There is a new trend sweeping the Midwest that proves my point about Michiganders being savvy with their usable square footage: outdoor living.
Beautiful exterior rooms complete with kitchens, seating and fireplaces that put traditional patio sets to shame are popping up regularly in Michigan, providing just one more chunk of square footage that families can enjoy within their property.

If you find yourself staring at the tranquil outdoor living space in a copy of Architectural Digest thinking “I can never have that”, you’re wrong. In a cost comparison, outdoor living space pricing starts below both basement refinishing and new construction. As with all projects, the cost increases based on the number of bells and whistles that are included. Overall, however, outdoor living is an excellent investment in additional square footage for your home.

So what makes an outdoor living space livable? Having a space that feels as comfortable outside as it is inside will lure your family and guests to enjoy all the amenities of your new exterior space. As with all living spaces, function is the biggest consideration. Asking the right questions about how the space will be used and by whom will set your space up for success and help determine the budget. Finally, incorporating the subtle details commonly found in interior spaces will help create a space that will rival the comfort of your living room. Check out these important elements of function and aesthetic details below to help create a successful outdoor living space.

Function
Consider the most frequent users of your outdoor space. If your immediate family is the intended audience, then plan a space large enough to comfortably seat them with the ability to grow the space with extra seating for parties and special occasions. However, if your intention with the new outdoor space is to establish your reign as “king of the grill” and feed the whole neighborhood, then planning a significantly larger space with segmented areas (seating, grilling, dining) is a better investment.

Consider the type of activities for your outdoor space. Would you like to eat dinner outside several nights a week? Do you need a full kitchen with a grill plus burners? Will a fridge be necessary? Would a fireplace be a nice focal point? Do you want to watch the game while you grill? Imagining all of the activities of the space will not only allow you to plan properly for each function, but also set the boundaries of your budget. A tricked-out kitchen with dining space, fireplace and a whole audio/visual system can max out easily at $50,000. Making a realistic list of your priorities will help establish what is feasible for the new space and the investment you’re willing to make.

Aesthetic Details
Consider using textiles to add visual contrast. Hanging decorative shirred panels made from a durable outdoor fabric like Sunbrella will soften the overall look of the outdoor space. Placing panels near the outer edges to frame the space can create an intimate look as well as shield you from the sun. Wood pergolas serving as a roof structure are perfect for hanging fabric panels in outdoor spaces.

Don’t forget the ambient and general lighting. Extend the life of your party well past sunset by providing quality ambient and general lighting in your new space. Ambient (also known as “mood”) lighting can be achieved by simple non-electric sources like candle lanterns and tiki torches. For a more permanent solution, Christmas tree lights on a string woven through a pergola ceiling will add some elegant drama to the space. For general lighting, a central ceiling fixture plus fringe lighting (one in each corner) can illuminate the space enough to play cards at a table or eat dessert without worrying about ingesting pesky bugs. For bonus function, add an outdoor ceiling fan with a lighting kit suspended from a pergola system. The added breeze will make super warm days bearable in your new space.

Many of my clients struggle with inspiration for color when preparing for interior painting in their homes. They’ll stand for hours in front of the intimidating wall of color strips at the paint store and instantly feel overwhelmed by the choices. No worries, though: paint color inspiration doesn’t have to come from the massive wall of rainbow vomit. Instead, I encourage you to look around, specifically to nature, for clues to your next awesome color scheme. My husband is a perfect example: he frequently uses images of colorful tree frogs to select the palette for his websites. “If it goes together in nature, I trust that it’ll probably look good on screen as well”, he says.

The boy is right (despite a mild case of blue/green colorblindness, but that’s a story for a different blog…) about nature and her palettes. One of the prettiest palettes I’ve ever seen was courtesy of a spectacular bruise I received during a 30 mile bike ride recently. I fell off the bike and landed mostly on my hip, causing two giant contusions. The coloration (maybe you should just stop reading here if you’re squeamish and go get yourself some weakness tissues) changed daily, starting at a subdued grey and morphing into a bright purple. Being the opportunistic color hound that my mama raised me to be, what did I do? I whipped out my iphone and used my Sherwin Williams ColorSnap App. Using close-up pics of the bruise, I created palettes that were soothing and, well, inspirational. I’m looking forward to recommending that palette to a client one day. When the client asks where I found the inspiration for those colors, I’ll serenely say “once I fell off my bike and had a massive contusion so painful I couldn’t walk for a day, but it was the most beautiful shade of plum….sigh”.

Since most people do not automatically jump at the chance to buy furniture at a thrift store, it’s hard to see the value of repurposing. By avoiding buying brand new, you can reduce waste that could negatively impact the environment. Another upside of rethinking the way you shop is adding hard to find character to your spaces.

There are plenty of things that can be used as alternate furniture pieces, but one of my favorite conversions is using an old door for a new table. A door already has a desirable shape for table use, and it adds character to your dining room while saving you money at the same time. Pictured to the right is an example of just how versatile and useful and old door can be. The photo is credit of Design Sponge, a website dedicated to unique design, and you can find tons of great ideas just like this one.

