Cool Pools

Shore Inspired

Why We Love It: This unique tidal saltwater pool in Cape Neddick, Maine, embraces natural features for a seamless connection to the sea.

Modern Yet Timeless

Why We Love It: Crystal-blue water and Popsicle-color walls―enough said. The vibrant setting is simple, sophisticated, and fun.

Privacy, Please

Why We Love It: This small pool on the island of Mustique in the Grenadines gives renters a quiet spot to catch some rays, with the bonus of shade under the sturdy pergola. Dense tropical landscaping surrounds the retreat and offers a steady supply of oranges and figs.

A Perfect Fit

Why We Love It: These homeowners had to get creative when adding a pool to their small backyard, so they joined it to the house’s foundation. Folding doors in the family room slide back to reveal the water’s edge.

New England Luxury

Why We Love It: This Connecticut pool sits so close to the sea’s edge that you can cast a rod from one of the lounge chairs. It sports two poolside structures with ornamental roofs reminiscent of graceful, white sails.

Clear View

Why We Love It: A wavy shape nods to the nearby surf, and the infinity edge gives waders a seamless view out to sea―you can’t get much closer to beachfront than this!

This is my favorite design!!!!

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Patios/Garden Escapes

The owners of this Venice, California, home needed places to eat and to relax in their renovated yard. A floating bench and a fire bowl, created from a colored concrete planter, make up the new living space. Blue bamboo helps screen the dining area.



A nap on this ship-shaped daybed, inspired by a Chinese boat, may just feel like a journey across the ocean. It turns a simple backyard corner into a perfect lounging spot.



This traditional porch near Palmetto Beach, South Carolina, employs coastal-style architecture to give this new home old Southern charm with shutters that reach all the way to the ceiling. The folding shutters can be opened to let in light and air or closed for more privacy. The slats can be adjusted to let air circulate.


A large stone fireplace is the centerpiece to this screened porch that sits in a wood cabin along Lake Michigan. Fire logs are nestled in a silver drink tub next to a slipcovered ottoman with a floral and fruity pattern.



Two lounge chairs and a fountain make this patio a great place to hang out with friends or take a nap. The lounge chairs are upholstered with chocolate brown fabric, which can stand up to outdoor conditions and easily hide stains.



Just outside this home's kitchen is a patio for casual meals. Paved with saltillo tile, it overlooks the courtyard, with its cooling custom-designed fountain

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Garden Rooms

Potting Room Deluxe

This workroom/potting room at the rear of the garage has a narrow sink with double faucets set into a poured concrete counter , which was stained green and given a rock-face edge. A small fridge doubles as a cooler for cut flowers. Painted tongue-and-groove paneling makes the space feel fresh and tidy but also resists mildew.

At the Ready

In this combination laundry and potting room, a swiveling cabinet door is hung with hooks for organizing hand tools.

A Simple Plan

A potting room can be as simple as a small shed or corner of the garage, as this one is, as long as there's a nearby water source. The most important feature is a counter at a comfortable height for performing the otherwise back-breaking task.

Floral Dream

This mudroom serves as a flower arranging workroom. The owner added decorative legs to the extra-large sink, which is often filled with freshly cut blooms for the yard.



.......And the Kitchen Sink
This antique sink may have originally come from a laboratory. So heavy it took four men to carry it, the owner has placed it on a solid slate counter with steel supports. This deep basin is large enough for flowers and dishes.

Expand the Kitchen

Next to the kitchen is a "garden room" that extends the kitchen's functionality and serves myriad of purposes. The deep farmhouse sink makes this an ideal spot for pruning and arranging flowers.

The Beauty of Utility

There is no reason a utility room can't be as beautiful as any other room in the house. This pantry/mudroom, which connects the home's living room to both kitchen and screened porch, has the same floors, cabinetry, and windows are the kitchen.

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Freshen Up on a Budget

1. Color Your Walls

Completely transform your room with just a few gallons of paint. Try a fresh shade, and watch how it transforms all your existing furniture. Paint costs so little compared to how much you get in return.
A grid of nine colorful paintings pops against a deep gray wall.
Poppy Nine Patch Canvas Set
$349
Available at Art.com



Rethink What You Have
It costs nothing to reassess what your room already looks like. Why not move a few pieces around? Sometimes a fresh approach encourages you to get rid of tired pieces that drag your space down. Do you really need everything you see? Does everything have a purpose and a special meaning to you? If not, then give it away. I promise, less is more.
Air Mail print
$40
Available at Art.com
Havanita print
$40
Available at Art.com



Choose Lighting Wisely
Adding dimmers to your space offers dimension and mood at very little cost. Or buy a fresh shade for your lamp. Consider replacing mismatched floor lamps with two, new matching lamps. Place one on either side of your sofa or bed, and see how the room suddenly has cohesive style.



