Category: Eclectic Homes

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has always needed mortgage insurance to the mortgage loans it insures. The objective of the insurance is to protect the lender. If the borrower defaults on his loan, the creditor may file a claim contrary to FHA’s insurance fund and regain losses against the foreclosure process and reduction of their loan. There are two calculations for FHA’s mortgage insurance: a upfront insurance premium that is usually financed, and also a monthly premium.

Calculating FHA’s Monthly Premium

Determine the right loan amount. Having a sale price of $100,000, for instance, subtract the deposit of their minimum required 3.5 percentage. That is, $100,000 minus $3,500 yields a loan amount of $96,500.

The initial calculation is for the up front mortgage insurance premium. Multiply the amount of the loan by 2.25 percent. Example from above: $96,500 multiplied by .0225 equals $2,171.25. This is added into the amount of the loan, which makes the loan amount 98,671.25). The loan is rounded down to to $98,650 and the strange sum of $21.25 would be accumulated by the borrower at the final. .

To calculate the monthly sum, the loan amount of $98,650 is multiplied by .0055, yielding $542.58. Then divide this annual amount by 12 months and you get $45.21, which can be added to the monthly payment of principal, interest, taxes and homeowners insurance.

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When buying or selling a home, the evaluation value plays a huge role. Appraisals help vendors determine the market price of their home. Additionally, buyers sometimes call in appraisers to assess a property prior to making a deal. According to Move Appraisals Inc., appraisers don’t inspect the physical condition of the home. Rather, appraisers simply compare the general features and conveniences of the home with other equally valued homes in the area. To maximize the evaluation value of your house, there are a couple of suggestions that every home seller should follow.

Make a list of any upgrades. Some house items are difficult to”date” simply by looking at them. In accordance with Proceed Appraisals Inc., a home seller should always provide the appraiser with a list of upgraded things. If the furnace, air conditioner, appliances or other conveniences are new, the appraiser may factor these brand new things to his general estimate. Without a list of upgrades, however, some of the new things may be overlooked.

Fix cosmetic blemishes. While it’s crucial to get your home’s physical structure up to code prior to selling, an appraiser will not be especially searching for structural issues. Structural and functional issues can be addressed later on, before a review. If a major problem is clear, you will need to fix it to the evaluation, but otherwise your primary concern will be cosmetics. Make sure you repaint any rooms with cracked or faded paint. Clean the kitchen and the carpets. When your house is in pristine condition, it will probably receive a higher evaluation value.

Update your fittings, but do not overspend. Small changes can make a significant difference. Light switches, faucets and other nominal things can make your house look obsolete. Newer fixtures are cheap but can help add to a evaluation value.

Attend to the property’s exterior. When preparing for an appraisal, some people today focus entirely on the interior. But, power-washing the siding will help to make the house look newer and cleaner. Additionally, a well-landscaped yard can make your house more similar to high-value properties in the area.

Remove pets, litter boxes, chew toys and ashtrays prior to the evaluation. A couple of candles or any fresh-baked cookies can mask the smell of smoke and pet dander while still an appraiser worth your house, but observable signs of pets and cigarettes can indicate the appraiser to possible odor difficulties, which may lower the value of your home.

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This 1970s ranch needed a mixture of amazing potential and large issues. Following 10 decades of piecemeal improvements and repairs, this family was prepared to take the plunge into a significant renovation. The layout –build team, Finn Sigurdsson and Taryn Hall of ísARK Studio, gave the house a contemporary sense, enhanced the flow and additional new spaces at which the owners can enjoy views of the lake. It”moved from being the lackluster home on the block to the freshest house on the block,” Hall says. Here is how they did it.

in a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 4
Location: External Austin, Texas
Size: 3,500 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 baths

Before Photo

ísARK Studio

“The apartment roof had rust, there was leaks, the house was hard to keep cool, the deck was in a bad state, there was peeling paint and a great deal of wear,” Hall says. Scruffy plantings littered the front, adding to its uninviting facade, which was also perplexing. “Delivery trucks often knocked on the side door, which was actually an HVAC utility closet,” Hall says.

ísARK Studio

AFTER: The new facade is a mixture of white stucco, gray HardiePlank punctuated with black and mahogany metal trim information. “The Grizzle Grey color on the boards is the perfect contrast to the bright white stucco and the warm FSC-certified African mahogany,” Hall says.

