Archive for March, 2010
10-second tip: Oldies but goodies
Antique items add texture to modern spaces. When an old piece seems to be on its last leg, instead of tossing it (and adding to the landfills) or buying new, update it with a fresh coat of colorful paint. Recycling and repurposing can be more than good for the environment, it can be good design! [...]
10-second tip: Get creative with wall covering
Get creative with your wall covering. Try layering an assortment of maps using wallpaper adhesive. It’s a cool new use for old maps and a great trick for camouflaging uneven walls. You can even pay homage to the many road trips you’ve taken … or want to take. More 10-second tips.
10-second tip: One man’s trash
Sometimes garage sale junk can become a gallery-worthy display. You can make a surprisingly cool and cohesive display by painting random decorative objects all one color. Check your attic or garage sales for a hodgepodge of “throw away” items, then unify the collection with color. More 10-second tips.
Mi casa su casa: Backyard
This is the outdoor fountain in the backyard of my house in Los Angeles. I find the sound of bubbling water very relaxing, so this was one of the first improvements I made to the home. The fountain is made of poured concrete, measures 10 x 3 x 2 and kinda looks like a mini-swimming [...]
10-second tip: Be honest with yourself
It’s your house and your space, so build a room’s design around the way YOU live. Be honest with yourself: don’t waste space on a formal dining room, for instance, if everyone likes to eat in the kitchen. Better to use that area for a home office or a den than keep it as a [...]
Mi casa su casa: Bedroom
This is the bedroom in my house in Los Angeles. I just wanted simple, Zen-like pieces to create a relaxing escape. I built the platform bed out of oak, and those are my El Jardin bed linens from Sears on it. Even though the bedroom is part of the second-floor addition, the previous owner took [...]
Mineola says “Move that bus!”
Great crowd today in East Texas as we welcomed the Carr family back and showed them their new home for the first time. Thanks to all the volunteers and the builders for a incredible week of effort and working together. I think these photos show what makes EMHE a pretty special experience for everyone involved.
Mi casa su casa: Living room
This is the living room in my house in Los Angeles and it’s meant to be a super-comfortable space where I can veg out and watch TV. The leather sofa and chairs I bought new, but those crazy sketches are caricatures I drew when I was living in Japan (that seems like a 100 years [...]
Mi casa su casa: Kitchen
This is the kitchen at my house in Los Angeles. I like being able to hang out with friends while I cook – which is not nearly as often as I like. I mean, let’s face it: I travel a lot! Anyway, I like to socialize while I cook, so I made a stainless steel [...]
Mi casa su casa: Dining room
I was digging around for photographs to use with the 10-second tips and ran across pictures from my house in Los Angeles. This is the dining room. It’s a good example of how I like to recycle and how it’s easy to create a place that reflects your style and who you are without breaking [...]
