Category: Eclectic Homes

Architect Matthew Baran was called in by Heather Raney of REO Homes to flip a Spanish-style home in North Oakland into something much more contemporary that spoke into the diverse warehouse edginess of the surrounding neighborhood. Built on spec and working on a strict budget against a three-month deadline, he had to remove an illegal addition unit, then update the space with industrial windows, a modern paint job and a spacious backyard with a terraced patio.

in a Glance:
Location: North Oakland, California
Size: 1,200 square feet; two bedrooms, 1 complete bath and 2 half bathrooms

Before Photo

Baran Studio Architecture

BEFORE: Baran felt that the prior home was a “hacked together Spanish style,” with an illegal inclusion that turned the garage into a one-bedroom unit with another door to the street and backyard.

Baran needed to work quickly to bring the building up to code by removing the illegal unit and returning it to a garage space.

Baran Studio Architecture

AFTER: The architect wanted to make something that had a connection to the urban environment surrounding it. He removed the sloped arch parapet, sloped roof bits, overhang and built up the shell of the building into something more clean, stark and contemporary, with big square aluminum windows that resemble the industrial design of the warehouses at the neighborhood.

While he removed the deep line archway on the left side to be flush with the facade, the one about the right remains, something Baran regretted at the beginning but has come to love over time. “It leaves a hint of a previous life of the home,” he says.

To soften the crude components, Baran added painted redwood railing and landscaping by Miguel Nunez in M.A.N. Landscape to get a natural feel. Heather Raney for REO Homes oversaw the renovation.

Exterior paint: Benjamin Moore HC-103 Cromwell Gray

Before Photo

Baran Studio Architecture

BEFORE: Structurally, the interiors were in good shape, if a bit dated. Raney collaborated with Scott Silvera of Scout Design to update the interior while still maintaining the majority of the home’s classic architectural components. They stained the first oak floors and added a much more industrial-recalling window designed by Baran that faces the road.

Baran Studio Architecture

AFTER: For the most part, the group maintained the remaining interior components intact. The wood trim and tiled fireplace were all painted and the floors stained dark to get a more modern feel that amuses the previously dark vibe. (Silvera supplied and styled the home.)

Flooring blot: Minwax Jacobean

Before Photo

Baran Studio Architecture

BEFORE: Raney had originally wanted to remove the built-in cabinetry, but upon hearing that it was gum and much desired by homeowners and Silvera chose to restore it instead.

Baran Studio Architecture

AFTER: A fresh coat of paint and new hardware lightened and upgraded the first built-ins. The home is a split level — that the garage is on the ground floor; the kitchen, living and dining rooms are on the middle level; and the two bedrooms are located on the floor.

Light: Noir pendant from CB-2

Before Photo

Baran Studio Architecture

BEFORE: The kitchen was narrow and full of dated tile and cabinets, all that Baran torn out.

Baran Studio Architecture

AFTER: Baran enlarged the distance by pushing all the kitchen elements to a single wall, creating enough extra room to add a half bath and pub on the opposite side.

Kitchen cabinets: Ikea; light fixture: world pendant from West Elm

Baran Studio Architecture

The pub area acts as a breakfast nook that opens into a backyard patio and outdoor dining space.

Baran Studio Architecture

Before Photo

Baran Studio Architecture

BEFORE: Another square aluminum window designed by Baran was added into the street-facing guest bedroom. The floors were stained dark. One of the first windows remains on the left side.

Baran Studio Architecture

AFTER: The main bedroom opens to a private patio that leads to the backyard and outside dining space.

Before Photo

Baran Studio Architecture

BEFORE: The prior structure’s exterior was somewhat gloomy, together with paved-over landscaping and an illegal inclusion (on the left) that caused a separate living space. The main home was virtually closed off from the spacious outdoor location.

Baran Studio Architecture

AFTER: Baran’s plans removed the illegal inclusion and added French doors away from the kitchen plus a main bedroom to link the home to the outside. “I saw an opportunity to open the back of the home,” he says. Instead of having just one monotonous lawn space, Raney chose to separate the backyard into different zones that could correlate to rooms at a home. The planter boxes with vegetables represent the kitchen.

Baran Studio Architecture

The open grass space acts as a living room.

Baran Studio Architecture

A redwood trellis-covered dining area acts as a formal dining room separate from your casual dining room on the patio.

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An landlord–the proprietor of a property rented to people or businesses–need to contend with a number of occupational challenges. These include keeping his property through regular repairs and maintenance, as well as navigating the maze of legal regulations associated with leases, tenants and real estate law. Fortunately, there are numerous resources that landlords can use to better meet their obligations.

National Landlord Tenants Guide

The National Landlord Tenants Guide, accessible at rentlaw.com, provides a detailed, state-by-state manual of legal regulations associated with tenant and landlord issues. This includes legal advice about Section 8 housing, mould, eviction, security deposits and renter’s insurance.

Landlord.com

A heart of landlord resources, landlord.com provides a number of rental and company forms, checklists, agreements and design letters, as well as legal guides and a discussion board. Standard membership was available at $39.95 for six months, as of July 2010, at which time the website said that it had more than 110,000 members.

MrLandlord.com

Mrlandlord.com is the Web’s biggest forum for landlords, with nearly 160 million page views since 1999. In addition to a slew of legal resources, the site delivers a question-and-answer part in which landlords can pose state-specific questions to one another. The site also hosts a live chat on Wednesday and Sunday nights in which landlords can chew the fat.