If possible, try to repurpose your furniture. Rethink how you shop and rethink how a seemingly insignificant detail of design can still have a good impact on the environment. Be sure to check back for the next part of the Green Blog Series, Recycled Design.

Lighting is an extremely important aspect of design simply because without lighting, you wouldn’t be able to see anything. Even with natural sunlight in a room, supplementary lighting is needed to create the proper feel for any space. Having considered just how important lighting is, it’s time to discover all of the options available so that you can get the most out of your space. Around the HDD studio, we call this the great light bulb debate. There are two main light bulb types to choose from: fluorescent and incandescent. Each has its pros and cons, and each can affect your electric bill.

The first issue in the great bulb debate is wattage, or the amount of energy that the blub uses when it’s turned on. Incandescent bulbs use 60 watts, while fluorescent bulbs only use 10 watts, making fluorescent more energy efficient. Second on the list is the lifetime of the bulb. Incandescent bulbs last for about 1000 hours, and fluorescent bulbs last for about 15,000. Another important thing to consider is cost, and there is a big difference. Incandescent bulbs can cost about $0.85 while fluorescent bulbs cost about $7.85. There is an obvious reason that fluorescents cost a lot more than incandescent bulbs: they last longer and are more energy efficient. In addition to the cost, there are also health issues you should consider. Some fluorescent bulbs contain mercury, a dangerous and toxic material to be exposed to, which means that if the bulb is broken at any point, you would need to contact a professional about how to clean it up. Incandescent bulbs do not pose a health risk. The final factor to consider is the quality of the light that each bulb gives off, and that has to do with the CRI (Color Rendering Index) rating, which measures how natural the light looks. Fluorescent bulbs have a poor CRI rating, while incandescent bulbs have high CR I ratings.

So, to summarize, choosing fluorescent means more initial cost but longer overall lifespan, not so great quality (depending on the space) but much more energy efficient which means you save money overtime, and a potentially hazardous cleanup. Incandescent bulbs have a lower initial cost but a much shorter overall lifespan,  better quality but not as energy efficient as the fluorescent bulbs which will cost you more money over time, and the cleanup is not hazardous.

There’s a lot to consider when thinking about reduced design, so be sure get all the facts straight before jumping into anything. And remember that Leslie offers a “Stump the Designer” session regularly, where you’ll have a chance to ask further questions about reduced design ideas. Be sure to check the HDD blog for the next installment of our Green Blog Series: Reused Design,  Rethinking How You Shop.

There are alternatives to these toxins, however. Sherwin Williams has recently come out with a new brand of interior latex paint called Harmony. This unique and environmentally friendly paint contains no VOCs, is packaged with recycled materials, is safe for kids’ rooms, and still maintains an excellent quality and durability. In addition to that, Harmony has anti-microbial properties which make the paint resistant to mildew. Harmony is virtually odor-free and available in primer and topcoat, as well as flat, eg-shel, and semi-gloss finishes. Sherwin-Williams also backs the paint with a Lifetime Warranty.

For all of the details concerning Harmony, you can visit the Harmony website, a part of Sherwin-williams.com. Be on the lookout for the next installment of Reduced Design, which focuses on lighting choices.

BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT!!

Trust me, there’s a very good reason behind the sudden push towards a green revolution. This planet’s very important yet fragile environment has been rapidly eaten away at and is starting to disappear altogether. Believe it or not, waste produced by humans (even you and I) are contributing to this ever growing problem. That’s why it’s extremely important to do all that you can to help turn this problem around. With all the hype to change some of the things you may do on a daily basis, most assume it is an easy transition. This, however, isn’t always the case. A lot of people run out of ideas as far as lifestyle change goes. Once they adapt to reusable grocery bags and maybe even choosing public transportation or riding a bike to work, their ideas seem to run out. Many figure that these sorts of things are all they can do to help save our planet.

Leslie and the HDD crew think that we can do better. That’s why Leslie has created a brand new seminar, Reduced Reused and Recycled Design, to help show as many people as possible that there are still a lot of things to consider when transitioning to a greener lifestyle. Making your home more energy efficient (and healthier all around) is another vital part of saving our environment.  So, in addition to the newest seminar, we here at HDD will be starting up an Earth Day inspired series of blog posts designed to help you get the most out of environmentally friendly design.  Be sure to check out designisademocracy.com for the new blog posts about choosing the best light bulb, finding eco-friendly and healthier paint, and many more great tips for living better in your home!

Through the years, I would occasionally flip through the book and remember my friend who passed away shortly after giving me the gift. One day when I was searching for interesting wall decor in my usual haunts, I had a thought: why can’t I use the book that I love so much as decor? Though I’ve been taught to respect the books I own and handle them with care, I couldn’t contain myself as I gladly and giddily ripped out the coolest images to make a collage for the naked space on my wall. Paint brushes, drills, chairs and sewing machines all made the final cut for my new project.

I took my favorite images to Hobby Lobby in East Lansing, MI where my dude Al hooked me up with custom frames and mats to compliment the images. I chose a total of 9 to make a square and cover the large space on my wall. Once hung, I was pretty proud of myself for having the guts to rip apart a special book. I think Vic would love it, though, especially since I think of her every time I see the awesome artwork that was her gift to me.