Stucco paint: Extra White, Sherwin-Williams

ísARK Studio

ísARK Studio

“It was essential to establish a welcoming approach to the house,” Sigurdsson states. Grand terraced steps now lead you to a brand new front entry and right into a foyer. A mahogany door and trimming work ensure that nobody will be knocking anywhere else.

To spend less on the mahogany, Sigurdsson grabbed less-expensive rough-sawn boards of irregular widths in the fine lumber yard and milled them himself. “We hate to waste, so we utilized the thinner bits on the trimming work in the foyer and the railings upstairs,” Hall says.

Before Photo

ísARK Studio

This is the view of the master bedroom before construction. The tough stucco and odd trim details all had to be eliminated, and the area was gutted and enlarged.

ísARK Studio

AFTER: Turn around 180 degrees from the previous photo to relish the view down the new terrace. It produces a connection between the house and the street, and adds additional living space. The master bedroom has its own separate access to the terrace, adding a second connection to the remainder of the house.

Before Photo

ísARK Studio

From the family room, the fireplace wall had sat unfinished for years; a previous leak and fix had abandoned the fireplace without adequate fire blocking and not up to code.

ísARK Studio

AFTER: The team reframed and prolonged the fireplace wall and transformed the fireplace into a floating version with a steel surround for a simpler look. They added fire blocking and redesigned the hearth to match the scale of the space.

The family also traded in many of their furnishings for new, sleek bits.

The new design enhances the big windows that result in the new terrace and open the space to large views. Anodized black bronze window frames punctuate the big openings.

Windows, doorways: Milgard; couch: Harlow Mid-Mod, Copenhagen; coffee table: Sandor in Carrara marble, Copenhagen

ísARK Studio

The fireplace wall can function as a gallery wall in addition to a place for the TV when the family is fully settled in. While the house was styled for photographs and might appear extra tidy, it was created with additional storage areas which will help the family keep their new spaces clutter free.

Before Photo

ísARK Studio

A fantastic place for your dining area was crucial. The deck just off the family room was plagued with peeling paint and semirotted joists. To cut down on construction waste, Finn stripped off the pergola timber and gave it, together with brush removed from the site, to a farmer, who’s using it to boost his land for cultivation.

ísARK Studio

AFTER: Sigurdsson included the prior deck space, developing a new dining area open to the living space.

The porcelain tiles which look like wood were existing; fortunately the team was able to come across precisely the same tiles in Floor & Decor.

ísARK Studio

Currently there is a clear view in the family room right into the dining area. The willingness makes the house feel much larger.

ísARK Studio

Two pillars made from gutters and framing frame a market area for art along with a console. “With just a little bit of additional framing, you can add architectural information and lines with drywall; if you are on a budget, it’s more pragmatic than incorporating a lot of costly material cladding,” Sigurdsson states.

“We actually enjoyed the idea of playing with shiny chrome and much more rustic elements,” Hall says. “There is a comparison and balance of rustic and refined elements throughout the house.” A wooden tabletop and staircase warm the contemporary room and add feel.

Artwork: E. Wildman Gallery; framing and painting team: Jose Castillo and household

ísARK Studio

During construction the customers loved the willingness of the distance, hence the designers took the ceilings up to 11 (ft, that is, out of 10). They also produced a recessed curtain nook to hide the hardware. The doorway in the end of this open hallway contributes to the master suite.

ísARK Studio

Locally sourced salvaged glulam beams add rustic design in the form of the staircase, which contrasts with the exact contemporary metal railing along with the white drywall. Glulam is a renewable material crafted from smaller pieces of dimensional lumber.

Relationships with expert craftspeople were quite important on this project. The designers worked really closely with metal fabricator J-Ru Garage to make all the custom metal details.

ísARK Studio

The stairs lead up to this bright solarium, which extends the family’s entertainment area to the second floor. The space works works triple duty as a lounge, media room and bar for the adjacent roof deck (the door to the left leads there). A Juliette balcony allows them to open the sliding doors to safely welcome the breeze.

Pony sling chairs and Wassily chairs mingle Texas ranch and contemporary styles.

Artwork: Erica Wildman; console: Marshalls; pony sling seats: Copenhagen

ísARK Studio

“A lot of lounges are dark and dim, and that is cool, but we wanted to let in the light along with the views,” Sigurdsson states. A system of hidden curtain coves can darken the space for use as a media space.

Table: Alien Coffee Table, Copenhagen

ísARK Studio

The solarium’s raw steel bar with integrated sink houses Lone Star beers directly together with the good Scotch for roof deck parties. “This is the largest nod to industrial style we’ve produced,” Hall says.

