Category: Design

  • Exterior Makeover

    —

    by

    jdemontravel
    in ,

    With a year to mull over paint colors and hardware you’d think we would get it right. As with every design project there is some trial and error. Unfortunately my budget is not a fan of trial and error. The current before and after of our home’s exterior makeover does show improvement, and for readers treat it like…

  • Green House Effects

    —

    by

    jdemontravel
    in

    Can luxury and green coexist? Mixing Hermes with Birkenstocks may be considered an unlikely coupling but the relationship works beautifully. In homes, when designing a new constructions the ideal is to arm with the principles of the luxury green building movement, which is taking off despite an unpredictable economy. In fact home installations during frugal times apply to the characteristics…

  • Our House

    —

    by

    jdemontravel
    in ,

    Two winters ago I dropped Luc off at preschool, which resulted in another mom saying that the house across the street from her was for sale. While I rather assist on building a dam than moving, there is nothing more enticing as a new home and project. (In the past 6 years this would be my…

  • Drop Shed Gorgeous

    —

    by

    jdemontravel
    in

    Our shed in the backyard with squatting gophers conflicts me. Shingles are falling off. The roof is in disrepair. Inside the stench of gasoline is so thick–light a match and it may very well blow up. The shed goads me. This is a designer project in the making. Then I run inside. Though the possibilities do excite–a backyard getaway, writer’s studio…

  • Take It Inside

    —

    by

    jdemontravel
    in

    For weeks I have been cleaning out yogurt jars and reintroducing my home with vintage vessels, all for showcasing the caprice of spring’s blooms. While the yard is at its most animated from the cherry blossom that stands guard before an old shed housing a family of gophers beneath, more on that later, you can’t keep all that…

  • A Tad Awkward

    —

    by

    jdemontravel
    in ,

    A new home mentality is if it’s awkward gut it. That’s like saying if you have a weird toe cosmetically enhance it. A little back history, I grew up in a 1920s Normandy where we were only allotted a 10-minute shower for fear the pipes would burst and used the laundry chute to terrorize the dog. I…