Beautiful Habitat Has Moved | Sneak Peek

We've moved! To a new house, that is. You'll still be able to find Beautiful Habitat right here and on Facebook and Twitter. You may recall my post about the new house and all the photos before renovations began. Well, some renovations are wrapped up, others haven't yet begun, but we are now residing in the new abode. I wish I had photos of the final beautiful rooms to share with you. Alas, we are living like this in more than one room.

Time and hard work will continue to pull this beauty together. And you can rest assured that I'll be sharing with you as soon as it's ready! Until then, here is a sneak peek. Enjoy!

 New Kitchen Cabinets and Hardware

Do I see Open Shelves in the Kitchen??

New Carpet - a custom dyed shade of gray. When they don't have a color you like, custom dye is always an option.

Gold On The Ceiling... Because Gold is staging a comeback and I am embracing it!

New floors - ebony-stained wood with a new graphic rug (and my camera-shy pup/assistant.)

A few finishing touches are in place, but much more work to do. And a coat of new paint - Sherwin Williams "Anew Gray".

To see more about the journey to the new home:

• Designer's Home| Welcome to My New Digs
• Things I Really Love About My House

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

Things You Should Know About Architectural Salvage

I am currently working on a very fun and interesting project that involves both Architectural Salvage and Commissioning Custom Furniture. Before embarking on both aspects of this project, I came across two wonderful articles from Colorado Homes and Lifestyles Magazine. Here are 10 Things You Should Know About Architectural Salvage, as printed in Colorado Homes & Lifestyles.

 
10 Things you Should Know About Architectural Salvage: (via Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, with a few additional notes and photos from Beautiful Habitat)

1. It’s a fun way to go green. When you buy salvaged building materials you’re not only scoring conversation-worthy accents for your home; you’re also diverting materials from the landfill and minimizing the use of raw materials.
2. Don’t expect perfection. “The reason these pieces are charming and interesting is that they’re obviously recycled—meaning they’re not perfect,” says Eron Johnson, owner of Denver’s Eron Johnson Antiques. Tip: Have a furniture restorer coat any pieces of peeling paint with clear paste wax, which maintains the antiquity of the piece but gives it a smooth finish, Johnson says.
3. Beware of “too good to be true.” There are a lot of architectural salvage knockoffs out there, warns Johnson—particularly when it comes to marble fireplaces, stained glass and iron work. If the price is too good to be true (as in, considerably less than every other piece you find), it probably isn’t the real thing.
4. Know what you need. If you’re shopping for pieces that need to serve a function (doors that operate, etc.), bring along a notepad filled with the measurements and quantities you need and pictures of items you want to match, says Tom Sundheim, owner of Queen City Architectural Salvage in Denver.
5. Find new uses for old items. “The beauty of architectural salvage is it frees an antique from its former use,” says Johnson. Iron garden gates can become decorative headboards; wooden window frames act as room dividers; and an old weathervane emerges as the perfect accent for your mantel. (or lamp bases as seen below, BH)
6. 
7. Be open to doors. Shopping for antique doors means having an eye for “quality beneath the paint,” says Sundheim. “Know which woods are heaviest. A pine door will weigh far less than a comparable oak door.” If you need the door to function, pony up for a heavier door. Also, for newer homes, understand that you may have to reframe openings to accommodate taller antique doors, Johnson says.
8. Hit up the hardware section. You might have a hard time finding enough matching knobs and drawer pulls to outfit, say, a whole kitchen. But unearth a few antique pulls (they can even be mismatched) for the right dresser or accent table, and you’ve got a statement piece.
9. Let there be light. If you live in a historic home, says interior designer Beth Armijo of Armijo Design Group, one of the best ways to honor the architecture is to install period-appropriate light fixtures. But, adds Johnson, remember two important safety tips: have an electrician update the wiring and, for pendants, reinforce the ceiling box. (Most antique fixtures are solid brass and heavier than modern fixtures.)
10. Dig around for your garden. A trip to the salvage yard can yield curios perfect for your outdoor living spaces, too. Look for stone statues or pillars, cast-iron park benches, weathered farm tables, or even vintage bathtubs (great for birdbaths).
11. Try DIY salvage. Someone just might love that pale-pink tub you’re tearing out of your master bathroom. Before you haul it off to the landfill, consider selling your relics online, or, even better, donating them to ReSource Yard (resourceyard.org), a nonprofit with salvage yards in Boulder and Fort Collins. Sale proceeds benefit waste-reduction programs and donations are tax deductible.
12. 

