tips
Add Texture to White to Avoid That Sterile Look There isn’t a bathroom or kitchen that wouldn’t look cleaner with white as the color for walls, trim, countertops, cabinets or fixtures. Culturally we associate white with cleanliness. White’s crisp look is important to employ when you are readying a house for sale and want to make the best impression. Whitewashing a room can have some drawbacks, however. By reducing the elements of the bathroom’s design to a single color, you can make this utilitarian space with hard surfaces appear sterile, even boring. Often just the simple addition of a textured wall surface such as beadboard can bring enough interest to the reduced palette to save the day.
5. Use White to Expand Spaces Rooms painted white appear larger due to the amplification of light. Shadows and edges also diminish in white spaces. When creating a palette for your home, try to keep in mind that cool white drops back in space and can be used to enlarge and open your smaller spaces. But remember that spatial perceptions and human habits of navigation are improved when successive rooms on one floor unfold with subtle shifts in hue, not sharp contrasts. For example, using a white that deepens in color as the rooms get larger can diminish the size variation from one room to the next. Find a white that you like on the paint company’s fan deck that you are using. This color can be painted on the walls of the smallest room. Then use the next darker value of color on the next largest room. Use the value (darkness or lightness of color) to enlarge or reduce the overall size of each space. Your guests will not be aware of the change from room to room, but will compliment you on the calm and comfortable home that you have created.
Reconsider the Gallery Look There’s a reason galleries paint their walls and trim the same bright, white paint color: It drops out the architectural details and focuses attention on the artwork. The same method works for homes, too, as shown in this photo. But if your home does not have a noteworthy collection of art or a breathtaking view, white can be stark and uncomfortable as a backdrop to family randomness and clutter. White tends to show imperfections, marks and disorder. If your family is as freewheeling as mine, you may not want to point arrows at this fact. That’s why galleries paint after taking down a show. And young families often choose to postpone the pristine white that they wish for and instead embrace khaki, which hides a multitude of bumps and bangs.
If you have already decided to paint your walls white and your home has a breathtaking view, consider painting the trim to match. Eliminating the delineation between the walls and woodwork with white paint will allow the landscape to remain frameless, expanding the view’s presence in your home. This strategy (painting both walls and trim the same), used to drop out the architecture obstructing the view, can be used with any color, but it is most effective with white because of its reflectivity.
South-facing rooms (in the Northern Hemisphere; north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere) receive the most intense sun during the day. Winter or summer, the side of your home that faces the sun at noon will be illuminated with red-yellow light on a clear day. White walls are a good choice to cool these spaces, and the paint can be adjusted with pigmenting options that will address glare. For example, gray softens the reflective quality of white and will help “quiet” the space if there are large windows inundating the living room with strong light. Know that one color option could not possibly control all diurnal or seasonal light situations. But if you take a look at your use, you will find that there are times of day and certain seasons when your rooms get the most wear. Decide to use the walls to either radiate or dampen what comes in naturally by adding the conditioning element of color. Benjamin Moore’s Off-White Collection of 140 whites is arranged by hue and can help you select a cool (one with blue, gray or green tones) or a warm white (with red, orange or yellow tones). When using your favorite paint brand, check the fan deck for the white in each color range to see the...
South-facing rooms (in the Northern Hemisphere; north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere) receive the most intense sun during the day. Winter or summer, the side of your home that faces the sun at noon will be illuminated with red-yellow light on a clear day. White walls are a good choice to cool these spaces, and the paint can be adjusted with pigmenting options that will address glare. For example, gray softens the reflective quality of white and will help “quiet” the space if there are large windows inundating the living room with strong light. Know that one color option could not possibly control all diurnal or seasonal light situations. But if you take a look at your use, you will find that there are times of day and certain seasons when your rooms get the most wear. Decide to use the walls to either radiate or dampen what comes in naturally by adding the conditioning element of color. Benjamin Moore’s Off-White Collection of 140 whites is arranged by hue and can help you select a cool (one with blue, gray or green tones) or a warm white (with red, orange or yellow tones). When using your favorite paint brand, check the fan deck for the white in each color range to see the...
The same white color, though, would not work in a north-facing family room in New England. White’s visual relationship to the snow and ice outside the windows would be visually chilling. Instead, try tinting your white with red, yellow or orange or selecting a color from Benjamin Moore’s Off-White Collection for rooms where you plan to eat, socialize and linger. Rooms that do not benefit from sunlight streaming in each day are good candidates. Warm color pigments replicate the heat aspect of sunshine and will increase blood pressure, the level of activity and the positive vibe you want with company. Neuroscience, using MRIs, has documented the physiological effects of color and supported what artists have long held to be true about the power of warm colors to make us feel the heat.
