More Library Inspiration | Unusual Library Spaces

My last Library post was all about Double Duty rooms and how to create a library space within another room. Those were primarily in Family/Living Rooms, Dining Rooms and Bedrooms. In my look at Home Libraries, I've come across even more creative and adventurous types; avid readers who've carved a home library out of rather unusual spaces. Enjoy!

Hallways

Hallways are a great space to locate your library, particularly if you've got a wide area, or landing area. The walls of a hallway are an otherwise unused space, which make it a great spot to store your books. But don't force it. If your hallway is too narrow, the library addition will feel cramped. Worse, you may damage the shelves, books or other objects trying to squeeze new furniture or other large items down your hallway library.

 

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Stairways and Landings

Stairways and landings make a great library. It's a functional and interesting use of an otherwise empty pass-through space. And it's made even better if you have the luxury of a window and a window seat.
 

 via At Home Arkansas

I love the two libraries below. It is a creative use of stairwells.

Modern Staircase by London Photographers David Churchill - Architectural Photographer

Industrial Staircase by West Vancouver Architects & Designers PLACE architect ltd.

I had a hallway/landing library in my old home. I had photos of this space, from about 7 years ago. I've searched my PC for those photos to share with you and I cannot find them. I think this is what happens when you change computers a few times...

Bathrooms (that's right, I said bathroom libraries)

Perhaps the most unusual library space that I've come across is in the bathroom. What is even more surprising is that I found several of these bathroom libraries!
 

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If you don't have a bathroom that lends intself to building bookcases into the wall, this bathtub may solve that for you. It's a bathtub with it's own bookcase builit into the side. Clever.

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 Do you have an unusual home library? Have you been inspired to create one?Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design and Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

2014 | A Year of Living Awesomely

 The year of living awesomely... I love it! I've spent time reviewing 2013 and creating intentions for 2014.

The intentions boil down to a few fundamental desires: enjoy life, have fun and adventure, create, run a world-class interior design business. In order to run that world-class interior design business, I intend to make changes for 2014. Beautiful Habitat will be expanding! I've come to realize that I really can't do it all and, more importantly, I don't want to. I want to focus on designing solutions and amazingly beautiful rooms and spending time with my clients. In reality, I also spend a lot of time tracking products and bogged down in administrative work. It's time to add an assistant and expediter -extraordinaire to the Beautiful Habitat team.

 

My entire career has been blessed with wonderful clients, with whom I am able to develop a friendship and deeper relationship than that of client and service provider. I want to continue to build those types of relationships. In the process, I've been able to work on a wide variety of projects. However, a few projects have not crossed my path and I would love to face those new challenges in 2014. In particular, I'd like to work on a loft space, historical property, a modern kitchen and design more custom furniture.

Traditional Living Room by Spring Lake Design-Build Firms Degnan Design Group + Degnan Design Build

Industrial Living Room by Amagansett Interior Designers & Decorators Reiko Feng Shui Interior Design

Modern Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers John Maniscalco Architecture

I also have several intentions for the design of our new house. I've made quite a bit of progress since our move in June, but there is more to be done in 2014. I have some beautiful visions to turn into reality and I'll be sharing those here. Perhaps a blue-lacquered library is in the works...
 

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My other intentions are things that many of us need: more self-care, even when I feel I am too busy. That means always making time for my health (physical and mental) and time with family and friends. Too often these items are crossed off the list as soon as we become busy with work and responsibility. However, we've got to feed that well of creativity and passion to continue to be productive in this world. Two dates on the calendar that I am particularly bad about canceling:

Modern Kitchen by San Francisco Architects & Designers John Maniscalco Architecture

What are your intentions to make your 2014 awesome?Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Make You Home More Functional With Universal Design Principals

Last week I wrote about Aging in Place and Universal Design Principals. Today I have easy suggestions for you to incorporate these principals in your home. No matter the current state of your home - new, older, recently renovated, in need of renovation, or the dream home that you are planning to build - there are easy changes that you can make to increase functionality and longevity.

