HGTV Design Blog - Design Happens

Daily Delight: Table Top S’mores

by Allie Holcomb June 19, 2013 No Comments

Summer nights make me crave the glow of a bonfire and the mess of a marshmallow-oozing s’more. I even find myself craving that smoky smell that requires three rounds of shampoo to eradicate. Sadly, I have no fire pit to provide these summer delicacies. Thanks to Linen, Lace, & Love, I’ve found a wonderfully adorable replacement. This s’mores bar is perfect for a backyard get-together. Each guest can have their own roasting station – a terra cotta pot lined with tinfoil and light charcoal. Doesn’t this just make you want to throw a s’mores party?

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Tuesday Huesday: Ice Cream-Inspired Kids’ Room Colors

by Liz Gray June 18, 2013 No Comments

It’s summer, and it’s hot. That’s all the reason I need to reach for the ice cream. Kayla, I see your popsicles and raise you this peach-covered ice cream terrine. (Make one for your next dinner party!) Aside from its deliciousness, I love looking at this dessert: the vibrant orange peaches, the bright-green mint and the warm-hued vanilla ice cream.

Orange and Green Kids Room Color Palette

Ice Cream Terrine With Peaches | Orange + Green Kids’ Room

This delicious, bright palette is perfect for a kids’ room without being either too girly or too masculine. Melissa Esplin created this bedroom (on a $0 budget, no less) as a shared space for her baby boy and young daughter. Isn’t it so cheerful? I especially like the Dachshund lamp. And while the bright colors are kid-friendly, they’re universal enough that your child will still love them long after they transition to a big-kid bed.

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Daily Delight: Make a Book Out of Your Kid’s Artwork

by Lili Zarghami June 18, 2013 No Comments

The school year is finally winding down for my kids. Because this has been their first year of school, I’ve kept a significant amount of their artwork that’s come home. I’m hoping to hold onto as much of their 6-year-old sweetness as I can (for when they’re terrible teens who tell me how uncool I am). But since we live in an apartment, I’m acutely aware of how space for these mementos will quickly run out. I thought this coffee table book called Mini Masterpieces designed by Paislee Press might be just the right (neat! ordered! beautiful!) solution to the problem. You upload your little Picasso’s work to the template, mix in some family photos and you’ve got a keepsake that will not shed glitter. And how adorable is the Paislee Press family?

book of your kids art

Designer MacGyver: 5 Fun Wine Glass Crafts

by Allie Holcomb June 17, 2013 2 Comments

Something about sunshine and 90-degree weather makes a cocktail or glass of wine sound that much more appealing. Summer in itself is enough reason to throw a cocktail party, and I’m thinking a girls’ wine night sounds just right. If you’re with me on this sentiment, consider upgrading your stemware. These fabulous wine glass crafts are sure to jazz up your summer party.

These DIY Glitter Wine Glasses are perfect for a glitzy party. What’s not to love about a little glitter?

Stemless wine glasses are optimal for casual summer get-togethers. See how Kristen from MyColor painted these glasses to give them a bright, floral feel.

More Fabulous Wine Glasses

Mood Board Monday: Popsicles

by Kayla Kitts June 17, 2013 1 Comment

I could seriously use one of these frozen treats right about now. For the past four days I’ve been camping on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn. for the 12th annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival. If you’ve ever been to Tennessee in the summer, then you know it’s hot, hot, HOT … especially when air-conditioning is absent. What’s your favorite summer treat? To me, there’s nothing more refreshing on a scorching day than a fruity, chill-inducing popsicle.

