Robert Magda: April 2018

Thursday, April 26, 2018

8 Ways to Incorporate Your Passions Into Your Home Decor

Your home reflects who you are, and you're way more than a selection of tasteful paint and furniture. Why not celebrate your passions by incorporating them into your decorating? When your talents, skills, and hobbies are on display as a natural part of your decor, you feel more inspired and more at home.

You don't have to re-make your life to incorporate your passions into your home decorating. In many cases, just a small change of storage or placement will make all the difference - and you may even save money because you're using items you already own.

If something makes you happy, bring it out and let it shine.

Store your tools in arm's reach

Many creative hobbies come with beautiful tools. Don't hide your paintbrushes or yarn - show them off with pride of place!

Make sure to put tools you use frequently in accessible places where you can grab them. Nothing's worse than being inspired to create and having to wrestle a guitar off the wall or extract a crochet hook from the back of a cabinet. A good rule is to keep anything you use once a week or more within easy reaching distance.

Display seasonal equipment year-round

Just because you can only ski a few months out of the year doesn't mean you forget about hitting the slopes. Keep your seasonal passions alive by keeping them in sight, but out of the way.

Mount skis or fishing poles over a door in the off season. If you have space above kitchen cabinets, that's a great place for the gorgeous fondue set you only use in winter. You could even ceiling-mount a canoe paddle - or the whole canoe if there's room. The good thing about most seasonal equipment is that you use it outside, so you don't have to worry too much about interim storage.

Put your talents to work

Give your creative passions room to shine in everyday life. If you're great at calligraphy, try writing a stylish meal planning list for your week, or a framed school checklist by the front door.

Woodworkers can make anything from cutting boards to furniture. If you embroider, make your own cushion covers and embellished hand towels. Potters, once you fill your mug cupboard, branch out into making planters and wall hooks.

For almost any art or craft, there's a practical application, so make it a fun challenge to find yours.

Bring the mass-appeal objects into the conversation

When you have an interest in common with someone, the conversation just flows. That's why it's great to have some pop-culture touchpoints in your living space. Items like framed vinyl albums give your guests an easy way to learn about your interests and start talking.

Not everyone is going to be able to engage about your 19th-century Japanese chisel, but almost everyone who sees your framed program will remember the first time they heard about "Hamilton.”

For a living room where you entertain friends, or a home office where you have clients, these objects can help create connections.

Let your collection tell a story

When you're a collector, every piece has a story. As a whole, the items in a collection tell a narrative of their own history and how they came into your life.

Keep collections in a place of honor where the whole story can come together. Cabinets and display shelves are great for 3D objects like glassware, figurines, and curios, and albums are perfect for stamps, old photos, and ephemera.

Active items inspire action

If you need a little motivation to practice your passion, let your decor help inspire action. Match each inspiring object with the place you're most likely to need a boost.

If you aren't feeling your usual gourmet self, display your antique bakeware in your kitchen. To help with writer's block, display your diploma, your first pitch acceptance letter, or special first editions of your favorite books over your desk. Hang athletic medals and photos of you at the finish line over the shoe bin near your entryway to encourage you to go for a run.

Match the vibe of the room

In general, keep the purpose of the room in mind when deciding where to display your prized possessions. Don't just go by where you have available wall space; take time to find the right fit.

A shelf of antique clown toys can look great in an office or playroom, but might not feel restful in your bedroom. And your championship soccer cleats or a signed football may be perfect inspiration in your workout room, but they're less than appetizing hanging in the dining room.

Mellow treasures set the mood

Some of your possessions are just for you, and spark special memories and feelings when you see or touch them. If you have an object that brings your comfort, place it according to how it makes you feel. Does that beach rock make you feel calm? Keep it by your bedside.

If your grandpa's old pipe reminds you of how he taught you to read, keep in in a display case on a bookshelf or by your desk.

These are just a few of the ways you can bring your passions into your home decorating. Hopefully these ideas inspire you to bring your most important possessions into your decor, so you can keep those passions alive in your daily life.

via Zillow Porchlight https://ift.tt/2vPHROr

Friday, April 20, 2018

Everything You Need To Know About Cooling Your Home

Summer may be lazy and hazy, but in many areas of the country, it's also a time of sweating and sweltering in scorching temperatures. To cope, homeowners employ a variety of methods to ensure a steady supply of cool, fresh air.

These cooling solutions include a wide variety of fans and in-home ventilation systems, as well as some tried-and-true techniques from the days before air conditioning. Here’s how to keep your whole home cool this season.

The advent of air conditioners

By far the most common form of cooling in the U.S. is air conditioning, which can be found in more than three-quarters of all homes. Keeping the house comfortable this way, however, can be a costly investment in terms of both equipment and energy use - according to the U.S. Department of Energy, air conditioners use about 6 percent of all the electricity produced in the U.S., at an annual cost of about $29 billion to homeowners.

So, it makes good sense to carefully evaluate your home's cooling options to select the right system to meet your needs.

