. Set the knife into the right of the plate using the blade facing the plate. A napkin goes to the left of the fork or atop the dinner plate. A water or beverage glass rests just above the knife. These casual-setting basics apply to more formal…

Put the OxiClean down and step away from your java spill. If you don’t want that carpet or sofa permanently stained, then there are a few things that you should understand about fabrics and how they react to different liquids. “There are so many unique fabrics, so many unique alternatives and problems you can run into,” says Alec Houle, a carpet and upholstery cleaner in the Boston area who’s been eliminating stains for 50 years. “You will need a real strong background in chemistry to know it. If you don’t know it, you’re likely to get in hot water.” Andrea Schumacher Interiors Speaking of which, hot water is something which you don’t wish to place on a spill. In fact, apart from club pop, Houle does not suggest putting anything on a spill. Sure, vinegar alternatives and other all-natural cleansers do the task for smaller spots on rental carpets and…

Brick is more or less the earliest building material. Little, modular, easily produced from local materials, durable and requiring low maintenance, brick was a favored way to build for decades. Brick was used traditionally as a structural material. By creating walls and piers of brick, architects and builders were able to build large and tiny buildings, from the humble home to the cavernous Colosseum. Burns and Beyerl Architects But brick has always been a labor-intensive construction substance. As the price of labor increased, brick became more and more a substance reserved for higher-end houses. And as brick structure became more expensive, we started to use brick less as construction and much more as skin. The result has been the maturation of the brick veneer wall and the remedy of brick and a two-dimensional, decorative component. This is reasonable from a cost standpoint — but a brick veneer can harken back…

We deliberate for hours over the finishing touches in our homes. We want our couches to have lovely throws our curtains to feel luxurious, our cushions to be plump and our beds to become havens. Cashmere is one of those textiles which may help in all those areas. It offers texture, warmth, lightness and sheen. Surprisingly flexible, cashmere is an unbelievable cloth that has to be touched to be considered. Cecilie Starin Design Inc.. The origins of cashmere. The word “cashmere” originates from two words : “Kashmir,” from the Kashmir breed of goats that initially produced the wool, and also “pashm’,” that the Persian word for “wool.” This luxurious fabric is referenced in Indian papers as early as the next century. However it was not until the 16th century that the word “cashmere” was first used, when spinners traveled to India along the Silk Road and spun and traded shawls….

Contrary to a specialized contractor, a general contractor (GC) oversees all onsite aspects of a construction project. Whether the GC, any personnel or any subcontractors do the work, this is the person you call about everything. A good GC needs to know enough about everybody’s job on a construction site in order to estimate and oversee the work happening, but must also know about more than just painting and plumbing. To get through a substantial remodeling job, the GC fills any number of these roles. 1. Therapist. Remodeling or building is incredibly stressful. Delays, dust, design flaws — when customers will need to port, it’s frequently the contractor who listens. We may not be especially interested in hearing about your brother-in-law’s issues, but when we believe we could get you to pick a toilet paper holder when we stick with it, we’ll talk you through almost anything. 2. Mediator. Neighbors,…

Heather Garrett’s clients had help with a home that had turned into a mixed metaphor. Following an unfortunate inclusion over a decade ago brought traditional architectural details to a “pure midcentury gem” of a house, as Garrett calls her customers were eager to get a change. But they were reluctant to some complete teardown. “They asked me to make it function by stripping down what I could in the existing layout and fooling the eye into overlooking details such as a faux rock fireplace surround in the lounge area,” says Garrett. Her customers, enthusiastic travelers, requested for mix of modern design and the finer elements of a boutique hotel’s sleek, warm layout. They were floored when they watched the change. “We did the bulk of the work at once, over a winter holiday while they were on holiday, so that they came home to a shocking transformation,” says Garrett. at…

Whether you’re going across town or across the nation, moving an entire household can bring on meltdowns, even among the best of us. But by starting the planning process as soon as you realize you’ll be moving, you can minimize stress and boost the probability that everything will go smoothly on moving day and later. Read on for 10 ways to get ready for the big move. Witt Construction Picture how you need your new house to feel. The best thing you can do to get ready for any movement is to give up excess possessions. Get motivated to clear clutter by viewing this as an chance to streamline your possessions and forego stuff you are wishing you could get rid of. Now’s your chance! Whenever you’re thinking about whether to maintain an item, envision packaging it, physically transporting it from your old house to the new one and unpacking…

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…