1. Consider the Natural Light Source Before painting a room white, identify its orientation. Rooms that face away from the noonday sun receive gray-blue light, which is great for a summer bedroom, a gym or a studio where you want constancy. A clear white paint will optimize the light of these spaces while keeping things cool. Huestis Tucker Architects, LLC The same white color, though, would not work in a north-facing family room in New England. White’s visual relationship to the snow and ice outside the windows would be visually chilling. Instead, try tinting your white with red, yellow or orange or selecting a color from Benjamin Moore’s Off-White Collection for rooms where you plan to eat, socialize and linger. Rooms that do not benefit from sunlight streaming in each day are good candidates. Warm color pigments replicate the heat aspect of sunshine and will increase blood pressure, the level of activity and the positive vibe you want with company. Neuroscience, using MRIs, has documented the physiological effects of color and supported what artists have long held to be true about the power of warm colors to make us feel the heat. Work with an interior designer to pick the r...
She grounded the space with black-and-white porcelain floor tile. This added visual interest, while the white walls maintained an airy feel. Upgrading an existing skylight kept the bathroom light and bright. The designer removed the framed glass shower enclosure and replaced it with a simple shower curtain. Not using glass meant one less cleaning task for the homeowners. Two-by-9-inch tiles laid in a chevron pattern add subtle pattern and texture to the walls. They also draw the eye up, making the ceiling seem higher.
Use Natural Cleaners There’s no doubt that heavy-duty cleaners get the job done. But for light daily cleaning, it’s not really necessary to bring out the serious chemicals. And since most natural cleaning recipes can be made using just a few simple, inexpensive ingredients — like distilled water, white vinegar, Castile soap and baking soda — you’ll breathe easier and probably save a little cash. A few easy cleaning solutions to try: All-purpose cleaner: Fill a spray bottle with a mixture of vinegar and water at a 1:1 ratio and use a microfiber cloth to clean. This works on windows, mirrors, bathtubs, tiled floors and more. Marble, granite and quartz cleaner: Fill a 24- to 32-ounce spray bottle with water; add 4 to 5 ounces of rubbing alcohol, six drops of Castile soap and several drops of your favorite essential oil, such as lavender or rosemary. Stainless steel polish: After cleaning the surface with an all-purpose cleaner (see above), spray it lightly with coconut oil cooking spray. Rub in the oil with a clean dish towel or paper towel.
One accepted way to hang art is for the halfway point of the picture to be at eye level. Eye levels differ, so on average this is about 5 feet from the floor. This works in a space where viewers are usually standing, such as a hallway or an entrance. In a room where viewers would be mostly sitting, you can lower it. If you hang a stunning piece of art above a surface where you’d also like to show off other items, learn the art of the vignette. A simple trick is to hang the art low enough to be a cohesive part of the display, not an unrelated extra that hovers above it.
Choose Artwork Because You Love It Never buy artwork simply because it matches your sofa or fills a wall — better a bare spot than an ill-judged picture. Art should lift your spirits, provoke thought, take you places or create a reason to pause and enjoy. Art is personal, so seek out what reflects you. Collect artworks individually, not in job lots. They needn’t be museum-worthy; there’s a world of choice when it comes to quality prints, professional and family photographs, wall hangings, kids’ art, gifts from artistic friends and your own efforts.
. Knobs and Handles Every kitchen has more than a few door knobs and handles. Between everyday germs that are on your hands and the food germs you find in the kitchen, those cabinet knobs and handles can be full of bacteria. You can use a simple solution of distilled white vinegar and some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and wipe with a microfiber cleaning cloth. The vinegar alone kills 98% of the bacteria, and the alcohol should kill the rest.
Stone Hearth, Benjamin Moore Just because beige is in doesn’t mean you have to throw out all the gray. Mixing gray and greige hues with beige can result in an inviting and calming color palette. One of Los Angeles interior designer Shannon Ggem’s current favorite beiges is Stone Hearth by Benjamin Moore, and she finds it works well with a range of gray tones. “It’s so restful and grounded. In this serene master bedroom, we paired it with silvery grays for a ‘Siamese cat palette’ and a classic accent of emerald green,” Ggem says. “Peaceful neutrals in combination with the organic linens, natural wools and cottons used here can support client wellness practices that make their everyday life better — color selection is important.”
