Author: Atrace

Ultimate Vacation: 8 Rentable Homes Around the World

Atrace

What do you get when you combine the simplicity of a luxury hotel, the liberty and privacy of a vacation rental, and a big dose of high fashion? Jaw-dropping apartments and homes available to rent for your next holiday. Going above and beyond the typical sandy-floored shore rental, these spaces are design destinations in and of themselves.

Have a peek inside those eight swoon-inducing rentals all around the world.

boutique-homes. com

1. Margaret River Beach House, Australia. This magnificent beach house is located near the world-class Margaret River surfing area, and boasts 180-degree views of the ocean from each room. Using a pantry support, your own private chef and housekeeping, you may enjoy the comforts of a property with all the advantages of a luxury hotel.

boutique-homes. com

The terrace and cantilevered balcony offer jaw-dropping views of the Indian Ocean and also front-row chairs for magnificent sunsets. More info

onefinestay.com

2. Dumbo Penthouse, Brooklyn, New York. This contemporary loft is an utterly glamorous home base from which to explore New York City. The smoky blue and gray color scheme and luxurious touches such as hide carpets and original art set this space aside.

onefinestay.com

The lounge-friendly living spaces, full laundry and kitchen help guests feel at home, and children of all ages are welcome.

Bonus: An iPhone is included with your stay, for becoming oriented with channels and making local calls. More info

boutique-homes. com

3. The Chromatic House, Portugal. This home in Torres Vedras, Portugal, is a visual confection with a different bright, bold hue in virtually every area. Produced by architect Pedro Gandanho, this townhouse might be the best escape for lovers of ultramod design. More info

onefinestay.com

4. Artsy Primrose Hill Townhouse, London. In the lemon-yellow stripes on the ceiling into the oversize contemporary art gracing nearly every wall, this London house exudes style. And since it’s four bedrooms, three baths and a private backyard, you could fit your whole clan. More info

5. Modern Villa, Tuscany, Italy. This breathtaking villa seamlessly combines new and old, rustic and tasteful. An infinity swimming pool beckons with stunning views of the amazing mountains, along with also an onsite gourmet chef is available to prepare luscious meals with local components.

spaces42

With eight bedrooms and eight baths, multiple lounge areas and an outside pergola-covered dining area, the villa could make an unforgettable escape to the whole extended family — or a huge group of close friends.

The buttery showers have been stocked with cult-favorite Santa Maria Novella goods, and posh extras such as locally produced cashmere goodies await when you get out. More info

onefinestay.com

6. City Docks, London. This big, lofty space is decorated with chic, contemporary furnishings and contemporary art, and boasts a sauna area and theatre room. And should you spied only the inside, you would never guess you’re staying … on a houseboat!

onefinestay.com

Once utilised to carry coal along the Seine, this vessel was converted into a spacious, contemporary home on the water. It’s hard to imagine a more unusual place to stay — right in the heart of London. More info

onefinestay.com

7. Modern Family Loft, Manhattan. Having a woman’s room, boy’s room and playroom (along with the master suite) this airy, contemporary loft in the Flatiron area has everything a hip traveling family could possibly want. More info

living-architecture. co.uk

8. The Balancing Barn, England. Crafted by Dutch design firm MVRDV, this cantilevered house near the Suffolk coast is sure to send contemporary design lovers over the moon.

living-architecture. co.uk

A stunning feat of design, the Balancing Barn appears to float above the surrounding landscape. More info

Inform us : Which space is your favorite? Would you ever try a design-centered rental for your holiday?

More: Tree house hotels and more destinations for design lovers

See related

6 Ways in Little Places to Grow Edibles

Atrace

People are more excited than ever nowadays to experiment with developing their own food and reaping the benefits of an edible garden. But what if you don’t have a huge amount of space? Are your dreams of a bountiful harvest coming out of your very own little plot unrealistic? Thankfully, that’s not true — there are in fact a lot of ways to produce a wide variety of edibles in small spaces.

The first step is to have a good look at your space and assess what resources you have available. Light and water access are the two largest requirements of a food garden. Most food crops require a large amount of sunlight, something which little spaces sometimes absence. But, there are some crops that thrive in lower-light ailments. Standard water accessibility can also be key to healthful crops and needs to be taken into consideration when you are configuring a food garden. As long as it is possible to access water and supply appropriate drainage, a joyful food backyard is in your future!

Let us look at some options for developing edibles in small spaces.

Aloe Designs

1. Container gardening. Whether they’re baskets of herbs or troughs full of greens and root crops, containers work well to optimize small spaces. Prefab containers come in a lot of shapes, sizes and materials.

It is worth noting that not all containers are created equal. If you reside in an area which has cold winter weather, it is important to pick containers that can deal with changes in temperature. Steer clear of terra-cotta, as it can crack and dry out roots; look for the numerous emerging polycarbonate and fiberglass alternatives instead. They’ll cost you more originally, but they are designed to survive, and you won’t have some nasty surprises in winter.

Aloe Designs

2. Raised vegetable beds. If you have a bit more room, a raised vegetable bed is a great way to grow crops. Besides having the functional benefit of providing easier access to these plants, raised beds improve the drainage and aeration of the soil and allow the mattress to warm more quickly in the spring, so it’s possible to plant earlier. Raised beds can be built from whatever, as long as the material does not include chemicals that can leach into the soil. Use cedar or hardwood lumber instead of a pressure-treated material to get a long-lasting, chemical-free mattress.

3. Square-foot gardening. This simple way of organizing crops works best in a bed that is raised and will maximize the surface area of your lawn to produce large yields of crops. It involves dividing the soil place into 1-square-foot cells, using twine, wood or cable affixed in a grid structure to the top of the bed.

