HGTV Design Blog - Design Happens

Highlights From LEGENDS 2013

by Farima Alavi May 21, 2013 1 Comment

Designers and bloggers alike can agree that LEGENDS is the design event of the West Coast. Held May 8-10 at the La Cienega Design Quarter, the event brought design enthusiasts together for high-profile cocktail parties, book signings, showrooms and more. One of the most popular attractions was the window displays that selected designers created based on the theme, Time Capsule: The Past, Present and Future of Design. Social media ambassadors, Alissa Swedlow of Swedlow Design, Kelly Lee, founder and editor of Kelly Golightly, and Megan Arquette of Megan Arquette Design, give us the scoop on their favorite displays.

Alissa’s favorite display was by Tamara Kaye-Honey of House of Honey at the Waterworks showroom. “I wanted every item in that window to come live with me in my house, including the giant tassel,” she says.

Tamara Kaye-Honey's Window Design

Mary McDonald’s design for Dragonette Ltd. was Megan’s top pick. “Bringing in space travel — which at one time seemed so futuristic — and combining it with classic elements was a fun yet beautiful way to incorporate Mary’s signature style, while keeping with the theme,” Megan says.

Mary McDonald's Window Design

Kelly loved Designer Jeff Andrews’ display at the Downtown showroom because “it was simple, graphic, bold and impactful. Plus, I’m a sucker for black and white,” she says.

Jeff Andrews' Window Design

See More Window Designs

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Daily Delight: Aluminum Foil Craft for the Kiddos

by Grant Dudley May 21, 2013 1 Comment

This aluminum foil craft from Freshly Picked will keep your little ones entertained for hours. It’s super easy, and that’s why I love it! I liken this project to giving a child a box to play with/in — it’s almost too simple to imagine your kiddos will enjoy it so much. Here’s the dealio.

MORE: MARIANNE’S POPULAR WEEKDAY CRAFTERNOON SERIES >>

Grab some aluminum foil and your child’s toy cars. Let him or her press the details of the car into the foil — then, let the kids crush the foil cars demolition derby-style.

Photo From Freshly Picked

So easy and so brilliant, right?

Mood Board Monday: Vintage Summer Inspiration

by Kayla Kitts May 20, 2013 2 Comments

I’ve found myself lost in one too many summer daydreams lately. As soon as warm weather arrives, I start yearning for the sand and water. Unfortunately, I wait and take my beach vacays once the dog days of summer have subsided a bit. When are you packing up and heading to the coast? Try not to make me too jealous.

Come back every Monday for an inspirational mood board. Miss a day? See all the posts here.

Cast Your Vote! Which House Would You Most Want to Live In?

by Alyssa Sparacino May 20, 2013 6 Comments

Imagine you could move into any kind of home: Which of these 11 styles would you choose? A tidy Colonial or a picturesque Victorian? Grand Tudor or cozy Cape Cod? Vote now to pick your favorite. Choose one style only. The numbers correspond with the homes in the image below. We’ll reveal the rankings in the September issue of HGTV Magazine, plus show you more homes currently for sale in the top three styles.

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Daily Delight: Spring Fun With Lawn Bananagrams

by Grant Dudley May 20, 2013 No Comments

Warm weather has arrived and it’s time to get outside. And, why not get out there with a playful version of your favorite game? Larkin from Constantly Lovestruck tells us how her brother took his family’s love of Bananagrams to the lawn.

Photo From Constantly Lovestruck

MORE ON BANANAGRAMS >>

Other Fun Games:
Backyard Games for Summer
Hey Remember Lawn Game
Magnetic/Cling Travel Games

Homemade BBQ Meatballs: A Rainy Day Recipe

by Sarah Herron May 18, 2013 2 Comments

When your cookout gets rained out, making BBQ meatballs is a great backup plan. If you were planning to grill hamburgers, this is one way to repurpose some of your ingredients.

There are several BBQ meatball recipes. This one is from my Aunt Sue, who has spent her life on a beef cattle ranch in Missouri. Believe me when I say, this is the best version. These BBQ meatballs are an easy, party-friendly dish you bake in the oven. It’s a sweet, savory comfort food your guests will love on a rainy day.

