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Craving: Stained Glass Accents

Dec 10, 2009

Just like a good outfit, a house needs jewelry. I'm not talking about glitzy chandeliers and shiny objects everywhere, though if that's your style, go for it! I like my jewelry to be unique and colorful, well designed, with a story. In a home, stained glass achieves that effect.

The stained-glass "jewelry" in my house is installed in the wall between the master bedroom and the hallway upstairs. I found these two small antique windows on Ebay, $60 for both. They arrived in their original frames, rotting and chipped with about a hundred years of British history, according to the seller. Though the frames were beyond repair, the glass was perfect. And on winter mornings, when the sun rises over the hill and shines through the bare forest, then the bedroom—the windows glow like jewels. Because I only see the color of the glass in all its intensity when the light is just so, I never get tired of them. (I had to artificially light the windows for these photos. Very grey day in Northern Michigan today.)

Here are a few more rooms that use stained glass to great effect. Notice that you don't have to be blessed with a grand, old Victorian house to enjoy it. Find tips for incorporating it into your own home below.

Stained glass turns a set of pocket doors into a semi-private barrier. Photo: Roger Hardy/Sunset.

Frosted glass with just a touch of color brings more light into a kitchen from the adjacent room. Photo: Better Homes & Gardens.

Hang an antique window from chains within an existing window to get the look with more efficiency and less cost. Photo: Better Homes & Gardens.

These windows were hung as valances and inspired the whole design of this vintagey kitchen. Photo: Better Homes & Gardens.

Stained glass can obscure a crummy view. Photo: Better Homes & Gardens.

The look of stained glass is faked in a divided-light window by adhering colored vellum paper with tiny dots of rubber cement. Photo: Better Homes & Gardens.

This home is filled with art-glass accents like the one in the upper window. See more of the house on Apartment Therapy.

This door is a touch of architecture inside an Airstream trailer.(It's for sale! Details here.)

Beautiful simplicity in a transom window. Photo: maderbuilder.com.

HOW to enjoy stained glass without losing efficiency

Antique windows are not energy-efficient, period. Installing them on an exterior wall as the sole barrier between your climate-controlled home and the outdoors is not recommended. Here are a few things you can do:

• Install them on an interior wall, and appreciate them from both sides.
• Hang a framed stained-glass window in front of an energy-efficient window.
• Hang a large window from the ceiling as a room divider.
• Prop a stained-glass window against a wall and place an uplight behind it for a dramatic evening display.
• Face cabinets with stained glass.

A stained-glass window is an ideal inspiration piece for a room. Want some help creating the perfect room for a piece you love? No matter where you live, I can create an affordable design plan for a room that reflects your style. Check out my eDecor Plans (20% off through 12/31/09!) or just email me. —Diane

TAGS: stained glass windows accents antique energy efficiency

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December Deal: 20% off eDecor Plans

Dec 09, 2009

Yep, now is the time. If you want to be looking at a redesigned room in 2010, order a plan now and save 20%. I know it's a busy time of year, and you don't have to start the process now. You just have to order now. We can wait until later to get rolling with measurements and photos. On the other hand, if you really want a plan firmly in place as soon as the last bit of tinsel is taken down, I'll have it in your virtual hands within 7 days ("Keep It Simple" and "Spiff It Up") or 14 days ("Live Large"). Questions? I'm always happy to answer them. Just email me. I can help. —Diane

TAGS: e-decorating edecorating edecor plans discount coupon sale

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High & Low: Craft & Sewing Cabinets

Dec 09, 2009

Are you big into beading? Scrapbooking? Or maybe, like me, addicted to sewing (and the inevitable collecting of fabric that goes along with it)? Whether or not you have a dedicated space for your hobby, you need a way to organize everything and keep it both accessible but easy to hide when needed. It's a tall order. I'm still in the process of creating the perfect organizational system in my sewing room.

As charming as my vintage Parisian hamper is, it's a really poor way to organize fabric. I'm going to start hanging fabric pieces with pants hangers so I can see what I have. As for the rest—sewing machine, serger, notions, scissors, thread, patterns— it all fits nicely in this Sauder craft armoire I bought a couple years ago.

Sauder Harbor View Craft Armoire, $298 at furniturebuzz.com

For the price, this thing delivers. The quality is what you'd expect from Sauder: solid for the most part, but with a few chintzy-feeling components. The smaller shelves and backboard are made from that glorified cardboard stuff, and the casters are plastic. However, this piece has some surprisingly nice touches, such as the 270-degree hinges that allow the doors to swing almost flush with the outside of the armoire, the integrated triple electrical outlet, and the smart design of the slide-out desk.

I'm not fond of the country look of the doors or the distressed finish. I've been thinking about adding some sheet metal over the faux louvers on the doors where I can magnet some of my design ideas. But this piece changed the whole function of my sewing room, where formerly most tools and materials were stored in numerous boxes, stacked willy-nilly.