Handles Instead of Knobs

This applies to doors, cabinets, and faucets. A handle is much easier for users of all ages and abilities, whether it is a toddler just learning to turn on the faucet, or experienced arthritic hands.

Or, if your budget allows, upgrade to "touch" technology. It's a luxurious upgrade for users of all ages and abilities.
 
On that same thought, light switches can be changed out for easier to use versions. The rocker-style switch is easier on hands than the traditional light switch.



Or upgrade to very cool touch technology light switches.

 If you will be building a new home or renovating an existing home, now is the time to make changes you'll appreciate now and later. These changes will not only help you to age more easily in your own home, they are luxurious upgrades before you "need" them.

In the Bathroom

Comfort height toilets and vanities Blocking in the walls to support the addition of grab bars at a later date Zero-threshold showers/Continuous shower floors

 

In the Kitchen:

Rollouts and pan drawers in base cabinets
 

Task lighting onto countertops and work spaces
 

 Drawer-based appliances such as microwaves and dishwashers

Throughout the Home

Wider hallways and doorways Lower thresholds Minimal flooring transitions For more ideas on increasing the functionality and longevity of your home, talk to an Interior Design expert today.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Enjoy the Comfort of Your Home for Years to Come with Aging-In-Place and Universal Design

Today’s aging-in-place philosophy and universal design practices work together to enable homeowners to stay safely and comfortably in their own homes throughout their lives. When homes are designed for “all-ages, all-abilities,” the need for expensive moves and remodels due to illness or aging is eliminated. Furthermore, adapting these principles in your home can be done can be done elegantly, without looking institutional.

via Homes for Easy Living

Despite the similarities between aging-in-place and universal design, the two are not interchangeable. A National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) article explains, “Universal design is useful to meet the needs of many, from a multigenerational family to first time home owners. It is also becoming more popular among clients of custom and even some production builders as a way of meeting current and future needs.


An additional tenet of universal design is adaptability. While aging-in-place remodeling may call for grab bar installation in bathrooms based on need, universal design would include blocking inside the walls so that a grab bar can be easily added at a future date.” As a designer, I love to educate my clients on the many benefits of aging-in-place and universal design which I believe has a modern elegance to it that is invisible and non-stigmatizing. I also urge clients to think about and incorporate these principal when undertaking any renovation, and well before they "need" these adaptations.

via Kohler

To give you an idea of what’s involved I’ve outlined the principles of universal design below. It may seem like a lot to consider, but having a home design professional who understands and can use these principles effectively in your home will give you the confidence to face the future and be assured the dignity of an aging-in-place lifestyle. The Principles of Universal Design

1. Equitable use: The design is useful and marketable to people with diverse abilities.
2. Flexibility in use: The design accommodates a wide range of individual preferences and abilities.
3. Simple and intuitive: Use of the design is easy to understand, regardless of the user’s experience, knowledge, language skills, or current concentration level.
4. Perceptible information: The design communicates necessary information effectively to the user, regardless of ambient conditions or the user’s sensory abilities.
5. Tolerance for error: The design minimizes hazards and the adverse consequences of accidental or unintended actions.
6. Low physical effort: The design can be used efficiently and comfortably and with a minimum of fatigue.
7. Size and space for approach and use: Appropriate size and space is provided for approach, reach, manipulation, and use regardless of user’s body size, posture, or mobility.

While many baby boomers are embracing both concepts and practices, it is often difficult for younger homeowners to realize the immediate value of designing for the future. However, designers and builders are seeing a shift in willingness to consider incorporating aging-in-place concepts and universal design into the overall home plan.

Via Oakwood Custom Homes

It all comes down to one question. Would you rather spend your golden years in a nursing home or the comfort of your own home? Next week I'll have some practical and easy tips to incorporate into any remodel you may be doing in the future.