My adventures in Architectural Salvage took me to the ReSource Yard in Boulder and Queen City Salvage in Denver. I also perused the Eron Johnson website (which is a great site and user-friendly). Ultimately, I am repurposing some wood that used to be a kitchen floor and I purchased dining chairs on 1stDibs. My adventures continue as I am planning another visit to Queen City for a new art idea I have. Stay tuned for more stories on this interior design project, coming soon.

For additional inspiration in salvage and recycling, check out the post on 23rd Ave Sculpture in Denver. This is scrapyard meets art studio, where old metal is turned into art, furniture and more for your home and garden.

To read the full post, or other "10 Things You Should Know... articles, visit Colorado Homes & Lifestyles.

Do you have treasures that you've salvaged or recycled? Share with us here or on Facebook.

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

Banquettes | The Built-ins

Last week I wrote about using sofas, loveseats, settees and benches as banquettes. This week I pay homage to the built-in banquettes. Enjoy!

I'll start with 2 photos from Candice Olson. This dramatic red velvet tufted banquette that goes right up to the ceiling is the banquette that started my obsession. I have a wall that would be PERFECT for such a grand statement. It's the dining room and the first wall you see when entering our home - the place to make a statement.

 

Alas, The wall has multiple light switches and an air-intake that make reconfiguring electrical and HVAC for such a built-in banquette very costly. I've repaired my broken heart and now I'm searching for the perfect sofa, loveseat or settee per last week's banquette post. Still, I enjoy and envy the built-in banquette. I hope you enjoy this collection and find inspiration for your own home!

 

Candice Olson

 

source unknown

 

via Houzz

 

via House of Turquoise

 

via Luxe & Lillies

 

via HGTV

 

via Absolutely Beautiful Things

 

via Tell Your Interior Designer

For more banquette inspiration, check out these posts:

• Banquettes
• An Ode to Banquettes

Do you love banquettes? Check out my collection of banquette inspiration on Pinterest. Do you have a banquette? I’m jealous and would love to see it! Please share photos with us on Facebook.

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

Banquettes

As I've mentioned before - I love banquettes. There is something inherently glamorous about a banquette. Or perhaps it's because I imagine a dinner party of my friends piling onto a big banquette in my dining room. I can't quite put my finger on the source of this love, but it's there. Oh, it's there.

Banquettes are often thought of as built-in, such as this dramatic gem of a dining room via Toby Fairly. These built-ins can be a great solution to a tricky area.

However, the look and feel of a banquette can be easily achieved by pulling a sofa, loveseat, settee or bench up to your table, without the expense and construction mess of a custom built-in. Allow me to explain... visually.

 

A sofa fits perfectly between cabinets in a kitchen nook. via House Beautiful, February 2012 issue.

 

Another perfectly sized sofa. This one features a beautifully shaped back and another favorite: nailheads. Source unknown.

 

A very simple sofa becomes more interesting as a banquette. Source unknown.

 

This dramatic settee makes a big statement in this otherwise understated dining room. source unknown.

 

A punch of pink pattern brightens up this kitchen with the sofa turned banquette. Source unknown.

 

This clever Kitchen design features an armless sofa as banquette with a table where many others would have used bar stools. I love the originality and out of the box thinking! Source unknown.

 

An elegant sofa creates a contrast to the more rustic dining table in this interior design. The effect is stunning. via Four Walls and a Roof.

 

The Interior Designer of this hotel went big and bold. This space features a large, curvy hot pink sofa as banquette. Wow. via Ohmygosh! Design.

 

A beautiful curved sofa in a glamorous dining room, via Elle Decor

I wanted to add a built-in banquette to my dining room. However, the location of light switches and the air-intake vent make that project well beyond my budget. No problem - I now have my eye on a settee that I want to include. Stay tuned for more!

