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Showing posts from August, 2017

Meet the Couple Who Live Like It's 1890

Saying the Chrismans aren't your average married couple is kind of an understatement. Their alternative lifestyle isn't just turning heads — it's shaking up the Internet. And not for the reason you may think. Sarah, 35, and Gabriel, 37, have dedicated the last six years to living similar to the way people did during the English Victorian Era. Why, you ask? Well, it all started with Sarah. "It's always been my favorite time of history, and for a long time, I had heard a lot of the stereotypes that people say about the Victorian Era," she told ABC News' Nightline . "And I just assumed they were true because they were what everyone said. It never occurred to me to question them." And question them, they did. The couple has traded in every modern convenience for more 19th century gadgets and modes of transportation, including retro versions of the bicycle (yes, they're bringing back the high-cycle). Don Willot via This Victorian Life Eschewi

A Victorian-Boho Bedroom Makeover Fit for a Growing Daughter

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When Sharon Williams, the blogger behind Pretty Practical Home, set out to make over her daughter's bedroom, she knew she wanted it to be something she could appreciate now (at age 10) and all the way through high school: "My goal was to create a feminine and colorful room that would grow with my daughter."  One reason why she knew this update  had  to be done? Williams often used her daughter's room as a dumping site for furniture when she was working on renovations in other rooms (she even joked that it belonged on A&E's  Hoarders ). So she set out to transform it into a place where her very deserving daughter who beats to her own drum could sing loudly (metaphorically, that is).  Take a look at the before: Pretty Practical Home The first step in the process was letting her daughter choose between two different patterns for the curtains. Once she made her pick, Williams knew exactly what kind of interior decor she needed: Victorian boho. Yes, she made it

How Mary McDonald Designs Classic — and Elegant — Homes

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Victoria Pearson SENGA MORTIMER: Many people choose a decorator after seeing his or her work in a magazine, but you're on TV. Did you two connect through Million Dollar Decorators ? MARY McDONALD: Kimm Uzielli and I actually met in high school; we've been friends for decades. And coincidentally, I went to college with her husband, Alessandro, who is the great-great-grandson of Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company. When they married, started a family, and found this Georgian Revival in Beverly Hills, it was a natural fit to work together. We already had an aesthetic understanding. Throughout the project, we laughed all the time about those high-school years. KIMM UZIELLI: Mary has always been my inspiration. She's a fairy godsister! She just exudes style. And she gets who I am. I'm so glad I enlisted a dear friend for our home instead of simply hiring any decorator. What was the design assignment? MM: A decade ago, when it began, Kimm and Al knew they wanted

11 Sneaky Storage Spots You've Probably Overlooked

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There is a way to make every unused inch work harder. The Long Thread Under Your Ironing Board A traditional ironing board eats up valuable room with it's X-like frame (and who actually folds it up after every use?). This clever IKEA hack turns the top of a long table into an ironing space, and offers spots for baskets underneath. Everyday Enchanting Above Your Range Hood If you crave an architectural range hood, but don't want to lose your over-stove cabinet space, this DIY project is the perfect solution. Osie Moaks Under a Kitchen Island Don't bemoan an island without cabinets or drawers. Outfit the piece with some hooks or a rod, and you can still harness that helpful storage space. 4 Men 1 Lady Behind a Picture Frame When your bathroom mirror doesn't double as a medicine cabinet (or, if your hair products simply require an overflow zone), try these cool hidden shelves that display art when closed. Ana White On an Island's Side Squeeze every utlitarian in

4 Easy Changes That Save Energy at Home

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Getty It's wise to be conscious of your energy usage year-round, but it's especially pertinent come fall and winter, when you'll be cooped up in the house (with the heat pumping) more often. Here's how you can start the season off on an efficient note: 1. Change your routine with your appliances. Washing clothes in cold water can save you up to $$ a year in water-heating costs (and yes, your clothes will still get clean). Stop pre-rinsing dishes before you load the dishwasher — really, you don't have to do it — and always run a full machine. And don't overwork your electric stove's small burners by using them to heat large pots? Pair your burners and pots by size, and you'll keep $$ more annually . 2. Reconsider how you heat your home. Heating and cooling accounts for half of your home's energy usage. Start spending less by lowering your water heater's temperature. Many are set to 140 degrees but most homes don't need water hotter than 1

Our Definitive Ranking of the 16 Coziest Sitcom Homes

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Getty Sitcoms are visual comfort food, and not just because of the funny story lines and sweet characters — the sets also really make us want to curl up right next to the fake families that live in them. There's so much to love in all of these cozy spots, and we took picking a favorite very seriously (you know, for fun). What's yours? 16. Bewitched Getty Samantha and Darrin's apartment was welcoming, but had many typical midcentury appointments (perhaps because the magical family wanted to appear as normal as possible!). We do admire that floral couch, though (and her colorful kitchen!) — even though Endora had a way of making any room instantly chillier. 15. Happy Days Getty Mrs. Cunningham was tidy traditionalist, but her welcoming space (even with those dark floral curtains) could even make the Fonz show his softer side. 14. Family Matters Getty This Chicago set had all the trappings of a cozy multi-family space: right down to cozy blankets on a couch that practically

Deion Sanders' Former Mansion Has a Football Field Inside

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Courtey of Ebby Halliday If you've got $$$$$ million to part with, CBS Sports and NFL Network Deion Sanders' former Texas mansion, Chateau Montclair, can be yours – and boy, is it a stunner.  As if you didn't already know everything is bigger in Texas, feast your eyes upon the nine-bedroom, 10.5-bath house, which features six fireplaces, a home theater, bowling alley, basketball court, sauna, football field, and barbershop. Oh, and do you happen to have 14 cars? Because the garage can fit all of them. The home comes with its fair share of controversy: It was auctioned for under $ million in 2014, when Sanders was in the midst of a legal battle with ex-wife Pilar Sanders. Shortly thereafter, a realtor sued Sanders for allegedly withholding his commission. Parting is such a sweet sorrow – especially when you have to leave a home like that behind.   Check out the place below – and check out the listing here:  Courtesy of Ebby Halliday Courtesy of Ebby Halliday Courtesy of