 Form more information: http://www.nahb.org/generic.aspx?genericContentID=185465&fromGSA=1 http://www.ncsu.edu/project/design-projects/udi/

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Beach Bathroom Quick Makeover

Fun beach theme bathroom
 As I mentioned last week in How Do You Spa?, for many years my friend and I would frequent a spa with a coastal/beach theme. In many ways I associate a beach theme with relaxation and pampering. When there was an opportunity to create a beach theme in one of my bathrooms, I did, but I added more fun than spa.
 
This is a bonus 3-piece bathroom in our home. It's a bonus in that we don't need the extra shower on this floor, but we do use it more as a powder room.

 

Beautiful Habitat

The beach theme all started with the things we inherited in the house - a simple vanity and shower tiled in travertine.

 

Beautiful Habitat

The jumping off point for a beach theme came from the Travertine tiles, which reminded me of sand.

The builder-basic mirror and lights were beyond boring and there was nothing beachy, relaxing, or fun in them.

 

My first order of business was to add interest to the lighting. I painted the basic fixture silver with a can of spray paint and creatively engineered the galvanized buckets over the glass. TaDa - Beach lighting! I added colorful accessories which, together with the fun new lighting, take the focus off of the boring, frameless mirror.

 

Beautiful Habitat

The toilet has it's only little nook, which also needed a little something beach-inspired. My vision was to build a mini beach hut in the nook out of corrugated metal. I envisioned the corrugated metal behind the toilet and wrapping around the 2 sides, with a sloped roof and a marine-inspired light. These photos are a bit of the inspiration.

 

While I was getting the toilet-nook-beach-hut design in order, I did install one piece of corrugated metal wall treatment behind the toilet as a place holder, along with a beach print we picked up on a trip to St. Thomas. (Now just envision the metal wrapping around and above - so much fun)

You'll notice that I refer to the toilet plan in past-tense. It "was" because we are now moving. I'm a little sad that my toilet beach hut will never be realized. it was going to be adorable. However, I've enjoyed the beach bathroom for the last 5 years. it was a quick and easy makeover to an otherwise bland space. Have you done anything fun in your space? Share your fun rooms with us here or on Facebook.

Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

How do you "Spa"?

I am in the early phases of a bathroom redesign with a long-time client. She has a hard time defining what she likes. Thankfully we've worked together before, so I have a good feel for her style already. This time we are working on the master bathroom.
 In our first meeting, she said she wants a "Spa-like Bathroom". Designers will tell you that is the most common request in all of design. The problem is, when we all say "spa-like bathroom", we each have a different image of that meaning in our head. So now I have assigned homework to my client: define your spa. What does a "Spa" mean to you? And I thought, I'd love to know how my readers define their dream spa. So how do you spa?

 Nature
 For many people, "spa" inspires images of nature. Seems simple, enough. However, images of nature vary so much by your locale, your idea of comfort. Does it mean ocean, does it mean texture? Is that texture wood, stone? Here are nature inspired bathrooms. Do they say "spa" to you?

 

via Rumah Tropika

 

via Houzz

Ocean, Beach, Coastal
 For others, "spa" is a very coastal feeling. For years, my bestie and I would frequent a spa in Boulder Colorado that had a very beachy, Nantucket feel. For a long time, my "spa" meant beach feel, with a blue and sand color palette, weathered wood and marine-inspired light fixtures. I even designed a beach bath in my own home. I'll share soon (can't believe I've never shared it before!)

 

Images via Apartment Therapy

Simplicity, Calm, Zen
And still for others, "spa" means a calm and serenity. It's about simplicity in lines and colors. This is more where my "spa" leans today, although I do still have a soft spot for the beach while we are land-locked in Colorado.

 

via Canadian House & Home

 

via Elle Decor

Meditative
 And for others, "spa" takes on a spiritual element and may include a meditation space.

 

Images via Pinterest

How do you "spa"? What elements define a "Spa-like Bathroom" for you? Want to create a Spa feel, without a complete overhaul of your bathroom? Here are some quick tips to add a Spa atmosphere to your bathroom.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design &  Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com