Do you love banquettes? Check out my collection of banquette inspiration on Pinterest. Do you have a banquette? I'm jealous and would love to see it! Please share photos with us on Facebook.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

Modern Take on the Barn Door Look

 

I recently completed this project and am so pleased with the results. It's unlike most Beautiful Habitat projects that I feature here in that it is a design for my own home. This makes it part Beautiful Habitat "work" and part DIY project. To be fair, The design was all me, the build was all my husband. I'm so happy that he's handy!

First, let's define the goals of the project.

1. We are incredibly blessed to live with dedicated open space behind our home. Privacy is not an issue, and we also have great views. Therefore, we want something that can provide some privacy, light and heat control, but still provide some visibility.
2. We have a more modern or urban aesthetic, yet lifestyle of the suburbs. We enjoy creating ways to urbanize our suburban home.
3. Both as an Interior Designer, but also as an individual, I am drawn to unique things and I especially wanted an original and creative way to treat the standard sliding glass door.

The Project:
The first and most important step is always a good design plan. This included a number of sketches to work out the design and the measurements. The door had to be large enough to completely cover the sliding door and window above, 6' W x 8' H.

One of the longest parts of the process was staining the boards, particularly because a bitter cold front moved through Colorado, forcing me to move the staining into the basement... We also went with a 2 step staining to get the warmth and aged-look we wanted.

Next came the layout and actual build.

The door is done! Now time to get it hung...

Hardware

We chose hardware from a company called Real Sliding Door Hardware.

We made the door handle from pieces of plumbing pipe found at any hardware store.

1. It followed the urban and industrial aesthetic that we wanted
2. Because the door is 6'x8', the handle needed to be substantial to feel balanced with the door size. Finding a substantial handle is difficult. Finding one that doesn't cost a fortune is nearly impossible.

On to hanging... This was the most stressful part of the project!

 

Once the hardware was up, it was time to stain again. Why didn't I stain this with the other boards? The cold Colorado weather prevented me from staining in the garage. The 12' L of this board prevented it from going down to the basement. Therefore, staining in place was the best option.

Modern Barn Door Is Complete and hung!!

 

Above, the door is closed.

 

And a view with the door open.

 

And partially open. Maximum functionality here!

I hope you've been inspired to think out of the box in your home! What project would you like to try?

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

Obituary for the 100W Bulb (and tips for real efficiency)

 

Full Text of Atlantic Electric Supply's Obituary for the 100W Bulb:

Lamp, Hundred Watt

The light of Hundred Watt burned out on Jan. 1, leaving the world a little darker but with more energy. Hundred Watt was eliminated by an industry in which he was once revered despite last minute congressional efforts to save him.

This venerable member of the Lamp family was always a welcome guest and brightened countless lives for more than a century. Known to his friends as 100A, Mr. Lamp was also referred to as "the filament" by his detractors. He was often compared to Santa Claus in his ability to deliver smiles and light.

Born in 1879 in Menlo Park, NJ, to the late Thomas Alva Edison, Hundred Watt grew from a dim carbon filament to a bright tungsten Lamp. He leaves behind three siblings: Forty Watt, Sixty Watt and Seventy-Five Watt, all of whom suffer from terminal low lumen efficacy syndrome. (that's lighting-industry speak for "not energy efficient")

Hundred Watt is also survived by his son, Seventy-Two Watt-Halogen, who bears a striking resemblance to his father but is not quite as bright. In addition, Hundred Watt is survived by a nephew, Twenty-Six Watt CFL, whom many find slow to warm up.


I thought this was cute, so wanted to share with my fabulous readers. Lighting is incredibly important to creating beautiful interiors. I'm sure that you've noticed the difference in paint colors, fabric, or makeup when you move from one light source to another. Not only do Interior Designers learn a lot about lighting, there are many that specialize only in Lighting Design. I do agree with the need to improve energy efficiency, but I don't agree with the banning of incandescent light bulbs. There are many roads to better energy efficiency, but this is not a good one. Just blindly banning incandescent (to be followed by halogen) bulbs is not a solution and will leave us all with the bad color-rendering, slow warm up times, and poor dim-ability of CFLs. Yuck

Other Roads to Efficiency

Thee are other means to reach energy efficient lighting in your home. The best long-term solution is adding dimmers. Dimmers are an easy DIY project and dimming your incandescent or halogen bulb by just 10% will double the bulb life. That's right - DOUBLE. And this becomes exponentially more efficient as you dim it lower and lower.