Finn custom made the bar. “Raw steel is the perfect material for a bar; it will patina and age as much as you need,” states Justin Rutherford of J-Ru Garage, who fabricated it. “You can then just use a wool scouring pad to buff away any patina you don’t need to see.”

ísARK Studio

ísARK Studio

Steel wires suspend the cantilevered roof canopy, which protects the interior and part of the deck by the Texas sun.

The gray composite decking was not originally in the funding, but the team scored a deal due to a leftover order at a local lumberyard.

ísARK Studio

“Instead of the traditional lap-siding technique, we dangled the Hardie boards with a quarter-inch gap on top of a rain screen for a more modern appearance,” Sigurdsson states.

ísARK Studio

After the family is prepared for another period of renovations, the kitchen, master bath and converted garage bedroom suite are all on their listing. For now the new flow and addition have left their house brand new to them.

Just for fun: Hall includes a background in place and prop design, and she likes to sneak meerkats into her customers’ homes right before all of ísARK’s picture shoots — a sort of an architectural”Where’s Waldo?” for them. Did you spy on them?

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We pay a good deal of focus on cherished cats and dogs here on , however we’ve never rounded up another wonderful animals that pop up into our stories. I’m very happy to introduce a few of the photographs that make us say, “Awwww, that is so adorable!” Without further ado, meet a few of the most adorable little guys and gals we’ve ever laid eyes from great houses, ranches and gardens on .

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

This curious and wily fox wrapped around an Acadia National Park landscape project during construction and someplace has a den full of most of the workers’ leather gloves.

Tour this fox’s beautiful coastal environment in the Maine woods

Jen Dalley ||||||||||||||

Three chickens named Ruby, Hiko and Ash reside in this beautifully constructed chicken coop at Nevada.

Jen Dalley ||||||||||||||

Tour the chicken coop that is modern

In producing the travel guide for Atlanta, I came across goats named Sherman, Tallulah, Daisy and Olive in The Social Goat Bed and Breakfast. The charming establishment, at Atlanta’s Grant Park area, also has cats, Spanish turkeys, chickens, roosters, rabbits, goldfish and koi.

Rikki Snyder

Seriously, composing this ideabook is making me want a pet goat, which I’m quite sure isn’t a great thought — for the goat — when you reside in a town.

Tour the rest of the wonderful farm, a suitable environment for all these men.

Suzan Fellman LLC

You readers taught me a few very intriguing things about what this goat’s levade was about in the Comments section for my narrative about an animal rescue shelter in the hills of Malibu. You also taught me that the word “levade.” Thanks!

Designs by Gollum

Among our very first house tours featured the gorgeous house of Michael Lee West of Designs from Gollum. The rustic setting and farm life inspired the gorgeous interiors.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

This is one of my favourite photographs on ; I would love to hang it in my home. These critters do not just seem feathered-and-fluffy adorable; they help produce free fertilizer to the garden.

Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Does this darling cow.

Learn more about improving your soil with compost

Rikki Snyder

I’ve actually never managed to come across a miniature horse and not yelled, “Mini horse!” This one’s name is Kokomo, but it bears a remarkable similarity to Li’l Sebastian. If you do not get this reference, you need to start watching Parks and Rec on NBC. I guarantee you’ll thank me.

Lisa Hallett Taylor

I adore the way this duck is looking at the photographer like it is saying, “What are you lookin’ at?” I cannot look in a duck at a swimming pool without considering the lovely James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano, so uplifted from the duck family that moved in to his swimming pool, and all of the issues that started when they flew south for the winter.

RMT Architects

In Meg Wolitzer’s new book, The Interestings, longtime runners of a summertime camp are told that they must have an alpaca farm in the camp to keep up with the times and compete with other camps.

While I’m speaking pop culture references, the moment that made me choke with laughter in Dude, Where’s My Car? Is when an ostrich approaches and Ashton Kutcher says, “Dude … it’s a llama!” Llamas were once a comparatively rare sight in the States, so perhaps one can see how a entire stoner did not understand the difference between an ostrich and a llama back before Jennifer Garner was a celebrity and Kutcher was a savvy online investor and enjoying Steve Jobs at a film. But, today these woolly animals have never been more popular.

RMT Architects

Not even this magnificent stable structure could take the attention away from those stunning creatures.

Lovebirds like cooling off atop this Arizona fountain.

More creature love:
Have a look at the Pets section for all critter-related ideabooks.
See great cats and dogs in design.

