Friday, March 29, 2019

Mellow Yellow

Mellow Yellow Homeowners Britt and Christopher Dougall purchased their 1902 house in 1993, and since then they've repainted the outside and rebuilt the porch. "Now they are just two of our favourite things about it," they state.



Mailbox A cast aluminum mailbox, like this one, is rust-proof, therefore it's going to always look new. Deciding on the flap is a nice touch. Special Lite Products Horizon horizontal mailbox in black, $50, amazon.com



Potted Plants Terra-cotta pots are filled with, clockwise from top left, sweet potato vine, merlot coleus, and electrical lime coleus. Coleus grows in the flowerbeds, also.



Flower Beds To present their flower beds a colour, the Dougalls planted pink and red New Guinea impatiens.



Doorbell Guests frequently tell the Dougalls they have never seen a doorbell like theirs--it is a replica of a preelectric one. Bronze Ship's Bell 5"-diameter doorbell, $83, everythingnautical.com



House Numbers Amounts with a simple, classic design look great on any home. Baldwin Hardware 4 3/4"-tall home numbers in oil-rubbed bronze finish, $14 each, myknobs.com



Paint Colors The porch ceiling has been painted blue! Siding: Sweet Chamomile from Behr; Porch ceiling: Fountain Spout by Behr; Trim: Ultra Pure White by Behr



Columns and Railing When the Dougalls revived their porch, they added white fluted railings and columns with turned-wood balusters, which lent the Queen Anne--style house even more Victorian appeal.



Lattice A porch lattice skirt is an easy addition to a house on a pier-and-beam base that's raised off the floor. Nail it onto the wooden beam of this base, or to the siding. White traditional vinyl lattice, 8'W x 1/4"D x 2'H, $13, lowes.com



Calming Colours Homeowners Katherine and Scott Kovarik say "we love the way cozy our Cape Cod looks from the outside. The yard and white outside remind us of an English cottage." Constructed in 1950, they purchased the home in 2010.



Adirondack Chair Adirondack chairs are not just for beach homes. The Kovariks added a pair behind the flower beds to the remaining measures. Atlantic Outdoor painted easy stair chair, $127, wayfair.com



Potted Plants The Kovariks planted purple and white flowers (alyssum, Supertunia, and petunias) in black urns. Grecian Urn 18"-diameter planter in black, $13, bedbathandbeyond.com



Climbing Ivy Boston ivy, a favorite clinging vine, climbs up the brick home. You could also let it crawl up a trellis set against the house or a fence up.



Shutters Flower Beds The Kovariks' blue shutters pretty up the narrow front windows on the right side and also add color against the white. These are called combination shutters, louvered around the top with a raised panel at the bottom. The landscaping was fixed up with plenty of green plants, like hostas, and hits of color, like pink phlox.



House Numbers Extra-large numbers look good hung vertically, also. Premium Brass 6"-tall home numbers in oil-rubbed bronze end, $9.50 each, houseofantiquehardware.com



Windows Multipaned windows are characteristic of Cape Cod--style houses. A row of three floor-to-ceiling ones on the left --with 36 panes total--lets in lots of sun.



Paint Colors Brick: Polo Mallet White by Ralph Lauren; Shutters: Sandoval Blue by Ralph Lauren



The Selling Point Kathy Spraitz and Mike Swanson purchased their 1899 house in 1999, but it was the 1 element that really caught their attention. "We bought this porch, and the home came with it. It's still our favourite feature," they say.



Front Door An electric-green door brightens up the dark corner of the porch. Exterior Conventional 2010 wood plank door, from $400, simpsondoor.com, painted Buckingham Gardens by Benjamin Moore



Door Knocker A glistening brass knocker looks terrific from the bright front door. The home numbers and doorknob are the exact same finish. Acorn Manufacturing Victorian big door knocker, $53, atgstores.com



Hanging and Standing Plants The coconut-fiber-lined baskets around the porch are full of sweet potato vine, variegated coleus, and spike crops. The coleus responds well to the afternoon sunlight that hits the porch.



Paint Colors Siding: Amherst Gray by Benjamin Moore; Trim: Superwhite by Sherwin-Williams; Front door: Buckingham Gardens by Benjamin Moore



Flower Beds The front flower bed is mostly green with a few bursts of white hydrangea and blue-violet balloon blossoms.



Moldings and Trim The detailed trim work on this American foursquare-style home gives it oodles of personality. So does the dentil molding across the roofline.



