Unlike original kitchens and bathrooms in vintage homes, vintage fireplace fronts are less commonly remuddled (although it does happen). However, homeowners do confront the issue of how to properly restore something that has been inappropriately altered or address other types of damage to vintage fireplace fronts. It is challenging to find a craftsperson who has an in-depth knowledge of how to approach damaged tile fireplace fronts. But never fear, there is indeed an expert who can make expert repairs... more

Wow! That’s what all of us long to hear and feel about our decor, be our home small or grand or somewhere in between. And the good news is that goal is easily accomplished. All it takes is putting aside our fear of color (especially in the Pacific Northwest, where taupe passes for a jewel tone) and the knowledge that little things loom large. The even better news is that getting that ker-pow! factor does not have to put a gaping hole in your budget. Despite a gray economy, there... more

One of my favorite things to do at the end of a long day is to relax in a long hot shower. As one who, as a child, was taught the environmental benefits of a “military shower,” the occasional long hot shower is a luxury to me. Unfortunately the long shower sometimes becomes an opportunity to notice just how badly my shower needs to be redone. Yes, the old adage about the “cobbler’s kids needing shoes” does translate perfectly to a designer’s home. My house was built in... more

One of my biggest pet peeves is when professional designers use “Modern” and “Contemporary” interchangeably. In fact; they are two completely different design styles. Modern: 1935 to 1985 It is commonly believed that Modernism grew as a reaction to the “lavish stylistic excesses of the Victorian Era and Edwardian Art Nouveau” periods. This is the movement of “form follows function” and the house as “a machine for living in.” Although commercial architects broadly embraced this... more

Several companies manufacture rubber roofs from recycled tires. These products are durable (many come with 50-year warranties), as well as fire and wind resistant. Metal Roofing With a long life, metal roofs keep composite material out of our landfills. Also 100% of the material used is recyclable. Solar-Powered Attic Fan Make your home more energy effcient and save money too. Attic fans operate by solar power from sunrise to sunset at no extra cost. It’s possible to reduce the workload on... more

Tile these days is moving. It’s shifting away from the standard, functional floor and wall covering we’re all used to seeing, and towards becoming an art form in its own right. Out are the endless seas of tooth-white square tile of the past, and in its place have come pieces so striking that they’ve become a focal point all their own. Feel free to finally take down last decade’s framed prints of cappuccino mugs... more