Let There Be Light

AND DEPTH TO YOUR LANDSCAPE WITH OUTDOOR LIGHTING.


A layered lighting plan can significantly affect a home’s curb appeal, ambience, and safety. Take this home, for example. A new terrace and entry staircase provide gracious space at the front exterior, but adding the right lights completes the overall look. The previously dark steps, which were difficult for guests to navigate, are transformed into warm and welcoming stairs. In the evening, the garden beckons with a soft glow. Now the terrace is much more inviting—encouraging relaxation and entertaining throughout the day and in all seasons. For this home, the first step in the plan was to have a contractor build 12-gauge low-voltage wire into the front porch and install electrical boxes in the brick during the renovation. Then the homeowners installed most of the new outdoor lighting featured here—surface lighting, pathway lights, and floodlights—in just one weekend. With a layered approach, the entire effect proves seamless and truly celebrates the space.



1.
Round surface lighting illuminates the porch’s brick columns. These lights also can be mounted high in an arbor and aimed downward for a soft, tranquil glow.


2.
Pathway lights planted in the ground increase safety by brightening the steps and landing pads. Casting circular pools of light, they work best along walkways and around flowerbeds and low shrubs.


3.
Floodlights placed below several trees provide drama in the scene by highlighting the trees and casting the branches’ graceful shadows on the house at night. Aiming a ground-mounted floodlight upward can create a focal point or add visual interest.


4.
Half-brick lighting built into the brick showcases the round shape of the porch and lights the staircase for safer stepping. These fixtures also can be set in the risers of deck stairs for a similar effect.



Do-It-Yourself Low-Voltage Lighting

8 round surface lights (black, #134636)
6 pathway lights (black, #132597)
4 floodlights (black, #133542)
7 half-brick lights (black, #98677)
transformer (300-watt, Power Pack, #135708)
2 packages of outdoor wire (12-gauge, #157919)

GARAGE A PLACE TO SPREAD OUT

This family was running out of room inside the house, so they took a fresh look at their blank-slate garage. The large space was mostly unused for anything beyond parking the car. They evaluated their needs and decided to create a new pet area and a corner for the kids’ toys, helping to keep the indoors cleaner and clutter-free. Now the garage is the perfect spot to bathe the family dog, and the children can play outside of the house, even if it’s rainy, in the bright corner dedicated to storage and safety. Consider your own family’s needs—office, laundry, or craft area. You may have more room than you think.


Personality With Purpose

New products and ideas for the garage make it easy to design comfy spaces that work hard too.

Today’s garage has come a long way from yesterday’s version. What used to be simply a place to store cars, and possibly some garden tools and equipment, has evolved into a multitasking
space customized to fit your needs. Living space can be tight, so it makes sense to ask more of your garage. When the cars are parked outside, a garage can double as a workout room, a crafts area, a space for pet care, or a place to gather for a good game of cards. Think about designing your garage for these multiple uses. For a successful modern garage, storage and safety are two important aspects to consider. Check out products that allow for storage on the walls and even the ceiling. And be sure that anything dangerous to a child or animal is carefully locked away and out of reach.

Once safety concerns are answered, it’s possible to have as much fun planning this space as any room in the house.





CABINETRY
base and wall cabinets (white; two-door base cabinets, #171175; three-drawer base cabinets,
#215819; wall cabinets, #163077)

TILE
backsplash (6- x 8-inch, American Olean, Ice White, #31675, #239383)
mosaic tiles (2-inch, slate, #72126)
tile countertop (12-inch, multicolored slate, #131691)
gray grout

PLUMBING
utility sink (American Shower and Bath, #187945)
faucet (AquaSource, #242498)

LIGHTING
outdoor ceiling fixture (Sea Gull Lighting, Model 8869-98, special order)

PAINT
walls and ceiling (Valspar Ultra Premium, Gravity 4005-1B, eggshell)
floor (Quikrete Epoxy Garage Floor Coating, gray, #224198)

ACCESSORIES
pet door (Ideal Pet Products, medium, #35911)

STORAGE
ClosetMaid MaxLoad Shelving (4-foot x 16-inch shelves, #114846; 40-inch hang tracks, #81166; 84-inch standard track, #117896; 16-inch brackets, #77570; end caps, #116167)
galvanized utility bin (#66661)
wire bins (#241041)
fabric drawers (ClosetMaid, Hunter Green, #161107)
3-tier wire shelf (Shelving By Design, #71485)

LIGHTING
3-light track light (Portfolio, #119700)
airplane pendant (Portfolio, #205842)

PAINT
walls (Valspar Ultra Premium; Blue Eyes 4007-8A; Metropolis 4005-1C; Wellspring 4007-8B;
Anthem White 7006-24; eggshell)
floor (Quikrete Epoxy Garage Floor Coating, gray, #224198)

FLOOR TILES
2-foot-square foam linking mats (#168520)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market.
**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.