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

POPSICLE IDEAS FOUND ON HGTV.COM:

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Daily Delight: Outdoor Dutchtub

by Lili Zarghami June 17, 2013 No Comments

Happy Monday morning, everyone. If your brain isn’t quite ready to jump back into the work week quite yet, take a little mental vacation with me and this portable hot tub. When Briana showed me the Dutchtub® below I let out a gasp and asked, “That’s a hot tub?!” As their site explains, it’s fairly straight-forward and simple: it’s a big bowl of water that’s wood-fired and naturally circulated. Best of all, it’s completely portable. If this is getting back to basics, count me in.
dutchtub outdoor hot tub

Defend the Trend: Have You Moved on From Mason Jars?

by Briana Mowrey June 14, 2013 7 Comments

BRIANA: If you’ve been holding your breath wondering when we were going to get around to Mason jars, stop waiting to exhale. Crafters and design bloggers have turned these practical vessels for food preservation into: vases, chandeliers, planters, cocktail glasses, candy jars, lanterns and the ingenious organizer shown here, amongst other things. But it’s that very versatility that puts the Mason jar in danger of Pinterest over-saturation, no? What are your thoughts on Mason jars and Mason jar crafts? Are they playful or played out?

Have you moved on from mason jars? Vote now on HGTV's Design Happens blog!

Photo: Lincoln Barbour

KELLEY: Considering I have the world’s largest Mason jar on my desk right now (sadly not filled with moonshine, but iced green tea), I’m going to have say I haven’t moved away from the trend. In fact, I’m smack in the middle of it. Though in the South, it was a trend that never went away – the rest of y’all are just catching up. [wink]

Are mason jars playful or played out? Vote now on HGTV's Design Happens blog!

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON MASON JARS? VOTE NOW!

Renovating an 1841 Farmhouse

by Farima Alavi June 14, 2013 4 Comments

You may not know that HGTV.com is based in Knoxville, Tenn. It’s mainly known as Big Orange Country (Go Vols!), but many people don’t realize how beautiful it is around here. The Great Smoky Mountains are very close to the heart of downtown, and the Tennessee River flows right through the city. The surrounding areas boast amazing farmland, including Murphy Springs Farm, a 190-acre farm in Northeast Knoxville. Kevin Murphy, the current resident, walks us through how he renovated his family’s 1841 farmhouse.

Murphy Farmhouse Circa 1890

The house didn’t undergo a significant renovation until 1925, 84 years after Kevin’s great-great-great grandfather, Hugh Murphy, built the house. It was passed down from generation to generation, and was eventually only occupied during the summers from the 1970s until Kevin moved in in 2008.

Present-Day Murphy Farmhouse Present Day Farmhouse

See the Renovations

Attracting Hummingbirds

by Farima Alavi June 14, 2013 No Comments

Aside from the fact that hummingbirds are a joy to watch, these fascinating birds can pollinate flowers that large and small-beaked birds can’t. Plus, they eat many pests that can ruin your garden. So, how exactly do you attract these tiny birds? Our friends at HGTVGardens.com share a couple of tips on how to get them to your yard in little time.

Yarrow Flowerhead

Fill your garden with plants hummingbirds love, like the yarrow. This plant blooms early in the season and can last through mid fall in average to poor soil.

Check Out Other Hummingbird-Friendly Plants>>

Hummingbird

If you’d like to take a different approach, try making a feeder using only white cane sugar, water and food coloring.

Get the Recipe>>

How do you attract hummingbirds?

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Daily Delight: Crystal Blossom Chandelier

by Lili Zarghami June 14, 2013 4 Comments

Yesterday’s New York Times Home section featured the recently renovated brownstone of Beastie Boy, Mike D (also known as Mr. Michael Diamond) and it’s just as cool as you might expect it to be. Aside from their media room “sofa” which I’m pretty sure is an upholstered bed — genius! — the one thing that caught my eye was this chandelier made by Studio Tord Boontje. Maybe you’ve seen his Midsummer Light before? The guy’s good with lights. This Blossom Chandelier is made of Swarovski crystals and lined with LED lights. The effect in Mike D’s dining room is beautiful, natural and elegant. I’d love to see it lit up at night.

tord boontje blossom chandelier