Here are a few more hobby storage solutions to put on your Christmas list! —Diane

Sonoma Craft Armoire from Bellacor, $207

Perfect for compact spaces.

Arrow Sewing Cabinet with Lift Mechanism, $330

Ideal for the occasional sewist or mender. Sewing machine lifts to free-arm height and lowers to store within the cabinet. The whole thing folds up to the size of a large bedside table.

The Workbox from The Original Scrapbox, $1,295

If you have a hobby that involves many, many small pieces, this is your armoire!

DIY: Convert an old TV Armoire or wardrobe

What to do with that hulking TV armoire now that you have a sleek flat-screen? Don't bother hauling it to the consignment store— no one is buying entertainment centers anymore. So give it a new life as a hobby center! Here's an inspiring photo from DIY Ideas magazine. Find more specifics on how to do it yourself here.

TAGS: craft sewing cabinet armoire convert tv entertainment center hobby center workspace hidden crafts scrapbooking storage

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Dwelement on the Cover of Energy-Smart Homes magazine!

Dec 04, 2009

Fine Homebuilding has just released its special issue "Energy-Smart Homes," and my house is on the cover! I haven't even laid hands on a copy yet myself. It should be on stands across the U.S. any day now, or you can buy it here. It's filled with ideas big and small for making your home more energy-efficient, including an article about our house and the energy-saving features we incorporated.

Energy efficiency was high on my list of priorities when I designed the house, so seeing it on the cover of this magazine is a real thrill. I put a lot of thought into siting and the use of passive solar features like deep eaves and proper windows for each side of the house. But it was our builder, Steinorth Fine Homes of Traverse City, Mich., who really deserves the credit for turning the design into a 5-star Energy Star house. We couldn't have executed the plan this well without their knowledge of proper insulation and ventilation, materials, mechanics, and all-around good green building.

(And let's hear it for Brian Confer for shooting that beautiful photo on the perfect October evening! It's even better in its original crop.)—Diane

Buy the Plans and Build Your Own Energy-Smart House

I've decided to make my house plans available for purchase! Check out the floorplan and get more details on buying plans here.

*Dwelement Home Design was formerly called Inspired Room Design.

TAGS: green building energy star efficiency taunton press fine homebuilding energy smart homes magazine cover special issue diane kolak house plans home design floorplans blueprints

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High & Low: Comfy Dining Chairs

Dec 03, 2009

Just in time for all those holiday gatherings, here's a rundown of comfortable dining chairs for every budget. Upholstered dining chairs make the dining room a place to linger, and they also give it a more luxurious look, but you don't necessarily have to pay a luxurious price. All of my picks have solid wood frames. Click the product name to buy.

From low to high …

Compton Dining Chair in Black from Pier One Imports, $100

A designer look at a very good price in birch and bonded leather. Clearance, grab 'em before they're gone!

Bal Harbour Dining Chair from Pier One Imports, $160

I thought about blogging this chair as a Style Steal. It looks like something from a high-end showroom. The faux leather upholstery is easy to keep clean.

Gus Modern Thompson Chair from Bobby Berk Home, $235

Clearly an Eames DCW copy, but at this knockoff price it's hard to resist. Solid oak frame with vinyl upholstery.

Noho Vivian Chair in Lapis from Home Decorators Collection, $269

Throw some whimsy into a serious formal dining room with this fun print.

West Elm Curved Upholstered Chair, $282 each in a set of 4

The luscious color palette could inspire the whole room. (Chair on the left is leather, $320 each in a set of 4.)

Voss Dining Chair from Neiman Marcus, $369

I love the curved plywood frame and graceful curves.

Sasha Side Chair from Crate & Barrel, $399

This chair is refined and chic without being fancy. It has a tailored feel that can work for formal or casual settings, and it works well as a piece that bridges the gap between traditional and modern styles.

Ansel Leather Dining Chair in Nutmeg from Room & Board, $449

There's no denying the lifetime quality of furniture from Room & Board. This leather chair is a classic that will never need to be replaced, even as your style evolves.

Terra Cotta Curved Banquette from Neiman Marcus, $1,999

Arrange a few of these around a large, round table for a casual, modern, cozy feeling. Each banquette seats 2 or 3 people.

Can't afford those "high" examples? Print photos of pieces you like and refer to them on trips to the thrift store or while browsing craigslist. Remember, color and finish are not important— they can easily be changed. It's all about the lines and the quality of construction. —Diane

Need a vision for your dining room? Want help getting your favorite look on your budget? I can help. Check out my affordable way to get professional design advice: eDecor Plans. It just got even more affordable! For the month of December only, eDecor Plans are 20% off. Questions? Email me!

TAGS: dining room design chairs seating comfortable upholstered low-maintenance affordable budget

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