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What to Know About 5 Popular Types of Window Shades (24 photos)

When it comes to dressing a window, shades are probably the most versatile covering in terms of being functional as well as decorative. There’s a dizzying array of options for all types of window shades, from colorful roller shades to Roman shades made of designer fabrics. You can elevate a room’s style...

7 Landscape Design Ideas to Replace a Traditional Lawn (24 photos)

You’ve taken out your lawn. Now what? That open space offers abundant design possibilities, from a plant-filled garden to an inviting new outdoor living space. Now is your chance to have a yard that...

Bathroom of the Week: Accessibility and Blue Style for Retirees (6 photos)

This Manteca, California, couple built their ranch-style house 35 years ago. After retiring, they had no desire to leave. But a few updates were in order to make the home comfortable for years to come.
For the primary bathroom off the main bedroom, the couple needed more light, improved storage...

10 Questions to Ask Potential Contractors (4 photos)

Homeowners starting their first remodeling project have to make their way through what can be an overwhelming amount of information and decision making. One of the first and most important decisions is selecting an architect or...

8 Edible Garden Ideas From the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show (8 photos)

The 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 23 to 27) was packed with clever ideas and inspiration for growing vegetables, fruit and herbs. From drought-proof plants to ornamental edibles, water harvesting to small-space solutions, the ideas from the London show can help kick-start your own food-growing journey....

8 Open-Plan Mistakes — and How to Avoid Them (11 photos)

Whether you’re building, remodeling, downsizing or daydreaming, chances are an open-plan layout is high on your wish list. And it’s easy to see the appeal. Open-plan kitchen, living and dining areas feel relaxed and contemporary, and they make smart use of space and light. But with no defined borders...

Step Inside a Fresh Contemporary Home Full of Little Surprises (6 photos)

After finding designer Robin Bryant of Factor Design Build on Houzz, these homeowners asked her to create soft contemporary interiors that juxtapose the more traditional red-brick exterior...

Patio of the Week: Container Gardens Transform a Small Urban Yard (10 photos)

The owners of this new home in London’s Olympic Park were seeking to redesign their small yard. Because the property sits over an underground parking structure, there was no possibility for a soil-based lawn or planting beds.
The homeowners, a couple with two young children, found designer Melanie...

12 Trends in Contemporary Furniture for 2023 (22 photos)

Social and environmental responsibility, care for oneself and others and technological innovation were big topics of conversation at this year’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) and show-within-a-show WantedDesign Manhattan. Those ideas influenced the many sustainable, cozy and...

5 Fashionable New Bathrooms With a Low-Curb Shower (5 photos)

There are two options when designing a shower entry: curb or no curb. While there are benefits to both, the curbed, or low-barrier, option stands out as the budget-friendly choice because it’s easier to construct than a true curbless design. But cost savings aren’t the only advantage. A curb keeps water...

To-Dos: Your June Home Checklist (12 photos)

Summer officially begins June 21, but why wait until then to get into the summer spirit? Get a jump-start by prepping your home and garden for warm weather, setting up the perfect drip-dry spot for beach towels, reorganizing the kitchen (hello, smoothie bar) and more. These 21 to-dos cover all the bases,...

Kitchen of the Week: Party-Friendly Layout With an Upbeat Look (11 photos)

For many homeowners, the ideal situation for entertaining allows the host to feel connected to guests whether they’re mingling near the kitchen, hanging out in a dining area or venturing outside for a breath of fresh air. So for this couple who love to entertain, their 1960s midcentury layout with a...

5 Kitchen Island Features Worth Considering (one photo)

A kitchen island offers a lot of obvious benefits, like more countertop space, extra seating and additional storage. But there are many not-so-common island features that can really improve the look and feel of a kitchen. Here are five worth considering.

What to Know About Losing Your Lawn (11 photos)

An expansive green lawn may be a hallmark of American landscapes, but a growing number of people are looking for more water-wise, wildlife-friendly or low-maintenance alternatives....

Tour the House of Tomorrow and Elvis Presley’s Honeymoon Hideaway (19 photos)

The House of Tomorrow hovers over the cul-de-sac it’s located on in Palm Springs, California, like a stealth aircraft. In a town of low-slung midcentury houses with few windows facing the street, it has a startling presence: The front of the house has wraparound windows and cantilevers over a stone wall...

Bathroom of the Week: Warm Coastal Style in 70 Square Feet (8 photos)

Wanting to downsize into a forever home, this Southern California empty-nest couple bought a ranch-style house and set about putting their personal stamp on the interiors.
Off the primary bedroom, the primary bathroom — with its dated look and chopped-up layout that included a shower-tub combo...

Choose the Right Irrigation System for Your Yard (12 photos)

A garden needs water to be healthy. And the right irrigation system, combined with today’s technology, can be tailored to fit your landscape, giving you the precise coverage you want while saving you time, water and money.

Where to Start and Stop Your Backsplash (25 photos)

Wondering where to end your backsplash? Never even thought about it? It can be a surprisingly complex question. These tips will help you find the right place to stop your backsplash to get a crisp look in any kitchen.

4 Woodsy Cabins With Modern Rustic Style (12 photos)

Part of the woodsy cabin experience is roughing it, at least a little bit. In these four projects, designers leaned into rustic elements yet infused the cabins with unique style. There’s a family camp in Maine, a treehouse-like A-frame in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a modern rustic creekside...

How to Make Your Home a Happier Place (11 photos)

We spend so much time in our homes that it’s important that they bring us joy. Follow these inspiring ideas to spread a little happiness in your home.

Houzz Tour: Extended Family’s Vacation Home in the Florida Keys (15 photos)

An extended family bought this home in the Florida Keys so it could spend time together. About 20 of them planned on gathering here when they hired DKOR Interiors to complete a full renovation. “The concept was a tropical treehouse with lots of textures, contrast and repetition of elements,” lead designer...