Nolo.com

Nolo.com, the online legal resource center, has a section dedicated entirely to landlord-related law. While the National Landlord Tenants Guide provides state statutes, Nolo answers tricky legal questions, such as explaining what a”shelter-in-place order” is, also provides business advice, such as when to hire a property management company.

The Landlord Protection Agency

The Landlord Protection Agency, located at thelpa.com, provides a warehouse of almost every legal form that a landlord will need in the course of her work. Along with the normal tenant screening form, the LPA provides such esoteric legal records as a”Notice of Intent To Enter Premises” and a”Notice of Unauthorized Rent Deduction.” Forms may be purchased a la carte or free with the purchase of a yearlong membership.

Condition Agencies

State agencies can be invaluable for landlords, offering legal advice and advising them of applicable local government programs that may assist their business. Each state welcomes these jobs to a different service. Back in California, the Department of Consumer Affairs handles most landlord-tenant troubles. Check with your local secretary of state to find out more.

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After my sister, Torey, and her husband, David, were married, she said she always knew precisely what he did when she had been off by following the “Trail of David” when she returned: shoes tucked beneath the coffee table, sweatshirt tossed to a chair, a glass of water on the desk, a bag of bread on the counter with a dirty plate in the sink, the toilet seat up at the bathroom.

When it comes to cleaning, Torey may be a tiny bit kind A–ish, so it is not surprising it was a major job for them to figure out how to work together well. For David the problem was simple: “It’s not that I did not have a cleaning rhythm — I did — it is just that mine was every two months, and Torey’s was daily.”

I am sure many people can relate. Here are a few tips that will help you to find your own rhythm.

A Beach Cottage

Pick together what is “clean enough.” I know I know; don’t slap your forehead. This may take a while to negotiate, however, you have to try. Establishing a dialog about how you want your house to be supplies an chance for you and your spouse to determine where you might want the same thing and what needs to shift or change so as to accomplish it.

Take it a room at a time, if necessary. “I believe our bedroom is clean enough when the bed is made and there’s nothing on the ground,” for example. It’s possible to begin with broad ideas: “I wish to do a little bit daily, so the home is never a mess” — or your feelings: “If somebody stops by suddenly, I wish to feel happy instead of panicked and ashamed.” It might be simplest to go right for your own triggers: “The living room feels clean enough when there are no dirty dishes and empty bottles on the coffee table” and work your way up out there.

This will be a continuous conversation and may be an emotional one. Based on your perspective, you could be tempted to say anything like, “I don’t know why it is so tough that you do these basic things!” Or, from the opposite side, “I don’t know why you are making such a big deal out of these basic things!”

Whatever side of the neatness spectrum you are on, it is important to listen to and try to comprehend what your spouse is saying. If you are anything like me, this could be challenging, but it is more than worth it.

Divide the Job. This doesn’t have to be 50-50 or set in stone forever, but it is a beginning. 1 friend and his wife took over about the other’s least favourite chore; she did the laundry and he did the dishes. With another couple I know, she does the cooking and he cleans up. That is where making requests will serve you. If you already perform the majority of the cleaning, then request help and be specific: “Can you please be responsible for __?” Schedule a check-in to assess how things are moving.

In our family if we don’t do what we say we’re going to do, we apologize and request forgiveness. This may seem a bit much if we’re talking about something as banal as taking out the garbage, but our personality is shown in everything, large and little. It’s finally alerting to eschew excuses and accept responsibility: “I am sorry. I said I would empty the garbage and completely forgot. Will you forgive me?”

The Decor Fix

Establish new habits and patterns. If you are the individual always picking up after other members of your family, pay attention and look for patterns. “Is everything a blueprint, Alison?” Come, grab a paper bag, breathe in it a bit and stay with me.

Let us begin at the very beginning: Are coats thrown over chairs, a pocket or handbag tossed on the table, totes and whistles dropped in the center of the ground? No mudroom? Give each member of their household a minumum of one hook and a basket, as close to the door as you can.

In our old home, our mudroom was not large at 6 ft square, and every wall had a door. I covered the little bit of wall we had with three-prong hooks and wrapped baskets for hats and gloves right on the wall, very similar to what this homeowner did.

Everyone was assigned a room and encouraged to hang coats and backpacks and stash hats and gloves in the baskets. A number people took to it easily, and others needed to be reminded … repeatedly. Focus on one habit at a time, and once that is established, proceed to another.

Colleen Brett

Hang a few pins. Try to eliminate steps for your family members who aren’t naturally organized.

Here the homeowner wrapped some hooks and set out a couple washtubs to corral kids’ stuff. In Torey’s home they enter right into the kitchen. She wrapped hooks, place a two-shelf closet organizer for shoes directly next to the door and placed a few bins in addition to a nearby cabinet.

For a number people, there’s no question about which is simpler: opening a closet door, grabbing a hanger, hanging a garment and closing the closet door versus “neatly” dropping the garment at a heap by the bed.

One friend of mine hung a row of hooks inside her bedroom as a solution for her husband, who piled his clothes. She had been surprised to find herself too. “It’s not ideal, but it keeps things in sequence, and it is easy,” she states.

Shannon Malone

Do not pick up after anyone but yourself. The exclusion being babies and actual animals — a few of whom may even be trained to pick up their toys, so be discerning there too. I know this is a difficult one for certain men and women. A number of you might have passed out just imagining how your house would look if you did not scuttle about and pick up after everyone else, but give it a go.

