With the onset of fall and chilly mornings, our motivation to pop out of bed each workday and dash to the shower wanes. Many of would prefer to stay snuggled under the warmth of our bed covers. However, there is a way to extend the snuggly, warm feeling in your bathroom while simultaneously providing a […]
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Each issue of our magazine showcases new or remodeled homes, including our design series, appliances, and the latest in kitchen and bath features. These articles are only a sample of what we have in West Sound Magazine each issue — subscribe to the print version today to see all of what we have to offer!
Posted inAt Home, Blog
Kitchen Counter Corners — To Use or Not To Use?
I recently read a great WestSound Home and Garden Magazine article by Molly Erin McCabe, “Much Ado About Countertops.” The topic of countertops has fascinated me for some time — a level, utilitarian surface that ends unobstructed or with a wall. How does one design or decide what items to place on kitchen counter corners? […]
Posted inFeatured, Home
Designing and Building with Chemical Sensitivity in Mind
Most design projects begin by drafting and prioritizing the client’s wish list. At the top of the list you will typically find more storage, better lighting, updated finishes, etc. However, when a homeowner has multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), the priorities change, with indoor air quality and chemical-free maintenance hitting the top of the list. As […]
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How to Select the Proper Seat Height for Best Comfort
At a restaurant in Seattle recently, we opted for the privacy and comfort of booth seating. When our dinners arrived, however, we ended up eating with high elbows. As it happens frequently in restaurants, the banquette/booth seat cushions were simply too low in relation to the height of the table. The magic number for the […]
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Creating Pressed Botanicals for Décor — The Art of the Herbarium
Plant gathering and preservation for identification has its foundations in history and early botanical plant hunting. Plants in modern gardens have their origins from all over the world, as botanists journeyed to distant lands. As the West was discovered, Lewis and Clark collected and noted plants along their journeys. New specimens were collected and preserved […]
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Much Ado About Countertops
Countertops are the workhorse of both the kitchen and the bathroom. They perform a myriad of tasks including food preparation, writing surface for bill paying and homework, buffet serving space, supporting small appliances, facilitating daily hygiene routines and more. They are subjected to a wide variety of abuses including hot pots, acidic foods, alcohol-based personal […]
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Your Great Room — Six Beautiful Ways to Create Zones That All Go Together
Most of us love a great room. It’s a latter-day architectural concept that suits a casual lifestyle and allows everyone to talk to the cook and help out with dinner. Perfect for the casual living of the 21st century. Here are some easy design tips to implement in your own home right away: Create zones […]
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The Captured Garden
In the summer of 1829, Dr. Nathaniel Ward placed the chrysalis of an adult sphinx moth in an enclosed glass container so he could observe the moth’s emergence. The soil he placed in the container sprouted seeds and spores, as natural soils will do. He fully expected the germinated plants to die off in the […]
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How to Clean Patina off Your Sofa or Chair
If the arms of your fabric-covered chair or sofa look darker and feel colder than the rest of the chair fabric, it is patina from your hands. Highly admired on old wood but not on fabric. Most of it can be removed with a simple cleaner. Put two or three drops of a clear dishwashing […]