White Wicker Spraitz and Swanson put plenty of white wicker chairs in their spacious porch. It's all-weather furniture, so that they do not need to move it indoors for the winter. White Wicker Patio love seat, $300, zestavenue.com



Stand Out on the Block Jennifer Post and Murray Snyder purchased their 1903 house in 2007, also say "the window on the second floor is just one of our favorite particulars, together with the swing."



Porch Light Swap out a simple square or rectangular lighting for something unexpected, such as this hexagonal shape. It's still timeless enough to fit in with any style. Home Solutions by Feiss Martinsville 3-light outdoor sconce in black finish, $147, atgstores.com



Paint Colors Siding: Kale Green by Sherwin-Williams; Trim: Lily by Sherwin-Williams and Mature Grape by Sherwin-Williams



Railings The house has plenty of painted wood trim and brick accents. Intricate metal railings include yet another interesting material to front porch.



Porch Swing A wood swing seems homey and rustic. The rope string ties in with the nautical look of the round windows. International Caravan Balau porch swing, $189.50, wayfair.com



Potted Plants The urns and baskets are overflowing with bluish-purple and white petunias, giving the walkway a lush appearance.



Flower Beds The leading beds are full of pink polka-dot plants, far left, and varieties of coleus, like red coat coleus, famous for its gaudy red leaves with yellow-green boundaries.



Chair and Cushion Two teak folding chairs complement the local porch swing. For comfort, the homeowners added weather-resistant cushions. Sea Teak Avalon folding multi-position deck chair, $213.50, wayfair.com; 2-Piece Outdoor Wicker Conversation/Deep Seating pillow put in green, $46 for a pair of 2, target.com



Thursday, January 31, 2019

Pairs at Rates

Pairs at Rates Want the expensive look without the shocking price tag? Sabrina Soto shares her product selections on the market's low and high end, which means it's possible to decide between luxury and value. Both great choices, but we bet you can not even tell the difference.



Fluffy Stuffing The fairly pattern is hand-printed, plus there's a luxe down insert inside. Frond 18" x 18" cotton pillow and insert in tulip, $102, burrowandhive.com



Cut the Cost Polyester fill keeps the price down, however, the embroidered cover appears wealthy. Charlotte 18" x 18" pillow, $54, homedecorators.com



Mirrors on Mirrors So sparkly: 124 small light-reflecting mirrors protect the framework. Quatrefoil 34" x 34" mirror, $685, horchow.com



Complementary Materials Having an aged silver finish, this mirror is a fancy touch above a dresser. Quatrefoil 34" x 34" mirror, $269, shadesoflight.com



Regal Color This velvet sofa's straight-back style gives it a contemporary, streamlined shape. Murphy 81" sofa in emerald vance, $1,399, roomandboard.com



Luxe for Less This one's covered in a velvet that was stunning, too -- and comfy with seven cushions total. Stockholm 83 1/4" sofa in Sandbacka green, $999, IKEA stores



Medieval and Grand This dining area stunner has seven arms and hangs from an iron chain. Foucault's Orb 32"-diameter rustic iron chandelier, $795, rh.com



Orb Chandelier The hanging glass-ball finial is a fun accent on this bronze six-arm edition. Orb 29"-diameter chandelier, $499, ballarddesigns.com



Cushiony Texture This hand-hooked wool rug is soft underfoot. Concentric Squares 4'6" x 6'6" carpeting in multi, $855, companyc.com



Under Your Feet Made from braided cotton and wool, this pretty alternative is reversible! Plymouth Concentric Rectangle 5' x 8' rug in gold finch, $475, worldmarket.com



More Velvet A cushy foam chair makes this velvet seat a welcome addition to a dining table. Cody seat in tangerine, $449, crateandbarrel.com



Have a Seat Both the back cushion and seat are tufted. Nice details! Fionn polyester seat in amber, $150, pier1.com



Craftsmanship and Truth More than 400 hand-applied claws decorate this linen-covered chest. Cabrillo 38 3/4"W x 20? 1/2"D x 33 1/4"H torso, $1,840, bernhardt.com for stores



Wallet-Friendly Version This fabric-covered version uses polyester, which can be way less expensive. Lexford 32"W x 15"D x 30"H wood and nail-head torso, $350, pier1.com



Not Your Boy Scout's Campfire Import Square 41 1/4"W x 41? 1/4"D x 21 3/4"H slate/marble-top gas fireplace, $772, efireplacestore.com