Tips to stay comfortable, spend less

No matter what unit or system you choose, adjusting your thermostat will make the biggest difference on your electric bill. Start by setting the temperature as high as you can while still comfortable, keeping the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures as small as possible.

Use the energy-saver mode on window units, and use programmable thermostats for multiroom or whole-house systems so your machines don't do extra work to cool the place when nobody is home.

When you're ready to cool down, don't drop immediately to a cold temperature - starting that low won't speed up the cooling process, but it will make your machine work harder and expend more energy.

If you want to offer your machine - and your energy bills - a little relief, proper ventilation in your home can certainly aid your cool-down efforts. Ventilation improves indoor air quality, removes moisture and odors, and exchanges stuffy indoor air for fresh, cool outside breezes.

Start boosting your home's natural ventilation by opening doors and windows, especially in the evenings. Encourage airflow by installing ceiling fans, window fans and attic exhaust fans to push hot air outside and draw cooler air into your home.

In the summer months, run ceiling fans in a counterclockwise direction, drawing cooler air up from the floor. A whole-house attic exhaust fan will pull hot air into the attic, where attic vents can dissipate the heat. Even positioning a few portable fans near windows or a basement door at night can draw the cooler air from these areas into the home.

Regular maintenance for maximum cool down

Maximize the efficiency of your cooling efforts by performing proper maintenance.

Seal the deal. Make sure you have adequate insulation in the walls and ceilings to keep hot air out and cool air in. Caulk leaking windows and doors, and use draft "snakes" to cover the gaps at the bottom of these entry points. Adding aluminum blinds, insulated curtains or window tint film can block even more sunlight from heating things up during the day.
Change your filter. This quick and easy chore reduces the burden on your air conditioner, improves indoor air quality, and helps you - and your air conditioner - breathe easier. Check the filter once a month, and clear out any dust particles that might clog the system and force it to work harder and waste energy.
Clean the coils. An air conditioner's coils and fins on the outside of the unit should be kept unobstructed and cleaned regularly. Use a soft-bristle nylon brush to gently remove any debris, and hose off any leaves or caked-on dirt. Clean the inside coils using the soft brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner, or wipe down with a soft, damp cloth.
Call in a pro. Even though you can DIY most home-cooling work, it’s still important to regularly call a reputable HVAC contractor. An annual system tune-up can keep your air conditioning system working efficiently.

Related:

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.

Originally published August 18, 2016.

The post Everything You Need To Know About Cooling Your Home appeared first on Zillow Porchlight.

via Zillow Porchlight https://ift.tt/2HMY0GR

Explore a Tiny, Tropical Treehouse in Hawaii

No one ever complains about Hawaii.

That's one reason why Kristie Wolfe bought a piece of land there sight unseen. She went from spotting the overgrown, verdant lot on Craigslist to chatting with the owner to buying a plane ticket to clear the underbrush for building - all in the span of just two days.

"It could've gone a lot of awful ways, but I didn't see it until I had flown here to start building," Wolfe said. "I had never been to Hawaii, and I knew I wanted to build a treehouse, so I was thinking tropical."

The vision for the 230-square-foot getaway came from sketches Wolfe drew on restaurant napkins. The Idaho native envisioned a lush, lofted escape with a 4-foot wraparound lanai for endless tropical sunsets and rainforest views.

Making that happen, however, would require a lot of hard work - and a chain saw.

"When we arrived, the first step was actually just finding the land. My road was so overgrown that we actually thought the end of the road was down the block," Wolfe chuckled. "After we actually established where it was, the next step was clearing a path so we could come through."

Wolfe had good company for the build: She brought her mom along for the adventure. The two had worked hand in hand since Wolfe was a child and her mother flipped houses around town "before flipping was a thing," Wolfe joked.

For this undertaking, they wanted to maximize every dime, so they used all of their precious luggage space for tools. That forced the duo to wear every article of clothing on the plane.

They landed on the Big Island in a sweat.

The budget, on the other hand, was something they could chill out about: $11,000 - cheaper than the price of a new car. With the half-acre lot cleared, Wolfe and her mother got to work, building the main living space 15 feet high up on stilts.

The duo recycled and upcycled everything they purchased. The 1970s vintage fern wallpaper came from Etsy, while the bed was cobbled together from scrap materials.

Wolfe crafted the headboard out of a long shipping tube that originally held the home's window parts; she then covered it with a grass mat.

The duo built an indoor-outdoor shower with tiles made out of cork. They added air plants for a true tropical vibe.

With sun plentiful in the tropical climate, Wolfe installed solar panels to provide electricity to the home and a rainwater catchment for the toilet and the shower. There’s a copper-colored sink below latticed porthole windows that look out onto the forest.

On the main entry level, she built a hanging bed.

At the last minute, Wolfe also built a pulley so guests have an easy way to hoist their luggage to the main area. (She jokes that the device should have been the first thing she installed, since it would have made construction much easier.)

The entire home took 2 1/2 months to finish.

There's snorkeling and hiking nearby. The home is also near Hilo and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where Wolfe often travels to watch lava flow into the ocean.