Different crops of vegetables can then be planted in every cell. When a crop is chosen, another crop is replanted in the mobile. This rotation of crops ensures that nutrients are not emptied from the ground, and plants benefit from company plantings that promote healthy growth and pest resistance.

See more about companion plants

Missouri Botanical Garden

4. Berry spots for shady spots. Although most berries need full sunlight, blueberries will actually create fruit in very little light. They also don’t mind being planted in containers, as long as the soil is on the acidic side. This is something which’s simple to regulate by incorporating peat or an acidic medium to the ground at the start of spring.

Notice: Blueberries need many different types present to make fruit via cross-pollination.

See the guide to developing blueberries

Aloe Designs

5. Grow potatoes in sacks. A great way to grow potatoes is in older coffee sacks. Most coffee roasters will be happy to part with some sacks for you to utilize for this use, and it’s simple to set up a row of potato sacks that will supply you with a pantry full of spuds. Start with a sofa wrapped down two-thirds of this manner and fill the bottom with soil. Place seed potatoes inside and cover them with soil.

As the potato plants grow, roll up the sides of the sofa until the sack is fully upright. If the potatoes are ready to crop (the leaves have turned yellow), lift the sides of the sack, and the potatoes and soil will drop out the bottom. The bottom rots from the sack soon after first planting, so make sure not to proceed the sack before you are ready to harvest.

The way to grow potatoes

Matt Kilburn

6. Espaliered fruit trees. The need to create tree fruit in small spaces has pioneered a boom in specialty grafted fruit trees, allowing you to produce a hefty book of fruit inside a small horizontal place. Nurseries have trees with several varieties grafted onto precisely the same rootstock, permitting for cross-pollination and a fascinating display of different growth rates and fruit production on every individual branch.

Employing the age-old procedure of espaliering trees — where branches are trained to a structure (to give support once the trees are laden with fruit) and tips are pruned to maintain a compact dimension — it is possible to have a thriving fruit orchard on your patio. Ensure the container you choose is large enough to be topped with fresh compost every year (fruit trees are large feeders, so you must supply fertile soil to aid fruit production) which you find it in a website where there is adequate sun exposure.

More:
How to build a raised garden bed
How to grow sweet summer crops
More manuals to developing vegetables and fruits in the home

See related

9 Popular Stovetop Options — Plus Tips for Selecting the Right One

Atrace

Selecting appliances is about more than just looks and function — the way that they fit into the space is essential. Over the years I have learned that besides precise space measurements, technical specification sheets for appliances are the most crucial information for designing a kitchen.

This is especially true of the stove area, since it’s the focal point of most kitchens. But which version will be right for you — gas, electric, regular, retro, industrial, cooktop, stove top or complete stove? How can you opt for a countertop or layout which works best with it? The following summary will assist you with your choice for the heart of your kitchen.

Dan Waibel Designer Builder

Electric cooktop. This cheerful kitchen is equipped with an electric cooktop. Look carefully and you’ll notice the thin stainless steel trim around its perimeter, which serves as a transition between the glass and the counter material.

Keep in mind that glass cooktops are scratchable, and they require specific creamy cleansers and instant cleanup after spills. You will also wish to put money into flat-bottomed cookware and prevent dragging your pots across the top.

Glenvale Kitchens

Induction cooktop. The induction cooktop is a degree up both in quality and price from the electric cooktop. Its function is based on a magnetic field similar to that of a microwave, and you’ll need to purchase magnetic cookware.

The great news is there is no tangible heat on the surface, which can be helpful for the fingers of wee relatives. Induction offers quite even heat distribution, and a kettle of water will boil over a minute, making this a very energy-efficient appliance.

This specific version has been installed flush with the countertop. Your rock or quartz countertop producer will cut a recessed line into the cutout for the cooktop, along with the glass top will be set up with a silicone strip as an allowance for heat expansion. Set into a dark counter, this type of installation would make the cooktop disappear completely, for a very clean and contemporary look.

Prestige Custom Building & Construction, Inc..

Gas cooktop. During installation, this gas cooktop was dropped into a cutout from the countertop, with its controllers sitting on the same plane.

When choosing a gas appliance, ask a knowledgeable appliance salesperson about versions with sealed burners versus standard ones. Sealed burners are much easier to wash, but the surface can get very hot, and so you will want more space away from combustible surfaces — that will affect your upper cabinetry.

A seasoned designer will be certain that you assess technical specifications and take these issues into account when designing your dream kitchen.

Dan Brown

Cooktop with individual components. Individual components can be selected to complement your cooking preferences. These components are usually 15 inches wide, and you’ve got the selection of steam units, gas, induction, a built-in wok along with others.

The kitchen here shows another great potential cooktop design. If it works for the lifestyle, eliminating cabinetry underneath results in a sleek, airy and contemporary look.

Wolford Remodeling & Building

Range cooktop. Range shirts are typically gas components. They’ve a front that is about 10 inches high, along with the knobs face out from the cabinetry. A cooktop remains neatly contained within a normal 24 1/2-inch deep base cabinet; the variety tops (including their signature heavy-looking knobs) require more depth and tend to stand out from the front border of their neighboring countertops.

Jennifer Brouwer (Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc)

Cooktops with back guards. A typical feature of retro versions and much more economical stoves is the back shield, which often houses the controllers or a clock/timer.

A back protector can visually interfere with a design characteristic in a tile backsplash, so you might need to stick with a simpler tile layout.

RemodelWest

Slide-in stoves. Slide-in stove versions, such as this one, come in both gas and electric options.

A stove such as this is usually a very economical choice and allows for a very clean installation. The controllers are either on the front face or on the stovetop itself, and also the stove slides roughly 3/16 inch above the edges of the countertop cutout, which ends in a tight seam having little prospect of crumb accumulation.