The Watts gave Conta full creative license on the design and building aspects, while Anna spearheaded a lot of the decisions on paint colors, tile and furniture. She used Houzz photos to gather inspiration. For example, Anna used this photo by DeForest Architects to inspire the look of the exterior, which is 100-year-old reclaimed fir wood and fiber cement siding (HardiePlank) painted gray. Anna found the gray paint color by looking through questions posted to the photo uploaded to Houzz. DeForest Architects had responded to a question about the paint color on the exterior of the home in the photo, mentioning Knoxville Gray by Benjamin Moore.
The couple chose cork flooring because it’s a sustainable, renewable material. It’s made from the bark of the cork oak tree. The bark regrows every nine years and can be harvested again without harm to the tree. The cork also holds warmth well and offers some spring underfoot, and its natural patterning hides dirt and pet hair. In addition to dog River, the couple has a longhair cat (part Maine coon, part Norwegian forest) named Lambert.
To maximize square footage, Conta skipped adding hallways inside the home. Donovan uses the bedroom through the door on the right seen here as his home office for his work as a video game animator. The middle door opens to a full bathroom. The couple’s bedroom is through the door at the far left, near the kitchen. Conta built the home to have an airtight envelope, which means heat doesn’t escape through cracks from poorly constructed framing and cold air doesn’t leak in. This allows for efficiency in heating the home, because a heating unit doesn’t need to constantly be run to make up for lost heat going out. An energy recovery ventilator, or ERV, pulls stale air out of the house, recovers the heat from that outgoing air and transfers it to incoming filtered air. This means the air coming in is clean and already at a temperature of, say, 65 degrees when it enters the house. And that means the mini-split heating unit doesn’t have to spend as much energy heating air to a comfortable 70-degree indoor temperature as it would if it were attempting to heat incoming air that’s at the temperature of a chilly 45-degree Seattle day, for example. “It’s very airtight, and there’s a conti...
700 square foot cottage (carriage house idea) The living room is narrow and long, and Anna chose a sofa that fits proportionally, looks good, offers plenty of seating and includes a pullout bed for overnight guests. Here, River, a 35-pound Australian shepherd, lies on the couple’s new rug. Conta put windows mostly at or above eye level (including near the 13-foot-high ceiling) to bring in natural light while allowing for a bit of privacy from the main house at the front of the lot. “It makes a huge difference in a small space,” Anna says.
Storage “Look high for places to add storage,” Leach says. In a kitchen, for instance, cabinets can be extended all the way to the ceiling. “You can add more cabinets on top of wall cupboards so they use the full height of the room. “Consider, also, storage solutions that hang from the ceiling that you can drop down, then raise again using a pulley system,” Leach suggests. “You can do this with all sorts of things. Typically, traditional clothes airers used this system, but it works for storing bikes or even a bed.”
clean stainless steel stove: . Banish burn marks. If you have some burn marks that just won’t come off your stainless steel stove, try this simple DIY recipe: 1 cup baking soda ¼ cup lemon juice 3 tablespoons Borax Club soda (for rinsing) Combine the first three ingredients to make a cleaning paste. Apply this paste to the entire stained area with a soft cloth. Scrub in the same direction as the grain of the stainless steel. Rinse with club soda and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth.
Clean stainless steel: Fight oxidization. Stainless steel oxidizes over time. To remove this film, you can use pumice powder mixed with water. Pumice powder can be found online and at most hardware stores. Apply this paste following the “grain” of the stainless steel then rinse with warm water. You will be surprised to see how black the cloth is when you finish.
How to Clean Painted Cabinets Painted cabinets need to be cleaned with a gentle cleaner, rinsed and dried. If you use a harsh cleaner on the painted surface, the cleaner can actually remove the paint. Instead, mix up a cleaner of distilled white vinegar and a few drops of dish soap, but this time leave out the rubbing alcohol. Try putting this mixture into a spray bottle to better control the amount. After spraying, wipe the cabinets down with a damp microfiber cloth. Finally, use another clean microfiber cloth to dry.How to Clean Painted Cabinets Painted cabinets need to be cleaned with a gentle cleaner, rinsed and dried. If you use a harsh cleaner on the painted surface, the cleaner can actually remove the paint. Instead, mix up a cleaner of distilled white vinegar and a few drops of dish soap, but this time leave out the rubbing alcohol. Try putting this mixture into a spray bottle to better control the amount. After spraying, wipe the cabinets down with a damp microfiber cloth. Finally, use another clean microfiber cloth to dry.
