You Said It: 'If You Do Nothing Else ... Clean Your Gutters,' and More
Design advice, observations and inspiration that struck a chord this week
Becky Harris
November 16, 2013
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia.
Houzz Contributor. Hi there! I live in a 1940s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe... More
Rounding up just a fraction of all the great quotations I read on Houzz each week is such a joy. It gives me an excuse to carefully read all the stories and file them away for future inspiration and help around my own home. Houzz stories this week reminded me to call John the lawn guy to come clean out the gutters, told a tale of newlyweds building a dream, gave me great advice for solving a design dilemma and made a Julie Andrews song run through my head. Here are 10 that made a lightbulb go off, made me chuckle or warmed my heart. Please add any that struck a chord with you in the Comments section.
"In the Central European Advent tradition, Krampus punishes bad children while St. Nicholas rewards good ones." — Mitchell Parker
What? Where to begin? This photo is worth a million words. Krampus? I'd never heard of him, but hey, Central Europe, that's a really intense way to get kids to be nice over naughty, so kudos.
There's so much that cracks me up about this photo by Klaus Pichler (and the rest in Parker's story), but most of all is that the dog is completely nonplussed and curled up at Krampus's feet like he's waiting for some scone scraps.
Full story: The Unicorn in the Bathtub and Other Mind-Blowing Sights
What? Where to begin? This photo is worth a million words. Krampus? I'd never heard of him, but hey, Central Europe, that's a really intense way to get kids to be nice over naughty, so kudos.
There's so much that cracks me up about this photo by Klaus Pichler (and the rest in Parker's story), but most of all is that the dog is completely nonplussed and curled up at Krampus's feet like he's waiting for some scone scraps.
Full story: The Unicorn in the Bathtub and Other Mind-Blowing Sights
"Lilah Horwitz and Nick Olson never imagined that a napkin sketch from one of their first dates would one day become a reality." — Vanessa Brunner
Now that's the first sentence of a story I want to read. It grabbed my attention just as much as the photograph did.
Full story: The Glass Walled Cabin That Romance Built
Now that's the first sentence of a story I want to read. It grabbed my attention just as much as the photograph did.
Full story: The Glass Walled Cabin That Romance Built
"Nick's man-cave bar has Gritty's Halloween Ale on tap and his bourbon collection on display." — Mary Prince
She had me at "Gritty's Halloween Ale." Couples have to compromise so much when designing, it's important that everyone has a special space that reflects individual tastes. Nick's also includes a really neat backsplash fashioned from a Ford. Besides all of the photos in the first story I mentioned, this one was one of my favorites this week.
Full story: My Houzz: Easygoing Elegance for a Massachusetts Saltbox
She had me at "Gritty's Halloween Ale." Couples have to compromise so much when designing, it's important that everyone has a special space that reflects individual tastes. Nick's also includes a really neat backsplash fashioned from a Ford. Besides all of the photos in the first story I mentioned, this one was one of my favorites this week.
Full story: My Houzz: Easygoing Elegance for a Massachusetts Saltbox
"You don't need tons of money to make a space your own and beautiful." — aislinnchristian (in the Comments section)
Houzzers, please keep this in mind as you peruse Houzz. I'll be helping you transform Houzz envy into inspiration room by room each week.
Full story: The Cure for Houzz Envy: Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do
Houzzers, please keep this in mind as you peruse Houzz. I'll be helping you transform Houzz envy into inspiration room by room each week.
Full story: The Cure for Houzz Envy: Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do
"Another trick that works well for asymmetrical windows: Partially overlap the windows with wall-to-wall drapes to reveal only what you want. No one can tell if these windows are asymmetrical or not." — Judith Taylor
If asymmetry is throwing you off balance, you can fake it without a massive construction project. Taylor's story is full of great ideas for how to handle funkadoo windows with style.
Full story: How to Work With Awkward Windows
If asymmetry is throwing you off balance, you can fake it without a massive construction project. Taylor's story is full of great ideas for how to handle funkadoo windows with style.
Full story: How to Work With Awkward Windows
"If you do nothing else in fall to get ready for winter, clean your gutters." — Kenny Grono
It's time to get practical about battening down the hatches and making sure your home withstands the winter without any damage. Spending money on this stuff is not fun, but it will save you loads of aggravation and dollars down the road. Grono's story is one you shouldn't miss.
Full story: Protect Your House From Winter Water Damage
It's time to get practical about battening down the hatches and making sure your home withstands the winter without any damage. Spending money on this stuff is not fun, but it will save you loads of aggravation and dollars down the road. Grono's story is one you shouldn't miss.