When the version sports a convection oven with a self-cleaning option, which maintains high heat over a lengthy period of time, you need to allow for air distance between the body of the stove and the neighboring cabinetry. The technical specification sheet will give you the necessary info on the requirements.

Should you realize that your version will require additional air space, then this can be achieved by simply using fillers or articles on each side of the stove, or by utilizing a face-frame construction technique for the true cabinet carcass.

Cary Bernstein Architect

Freestanding range. This kitchen sports a freestanding restaurant-style stainless steel gas stove. Notice the stainless steel splash shield and heating shelf. Should you select this kind of appliance feature, be certain that you install warming lights above the shelf. You can do that in type of pendants dangling down over it, as is often seen in restaurants, or even by purchasing a fitting hood enthusiast that has integrated warming lights.

Both freestanding stoves and stove top installations will result in small gaps on both sides, between the appliance and the countertops and cabinets. If you know that you would have a hard time accepting the accummulation and hard removal of crumbs in these openings, do yourself a favor and choose a different sort of model!

AlliKristé Custom Cabinetry and Kitchen Layout

Freestanding stoves don’t need to look industrial. If you’re looking for an alternative to stainless steel, then take a look at brands such as The Chateau or even Bertazzoni, which offer a vast range of color options and very distinctive designs.

Superior Woodcraft, Inc..

I am bringing this ideabook to an end with an image of an actual Aga stove. This can be alove-it-or-hate-it appliance — or really, it’s a furnace.

Produced in England and created for cooking and for heating rock homes, these versions are continuously creating heat and don’t have any controls. You will have to know when to push your pots to the ideal parts of the heated surface, and which of those three or more ovens do what.

The units have been fired by propane, oil or gas, and the black chimney is the signature exhaust tube.

Basically you would need to learn new techniques to cook on this stove, and it needs special cookware. In my experience this is only a worthy investment for a very dedicated cook. You need to remember that there’ll be continuous heat emanating from the appliance, which could make it unpleasant to be about it in hotter climates or simply throughout the summer months. I’ve heard of people who purchase an additional regular stove for the summer, so that they could turn off the Aga. Obviously, this would require not only an appropriately sized kitchen space, but also the necessary funds.

Additionally, due to the enormeous fat, the stove demands a concrete platform to sit on, and it can be serviced only by trained technicians.

See related

Budget Decorator: 16 Fab Spring Updates for Really Small Green

Atrace

With the sun shining, flowers blooming and gardens bounding to life, it is natural to crave a little spring update around the house. These doable paint jobs, miniature pick-me-ups and new ways of working with everything you have will update your home for spring — and will not break the bank.

Polsky Perlstein Architects

1. Paint stair risers a rainbow of hues. You will not have the ability to help grinning when you climb the stairs daily if they’re painted in this joyous selection of colors. For the best result, select colors which are all similar in tone: pastels, clear midtone colors or rich and deep.

A Good Chick to Understand

2. Brighten up with yellow, glass or Lucite. Sunshine yellow and clear materials that let the light through help insides glow. Try including a lemon-yellow lamp or stool, or a table in glass or clear Lucite — just one new item can truly wake up your home.

Kristie Barnett

3. Give your balusters the ombré therapy. Paint in many gradient shades of one colour will immediately transform those little posts holding up the handrail on your staircase into the focal point of this room.

Tara Bussema – Neat Organization and Design

4. Use a garden urn inside. Insert a breath of fresh air to your bedroom with a green plant tucked into a petite concrete urn — it is less expected than a normal flowerpot and hints in the garden outdoors.

The Hunted Interior

5. Borrow dishes to show jewelry. Style your dresser by placing a few pretty bowls or dishes of jewelry atop a stack of favorite books.

Kristie Barnett

6. Paint your dining seats — and do not be afraid to mix it up. Break up that boring, matched dining set by painting the seats in many different colors that work together. Try out pale aqua and cream, as revealed here, or a mixture of pastels or brights to get a more adventurous appearance.

Take it further: Paint your ceiling, too, just like the developer of this space did.

maison21

7. Cover. While it would be impractical to cover the whole wall of books, a single shelf can be enriched by covering the books in beautiful paper. If you want to show what’s indoors, add file labels to the spines and neatly write the names.

Lucy Interior Design

8. Set a bird on it. Nothing says spring like little critters, so go ahead and scoop up the next bird ornament, sculpture or art print which grabs your eye.

Corynne Pless

9. Try out a major tray on the table. Create an inviting tableaux by mixing up an oversize tray with a mixture of dinnertime essentials (napkins, plates, a crock of utensils), fresh flowers, candles and also something purely fun — such as the cow sculpture shown here.

Laura Collins Design

10. Decorate with flowers and fruit. A bowl of lemons is so cheerful (and economical!) , and spring flowers like tulips and daffodils are less expensive and more readily available while they’re in season. Scoop up a lot of lemons and all those flowers are available the next time you go to the marketplace.

Hide & Sleep Interior Design

11. Repaint kids’ furniture. If the notion of painting furniture sounds daunting, consider starting with a little piece — state, one from your kid’s room. On a dresser this petite, you might even have the guts to experiment with a cool effect, such as the colour gradient shown here.

Anthropologie

Marmara Knob – $12

12. Replace knobs on cabinets and drawers. This takes all of five minutes and can make your furniture feel completely new. I love the wide range of knobs in Anthropologie, and also the sale bins often hold a number of the greatest treasures.

Tip: If you are shopping in shop, make sure you bring along one of your old knobs to match the size and positioning of holes.

Hide & Sleep Interior Design

13. Create DIY tape artwork. This fun, simple project would be ideal for a kid’s room. Collect an range of washi or other paper craft tapes, and get started ripping and taping away. Stick with simple shapes, such as letters for the best effect, and the homes shown here.

Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies

White Porcelain Urn Flower Vase – $8.99

14. Scoop up a new vase or 2. One great find, such as these ceramic urn vases, may do wonders to spruce up your space. They’re less than $10 apiece!

Kropat Interior Design

15. Hang colorful kitchen towels. Changing the colors and patterns of your own tea towels every season is a quick and effortless method to update the kitchen.

Leverone Design, Inc..

16. Place bud vases in unexpected areas. Get the most from a single bouquet by cutting out a few stems short and putting them in bud vases across the house. Try out one by every sink, on bedside tables, on your desk and on a bookcase, tucked in one of the books.

See related

Embellishing Tips for Cost-Effective Custom Curtains

Atrace

One of the most expensive elements of a well-designed home can be custom curtains. Throw in the fabric, liner, sticks, rings and paths, and before you know it, you’ve spent thousands of dollars. In this economy that’s a difficult market. But one easy way to get the look of fabulous customized curtains for a fabulous price is to simply embellish. Make your own custom look with the addition of trim or perhaps sewing two curtains together to produce stripes or banding. This is an example when a small white lie will not hurt a soul.

Adding orange-red trim to Cameron cotton panels from Pottery Barn gave these curtains a brand-new look. I often use those panels due to the fact that they have a sturdy weight but price just $25 each.

Spray painting the existing curtain rod and having black rings upgraded the customized look even more.

Design Manifest

Designer Naomi Stein used a particularly budget-friendly suggestion when she designed these curtains for her cottage …

Design Manifest

… Cheap Greek primary trim — trendy yet classic — on Ikea curtains added an instant wow factor to Stein’s master bedroom.

The curtains help soften the edges of the bay window and add lightness to the bamboo blinds.

Studio Schicketanz

Another trick to think about curtains from floor to ceiling. They’ll add instant height to a cramped space by drawing the eye upward. Most retailers have noticed a requirement for longer curtains and stock in lengths from 84 inches so long as 124 inches which you can hem to fit.

Can not sew to save your life? Utilize Stitch Witchery to hem the edges nobody could ever know the difference.

Caitlin Wilson Design

I am pretty certain these window treatments are custom, but you can still make this look on a budget. Make your own pelmet box or valance by having wood trim to size at the regional lumber store. Attach foam padding and a few inexpensive fabric using a staple gun. Use fabric glue or Stitch Witchery to attach trim to the edges. Add matching trim on the drape panels and voilà — an amazing statement window therapy for a portion of the cost.

Peregrine Design Build

These curtains were cut to length to fit an awkward area. They also include a favorite trick — sewing multiple fabrics together to make a custom drape. Get this look by purchasing inexpensive curtain panels fabric to sew and cut into one curtain.

Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs

These panels include two methods: contrasting banding and trim. You can attain it by matching two of your favorite contrasting colors in two affordable curtain panels. Cut the darker-colored panel to a size which will add just enough play (30 to 40 inches is that my normal selection, based on the elevation of the panels), and sew the edges together. Use the extra fabric to add trim to the top of the panel, as shown here.

Tracery Interiors

For a wider trim like on these white and black panels, you will need to use fabric, because the width is greater than standard store-bought trim. Cut the fabric to the desired width, then sew along the edges.

Banding on top of the panel can make an equally bold statement. Additionally you could use decorative trim or beading to connect the two colors.

Studio William Hefner

Sleek and simple, this banding is on the top half of the curtain panel. The sheer color in addition adds a tasteful and airy touch.

www.onlinefabricstore.net

These custom appearances don’t have to be a ton of work! Shortcuts such as Stich Witchery can really save time. I’ve experienced an unending love affair with Stitch Witchery for years. It is like cheating — great for nonsewers. Use it once and you will never grow tired of it.

Perhaps you have customized off-the-shelf curtains? We’d really like to find out everything you did.

See related

On Trend: Max Work With Chairs and Sleepers

Atrace

I am beginning to consider moving to another house after this year, and I am already feeling both invigorated and overwhelmed by all the possible design options and furniture upgrades — the choices sense endless! Slowly I am realizing that doubling up here and there might simplify things a little.

All these pieces of furniture solve space-planning problems by doubling up in your purpose. Whether you are seeking to save space in the bedroom, locate more storage choices or decorate your own living room components, these designs might help.

Contact Mobilia, 608 Design, Flying Beds, Bruehl, Valcucine, Resource Furniture, and Bean2Bed via their sites for distribution and dealer information. Order straight from French-based Singulier’s website.

mobilia-collection. com

Ludus Sofa and Shelf

Combine two items into one using this couch’s built-in bookcases. It simplifies the problem of showing the dull back of your sofa.

sixoeight.com

Tru Chair

What a fantastic location for some extra storage — the only issue is, you would need to find someone from the comfortable chair to get it.

flyingbeds.com

Vertical Bunk Bed

Upgrade your Murphy bed using this new strategy — these beds will make any city flat doubly kid friendly.

bruehl.com

Moule Sofa

Bend it, fold it, rearrange it. This seats option will not , ever give you, thanks to each of the possibilities.

singulier.com

Canapé Eastpak Club Sofa 01

Have a small living area and want something funky but useful? This sofa provides you a great deal of storage choices for all those things you use every day.

Valcucine

Valcucine Living System

These larger systems by Valcucine provide a cohesive one-stop remedy to open-plan spaces. With storage units, walls, display units, bookshelves and benches, they’re designed to create a flexible combination that is customized for your area.

resourcefurniture.com

Bookseat

Even though it is not a too plush option, this chair still provides you double the function: Pick out your books even though you’re currently sitting, using the exact same piece of furniture.

bean2bed.com

Beanbag Beds

Perfect for families, these beanbags unzip to feature a twin-, full- or queen-size mattress. Now there’s the ideal way to use that spare bedroom!