10. Witch Hazel (Hamamelis spp.) Witch hazels are deciduous trees, grown mainly for their late-winter to early-spring blooms. Tiny buds open on bare branches, unfurling to reveal strange, fringy flowers that feature a lovely fragrance. Some varieties bloom as early as fall in mild climates. Plant in a large container placed in full sun to partial shade along a walkway or in a small patio, where flower fragrance can be appreciated up close. Where it will grow: Hardy to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit, or minus 26.1 degrees Celsius (zones 5 to 8) Water requirement: Moderate Light requirement: Full sun to partial shade Mature size: 10 to 20 feet tall and 10 to 15 feet wide; easily kept smaller in a container with pruning
Shaker Beige by Benjamin Moore “I love Shaker Beige because it works in every situation,” says interior designer Margaret Handley, who works on a lot of projects in the mountains of North Carolina. “It’s not too light or too dark, and it takes on the color properties of whatever it is mixed with. It’s the perfect go-to color!”
White Dove by Benjamin Moore “I’ve used Benjamin Moore’s White Dove in many projects, including this master bath extension, as all the trim in a beach house and on a sun porch in a suburban home,” interior designer Diana Bier says. “I find it to be a calming, creamy off-white with no yellow or pink undertones. It’s perfect with the white marbles that are so popular right now for kitchens and baths.” She also notes that it works with both warm and cool colors equally well (except with yellow, where she prefers the crisp contrast of a brighter white). “I’ve used it with blues, grays, reds and lavender,” she says. Her painter concurs and told her that these days it’s probably the most popular off-white color he’s come across in the Long Island, New York, area.
White Dove by Benjamin Moore “I’ve used Benjamin Moore’s White Dove in many projects, including this master bath extension, as all the trim in a beach house and on a sun porch in a suburban home,” interior designer Diana Bier says. “I find it to be a calming, creamy off-white with no yellow or pink undertones. It’s perfect with the white marbles that are so popular right now for kitchens and baths.” She also notes that it works with both warm and cool colors equally well (except with yellow, where she prefers the crisp contrast of a brighter white). “I’ve used it with blues, grays, reds and lavender,” she says. Her painter concurs and told her that these days it’s probably the most popular off-white color he’s come across in the Long Island, New York, area.
Mayonnaise by Benjamin Moore “This is a warm white that mimics sunshine, even on a cloudy day,” says interior designer Lisa Tharp, who is used to the early sunsets during long New England winters. “It cheers the soul while creating an atmospheric backdrop, letting people and furnishings take center stage.”
Elmira White by Benjamin Moore Interior designer Charmean Neithart works on a lot of Spanish Colonial homes in Southern California, which are often full of warm wood architectural details and a mix of textures on the walls. “I use Elmira White a lot, especially in Spanish houses. It looks good with smooth and textured walls,” she says. “It has no yellow or pink undertones, so it looks beautiful with neutrals.
Large custom sectional covered in indoor-outdoor fabric. Custom side chair. Wool herringbone-pattern rug. Clay lamps. Iron cocktail table in a nickel finish. “The room is pretty neutral, so it was important to bring in lots of textures to keep the room from feeling flat and one-dimensional,” Lovett says. “Altogether it feels layered and relaxed while still looking refined and inviting.” Designer tip. “People tend to want to place their sofas right against the wall,” Lovett says. “I always try to float the sofa a bit and give the sofa some breathing room. Here, we didn’t have floor outlets or any eye-level lighting. Incorporating table lamps allows for mood lighting and ambiance. We placed a console behind the sofa to bring in large-scale lamps, which also helped fill in the negative space between the sofa and the bottom of the windows.”
Bouquets of peonies and hydrangeas like this are among Del Pero’s most popular requests. To make one yourself, he recommends buying flowers the day before and picking the freshest open blooms. “Always make a fresh cut on the stems when you come home and put them in water immediately for quick hydration. If open blooms are not available, put closed blooms in warm water for a day to open up,” he says.
