Nylig aktivitet
The back of my SUV is loaded and tomorrow morning we'll roll! No clothes but there are 5 boxes for my neighbor's Church bazaar. One box has children's things: books and toys along with a dozen Pottery Barn melamine plates with various holiday designs. Another two boxes are filled with grown-up games, unopened playing cards, a new Scrabble set on a turntable, Le Creuset trivets, cookie sheets, cake pans, embroidered holiday table linens still in the original bag. And there are another 2 boxes with China service for 14 - everything from soup to dessert plates.
Just stuff that I've accumulated over the years. The sad thing is that these things were in closets all over the house. Now that they're gone you really can't tell. An empty closet would be much more impressive.
One of our guest rooms has been a wreck for two weeks with things we no longer use or need all over the bed and on the floor at the walls. A business acquaintance finally came through town yesterday and picked up everything. A nice check, and more to come. This morning I rearranged that storage closet (one of four that run along each long side in two of guest rooms) that needed organzing. I sent DH a photo and he replied "we have room for more stuff now!" To which I replied "NO!"
I take issue with universal clothing advice. More often than not, the advice of what to buy and what to purge is an effort to make you buy more. It’s driven by what’s in fashion and not developing your own style. If people focused more on style, fit, condition and quality (relative to budget), then we wouldn’t buy so much. If I don’t follow the advice to buy the latest hot thing in the first place, then my wardrobe doesn’t look outdated.
When I’ve worked with friends to clear their closets, we focus first on condition, then fit and then wearability. We want to find the things in their existing wardrobe that they feel really good wearing.
Then we adapt those things to their lifestyle and comfort zone. When we look for more, it needs to meet those same requirements and go with things they already have.
For example, if you (like me) love to be fancy, wear the fancy blazers with dark denim. If you are super casual, but need a little more fancy, then replace a sweater with a blazer style knit and different shoes. I love the three piece rule.
Three pieces can be a skirt, blouse and matching blazer. Or a sweater, skirt and top. Or blazer, t-shirt and jeans. They take the same amount of time to pick because it’s three things.
Lastly, I wish women made better use of tailoring. Like @Kswl. Our bodies are so different, there’s no one who couldn’t benefit from alterations at least some of the time.
Any of them except the ones with the bare bulbs. They throw such harsh light.
My friend has a transom window over her vanity and she hates it. She has higher ceilings so she has space for a taller mirror. If the house wasn't cement block and stucco, she would have removed the transom window during her remodel.
I would definitely NOT do it with your lower ceilings.
@chispa what does she hate about it? thanks!
Did you ask your architect/designer to show you an elevation drawing so you can see what size the window would be and specifically the glass area. The glass could be as small as 9" or smaller once the structural wall support is taking into consideration as well as the window framing itself.
I don't own a single scarf! I never knew what to do with them and they felt like an unneeded layer that gets in the way!
I can understand that. I always thought they provided some balance for my height (and width!) and added some interest since I largely prefer solids. But on a very petite woman, you may be right.
Lisaam, yes, that is a good point too.
@bbstx, I don't think I have scarves with that finish, but yes, id cut them.
Off to check out Haven Well Within!
One other interesting thing from the link that Chispa shared… as you go down in size, the differences between one size and the next get smaller. So for example, the difference between the waist on a size 14 and a size 16 is 2 inches. The difference is between the waist on a size 4 and a six is less than 1 inch… So the delta gets smaller, both nominally and in relative terms. I never thought about this before. It does explain why, even as my weight loss has slowed to a crawl, I keep needing new clothes.
Yesterday my early golf game started at 60 degrees!
The turtleneck and pants are navy. By the end of our round the sweater was off. This is a cotton cableknit sweater from Spartina that I have worn often. The color combination of navy and cream and the interesting blue pairs well with my off white jeans, navy slacks, jeans, all those colors in shorts, and if course the Spartina plaid golf skirt in the same colors. I would say it is the single most worn sweater I own.
Fast forward to yesterday evening— I met a group of friends for dinner in another town at a restaurant almost next door to a Talbot’s. Nturally I had to go in to see if anything needed me. 😎 I found this super cute lined wool skirt in green and gray plaid.
