You Said It: 'The Truth Is in the Details' and More Quotables
Design advice, observations and inspiration that struck a chord this week
Last week was special around Houzz, as we shared Thanksgiving traditions and new ideas, remembered what we were thankful for and busied ourselves getting ready for guests or travel. Now it’s time to digest and relax. It’s a great time of year to hunker in for the winter, delve into projects, remember to be thankful, prepare for the rest of the holiday season and start planning for next year. Here are some notes from this week’s Houzz ideabooks that deserve highlighting.
“While you’re picking up your Christmas tree, consider also grabbing the scrawniest tree in the lot — it would look adorable on the front porch with a simple burlap skirt and a strand or two of twinkle lights.” — Laura Gaskill
Gaskill advises scooping up that Charlie Brown Christmas tree and using it to add some cheer outdoors. I love the idea of giving that overlooked tree a chance to shine on my front stoop.
Full story: 9 Ways to Boost Winter Curb Appeal
Gaskill advises scooping up that Charlie Brown Christmas tree and using it to add some cheer outdoors. I love the idea of giving that overlooked tree a chance to shine on my front stoop.
Full story: 9 Ways to Boost Winter Curb Appeal
How to Make a Natural Holiday Wreath
Full story: Holiday Decorating: Natural Looks From Down Under
- Twist about five pieces of grapevine or ivy and weave them in and out to create a round shape.
- Secure the vine ends with twine or ribbon.
- Weave flowers, leaves, nuts, pinecones, holly and ribbon in and out to cover the vine base; make the look as full as desired. Tie pieces on with twine or ribbon.
- Tie decorations to the top of the wreath with ribbon, so that they hang into the center. Personalize the wreath with ribbon, ornaments, figurines, ceramic or paper gift tags, or a chalkboard for messages. — Jeni Lee
Full story: Holiday Decorating: Natural Looks From Down Under
Speaking of wreaths, here’s how to hang them …
“For anchoring something on a brick or concrete surface, I like to use Tapcon screws. You can also buy a Tapcon masonry drill bit to match.” — Clark Harris
OK, I’m going to admit it. This ideabook really annoys me. A lot. Why? Because it was the second one my brother ever wrote, and it got 1,000 Facebook likes almost instantly, and my mom loved to call me and say, “Did you see how many likes your brother got?” I mean, I’m supposed to be the writer, and he’s supposed to be the builder, and here I am toiling away at Houzz for years and never getting 1,000 Facebook likes, and my little brother sails in and does it with some ideabook about screwing into bricks or something. Seriously?
Well, I hate to admit it, but it’s a really useful ideabook. Congrats, Clark.
Full story: A Contractor’s Secrets to Hanging Holiday Decor
“For anchoring something on a brick or concrete surface, I like to use Tapcon screws. You can also buy a Tapcon masonry drill bit to match.” — Clark Harris
OK, I’m going to admit it. This ideabook really annoys me. A lot. Why? Because it was the second one my brother ever wrote, and it got 1,000 Facebook likes almost instantly, and my mom loved to call me and say, “Did you see how many likes your brother got?” I mean, I’m supposed to be the writer, and he’s supposed to be the builder, and here I am toiling away at Houzz for years and never getting 1,000 Facebook likes, and my little brother sails in and does it with some ideabook about screwing into bricks or something. Seriously?
Well, I hate to admit it, but it’s a really useful ideabook. Congrats, Clark.
Full story: A Contractor’s Secrets to Hanging Holiday Decor
“If there’s any one sweeping statement that can be made about the green building industry, it’s that the truth is in the details.” — Mariana Pickering
Green technology and standards are changing every day. Honestly, it’s impossible to stay completely on top of them, but what you can do is try. Get started by bookmarking Pickering’s ideabook so that when the time comes, you’ll have good, solid guidelines for being as green as possible and not being fooled by greenwashing.