If your walls are already a shade of white and adding a new color isn’t in your comfort zone, look to neutral creamy whites to give the room a warm and refreshing look. Creamy white has an undertone of pale beige or greige, without being too yellow. The added warmth can give a stark room a welcoming glow without adding color. Wall paint: Elmira White HC-84, Benjamin Moore
Use the 60-30-10 Formula Another way to create a cohesive flow from room to room is to think of the palette for your home as a math problem. “Use a base color that you really like as 60 to 70 percent of what you’re going to paint for your interior,” Wardlaw says. “Your next color needs to be 25 to 30 percent. Then you can do your accents of 5 to 10 percent.” In this photo, which shows one of Wardlaw’s designs, gray is the 60 percent color, blue the 25 percent, orange about 10 percent and brown maybe another 5 percent. “I really try to make people only go with about three colors, four at the max — at least on the interior,” Wardlaw says. “Otherwise it just feels chaotic.” To pull the colors throughout the home, you might use a variation on the scheme in an adjacent dining room. The walls might be painted blue, and perhaps gray could be used as an accent, with a few small orange accessories providing the 10 percent dose of color. “As long as you keep it cohesive throughout your entire home, it’s going to make more sense,” Wardlaw says.
Tie Rooms Together With Accents Accent colors can change from room to room, but continuing one consistent color throughout the home can help create a sense of continuity. “Let’s say you have green and blue in your living room,” Porter says. “Perhaps for the dining room, you use one of those two colors, maybe just the blue. Or you could do blue and yellow. So the blue is what will tie those rooms together.”
For Bold Colors, Use Accessories Accessories are a less expensive way to introduce dramatic colors than purchasing a couch or rug in the same tone, and they’re also easier to swap out should you tire of a color. Limiting bold colors to accessories also helps you avoid the shocking effect that can happen when a dramatic shade is painted on all four walls. “The key is finding a way to inject the color that makes rooms interesting and exciting without feeling like you need to escape,” Ott says. Bright color is good when you want to highlight a piece worthy of notice.
Another option, Ott says, is to select one or two colors and then use variations of it. If the main color is blue, you might select a gray-blue, a pure blue and a navy paint as you move from room to room. The same concept can be used for decorative accessories. For wall paint, you can ask the paint store to create a “tint” of a particular color, perhaps knocking down the main color by 50 percent, which the mixer will do by adding white. “They can create a lighter or darker version of it,” Ott says. “That’s a good way to unite without putting the same color everywhere.” “I also tell people if they’re going to do their wall in this color, go two or three shades lighter for your ceiling so it doesn’t look like a sore thumb because you painted it white,” says Keith Wardlaw of Plus Modern Design in Kansas City, Missouri. Paint decks can also be a good inspiration source for finding colors that work well together.
Pick a Flow-Through Paint One simple way to create a cohesive feel is to use a consistent paint color on the walls of connecting spaces. “Particularly in homes that have more of an open floor plan, it’s best to choose one color that is going to serve as your main color or your neutral,” says Kelly Porter, an interior designer based in Washington, D.C. “That doesn’t mean it has to be beige or white or gray. But the foyer, the hallways and that main connector room should all be the same color because you want to have that dominant color in your space.”
Transitional Bedroom by Monika Hibbs Monika Hibbs How to pair white with off-white. Can’t decide between bright white and creamy off-white? Use them both! Pairing subtly different whites and off-whites highlights texture and makes for a sophisticated look that will stand the test of time. Tips: Ground a white and off-white scheme with a touch of gray or black somewhere in the room. Use warm off-white on retro appliances in the kitchen for a charming yet subtle look. Create a warm and welcoming cocoon in the bedroom with a mix of white and off-white hues in a range of touchable textures.
How to use white in the bedroom. To ensure that white walls don’t feel like an afterthought in the bedroom, consider other elements that can make your space feel inviting and comfortable, from architecture to textures. Tips: Exposed wood framing (as seen here) looks rustic and charming when painted fresh white. Shiny metallic and reflective surfaces add glamour; just keep in mind that a little goes a long way. Layer in light grays for a cooler palette or off-white for a warmer feel.
How to choose the right white paint. Why is it that the same white paint that makes one room look fresh and crisp can make another seem stark and cold? It all comes down to the light. By working with the natural light in your space, you can find a shade of white that enhances your room’s best qualities. Tips: Before painting a room white, identify its orientation to the sun. Use a clear white paint (neither too warm nor too cool) in rooms that face away from the noonday sun. If you have a north-facing room in an area like New England (with snowy winters), clear white will feel too chilly; try a warmer off-white instead. South-facing rooms (in the Northern Hemisphere; north-facing in the Southern Hemisphere) receive the most intense sun during the day; use a cool white with gray undertones to reduce glare.