The 4 was short so I sized up to wear it on my hips for more length. It was on sale already and when I got it home tried it on with this JMcL cashmere high neck, gray tights and olive driving shoes… winner! (I also have a gray wool v neck cardigan and a gray cashmere sweater polo and gray loafers that will do for it.)
It’s not a kilt but the buttons give it that vibe. The buttons are faux tortoiseshell and I may swap them out for wooden ones 🤔 This is more proportional for my body type and I am no longer missing that long pleated skirt that I sent back. 😁
So much depends on the room’s style and table’s size, your taste and how you’d like the vignette to feel. Did you want it to complement something in particular (say on the wall). I find testing different combinations is the best method as balance and height are key and a grouping of 3 works well. Maybe look on line for inspiration.
With no information and In the spirit of the approaching holiday season ... I'll go with this!
LOL
I'd put doors on the den and use that as a tv room, with games etc for the kids - put a low key Frame TV in the living room for the adults
is the "fireplace room" labeled the office? do you not want a home office? it's a nice flexible room for homework, bill paying etc - I would also put on a door on that room as well
Just go with stainless, specially with no other brass elements in the space.
In my previous house I used a 48" Wolf range and also looked at the different knob/bezel options. In the end I just went with the black knob and stainless bezel, even though I did have other brass elements. If I remember correctly the brass bezel was more of a bright "shiny gold" and not a more muted brushed brass.
Another vote for plain stainless. Brass oxidizes and you may not appreciate the patina. Unless you are doing some other items in brass, it's not going to look good.
Thanks for the feedback. I didn't think the bezels or knobs were too "brassy" but more like the knobs on the Monogram, which come with a stainless/bronze knob and don't really stand out that much.
Floor plan with measurements and size of the rest of the furniture going in the space?
How do you want to use this space and what’s your wish list?
Cost allowances can be the most contentious part of a home building or remodeling project. Builders and remodelers are not mind readers.
To minimize "surprises" during construction, I encourage my clients to make early selections of cabinetry, tops, plumbing fixtures, and appliances. "Early" means as soon as the conceptual plans are avaiable for trade partners to use them for take off purposes.
It's certainly a reasonable request to ask how your builder determined each allowance included in your contract. It's not reasonable, in my opinion, to ask the builder to break down each allowance according on a room-by-room basis.
My builder's quote/guess was based on our detailed building plans. We had a lot of cabinets and built-ins throughout the house. My builder put in $64K as the cabinet allowance. I definitely thought is was low as I had done a kitchen a few years earlier in CA, which was more than that for the kitchen cabinets only. People kept telling us it was cheaper in FL ... maybe, but not that much cheaper!
Once we signed the contract and I met with the cabinets maker, the bid came in for all the cabinets and built-ins, and the cost was $140K. We went ahead per the plans, but my builder should really have gotten a guesstimate from a cabinet company! We could cover the costs, but that might not have been true for all customers. It is like he just guessed the cost for a house with a simple kitchen and 2.5 bathrooms, when our house was much larger, with more details.
I do like my builder, but I felt he missed the mark when it came to estimating costs for the initial budget, even with detailed building plans.
Buying a sofa without the “Tush Test” is taking a risk. You want it to be comfortable, which is a highly personal experience. For the price of a good piece of furniture that lasts a long time, I would drive to a showroom.
I found a couch I loved in the Ballard Design catalogue. Luckily, I could drive to their Nashville store and sit on one, see all their fabrics and talk to educated salespeople. It passed all my tests.
The couch you posted is lovely, but is it the right depth for your legs? Is the tight back comfortable or not? Does the fabric look and feel like what you envisioned? Is the height good for your family members?
Is there no other option for the vanity?
I would hate something that takes up so much room, but gives me so little storage space, specially drawers.
Show a current floor plan, if you want layout ideas.
This all comes down to the inches you have. What is the overall length of each leg? Try using blue tape and layout over your current mirror 2 scenarios based on actual product you find - select a medicine cabinet (you need the storage) and a mirror (the mirror would assume a corner tower because again you need the storage). I personally don’t like corner towers for what they do in terms of compartmentalizing your 2 sides. It will make each side feel smaller. Open shelves just look cluttered but you will find that by going with 2 smaller mirrors or medicine cabinets that the corner will feel ‘bare’. Emily’s image shows a large floral arrangement to try to counter this but is that something you would actually do? Try the blue tape to get a feel for it. Jehanz you haven’t mentioned if you are open to going down to one sink? You’ve ruled this out? This bathroom I worked on years ago had a limited footprint so the client went with a trough type sink with 2 faucets and a large medicine cabinet. However, this overall length was about 58-60”. Again, it all comes down to the inches you have. Try the blue tape which will help you visualize it.
