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Best/Worst With Sherry of Young House Love

by Liz Gray November 5, 2012 6 Comments

This is the first post in a new occasional series where we ask our favorite design lovers for a peek at the spot they love the most in their home…and the spot they’re dying to change.

Five years ago, John and Sherry Petersik started a blog (just meant for friends and family) to chronicle their first big remodeling project: the kitchen they DIYed in their first home. More than 2,000 posts and millions of fans later, the couple behind Young House Love has completely remodeled one house, moved on to a second one, added a daughter to their family and found time to write a brand new book filled with more than 200 simple decorating projects. (Check back here later this week for a review of their book, Young House Love, and a sneak peek at some favorite projects.)

Young House Love's Sherry, John and Clara

Sherry and John Petersik with daughter Clara and dog Burger

One thing I’ve always appreciated about Young House Love is that Sherry and John don’t just show you the perfectly-styled “after” photos. Remember the kitchen project that got them started? Sure, they wrote about the big reveal, but they also chronicled an epic pipe clog at the coming out party for said kitchen. (For those following along: They fixed it with lots of boiling water.) So it’s only fitting that Sherry was happy to share her favorite (and least favorite) spots in their current house.

See Sherry’s Best/Worst Picks

Featured

Superstorm #Sandy on Twitter

by Sarah Herron October 30, 2012 3 Comments

Social media brings us together as one big community, no matter where we live. Like millions of others, several members of our HGTV family have been impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

Many have kept us posted on Twitter:

Photo by Genevieve Gorder

Our thoughts are with those who have lost their homes, as well as the millions who are without power and others who are bracing for more severe weather.

There are many ways to help our neighbors throughout the country, like texting REDCROSS, 90999 to make a $10 donation or visiting http://redcross.org.

Let us know how you’re reaching out to help.

Texture Trends at High Point Market

by Kayla Kitts October 29, 2012 5 Comments

This was my first venture to High Point Furniture Market and I was truly in design Heaven. (It’s like Disney World for design nerds!) With more than 2,000 exhibitors and tens of thousands of new product introductions to try to see in four days, I was wide-eyed and soaking up as much design as I could with my coffee in hand. My goal for the week was to focus on texture trends from showroom to showroom, and that certainly wasn’t hard to find. As soon as I entered InterHall, the “main” hall at Market, rope started popping up everywhere, and I noticed it most often on light fixtures. Other natural materials like burlap, grasscloth, linen, bamboo, sisal, jute and rattan were also seen, but surprisingly, these materials don’t come off coastal or rustic. Most often, these organic textures were mixed with metals, minerals or metallics for a glamorous, modern look that appears well-matched yet unexpected.

Read on to see other texture trends I spotted around High Point Market, then find out how you can incorporate them into your home.

ROPE:

High Point Market Rope Trend Alec Chandelier, Metal and Rope/Noir :: Glass Lantern With Rope/Arteriors Home :: Coastal-Inspired Wall Art/Design Legacy :: Square Chandelier/Steven Shell

Get the Look >>

“Balance is always the key when it comes to design. Luckily, a lot of the natural elements I saw at High Point avoided being too ‘literal’ with their designs. There was a lot of mixing woods with metal, glass and leathers to keep it current. I would suggest the same for your interior; don’t go overboard with the new trend, but mix them in with your current pieces in order to add in the texture and natural elements in your own space.” — Britany Simon, Britany Simon Design, Design Star Season 7 Contestant

“Of course, you can envision a rope chandelier or a driftwood centerpiece in a country cottage or seaside home and they look amazing. But often those products manage to make even the most glamorous space a bit more relaxed, casual and fun. It’s less perfect and more modest which makes the space that much more chic! No one wants matchy-matchy; everyone wants interesting and perhaps a bit eclectic. The contrast, which is easy to achieve by adding humble textures to a luxurious interior, is almost more exciting than using an earthy material in a place where you would expect it.” — Traci Zeller, Traci Zeller Designs, High Point 2012 Style Spotter

More Texture Trends From High Point Market

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Starting From Scratch: Kyle Schuneman’s First Apartment Tips

by Liz Gray October 11, 2012 14 Comments

From the discount futon and pinned-up Salvador Dali poster, to the loosely Eastern-themed bedroom, I have to admit I was pretty proud of my first post-dorm apartment. Looking back, it was kind of a disaster. If you’re just getting the keys to your first place, you don’t have to be like me. Designer Kyle Schuneman‘s book, The First Apartment Book: Cool Design for Small Spaces, shows you how people across the country created beautiful, functional spaces on a budget — and includes easy projects so you can live stylishly, too.