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Remodeling attempts the homeowner. While building debris and dust fills the air and melts the ground, a ZipWall will safeguard your living area. Adjustable poles create a door, you add the heavy-duty plastic sheeting, and the tall, vertical zipper creates an opening letting you pass through.

Before Photo

Ventana Construction LLC

Contractors and homeowners utilize ZipWalls as security that is fast and simple to install during a remodel.

Before Photo

Ventana Construction LLC

A ZipWall is a substitute for fragile and thin taped-up sheets of plastic, and it’s reusable.

Before Photo

Lauten Construction

Simply unzip to maneuver between chambers after the dust settles.

Before Photo

Lauten Construction

Raw demolished spaces could be worked on without the debris and dust settling into the other living areas of the home.

Before Photo

Lauten Construction

Since the zipper and poles are reusable, any size gap could be created with sheets of plastic.

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“Cozy” might not look like the first thing you’d use to describe your ideal workplace; it may make you think about quilts and clutter which do not inspire efficiency. However, “cozy” can indicate a room that’s warm, inviting, layered and, yes, actually organized. For example, personal items, a comfortable seat and a rich blend of textures all provide the comfort that “cozy” implies. Here are 20 of the coziest home offices around — and what makes them so.

Chalet

Cushy leather club chairs, a roaring fire and cowboy artwork add Western heat to the complex office space.

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

Grounding the room with a reddish, well-worn Oriental rug is a great way bring in warm textiles. Library lights and an overhead lantern make a soft light spectacle. I believe I’d reward myself to getting my job done while lounging in that overstuffed chair.

Krieger + Associates Architects, Inc..

A cozy library vibe incorporates warm wood floor-to-ceiling shelves stuffed with books and a comfortable leather chair for reading.

Adrienne DeRosa

A table tucked into the corner, grass cloth wallpaper, warm timber tones and heaps of novels make this workspace in a Frank Lloyd Wright home reassuring.

Beach Glass Interior Designs

Rich grey walls, a comfortable chair, a stately wood desk plus a long and comfortable window seat give this workplace its cozy appeal.

Moving Home To Roost

Individual touches — such as the graphic floral wallpaper, the dress form, the power of shelves with neatly exhibited supplies along with the artwork wall — provide this workspace a very personal appearance.

Personal touches make this area, also; the wall above the desk looks like it’s a collection of meaningful favorite things. The low wood ceiling, braided rug, built-in shelves and rustic chair give a camp atmosphere.

Gast Architects

A rich texture palette, autumnal hues, a red leather armchair and a blazing fire will tempt the homeowner within this workplace.

This ideabook is giving me severe office fireplace envy.

Laura U, Inc..

Exotic shapes and colours provide this workspace the feeling which the owner has attracted precious items from far-flung adventures.

The Cross Interior Design

This is stripped-down cozy. The black, white and shades of grey keep the palette clean and allow for eclectic touches, such as the library wallpaper, chalkbaord wall and amazing table lamp.

Diane Bergeron Interiors

Grass green and glistening white keep this office light and fresh, but the vintage camel leather desk chair, overstuffed sofa, thoughtful lighting and architectural information on the ceiling make it inviting.

Oak Hill Architects

The wraparound desk, individual spaces all within precisely the exact same room, low pendant lighting, red throw cushions for when one needs extra lumbar support, and beautiful windows make this a space where a group could work in harmony.

Jute Interior Design

Vintage industrial bits are made comfortable by soft creams and tans and also a large woven rug underfoot. This office holds a great deal of items, but they’re neatly organized, along with the reclaimed wood plank provides a great deal of space for spreading out.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Wood grain, layered rugs and that to-die-for modern take on a coffered ceiling attract trendy charm for this transitional office. The large window gives it a tree home feel.

Nicole Lanteri Design

Allowing work right next to the radiator on a chilly day creates this workplace supercozy, for starters. The casters on the chair allow the employee to go from background to files with ease, along with also the small proportions of this space feel just perfect.

Debra Campbell Design

Warm gold tones, traditional design, wood trim and a bay window make this type of room where anyone would like to devote a great deal of time. It seems like it’d make paying bills less painful.

Studio Schicketanz

Instead of being pushed against a wall, this desk loves sitting in the middle of this space, atop an area rug. The furniture structure is tight, yet the room isn’t too full. The ceiling and walls and built-in shelves keep it from slipping from cozy status to cramped status.

RLH Studio

This office has a classic men’s club vibe — rich tufted leather chairs, timber paneling, an iron chandelier, a coffered ceiling and, best of all, a panel opens to reveal a hidden bar.