Note: The above scenario was custom (in order to make that particular sink work with maximized drawer space). Also, this particular client could not do sconces or lighted mirrors due to eye issues so the custom solution was to hide tape light behind a custom wood frame detail surrounding the triple medicine cabinet. Since the vanity was sandwiched between 2 walls one would never see the sides….I’m not suggesting this medicine cabinet / light detail for you - just to show you that you could significantly increase your storage and maybe still have 2 faucets if you think outside the box of what you currently have.
Our first MD , 9 yrs ago, here in this small town of 7500 retired a few years ago. A fantastic Dr took his place in the practice and we really liked her for the couple years she was here. Then she joined another practice out of town which meant she was commuting. We tried another local Dr but she was awful. Our DIL suggested the practice she goes to. It has been absolutely perfect.
I posted here when I first went to this practice that I was unhappy about how ” nosy” the new Dr was 😳😂. His Mom and Dad started the practice years ago and he finished all his fellowships etc and moved back with his family. As it happens he is excellent and thorough and caring and really knows what he is doing.
The practice just added another new Dr. I smashed my R thumb a week ago Monday night. I went to Urgent Care which was horrible. On Tuesday morning I called the practice and said I really needed to see a Dr , anyone .. please. The newest member of the practice was available at 2:20 pm that same afternoon. I went and was so impressed. As a retired RN with standards that are admittedly really high , I couldn’t have been more pleased. He was as thorough as any MD could be. He got me started on an antibiotic as a prophylactic, tetanus shot and a NSAID . Got me a referral in C’ville with the best hand specialist around at UVA , I see him tomorrow.
We are so lucky. Yes I have to drive 60 minutes to C’ville and sometimes 45 min to Waynesboro or 75min to Harrisonburg but we get in when needed always . Have never had to wait extended days . There is actually a service that can take us if needed and we could use it if ever I can’t drive , DH is legally blind .
Sorry this is so long but @palimpsest post inspired me. 🙏
@Woody Vaughan or Shaun Fogarty - old post. I don't know why Houzz is displaying very old posts this week, but this happens more frequently than it used to.
Old posts are coming back up because sellers/spammers bring them back up ... usually with a link to their website. I try to flag these spammers when I see the post is several years old.
Looks like a normal tidy clean garage ... wish my DH cared about garage organization!
Very nice. Your husband will enjoy being there with his cars.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/00bhKXb5qWXd9XaRIs-q7iStg
Here’s a Cloud link for those experiencing difficulties with YouTube.
Too many competing and repeating rectangles on that back wall and fireplace.
Yes too many rectangles and squares vying for attention.
The clutter however is distracting and making it look worse.
• ditch the coffee table decor
• put cabinet doors on the shelves
• line up the coffee table with the tv
• push the left sofa a bit back if you have the space for it
• keep the clutter to a minimum as the room is already awkwardly shaped
• remove the pillows and place a throw. The pillows are suffocating the room as more squares
Just removing clutter will help.
If you are looking for new sofa, coffee table , I suggest you go lighter.
Good luck. I was going to chime in for the middle sample which looks all gray to me but it's rather moot at this point since you have decided.
Jan Moyer - Thank you for the unsolicited lecture, although I’m not entirely sure why a straightforward question about a faucet required one.
For the record, my question was specifically if anyone has the faucet so I could view the flow, find out if the Luneoo has an aerated or laminar water flow, and whether anyone had experience with how it performs in actual use. I’ve since obtained the answer directly from a Blanco sales representative. The faucet has a laminar flow, which was precisely the information I was looking for.
Your assertion that showrooms never connect faucets to a water source is also incorrect. There is a local company with half a dozen faucets connected and available for customers to operate and assess for themselves.
As for my choice of sink, I’m quite aware that the dark grey BLANCO Precis sink has tight corners. I’m also capable of weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a sink without needing someone to explain my own purchasing decisions to me. Not everyone shares your preferences for stainless steel and that’s perfectly fine.