The Best of Both Worlds

This couple adores their Craftsman bungalow, and the outdated master bath was the home’s only flaw. “The existing bath, with its plastic whirlpool tub and pale pink tiles, never fit the spirit of our house,” the homeowner says. With this remodel, the combination of vintage style and modern luxuries creates a bath that blends perfectly with the rest of the home. What’s vintage? Tiny white floor tiles, white subway tiles, and mirrored console tables. Luxury? Think heated floors, towel warmers, and an innovative shower system.

The couple couldn’t be happier with the brand-new, yet 1900sinspired, space. “It’s luxurious, but design appropriate, as if it’s always been here.”


Spa Quality

1 The innovative shower features two showerheads and four wall tiles that spray water. A frameless glass door lends a clean design.

2 This shower control maintains the bath’s classic look.

3 A handheld showerhead is great for bathers of different heights.

4 On the shower’s digital interface, the homeowners can specify their preferred bathing experience, including desired water temperature.




TILE
walls and shower (American Olean, Field Tile, Gloss White SL10, special order)
floor (American Olean, White A13, special order)
gray grout

PLUMBING FIXTURES
sink faucets (Kohler, Bancroft, #188739)
(Kohler, Kathryn, special order; tabletops, Model K-3020-O; sinks, Model K-2330-G-O; legs, polished chrome, Model K-6839-CP)
DTV digital interface (Kohler, Model K-683-1CP, special order)
showerhead (AquaSource, #234818)
body sprays (Kohler, polished chrome, Model K-8003-CP, special order)
shower door (Kohler, Purist, Crystal Clear, Model K-702012-L-SH, special order)
toilet (American Standard, #238691)

PAINT
walls and trim (Valspar Ultra Premium, Cream Delight 7002-14, semi-gloss)

LIGHTING
sconces (Tiella, Model 800SCSHDWN, special order)

DOORS AND WINDOWS
doors (Masonite, MDF, one panel, special order)
window (Pella, Architect Series, special order)

ACCESSORIES
door hardware (Gatehouse, satin nickel, #226037)
cabinet knobs (polished chrome, #224618)
humidity-sensing bath fan (Broan, #256739)
wooden blinds (2-inch, #42201)
towel warmer (WarmaTowel, Model H562PC, special order)
floor mat, #195284; programmable floor stat, #213932)
towel rings (brushed nickel, #75968)
wastebasket (#213862)
sink accessories (toothbrush holder, #170116; soap dish, #169881)
closet organizers (white, #12308)
baskets (#211164)
fabric bins (#145835)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market.
**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.

NORDIC LIGHT

Sweden is not the first place a garden designer would turn to for inspiration. Can there really be a rich gardening tradition in such a rugged, forested country that shares its northern latitudes with Iceland? Even in the south, summer temperatures rarely rise above the 70s. But the answer is yes, of course—Sweden’s international reputation for creative design extends to contemporary gardenmaking, and Ulf Nordfjell is one of Sweden’s foremost garden designers. Nordfjell moved from the study of ecology and biology to a stint as a ceramic artist and then to landscape architecture. He found his niche as a designer of modern outdoor spaces that are profoundly influenced by a feeling for nature.




Southern Sweden, fertile and gently undulating, has an aristocratic tradition of country manor houses, with French/Italian-influenced formal gardens of clipped hedges and flowerbeds near the house and estates modeled on the English landscape park on the outer perimeters.The farming community, marked by the intense struggle with an extreme climate, has no use for luxurious formal gardens—but there is a strong cottage tradition of growing vegetables and flowers.The farther north you travel in Sweden, the more the concept of gardening dissipates into nature “managed” as a transition between the house and its surrounding countryside. Ecological sensitivity to the nuances of rock, moss, water and trees is characteristic of such cold-climate “gardens”—and all of these streams meet in the work of Ulf Nordfjell.