RLH Studio

Oh, and this very same men’s clubfashion office does have a desk. (I thought you might ask.)

You can have Hollywood Regency elegance (starburst mirror, animal print desk chair) and clean surfaces yet still have a homey-feeling office. The printed drapes, grass cloth wall covering, private photos and window seat are reassuring touches.

Joe Schmelzer, Inc. dba Treasurbite Studio, Inc..

This office, filled with the homeowner’s favorite collections, is a portion of a full-blown man cave.

Watch the rest of this guy cave, a remodeled basement

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This once-stuffy federalist townhouse at Philadelphia’s Society Hill neighborhood has undergone a transformation similar to Philadelphia’s very own. It was conservative and traditional, but artwork, youth and imagination have breathed new life in to it. Interior designer Kelly Nelson and her husband moved in 13 decades ago when she was pregnant with her first kid, now 12. “After I had my second child, the first floor, with its galley design broken into small rooms, was not working for our family,” she states. “It was either move to a larger home or renovate and stay in the neighborhood we loved.”

The remodel opened up the first-floor rooms and back courtyard. Nelson maintained a lot of the traditional moldings, wainscoting and built-ins but freshened things up with vivid colours, lively fabrics and abstract artwork. “By comparing modern choices with more traditional fabric and furniture options, we made a home that felt true to both the design of the home and our very own lively design aesthetic,” she states. Check out how this daring mix of new and old turned out.

in a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 4 and cat Shadow
Location: Philadelphia
Size: 2,700 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms

Kelly Nelson Designs

This narrow entryway sets the tone. High-gloss turquoise paint plus a vintage 1960s light top traditional wainscoting. A marble checkerboard floor underlines the jewel box first impression.

Nelson also substituted the original square door for this arched one to echo the shape of the front door and its transom.

Wall paint: Peacock Blue 2049-40, Benjamin Moore

Kelly Nelson Designs

This custom-painted cupboard was inspired by the colours in a Lucette White painting from the couples’ artwork collection. “We created a very traditional French torso more lively by painting it bright colours,” Nelson says.

Cabinet: Grange

Kelly Nelson Designs

Before, the dining area was very traditional, using federalist furniture, a brass light fixture and these china cabinets, which had glass doors. Nelson had the doors painted the backs a daring orange for a more modern look, then added tradition back into the mix with her brown toile transferware pieces.

“I like to use a great deal of color, but at a house this size it’s easy to go overboard,” Nelson says. She painted all the walls white and allow the color come in via furniture, artwork, accessories and accents, such as these shelves.

The parrots are vintage 1950s majolica pottery, as well as the pansy print is from Natural Curiosities.

Kelly Nelson Designs

Nelson ripped out the existing brass light fixture and’d Warren Muller, a favorite Philadelphia artist, create a special chandelier out of her grandmother’s depression-era glass collection. “This fixture set the groundwork for the home’s combination of traditional and modern elements,” she states.

Wall paint: Patriotic White 2135-70, Benjamin Moore

Kelly Nelson Designs

Toile and striped cloths on the parson’s chairs are a nod to classic townhouse design; the colours of this chandelier inspired the pink and green color palette.

Kelly Nelson Designs

This brightly colored abstract painting at the dining area is by Ivan Stojakovic. Postrenovation, it is about the only remaining dividing wall in the downstairs inside.

Kelly Nelson Designs

Average of a townhouse, the kitchen is narrow and long. Nelson opened it up into the living area and added a very long kitchen island. “I can not remember when we sat down in the table; we love to assemble at the staircase,” she states.

Cabinets: Downsview; backsplash tile: handmade glass, Mixed-Up Mosaics; pendant lights: Le Klint

Kelly Nelson Designs

A painting that the couple picked up on a trip to Portofino, Italy, inspired the blue and orange living area palette. The backs of these bookshelves are painted the exact same color of orange as the dining area shelves. The same limestone used on the kitchen counters surrounds the fireplace. An Oriental rug pays homage to classic townhouse style.

Kelly Nelson Designs

New French doors and large windows let in the light. “Opening up the living area to the back courtyard makes the home feel so much larger,” Nelson says.

Coffee table: Eglomise, Beeline Home; Lights: Splatter, Beeline Home; vases: Arteriors

Kelly Nelson Designs

Tip: “When blending throw pillows, I usually go with a sound, a large-scale pattern and a small pattern,” Nelson says. “To make them more contemporary, I stay far from piping them and I like to make them big; if you’re going to the cost of getting them made, think larger than 14 inches!”

