Our Home Archives - Page 2 of 14

10/01/2021

Making an Entrance with a Versatile Bench

The front entryway has a lot of pressure. It’s a unique place in the home because it typically is in a high traffic area while also having to have a design POV that sets the tone of your home. It’s like the host at a restaurant, they have to look presentable, be cheerful, and perform their task by moving things along. For this entry, finding the perfect accent had to achieve many functions. It could not be a burdensome piece that took up too much room while also looking beautiful enough to create that first impression. The less is more approach is also in place, where every piece performs an important task.

Handmade entryway bench with leather woven straps.

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Posted By jdemontravel

09/24/2021

Nesting Season Is Arriving, and We’re Loving our Bay Window Update

We all love a good Cinderella story and, when it comes to the home, a bay window seat is ready for some fairy godmother attention. The structure is there with some of the best views in the house, while it does not demand a major overhaul or expense like a sofa.

There is something nostalgic about curling up on a bay window and watching the outdoor events unfurl before you. Bay seats are comforting, often functional–especially if it includes built in storage–and part of the decor. As we approach nesting season, the timing could not be better to give your bay window seat some deserved attention.

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Posted By jdemontravel

08/19/2021

Life During a Home Remodel: A Survival Guide

The grind of the buzzsaw has been my new Spotify. There are periods of intense piercing, a quiet pause, followed by the tingle of a drill that’s become the leitmotif. This is just one of the symptoms of living with home renovations but there are ways to maintain sanity.

We experienced an unexpected retro excavation in our own home

After living with natural disasters with a regularity last seen during biblical times, inviting contractors into the home to address dated elements should seem customary. What began as a simple project unfolds into a complex process. After stripping the walls, we discovered there was no insulation. Further along, the contractor removed the dated paneling to find a cheery orange, yellow and green flower patch that could have been the wallpaper Marsha Brady chose if she were given her own room.

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Posted By jdemontravel

08/10/2021

Styling Your Sofa for Real Life Design

Chances are that when returning home after a long day, your most anticipated place to be is the sofa. It’s the ultimate symbol of leisure–designed to relax, entertain and host the occasional nap. Whether you’re a coach potato or busy mom, sofas deserve proper design treatment.

A sofa’s design is elevated from an attention to accents.

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Posted By jdemontravel

07/28/2021

A Week of Healthy Salads that Are Delish

We get it, a story on a week of pizzas may pull in the SEO, but salads packed with delicious, healthy ingredients is enough to put your pizza deliveries on hold. Salads are nutrition powerhouses, as raw vegetables are high in nutrients, vitamins, fiber and promote weight loss. They also can be fulfilling meals when you add healthy proteins like seeds, nuts, grilled chicken or fish. Avocado is another substantive choice, which is high in fiber, potassium and increases HDL or good cholesterol levels. And for those who rather use their stoves on occasion, salads are a quick, natural meal that requires minimal prep work.

It’s like found money, creating additional kitchen space when square footage is compromised. When we designed our kitchen that had limited room, we considered knocking down a wall to usurp the adjoining office. (This was pre-quarantine so we’re especially thankful we didn’t go this route.) A smart use of the area was to not install a cumbersome island but add on a few inches of countertop to create an overlay. It’s simple, not too costly, and now there’s an added place for dining.