c's ideas
Organize Your Returns and DonationsLet’s face it: Sometimes even the most well-intentioned gift just isn’t to our liking. Those gifts can clutter our homes for days or weeks if we don’t make the time to return them. To make the process easier, place all items for returns and their associated receipts in a shopping bag and leave them by your front door, or even in the trunk of your car. Then set a time on your calendar when you can return or exchange them. Sometimes, a gift may be impossible to return. Many of us feel guilty getting rid of things that someone put time and money into giving us. But keep in mind that the true purpose of a gift is conveying feelings of warmth and friendship, and that the item itself is not as important as the giving and receiving. In fact, Marie Kondo summed this up nicely in her classic book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (page 108 on my copy): “The true purpose of a present is to be received. Presents are not ‘things’ but a means for conveying someone’s feelings. When viewed from this perspective, you don’t need to feel guilty about parting with a gift.” Well said. Don’t hold onto something out of obligation or guilt, as this will only create...
Saratoga quartzite lends interest to the island, which functions as the hub of the home. Healthy meals are frequently prepared here as the girls sit on the stools and do their homework.The stained-concrete floor handles life with two young kids and a large dog. For the walls, gray paint with a hint of blue picks up the tones from the floor. An antique Turkish runner mimics the hues in the soffit, contributing warmth and charm.Wall paint: Tin Smith, Sherwin-Williams
Clear glass light fixtures in a teardrop shape provide a subtle accent over the island without distracting from the clear cedar soffit. “The soffit was added for warmth,” Burton says. The wood also offers a bit of color to the mostly white-and-gray scheme. One-light pendant lights: Larmes, ET2 Contemporary Lighting
Photos by An Indoor Lady Kitchen at a GlanceWho lives here: An active couple with two young daughters and a Great DaneLocation: Austin, TexasSize: 308 square feet (29 square meters), including a pantry of 55 square feet (5.1 square meters)Designers: Laura Burton Interiors and Vanguard StudioThe home’s flow maximizes the abundant light that floods in from a long wall of windows. During the day, the overhead lights are rarely needed.The homeowners love good food and good coffee, so a built-in Miele coffee machine and Bosch appliances were a priority. A large walk-in pantry anchors the corner of the kitchen. Counter stools: 1950s Oak Tractor Seat, Restoration Hardware
Albers designed a custom wood surround for the undermount bathtub. A new skylight above the tub brings in natural light during the day and allows for a view of starry skies at night. Custom wainscoting on the walls is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Duxbury Gray, a soothing color that has shades of blue, gray and green mixed in.Bathtub: Mariposa, Kohler
Oil and utensil pullouts. In another example of well-designed cabinetry, narrow pullout cabinets on both sides of the range offer space for frequently used cooking oils, as well as utensils — a nice convenience for a frequent cook. Cabinets: custom, rift sawn oak, stained gray and glazed with a white glaze; countertops: white marble, Rye Marble; hardware: Vinci pull, SchaubRead more about this kitchenMoreThe 10 Most Popular New Kitchen Photos of 2017The Most Popular New Bathroom Photos of 2017
Undersink drawer. Given the plumbing fixtures that must go beneath the kitchen sink and the fact that there isn’t much room in that space for storage, this area can feel like a dank mini-cave. This drawer has a clever cutout that gently surrounds the plumbing, making available the good, clean space while keeping the plumbing hidden. Cabinetry: painted to match Light Pewter 1464, Benjamin Moore; hardware: Schaub; countertops: Rye Marble; sink: Strive, Kohler; faucet: Rohl
15. In a drawer. This one is a no-brainer, but recent developments in inserts and containers have taken the herb drawer to the next level. For example, by labeling the tops of these containers they are easy to store upright in the drawer, rather than on their sides. Also note that this large drawer front actually conceals two drawers.Find spice drawer organizers
4. Cork. Not just for the wine connoisseur, this eclectic backsplash style works for just about anyone who has the time to find the corks and install them.If you're not a collector, you can buy wine corks from the restaurants and bars that save them.More ways to reuse corks, including a DIY backsplashday
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