What I find particularly unhelpful is the assumption that asking a question about a product somehow demonstrates that someone hasn’t considered the implications of buying it. In fact, asking questions before making a purchase is generally a rather sensible thing to do.
There is a considerable difference between sharing useful experience and delivering a condescending lecture about someone else’s choices. The former is helpful; the latter adds very little to the discussion. In future, you might consider that a question asked in good faith deserves an answer in good faith, rather than an opportunity to demonstrate how much you think you know.
A simple, courteous answer to the question I actually asked would have sufficed.
Penny wise and pound foolish!
Valves in tile covered walls is not the place to look for bargains.
We see the expensive end of this kind of choice. When a valve body buried in a tiled wall fails, you are not swapping a trim piece, you are cutting the wall open. If it were me, I would spend on the part that lives inside the wall and save on trim. A Delta or Moen valve body with a lifetime warranty means any plumber can still get parts for it years from now. A bargain brand with no parts support is a gamble I would not take behind tile.
Yeah, I think I decided on a moen valve and trim and will probably get a hammerhead slide bar and hand held shower.
I found a much less expensive Moen trim piece. It looks almost identical to the more expensive one so I emailed Moen and asked about the $200 price difference. First they said it was just a different knob design (it's barely different) and when I called bs on that and asked about big box store models vs plumbing supply models, they said they don't do that. But they said the cheaper model was discontinued so maybe that's why. I'm guessing that's part of the price difference but not all of it. It might have more plastic or something but I think what we have now is plastic and it's been fine for decades. The valve is the same and is brass.
The beams are pretty great - i would leave them alone. If it were me I would pare down all the small things and focus on larger-scale storage and decor - I think if the rooms leaned more minimal, the beams would shine
My concern is you take natural looking neams and the cure is worse than the disease and you ruin them and leave yourself no choice but to paint. In my honest opinion, nothing good is going to come from your idea. Just my .02.
Is this tile only in the kitchen or throughout the house?
If kitchen only, what other flooring is in adjoining rooms?
Usually one continuous flooring type looks best, specially in smaller homes.
Paint the walls the same color as the cabinets.
The soffit overhangs the cabinet, so you aren't going to "lux" or disguise it by trying to add things. Leave as is, and concentrate on other things.
Thank you! I don’t see a checkerboard floor in my future, but appreciate the thought. Especially with
Sorry but the first thing to do is get proper lighting . I see no improvement in adding molding to that very ugly soffitt which I am sure could be made less obtrusive .The same engineered as the rest of the house but that will require a huge amnount of work since the tile will have to be removed , so maybe in that time also open the soffitt see what can be done to lessen it and raise the upper cabinets 3 " to lessen the bulk above. Then all one color for walls and cabinets and some new pulls if you must. Remove the tile and just keep the counter and the 4" splash
If you are looking at lee this should be something your dealer helps with. they should easily be able to communicate the needed yardage for COM including evaluating with Lee the pattern needs etc., can you search for a different lee dealer in your area. its not difficult and its whats they should be offering you.
once this is determined and lee has the fabric in hand they will send your dealer a cut/layout approval before production.
I've done COM fabrics a few times and the dealer should be working with the manufacturer to get you all the details to place the order.
Just make sure the fabrics you select are appropriate for upholstery use. For seating, I prefer to use indoor/outdoor or Crypton type fabrics with a Wyzenbeek rub rating of at least 75,000 plus.
Thanks for thinking of me, C, and also to the rest of you.
We are on the east side, so not great news! LOL That said, I was worried about storm surge - mainly thanks to weathermen and newscasters being so dang dramatic - but two neighbors that have been here for many decades, said there has never been surge flooding here. One said mainly because "when you are close to the water, the excess water is drained away, pulled back out with the surge as quick as it comes in. The very damaging floods are in the dry areas and valleys.". As one BFF said, "there is always a first time,"
It's currently raining and a little windy. East/southeast of us is getting is worse due to lay of the land. Our big window will be 6pm to midnight, give or take.
One thing that calmed my anxiety is the landfall position of Isaias compared to Opal (which we rode out in central AL and lost 21 huge oak trees! @Tina Marie ). Opal was Cat 4 with 150mph and our current neighborhood had no flooding. Our driveway is 13ft above sea level and our house foundation is +3ft, so we are in a good position. The neighbors I mentioend above are on slab, like our rental cottage next door.
