• As you prepare to build or renovate your patio area, Better Homes & Gardens offers design suggestions to consider:
  • Instead of an attached patio, utilize a spot that offers the most scenic vista or stage an area near a large tree.
  • Water gardens bring beauty and serenity to your yard.
  • Build your own fire pit! You can decide the size, and it can be a patio focal point.
  • Instead of traditional lines, think curves. Gentle, circular arrangements with your patio stones and plants create a striking visual in your yard.
Trust in Trilogy
  1. Brass is the metal of the moment! From accent pieces to lighting, hardware and railings, brass is timeless and affordable.
  2. Elegant florals and graceful tapestry-look fabrics are in demand for every room.
  3. Computer-generated fabrics are all the rage on fashion runways, so look for these materials in upscale living rooms.
  4. Move over modern because everything old is new again. Vintage looks in the kitchen (weathered concrete, slate, irregular flooring) are popular design choices.
  5. Antique furniture and period pieces mix beautifully with your modern decor.
  6. “Gloss! High gloss! Shine! Polish! Lacquer!”  – Jeffrey Bilhuber
  7. Bright, hi-resolution computer-like colors are front and center.
  8. James Mont furniture is over-the-top and has been called chic-savage.
  9. Art pieces are no longer for the rich and famous. Investing in complimentary and affordable art for your home is trending.
  10. Man Cave decor goes high tech this year and includes media rooms full of boy toys, wine cellars, and even hibachi-grill islands for the chef in every man.
image via Flickr
  1. Activehouse, Austria and Denmark – Solar panels actually generate more energy than the families need.
  2. Malibu 5 Modern Beach House – Roof solar panels and hot water collectors are invisible in this home built from recycled materials.
  3. Enertia Home, Blue Ridge Mountains, NC – Solid-wood walls are energy efficient and the roof solar provide electricity.
  4. Cornell University Solar Decathlon Home – Solar power is the only energy source for this 800 sq.ft. home.
  5. SunPower – Westport, CT – A 5kw solar system using 225-watt solar panels works well on smaller roofs.
  6. SRS Energy Palm Springs, CA – Solar roofing tiles blend into the home’s tiled roof.
Floor plan for remodeled Baldy Townhome
  • Multi-spray showers are so wasteful they are banned by the DOE (Department of Energy). For your shower, choose low-flow fixtures.
  • Eliminate your bath tub to save water and space. But if a luxurious soak is one of your greatest pleasures, remember, less is more. Smaller, not spa-sized tubs are trending.
  • Older toilets can use as much as 5 gallons of water per flush! Install water-saving toilets for your bathroom.
  • As you design your new bathroom, choose natural materials. Other considerations include recycled material tile or post-consumer glass tiles. Avoid carpeting or hardwood flooring in your bath; waterproof materials and good sealing will save you repair costs 20 years from now.
image via Flickr
image via Flickr
Think about adding a reclaimed wood coffee table to your home
image via Flickr