I’ve seen a frightening trend in the last few years of homogeneous, mass-produced, boring accessories filling the walls of client’s homes. Sure, it might look pretty, but it doesn’t speak to the qualities of the family who lives there. Unless you’d like to be categorized as “typical generic American family” and start replacing your photos with the original cheesy people who came with the frame, then I suggest a better option: Look for inspiration in your own life in order to accessorize. Your accessory choices should speak to three things: who you are, where you came from, and what you believe in. Ephemera (collectible paper items) is a fantastic source for décor: playbills, menus, magazine covers, and children’s drawings can all be framed to commemorate an event or a period of time that speak to one of the three hallmarks of personal décor. The use of unique ephemera accessories will instantly add personality to your home (and likely be great conversation pieces for your guests, too).

Accessorizing might seem like a lighthearted and trivial matter to some homeowners, but the opportunity to personalize spaces can make a world of difference when it comes to living well in your home. I encourage you to take a lesson from Corinne, a client who tragically lost her two teenage daughters in a recent auto accident. The most meaningful accessory piece I have ever created for a client was the detail work on the upholstered rocking chair that Corinne used to feed her baby girls. I cut the pockets from Emily and Chelsea’s jeans and attached them to the chair to create “mittens” on each arm. When Corinne sits in the chair, she slides her hands into the strategically placed mitten pockets and feels connected to her girls. Surrounding yourself with meaningful reminders of your family will not only make you feel comfortable in a space, but as in Corinne’s case, can also get you through the day.

My visit started with a quick walk-through of my new client’s mcmansion. During the tour, I asked what I could do to help them and received a common answer: “we want to find our style”. After noticing all the furniture squished up against walls and the artwork resting on the floor, I asked an obvious question: “how long ago did you move in?” Expecting an answer under a few months, I was shocked to learn that the clients had lived in their home for two years. “Oooookay”, I began. “Your sofa is along this wall because…..”, I prompted. “….the movers set it down there because it was heavy”, my client responded. “Mmmhmm. So your artwork is on the floor because…..” “….we haven’t bought a picture hanging kit with the right nails yet”.

Without any initial information from the clients to guide me, I presumed that the room I walked into during that consultation was indicative of the homeowners’ true style. Wrong! Luckily, the little forensic research question about their motivation for placing furniture and accessories explained to me that the haphazard and jumbled look was accidentally designed rather than intentional. Armed with that information, I was able to continue the consultation and guide the clients into a personalized style.

My lesson for the day is pretty simple: when you’re on a quest to find your style, use some forensic insight. The answers to the questions “why did I put this here?” and “why did I move that there?” might just help you make a plan for a new look.

Lillian, my four (going on forty) year old daughter, has a pretty sweet set-up at home. As an only child, she has dominion over the entire second story of our century-old farmhouse, including three awesomely-sized bedrooms and a full bath. Over the last year, we’ve been changing the spaces to function better for her (read: her stuff) and have involved Lil in each critical decision for the best outcome.

The second story’s three rooms functioned as follows: the largest is the super-cool playroom complete with custom painted murals of jungle animals. The middle one was Lil’s original bedroom, and the last was a good-sized guestroom for frequent family visits. Last Christmas, after having taken the hints from Lil that she had claimed the larger guestroom as her own (dragging her bedding to the other room after we went to bed was a good sign), we completely transformed the space into toddler heaven. Lil chose the color (Sherwin Williams 6709 “gleeful”), which she described as “happy spring grass”, the funky headboard (“polka dots, please, mama”), the artwork (“pictures of all my friends and Grandmary, please”) as well as all nine different fabrics which back the open hanging bookshelves (“let’s go to hovvvvy lovvvy and choose!”).

The result was a fantastic blend of all her favorite fabrics, colors and textures. I recall being amazed that she was able to look at different furniture pieces from the other upstairs rooms and determine what would fit in the new space. She vetoed the large storage armoire in favor of the loveseat. Her reason? “I have a big closet anyway, and I’d rather sit couch with a snack and watch tv in here”. Can’t argue with that.

Her design logic was applied to a recent space issue on the second floor. We have a busy summer planned with tons of family and friends visiting and realized we needed another bed to accommodate them. The logical choice was a daybed in the playroom. Knowing how design savvy Lil is about her spaces, I ran the plan past her. I was shocked to see her face fall and hear the words “no, you can’t” follow. “Why not, Bean?” I asked. She thought very hard for a minute, then replied “I feel it’s a space issue”. Picking myself up off the floor, I remembered that she’s four and that some of my clients couldn’t even vocalize that technical concern in such a succinct way.

After asking Lil more questions about her “space issue”, we determined that her fear was that I would position the bed on an angle in the playroom, much like we have the bed arranged in her bedroom. Once I explained that the daybed goes along the wall and wouldn’t eat into her playspace, she was amenable to the idea. “Okay, mama, let’s go pick out some fun bedding now…..”