We will probably loose power (?) but have a whole house generator with transfer switch. Loss of internet is probably a given. Hoping cell service stays or isn't out long. My sister is here at her house this month, and it is walkable, if need be.
Hoping anyone else in the path is prepared, safe and no damage.
ETA: Our house is only 9yo, so built to newer strict codes. We lived through inspections when adding our carport with storage room. Entire house, including windows and doors, are rated for 144mph winds, but I'd rather not find that out. LOL We also have numerous interior shear walls and hurricane doors.
Oh they are working OT everywhere. came back to say these are minor on any given day, much less after a hurricane. i am not complsining at all Just updating i know it could have been so much worse.
i was just able to see videos on IG. Much worse just a few miles west of us. DH went to our beach access yesterday and since ours is not a drop off with lots of stairs it is in good shape other than the dune fencing needs uprighting
We have POWER, even INTERNET again!
@Still trailing and @Fun2BHere, our annual service appt is in the morning, as in tomorrow. I cannot see the tiny letters on my cell phone to post. (Time for readers!? LOL)
I am not west of Miramar.
@rubyclaire They should have power soon, if not already. IG has not been cooperating properly, but if I see a local post about Seaside, I will let @Still trailing know about Seaside.
Going to bed. Hopefully everyone hears from their family and friends.
FWIW, our two nearby beach accesses are fine. But we do not on higher ground with stairs.
That is fantastic. I think the strategy would be to buy neighboring homes or land and create a compound with this as the crown jewel.
I think it hit the market at $22 million, but even a drop of $2 million doesn't help me much! It's a Wonderful House. Most Wonderful Houses need to land in the hands of a foundation, or a well-heeled collector who maintains it in spite of lack of commercial viability.
Art does not need to match the rug at all. Art should be bought because you love it and it speaks to you emotionally ... and not because it matches some replaceable item in your decor scheme.
Art is personal and subjective, so no one else should be choosing it for you.
Cut different sizes of Kraft paper and tape to wall and height is important as well. Ignore the content, only providing to help with visualizing a balanced vignette.
If you do not want beige, avoid all the suggestions for beige and go with what you wanted which was something colorful/ blue and mountain_/ocean related. Something sentimental. A
As Norwood Architects said, just choose whatever you want that is a reminder of your trips/memories. If you are set on the two you found in your OP, the first one is nice and framed can look good. Adding blue accents might be all you really need to tie in the space.
There's 1000s upon 1000s of different paintings that can fit your criteria, so finding one that is sentimental to you, I think is key.
Don't love the cabinet style, but we have no idea how you decorated or plan to decorate the rest of the space. I would also not do a glass front unless you already own things you can display there, which realistically will only be seen by the 2-3 people sitting on the far side of the table facing the foyer.
Is it the left door that opens for everyday use? It would have been best to have the right door be the main door, swinging to the short wall, that will have nothing there. Having to leave space on the left for the door swing, messes with the symmetry of that foyer wall, when you try to use it as your main design wall.
You'll have to get a shorter console to allow for the door swing, but you could visually fill the space on either side of the console with more art, to balance that wall.
These show the idea of expanding the wider overall vignette so that it fills the wall, when you have to use a shorter console.
It can also be a place for guests to use more conveniently…to stay at a reasonable size you may want to only hang seasonal pieces…while keeping off season gear elsewhere
A rug all along a potentially slippery hallway ….is a practical as well as pretty addition
@chispa, hmmm, could be that, too! 😄
I saw a pelvis too, even before chispa mentioned it.
So maybe a pot filler in the wrong location would not be the look you intend...
I’m imagining you have more than those two slabs for your project? Are the counters the same material? I personally don’t like the look of the butterfly pelvis but that’s me. Just wondering if you have options…
But if it is Brazilian Cherry engineered wood with enough top layer to refinish, you might be able to darken it, but you aren't getting rid of the orange/red tones.
The floors are fine.
The cabinets are fine.
Add white counters (quartz) and white tile backsplash to lighten and refresh the kitchen.
Decorate with a Serena & Lily look in lighter/brighter of-white colors, add a touch of blues and beachy accents.