"Dimming your incandescent or halogen bulb by just 10% will double the bulb life. That's right - DOUBLE. And this becomes exponentially more efficient as you dim it lower and lower."

If you are a lover of good lighting, like myself, and want to know more, you don't need to take a lighting design class. I recently stumbled upon a book Losing Edison. A book review is available on the Blog Freedom Light Bulb.
Beautiful Habitat: Interior Design & Decoration www.beautifulhabitat.com

2012 | I Choose Happiness

Happy New Year!

I have honestly never been a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I prefer to think that if you want to make changes in your life, don't wait for a specific date on the calendar. However, this year I have taken some time to reflect on the year that has passed and what lies ahead. This reflection has raised a desire in me to strengthen a belief that I already have: to always choose happiness.

Many people tell me that I am a positive and happy person - and I am glad and grateful to hear that message. However, in our culture it is so easy to get sucked into the negativity that permeates modern life. Like anyone else, I can often feel the pull towards negativity, doubt, blame, judgement and ultimately unhappiness. But I have seen time and time again that feeling this negativity, and expressing it outwardly toward others, does nothing more than make me feel bad. So I always try to remember that in any moment of my life I have a choice and I'd like to Choose Happiness...every time.



In 2012, I've like to continue to strengthen this belief - and the frequency that I am able to choose happiness in my life. I'd like to cultivate happiness wherever I go, because it is a constant within me. In 2012, I Choose Happiness. I hope you will, too.

What are your goals for 2012?

A little video on Choosing Happiness: Choose Happiness

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

Happy Colors | Pink

Yes, we are still having fun with Happy Colors here at Beautiful Habitat! The Facebook survey revealed the mother of happy colors - pink. Yes, pink was voted most often as the color that just makes you feel happy. This post features several beautifully designed and decorated pink spaces to inspire you to incorporate your happy color into your interiors and your everyday!

That's a whole lotta pink...

Here is a fine collection of spaces that go all out with pink - walls, floors, furniture and more. Do you find your inspiration here?

 

Jonathan Adler

 

And how about Pink Hotel Rooms? This one is the May Fair Hotel in London.

 

Pink Kitchen! Could you do it? via Kitchen Clarity

 

I can hardly feature a pink kitchen without a pink bath. This is a modern update from the pink bathrooms of the early 1990's. Mauve toilets are not a good way to do pink bathrooms... ever. via Grant K Gibson Interior Design

 

I vote Designer Betsey Johnson as the queen of pink. Check out her home!

A little less pink, please

These well-decorated spaces have incorporated a little less pink, but still pack in the glamor and fun that pink provides.

 

If you've visited the Beautiful Habitat blog before, you know that I have a love of painted and papered ceilings. This room is certainly unique with pink ceiling and moldings to accompany white walls. Quite an interior design statement! via Apartment Therapy

 

Here is a great example of punching up a neautral room with color. Adding just a pink rug and pink pouf to an all-white bedroom makes an interesting and fun design. via Ohdeedoh

 

Following the white and pink room is a similar concept of adding pink to gray. This is a beautiful and feminine bedroom design! via Country Living

 

Why confine your happiness to the indoors? Take your decor, and pink, to the great outdoors. via House Beautiful

 

If you're not ready to commit to pink, or it doesn't work with other selections that you've made for your home, you can always get a shot of happiness from some fresh pink flowers.

Let's go all the way!

 

If you truly love pink and want to go well outside of the box, how about a pink Christmas? This room, via Toby Fairly, is not just a pink holiday, but on top of a very bold interior decorating plan of pink, pink, pink.

For more on the Happy Color Series, read on:

• Red
• Yellow
• Purple
• Orange
• Apple and Lime Green

Is your happy color missing? Drop me a line about the color you turn to to brighten your day, wardrobe or interiors, and I'll be happy to include it!

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