Monthly Archives: August 2014
Get the Look: A Bathroom Inspired By the Gilded Age
A bathroom built for two is super-efficient while taking design cues from the past. Designer Bryan Joyce gave this room in a 1750 New Jersey farmhouse a sense of history. Old-Fashioned Look White marble, dark wood, and unlacquered brass are the sorts of things you might see in a distinguished country house. “They remind me... Read More
12 Things to Never EVER Throw Out When You’re Downsizing
We tapped three organizing experts to tell us what items in your home are worth finding space for. 1. Family heirlooms. “Sterling silver candlesticks from your great, great grandmother should make the cut,” says Professional Organizer, Barbara Reich. “Evaluate these and again, which ones are truly meaningful to you and your family currently?” advises Watson. “Which ones... Read More
Why You Should Paint Your Furniture
Paint it chalky white, to be exact. Miles Redd shares his tried-and-true way of making old pieces feel new again. Updating Old Pieces “If you’ve got some hand-me-down 1950s reproduction that’s brown and boring, it doesn’t have to stay that way,” says designer Miles Redd. “I’m always telling people to whitewash it. It’s a tried-and-true... Read More
Ask a Designer: How Do I Decorate With Design Trends?
Every week, we’re asking designer Scot Meacham Wood, formerly of Ralph Lauren and now owner of his eponymous design firm, a question from our readers. This week’s topic is all about design trends. Have a decorating dilemma? Comment below and yours might be featured in a future installment. FULL STORY Read More
Why Blue and White Will Never Go Out of Style
With a rich range of hues, this classic combination looks fresher than ever. In this Greenwich, Connecticut, house, Lee Ann Thornton created a coastal and classic look with blue and white. Living Room Designer Lee Ann Thornton made blue and white the prevailing theme of a new Greenwich, Connecticut, house on the Long Island Sound to impart... Read More
STOP! Before You Clean With Vinegar, Read This
This kitchen staple is handy around the house — just not in these spots We’re huge fans of having vinegar in our cleaning arsenal. It’s great at lifting stains, freshening laundry, cleaning windows, and much more. FULL STORY Read More
9 Brilliant Decorating Ideas for Your Bookshelves
Add some excitement to your shelves with these ideas. Add Mirrors In a California cottage designed by Stephen Shubel, mirrors installed along the back of the built-in shelving give the wall depth. FULLL STORY Read More
A House That Proves You Shouldn’t Be Afraid of Dark Walls
Designer Susan Ferrier used deep, earthy browns and watery colors to evoke rustic cabins and endless summer in this Lake Martin, Alabama, house. Living Room A new house on Alabama’s Lake Martin takes on the look of an old cabin with soft, washed-out colors and ebony-stained wood walls. Designer Susan Ferrier chose... Read More
BEFORE & AFTER: This Office Makeover Will Make You Want To Rip Up Your Carpet
An office goes from stodgy to glamorous. PLUS get the look with our “How To” guide. For an International Oil Executive living in the posh neighborhood of Memorial in Houston, TX, this dull, unorganized office space was less than desirable. Designer Nina Magon transformed this dark office into a bright, energetic, multi-purpose space that allowed... Read More
One Classic Color: 3 Genius Ways to Decorate
Indigo is a color that knows no borders and has many different moods. Here, to celebrate their innovative paint line. The master stylists at Ralph Lauren Home create three mesmerizing rooms — exclusively for House Beautiful — that illustrate the infinite versatility. The indigo blues in this room were inspired by denim — the most... Read More