Make something new out of something old! Get creative with these fun craft projects, which give new purposes to castaway things you might otherwise throw away.
See more from CountryLiving.com:
30+ Ways to Decorate on a Budget »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
10 Ways to Design a Colorful Bedroom »
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Strapped for decorating space? We show you how you can carve out a home office, conquer kitchen clutter, and collect like crazy, no matter how tight your living quarters.
See more from CountryLiving.com:
Our Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
10 Ways to Design a Colorful Bedroom »
Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Dark paint or light paint in a small room? It's a designer's ultimate debate. But these five pros prove that picking a paint color is like choosing a type of chocolate: You can't go wrong as long as you pick what you like.
See more from CountryLiving.com:
Our Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
10 Ways to Design a Colorful Bedroom »
Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
For the home office of Country Living's 2012 House of the Year, designer Barbara Kurgan, along with experts Shauna Alterio and Stephen Loidolt from the blog Something's Hiding in Here, created an artfully organized, thought-provoking studio for a husband-and wife team who work side by side, all day long. Here are 8 tips to pull of an enviable home-away-from-home office.
1. Elevate a standard desk. Explains Stephen Loidolt: "We prefer counter-height surfaces that encourage us to stand and move around, instead of just sitting and stagnating." Barbara Kurgan fashioned a tall, partners-style setup by pairing two Ballard desks and topping them with a custom box that provides a stealthy spot for stowing files and books.
2. An enlightening path to a clear desk? Ground table-hogging task lights and choose floor lamps, like Ballard models. The Smith + Noble shades open from the top and bottom to offer greater control over natural light, while the floor is painted in Crisp Linen by Benjamin
The color forecast from the pros at Pantone reveals new colors that soothe, renew, and even surprise. Here, some of Country Living's favorite bloggers show us how to incorporate 7 of these palettes into your home.
See more from CountryLiving.com:
Our Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
10 Ways to Design a Colorful Bedroom »
Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
With the creative help of New York City textile whiz Thomas Paul and Blackberry Farm founder Kreis Beall, Country Living magazine constructed a 250-square-foot guest bedroom cottage. Our goal: To cram as many smart decorating and storage ideas into one tiny space.
1. Friends don't let friends live out of suitcases. Which is why this cottage provides a wealth of clothing-storage options, including the dresser, built-in shelves, and a convenient row of hooks.
2. Ask more of accessories. By topping a luggage rack from Ballard Designs with a flea-market tray, Paul devised a nightstand capable of serving breakfast, too. The lanterns are from Etsy.
3. Make a blanket statement. Paul customized this Ballard chair, upholstering its cushions with Pendleton throws. Paul left the floors, from Lumber Liquidators, unfinished to underscore the rustic vibe. He painted the paneling around the window Plantation by Benjamin Moore. The wood sconce is from Etsy.
Plus: 6 amazing storage solutions for
Here's what you need to know about four main paint finishes--flat, eggshell, semi-gloss, and gloss--and the best bets for where to use them in your home. Remember: There are no set rules for how certain paint colors look in each finish; that decision is totally up to you!
See more from CountryLiving.com:
Our Ultimate Guide to Kitchen Decorating »
40 Amazing Before-and-After Home Makeovers »
10 Ways to Design a Colorful Bedroom »
Become a fan of Country Living on Facebook and follow our pins on Pinterest!
Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
Look inside the 250-square-foot kitchen that Country Living constructed with the help of architect Ruard Veltman and Top Chef Masters winner Marcus Samuelsson. Here, 6 tips to take "cooking out" to exhilarating new heights.
1. Go with the grain. "I like a kitchen with personality," says Marcus Samuelsson, "rather than some sterile white box." Architect Ruard Veltman introduced character-not clutter-by cladding the walls in reclaimed barn wood from Tall Cotton Supply. A vintage sign from Repop contributes an extra dose of folksy charm.
Bright Idea: A trash chute cut into the island gets rid of food-prep trimmings fast.
Plus: We also built a 250-square-foot guest bedroom cottage. Take a tour! »
2. Forget the work triangle. In a space this tight, it's not like point A is ever that from point B. So Veltman moved the Whirlpool refrigerator and double overs off to one side, behind abbreviated walls that lend a sense of separation but refuse to chop up the room.
3. The open shelving isn't
A few of Country Living's favorite designers show us how they add loads of character to interior spaces with dramatic color.
Sara Gilbane Sulllivan's Lively Living Room
A neutral backdrop of various textures--ivory stucco and oak beams--begged for punches of warm red and orange to create an intimate and approachable space in this seaside retreat. So New York City designer Sara Gilbane Sullivan started small, injecting easy beachy blue and white tones before throwing the vivid suzani-print sofa into the mix. "Without this wild pop of color, the room would have felt stagnant," she says. Now the gathering spot for her client's family game night feels cozy and happy, plus the allover print hides spills.
Plus: The hot colors of 2013 and how to use them »
Tobi Fairley's Colorful Collection
Playful color combinations enliven the rooms that Tobi Fairley designs. And the master bedroom and adjoining sunroom that she decorated for an eco-friendly show home in Arkansas were no exception. Fresh
If you're longing for the beach but miles away from the shore, take tips from this historic Nantucket cottage to transition your home into a coastal paradise.
1. Decorate with Nautical Elements
This dining room's late-1800's farm table and reproduction chairs are from Nantucket House Antiques. The verdigris chandelier is by Richard Mulligan. A model sailboat stands in the corner.
2. Take Advantage of Every Nook and Cranny
A custom linen cabinet and a ship's ladder -- both crafted locally -- make the most of an upstairs hall corner. Also notice the ship-inspired outdoor fixture, which brings light to an indoor space.
Plus: Tour a beautiful beach house, decorated on a tight budget »
3. Use Light, Beachy Paint Colors
Instead of the expected bright white interiors, opt for coastal blues and greens that enliven antique quilts and period chests, apothecary bottles, and stacked footstools. Choose paints with names that include the words mist and dew, like this kitchen painted in Benjamin
