You Said It: ‘Name Your Garden’ and More Ideas of the Week
Design advice, inspiration and observations that struck a chord this week
What struck me about this week’s featured ideabooks was how packed with practical ideas they were. I mean, I always pick up tons of great ideas each week, but this week they seemed extra relatable. There were so many I’d never thought of or read about before, so many things I could be doing myself right now, not in some fantasy land where I have a megabudget and a construction crew at my beck and call. Here are some of my favorite quotations about setting up a holiday mantel, getting ready for guests, planning for a spring garden, improving a workspace and more.
“Aim to have at least one meaningful event. … It could be anything: a group outing, a hike in the woods, a family photo shoot, a late-night poker game. When the visit is done, if there was just one thing that went over really well, that’s all most people will remember in years to come.” — Laura Gaskill
This entire ideabook is an important guide to easing potential tensions while hosting family and other visitors, but this was my favorite tip.
Full story: Modern Manners for Conflict-Free Family Visits
This entire ideabook is an important guide to easing potential tensions while hosting family and other visitors, but this was my favorite tip.
Full story: Modern Manners for Conflict-Free Family Visits
“Galvanized tubs, wicker baskets and tree collars and cuffs are taking the place of the traditional tree skirt in many homes this year.” — Elaina Verhoff
These are really fantastic ideas for covering up the tree stand. A lot of them would help with two problems I have: 1) My cat, Bubby, couldn’t tear at the tree skirt so it’s always way askew; and 2) Bubby couldn’t drink all of the water out of the tree stand. Oh, who am I kidding? I don’t own a true tree skirt; I gather an old white sheet around the tree stand every year.
Full story: Cool Alternatives to Christmas Tree Skirts
These are really fantastic ideas for covering up the tree stand. A lot of them would help with two problems I have: 1) My cat, Bubby, couldn’t tear at the tree skirt so it’s always way askew; and 2) Bubby couldn’t drink all of the water out of the tree stand. Oh, who am I kidding? I don’t own a true tree skirt; I gather an old white sheet around the tree stand every year.
Full story: Cool Alternatives to Christmas Tree Skirts
“Since you have months of planning ahead without having to rush to get plants in the ground, you can carefully choose the best plants, materials and design for your space.” — Steve Asbell
This ideabook gives you a lot to think about during that long wait for the thaw. I will add one more bit of advice to Asbell’s: Get a good garden ideabook going. There is so much information on Houzz about plants, paths, materials, regional planning, edible gardens, getting rid of the lawn and more, and it’s all organized for you in the Outdoor Living section.
Full story: The Best Winter Garden Project? Plan for Next Year
This ideabook gives you a lot to think about during that long wait for the thaw. I will add one more bit of advice to Asbell’s: Get a good garden ideabook going. There is so much information on Houzz about plants, paths, materials, regional planning, edible gardens, getting rid of the lawn and more, and it’s all organized for you in the Outdoor Living section.
Full story: The Best Winter Garden Project? Plan for Next Year
“You will find that if you name your garden, it will begin to take on a personality.“ — Jay Sifford
Now that you’ve dipped into your garden plans, as suggested by Asbell’s ideabook, identify your garden personality via Sifford’s. This is especially great for the reluctant gardener. Why not browse photos of beautiful gardens on a snowy day and figure out if you’re an artist, a collector, a traveler or a philosopher, then start planning for spring?
Full story: What Kind of Gardener Are You? Find Your Archetype
Now that you’ve dipped into your garden plans, as suggested by Asbell’s ideabook, identify your garden personality via Sifford’s. This is especially great for the reluctant gardener. Why not browse photos of beautiful gardens on a snowy day and figure out if you’re an artist, a collector, a traveler or a philosopher, then start planning for spring?
Full story: What Kind of Gardener Are You? Find Your Archetype
“I hated walking into my office and seeing those unsightly wires hanging down.” — Sarah Dorsey
Ugh, I hate cords too, and while my DIY-disaster tendencies mean I could not pull this project off solo, it is a fantastic idea for hiding all those unsightly wires, and it seems very doable for those of you with a modicum of DIY talent.
Full story: Hide Cords in Style With DIY Graphic Panels
Ugh, I hate cords too, and while my DIY-disaster tendencies mean I could not pull this project off solo, it is a fantastic idea for hiding all those unsightly wires, and it seems very doable for those of you with a modicum of DIY talent.
Full story: Hide Cords in Style With DIY Graphic Panels
“Sneak workspace into any room. A narrow desk built into a corner means you can tuck your workspace and storage into any room in the house — like the kitchen or dining room.” — Laura Gaskill
Laptops and tablets mean we no longer have to be hunkered down with heavy machinery in a designated office room. Instead we can pick a spot in the house with a favorite view and create a very pleasant work environment.
Full story: 10 Ways to Do More With a Customized Workspace
Laptops and tablets mean we no longer have to be hunkered down with heavy machinery in a designated office room. Instead we can pick a spot in the house with a favorite view and create a very pleasant work environment.
Full story: 10 Ways to Do More With a Customized Workspace
“Aubrey painted the backs of the built-in shelves to let their collection of vintage books and travel mementos stand out.” — Hilary Walker
These shelves look so nice, and they make me want to do the same thing. Plus, how could I skip giving everyone a second chance to admire Oscar the beagle here? He’s so cute, I’d let him sit on my sofa too.
Full story: My Houzz: Eclectic Charm in a Historic Dallas District
These shelves look so nice, and they make me want to do the same thing. Plus, how could I skip giving everyone a second chance to admire Oscar the beagle here? He’s so cute, I’d let him sit on my sofa too.
Full story: My Houzz: Eclectic Charm in a Historic Dallas District
“This gave her the opportunity to take down the shelves and spray paint the brackets gold — a simple DIY project that gave the space a chic update.” — Corynne Pless
I loved this entire story, about an artist who makes dreamy porcelain pieces in her dreamy backyard studio, and I loved that she and her husband were able to reuse hundred-year-old boards from their home renovation and other places when crafting it. The gold paint on the brackets is a brilliant finishing touch (many of her pieces incorporate dashes, dots or dips of gold too).
Full story: From Old Shed to Sunny Ceramics Workshop
I loved this entire story, about an artist who makes dreamy porcelain pieces in her dreamy backyard studio, and I loved that she and her husband were able to reuse hundred-year-old boards from their home renovation and other places when crafting it. The gold paint on the brackets is a brilliant finishing touch (many of her pieces incorporate dashes, dots or dips of gold too).
Full story: From Old Shed to Sunny Ceramics Workshop
“Cohn’s entry includes a flashback of owner Bruce Cohn with his pals, The Doobie Brothers. In the early years, the band played on a flatbed truck, which is re-created here in edible glory.” — Becky Dietrich
This is just one of those “you never know what you’re going to see on Houzz” things — a gingerbread rendering of The Doobie Brothers performing on a flatbed truck. Unexpected and awesome. What a great week, everyone!
Full story: Wine and Gingerbread Houses Make a Good Pairing in Sonoma
This is just one of those “you never know what you’re going to see on Houzz” things — a gingerbread rendering of The Doobie Brothers performing on a flatbed truck. Unexpected and awesome. What a great week, everyone!
Full story: Wine and Gingerbread Houses Make a Good Pairing in Sonoma
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Houzzers are continuing to add their beautiful holiday mantels to the Comments section of our ideabook. After you complete yours, please take a shot and add it; it’s likely we’ll use many of them to create a fresh mantel ideabook next year.
Full story: 25 Gorgeous Holiday Mantels by Houzzers