"It looks like the end of the world," she said. "You can walk within feet of it, and it's absolutely hypnotizing. It’s kind of like a lava lamp - it looks like that, dropping off the cliff into the ocean, splashing and causing all this steam. It's one of the coolest things I've ever seen."

Wolfe just bought the lot next door and plans, eventually, to put something there.

"I had built a tiny house, and I wanted to do something different, and a treehouse seemed like a fun, totally unique place," Wolfe said. "I think everybody has wanted to stay in a treehouse. It just seems to fit a jungle."

This home is currently available as a short-term rental.

Photos by Erik Hecht.

Related:

The post Explore a Tiny, Tropical Treehouse in Hawaii appeared first on Zillow Porchlight.

via Zillow Porchlight https://ift.tt/2vynkxO

Thursday, April 19, 2018

A 200-Year-Old Log Cabin That's Anything but Old-Fashioned – House of the Week

Living in the country feels downright luxurious in this 200-year-old log home bordering 7 acres of National Forest Service land. Located at 585 Crystal Creek Rd in Otto, NC, the farmhouse-meets-19th-century-cabin home is available for $449,900.

The home boasts a sun-soaked living room with walls of windows and a hand-built stone fireplace that leads right to the covered deck area - perfect for lazy afternoons of bird watching or enjoying the forest scenery right from the comfort of your couch. (The current owners say they’ve attracted quite a group of humming birds over the years.)

The luxury continues in the kitchen, where there’s a built-in espresso machine and a deep farmhouse sink.

The current owners worked with an architect to update the old log home, which had no heat, kitchen or “facilities” when they bought it. They built the connecting farmhouse, which houses the kitchen, master bedroom and 2 baths.

Featuring hand-hewn beams and pine floors recycled from an old factory, the finished product combines rustic architecture with a playful farmhouse look.

The home has a styled yet comfortable vibe, and designer details can be found everywhere, from the lighting to the sleek built-ins to the masterfully curated furnishings throughout.

The listing agent is Matt Elliott. Photos by Bernie Coulson.

via Zillow Porchlight https://ift.tt/2J6Cz3a

Tuesday, April 17, 2018

This Tiny Home Has Its Own Pizza Oven – House of the Week

Forget waiting 45 minutes for the delivery guy to show up. In this custom tiny home, pizzas are ready in just two minutes!

Empty nesters looking to avoid the burden of a big mortgage, Robert and Rebekah Sofia embarked on a 20-month journey designing and building a 221-square-foot home in Ocklawaha, FL. Most people would balk at the idea of putting a 800-degree wood-fired pizza oven in such a small space. But with layers of plaster, cement and a heavy metal door, it’s completely insulated.

The Floridians were passionate about bringing a European flavor to their design and using recycled building materials. From the exterior corrugated metal to the cedar planks and doors - everything had a prior life. Best of all: The materials only cost $15,000.

In addition to the pizza oven, there are amenities you might not expect in a tiny house: a big apron sink, outdoor soaking tub, formal dining room with a chandelier, a hangout music loft and his-and-hers closets.

Photos by John Jernigan.

via Zillow Porchlight https://ift.tt/2vvxAXV

House of the Week: Snow White's Cottage in the Woods

Mirror, mirror on the wall, which home is the fairest of them all? Why, Snow White’s house, of course!

To see for yourself, check out this dead ringer for the Disney princess’ cottage, where she lived with her seven dwarfs.

The Olalla, WA, home was built with fairy tales in mind - but not just Snow White’s. The owner, Evonne Bess, calls an island on the property “Shrek Island.” And she suggests that plaster icicles hanging from the ceiling in two of her bedrooms are reminiscent of “Frozen.”

“I call it ‘The Storybook Cottage,’ but it does look like Snow White’s,” said Bess.

She bought it half completed and commenced a great finishing project, plastering walls, installing carpet and renovating the kitchen and other rooms. Bess kept its character, though, including a two-story tree trunk that runs up the middle of the living area. She refers to it as “the wishing tree.”

The 7.5-acre property enchants Bess, from “Shrek Island” to the wishing well and the hot tub and the treehouse with the water wheel. Bess has been known to stand by the well singing Snow White’s “Someday My Prince Will Come.”

The first impression of the estate, she said, might remind you of a beloved movie that’s not exactly a fairy tale - but still beautiful. “You drive through meandering woods and go across some bridges. You stop at the first bridge, and it looks like ‘Jurassic Park,'” Bess said.

The 4-bedroom, 4.5-bath home was modeled by its first owner after a fantasy-style house in British Columbia called “The Fabled Cottage.” This version is much larger: Bess ran it as a bed-and-breakfast briefly, and the property has hosted more than a handful of weddings.

“My son got married there last August,” she said. “I leaned more toward hosting weddings than a B&B. I didn’t like making beds.”

Photos by Mary Eklund.

Related:

Originally published January 27, 2017.

The post House of the Week: Snow White's Cottage in the Woods appeared first on Zillow Porchlight.

via Zillow Porchlight https://ift.tt/2H6vL4I