The Gustavian style, still popular today, is also a favorite of Nordfjell’s—and another example of the way Swedish designers through the ages have taken international high design and fused it with folk traditions in a way that dignifies both.This 18th-century aesthetic was named for King Gustav III (1771-1792) who brought the style ofVersailles to Sweden.The ornate French originals—architecture, furniture and interiors—evolved by a process of severe simplification into a style of rural buildings painted rust red, white-painted wooden furniture and airy interiors characterized by graceful symmetry. As a garden designer, Nordfjell is influenced by his Swedish aesthetic heritage, but his first love andinspiration is the natural landscape. Rather than try simply to reproduce it in his work, he aims to extract its elements: “I try to distill a feeling for the landscape into the structure of the garden and do it in a naturalistic way,” he says. He uses Swedish materials, which speak the international language of granite, steel and timber, but the characteristically “Swedish” aspect to his approach is that he emphasizes functionality, natural beauty and simplification rather than high contrast (such as vivid colors or extreme forms).



As for any garden designer, every project sets up a demanding interplay between planting design and structure—and Nordfjell handles both very well. Contrast his summer cottage in northern Sweden, firmly in the rural tradition of cottage gardening.The heavily planted slopes down to the rushing Ore River need intensive upkeep, but the effect is naturalistic, with long views across the forested valley and beyond incorporated into a rich horticultural tapestry.The style is right for the site and the owner.

The setting for the Farstorp estate in southern Sweden is just as spectacular—but the design approach here is more pared-down and structured. Again, long views are incorporated into the garden—Nordfjell opened up the dark forest to soften the line between the garden and the wild and bring the natural landscape closer to the house. The new water garden and its pebble beach have helped make the garden feel more personal by bringing the scales of domestic and wild into balance.

Artful Endeavor

THE PERSON: Married mother of two wants to turn a seldom-used storage area into a studio that will satisfy her artistic drive. She sells some of her wares at local shops and galleries.

THE SPACE: A lively circle motif is upbeat and fosters creative energy. A palette of pink, white, and brown provides a cheerful backdrop for the artist’s peppy paintings. Products such as window boxes and peg-board are used in clever ways for organized storage that’s easily accessible.




1 The homeowner’s new table gives her ample room to work. A sheet of peg-board on the wall puts the vertical space to good use, and handy peg hooks keep the artist’s gear organized and within reach. A shelf below the peg-board provides an
additional storage area.

2 The homeowner added a utility sink to a nearby bath for rinsing off her hands and paintbrushes.

3 Painted metal planters and window boxes mounted to the wall create ideal places for supplies and finished artwork.


DESK PROJECT
1 door (30-inch plywood door, unfinished, #10678)
4 legs (Colonial turned post with ball, #42602**)
2 (10-foot-long) 2 x 4s**
desk accent (Wall Pops, Lots of Dots, Pink Blox, #244255) paint (Valspar Ultra Premium; Safari Beige 6006-2B; Sawyer White 7002-16; semi-gloss)
4 (3/8- x 31/2-inch) lag bolts
1 box (21/2-inch) screws
1 box (21/2-inch) Kreg pocket hole screws, coarse thread
1 box 8d finishing nails
4 (3/8-inch) washers
wood glue (Titebond II, #41217)
paintable all-purpose adhesive caulk
primer (American Tradition by Valspar, #83181)

ORGANIZATION
shelves (24-inch, white)**
shelf (36-inch, white, #61129)
peg-board panel (#15484)
peg-board hooks (#62612)

LIGHTING
fluorescent ceiling fixtures**
pendants with glass shades**

PAINT
walls and trim (Valspar Ultra Premium, Sawyer White 7002-16; walls, eggshell; trim, semi-gloss)
accent paint (Valspar Ultra Premium; Homestead Resort Parlour Raspberry 1006-3B, semi-gloss)
floor paint (Quikrete Multi-Surface Concrete Stain, Teddy Bear, #224169**)
metal primer (Rust-Oleum, #130950)

SINK AREA
utility sink (American Shower
and Bath, #72672)
shelf with hooks (#165352)
green planters (5-inch, #178106)
soap pump (#243386)

EXTERIOR DOOR
door (32-inch, Reliabilt, #21698)
entry knob (Kwikset, Hancock, Venetian bronze, #34706)
dead bolt (Kwikset, Ultra Single Cylinder, Venetian bronze, #36229)

ACCESSORIES
cedar window boxes (#148475)
metal planters (24-inch, #20222)
rug (Wooly Bully, natural, #243047)
drapery panels (white, #59738)
tension rod (#85713)
pink and striped bins (#102545)
pink fabric drawer (#148646)
pink planter (7-inch, #145924)
rattan trash can (#130260)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.
**Availability varies by market.

Storage by Design

THE PERSON: Up-and-coming interior designer seeks room for storing supplies, additional desktop space, and a comfortable, inviting area to meet with clients.

THE SPACE: A townhouse basement is turned into an edgy model of organization where cabinets and shelving, such as industrial garage units, are used in new, successful ways.

