Blog
New This Week: 6 Bold Bathrooms With a Shower-Tub (6 photos)
If you’ve got a compact bathroom and want the freedom of being able to take a bath or a shower, you really have only one option: a shower-tub combo. It’s an especially good solution for a secondary bath used by kids, who often prefer baths when they’re younger and a shower when they become teenagers....
See How an Architect Used Bold Color to Add Joy to Her Home (one photo)
In this episode of Houzz TV Live, architect Sophie Nguyen gives a virtual tour of several spaces in her London home and talks about how she uses vibrant colors in architectural features...
8 Tips to Get Your Early-Spring Garden Ready for the Season (11 photos)
With the first day of spring just around the corner, many of us are eager to jump into the new season. There may still be snow on the ground where you live — in which case, save this list for later — but gardeners in many areas can get started now with post-winter cleanup and getting gardens ready for...
Kitchen of the Week: A Nod to Nature With Earth Tones and Green (7 photos)
Designer Lisa Rossman describes the previous kitchen in this Orange County, California, home as a blank slate that was calling out for some color and life. The young couple who purchased the home are recent East Coast transplants who were eager to draw in the lush greens and earth tones visible from...
7 Things That Stand in the Way of Having an Organized Home (8 photos)
If you watched the popular Netflix series following Marie Kondo as she guides clients through decluttering and organizing their homes, you probably already have a good idea of the benefits of paring back your belongings. What you may not realize is that the KonMari method is just one approach. In my...
6 Trends in Kitchen and Laundry Appliances for 2021 (22 photos)
It’s no surprise that 2020 changed how many homeowners think about and use their homes. And product manufacturers took note, as evident in new features for kitchen and laundry appliances that debuted during the 2021 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show. An attention to hygiene and a focus on at-home beverage...
10 Times to Hire a Contractor (10 photos)
Wondering if it’s time to hire a general contractor? These pros are experts at managing all aspects of a project, including applying for building permits, hiring subcontractors, overseeing work and cleanup, and more. If you’re thinking of undertaking a major home improvement project, remodel or...
Bathroom of the Week: Streamlined Layout With a Soothing Spa Feel (11 photos)
The master bathroom in Ken and Nikki Gill’s two-level suburban Dallas home was complicated. The dark and dated 240-square-foot space had a busy layout with two single-sink vanities on different walls, a jetted tub with jets that no longer worked, a separate shower, a badly positioned water closet and...
What to Know About Adding an Outdoor Bar or Counter (26 photos)
An outdoor bar or counter can provide the extra space you need to make your outdoor living and entertaining better, whether it’s a true bar setting — with space for drinks, a sink, a refrigerator and possibly a built-in tap — or simply a long counter that can do triple-duty as a place to...
Everything You Need to Know About Working With a Kitchen Designer (10 photos)
With the average major kitchen overhaul costing homeowners tens of thousands of dollars, it’s no wonder that 85% of homeowners renovating their kitchens turn to a professional for help in ensuring that...
Is a Wet Room Right for You? (14 photos)
As open-plan living becomes increasingly popular, it’s no surprise that the concept has extended to the bathroom. For homeowners seeking a serene retreat that feels like a visit to a spa, wet-room-style bathrooms are a natural fit. These types of bathrooms usually feature a curbless shower area and maybe...
3 Tile Trends Emerging in 2021 (36 photos)
Like many aspects of home design, tile trends for 2021 are tending to reflect the particular challenges of 2020. Tile companies appear to be telegraphing the public’s desire for serenity and well-being, and that’s being reflected in this season’s products in soothing, serene neutral tones. The value...
To-Dos: Your March Home Checklist (11 photos)
The first official day of spring is March 20. So whether there’s still snow on the ground or flowers in bloom, you can rest assured that nicer weather is on its way. Usher in the new season with a bit of spring cleaning, some fresh flowers and — if you can get outdoors — a little dirt under...
Houzz Tour: See a Landscape Designer’s Mountain Cabin (22 photos)
We recently took a tour of the beautiful gardens at landscape designer Jay Sifford’s North Carolina mountain house. And it left Houzz readers eager to get a peek inside the house...
9 Roses That Landscape Designers Love (15 photos)
The rose world is vast, with new and improved varieties arriving every year. With so many beautiful blooms to choose from, how do you know which rose is best for your garden and will deliver the traits you want: fragrance, disease resistance, color or all three?
We...
We...
How to Properly Light Your Kitchen Counters (10 photos)
Like a canvas is to an artist, so a countertop is to the home chef. It’s a workspace that requires proper lighting to create a safe, functional and comfortable environment. If you’re remodeling your kitchen or just looking for a quick update, working with your home professional to place lights in the...
Yard of the Week: Midcentury-Inspired Lounge for Relaxing (9 photos)
A couple who had recently relocated from the Pacific Northwest to Austin, Texas, wanted an outdoor extension of their living space where they could enjoy the warm weather year-round — with a pool and space for entertaining. Mixing clean-lined steel, stone, bamboo and tropical hardwood, Austin Outdoor...
Chaos-Free Zone: How to Keep the Fridge Organized (8 photos)
Whether you’re in a rush to get a lunch made or dinner on the table, an overstuffed fridge can really slow you down. A well-organized fridge, on the other hand, can help food stay fresh longer, reduce waste and make meal prep come together with less effort. Here are some simple strategies...