More: 2-in-1 Furnishings for Small-Space Living

See related

Butter Up Your Kitchen With Julia Child's Wisdom

Atrace

My colleague Laura Gaskill recently showed us a magical makeover of Julia Child’s youth kitchen. It made me think of all of Child’s wonderful bons mots, and how we can apply them not only to food and life however to our kitchens. Below are some favorite Julia Child quotes to live, decorate and cook by. Bon appétit!

Yvonne McFadden LLC

“You do not have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces — just good food from fresh ingredients.”

Think about fresh design ingredients when you’re overwhelmed by the hundreds of thousands of tiles to choose from, or when you’ve gone appliance crazy and priced yourself right into a blown budget. Easy, honest materials like raw wood, tongue and groove paneling and a rectangular drum colour make this one of the most attractive kitchens I have seen.

See the rest of this Home

tradingphrases.com

Julia Child Quote Wall Decal – $29.99

Tucker & Marks

“With enough butter anything is great.”

As my butter-yellow kitchen has always cheered me up, I will attest that this is accurate.

Arcanum Architecture

“If you’re afraid of butter, use cream.”

If butter isn’t your favorite, and you’re not feeling sharp white either, consider cream. It’s a mild neutral which can warm up a kitchen.

ROMABIO / Interior & Exterior Mineral Based Paints

“I think every girl should have a blowtorch.”

Whether you’re finishing off this crème brûlée or finishing off your kitchen design, an industrial component like these propane tanks refashioned as pendant lights adds a dollop of the unforeseen.

Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design

“Fat gives things taste.”

Extra-thick countertops stand up to all the other large elements in kitchen. They’re a great way to add taste to a minimalist kitchen.

See the rest of this home

Actual-Size Architecture

“Everything in moderation … including moderation.”

Do you love having all the things you adore close at hand? Go for it. There is no rule that says you have to be somewhat minimalist. Establish your kitchen for a place where you can get your work done and have of the things you like around you.

See the rest of this kitchen

Candlelight Homes

“Being tall is an advantage, especially in business. People will always remember you. And if you’re in a crowd, are always going to have a clean air to breathe.”

Adding cabinets above your upper cabinets is a great way to take advantage of an often wasted space — which gap between upper cabinets and the ceiling. I mean, yuck, have you ever washed up there? It’s disgusting! Way up high, glass-front cabinets provide you an opportunity to display beloved items, while strong fronts offer storage room for lesser-used products. Because the majority of us are briefer compared to Julia Child was, add a measure stool someplace near.

Splendid Willow

“She was my first cat, and I thought she had been marvelous.”

OK I admit I just threw this one in here because I love cats and I really like this photograph.

See the rest of this home

Mark Ashby Design

“In department stores, a lot of kitchen equipment is bought indiscriminately by people who just come in for men’s panties.”

Be skeptical about the pots, pans, small appliances as well as other kitchen gear you buy. Do your research, examine things out at a friend’s home, ask salespeople questions. Strategy these buys just like you’d approach a marriage registry. Your meals and your kitchen are worthwhile. If you have to go pick up some men’s underwear after you’re done, that is OK too.

Siemasko + Verbridge

“A cookbook is only as great as its weakest recipe.”

When you discover a great cookbook, hang onto it for life and keep it close. A lot of new kitchen islands have designated cookbook space. You could come across a fantastic spot over the fridge or designate a cupboard shelf for cookbooks as well. For you techies, have a look at Why Your Kitchen Wants Its Own iPad.

See the rest of this home

Black Fine Woodworking

“Some people like to paint pictures, or do gardening, or construct a boat in the basement. Other people get a tremendous pleasure from the kitchen because cooking is at least as creative and ingenious a task as drawing wood carving, or music.”

Make time and room to teach your children how to cook. Start with cookies and placing the table (flower arranging is just another enjoyable action), then make sure they understand the basics by the time that they go off to school. It’s a wonderful way to spend some time together.

Dana Nichols

“Just talk very loudly and quickly, and state your position with absolute certainty, as the French do, and you’re going to have a fantastic time!”

Add a swath of chalkboard paint somewhere in the kitchen for inspirational quotations, doodles, menus, grocery shopping lists and messages.

kbcdevelopments

“Food, like the people who consume it, can be stimulated by wine or spirits. And, being with humans, it can likewise be spoiled.”

Whether you’re someone who sticks your entire snout in the wineglass, swirls, sniffs and spits, or someone who just enjoys a glass of “Two Buck Chuck” after work, the kitchen is a superb spot for storing and displaying wine. Clearly, the wine is an extreme example, but small wine refrigerators are quickly becoming a staple appliance in kitchen design nowadays.

“Recall, ‘No one’s more significant than individuals’! To put it differently, friendship is the most important thing — not career or housework, or one’s fatigue — and it has to be tended and nurtured.”

We have looked at some gorgeous kitchens today, but do not worry if a kitchen does not look ready for its close-up. Do not put off having this party as your cooking skills are not up to Julia Child’s degree. After all, she declared that “cooking well does not mean cooking fancy.” Call everyone up and invite them over anyhow; what matters most to them is showing them that you care.

How to Love Your Kitchen More Right Now

See related

California Gardener's March Checklist

Atrace

March will not be the same around my backyard this season. After somewhere between 10 and 20 decades, our Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’ went out in blaze of glory that was blue. Every spring you could count on a few weeks of a bulk of the smartest, deepest blue, as big as two or even three SUVs. Native bees and birds came out of nowhere to feast on it. Ceanothus grow fast and don’t live long — mine was a centenarian in ceanothus years. I think of it as one of these gardening trade-offs: rapid and beautiful versus steady and slow.