7 Landscape Design Trends From the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show (7 photos)

The designs showcased at the 2023 RHS Chelsea Flower Show (May 23 to 27) in London can inspire landscapes of all sizes, as designers embraced weeds, grew decorative edibles, recycled waste and created immersive sanctuaries. Keep reading to see these trends and others featured this year at the world’s...

Before and After: 4 Bathrooms That Wow With Wallpaper (12 photos)

Being wary of putting wallpaper anywhere near a shower or tub is understandable. After all, paper and moisture are usually archenemies. But if you do your due diligence — for example, choosing water- and mildew-resistant materials (such as vinyl), ensuring proper ventilation, hiring an expert installer...

The Quick and Easy Way to Clean a Microwave (6 photos)

Whether popping popcorn, reheating pizza slices, softening butter or melting chocolate, your microwave does heavy-duty work day in and day out. And that also means heavy-duty grime and food odors. Over time, all that exploded food mess can make your microwave less efficient. The good news is that we...

Kitchen of the Week: Storage Galore With a Light and Bright Style (12 photos)

With two young daughters, this busy couple craved a kitchen that looked and felt organized all the time. For help they hired designer Yolanda Badia, who created tons of new cabinets with all kinds of storage features — a pullout for trash and recycling, pullouts for oils and spices, a lift-up mechanism...

What to Know About Choosing a Built-In Grill (21 photos)

A built-in grill is the centerpiece of an outdoor kitchen. Choosing the right grill for what you want to cook, how you want to cook and who you want to cook for is your starting point. Whether...

Before and After: 4 Bathrooms With Curbless or Low-Curb Showers (12 photos)

Showers with either no barrier or a low curb offer some design advantages. They’re generally safe and easy for most people to enter and exit. And when the floor tile in a no- or low-curb shower is the same or similar to the main floor tile, it can give the appearance of a larger room. Check out how designers...

25 Fun Backyard Design Ideas (25 photos)

Memorial Day weekend is considered the unofficial start of summer. If you’re looking to spend some of your outdoor recreation time at home this year, consider these 25 design ideas for creating a fun, laid-back outdoor space you’ll never want to leave.

How to Carve Out a Corner Just for You (10 photos)

Having a room of one’s own is an appealing idea — a space just for you, where you can read, journal, craft, do yoga or simply relax, away from the bustle of a busy house. But even if you don’t have an entire room to spare, carving out a special corner designed for you and you alone...

10 Tips for Designing a Kitchen That’s Easy to Keep Organized (12 photos)

As the heart of the home, the kitchen is where we gather with friends and family to cook, eat, celebrate and socialize. Spending so much time in the kitchen also means it can easily become messy and disorganized. Fortunately, you can design your space so that it’s easy...

Apr. 21, 2023

New 2023 Product Catalog Available for Download

We’re thrilled to announce our new 2023 Product Catalog is now available to download! Click on the buttons below to download copies of our updated catalog, price lists, and order forms. Printed copies will be available mid-summer. Please complete this survey to receive your printed catalog hot off the press. 2023 Product Catalog Highlights Botanical […]

Jun. 7, 2023

Beauty Meets Function with Garbage Can Designer DripEdge® Profiles

AVAILABLE NOW!!! Designs of Distinction’s new Designer DripEdge® profile is the latest addition to its metallic cabinet trim line of products. Created to protect garbage can pull-out doors from splatters, drips, and messes, the DripEdge comes in 4 sizes and 3 finishes. The angled trim pieces were designed specifically to fit over the top edge […]

May. 9, 2023

Employee Feature Series: Nick C

We firmly believe in the idea that a company is only as good as its people. As a small business, each employee at Designs of Distinction plays an important role in our day-to-day operations. We’re kicking off a series of Employee Features, not only to show appreciation for our employees, but also because we want […]

May. 4, 2023

The Nature of Things – A Walk Through at High Point Spring Market 2023

Our Vice President, Kathy Constantine, took a walk through the High Point Spring Market in North Carolina this Spring. Here are her reflections on trends, colors, materials, and more at High Point Market. What stood out the most at this year’s High Point Spring Market? Nature is in… color is out. Natural materials were prevalent […]

May. 2, 2023

Employee Feature Series: Eli A

Apr. 25, 2023

Employee Feature Series: Mimi R

Apr. 20, 2023

Coming up: ICFF in Manhattan, May 21-23

The International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) kicks off on May 21, 2023 at the Javits Center in Manhattan! We’ll be in Booth 434 – featuring our Metallic Trim, Decorative Grilles, and Brass Bistro Shelving. ICFF is North America’s “leading platform for contemporary furnishing design,” with 400 brands from 25 countries, and 10,000 attendees. Discover the […]

Apr. 18, 2023

Employee Feature Series: Jenny R

Apr. 7, 2023

New Finishes for Metallic Accents

Our line of Metallic Accents just got better! We’ve added 2 new finishes – Satin Stainless and Polished Brass. Our line of Metallic Accents includes decorative trim, bars, straps, L-channels, sleeves & ferrules. From bright chromes to brass to black, Metallic Accent components now come in 7 finishes. All aluminum Metallic Accent components match each […]

Mar. 28, 2023

Pantone® Color of the Year 2023 – Viva Magenta!

Bright, bold, brave & fearless – Pantone Color of the Year Viva Magenta is crimson in tone, balanced between warm and cool. Viva Magenta is “a pulsating color whose exuberance inspires optimism & joy.” Viva Magenta Pantone’s Color of the Year, Viva Magenta 18-1750, vibrates with vim and vigor. It is a shade rooted in […]

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