I purposely leave things my children will need to pick them up to care for when they return from college, only to visit my husband, Paul, scoop them up the second he comes home, because he just can’t help himself. I remind him, “If you always pick up after them … us … we will never , ever learn to do it.”

Note: A matter-of-fact reminder is not nagging. When I am pointing out messes, I try to use an upbeat and adoring tone.

Be strategic with furniture and individuals placement. In our new house, I’ve a little study off the living room. I’m a piler and often distribute a lot when I am in the middle of a project, so I put the desk off to the side of the French doors. You can catch a glimpse of my desk from the living room, but it is not the continuous view.

In our bedroom I usually spend the side of their bed away from the door. When either the drawer of my nightstand or my basket of books is erupting, I am the only one to see it. In our home it is no accident that a certain child’s hooks and baskets are tucked out of sight at the mudroom.

Minimize horizontal surfaces. I have space in my bedroom to get a chair, but I am aware that it would turn into my clotheshorse. In our living room, I thought carefully about superfluous tables. In our wide upstairs hall, I’ve an old farm table just outside the laundry room, and next to it is a massive cabinet filled with my daughter Eden’s art equipment. Maintaining that table clean is the battle of my own life, but it is so convenient for folding laundry and also for Eden to operate at, it is well worth the attempt. For a number people, a horizontal surface is a heap magnet, so choose yours carefully and well.

Designate areas that may be messy. For the sake of peace, love and all good things, yet another friend of mine suggested her husband — who works from their home — utilize the bonus room over the garage for his office.

Others contested her giving this up massive area, which could have been an ideal playroom for the kids, but she had been happy to have her husband’s messy office from sight.

How he maintains it’s his business, and she doesn’t have to watch it.

Crystal Kitchen + Bath

Catch a basket. Granted there are times when you just have to have things picked up.

Torey instructs out of her house, and as a result of the design, the kitchen, the dining room, the upstairs hall, her daughters’ bedroom, the living area and the bathroom all have the chance of being seen by clients.

She has a couple baskets at which she can quickly stash her family’s belongings, which they can then put away in their leisure.

VisuaLingual

Hire Assist. For many this retains peace and order, and even when it moves the budget, economizing elsewhere is a little cost to pay.

More:
We Can Work It Out: Living and Cleaning Collectively

4 Obstacles into Decluttering — and How to Beat Them

Are You a Piler or a Filer?

Beautiful Clutter? All these 13 Rooms Say Go for It

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It’s unfortunate when a homeowner’s biggest fear is how much a dream house will cost or how long it will take to construct, but instead in the event the local design review board will surpass the house he or she desires on the property.

We have all heard the horror stories: projects taking years to have accepted, neighbors stopping other neighbors from building a similar-size house, and neighborhood design review associates making purely subjective recommendations — inflating a budget by tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Just a few days ago, a neighborhood planner suggested that the best way to achieve what my client wanted is to bulldoze the existing house and garage and move them back 5 feet. Our funding was for a 400-square-foot inclusion, not a brand new 2,400-square-foot home.

Dylan Chappell Architects

So what’s the magic bullet promising your new home will pass design inspection? Here’s the key. Sorry. Understanding the psychology will up your chances of success.

Most design review boards have a tendency to share the same goal: to promote growth that exemplifies the very best professional practices to enhance the visual quality of the surroundings, benefit surrounding property values and prevent inferior layout. Obviously, the aim changes by area and means something completely different at a downtown area than it will in a rural residential one.

Natalie Myers

The very best thing you can do is to participate your local planning department in the thinking stage of your project. The sooner, the better. This will make certain you don’t end up spending money on a layout that won’t ever get accepted.

The tips below will help your house project pass muster. Some may seem like good ol’ ordinary sense, but they are all incredibly important.

Designs Northwest Architects, Dan Nelson

Work with design professionals who have an established relationship with your local planning department. This is particularly important if the home is in a place with a complex design review process. It makes no sense for you to cover for somebody else to understand the ropes.

Union Studio, Architecture & Community Design

Make the size, scale, form and placement of your building compatible with nearby properties. You also want it to make sense together with the dominant locality or district development routine. In the event of the homes have a long driveway leading to a garage back, don’t presume your front-and-center three-car garage will sail through the plan process.

Archiverde Landscape Architecture

Have the project’s site layout and orientation at an appropriate relationship to each other. Make sure the site design has a well-designed relationship to the ecological qualities, open spaces and topography of the property too. Is your new outdoor kitchen overlooking your neighbor’s swimming? If that’s the case, be ready to sink more bucks to some redesign.

Designs Northwest Architects, Dan Nelson

Think of the big picture in respect to landscaping. As well as creating your landscape in percentage to your project and property, is preservation of specimen or landmark trees an issue? What about vegetation? Plant selection should be suitable to the layout. And be sure to demonstrate adequate irrigation and maintenance features.

Designs Northwest Architects, Dan Nelson

Pick consistent materials, colours and compositions for all sides of your building. Architectural elements and details should be carried around all areas of the building, developing a consistent and unified exterior composition. True, these are factors that are subjective, however, most design issues are. Study the appearance and layout of houses in your region. Get a sense for what your design review board has greenlighted.

John Hill

Be a great neighbor. It’s always recommended to share your proposed plan together with your neighbors before the design review meeting. Most neighbors are going to be in support of any developments to the area, and it will allow you to avoid negative comments from them during the assembly. Design review boards always find projects having the help of the neighbors simpler to approve than those that don’t.

Tell us Do you have any design review process nightmares or victories others may learn from? Please share your story in the Remarks.