Nest Architectural Design, Inc. SaveEmail 3. Hang artwork at the right height. Galleries and museums hang artwork so that the midline (center) of each piece is 57 inches to 60 inches from the floor. (The average human eye level is 57 inches.) And you should do the same. In a room like this, where the ceilings soar, there might be a tendency to hang the art higher. But remember: It needs to relate to human scale, not the structure’s scale. If you’re not sure, take a picture. It’s remarkable how much a photo can reveal. Print it out or use Photoshop or an app to draw on the photo. This can give you a sense of whether a larger or smaller piece of art is needed or a tall plant might be best to fill a vacant spot.
Rugs.ie SaveEmail Stick to three colors. When picking your color scheme, try to keep your palette to a mix of three shades. The secret to getting it right is in layering. Start with a neutral backdrop and build on color carefully by adding bolder hues through accessories and art. Your wall colors should form your backdrop. It is also a good idea to stick to neutral shades for larger items, such as sofas and curtains, which are more costly to replace. Introduce your second color with larger accents, such as armchairs or occasional pieces. Then use your third color to bring the scheme to life with more vibrant accessories — think pillows, throws, artworks and rugs.
Sometimes just having the same background color — usually a neutral — can help tie patterns together. These disparate pillows don’t share a strict color scheme of motif, but they all have a soft white background to relate them to one another, which helps them feel like a set.
Eclectic Living Room by Caitlin Wilson Design Caitlin Wilson Design SaveEmail Botanical prints also include leafy patterns that don’t feature blossoms but have a similar organic nature, and, just as in nature, these differing prints tend to mesh together easily (as long as their lush color palettes coordinate).
3. Slim cabinets. Speaking of shoe racks, many companies sell slim wall-mounted shoe cabinets with tip-out compartments that usually have a much slimmer profile than a typical storage unit. These compartments can work well for many other storage needs, such as holding documents, mittens, plastic bags and other small and flat items. The shelf on top is usually just deep enough to hold some decorative items and act as a catchall for keys or coins. Switch out the knobs for a stylish upgrade and you’ve got an easy solution that can look high-end.
1. Floating cabinet. We usually see floating cabinets used as bathroom vanities or perhaps cool modern bedside tables, but they are excellent choices for cramped entryways and hallways. The fact that they float off the ground means you’ll avoid stubbing toes when multiple people are trying to squeeze through the space at the same time. Floating cabinets also make it a bit easier to maneuver wheeled items through, such as strollers or luggage.
Borrowed Light F & Ball
pegs on wall behind bedroom door with baskets to hold items
If a white couch doesn’t fit your lifestyle, try using a pale gray or beige sofa broken up with white pillows. After all, a pillow or two is easier to replace, and the hint of hue in the sofa will help hide normal wear and tear.
Beach Style Hall by Rethink Design Studio Rethink Design Studio SaveEmail How to embrace simplicity with bright white. This non-hue is beloved by architects, and it looks amazing in beach cottages. Bright white is the heart and soul of simplicity. Tips: Use bright white from floor to ceiling for a really fresh, light-filled look. Bring a bright white space to life with a few pops of bold color, like turquoise or lemon yellow. Three bright white paint colors to try: Decorator’s White, Chantilly Lace and Super White, all by Benjamin Moore.
Traditional Laundry Room by Alison Kandler Interior Design Alison Kandler Interior Design SaveEmail Deep clean the laundry room. Run the washing machine with specialty tub cleaner (or with vinegar for a natural solution) on a hot water cycle. Wipe the rubber rim inside the door of the washer and dryer and remove lint from the dryer vent with a vent brush or vacuum attachment. Clean countertops, mop floors and restock supplies.
A warm greeting. Glamorous touches needn’t remain behind closed doors. Mark your entry with classed-up house numbers. Store-bought letters that mount to your siding or porch columns can often be had for a pittance, and you may even be able to find some funky fonts in vintage shops.
White is simple and sophisticated. Its crisp appearance satisfies our craving for a new paint job and a new look. Painting a room or a series of rooms with this cool, calm color is like taking the leap of faith required for a shorter haircut — new do, new you. Be adventuresome and consider the white option for your home’s design by looking at the site, considering the light and space, and making a sure-footed jump to a clean-cut, chic new interior.
Q