Although residing in a building zone (think: washing dishes in the tub) was a challenge, it had been well worth it. The open design and modern touches fit your family’s lifestyle to a T.

Painting: Rebecca Rutstein; flowery cushion fabric: Schumacher; orange cushion fabric: Osborne & Little

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The living room could be where your relatives spend the majority of their time, but it’s about more than comfy seating and the right-sized flat-screen TV. Appropriate lighting accentuates the area’s design scheme and creates a sophisticated feel that’s characteristic of standard design.

Selecting and placing the chandelier, sconces, lamps and can lights can transform your traditional space. Below are seven tips that could help.

Howard Bankston & Post

Consider the best way to use the room. For rooms used mostly for entertaining, late-afternoon cocktails or after-dinner java, general lighting may be all you need. In a room like this, a center light provides the key general lighting, with sconces and smaller lights filling in the areas that the decorations miss. Can there be anything more traditional than a crystal chandelier?

Colleen Price

Don’t forget the dimmers. Particularly for general lighting centered in the center of the room, dimmer switches are crucial. This way, you can achieve any type of mood you desire. For vivid lighting, turn the lights up full blast. For nighttime events, turn down the lights to make a traditional scheme, like in this French country room, even more romantic — and looks even more flattering.

Spinnaker Development

Use task lighting to specify zones. Living rooms are to get a lot more than simply relaxing. For rooms for a good deal of use, consider job lights to brighten work areas. Task lighting includes built-in can lights that direct a stream of glowing light onto a reading or working area. An orb chandelier adds an updated twist on heritage in this room.

J.Banks Design Group

Task lighting also includes desk and side table lamps that illuminate areas utilized for paying bills or composing thank-you notes. Design that is traditional is, defined by the symmetry in this area, right down to the fitting pairs of lamps.

Rinfret, Ltd..

Play with accent lights for style. Don’t forget about accent lighting if planning your living room. Sconces are a fabulous touch that can show a painting, a focal point or a distinctive accessory by directing attention to a specific spot.

Anna Lattimore Interior Design

Pay attention to size. Fixtures should be proportional to the room. A fantastic rule of thumb would be to choose the dimensions of your area in feet and add them together. The amount of feet at the sum is the way many inches your chandelier should be.

Long pendants and tall table lamps can help balance rooms with very substantial ceilings. Hang chandeliers 78 to 84 inches high; place sconces at least 60 inches.

DKOR Interiors Inc.- Interior Designers Miami, FL

Add to a home’s ambience with your lighting. Lighting can be among the most aesthetically pleasing parts of a design scheme. This single big turquoise chandelier certainly makes a statement, repeating the color on the pillows and rug and creating a sophisticated neutral palette pop.

Ken Levenson Architect P.C.

Let it leak. Using exactly the very same fittings in adjoining rooms can create continuity. Matching fixtures — especially if they are as fabulous as those — create a design scheme feel well intended. These crystal ribbons are a classic fixture for a traditional home.

Next, two of the favorite traditional lighting fittings.

Restoration Hardware

Foucault’s Iron Orb Chandelier, Large – $1,195

The feminine lines and manly materials of the fixture juxtapose beautifully for use in a variety of living rooms.

Circa Lighting

Timeless Ring Chandelier – $1,050

If you are torn between a glamorous chandelier, a lovely focal point or a gorgeous centerpiece, a classic ring chandelier like this is a great thing to do. Its color coordinates with any decor, while multiple bulbs cast a glow — instead of a piercing, unflattering line of light.

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After 10 decades of living in their home, by that time the kids had flown the coop, Jeff and Cindy von Hagel’s tastes had shifted. They loved their custom-built location in Plano, Texas, but their inside was overdue for an update.

To update their home out of traditional French state to be more contemporary, they refreshed their furniture with new upholstery, removed wall-to-wall cream carpet and replaced all the light fixtures. After repainting every wall and reassessing their tchotchkes, Cindy and Jeff were able to focus on design elements that matter to them: art by their two daughters and pieces collected in their travels.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Cindy and Jeff von Hagel
Location: Plano, Texas
Size: 3,100 square feet; four bedrooms; three and a half bathrooms
That’s interesting: The homeowners did all the painting, tiling, trimwork and demolition.

Lindsay von Hagel

Strong geometric shapes dominate the household space, but the graceful lines of this sofa and occasional chairs soften the appearance. A round lamp sits on a metal pyramid dining table, and a sharp, contemporary coffee table plays off of a angular paint treatment Cindy created.