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There’s no crystal ball that could tell you what might fail on your house remodeling job, but you don’t need to have the ability to see in the future to be ready for an unwelcome surprise or two along the way. Including a contingency fund that’s 5 to 20% of your funding can go a long way toward averting financial reverses, as will knowing about some common discoveries which include unexpected costs to a job.

1. Asbestos. Get asbestos properly and professionally remediated. This isn’t a place for DIY or to look another way. You will require an abatement contractor to remove the material and give you a report on an aviation that demonstrates there are no fibers from the air. If that is not in the budget, then cut the budget somewhere else. It is that important.

2. Structural flaws. These often can not be seen until demolition is finished, but you may start looking for hints: cracks, settling floors, crooked door jambs etc.. If you see these, fix your contingency fund so

3. Unreliable contractors. Check references and do your own homework before you give anyone a deposit. If that deposit walks away or you need to walk away from a contractor, you have either got a visit to court ahead of you or a decreased job budget — possibly both. See 10 contractor scam warning signals

4. Neglect on allows. Permits do cost money, and they are no guarantee that the work will be nicely done — which depends on the individual contractor. However, if you are caught working without a permit, you can anticipate the building inspector will be less inclined to use you and your plan, any you might have to pay fines. Building codes aren’t black and white, especially when it comes to remodeling. You would like a construction inspector involved who will be on your side.

5. Water damage. What looks like just a brown spot on the ceiling may turn out to become rotted rafters and a moldy roof and wall sheathing. Suddenly, what you believed was a ceiling fix job turns in an environmental hazard (mould, like asbestos, should be remediated by a contractor trained in this job ) that necessitates fresh sheathing, a new roof and possibly new siding.

6. Termites. Where there is water, especially when it’s near the ground, termites are soon to follow. If you reside in a place with termites, the water which infiltrates your walls attracts termites into the walls and floor joists. Correcting this problem in a finished space may mean completely remodeling which portion of the home. The termite inspection which was done when you bought your home should not be the final. Obtaining a problem early may mean the difference between hundreds and tens of thousands of dollars.

7. Property disputes. Before you add on to your house, even when you’re just adding a fence, be certain that you have the property you are building on and that you are adhering to any setback laws or stipulations from the zoning code. If not, this mistake could be costly to reverse once it is discovered. Build your new kitchen 6 inches on the incorrect side of the house line, and you might have to rip that new kitchen down if your neighbor finds out. These disputes may get ugly. Avoid them by having professionals review the actions and submit site programs to a local zoning board for review.

8. Bank issues. If you’re planning to fund your project with a loan from the bank, be certain loan is set up before you start work. It may be tempting to give your contractor a deposit to get started as you wait on the loan paperwork to be processed. However, if that loan doesn’t go through, you might have just paid for demolition only to find out that’s the only part of the job you can afford.

Bud Dietrich, AIA

9. An unfinished plan. I have said it before, but it bears repeating: Work with a designer and a contractor to think of a plan that’s thorough, affordable and buildable. If you plan to fill in the blanks as soon as you start work, you could realize that some of those blanks end up being much more costly than you predicted.

10. A portfolio program. Sometimes a set of blueprints comes across my desk that’s down to every last detail, and each of these details will be costly. These jobs are exciting once the homeowner has set a realistic budget for your work. Ideally, a contractor is consulted early in the process of developing the plan, advising on ballpark costs and the feasibility of the suggested ideas so that a realistic scope and funding emerge. If this doesn’t happen, you may get a portfolio plan: a design full of the latest, hippest, priciest particulars.

More Contractor’s Tips

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When it comes to cabinetry, a little imagination can go a long way toward earning your renovation a real talking point. Aside from the profiles we all know and love — elevated, recessed and flat panel — there are a few other tricks up your cabinetmaker’s sleeve that can give your home a truly special appearance.

Tobi Fairley Interior Design

Tracery, initially curved and spanned lines made of stone, was used in church windows throughout Gothic times. These days it is cut more from timber or metal. Traditional tracery always had glass inserts.

When you’ve got a room that needs a focal point, personalize your cabinetry with tracery. Based on the degree of difficulty, the price tag is often similar to a solid timber, raised-profile cabinet door.

Within this setting, the glass supporting the lovely circular timber pattern has two purposes: It hides all of the bits and bobs the homeowner doesn’t want the entire world to see, and it makes the tracery visually pop.

Pinto Designs and Associates

Fretwork on cabinetry can sometimes be confused with tracery. Fretwork is an interlaced decorative design, carved to a solid foundation or cut away. Contrary to tracery, fretwork doesn’t generally have glass inserts.

Originally fretwork was in a grid and lattice design. These days we see many different layouts, from designs which replicate the rectangular Greek fret to more intricately intertwined designs. The cost is dependent upon the design — with MDF and painting the unit yourself can lower the cost.

Like tracery, fretwork is cut with a fretsaw, coping saw, jigsaw or scroll saw. Machines are used by some bigger cabinet businesses.

T.A.S Construction

Traditional muntins are timber or metal strips that hold and split panes of glass in a door or window. Diagonal muntins are known as diamond muntins.

Decorative muntins are used more as an overlay. 1 piece of glass illuminates the solid door face, and the muntins sit on top of the glass. This tends to be much cheaper approach to the conventional muntin style.

Muntins work nicely in the event that you need more light or wish to show off valuable objects. Adding cupboard lights will enhance the muntins.

Branca, Inc..

Embellishments on cabinetry can make a lovely room feel even more unique. Leather, metal and even glass can be used to step a look a notch.

