Eclectic Homes

Lively Meets Thrifty at Southern California

Photographer Stephanie Wiley loved the look of her midcentury house, but its inside had not seen an update since its original structure, and the design felt too shut off for her loved ones. Wiley had the house gutted and remodeled on its same footprint, and created the modern cottage feel she wanted using a new […]

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Eclectic Homes

In Love with Pairs

If you haven’t noticed, we’re a couple of days shy of Valentine’s Day. My feed is blowing up with tales of red palettes, love tokens, and k-i-s-s-i-n-g. All this talk about coupling has me looking at house accessories and furnishings and their own laws of fascination. Maintenance to see my picks of items that were […]

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Eclectic Homes

5 Great Grasses for a New Lawn

Lawns have been coming under attack as of late — after all they are high-maintenance, chemically dependent thirst mongers, right? Yes and no. Much depends on which kind of grass you choose, and if you opt for the “wrong” kind for your region, you’re in for high water bills, a lot of mowing and an […]

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Eclectic Homes

Cool Tip: Mimic Stain Using a DIY Color Wash

Very few folks dislike the look of stained wood. It enriches the beauty of the grain and above time patinates into a rich sheen that entices you to run your fingers throughout the wood’s surface. However, the process of applying an oil-based stain is really a chore. First you will find the fumes, which need […]

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Eclectic Homes

How to Replace Window Trim

Whether I am flipping through a magazine or viewing the latest house series on TV, I am always drawn to a home’s trim. I really like the way the use of different architectural trim elements can totally change the feel of the entire house. Sometimes that may be useful, and sometimes it can be completely […]

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Eclectic Homes

Urban Townhouses Lighten Up

The gaps between single-family homes in the suburbs and in the city may be great concerning shape and massing, but in many ways they’re very similar. They provide the same sorts of rooms — living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.. And they use layouts that maximize sun and views. However, their different contexts […]

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Eclectic Homes

Modest, Modern and Zen Cabin in Maine

An energy-efficient contemporary cabin on a small Maine lobstering island is not a common sight. For many years, a few had a rustic seasonal cottage on Spruce Head Island that they appreciated on weekends. After residing in the nearby city of Rockland, they decided to construct their dream year-round residence on their cottage property. Enter […]

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Eclectic Homes

Kitchen Workbook: 8 Components of a Craftsman Kitchen

Craftsman design, which originated from the early 20th century, was a response to the mass-produced fussiness of the Victorian era, and its healthy simplicity still resonates today. And nowhere is its signature heat more clear than in the kitchen, the heartbeat of a Craftsman home. It’s not possible to separate form from function in a […]

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Eclectic Homes

Guest Picks: Gettin' Twiggy With It

Twigs, branches and logs aren’t just for cottages in the woods — they could be both homey in city lofts and suburban split-levels. Get twiggy with these bits which will get you back to nature, even in the event that you prefer heels to hiking boots. From cheap accessories to moderately priced light into a […]

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Eclectic Homes

Guest Picks: 20 Beautiful White Accents

It’s no secret that I love decorating with white. I may be mesmerized by colour from time to time, but I always return to white — it’s calming, it clears the head and it makes artwork seem fantastic. The important issue is to select pieces with sculptural shapes and tactile textures that bring interest to […]

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