Kyle Schuneman - The First Apartment Small Space Design Ideas

Designer Kyle Schuneman

The book gives you a peek inside 10 very different first apartments, from an art lover’s teeny-tiny NYC pad to a Bohemian attic apartment in Atlanta. Each makeover includes how-to projects to help you get the look, like wall stencils, DIY headboards and ridiculously cute succulent book planters.

Make Your Own: Get the Full How-To for the Succulent Book Planters

Succulent book planters from The First Apartment Book.

“I wanted to do this book because I’m fascinated by how people live,” Kyle says. “Sometimes people don’t want to invite designers over because they’re worried about us judging their spaces. I’d rather make a statement and have you not like it than be ho-hum about it, because I think that life is too short.” That’s why he filled his 700-square-foot first apartment slash office with carefully-curated pieces he loved, like a live-edge coffee table and textural, menswear-inspired accessories, all on a tiny budget. He also disguised what he didn’t love, like the heater hidden behind the faux bois wallpaper panel. Read on to get his tips on creating a space that speaks to your style — completely from scratch.

Kyle Schuneman's Los Angeles apartment living room.

Daily Delight: Swing Table

by Kayla Kitts October 9, 2012 11 Comments

My first thought when I saw the Swing Table was: “Why didn’t I think of that?!” My second thought: “I need one.” Designer Christopher Duffy just made dinnertime, boardroom meetings, casual around-the-table conversation and morning coffee much more exciting with his conception of the Swing Table. This four-poster table uses its steel structure to suspend eight hanging chairs and a GEO lampshade in the center. His idea is to create a room within a room, allowing the chairs to float playfully around the table. It’s like an indoor swing set for adults!

Duffy Swing by Christopher Duffy

via Design Milk

What do you think about this playful table? Would you put it in your home?

Save the Date With Love vs. Design + Max Wanger

by Kayla Kitts October 6, 2012 4 Comments

So, I don’t have a ring on my finger (yet), but naturally, I swoon over all things wedding related. Currently, I’ve been obsessing over these unique one-of-a-kind wedding stationary designs from Love vs. Design. On Monday, Love vs. Design launched their latest photo save the date collaboration with photographer Max Wanger. Love vs. Design’s Jen and Floris Gierman spent several months brainstorming with Max on ways to incorporate his whimsical photography into wedding stationary. Together, they created 16 gorgeous and elegant save-the-date postcard designs to feature on the site. I’ve already picked out four of my favorites from the collection:

Love vs Design: Save the Date Ideas Gelato

Love vs Design: Save the Date Ideas Sparkling

Love vs Design: Save the Date Ideas Somewhere

Love vs Design: Save the Date Ideas Greetings From…

Swoon!

The ordering process is easy, and everything can be customized, from the font and size to the wording and language. And, of course, you can change the photograph to you and your loved one! See how the process works >>

Is your big day coming up? Head over to Love vs. Design to complete your wedding stationary to-do list: save the dates, invitations, response cards, programs, menus, place cards, thank you cards and more!

Daily Delight: Fun Socks

by Grant Dudley October 4, 2012 11 Comments

I don’t mean to brag, but I have an amazing dress sock collection. Ah-may-zing! I get the biggest rush when I am able to match wild and fun socks with whatever I’m wearing to the office that day. My motto is: “All business upstairs, but a party downstairs!”

For my recent birthday, I received some spectacular socks (thanks, Mom). Just look!

