Martin Cooper

Better Home and Gardens just released the results of a national survey asking two distinct sets of homeowners what they want to change in their home for 2018. The 10th annual Home Factor survey polled two groups about home improvements they’d like to carry out this year: “luxury” homeowners who make more than $125,000 a year and “mass” homeowners who make less than $125,000 a year. They found that these two groups may not have the same money to spend, but they have the same priorities when it comes to upgrading their homes. Amy Panos, Home Editor at Better Homes and Gardens said, “Regardless of their income, homeowners care about creating an inviting home that has useful, upgraded spaces for family and friends to enjoy.” Here are the top 6 home improvements that are a priority for 2018: 1. Painting rooms Caliente is Benjamin Moore’s Color of the Year for 2018. Image: Benjamin Moore Painting a room is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to give a room a makeover. I...

We recently bought a few BILLYs. As the BILLY glass doors were disproportionately expensive, I decided to try my luck in online classifieds. Today, I picked up a pair of nice glass doors. They look more or less like the MORLINDEN model. IKEA items used: Post-2014 model BILLY, pre-2014 full glass doors BILLY + MORLIDEN | IKEA.com However, it quickly turned out that the holes on the new BILLY are way too small for the screws that came with the door. Dang! I searched online, and found a Hackers’ Help topic discussion on the opposite issue: New model doors on an older version BILLY . In my case, I am wondering if I can simply buy the new model screws (113287 for Oxberg doors?). Will they work? Will they (and the smaller holes on the Billy) be able to support the old door’s weight? Has anybody tried this before? Thanks for any input. ~ Ben The post Hackers Help: Old BILLY glass doors on new BILLY appeared first on IKEA Hackers .

Ready to embrace modern farmhouse design? We’ve got all the info you need to pull this look off. Image: Gardner Homes There’s a reason why so many of us continue to fall head-over-heels for farmhouse style. Its unique take on comfort and simplicity creates an aura that could make anyone feel at home, even if they’ve never set foot on a farm. However, some people shy away due to the assumption that this aesthetic can feel a little outdated. We’re going to prove those people wrong. Below is our guide to pulling off modern farmhouse design. Read over these tips and keep them in the forefront of your mind as you work on your own interiors. With any luck, you’ll achieve the perfect balance between classic comfort and modern flair. Practicality is the cornerstone of farmhouse style. Image: Ken Linsteadt Architects Put practicality first When you consider the ins-and-outs of farm life, it’s no surprise that practicality reigns supreme. While you should always consider functionality a...

If you love mid-century modern design, you’ll want to take a field trip to the new Knoll store in Los Angeles for a little inspiration. In conjunction with the company’s 80th anniversary, the new  Knoll Home Design Shop  Los Angeles will let you get your hands on the company’s latest contemporary furniture. Textiles and tabletop accessories from the world’s leading designers and architects will also be available. One of the room settings at the new Knoll Home Design Shop Los Angeles. All images courtesy of Knoll . No need to come with a designer — the new shop, which opened Jan. 18, is open to the public. Just a few blocks from the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, it’s the brand’s second retail location. The flagship midtown New York City location was a big hit. A chair wall at the Knoll Home Design Shop Los Angeles features a collection of its most iconic pieces, ready to take home. Be prepared to feel like you’ve just entered the coolest ...

Having built a small garden workshop I needed a tool bench for my stationary tools such as a band saw and drill-press . An earlier project had resulted in a simple mobile stand for the band-saw from off-cuts of plywood and MDF. However the drill-press was much heavier at around 25Kg so a more substantial tool stand was required. But crucially it still needed to be mobile. The BEKVÄM Kitchen trolley was the obvious starting point. It has two fixed castors and two legs making it both sturdy and mobile. It’s made from solid beech so will easily support the tool’s weight. And perhaps more importantly, it’s really inexpensive being just 35 GBP in the UK. To put that in perspective, the same quantity of beech from a timber yard would have cost at least 10 GBP more. Materials BEKVÄM Kitchen Trolley (302.403.48) 18mm (3/4”) MDF (375mm x 520mm) (x 2) 9mm x 32mm Pine Stripwood (1.4m approx.) 9mm x 100mm OSB board (390mm length approx.) 3.5mm x 16mm woodscrews ( x 10) Wood glue SKYDD ...

Need to decide between an interior designer and an interior decorator? Here’s how. Image: Paloma Contreras Design If you’ve ever tried to bring someone in to help with an interior design project, you know that finding your perfect match can be a task unto itself. For one thing, there are a number options to choose from, each with their own body of work. For another, there’s design lingo to sort through. Some call themselves an interior designer while others use the term interior decorator. What’s the difference? The last question is the one we’re tackling today. While these two professions are very similar, a few key differences can have an impact on your project. Keep reading to learn what sets the two apart and how to figure out which one will best suit your needs. Interior designers have a formal education and specific architectural skills. Image: Graystone Custom Builders, Inc. What makes an interior designer? Education:  To become an interior designer , you need to g...