Update Your Pillows
Can't afford a new sofa? There are dozens of affordable, fabulous pillows that are one of a kind and will zip up your space instantaneously.
Golden Horizon print
$25
Available at Art.com


Sleep In Style
Does your bedroom need a lift? Give it an instant update. Try buying just a new headboard with a unique fabric or pattern. Invest in a great set of sheets, complete with shams. Choose a bold pattern that will define your room, and don't be afraid to mix and match.
Calla Lilies framed print
$310
Available at Art.com



Try a Mirror
Can't afford art? You can find unique mirrors at discount stores or vintage shops that, when grouped together, will bring elegance and personality to even the smallest of spaces.



Recover and Renew
Can't afford a new chair? Give your existing one a makeover by recovering it in a new pattern. Get a little daring and see how a simple chair can be completely transformed.

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Sofa Styles

Sofa Style

The style of a sofa is generally determined by three things: the arms, the back, and the legs or skirt. Certain arms and backs connote modern or traditional styles, but the way a sofa is upholstered and trimmed can also great influence its appeal. In addition to a glossary of terms describing backs, arms, seats, and legs, we’ve compiled some of the most classic and well-known styles.

English or Club

This sofa has a slightly rounded arm set back from the front of the seat, often with a tight seat and slightly rolled back, no skirt, and low, turned legs on castors.

Tuxedo

In the tuxedo sofa, the arms are as high as the back. It usually has fairly clean lines with straight or slightly flared arms. Some people find a lower arm more comfortable for resting, but with the right pillows, the tuxedo can be very cozy.

Camelback

A more traditional, formal style made by Thomas Chippendale in the 18th century, the camelback sofa has a tight, serpentine back, high rolled arms, often a tight seat, and sometimes exposed legs and stretchers.

Knole

Based on an early to mid-17th-century sofa made for Knole, a house in Kent, England, and a classic of English country houses, this sofa has a straight, high back and angled arms that can be adjusted to open out or stand up straight (once useful for keeping out drafts). The back and arms traditionally connect with finials wrapped in cords.

Cabriole

The back of this 18th-century Louis XV–style sofa curves into the arms in a continuous line. It usually has wood trim and carved wood legs that may be curved. This example is a more clean-lined take on the classic form, which would have more downswept, curvy arms.

Lawson

The Lawson has a low, squarish back, with arms that are lower than the back. The form can have square or rolled arms.

Chesterfield

The Chesterfield conjures visions of English libraries or men’s clubs, with its tufted back, high rolled arms, and sometimes tufted seat. It is often upholstered in leather.

Midcentury Modern

These sofas have straight, squared lines and a very streamlined form, with low, often squared legs.

Sectional

This modular seating is configured from components that include armless sofas, as well as end and corner units, ottomans, and sometimes even recliners, sleep sofas, or chaises. Its style is usually clean-lined and modern.

Bridgewater

A Bridgewater sofa has low, set-back arms and an elegant profile. It is usually skirted and sometimes has a softly rolled back.

Watch the video for how to shop for a sofa:

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Love Your Laundry Room

Concealed Laundry

Sliding doors and a front-loading machine combine for beauty and efficiency.

By concealing a front-loading washer and dryer in a custom cabinet, this space becomes multipurpose. One minute it's a fully functional laundry with plenty of room for folding and hanging clothes. Then, once clothes are put away, it becomes a decorative serving area.
The key to this laundry solution is the front-loading washer and dryer, because a square cabinet fits around the appliances to conceal them. Although front-loading appliances may cost more than standard units (full-size stacking units are a similar investment), they are worth every additional penny when making an awkward, little-used space more efficient.
Stenciled motifs on each door provide a distinctive finishing touch. Although this family chose to use sliding doors, a piece of fabric or a standard door made to fit the cabinet would also work.

Laundry and Craft Rooms

The sink in this stylish and functional laundry room has a wall-mounted faucet; the backsplash is made up of festive glass tiles. Cabinetry, with beaded-board fronts, surrounds three walls.

Chic Laundry Rooms

Turn a lackluster laundry room into a place that’s a pleasure to work in. Pretty wallpaper and a handy utility sink turn it into a flowery workstation for everyday chores.

Hall Laundry Area

This home's side entrance functions full-time as a stylish space and part-time as a laundry room.

