Entryways
2. Install mounting hardware or use a string light suspension kit — or both. There are two ways to mount string lights: on their own or attached to a sturdy wire as part of a light suspension kit. Mounting to a wire isn’t necessary, but it can help maintain tension if you’re hanging string lights over a larger expanse, and it can provide more support if your backyard is breezy.Hanging without a wire: To hang the patio lights without a wire, screw a cup hook into the wall, fence, pergola or tree trunk to use as mounting. (You may need to drill a hole first, before putting in the screw.) Hanging with a wire: If you’re using a wire, you can purchase a wire hanging kit that comes with a cable wire and suspension hardware (turnbuckles, snap hooks, pad eyes and lock clamps). Install according to the instructions included with the kit.
Photos by Lisa RomereinHouse at a GlanceWho lives here: A couple and their two teenage sonsLocation: Hillsborough, CaliforniaSize: 4,000 square feet (372 square meters); four bedrooms, five bathroomsDesigner: Alison Davin of Jute Interior DesignThis 1920s Spanish Colonial home outside San Francisco had become a hodgepodge of disjointed additions over the years. While it had great bones and fantastic original details such as ceiling beams, archways and large Gothic arched windows, the style and flow were muddled. Interior designer Alison Davin created a comfortable, style-appropriate scheme using walnut, cement tile, iron, white walls, glass and dark bronze to tie the house to its roots and provide comfort for the family of four that lives here. Scope of work. The job was done in phases. Phase one was the complete remodeling of the kitchen and bathrooms; phase two covered the remainder of the living spaces, reconfiguring the second floor; and phase three was the refreshing of the home’s exterior, now wrapping up. Style. The design is a fresh take on Spanish Colonial. Front porch. At the main entry, a custom walnut door with iron trimmings, a Spanish Revival-style lantern, dark rafte...
Entry. The influence of the natural surroundings on the interiors can be seen along the front walk approach. One such natural element almost literally hits visitors in the face as they walk in the door, in the form of a twisted lilac tree trunk. The cedar siding continues inside along one wall, blurring the line between indoors and out. The material underfoot transforms from concrete to engineered reclaimed white oak. The entry is part of a hallway that leads past a coat closet and pantry, where the plan opens up to the main public space. Floors: Restoration Timber
Entry. As you walk through the front door, your feet land on a rug that sits on original fir flooring. The dark blue paint on the walls and woodwork adds drama to the space and highlights the original architecture, such as the Dutch door. Clifford installed Shaker pegs to give the room a welcoming feel and provide a place to hang umbrellas and rain jackets. From the entry, the homeowners and guests can access the home’s three bedrooms. Wall paint: Hague Blue, Farrow & Ball; light: Roll & Hill; rug: Kat + Maouche
Pros. These handmade tiles can be manufactured to suit your preferred pattern and color combination. The tiles are cool on the foot in hot weather and not slippery when wet. Cement tile is strong and should not break easily. If a chip does occur, it may not show much, because the color layer of these tiles is one-eighth of an inch thick.Browse more modern cement tile patterns
Front of the HouseThe couple had fallen in love with a home they toured that had fresh modern farmhouse style, and they wanted to use a lot of reclaimed barn wood. Blue and orange accents on the porch hint at the interior’s color palette. The street-facing side of the house is marked by two peaks and a welcoming front porch. While many modern farmhouses use board-and batten-siding these days, the shingles provide a lake cottage element that suits the location. Crisp white walls contrasted by black accents on the windows, doors and lighting bring in the modern part of modern farmhouse.Find an architect or a building designerWindows: Marvin; siding: James Hardie
If you are renovating an older home or building a new one from scratch, don’t underestimate the power of architectural elements like shiplap to bring the charm. This entryway is automatically more interesting because of its shiplapped walls, which allow the handrail and balusters of the stairs to remain straightforward and understated.See more photos of shiplap in interiors
SeptemberMake over your mudroom. Get ready for a busy fall with a hardworking space that can handle all of the boots, scarves and bags you toss at it. Add hooks, baskets and bins, plus a tough rug to protect your floor.Host a harvest swap with friends and neighbors. Catch up while you trade zucchini for tomatoes and come away with a variety of delicious, hyper-local produce.Get cozy for fall with warm covers on the beds, a soft throw on the couch, good books to read and simple, natural decor like branches of fall leaves or a bowl full of apples.
Photos by Sian RichardsHouse at a GlanceWho lives here: Two lawyers who have three kids between them and who love to gather at this vacation home with friends and familyLocation: Marmora and Lake, Ontario, about a two-hour drive from TorontoSize: 2,200 square feet (204 square meters); five bedrooms, 3½ bathroomsDesigner: Emily Griffin DesignOne of these homeowners has been enjoying this special spot on quiet Crowe Lake in Ontario his whole life. His father bought the property in 1953, and a haphazardly built fishing shack had been there since. But after inheriting the house, he and his Toronto-based family found themselves wanting to be able to accommodate more friends and family there, so they tore down the shack and built a new winterized cottage to replace it. “They built a nice house but there had been little thought given to the interior — it was lacking soul,” interior designer Emily Griffin says. Scope of work. “The house was all drywall, which is just too city for me,” Griffin says. “The first thing I did was go in and clad those walls to give it a lake cottage feeling.” She used a combination of wide beadboard, horizontal shiplap, knotty pine and wallpaper. She also got ...
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