This dressing room has timber drawers with a recessed profile. The easy rail and stile design looks amazing alone, but with all the leather strapping, you immediately know a gentleman uses this room.

The glass fronts on the large doors and cabinets have leather wrapped in the muntin style. This is a smart way to connect them together with the drawers, giving the cabinetry balance.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

Decorative mesh on cupboard doors turns out an old-fashioned custom into a totally modern look. In the 1800s, mesh or gauze was used to maintain meat and other perishables cool and free of flies. These days a huge collection of decorative mesh is available. Woven mesh has wires woven alternately over and under one another. Welded mesh is a grid made up of wires which are fused together where they join.

Mesh comes in mild steel, galvanized steel, brass and stainless steel. Various thicknesses can be supplied, but most companies specify minimal amounts, so be cautious about expensive waste. Get your cabinetmaker to order samples so you can observe the pattern up close.

JayJeffers

Profiles are cut out with a router piece — a shaped or straight rotary cutting tool used to cut or form substances. There are quite a few types of router bits, and not all cabinetmakers use exactly the very same ones. If you’d like a custom profile not provided, the piece can be manufactured to precise specifications — but take note that habit bits can cost hundreds of dollars. However, this may be money well spent if you are performing an entire kitchen.

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Perhaps you have captured the DIY bug when it comes to decor? This infectious disease can spread rapidly — it starts with a chalkboard wall, moves on to terrariums and finishes off with screen-printed accessories.

In case you’re unsure whether you’ve been affected by this ailment already, here are a few telltale signs.

Nina Montenegro

Nina Montenegro

Nina Montenegro

Inform us : Perhaps you have captured the DIY bug?

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Bigger hardwood furniture jobs always produce scrap wood that I can not bring myself to deliver into the kindling box. I have a little shop, however, so I can not afford to have prized space consumed by little pieces of scrap. So I am often making cutting boards as a means to turn little, mismatched bits into a tasteful kitchen accessory. The best thing about creating a cutting board is the fact that it’s a relatively straightforward and fast project, great for entry woodworkers — especially people with leftover bits from other jobs.

R. Olson Design

A few of the tools needed for creating a cutting board are not common household equipment, which makes this a more complex project, but it’s perfect for aspiring woodworkers.

R. Olson Design

Materials:
• 3 bar presses
• Belt sander
• Vibrating and/or orbital sander
• Table saw
• Sled or round saw
• Wood adhesive
• Food-safe finishing oil

R. Olson Design

1. Pick and put out your timber scraps. I dedicate a hardwood box particularly for cutting board pieces, so when I have a moment to build one, I am not scrounging around for bits. That doesn’t mean you have to get a lot of scraps lying around, however — you can purchase a few feet of preferred lumber and mill it to size. Boards can be made from a number of hardwoods. The decision is yours and so is the arrangement. Symmetrical, asymmetrical or poetic chaos? You choose.

R. Olson Design

2. Cut your timber to size. Once the arrangement is completed, it’s time to mill the bits to uniform size. I allow the timber I have on hand decide how big the board instead of choosing specific dimensions.

Scope outside the thinnest piece (heightwise) and run the remaining pieces throughout the table saw in that size so that every bit is the identical thickness. Apply the identical process for length.

R. Olson Design

3. Glue everything together. Next comes the gluing. Since cutting boards are vulnerable to moisture, using a waterproof wood glue such as Titebond III is the best option. Going piece by bit, run a bead of adhesive down the bit and spread it evenly with your finger or a brush to ensure a maximum bond.

Often I’ll glue the cutting board in two halves, then glue the two halves together after. This optional process is more manageable due to the short working period of wood adhesive. Ten bits is a lot less of a headache to glue and organize than 20 bits whenever you have a five-minute time period.

R. Olson Design

4. Apply pressure. For this project (and many involving adhesive, for that matter) I utilize bar clamps, because they offer the strongest quantity of pressure and they are easy to work with. It’s best to use stickers, which are bits that are put between the clamp mind as well as also the work piece that prevent pressure marks from the clamps.

With the bits glued, organize them in order into the clamp and start tightening the clamps. To block your board from bowing, substitute the straps between top and bottom. Standard boards need only three knobs, as depicted in the photo.

R. Olson Design

5. Sand your board smooth. Everybody’s favorite part of a project is sanding, of course, which is great because cutting boards need lots of sanding. Starting with a belt sander as well as using 80-grit paper, sand both sides smooth. Pay particular attention to even sanding — it’s easy to remove too far on the edges with a belt sander, and you’ll get a wobbly board.

R. Olson Design

6. Square away your endings on the table saw. Now you have got a fine, flat board, but it’s got a few rough ends which have to be booted up on the table saw. Remember to keep those fingers clear of the saw. Sleds are notorious accident causers due to fingers being put behind the apparently secure sled fence, only to find themselves at the blade’s path. Employing a sled, square one finish. After one end is square, you can use the saw fence for another side and cut into your preferred length. The board in this DIY is 8 by 12 inches.

R. Olson Design

7. Add your end caps (optional). The next step is optional but recommended. End caps are bits connected to the end grain of the cutting board. End grain is more vulnerable to moisture and can result in splitting and cracking. End caps help alleviate this issue by sealing the end grain. (The ending caps in these pictures have a natural, or live, border per petition and are not recommended for ease of clamping.)