March is a superb time to plant and admire ceanothus or other California natives — or just about anything else, for that matter. Cool spring weather receives off plants to a gentle beginning. With warm weather not far off, you can start planting for summer — even adding tomatoes in climates that heat up early. After a recent visit to Hawaii, I am currently dreaming of summer and thinking about island inspirations to make a vibrant, relaxing outdoor space, as you’ll see below.

A native flower factory. I am expecting big things from my replacement Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’. Of the numerous California native species and cultivated varieties of ceanothus (commonly called California lilac), ‘Ray Hartman’ is one of the fastest to reach decent size — a shrub more than 10 ft tall or perhaps trained into a small tree. Flowers, as blue as could be, pay the plant each spring. Use ‘Ray Hartman’ in a dry section of your backyard, as an imposing tall shrub, or make a compact privacy screen with several of them (spaced 6 to 8 ft apart).

Botanical name: Ceanothus ‘Ray Hartman’
USDA zones: 9 to 11
Water requirement: Lighting; no more irrigation necessary for older plants
Light requirement: Total sun
Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide
Growing tips: Make sure the soil is well drained. Water new plants regularly for the first growing season, then taper off; older plants usally require no additional irrigation. Train it to a little tree by pruning the lower branches off the main trunk — beginning with a youthful nursery plant. Do not expect a very long life.

Everything looks better. Ahead of the world-class hotels and golf classes, much of the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii consisted of moonscape lava areas and no surface water you think that your backyard has bad land! Imported topsoil, an abundant underground water supply and tropical plants from all over the globe have generated lush tropical gardens and amazing displays of flowers and foliage — all the more dramatic when put off by the black and dark brown backdrop of the remaining lava fields and the stonework used in the landscaping.

Lots of the same crops are easy to grow in California, though they always appear to seem more vibrant about the islands. These include such basic crops as oleander, plumbago and bird-of-paradise. Plumeria, the favorite lei flower revealed here, could be grown in the mainland — in case you’re an experimentally minded, painstaking gardener (not me).

Bougainvillea and hibiscus, revealed farther below, are best bets for this Hawaii atmosphere on your summer months. Remember as you choose pots, walls and backgrounds for them how great they look with shameful.

A deck with a view. You don’t require a see-all-the-way-to-Japan vista to get an opinion deck to generate sense on your backyard. This remarkably simple deck, with room for a few chairs and a little dining table, is about a beach in Hawaii, but it would work nearly anywhere like a retreat or getaway in a backyard corner with or without a view. It’s just a square, two-level platform built of 2-by-6s and 2-by-8s.

Secret Gardens

Hawaii in a pot. About the Big Island, you see bougainvillea, orginally from South America, everywhere — climbing by trees, like a hedge or ground cover, as a scraggly survivor fluttering purple flashes in a lava field. In California bougainvillea is easy to grow, generally as a vine, but it is sensitive to hard frosts. A great spot is in a container, where you can provide lots of sun and winter refuge (under an eave might be enough).

Plant bougainvillea in a kettle at the moment and you may have a gaudy display by midsummer. It’s ideal to select one of the compact kinds for example, as ‘Singapore Pink’, ‘Temple Fire’ or ‘Purple Queen’. When planting, take special care to not split the root ball crops are sensitive about it.

Botanical name: Bougainvillea, many varieties
USDA zones: 9 to 11
Water requirement: Moderate
Light requirement: Total sun
Mature dimensions: Vining kinds can reach 30 feet; streamlined kinds, 2 to 6 ft tall
Growing tips: Vines need help to climb; tie branches to a trellis or wall. Prune in spring after the frost. Keep plants peeled by cutting back stringy stems during growing season. For best bloom, keep container soil on the other side.

Another Hawaiian icon in a pot. Originally from tropical Asia, hibiscus is irresistible in Hawaii. In California’s milder climates, it makes a fine medium-size evergreen shrub. It’s also a perfect summer container plant. Start today with nursery plants in marijuana or already flowering and you should have blooms from spring through autumn.
Botanical name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
USDA zones: 10 to 11
Water requirement: Moderate or more; don’t let the soil dry out
Light condition: Total sun
Mature size: 8 to 15 feet tall and 6 to 8 ft wide in California gardens
Growing tips: Good options for baskets include ‘Erin Rachel’ along with members of this Breeze series or Luau series, generally reaching 2-3 feet.

Quick privacy screen? Back in California my daughter-in-law asked me to get ideas to get a fast privacy screen for her front yard and answered her own question. She enjoys redwoods. Yes, they are fast, easy to develop, evocative (they smell like the forest) and story making (tell children that redwoods are the world’s tallest trees).

She said, “We don’t plan to reside here long. What happens when the trees get full size?” That is really a matter for The Ethicist in the New York Times Sunday magazine. But I say, proceed with redwoods if suited for your region. For a screen, plant the trees 8 feet apart. Make certain they will not impinge on the neighbors’ perspectives, steal moisture from their lawns or interfere with their landscapes.

You’ll need an irrigation system to keep the soil moist year-round. Expect 3 to 5 feet of growth each year in the beginning, then a slower rate. The trees displayed here, approximately 15 years old, are approximately 35 feet tall. Underneath them a row of English laurel provides additional screening.

Botanical name: Sequoia sempervirens
USDA zones: 8 to 9
Water requirement: Moderate or more
Light requirement: Full sun (light shade is OK)
Mature size: 70 feet tall or more and up to 30 feet wide
Growing tips: Start with 15-gallon or bigger nursery plants if you’re in a huge hurry. Dig a massive planting hole, at least 6 inches wider and deeper than the root ball, and include lots of soil amendments.

