Storage
Make a fancy art wall with flea market finds. Boxes filled with loose sheets of architectural and botanical drawings are a common find in flea market stalls, and often the individual sheets can be had for a dollar or so per piece. Scoop up enough to fill a grid of frames — four, six, or eight would make a good set. Next, look around for vintage frames of the same size and style at a good price, and pick up enough to frame all of your artwork. If you don’t like the color of the frames, you can always spray paint them gold or black. Hang the frames in a neat grid for an elegant look.
Find the right container for the job. Not everything needs to lie flat in a drawer. If your drawers are deep enough, consider standing some items upright in simple glass jars. Experiment with upcycled containers — egg cartons are good for sorting tiny items, and jam jars work wonderfully for paper clips.
Always label loose parts. If there were only one tip I could ensure that you take away from this, it would be this: Never put a loose part away without labeling it. An easy way to do this is to pop the item in a zip-top bag, place a piece of masking tape on it and write what it is on the tape using a Sharpie. This way when you go to get rid of your old speakers, you can quickly find all of the cords that go with them and get rid of those, too. I started doing this recently, and it has changed my (organizing) life.
Be bold. Personality is what makes a space great. Make your own statement and have fun. The more you try, the more you will begin to see what works and what doesn’t. Incorporate unexpected elements for drama. The unconventional ottoman seats, library-style bookshelves and oversize chandelier here are all unexpected in a conventional living room, but the result has charisma. Eschew expected pieces and interpretations if you want a room that will really wow.
We all want more storage, but many homeowners don’t realize there’s much usable space right in their walls — between the studs that make up the walls’ framework. A nook carved out of a wall’s structure not only is functional, but can also add architectural interest and a pop of personality. Whether you want to store spices, books, toys, bathroom accessories, clothing or art objects, nooks between the studs are a great way to make the most of your square footage. by decordemon decordemon Save to Ideabook Email Photo First, how to find the studs? Hardware stores sell handheld stud finders like the one shown here that will beep and light up when you run them against the wall and find a wooden beam. You probably already know that a stud finder is great for finding the best spot to securely hang pictures; now you can use it to focus on that hollow dead space between the studs. Read more about wall studs Most spaces between studs are 16 to 24 inches wide. The depth will vary depending on whether you have 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 construction. Creating a nook is something you can do yourself if you know how to be careful enough to check for wiring behind the wall; otherwise a general contract...
Cory Connor Designs Save to Ideabook Email Photo When asked if this is the only storage closet in America where nice plates are stowed just above helmets and baseball gloves, Connor allows that the space is probably unique. “We only get these plates out when we have parties,” she says. “Since the mudroom is next to the kitchen, it just makes sense to put them here.”
Have bins or baskets on hand to clear off countertops, floors, tables and desks. “It’s a lot easier to put away one or two small bins than it is to have to find a spot for 15 different toiletry items,” says Annie Pinsker-Brown, owner of Stage to Sell in Los Angeles. Don’t forget: Store tablecloths and dish towels to accentuate a kitchen’s workspace and appliances. “Kitchens look bigger if your eye does not stop at the dishtowel on the oven, dishwasher and sink,”
de=clutter
group pantry items
Adding a laundry chute can be quite easy, says Seattle architect Nils Finne, who has installed quite a few chutes in both new and existing homes. “We generally allow for a 10- by 10-inch clear vertical shaft space, and the contractor inserts a sheet-metal liner into that space,’’ says Finne. Once that’s complete, he says, “we typically detail a cabinet door to provide access to the chute, and then at the bottom we empty the chute into a cabinet located above the laundry counter.”
shoe storage
drawers under bench hide kitchen equipment!
A small accent of off-white is all it takes to achieve a soft, welcoming effect. This stark white nook feels feminine and welcoming instead of sterile because of the subtly warm-hued trunks and the bits of creamy shearling.
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