Mill your caps somewhat thicker than your board so you can sand them flush with the top and bottom of the board after gluing. To maintain your board square, you want to leave both end caps a hair shorter than the board’s width (as shown in this photograph ) and clamp them short of both sides when attaching. After trimming them flush, cut both sides of the outer board flush with the end caps using the table saw.

R. Olson Design

8. Do one last round of fine sanding. Moving into the home stretch, use an orbital sander with around a 220 grit to finely sand the board. In case you have a router, you can route the border with the bit of your own choice, or you can hand sand the edges.

R. Olson Design

9. Apply a food-safe finish for shine and protection. As soon as you’ve done enough sanding (do not forget those edges!) The actual payoff occurs. Apply a liberal number of food-safe finish such as mineral oil, wiping it on evenly using a rag, a brush or your hands. Stop and admire the color and grain of the timber published by the oil. Let the oil penetrate for 15 to 30 minutes, then wipe off the excess. Repeat the process two to four occasions to get a stronger finish.

R. Olson Design

10. Enjoy! The next step is cooking, and that’s from my jurisdiction.

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Lambrequins, once utilized in drafty castles to conserve warmth, are now usually reserved for insides. These highly ornamental versions of cornice boards decorate not only the upper part of a window but the sides also. But like cornice boards, these fashionable window treatments can be utilized together with draperies, wooden blinds or cellular shades to get a layered look.

Have a glimpse at those eight great examples of lambrequins to find out whether this conventional look will fit in your home’s style.

Leland Interiors, LLC

Full-length scalloped. Perfectly symmetrical in layout, these floor-length lambrequins dress up and decorate this very traditional bedroom. The soft top and the side scalloping divert the eye from all of the hard edges of this bedroom. The blinds with tapes would be the background.

Style tip: Coordinate the fabric of your lambrequins to your wall colour so your furniture remains the focus. Let the scalloping of this lembrequins turn into the texture in the room.

Harrison Design

High layout. Perfectly designed, the lambrequins revealed here lie just over the conventional draperies, including a layer of modern flair in addition to conventional design for a stunning look.

Style tip: Use the symmetry of a set of lambrequins to flank any image window. Sometimes more is better than less.

Maureen Rivard Fawcett Design

Uniquely rustic. This very ingenious homeowner utilized a salvaged doorframe to make lambrequins. The framework was cut in two to make a pair which flanks the focal point window.

Style tip: Adding the rustic worn wood of this lambrequins along with the sleek lines of this couch was a risk, but it pays off. Do not be scared to follow a new idea in regards to your own window treatments.

Kirsten Nease Designs

Stepped-inside corners. This matching pair of box-style lambrequins covers the whole sides of the windows and puts an accent on the inner corners using a design.

Style tip: Consider using self-welting (fabric-covered cording) to line the top edge of this lambrequin for added detail. Consider matching the fabric of your lambrequin for your bedspread to get a cohesive space.

Amy of Maison Decor

Half scalloped. This elegant lambrequin travels only halfway down the window, acting as a crown to the paired, one-sided drapery. The ornamental tieback brings to the general elegance.

Style tip: Add fringe to the top of your lambrequin to get additional texture and detailing.

Jerry Jacobs Design, Inc..

Wood. A sculpted wood lambrequin is a spectacular way to add character to a traditional-style room which may be missing its architectural elements. Instead of having your lambrequin covered in fabric, consider painting it. Insert your crown molding to the top for a really finished look.

Style tip: Paint your wooden lambrequin exactly the same colour as your walls for increased drama. Bring more fabric in your room by installing your draperies on the outside of the lambrequin instead of inside.

Traditional. This very formal great room employs an extremely traditional-style lambrequin produced from a tapestry. Heavy layering is the key to achieve this look — first the lambrequin, then a drapery and then sheers.

Style tip: By including a lambrequin and many layers of curtains, you can make the window look larger.

The Interiors Workroom, Inc

Highly sculpted. These highly stylized half-length lambrequins make a decorative statement in this dining room by giving a swag-type layout and feel over the floor-length sheers. The paisley print is a great option here.

Style tip: A great way to tie any window therapy in your space is by matching your fabric with pillows. Small bolsters with accent plaid at a dining room are always sudden and visually appealing.

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We asked you to show us your kitchen remodels, and the outcomes — out of Edwardians to cottages in India and renovations — have been in. All these users wanted a few critical kitchen makeovers, and if they did all the work themselves got a little help along the way, their investments paid in updated spaces that reflect their lifestyle and fashion.

Get motivated to tackle your kitchen remodel with ideas and inspiration out of 24 kitchen transformations out of your fellow ers.

1. Beautiful and Efficient California Remodel

AFTER: user clairedial bought this 1950s house two years ago and remodeled the kitchen right away. Produced by her husband and a friend having a diploma in interior design, the new area is outfitted with each of their must-haves and much more. “We love everything about our remodel,” she states.

New kitchen size:14 by 28 feet
Budget: $65,000. Produced by her husband and a friend who studied interior layout.
Location: Modesto, California

2. Elegant Update in California

AFTER: user mwillis42 built her home in 1990, when flats were frequently black, white and contemporary. About five years ago, she grew sick of it decided to upgrade the countertops with granite. Of course, the appetite for new cabinetry soon followed, but since she’d placed in new countertops (and did not really feel like ripping them out), she found a painter who painted the old cabinetry in a dark cherry color — a much less costly option to refacing.

New kitchen size:roughly 20 by 30 feet
Budget: $17,000. Updates were done by the owners with time.
Location: El Centro, California

3. Colorful Washington Update

AFTER: Colorgal gave a bloated and dark 1970s ranch a facelift with painted cabinetry, a high ceiling and replacements such as unflattering fluorescent light. Stainless Steel appliances, new hardware and splashes of green added color to the cool palette, using wicker accent lighting for extra warmth.