Missouri Botanical Garden

If you’re able to grow just 1 herb. Common blossom, also called garden sage, is easy to grow, continues for several years and can supply you with the new leaves you’ll need for chicken, poultry, veal and pasta dishes. Squeeze a blossom plant to a flower border or a vegetable garden, or try one or two little plants in a pot. It’s possible to grow it as an annual, like basil, or allow it to continue through winter for several decades. Cutting new leaves as necessary is the best approach to keep the plant bushy and compact.

Botanical name: Salvia officinalis
USDA zones: 5 to 8
Water requirement: Light
Light condition: Total sun, or partial shade in warm climates
Mature size: 1 foot to 3 feet tall and 12 to 18 inches wide
Growing tips: Control dimensions and enourage bushiness with regular pinching back of hints during the growing season. Do not try to cut the plant back to the ground; it might not return.

Created for California. Today you can choose from countless sage relatives, including heaps of native Salvias and plenty of fresh varieties, annuals and perennials, in yellow, white, red, deepest blue and purple. My favorite, Mexican bush sage, was around a very long time — you see it frequently in California mission gardens. It’s easy to grow, needs little water or care, and seems to bloom every day of the year (really, more like from Presidents Day to Thanksgiving).Grow Mexican blossom to get a blast of purple in boundaries, in a row as a loose type of low hedge, within an herb garden, at the edge of a vegetable garden or even in additional casual, dryish places. It’s kind of sprawly rather than a plant for proper situations.

Botanical name: Salvia leucantha
USDA zones: 7 to 9
Water requirement: Lighting
Light requirement: Full sun
Mature size: 3 to 4 feet tall and 3 to 6 ft wide
Growing tips: To control dimensions and shape, cut back stalks nearly to the ground in spring.

What Else to Do in March on Your California Garden

This is a Excellent time to get out in the backyard. There is much to plant — from a grand finale of cool-season blossoms and vegetables (such as escarole, revealed) to an early show from summertime heat lovers.

Prepare to plant. Prepare flower and vegetable beds by incorporating at least 2 or 3 inches of organic matter, together with a complete fertilizer, and dig all of it into a thickness of 10 inches or so. For big shrubs and trees, take the time to dig out a substantial planting hole — at least several inches wider and thicker than the plant’s root ball. Do advance work to make sure that the soil is moist enough. For hard, dryish soil that is tough to work, start by digging as deep as you can and fill the hole with water, let it soak in and then refill it repeat this over a few days till you can push your spade to the desired thickness.

Last chance for cool-season performers. In cooler coastal climates, there’s still time to place in winter-spring performers: annual flowers such as pansies, Iceland poppies, stock and violas; and vegetables such as lettuce (quick-maturing varieties), spinach and other cool-season crops.

End bare-root planting. Early in the month, you can still plant bare-root roses, fruit trees, berries and such.

Start planting warm-weather flowers as well as veggies. In inland climates where the weather warms up early, particularly in Southern California, plant marigolds, petunias, lobelia and other warm-weather annuals. Additionally place out or sow seeds of beans, squash and other summer crops; you can plant tomatoes in the event the danger of frost has passed. Closer to the shore or the San Francisco Bay, wait till warmer weather in April for most heat lovers.

Start drought-resistant perennials. While the weather remains relatively cool, it is a good time to place out penstemon, artemisia, catmint (nepeta), sage, coreopsis and other perennials that require little water; they could set themselves before warm weather.

Feeding time. Scatter, sprinkle or spray on all-purpose food for shrubs, trees and ground covers — ideally before the major surge of spring growth. Feed roses following pruning. Feed camellias after bloom.

Watch for insects. Aphids are fond of succulent new growth. Start with methods such as washing them off with a blast of water from the hose. As a next step, proceed on to organically sprays.

More regional backyard guides

See related

Great Design Plant: Saucer Magnolia

Atrace

A specimen tree that’s distinctive and appealing, and provides yearlong interest, makes sense in a garden; it’s helpful, hardworking and will perform year after season. Saucer magnolia (Magnolia x soulangeana) performs especially in one season — perhaps even in only one month — than during the remainder of the calendar year, by far. But quantify most trees’ yearlong display against saucer magnolia’s short-lived early spring spectacle, and I would say this one, famously created by agronomist Étienne Soulange-Bodin, wins over a year of reliable foliage.

While its simplistic and delicate appearance may imply a finicky and high-maintenance mood, many find these trees to be surprisingly unfussy and simple to develop with proper attention and care.

The New York Botanical Garden

Botanical name: Magnolia x soulangeana
Common names: Saucer magnolia, Japanese magnolia, tulip magnolia
USDA zones: 4 to 9 (find your zone)
Water requirement: Moderate (keep the soil evenly moist)
Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade (prefers morning sun)
Mature size: 25 to 30 feet tall; similar spread
Benefits and tolerances: Blooms attract bees, birds and butterflies; simple magnolia to grow; tolerates clay soil
Seasonal attention: Historical, prolific blossoms on branches
When to plant: Plant it in spring during active growth. (It may also be planted in autumn before the frost.)

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

The New York Botanical Garden

Distinguishing attributes. Saucer magnolia heralds the spring among the year’s earliest bloomers. Flowers appear earlier in warmer climates, and later where winter persists. Five to 10-inch waxy blossoms blur bare branches before the tree leafs out, highlighting its dispersing, architectural form — one of the tree’s most elegant qualities.

Search for fuzzy 1-inch buds as signs of flowers to come. White, fragrant blossoms blush pink and purple as they emerge and open for their namesake saucer shape. Most cultivars have been developed in a vast variety of colours and sizes. When the blossoms fall, waxy petals temporarily transform the floor into a soft pink blanket.