Get the Recipe

Happy Hour Happens: Refreshing Memorial Day Cocktails

by Kayla Kitts May 17, 2013 1 Comment

Memorial Day’s late May date has marked the unofficial start of summer for years. Most schools unlock the doors and release students for the year that Friday before. [FREEDOM!] The weather is finally at a solid seasonal temperature. It’s also an unofficial rule that you must spend the day/weekend outdoors. Rain is not tolerated. No matter how you choose to spend your holiday weekend, unwind with these refreshing summer cocktails that will leave you ready for lazy pool days all season long.

Cantaloupe Tea Daiquiri

Memorial Day Cocktail Recipes at HGTV's Design Happens Blog

Ingredients

1 1/2 ounces Numi Emperor’s Pu-erh Tea
1 1/2 ounces Van Gogh Blue Vodka
3 ounces frozen cantaloupe, cubed
1 ounce coconut milk
splash of lemon juice
lemon wedge, for garnish

Directions

Steep tea at four times the normal strength for two minutes, then remove tea bag and chill liquid for later use. Combine and blend ingredients in blender, adding a splash of lemon for each serving. Serve on the rocks and garnish with a lemon wedge.

More Warm-Weather Concoctions

Your Weekend DIY Project: Hanging Mason Jars for Storage

by Alyssa Sparacino May 17, 2013 2 Comments

In the June issue of HGTV Magazine Shannon Quimby showed us her creative kitchen filled with found objects, recycled materials and DIY projects that make it such a unique space.

One of our favorites was this totally doable mason-jar storage idea. “This project originated in my Grandpa Buzz’s workshop, and it always brings a smile to my face when I see his idea now in my own kitchen,” Quimby says.
mason jar diy

The best part about these hanging mason jars is they can work throughout the house as both functional storage and interesting display. Some of Quimby’s suggestions:

Office organizer: Install the jars under bookshelves to store paper clips, erasers, or pens.
In the bathroom: Fill jars with cotton balls, Q-tips and scented soaps, and attach them under a shelf.
Beauty routine: Stop the aimless digging for eyeliner and lip gloss and arrange your makeup in easy to see jars under a vanity or free-standing cabinet.
Show off your collections: Give your keepsakes the attention they deserve and use the mason jars as an inventive display in any room.

Get the look for your own home by following the simple step-by-step guide here.

The Nursery Files: Hanging a Gallery Wall

by Marianne Canada May 17, 2013 3 Comments

Now that we’re closing in on my due date, I’m ready to finish this nursery. The last big project I’m tackling is hanging the eclectic assortment of art I’ve been collecting (and in the case of this monogrammed string art, making) with this space in mind. Hanging a gallery art wall can look overwhelming, but it’s really a snap. Sherry and John over at Young House Love have some great tips for using newspaper templates when hanging a lot of art in a space. In the end, I laid out the artwork on the floor first and then eyeballed it on the wall. I think it turned out pretty great.

How to Hang a Gallery Style Art Wall

I was able to check one more project off my list this week, recovering the glider cushions. If you remember from this post, this glider had great lines but the dingy white cushions had to go. I knew that as soon as I spotted this modern fish-printed fabric that I had found the perfect pattern. My friend Emily’s mom (thank you Teresa!) made slipcovers for the existing cushions and boom! The glider looks brand new for just $30 in fabric costs.

Recovered Nursery Glider

Only a few more last-minute details and then I’m ready to unveil the finished room, not to mention ready to have a baby.

Catch up on The Nursery Files from the beginning:

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Daily Delight: HGTVGardens is at London’s Chelsea Flower Show

by Grant Dudley May 17, 2013 4 Comments

I’m not a jealous person. I mean, come on — it’s a complete waste of your energy to long for something that someone else has. Right? OK, that’s how I usually feel. But then, my good friend Felicia over at HGTVGardens informed me that she’s headed to jolly old London, England next week for The Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show — and, I have to admit, I had a twinge of, “Uh, not fair — I wanna go!” I may have even stomped my foot (no, I really didn’t — OK, maybe I did). Of course, it makes no sense for me to go, but — that’s the thing about jealousy — it rarely ever makes sense.

What is the Chelsea Flower Show? Felicia writes, “What Bonnaroo is to indie rockers, the Oscars to movie stars, and the Venice Biennale to contemporary art fans, the Chelsea Flower Show is to plant people: the most glamorous, most famous, most celebrated garden show in a country known for taking its gardening very, very seriously.”

HGTVGardens Goes to London's Chelsea Flower Show

Image courtesy of Bret Wood

Be sure to keep up with Felicia’s travels to the Chelsea Flower Show as she takes in a bevy of British gardens and shares them with us (or rubs them in our faces, however you like to look at it).