Space Savers, part 2

In the last post, I discussed ways to make your home feel roomier. Here are more tips on how you can make the most out of the space in your home:

Climb the Walls
If the floors are pretty much covered, then it is time to look up. Yes, your walls are just waiting to be used. Think about vertical shelving. There is vertical shelving that is both useful and decorative.

If you are shopping around for a new TV, why not get a flat screen model that you can mount on the wall. That will free up space elsewhere.

Double Duty
Get furniture that does more than sit. Furniture designers are making furniture that can be used in more than one way because they know that we all have so much stuff. There are ottomans with space for blankets and beds that come with drawers underneath.
Speaking of underneath, manufacturers are making all kinds of appliances and machinery that can go underneath a cabinet. There are now microwaves, radios, CD players and can openers that can be installed under a cabinet, leaving you with more kitchen counter space.

Visit the DC Design House

You can see the work of 14 area designers at the DC Design House. In case you didn’t know, a lot of work goes into designing and furnishing show houses. The designers chosen for this house were selected from an applicant pool of 125. The designers that were not chosen may not have missed making the cut because they are not good, but because their designs may have stood out from the rest. The steering committee wanted the designers selected to complement the work of the other designers in the house.

It took a little over a year to get this year’s house ready. The house, originally built in 1842, may not be the sprawling estate that some design houses are, but one has to remember that it is in a city, after all. These tours are always both fun and educational because you can get ideas to take back to your own house.

The DC Design House (3014 P St. NW) will be open Tuesday-Friday, from 10am to 3pm and on weekends from noon to 5pm until May 11. Tickets are $20 each and you visit the website to learn more about it.

Homes that are Built to Last

Can you imagine a customizable house designed to survive a natural disaster? Architect Marianne Cusato did and won the first People’s Design Award from the Smithsonian earlier this fall.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina sparked an interest in affordable housing. People in home construction came together to explore ways to help victims of hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.

Cusato designed a small home—about the size of an apartment—that could later be expanded as desired. These homes would also be resistant to storms and mildew. They are ideal for many people who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina because they are affordable and weather-resistant.

Home Front Homes has also designed a home that can literally “weather the storm.” Their design can outlast total submersion in water and can hold its own in 140 mph winds. If flooding occurred, the homeowner would have to get rid of wet furniture, but the house would survive.

All of the designs managed to connect to local culture by including features that are popular in the region: wood siding, wood windows, front porches, and picket fences.

A national retailer appreciated these designs so much, they decided to make them available in their stores. These houses range from 300-1800 square feet.

Head Over to the Home Show, Oct. 26-28

A little while back I mentioned the Design Happening event in New York City, and I’m sure that traveling to NYC wasn’t possible for many of you. The good news is that there will be a home improvement and design event right in our backyard this weekend.

Make plans to attend the Home Show (October 26-28) in Upper Marlboro, MD at The Show Place Arena for ideas on remodeling, landscaping, and redecorating. The show floor will have displays of the latest appliances and products as well as indoor and outdoor vignettes. Exhibitors will have samples of flooring, window treatments, fixtures, lighting, and almost anything else you can think of that goes in a house.

These events are both practical and fun. You get inspired by all of the great stuff you see and can talk with exhibitors. This is your opportunity to gather the knowledge and wisdom of a wide array of experts. Instead of traveling from store to store, you can talk to them all under one roof! You can even bring photos of the rooms or areas of your yard that you want to makeover.

If you are thinking of buying a home in the area, you can click on the title of this post to see some of our great listings. Then you can apply some of the expert advice you pick up at the Home Show to decorate your very own home!

Design is Happening in NYC

If you're looking for design advice or would just like to learn more about design, you can head to New York City the week of October 15-21 to hear what some of the country's best and brightest minds in culture and design, including Issac Mizrahi, Chef Mario Batali and real estate maven Barbara Corcoran, are saying.

This is especially timely if you are planning to be in the Big Apple anyway because there are so many activities surrounding Home& Garden Magazine's first "Design Happening" celebration, you're sure to find a way to fit one of them into your schedule.

House & Garden teamed up with the city of New York for this premier Design Week that is slated to become an annual event.

There will be a mix of ticketed and free events and the forty-five programs centered on interior design, gardening, architecture, shopping and food are sure to stir your imagination. You'll return home with new ideas, ready to revamp your current home or you'll know just what to do with that property you've considered buying for a while now.

You can get expert tips on eco-chic shopping, join a walking tour of 19th and early 20th century Harlem townhouses, learn about how to plants can enhance your home or attend a discussion of how we can adapt design to our 21st century lifestyles.

If you do attend a ticketed event, a portion of the proceeds will go to charity. Visit the Design Happening website for the schedule and more details.