Full story: Protect Your House From Winter Water Damage
"If you feel overwhelmed by the countertop and backsplash options, try focusing on countertop selection first." — Jennifer Ott
With kitchens it is very tricky to know where to start. I'm with Ott; the counter is really the pièce de résistance in the kitchen. Fall in love with it first and then work everything else around it.
Full story: Countertop + Backsplash: Making the Perfect Match
With kitchens it is very tricky to know where to start. I'm with Ott; the counter is really the pièce de résistance in the kitchen. Fall in love with it first and then work everything else around it.
Full story: Countertop + Backsplash: Making the Perfect Match
"What could be more classically Christmasy than brown paper packages tied up with string?" — Laura Gaskill
Indeed, these are a few of my favorite things. Gift wrap has become so elaborate, it can be overwhelming, time consuming and expensive. Go back to the basics; this combo is easy on the budget and hard to mess up.
Full story: Budget Decorator: Easy Holiday Decorations
Indeed, these are a few of my favorite things. Gift wrap has become so elaborate, it can be overwhelming, time consuming and expensive. Go back to the basics; this combo is easy on the budget and hard to mess up.
Full story: Budget Decorator: Easy Holiday Decorations
"We couldn't live without books ... they are piled up in every corner of every room on every floor. Same goes with musical instruments ... they're all accessible to the girls all the time." — Andrea Cardinal
There's a balance between decluttering and livability. Perfectly styled photos often don't reflect the way we really live, or family priorities. Seeing this family's love of reading and playing music on display warmed my heart.
Full story: My Houzz: Cheery, Playful and Collected in Ohio
There's a balance between decluttering and livability. Perfectly styled photos often don't reflect the way we really live, or family priorities. Seeing this family's love of reading and playing music on display warmed my heart.
Full story: My Houzz: Cheery, Playful and Collected in Ohio
"Moloney-Grelli suggests having your water and tea leaves as close to your heat source as possible to reduce early-morning effort and accidents with scalding water." — Tiffani Carboni
The worst part of my day are the minutes in between having to get out of bed and trying to get that coffee brewing. The lack of caffeine in my system makes it that much more difficult, but Carboni's article is full of tips for how to make that dreaded precaffeine time in the morning easier and safer.
Full story: Hot Ideas and Tips for Coffee and Tea Stations
This is just a small sample of all the great stuff I picked up on Houzz this week. Did a line, piece of advice or comment on Houzz stick with you? Please share it with us in the Comments section.
The worst part of my day are the minutes in between having to get out of bed and trying to get that coffee brewing. The lack of caffeine in my system makes it that much more difficult, but Carboni's article is full of tips for how to make that dreaded precaffeine time in the morning easier and safer.
Full story: Hot Ideas and Tips for Coffee and Tea Stations
This is just a small sample of all the great stuff I picked up on Houzz this week. Did a line, piece of advice or comment on Houzz stick with you? Please share it with us in the Comments section.
Related Stories
Organizing
How to Create a Joyful, Clutter-Free Home Office
Follow these steps to get rid of the paper piles and make room for beauty and better organization
Full Story
Remodeling Guides
15 Ways to Create Separation in an Open Floor Plan
By tidgboutique
Use these pro tips to minimize noise, delineate space and establish personal boundaries in an open layout
Full Story
White
Design Pros Share 10 Favorite Creamy White Paints
By Becky Harris
These off-white color choices include versatile tones, warming hues and pleasingly soft shades
Full Story
Entryways
4 Designer Tips for a Fashionable Entry
By tidgboutique
A pro shows how adding color, statement pieces and more to a foyer can set the right tone for the rest of the home
Full Story
Most Popular
7 Major Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
By tidgboutique
Gain confidence to start your interior design project with this advice from a professional designer
Full Story
Living Rooms
4 Must-Have Features for a Small Living Room
By tidgboutique
A designer shares important ways to live large in a tight space and make it look stylish
Full Story
Most Popular
7 Common Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
Pros share solutions to design problems they often find in people’s living spaces
Full Story
Most Popular
How to Decorate a Living Room
By tidgboutique
A designer offers tips for creating a comfortable space that reflects your style
Full Story
Budget Decorating
Where to Splurge and Where to Save When Decorating
By tidgboutique
See where it makes sense to invest in durable essentials and focal pieces, and where to economize on other things
Full Story
Lighting
Pro Tips for Lighting 10 Rooms and Outdoor Areas
Get professional advice for lighting your kitchen, bathroom, living room, office, patio and more
Full Story
Amen, amen, amen. Pretty boring--and absolutely necessary. Just like changing the oil in your car.
Cleaning out the gutters is probably one of the last things I think about when it comes to preparing for winter. Although that's going to have to change since it'll save me from aggravation and dollars down the road. Sometimes I'm amazed how simple tasks like these can prevent big problems from occurring. http://fibergutter.com/products.html