New kitchen size:10 by 10 feet
Budget: $15,000, such as eat-in nook. The homeowners did their own layout.
Location: Kelso, Washington

4. Modern Texas Kitchen

AFTER: user morelights and her husband changed this previously outdated and sunflower-covered kitchen into the modern space she wanted. Glossy black paint covers the oak cabinets granite covers the counter and the island. A gentle blue-gray was chosen for the walls and the island, and a flat slate backsplash and stainless steel accents gave the room a sleek touch.

New kitchen size:14 by 16 feet
Budget: $17,000. The homeowners designed the kitchen and did the job.
Location: Midland, Texas

5. Sweet Massachusetts Lakeside Kitchen

AFTER: “We did not intend for the home to be a entire gut occupation, but it quickly became one,” states user alilly. The moment the preparation began, it became apparent that they would need to start from scratch.

The kitchen has been completely redesigned with quartz counters, a butcher block island and Kraftmade closets. Best of all, the island has been reoriented to confront the beautiful lakeside view outside.

New kitchen size:8 by 11 feet
Budget: The kitchen has been a part of a full home remodel. The owners came up with the layout, and a builder did the CAD drawings.
Location: Otis, Massachusetts

6. Sleek and Modern in Canada

AFTER: This condominium was constructed in 1981 and hadn’t been remodeled until user annabauer chose to take it on. Green wall-to-wall cherry and carpeting blossom subway tile floors were torn up and replaced with sleek hardwood. The very small kitchen, limited by a serve-through countertops, was opened by removing the walls so it tied in with the dining and family rooms.

New kitchen size:9 by 13 feet
Budget: $30,000. A fantastic buddy, Samantha Sacks, did the layout.
Location: Toronto

7. Green and White Remodel in India

AFTER: This kitchen in a small Indian village wasn’t much to speak of initially — the 40-year-old home was rather dilapidated. user srivatsan24 designed the new space himself, focusing on a clean, easy and efficient layout. A local carpenter helped him apply the new look.

New kitchen size: 10 by 12 feet
Budget: Around $4,000. The proprietor did the layout and hired a carpenter to do the woodwork.
Location: Pondicherry, India

8. Broad and Open Utah Layout

AFTER: Built in 1980, shoyal’s new home happened to be the house her husband had grown up in — sadly, it had never been updated. With the help of a great cabinetmaker, they redesigned the distance to be more open and flow easily. A corner wall has been removed, and a French door has been inserted for more mild and outside access.

New kitchen size: 575 square feet
Budget: $40,000. The owners did the design.
Location: Orem, Utah

9. Major Massachusetts Remodel

AFTER: Bonmio’s original kitchen has been unbelievably outdated, to say the very least. There were not any built-in closets in this area — only a dual 4-foot standing sink in a back pantry and a random freestanding hutch. Everything required to be redone, so she installed Ikea countertops that she sanded and stained. The appliances were where she ended up splurging, and she installed easy open plywood shelving for extra storage.

New kitchen size:21 by 7 feet
Budget: $18,000. An architect checked the owners’ layout. They hired a plasterer and a plumber but did everything else.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts

10. Tennessee Ranch Kitchen

AFTER: Although she had been intent on renovating the flat attached to her stable, user prtiris understood she needed to work on a tight budget. Buying salvaged cabinetry and reusing and replacing virtually everything in the original space helped her save some serious cash. Some of the flat’s original cabinetry was used to rebuild and build the island. Leftover poplar planks from the ceiling were painted, waxed, stained and nailed on top of their older cabinetry.

New kitchen size:11 by 12 feet
Budget: This DIY kitchen cost $5,000.
Location: Wild Heart Ranch, Sewanee, Tennessee

11. Simple and Clean New York Space

AFTER: user bpharber wanted a conventional look for her 1950s house, using a clean, contemporary feel. Since she’d lived in her home for eight years and understood its quirks indoors and outside, she decided against hiring a designer and instead worked with a buddy who made cabinetry. The smart cabinet designs gave her room and extra storage without any interior walls being transferred.

New kitchen size: 120 square feet
Budget: $25,000. She did the layout herself gave the drawings to a buddy who owns a custom cabinetry firm.
Location: Buffalo, New York

12. Cozy South Carolina Kitchen

AFTER: After their refrigerator leaked and destroyed their heart-pine floors, Christie Thomas understood it was time for a remodel. It’s about 90 percent completed right now — and precisely what she wanted. “I had no idea how difficult some of the decision making would be,” she states. “I have an appreciation for designers today and can surely see why folks hire them!”

New kitchen size:18 by 21 feet
Budget: $62,000. Thomas did the layout; her husband awakened the kitchen and did the painting. They worked with a cabinetmaker and a builder.
Location: Rock Hill, South Carolina

13. Midcentury California Bungalow

AFTER: This 1945 California bungalow’s kitchen was originally closed off from the rest of the home, with small counter space and virtually no storage. Ten years after moving in, user dragonfly95354 was able to remodel it. Opening up the wall into the living space, replacing counter area and updating cabinetry created to get an outstanding transformation. ” this room makes me happy every time I walk into it,” she states.

