The Easy Living Guide to Cozy Homes & Great Neighborhoods

Easy Living Guide to Choosing a Blacksplash

2009-08-11T04:59:00.000-07:00

The granite counters are in and Karen's new kitchen is almost installed. Now that its time to choose a backsplash, she's a little overwhelmed by the many choices.

Since this is a finishing touch, it's best to keep it quiet, this kitchen is not about a "statement" backsplash.

Unless it’s a B&W or a dark wood kitchen, backsplashes generally look better when they’re in the same color family as either the cabinets or the counters. Karen's backsplash will fit if it takes its cues from the color of her granite and cabinets. She can’t go wrong with a tumbled marble or tile that’s the same shade or just a bit lighter than the cabinets or the granite counter.

What to avoid: a backsplash that makes a distracting stripe around the middle of the room- it’s likely to look dated in a few years. Instead, have fun with trendy fabrics or dishes, they’re a lot less trouble to change!

2009-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

Coming Soon: The 3 Bears Guide to Quick & Easy Organization

Image courtesy of : http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/ford/71.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.victorianweb.org/art/illustration/ford/71.html&usg=__jO5GgQt2GCb2W_jBBd5G_o6WkAE=&h=301&w=576&sz=71&hl=en&start=16&um=1&tbnid=ErQ934QYaH7CDM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthree%2Bbears%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den-us%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1 Scanned image by George Landrow

Photos of a Not So Big Home Designed By Melanie Taylor Architecture

2009-07-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of spacious rooms and lots of cozy nooks make this family home in Cheshire, Ct, one of my personal favorites.

A Home Captures (or Looses) Our Hearts

2009-07-21T06:34:00.000-07:00

Part 2: Kate continues our tour of an attractive house that's near our office. As an architect she loves its looks but as a future mother, she has concerns. What do you think? For photos of cozy homes & gardens won't you friend us at Facebook; we're Melanie Taylor Architecture and Interiors.

Now back to Kate: I quickly realized that a couple could easily live here, that this house would make a good “starter”. Throw in a couple kids and the living situation would get messy. One or two babies would be acceptable, but not for long. In just a few years, the children would outgrow the house.

After looking over the details and placement of things, I sense that this house was designed by a man. The detail is beautiful with bamboo floors, dark marble, and chrome hardware. It would make a great bachelor's pad but speaking as a woman who evaluates a home as a place for a young couple staring a family, I would have to change some things around to make it more comfortable.

First of all, the front entrance is a clear glass door. Beautiful, but not very protective or private. Since the first floor area is small, the light through the door really lit up the space. An unwanted guest can see right into the house.

As women/mothers most of us instinctively want a front door to guard our families. Since two other windows at the front of the house also bring in light, the door of my choice could include translucent glass. I’d prefer that no one be able to see clearly in or out.

This house is located in a historic “streetcar suburb” where the houses are very near to one another. A side window within the kitchen peers directly at the side door of the “twin” house next door. This "Peeping Tom Effect" is repeated again upstairs IN THE BATHROOOM!!!!! {SHRIEK this with fear & horror!) The fact that the two houses were obviously constructed by the same builder, makes it all the more surprising that visitors waiting at the neighbor’s door see right into this house. Why not eliminate the window and use the space to make an L-shaped kitchen? As for the bathroom window, I still have a sore throat from shrieking about it!

Things got really interesting in the bedrooms.

To be continued....

For more about cozy homes won't you friend us at Facebook; we're Melanie Taylor Architecture and Interiors.

From A Woman's Point of View, Why This Pretty Home Isn't a 10?

2009-07-06T18:36:00.001-07:00

Welcome, Melanie Taylor here. I'd intended to write this myself but when we visited the house we're blogging about, architect intern Kate Daugherty reacted passionately. So she's writing! BTW Kate loves children and writes from the perspective of a future mother. For more about cozy homes, won't you friend us at Facebook: we're Melanie Taylor Architecture and Interiors,

Now, Heeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeesssss Kate! (Imagine a drumroll)

From the instant I saw it, I liked this small and cozy house. It had great “curb appeal” and upon entry through the side door, I really enjoyed the crisp and fresh feeling of the bamboo floors. My first thought was that its size is perfect for a single person, or couple starting a family.

My initial rating of the house quickly slipped to an 8 out of 10. Why not a 10? As I looked arou

nd the first floor, I instantly realized that the only defined space was the kitchen. The rest, the space that will take on the

responsibilities of entryway, living room, and eating area was characterless open space.

While entering and living would certainly be possible…tight, but possible, there’s no space for a kitchen. The kitchen has an island with stools, an impractical arrangement for a family with young children. The island acts as a divider decisively distinguishing the kitchen from the living space, but for a family to live comfortably, one wishes that the kitchen had been designed more thoughtfully.

The kitchen is the house’s main attraction. This particular kitchen would be great for a bigger house. However, considering that the house is small, just 31’-8” x 17’-4”, the kitchen is overwhelming. Since the first floor is an open space that encompasses a kitchen, eating area, living room, and dining room all in one, the existing kitchen is very “loud”. The island and stools make it well suited to entertaining; great for a bachelor. The house is very masculine.

The sink is located in the island and the stove is against the kitchens back wall. A sink on the back wall with a window would ensure that the backyard would be visible to a mother’s eye while she was at the sink. The stove would be placed within the island. Its overhead hood, possibly combined with a pot rack would be very decorative and act as a better divider.

For more about cozy homes, won't you friend us now at Facebook: we're Melanie Taylor Architecture and Interiors. Lookin' forward to seeing you there!

To be continued....