“A colorful space with lots of texture and patterns inspires creativity.”


Urban Home

Homasote walls offer workspace and provide soundproofing for this urban space. Also, Homasote is made from post-consumer recycled materials, and it’s recyclable.




1 A laminate countertop, placed on top of the storage units, provides a work surface with a splash of color. The concrete floor is painted a complementary blue, and carpet tiles create a stylish, low-maintenance rug. The individual tiles can be replaced if they get stained or tattered.

2 Sawhorse brackets, lumber, and a laminate countertop yield a customized desk. The designer cut the 2 x 4s into eight 28-inch pieces and two 24-inch pieces. The countertop will rest securely on the 2 x 4s and sawhorse brackets, but you can use L-brackets for extra support, if needed.

3 Metallic-finish peg-board creates the perfect spot for hanging supplies.

4 Cool blues and purples enhance the silver-toned storage units in the room. The cabinets’ graphic texture is mellowed by the whimsical countertop pattern and the varying floor stripes.



CABINETRY AND SHELVING
4 base cabinets (Gladiator, steel, #30622)
2 large cabinets (Gladiator, steel, #30928)
5 (4-tier) galvanized steel shelving units (#200482)
1 (4-drawer) rolling cabinet (Kobalt, black, #207312)
laminate countertop (Formica
Laminate, Skylark Boomerang, Model 6940-58, special order)

SAWHORSE DESK PROJECT
laminate countertop (Formica Laminate, Skylark Boomerang, Model 6940-58, special order)
2 sets sawhorse brackets (#128355)
4 (8-foot-long) 2 x 4s†
paint (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Sailor Blue EB7-1, gloss)

LIGHTING
table lamps (Portfolio, chrome, #168755)

PAINT
wall (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Globe Thistle EB30-3, satin)
wall and Homasote board (Valspar Signature Colors, Eddie Bauer Home, Honeysuckle Bloom EB13-4, satin)
floor stain (Quikrete Multi-Surface Concrete Stain, Lazy River)

FLOORING
carpet tiles (FLOR, special order; Orchard, Model FL26-63; Geranium,
Model FL21-14; Mixed Media, Model FL22-22)

ACCESSORIES
Homasote boards (#14101††)
5 (4- x 8-foot) peg-board panels (brushed stainless, #211606)
peg-board hooks (#62612; #62677)
galvanized utility bins (#66661)
fabric drawers (blue, #154859; green, #163278)
drop cloths (#74135)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market.
**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.
† Availability varies by market.
††Available by special order in some stores.

Room To Grow

THE PERSON: Pilates teacher and studio owner desperately seeks space that accommodates staff, clients, children, and the occasional pet.

THE SPACE: Vertical storage systems allow clients and instructors to organize their things, while simultaneously creating room for other tasks. A comfy bench and a hospitality area offer the perfect spots for breaks between classes. The soft blue palette inspires a feeling of tranquility.



Zones Create Flow

1 Separating the room into zones helps create better traffic flow. Easy-to-clean jute rugs help define the spaces. At this end of the room, there’s a place for the baby’s crib and a small seating area. The floor pillow was made from drapery panels cut in half crosswise. Then, the two pieces were hemmed, wrapped around a foam insert, and secured with grommets and rope.

2 A desk fills the space at the opposite end of the room. For the desktop, grass-cloth wallpaper was attached to plywood using wallpaper paste. The board is attached to two stackable shelving units and topped with a sheet of acrylic. To create the bulletin boards, cork was mounted to fiberboard squares using spray adhesive and edged with duct tape. The boards are attached to the wall with self-fastening strips.



STORAGE UNITS
shelving (ClosetMaid, maple; 9-cube organizer, #163256; 25-cube stackable shoe organizer, #103250; 30-inch vertical shelf stackers, #59969; 24-inch horizontal shelf stacker, #66417; cube door, #163273)
wire baskets (ClosetMaid, #85799)
small taper bins†
track shelving (#107717) with
maple shelves†

HOSPITALITY CENTER
compact refrigerator (Frigidaire, Silver Mist, #235882)
countertop microwave (GE, stainless, #88833)
coffeemaker (Cuisinart, #119479)

LIGHTING
lamps (Portfolio, brushed nickel; floor, #168721; desk, #33105)

PAINT
walls (Valspar Ultra Premium, Blanched Pine 7005-15, satin)
walls (Valspar Signature Colors, Waverly Home Classics, Sky WV32007, satin)

DESK PROJECT
vertical shelf stacker (30-inch, ClosetMaid, maple, #59969)
grass-cloth wallpaper (#29148)
1 (48- x 96-inch) sheet of 15/32-inch plywood††
1 (36- x 72-inch) sheet of acrylic (#11289)
wallpaper paste (#52892)
1 package of 2d nails