Because this side entrance hall doubles as a laundry area, guests routinely arrived to be greeted by... the washer and dryer. That is, until the homeowners devised a clever disguise.
A piece of solid maple rests directly on top of the front-loading appliances; it provides a great spot for folding laundry. Because the countertop isn't permanently attached, it can easily be removed if either unit needs repair work.
The durable upholstery-weight skirt material is attached to a shower curtain tension rod. Making it a breeze to access the appliances, the skirt is divided into three sections.
Across from the washer and dryer is a full wall of cabinets that are painted a crisp white. They extend to the ceiling, providing maximum storage. Filled with vases, china, and cleaning items, the cabinets are a perfectly organized catch-all.

Closet-Turned-Laundry

In its previous life, the closet that holds a stackable washer/dryer was the kitchen pantry.

The homeowners turned the door around so it faced the hall. A pull-out shelf in the center of the appliance makes fast work of folding clothes. To add interest to the space, the couple chose a French door for the closet. They then installed a custom cabinet, painted a glossy white, next to the closet.It features three pull-out hampers and ample storage space for linens and detergent.

Just a note:  I ordered the most delightful laundry fragrance, you use it in the rinse cycle and only a capful will do. The scent I ordered from Tyler is called, "Diva". I promise, you will LOVE this product.

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Beginner's Guide to Gardening

Get Growing

So, it's garden time. Your outdoor space is cleared out, cleaned up, and ready to be planted.
And whether you're taking on larger endeavors or simply planting containers for the patio, it's important to do your homework and really know your outdoor area before getting started.
With the following to-do list (don't worry, it will be easy!), you'll be fully prepared to take on shopping for and planting your garden with confidence and style.

Guide to a Nursery

Garden nurseries can be a bit overwhelming when you visit for the first time. There are so many beautiful plants to choose from, how do you know what's best for your home?
Lydia Pursell, owner of Leaf 'N Petal, says, "The best customer is a prepared customer."
What to Do Before:
• Know the dimensions of the area (or container) you're planting.
• Take pictures of your space to help choose plants and containers.
• Study your beds to see how much light they get during the day.

Choosing Containers

Even if you're lacking outdoor acreage, container gardens are easy to incorporate into many spaces -- including porches, decks, and even front entries.
There are a wide variety of containers on the market, making it easier to choose a color, size, and style to fit your home's look and add outdoor appeal.

Garden Art

From whimsical garden gnomes to adorned stakes, garden art is back and bigger than ever.
The rule to choosing garden art is that there is no rule! Simply pick and choose pieces that you love, and then let your personal creativity and style shine through in your selections.

Engaging Your Senses

Take a cue from your kindergarten days and remember the five senses when planting your garden. (If you need a refresher course, they're touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound.)
By incorporating all of these, your garden or outdoor room will feel completely relaxing, whether you're enjoying a good book alone or entertaining guests at a weekend gathering.

Carefree Coreopsis

Tolerant from zones 3 through 11, there is coreopsis for just about every flower garden. Commonly called tickseed, this relative of the sunflower prospers in dry, sunny locations with poor soil, making it ideal for problem areas in the garden. Coreopsis makes an ideal centerpiece in containers surrounded by shorter trailing flowers.

Succulent Success

A broad group of tough, drought-tolerant plants including sedum, aloe, agave, and cacti, succulents are the perfect plant for gardeners who forget to water. If planted in well-drained soil, they require only a sunny spot and occasional watering.
Potted heat-tolerant cactus and aloe beautify decks and patios in the summer before being brought inside for the winter. Not all succulents are warm-weather plants, however. Showy sedums, such as the popular 'Autumn Joy', are hardy from zones 3 to 10

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Spring Accent Trends

Filigree

Inspired by a global appreciation of ironwork scrolls and delicate embroidery, filigree is popping up on walls, bedding, and textiles. The finely wrought designs, full of swirls, curlicues and flourishes, are as fresh as a sweet pea tendril. Pierced and intricately carved designs fall under this highly decorative look. I love the cool colors, classy and warm!

A Bit of Spice

Bands of filigree criss-cross this Moroccan pendant light, found at Horchow.

 Every room, whether traditional or modern, needs a dose of ethnic design.

Asian Interlude

Asian motifs compose a patchwork of design across the back and arms of a rattan chair. Flank a round skirted table with these exotic imports.
$525
Available atGump's San Francisco

A Dose of Damask

Laser cutting has enabled the filigree trend to flourish. Here, a rug is cut into an elegant damask pattern, perfect for bringing a note of whimsy to a modern room.
$99 to $499
Available at Brocade Home

Bold Beauty

A boldly carved bed frame, painted black, gives your bedroom a fashion-forward edge.
$349-$449
Available at Brocade Home

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