Cindy additionally added wall-mounted votive holders, which she uses to flaunt her betta fish. “It is one of those things which each and every visitor opinions on,” she says.

Vase: Glashaus in Wertheim, Germany; java table: Cantoni; shag rug: West Elm; Reserve dining table: habit from copper artist

Lindsay von Hagel

After demolishing the intrusive brick hearth and fireplace surround, Cindy and Jeff chosen for the clean appearance of a metallic-finish ceramic tile.

Custom closets put an embarrassing corner nook to great use. Large gears shape the shelf brackets and are repeated in the side table, including industrial accents to the space.

Art: bought at art auction to a cruise boat; side table: My Habit; leather recliner: La-Z-Boy; red spectacle: Cantoni

Lindsay von Hagel

Although painting the rooms in a variety of shades of warm gray helped to modernize the couple’s traditional house, the biggest impact came from replacing the wall-to-wall carpeting with abundant hand-scraped wood flooring. “I won’t ever buy carpet again!” says Cindy. The set also installed easy stained wooden baseboards to replace the traditional white beveled style original to the house.

Flooring: Home Depot; shag rug: Macy’s

Lindsay von Hagel

The von Hagels reupholstered pieces of furniture. This classic wing seat got an update with a contemporary blanket and pillow and a contemporary floor lamp. The area remains soft and private with a collection of items from consignment shops.

Blanket: Z Gallerie; floor lamp: Lamps Plus; drapes: JCPenney

Lindsay von Hagel

The dark, traditional sofa was reupholstered in an unexpected snakeskin- print velvet, kicking off a new vibe at the formal living area.

Cindy retains collections of beach books and cubes as reminders of her coastal upbringing in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

Pillows: My Habit

Lindsay von Hagel

Cindy fell in love with an octopus triptych at a style series. Recognizing that the price of the original was beyond what she was ready to spend, she asked her daughter to create a similar series in pastels. It is shown proudly in her entryway above a contemporary console table and updated light fixture.

Lindsay von Hagel

Red accents at the kitchen stand out from the soft tones of this ceramic floor tiles and the glass and stone mosaic backsplash. Cindy added touches of crimson to her bubble glass-front cabinets via handkerchiefs.

Red leather bar stool: Crate and Barrel; fruit bowl: Z Gallerie; light fixture: Lamps Plus

Lindsay von Hagel

The red accents in the kitchen carry over to the breakfast and research area, outfitted with a red leather desk chair. Cindy mounted picture drapes at ceiling height to draw the eye upward. An old birdcage displays her cactus and succulent collection.

Red leather table chair: Crate and Barrel; breakfast area dining table: Macy’s; drapes: JCPenney

Lindsay von Hagel

Although their tastes have developed beyond this 1970s bamboo dining place, Cindy and Jeff weren’t inclined to associate with it, as it was the first big purchase they made after becoming married over 38 decades ago. Instead, Cindy reupholstered the seat cushions and added a new area rug. She exchanged out the thick velvet draperies for these customized window treatments.

Cabinets: JCPenney; area rug: Lowes

Lindsay von Hagel

A family friend made this 7-foot-tall metal sculpture hanging in front of Cindy and Jeff’s staircase. They use magnets to display and rotate photos of the two daughters.

Lindsay von Hagel

The sunny yellow guest bedroom “just makes me more happy,” Cindy says. Accurate to her Southern roots, she often sits in this area that has a good book and a glass of sweet ices tea.

The couple’s kid painted the flower mural and forced the drapes.

Lindsay von Hagel

In the game area, a handcrafted pool table sits below classic Tiffany bar lights. Cindy and Jeff display framed collages of those dozens of Broadway plays they have attended over time. Glass floater frames connected together with string and S-hooks showcase their daughters’ artwork, beautifully backlit from the windows.

Lindsay von Hagel

Advice from Cindy and Jeff: Do not worry too much over decorating, and just find things that make you happy. First and foremost, don’t make purchases merely to complete a job. It is much better to leave a hole at the decorating to get a bit while looking for that ideal piece instead of wasting money on a placeholder.

telephone: Can you have a creative home? Discuss it with us!

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This season I am decorating my home for Christmas with a Scandinavian-inspired theme. I am always drawn to Scandinavian design, and I love to see how such homes are decorated for Christmas: typically simple and understated with lots of nature-inspired components, candlelight and a frequent color theme of reds, reds and wood tones. — Candice from The Style Boards

Sukima

Jul Candle Holders

Warm and cozy candlelight is the perfect mood lighting for cold and dark winter nights. These ceramic candle holders are perfect for displaying a large number of candles together.