Gather Round Pleasant Hearth Bradford 34"W x 34"D 19 3/4"H natural slate-top fire pit, $150, samsclub.com



S'mores Please Tahitian vanilla marshmallows, $13 for an 8-ounce bag, shopsucre.com



Roasted and Toasted Campfire marshmallows, $3 to get a 28-ounce bag, walmart.com



More Than a Simple Stick Rolla Roaster fork, sold only as a set of 2, $16, llbean.com



Essential Utensil Rome extension fork, $4, campsaver.com



Kick Back and Relax Polywood Long Island recycled plastic Adirondack chairs in yellow, $280 each, hayneedle.com



Chilling from the Heat Shine Company Marina cedar Adirondack chairs in lemon yellow, $130 each, wayfair.com



Comfort Is Key Laguna 18" x 18" outside cushions, $39 each, lampsplus.com



Weatherproof Pillow Sunbrella 16" x 16" outdoor pillows in red, $25 each, outdoorpillowsonly.com



For Chilly Nights Merino wool throw in MacGill tartan, $118, pendleton-usa. com



Curl Up Royal Stewart cotton blanket, $50, beautiesltd.com



Rainbow Pillow Made by Indian artisans, this fringed pillow mimics the sheen of raw silk. Cabinets Vibrant 22" x 22" polyester silk cushion, $200, lampsplus.com



Felt Fringe Felt causes this rainbow variant soft to the touch. Kringle 23" x 23" pillow, $60, crateandbarrel.com



Modern Wingback A dramatically high back and metallic legs upgrade a classic wingback chair. Study polyester cloth wingback, $749, cb2.com



What a Steal Yes, that's real leather for under 500 bucks! Jordan wingback, $499, grandinroad.com



Vintage Style Sign Bulbs are sold individually, so that you may select whichever ones you like best. Vintage Style Sign 12"-tall letter sconces (letters marketed separately; cost is for 5), $495, shadesoflight.com



Peaceful Decorating Try hanging this version from front door--it's secure for outside. Lit Vintage Peace 12"-tall tin sign, $30, target.com



Sturdy Creature That generous brass hook is ideal for holding towels or robes. Creature Kingdom 7 1/2"-tall hook, $22, anthropologie.com



Hooked on Antlers Install this guy in an entryway for a helpful spot to stash secrets. Antler 7 1/2"-tall iron hook, $12, urbanoutfitters.com



Lux Fabric This flat-woven rug is handmade from wool. Jill Rosenwald to get Surya Fallon 5' x 8' rug in coral/ivory, $347, wayfair.com



Durable Alternative A similar lattice routine, but in easy-to-clean, low-cost polypropylene. Momeni Baja 5'3" x 7'6" carpeting in crimson, $149, rugsusa.com



Amber-Colored Swirls Those pretty replicas are custom-made by a British glassblower. Amber Whirl doorknob place, $207, merlinglass-usa. com



Enter in Style A faceted knob layout is less intricate, but still a cool accent. Fusion Elite Victorian doorknob set in amber, $88, knobdeco.com



Lightweight and Roomy Sturdy and spacious, yet it weighs in at only seven pounds when empty. Victorinox Werks Traveler 4.0 13 1/2"W x 9"D x 20"H expandable carry-on in emerald, $350, swissarmy.com



Economic Organization Two zippered front pockets provide lots of storage. It includes a matching bag, also. U.S. Traveler Rio 13 1/2"W x 8 1/2"D x 21"H lightweight carry-on set, $47, luggagepros.com



Red and White Stripes Ana Candles Pageant taper candles in ivory-red, $24 for a set of 2, fivestripes.com; Eclectic 9"-tall silver-plated taper holders, $29 each, potterybarn.com



Candy Cane Candles Biedermann & Sons Candy cane candles, $37 for a pair of 4, wayfair.com; Silver 10 1/4"-tall aluminum imprint holders, $12 each, pier1.com



Scalloped Edges Abby 24 1/2"-diameter iron mirror from down pour blue, $610, straydogdesigns.com



Intricate Detail for Less Sunburst Petal 33"-diameter resin mirror in sea blue, $225, shadesoflight.com



Oak-Finished Mantel Vance 61 1/2" x 70 1/2" wood mantel, $900, plowhearth.com



Straightforward Foundation ProCom Heritage 49 3/4" x 50 3/4" wood mantel, $430, northerntool.com



Full, Lush Garland Florist's Choice 9' garland, $229, frontgate.com



Draped Garland Martha Stewart Living 9' feel-real deluxe Douglas fir garland, $40, homedepot.com