The tree leafs out after blooming, making glossy, bright 4- to 6-inch ovate leaves. By late spring the spectacle of saucer magnolia has passed, but it doesn’t imply its worth is lost. Foliage persists nicely through summer, turning yellow and brown in fall before dropping.

While we’re all wild about its flowers, the form of saucer magnolia itself creates a gorgeous garden focal point. Appreciate its dispersing, low branching structure and smooth gray bark till its flowers return.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

The best way to utilize it. Saucer magnolia is your ultimate early-spring accent tree, but remember it’s a yearlong garden feature. Plant it in a secure area where you are able to enjoy its blossoms in foliage, spring through summer and architectural branching structure.

Cluster numerous trees, but don’t forget the most size of this tree and its origins, and consider its mature size when you are planting it. Saucer magnolia reaches towering heights for a patio tree but can also be low branching.

Here, mature magnolias lineup Commonwealth Avenue in Boston.

PLATEMARK DESIGN

Bring a few flowering magnolia branchlets inside.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Planting notes. There’s a motive saucer magnolia can be used so broadly — it’s one of the most tolerant and easy-to-grow magnolias. But that in no way means it’s a low-maintenance or no-maintenance tree. Magnolia trees are investments, of both time and money.

Saucer magnolias are not tough to develop, but they require the time to establish. Be sure to take extra care and listen to small details when they’re young.

Plant in spring once the tree is actively growing. Fall will also do the job, but plant four to six weeks until the ground freezes. Select a site which will protect the tree from harsh winter winds or heat that might cause it to bloom too early in spring. Also be sure it has enough space to grow (look out and upward). Magnolias don’t like to be transplanted, which means you want to acquire the spot right the first time. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball, but do not dig deeper than the root ball. Magnolias have fleshy surface origins, so you don’t wish to pay those overly much.Be sure the root ball is well watered to earn root damage less probable. (The roots will soon be supple and less brittle.) Split the surrounding soil so that it doesn’t serve as an origin barrier.Place the main ball in the floor, maintaing an even space round it.Backfill with rich, organic material; water in dirt and well. Maintain moist soil. Mulch around to protect the soil from frost.Saucer magnolia grows moderately to slowly, so don’t expect to see flowers the first year. Be patient and nurturing. In midsummer, after it finishes flowering, gently clear out broken and crossing branches. There aren’t any significant pests associated with this particular tree.

More: How to Help Your Trees Weather a Storm

See related

12 Stylish Solutions for Ugly Cat Furniture

Atrace

user bridget1312 has asked a question which plagues all cat owners: “Does anybody know how to make a cat tree in the living area not this eyesore? I like my kitty and wish to purchase her a new cat tree, but all of them are so ugly and ruin the fantastic appearance … Any suggestions?”

It is correct, Bridget — when I think of cat trees, I believe of gloomy beige wall-to-wall carpet wrapped around poles and stapled into place. Cat lovers are discovering or producing trees with much more style and imagination, though; a few are even turning to their own architects and builders to think of a few very fun custom options. Listed below are a dozen readymade options in a assortment of styles, including Zen chic, nautical, contemporary as well as Eartha Kitt.

Petsmart

The Refined Feline Kitty Ball Bed, Bamboo – $169.99

This stylish cat perch combines the lines of an Eero Aarnio Bubble Chair with today’s popular renewable resource, bamboo.

Petsmart

Sophia Wall Mounted Cat Tree – $155.99

A cat perch should not take up space on the ground. Wall-mounted cat shelves may give kitty perching fun and precisely the climbing. This one has an extra shelf to the books, plants and collectibles.

shop.feelmorehuman.com

Square Cat Habitat by Buddha – $99

Sometimes kitty just wants her own spot for leaping, perching and napping without all of the bells and whistles of condo rooms, swinging ropes and all of the rest. Without uglying up your space this simple shelf meets all of her wants.

catsplay.com

Sebastian Modern Cat Tree – $289.95

This cat tree is completely Miesian; form follows function with clean contemporary lines. There are separate areas for kitty scratching, resting, hiding and exercising.

PETCO

Elegant Feline Little Lotus Tower Cat Tree – $377.99

This curved perch is a location where Mr. Cat can get his Zen on, along with the blank lines and not-shaggy carpet won’t offend his guardian’s design sensibilities.

catsplay.com

Tall Modern Cat Condo – $249.95

I think this cat condo would look smashing with some Barcelona chairs paired with some Eileen Gray side tables.

rags2richesragdolls.com

Tropical Flower Cat Tree – $300

Get in a playroom condition of mind when picking a cat tree. While I would not need this tropical blossom in my living space, it could really add some interesting style to a kids’ playroom or bedroom.

catsplay.com

Deluxe Lighthouse Cat Tower – $944.10

There are plenty of themed cat condos on the market. This lighthouse version does not have a cat-condo look and adds some pleasure.

catsplay.com

Safari Cat Gym – $144

I have named this one the Eartha Kitt Cat Tree. Glam faux animal print is a great deal better looking than shaggy wall-to-wall beige carpeting.

Petsmart

Metropolitan Pet Bed by LazyBonezz, Ebony – $399.99

Check out this cat bunk mattress if you’d like your cat furniture to resemble people furniture.

hartodesign.fr

Juliette Wall Shelf, Yellow – EUR 299

Where somebody had the idea of using it for a few kitty staircase-climbing fun I came on Modern Cat.

Petsmart

Elegant Feline Cat Clouds Cat Shelf, Titanium – $129.99

This titanium wall-mounted set of cat shelves is slick and sturdy. You can buy several and make a cat climbing wall.

Inform us Have you made your own cat condo, staircase, shelf or other perch? In that case, please post images. A number of those best-looking cat furniture I found on the web came from smart DIYers who created their own answers to this design dilemma.

See related