Bodie and Fou

White Paper Star Decorations – GBP 16.50

Paper stars such as these would be an ideal accent to some Scandinavian-inspired Christmas. These are simple, understated and beautiful. I would hang them at different heights in front of a picture window.

Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies

2in Red & White Mushrooms Picks – $8.99

Red and white is a frequent color scheme in Scandinavian Christmas decor. These mushrooms are just so cute and tie right into the color scheme. They are on wires so you just wrap them around your tree branches, and they sit in the tree. I purchased these for my tree this season and I just can not get enough of these!

Terrain

Wicker Tree Skirt – $48

A frequent theme in Scandianvian homes would be to put the Christmas tree display in a beautiful basket or bucket. I adore this wicker basket from Terrain; it will surely add a bit of unexpected charm to your tree.

Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies

Antique Silver Cylinders – $7

These antique mercury glass vases cast a beautiful glow when filled with candles, or else they could be the perfect vessels for exhibiting winter branches.

Eclectic Candle Holders & Candelabra – GBP 14.75

I love the rustic feel of those lanterns. They are a excellent nature-inspired element to bring to some Scandinavian Christmas theme.

Sukima

Jul Ornaments

I am obsessed with these tiny ceramic ornaments. I think they are so simple and beautiful, and I love the white and red butcher’s twine they are hung with. They’d be a perfect touch to some Scandinavian-inspired Christmas tree.

Jayson Home

Lucite Antlers – $175

I love decorating with nature-inspired components such as deer antlers. You can hang ornaments or stockings off of these, and because they are white they blend perfectly with a Scandinavian Christmas color scheme.

West Elm

Papier-Mâché Reindeer – $39

Scandinavian Christmas decor always looks motivated by nature, which is why these papier-mache reindeer are a perfect addition to this theme. Display them along with some bottle brush trees for a gorgeous holiday display.

West Elm

Faux Fur Throw – $119

There’s no doubt that it gets cold in Northern Europe! Fur blankets are always on display in Nordic houses, and these faux-fur blankets from West Elm are perfect for keeping warm on cold winter nights.

Etsy

Dala Horse from Mid Mod Mom

The Dala horse is a traditional Swedish folk art piece. They are usually seen in white and red but can come in a range of colors. I love the white and red ones because they are perfect for Christmas, which is 1 thing that you are able to exit year-round.

Cox & Cox

Great Games Crackers – GBP 12.50

Christmas crackers are so much fun and such a fantastic tradition to add to your Christmas meal. I love these because they are white and red and motivated by Scandinavian folk art.

Pottery Barn

Live Paperwhite Bulb Kit in Gold Leaf Cachepot – $49.50

Paperwhites are these beautiful accents this season. They are lovely on display in front of a window and such a wonderful touch of greenery throughout the coldness of the winter.

TOAST

Christmas Stocking – GBP 12.50

I adore these stockings! I purchased them for my house this season and they are amazing. They look so cute hanging up near the tree. The white and red color palette is perfect for a Scandinavian-inspired theme, and the simple fact that they are knit adds to their charm.

Paper Source

Nature is a frequent theme throughout Scandinavian Christmas decor, and that’s precisely why this faux bois wrap paper is a superb option. I am using this season and garnished with pine cones, evergreen and twine.

Terrain

Swedish Star Lantern – $82

What else could say Scandianvian Christmas such as this beautiful Swedish lantern with a folk art style? Hang it in a picture window or entryway to welcome visitors in your home.

notonthehighstreet.com

This wrapping paper is indeed charming, cute and motivated by traditional Scandinavian design. It’ll be the perfect accent for under the tree.

Modern Seasonal Decorations – GBP 4.50

This clay ornament with a Swedish folk art design is the perfect touch to some Scandinavian-inspired Christmas theme. I adore pieces like those hanging off of door knobs or cabinet pulls to bring a little touch of Christmas through the whole residence.

Mr Yen

Mr Yen Christmas Tape – GBP 4.50

When wrapping gifts, I enjoy using plain papers and dressing them up with vases such as this white and red holiday tape with a Scandinavian feel.

Folksy

Lino Print Tree Decorations – GBP 3.50

Among the things I adore about Scandinavian design is your folk art. These tree decorations are a beautiful representation of traditional folk art and are perfect for Christmas.

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Scandinavian Style with a Twist

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