CORKBOARD WALL PROJECT
2 (48- x 96-inch) pieces of 1/2-inch fiberboard
cork liner (#34744††)
white duct tape
spray adhesive
self-fastening strips (#20026)
white spray paint

BENCH PROJECT
3 (24- x 48-inch) sheets of 3/4-inch birch plywood††
3 (8-foot-long) pieces of 1/4- x 3/4-inch screen-bead moulding
6 (4-inch) rounded taper table legs (#842)
6 straight-top mounting plates (#838)
1 box (#18 x 3/4-inch) brads
1 box (#17 x 11/4-inch) brads
1 box (11/4-inch) Kreg pocket hole screws, coarse thread
paintable wood filler
wood glue (Titebond II, #41217)
primer (Kilz, #45553)
paint (Valspar Ultra Premium, Dark Kettle Black 4011-2, semi-gloss)

ACCESSORIES
rugs (5- x 8-foot, jute with border, #206171)
blinds (Ambria, Fruitwood, #21337)
drapery panels used to make pillows (Aspen Twill; linen, #170152; khaki, #170153; black, #170170)
fabric shower curtain used to make pillows (white waffle, #126548)
grommets used for floor pillow (#45326)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.

**Does not include lead time for special-order materials.
† Selection varies by market.
††Availability varies by market.

Close At Hand

Reinterpret a stair railing by turning it into a smart linen rack.


1. Select a 4-foot length of iron railing (#14153*). If desired, spray-paint the
railing, and allow to dry.

2. To protect your floor, cut gripper pads (#54359) to fit the bottoms of the vertical rails. Then attach the pads.

3. Lean the railing against the wall. Apply black spray paint to brass cup hooks (#61015), and let dry. Attach the hooks to the wall using plastic anchors (#43792) corresponding to the height of the top rail. Secure the rail on the hooks.

4. Drape bath linens over the balusters of the railing.

* Availability varies by market.

Measuring Up

Track your child’s growth with this painted board.


1. Sand and wipe clean a (6-foot-long) 1 x 6. Apply two coats of paint using a small roller. Allow each coat to dry.

2. Using a pencil and a tape measure, lightly mark each foot and the half and quarter points. Paint the marks using a small brush and black paint in a flat finish. Allow to dry.

3. Secure a number stencil (#106943) next to each foot mark, and stencil using black paint. Remove the stencil, and touch up as needed. When dry, seal the entire board with clear Polycrylic spray (#164683).

4. Hang the growth chart on your wall by attaching a self-leveling picture hanger (#52716) to the back.

5. Prime with spray primer (#165953), and then spraypaint mending plates (found in the hardware department). Allow to dry.

6. Write the date or the child’s age on each plate using a permanent marker. Secure each plate to the board using upholstery nails (#58201).

Sit and Stow

This window seat fulfills two needs—more efficient storage and a comfy place to relax.

Earthy tweed-look drapery panels add warm color and texture to the space. Two extra panels with a tapestry design were used to upholster a seat cushion for the project. Any leftover material can be used to make pillows or curtain tiebacks.

A window seat can be the perfect spot to curl up with a good book; it also can add functional storage space. Sometimes, a room’s existing architecture begs for such a project. In this bedroom, the open area between two closets was a catchall for items such as clothes, blankets, extra chairs, and gear. The new built-in window seat provides concealed and organized storage. It also gives the space a substantial focal point and makes the bedroom not just a place for sleeping, but for relaxing too.



LUMBER AND MILLWORK
3 (8-foot-long) 1 x 3s**
1 (8-foot-long) 1 x 8**
3 (48- x 96-inch) sheets of 3/4-inch birch plywood**
1 (8-foot-long) piece of 3/4-inch shelf edging**
2 (7-foot-long) pieces of 3/8- x 11/4- inch primed pine stop moulding†

HARDWARE AND SUPPLIES
1 box (21/2-inch) wood screws
1 box 6d finishing nails
1 (1/2- x 72-inch) continuous
hinge (brass, #196296)
wood glue (Titebond II, #41217)
paintable wood filler
paintable latex caulk
primer (Kilz, #45546)
paint (Valspar Ultra Premium,
Statuesque 7002-5, semi-gloss)

DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES
curtain rod (#169456)
drapery panels (Designables,
Caspari, Curry, #245171)
drapery panels used for seat
cushion (Designables, Raja,
Paprika, #245153)

* Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of tools.
**Availability varies by market.
† Available by special order in some stores.