Full story: How to Start Finding a Greener Home
Green technology and standards are changing every day. Honestly, it’s impossible to stay completely on top of them, but what you can do is try. Get started by bookmarking Pickering’s ideabook so that when the time comes, you’ll have good, solid guidelines for being as green as possible and not being fooled by greenwashing.
Full story: How to Start Finding a Greener Home
“Not sure if someone else will want the photos you’re purging? Ask and then pass them on right away, rather than storing them any longer.” — Jennifer Phelps
Even though most people’s photos take up storage space in computers, the piles of photographic prints persist. Phelps’ ideabook helps us appreciate and protect the good ones, while cutting down on the clutter caused by photos no one cares about.
Full story: Help for Whittling Down the Photo Pile
Even though most people’s photos take up storage space in computers, the piles of photographic prints persist. Phelps’ ideabook helps us appreciate and protect the good ones, while cutting down on the clutter caused by photos no one cares about.
Full story: Help for Whittling Down the Photo Pile
“Drive through the Mojave, Sonoran or Chihuahuan deserts and you will see the graceful canes of ocotillos stretching up toward the desert sky.” — Noelle Johnson
I love an ideabook that takes me to a place I’ve never been. This plant is completely foreign to me,
and I loved learning more about it.
Full story: Great Design Plant: Ocotillo for High-Reaching Flair
I love an ideabook that takes me to a place I’ve never been. This plant is completely foreign to me,
and I loved learning more about it.
Full story: Great Design Plant: Ocotillo for High-Reaching Flair
“There’s nothing like stepping into your future shower to help you understand exactly where you want the controls and showerhead. If you can, try to measure these out where you are currently showering (elsewhere in your home or at a rental), so they can be placed at the right height during rough-in plumbing.” — Anne Higuera
Higuera’s ideabook is full of great advice that will save you all sorts of money and frustration when you’re renovating. This is another one that deserves a bookmark.
Full Story: Must-See Mock-Ups for Your Remodel
Higuera’s ideabook is full of great advice that will save you all sorts of money and frustration when you’re renovating. This is another one that deserves a bookmark.
Full Story: Must-See Mock-Ups for Your Remodel
“Give yourself flowers. Do you ever buy flowers just for you? Not to fill a space on the dining table or spruce up the living room when company is coming, but to place in your bedroom where you can see them first thing in the morning?” — Laura Gaskill
I couldn’t agree more. Explore the principles of feng shui or wabi-sabi all you want, but nothing makes me happier than a sweet bouquet I can see right before I fall asleep and first thing in the morning.
Full story: Simple Pleasures: The Morning Primp
I couldn’t agree more. Explore the principles of feng shui or wabi-sabi all you want, but nothing makes me happier than a sweet bouquet I can see right before I fall asleep and first thing in the morning.
Full story: Simple Pleasures: The Morning Primp
“The photos are spectacular.” — Colangelo Associates Architects (in the Comments section)
I didn’t mention this in the ideabook, but architect Dan Nelson admitted to being worried on photo-shoot day — when he and photographer Lucas Henning arrived at the farm, the fog was so thick that they couldn’t even see the house. However, the weather conditions mixed with Henning’s skill had an absolutely magical effect on the photographs; they are ethereal.
Full story: Houzz Tour: Rugged Charm for a Washington Farmhouse
I didn’t mention this in the ideabook, but architect Dan Nelson admitted to being worried on photo-shoot day — when he and photographer Lucas Henning arrived at the farm, the fog was so thick that they couldn’t even see the house. However, the weather conditions mixed with Henning’s skill had an absolutely magical effect on the photographs; they are ethereal.
Full story: Houzz Tour: Rugged Charm for a Washington Farmhouse
Hodgson explains that on Thanksgiving, her friend’s family reads these little blessings and then pastes them into a scrapbook to remember all of the great things that happened that year. Now that Thanksgiving has passed, it’s a great time to practice being grateful throughout the year.
Full story: A Thanksgiving Tradition to Last the Whole Year