Wool Stocking The Sandor Collection Siofok wool and rayon stocking, $102, wayfair.com



Felt Stocking Happy Chic by Jonathan Adler Snowflake felt, $30, jcp.com



Stoke the Fire UniFlame Satin Copper steel fireplace tool set, $70, homedepot.com



Essential Tools Smith & Hawken fire application kit, $35, target.com



Gourmet Cookies Embassy bone china plate, $79, lenox.com; Gingerbread Cookie decorating kit, $15 for 3 cookies, williams-sonoma. com



Serve to Santa Corelle Livingware Urban glass plate, $6, wayfair.com; Pepperidge Farm Gingerman cookies, $3 to get a 5-ounce bundle, grocery shops



Bold Chandelier Glass galore, from the top curlicues to the dangling drops. Eurofase Lighting Everesty 28? 3/4"-diameter chandelier, $760, atgstores.com



Money-Saving Materials Equally fancy flourishes, but in money-saving acrylic. Modern 25"-diameter chandelier, $220, lightinthebox.com



Yellow and White Graphic interlocking swirls dress this up down-filled linen blend pillow. Gate 20" x 20" pillow in citrine, $100, dwellstudio.com



More White Than Imperial A polyester cap cuts the cost in half an hour, but the design is ornate. Aimee St Hill Diamonds 20" x 20" pillow, $49, denydesigns.com



Chair for a Cause The framework is made from sustainably harvested timber, and also the down-blend chair will maintain its shape. Edenton seat, $2,199, arhaus.com



Pattern Play This smaller-scale variant can be coated in a damask-like design. Custom Hermes armchair at natural/black, $699, homedecorators.com



Full-Circle Design According to a mid-century design, this table is created from solid walnut. Bradshaw 36"-diameter cocktail table, $899, roomandboard.com



Similar Look for Less Only the top is walnut onto this one, but look at these brass cap toes! Reeve 30"-diameter coffee table, $399, westelm.com



Overseas Handiwork This wool rug is completely hand-knotted in India. Coco's Flower 5' x 8' rug, $1,800, capelrugs.com for shops



Don't Fret About Spills A similar diamond and cloverleaf pattern, this nylon pick is easy to clean. Mohawk Home Summer Splash 5' x 8' rug, $114, hayneedle.com



Natural Doggie Comfort For the discerning dog: a natural hemp cover with a super-cushy fill. Hemp Stripe 44"W x 36"D x 5"H mattress in crimson, $190, harrybarker.com



Maybe More Practical Utilize this bed that is machine-washable out or indoors. Carolina Pet Company 44"W x 35"D x 4"H mattress in Jamison red stripe, $95, petco.com



Arched Mirror This mirror is as pretty as a piece of artwork for an entryway or over a fireplace. Howard Elliott Fenetre 41" x 29" mirror, $300, 1800lighting. com



Larger Details Get a classic vibe with this version that is larger. Elise 44" x 36" mirror, $159, homedecorators.com



High-Class Laundry Tango red 3.9 cubic foot front-load washer, $1,200, samsung.com for shops; Samsung tango red 7.4 cubic foot front-load gas dryer, $1,299, and pedestals with storage basket, $249 each, both lowes.com



Energy Efficient LG wild cherry red 3.6 cubic foot high-efficiency front-load washer, $999, 7.3 cubic foot front-load electric dryer, $999, and pedestals with storage drawer, $250 each, all lowes.com



It is in the Bag Neu Home Rolling 21"H x 16? 1/4"-diameter laundry basket with bag, $71, stacksandstacks.com



Sorting and Folding Cable 27 3/4" x 15" hamper with liner, $55, crateandbarrel.com



Squeaky Clean Le Blanc linen wash, $30, gracioushome.com



Scented Soap Clean Day 34-ounce detergent in lavender, $16, mrsmeyers.com



Plush Towels Bello bath towels, $66 each, sferra.com



Dry Away Signature bath towels, $25 each, garnethill.com



The Mercedes of Irons Professional Master iron, $100, rowentausa.com



Create Perfect Creases Durathon non refundable iron, $30, hamiltonbeach.com



Working Station Brabantia ironing board with iron remainder, $190, macys.com



Ironing Board Honey-Can-Do steel ironing board, $45, amazon.com



Striped Rug Birmingham Red 2' x 3' cotton rug, $33, dashandalbert.com



Save on Those Stripes Barber Stripe 2' x 3' cotton mat westelm.com