New This Week: 8 Bold Powder Rooms (8 photos)
There are plenty of reasons to take a design leap in a powder room. For one, a little bit of feature tile or wallpaper goes a long way in these small spaces, so a bold design approach won’t break the budget. Plus, powder rooms are often windowless, creating a feeling of intimacy and an opportunity...
Houzz Editor Discusses Trends for Kitchens and Bathrooms (one photo)
In this video, Houzz senior editor Mitchell Parker highlights kitchen and bathroom trends from products that debuted during KBIS 2021. Find out what’s new in engineered countertops, touchless faucets, stylish shower fixtures and more. Watch the video, and then read the stories to see more trends...
Your Guide to 12 Popular Decorating Styles (12 photos)
Whether you’re shopping for furnishings or sharing your ideas with a designer, knowing which style resonates with you can be a big help. Read on for the need-to-know details about 12 popular styles, including hallmarks of each look,...
Kitchen of the Week: Earthy Coastal Palette in a New Design (14 photos)
“Coastal” can bring to mind a blue-and-white color palette and seashells. But in this Northern California kitchen, interior designer Katelyn Gilmour evoked the seashore in a different way. Dune grasses and driftwood provided inspiration for the earthy coastal hues and textures her client liked. The scope...
8 Surefire Vegetables and Herbs for Beginning Gardeners (10 photos)
For gardeners, poring over the pages of a seed catalog can be a feast for the eyes. Whether it’s heirloom crookneck squash or ‘Green Zebra’ tomatoes, the seed varieties available to home gardeners rival any farmers market. Similarly, going to a nursery and seeing row upon row of baby tomato, lettuce...
Pink Tile Charms in a Family Bathroom (10 photos)
This Seattle family of four had outgrown the second-floor bathroom in its 1920s home. So the homeowners called Jackson Design Build, which had designed and executed their kitchen remodel, for some assistance. Having worked with these clients before, designer Lisa Price had a strong sense of their aesthetic....
10 Times to Hire a Landscape Contractor (11 photos)
Wondering if it’s time to hire a landscape contractor? These pros are experts at managing all aspects of an outdoor project, including hiring subcontractors and overseeing work, keeping the work site safe and applying for building permits. If you have plans from a landscape architect or designer and...
Houzz Tour: Fresh White Update Makes a Bright Family Home (30 photos)
When their beloved nonagenarian next-door neighbor decided to sell her house and downsize, this Boulder, Colorado, couple jumped at the chance to buy her home. In addition to fond memories of spending time in the house with the neighbor, the husband and wife loved the home’s leafy setting, the walk-out...
Pros Share 4 Upgrades Homeowners Want Right Now (4 photos)
It’s been nearly a year since many people began working from home because of the pandemic. This period has given homeowners ample opportunity to see their houses in a whole new light and to reevaluate what works and what needs to improve.
We talked to design and remodeling professionals about...
We talked to design and remodeling professionals about...
Bathroom of the Week: Spa-Like Makeover in Sausalito (8 photos)
This North Carolina couple were blown away by the magnificent views of San Francisco Bay from nearly every room in their recently purchased second home in Sausalito, California. When they reached out to designer Jennifer Wundrow to transform the master bathroom into a spa-like setting, preserving those...
7 Chores You May Be Doing Wrong (7 photos)
Keeping our homes clean is no easy feat. It can be tedious, repetitive and downright bothersome. However, it’s a necessary task for most of us. So, for the sake of getting the most value out of your cleaning time, here are some basic mistakes that even the cleanest person makes — and how to avoid...
4 Steps to Home Office Lighting That Works (7 photos)
If you’re among the millions of Americans currently working from home, it’s more important than ever to get your home office or workspace lighting right. Consider these ideas for ensuring that your home office draws in natural light, is functional, adjusts to the time of day and is comfortable.
Apr. 7, 2020
New Decorative Metal Accents for Tried-and-True Mouldings
Mouldings have been a Designs of Distinction ® product for decades. We offer mouldings in various sizes & styles – ranging from decorative Base Mouldings to Crown Mouldings, to Light Ready Light Rail Mouldings ® . We’ve introduced dozens of hardwood moulding insert designs – including inserts like Bijou, Infinity, and Baroque, and Classic Revival. […]
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Apr. 2, 2020
Brass Gallery Rail – your guide to an inexpensive way to update your Kitchen & Bath
Our new Brass Gallery Rail components provide an inexpensive way to achieve a luxury look. Manufactured from solid polished brass, you are able to completely customize how you want your new Gallery Rail to look, and where you want to install it. Versatile Design & Style The Brass Gallery Rail can fit almost any design […]
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Apr. 1, 2020
New Bun Feet!
We’ve been working hard at Designs of Distinction to bring more high-quality furniture components to the market. Cue, bun feet with pre-installed 5/16″-18 hanger bolts. As usual, our bun feet with hanger bolts will come unfinished & hand-sanded to perfection – ready to stain or paint right out of the box. Uses for Bun Feet […]
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Mar. 25, 2019
Small Spaces: Unique Uses of Wood Brackets
When you live in a small urban apartment, like me, often times the apartment does not come with much overhead lighting, and if it does come with overhead lighting, it’s overbearing fluorescent light from the 70’s that provides no ambience or hygge.
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Jul. 4, 2018
New Cut-to-Size Decorative Grille Program!
Take advantage of Designs of Distinction’s cut-to-size decorative grille program! No minimums and quick-ship! Our beautiful steel grilles are hand woven in 8 styles and available in 6 finishes. Builders, designers and manufacturers can now specify the exact opening size of their door panels and receive the pre-cut panels, ready to install
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