New kitchen size:10 by 17 feet
Budget: $40,000. A builder did the remodel.
Location: Modesto, California

14. 1907 San Francisco Kitchen

AFTER: Initially, this 1907 kitchen had an exposed water heater and plumbing, so sharonsf needed a tankless water heater set out to eliminate unsightliness and add square footage. The kitchen’s original stove was kept, and the rest of the kitchen has been completed around it.

New kitchen size:11 by 11 feet
Budget: $20,000 over several years with the Support of a builder
Location: San Francisco

15. Beautiful British Columbia Kitchen

AFTER: This midcentury kitchen had good character but just wasn’t practical for h2bourne’s lifestyle. The initial cabinets were so reduced that microwaves and other appliances could not be set on the counter tops. New upper chimney, quartz countertops and a new wall shade made a major difference. The oak laminate floors were ripped up to expose the original hardwood floors beneath.

New kitchen size:11 by 12 1/2 feet
Budget: Canadian $15,000. Their update was designed by the owners .
Location: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

16. Cabinet Facelift in Virginia

AFTER: This consumer’s original “stick built” custom chimney match the previous style of her 1960s ranch, but she was searching for something somewhat different. To save money, immaggiemae salvaged cabinets once possible by repainting them and incorporating new hardware, setting the money she saved into new appliances and light. She scored a free stove in the kind neighbor.

New kitchen size:13 by 10 feet
Budget: $20,000, working with a builder
Location: Lynchburg, Virginia

17. Modern Layout in the U.K.

AFTER: Initially, tanyae23’s 1935 cottage kitchen was pine, using a washer/dryer, a display cabinet and an awkward half fridge taking up precious space. This section has been knocked down to put more cabinets, a full fridge and a breakfast bar — all while switching up the style to a compact and contemporary look.

New kitchen size: 3.75 by 3.3 meters
Budget: 10,000 British pounds. She did her own design.
Location: Fleet, Hampshire, U.K.

18. Antique Ohio Remodel

AFTER: Although the bones of her 1920 home were great, user julia1362 needed a kitchen upgrade. But she wanted it to seem and feel like it had always been there. The cabinetry has been custom made to match the house’s authentic pantry doors, the poplar countertop was refinished and the pantry cabinets were painted a charcoal gray. New green glass tiles also wallpapered accents finish the look. “We mixed the old with the new and are thrilled with the results,” she states.

New kitchen size: 9 1/2 x 14 1/2 feet
Budget: $50,000. She designed the remodel with the help of a friend who’s an interior designer.
Location: Shaker Heights, Ohio

19. Open and Bright in Manitoba

AFTER: Leslie Kreger purchased this 1968 two-story house in summer 2011 and immediately knew she would have to upgrade the 1990s oak and black granite kitchen. In eight months she reworked the room into a bright and spacious contemporary kitchen.

New kitchen size:12 by 17 feet
Budget: Under $40,000. Kreger designed her own upgrade.
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

20. Vintage and Clean Cape Cod in Georgia

AFTER: This Cape Cod was stuck using its 1980s kitchen, also lizwparks wished to take it in the 21st century. Everything was updated, including new granite countertops and a layout that more than doubled the original storage and counter space. The island has been even outfitted with a concealed docking station for digital gadgets.

New kitchen size:16 by 18 feet
Budget: $40,000. She worked with two painters, Angel Murr of JMT Builders and Terry Crockford of Rosewood Custom Homes.
Location: Milton, Georgia

21. Broad California Remodel

AFTER: “We purchased this home with all the vision of what could be,” states user Pam Garcia. Her old kitchen was small and dark, but she and her husband removed the wall so the new area had a very clear view to the backyard. Reconfiguring the layout allowed them to snag a few unused space from one of their garages to make a walk-in pantry with a wine room in the end.

New kitchen size: 13 by 20 ft)
Budget: The kitchen has been a part of a home made remodel. The owners listened to their own contractor and got assistance from friends in the business.
Location: Novato, California

22. Gorgeous DIY Chicago Kitchen

AFTER: Paulinas bought her first home with her fiancé this past year and renovated it with her dad — saving a great deal of money. The kitchen layout is her own and makes use of every inch of room. The cabinetry was created by her dad, a self-taught woodworker. The couple also got convenient and made the chandelier to the dining room themselves.

New kitchen size: 13 by 9 1/2 feet
Budget: A little over $5,000. Paulinas designed her kitchen with her dad and fiancé
Location: Suburb northwest of Chicago

23. Pretty and Practical Upgrade in Illinois

AFTER: Stlouisgaltoo moved into this 1930s farmhouse a decade ago and could not stand the kitchen’s outdated style. Stuck with a tight budget, she aimed for functionality and installed inventory walnut cabinets, white appliances, laminate counters and wood-style sheet vinyl for simple cleanup.

New kitchen size:12 by 15 feet
Budget: $12,500. She worked with a Home Depot designer and had everything professionally installed except for the cabinets, which her husband worked.
Location: Lincoln, Illinois

24. Frumpy to Contemporary in Washington

AFTER: Although user synergylw was able to make do with a mini makeover of her kitchen a couple of years ago, she understood a full remodel wasn’t much in the future. While she loved the layout, the substances needed an upgrade, so she gutted the entire space, keeping up the layout but replacing the chimney, counters, appliances, backsplash and floors. “From frumpy to state to contemporary contemporary,” she states. “We love it.”

New kitchen size:19 by 14 feet
Budget: $35,000, working with a builder to upgrade the distance using the existing layout.
Location: Ferndale, Washington

Your turn: Did you just complete a kitchen remodel? Please discuss your before and after photos below!

Inspired? See how to remodel your kitchen

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