Fun Socks

Jealous of my collection? Don’t be! You too can have some fun socks! My go-to sock spots are: The Joy of Socks, Sock it to Me, Absolute Socks and Bold Socks.

And if you’re curious — yes, I every now and then must go boring and wear ho-hum blue, black or brown socks. I was in a wedding recently and wore the standard black — I feared my socks may take attention off the bride.

What say you? Guys, are you bold enough to throw some flair on your feet? Ladies, think the man in your life would appreciate a pair of wild socks?

HGTV Home Studio Presents Modern Wallcoverings + the Eames Chair

by Kayla Kitts September 29, 2012 4 Comments

Every three months, those of us that work at HGTV Headquarters are lucky enough to see the beautiful design vignettes created by the HGTV Home Studio interns as their final project before returning home. Over the summer, Savannah College of Art and Design students Rachel Kelly and Justin DiPiero worked closely with design experts and HGTV professionals, including Vern Yip, to create a unique concept to represent both current and iconic design trends that could ultimately live right here on the second floor of our building. What did they come up with? Find out!

HGTV Home Studio Interns Justin DiPiero and Rachel Kelly

The Eames Chair:

HGTV Home Studio Display - Eames Chair

Kayla Kitts: Why the Eames chair? What was your inspiration for choosing this iconic piece above anything else?

Justin DiPiero: Well, even if you don’t know Eames chairs, you actually do know them on a subconscious level. After working with Vern, he suggested that I expand upon something well-known and shed some light on the piece and the people that designed it: Ray and Charles Eames.

KK: Was there ever a period of time since its production where the Eames has been absent from design?

JD: No, never. It’s been in production since 1948, and you can find it in schools, churches, homes and restaurants. This is what makes it so iconic!

HGTV Home Studio Display - Eames Chair “Their clean, simple forms cradle the body. Today’s chairs are authentic, original design updated with eco-friendly materials and manfacturing and a large selection of base, shell and color combinations.” – from Herman Miller

KK: If you had to pick, what’s your favorite design setting for the Eames chair?

JD: Oh, that’s tough! It’s extremely versatile. It can go anywhere. It can be paired with an ethnic woven rug on wood floors (above). You can use it anywhere you want to — it’s a chameleon! But if I have to choose, I prefer the model with wooden legs. Or the gold-leafed seat with metal legs. (That’s my favorite, too! – KK)

See More Eames Chairs + Modern Wallcoverings

Daily Delight: Designer Shoes on a Budget

by Kayla Kitts September 13, 2012 8 Comments

First, let me start you off with two quotes:

“Men I may not know, but shoes, shoes I know.” – Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City
“The best way to a woman’s heart is through her sole.” – Anonymous

So true, so true. I love shoes in every style, shape and color. (My desktop background is even an image of vintage shoes from Designlovefest.) And each week or two when I add a new pair to my tiny closet, I imagine I’ll one day have my dream Carrie Bradshaw closet to display each and every one. With the DIY trend spreading into the fashion world, I may need that extra-large closet sooner than I thought.

DIY Designer Shoes - Burberry Burberry-Inspired Embellished Heels

Recently, fashionistas on a budget started buying regular heels and giving them a handmade touch with paint or embellishments to turn them into designer favorites for much, much less. Check out some of the best DIY designer-inspired heels we’ve found on the web.

More DIY Designer-Inspired Heels

Halloween Costumes for Dogs

by H. Camille Smith September 12, 2012 14 Comments

One of the really great things about my job is the chance to preview new products before they make it to stores. Usually it’s a candle or pillow but every now and again it’s something unexpected but totally fun — like these pet costumes from Target!

While I don’t exactly plan on taking my pups trick-or-treating, I couldn’t resist dressing them up for fun. Target’s expanded their already (super!) adorable selection for 2012 so if you haven’t considered decking out your dog before – this may be the year.

Here’s my little girl, Sophie, modeling one of the new costumes that just hit the shelves. She’s a 3-year old Schnoodle (Schnauzer/Poodle) and, as you can tell, she’s pretty jazzed to be mommy’s little piggy: Sophie in her pig Halloween costume