Emily had some nice pics. Beachy to me means coastal colors (blue, green, cream) and an airy feel. I agree the cabinets and dark and heavy feeling. Lighten the cabinets and don't worry about the floors. Fix lighting and add texture with bamboo or grasscloth. Blue backsplash and some accesories might work as well.
When someone says " It is not at all our style" and then follows with " budget friendly ideas please..." ? Budget friendly means different things for different people. She posted the former condo which she loved. The "beachywas a wicker chair, seashell decor, etc AND a white kitchen
We can't answer the budget question, but changing ( drastically ) a home that is lovely/suburban/not beachy is just a question of how far you want to go , to be thrilled.
It's the internet, and she got my answer, no differently than if I were standing in that space.
.
And chispa, so sorry you lost two of your sweet dogs in one year. Must have been so hard.
Sherry, what a sweet dog you had!
Mtn, I find your words so soothing. thank you.
petalique, yes, of the hundreds of pics, those are the "same model, different color" themed ones.
Kitchenwitch, love that you had an Earl Grey too!
Schoolhouse, I hope our Gray follows your cat's example and returns.
I haven't been able to show my feelings at home for fear of making it worse for DH and DS. Opening up to this group has been so comforting. Thank you!!!
K Laurence and chispa must have read my mind. "Formal" living rooms (and dining rooms) are a silly designation, especially the way almost all of us live now. Unless you're using that room to entertain royalty, there's no need to be formal. Think outside the box and use a room for a purpose that makes sense for your lifestyle. The living room next to the family room looks to be darker, which makes it better for TV watching than the light-filled family room.
Our living room became my office, and has no TV. If I want to watch something by myself, I watch it on my computer. Our family room is in another end of the house, attached to the kitchen by a hallway, so that's where we gather to watch TV as a group. Because it's not right next to the kitchen, and has French doors, I can close it off and cook in peace while my husband is watching TV.
My MIL had the medical alert necklace and also an apple watch the last few years. They both alerted to falls and called 911 and the son that lived nearby, for immediate help.
I asked my sister how they are dealing with her husband falling a few times and she mentioned he now wears a SmartWatch.
Define "Senior"
Mobile? How senior in age? Frail? Sturdy? Mentally vibrant? Social? Isolated and a more retiring sort?
A daily are you alive and feeling well.......is different than the possible what if's.
If a check in the am, what of a fall mid day or in the dead of night? Will she wear and use a simple wrist monitor? Would you be far better off in the long run with security cameras in strategic places, where YOU can monitor from any distance on your phone? Not to pry, or invade privacy, just to know she/he/they are safe.
A wake up moment leaves a lot of "other" time.
How high are your ceilings? If you have 9ft plus ceilings, I wouldn't build a custom house and use 6'7" tall doors. Also if you plan to stay long term into retirement, you might want to consider 36" wide doors. I used all 36" x 96" interior doors when I built in 2021.
Also that small section of plan you show seems to be very short on windows.
Closets should be placed in interior spaces, so you can have living spaces on exterior walls to maximize light and views into the house. I think that whole area will be a bit basement-like, even though you have what look like skylights. Skylights do not replace the feeling you get of being able to see out of windows.
I would want to move the toilet room so it isn't sharing a wall with the bedroom area. You will hear it flush at night and maybe even pee sounds if you have a standard 4" wall with no soundproofing/insulation.
This is what we did with our master suite.
Also, if that is a tray ceiling in the master bedroom ... I wouldn't do it! Lazy way of adding interest to a space! Spec builders love to add all types of ceiling stuff to make a space look "high" end, but it just adds visual clutter. All it does is complicated placement of furniture, lighting, etc. People never know how to paint them either! Why pay for higher ceilings and then lower part of it?
Post and run.
Haha, Mark, they probably didn't like the feedback.
Well, you could just put those adhesive felt pads on your chair legs and not use a rug.
Just make sure you inspect the felt pads regularly and replace as needed.
I have a rug in my formal dining room, but don't have one under the table in my breakfast area, which has the same engineered wood floors.
How about a 9x9 square rug?
If you decide on no rug, this looks like a perfect spot for a pretty color on the walls….on a nice day with the windows uncovered …the room soul could have a pretty. glow ..when you enter the house glow
Stainless. Your white applicances don't match your warm-white cabinets, not at all. Stainless will look much better with the cabinetry.