HGTV Design Blog - Design Happens

Renovating an 1841 Farmhouse

by Farima Alavi June 14, 2013 5 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

Inside the July/August Issue of HGTV Magazine

by Alyssa Sparacino June 13, 2013 No Comments

The severe weather we’ve been having might confuse you, but we promise, summer really is right around the corner (June 21 to be exact). Inside the July/August issue of HGTV Magazine the season is in full bloom with tons of ideas on how to make over your outdoor space, bring the feel of the coast inside, and make everyone’s favorite warm-weather treat — ice cream — even more fun.

July August issue

If you’re one of our savvy subscribers, today is your lucky day — the latest issue may be at your door now. It hits newsstands for everyone else on June 18. Here’s a little taste of what you can expect to find inside our pages this month.

Whether you have a large back deck like this couple from Wilmington, NC, or just a simple side porch, there are loads of fun, bright, cozy ways you can make any outdoor space feel like an extension of your home. So don’t neglect your porch, patio, or deck: Steal the cool new and reused ideas featured here.

bright back deck

One family home near Marblehead Harbor, MA shows how you can bring the serenity of the coast indoors with cool ways to beach-up decor. But the truth is, these ideas work even if you’re landlocked. Who needs a vacation when you’ve got the calm of the shore all around you? Okay…we’d still need a vacation.

beach-decor

Always on the hunt for new decorating, remodeling, DIY-ing ideas? So are about 100,000 people who visit the home-improvement blog Young House Love each day. The couple behind the screen started their humble makeover journey and has since chronicled nearly every step on the web. Check out their handiwork before they do it all again in a new, bigger home.
young-house-office

Web exclusives and more from HGTV Magazine

Tell us, what are you loving about this latest issue? What is your favorite section of the magazine? What do you want to see more of? We’re listening.

Answer to “Decorate This Space: Pick the Right Curtains”

by Farima Alavi June 13, 2013 No Comments

You guessed correctly if you chose option A. The raspberry-colored damask pattern on the curtains adds drama to this Paris-inspired girl’s bedroom.

Pink Girl's Bedroom

We randomly chose one person from the comments, and ReddingPatti is the winner of this month’s issue of HGTV magazine and a glass terrarium from West Elm. Congrats!

Check back next Wednesday to decorate a new space.

Get the HGTV Folio App for iPad

by Beth Rucker June 13, 2013 7 Comments

Well, hello D-Happ fans! I don’t believe we’ve met. My name is Beth, and I’m the editor responsible for HGTV’s growing collection of mobile apps. I’ll be checking in here regularly with updates about all the HGTV goodness you can find on your iPad, iPhone and (coming soon) Android devices as well as information about how you can integrate technology into your home.

I figured I’d kick my first post off with a BIG announcement. The mobile team here at HGTV today launched a brand new iPad app, HGTV Folio. And I might be a bit biased, but I think this one’s a beauty.

HGTV Folio landing screen
HGTV Folio is your source for gorgeous home interior photography. You’ll find photos of rooms designed by HGTV hosts, like the Property Brothers, Kitchen Cousins, Emily Henderson, and photography from the HGTV Dream Home, Smart Home and Urban Oasis. You’ll also see work by professional designers from around the country and the current lineup of HGTV Star contestants.

Easy, Handmade Father’s Day Gift Ideas

by Farima Alavi June 13, 2013 2 Comments

Father’s Day is just around the corner — this Sunday to be exact. Do you have a gift for your favorite guy yet? Personally, I find it hard to get a gift for my dad. He’s the tech type and we all know how expensive that can get. This year, I’ve decided to give the gift of food because that’s what guys — even the picky ones — really want, right?

Our slew of great, easy Father’s Day recipes and cocktails will surely please Dad. You can start his day off right with a Tex-Mex style breakfast in bed, or add his favorite brew to cheese dip or even a cupcake! And after he’s full and happy, he can wind his day down with a nice, cold cocktail.

Beer Cheese Dip

Get More Father’s Day Ideas

5 DIY Driftwood Crafts

by Allie Holcomb June 13, 2013 5 Comments

If you read my last post, you know I’ve been daydreaming of an exotic vacation. But — since I won’t be travelling to a gorgeous beach anytime soon, I’m thinking I’ll bring the beach to me. I love coastal decor, and I love budget-friendly decor even more. That’s why I’m going crazy over these driftwood crafts. If you’re lucky enough to be heading to the beach soon, stroll the shores for pretty pieces of driftwood. If not, try your nearest lake for some driftwood and simply pretend your fabulous finds are from a beachy shoreline.

I absolutely adore this colorful driftwood key hanger. Drift on over to Free People’s blog to see how it’s made.

This beautiful Herringbone Driftwood Table is for the heavy-duty DIYers. Although Sarah’s tutorial includes quite a few steps, the end product is totally worth the work.

More Driftwood Crafts

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Daily Delight: Father’s Day Art

by Lili Zarghami June 13, 2013 1 Comment

A friend of mine was just bemoaning the lack of diversity in Father’s Day cards. If your dad (or the father of your children) doesn’t fall into the barbecuing, golfing, remote-control-loving category, it can be tough to find a card or a gift for him for Father’s Day that seems appropriate. My dad and my husband — and I suspect a lot of other dads out there — are hard to shop for because of their “outlier” status. Something like this wall art from Etsy user RedWallStudio might be just the thing, though. Because no matter his taste, chances are you feel just this way about your dad:

Photo: RedWallStudio

Home Survival Skills: 15 Totally Cool Uses For Beer

by Jessica Yonker June 12, 2013 No Comments

When I overheard Adventures in Antiquing extraordinaire Camille gave conditioning her hair with beer a try, my first thought was probably similar to what you’re thinking right now: Whaaaat?

As it turns out, your favorite brew may have more uses than just cooling you off after a long day. And with Father’s Day right around the corner and the first official day of summer close behind, you’re bound to have a couple of extra cans of beer hanging around. Just don’t use Dad’s rare, imported stout on your hair or you might have to double up on the Father’s Day gifts this year.

How to Plant a Beer Garden | HGTVGardens.com

How to Plant a Beer Garden | 5 Unbelievable Bottle Cap Crafts

1. Condition your hair. The natural sugars, B vitamins and protein found in beer can give your hair body and shine. Wash your hair as usual, then pour half a can of a warm, flat beer into your hair. Wrap your hair with a towel and wait 10 minutes. For a deep, spa-style condition, carefully heat the towel with hot water before wrapping. Rinse with a cup of apple cider vinegar (didn’t I tell you vinegar was useful?) and water.

2. Take a bath. If you’re already washing your hair with beer, why don’t you just go the extra mile and bathe in it? Add a can of beer to your next bath to create a skin-nourishing soak. Make sure to rinse off well before getting out of the tub.

3. Sleep better. Hops, a staple ingredient in most beers, is said to have properties that help you sleep. If you’ve got hops growing in your garden, try filling a sachet with the dried leaves and tossing it into the washer with your bed sheets.

4. Make a marinade. Serve up a drunk chicken at your next grill party: add a cup of your favorite beer to your usual marinade recipe for a sweet, caramelized flavor. Not sure what to put in your marinade? Try this beer marinade recipe.

5. Bake some bread. Whether you’re serving it with soup or just eating it as a snack, beer bread is delicious. Try this recipe by Good Eats star Alton Brown. Remember: the darker the beer, the more pronounced the flavor will be in the bread.

10 More Amazing Ways to Use Beer