RAISING YOUR HOME’S

The building blocks of a solid place are beams, bricks, and plaster. The elements of a thoughtful home go well beyond that, but the blueprint is equally simple: Begin with clever ways to run it more efficiently and save serious money; factor in smart devices that will make life easier; and create a space filled with things you love in a way that works today—and tomorrow. Achieve this marriage of form and function, and your home will be an exponentially better, safer, and happier spot to live in for years to come. And that’s just brilliant.

PHOTOGRAPH BY RYAN LIEBE | TEXT BY SARAH COLLINS

PROP STYLING BY LILI ABIR REGEN; TYPE DESIGN BY CLAUDIA DE ALMEIDA For sources, go to page 119. 82 83

Start with basic ways Choose smart gadgets wisely to save water, energy, Try a smart-home device or two, but proceed with caution, since they’re essentially mini-computers connected to the internet, and many of them still don’t communicate and money with each other. “Start with one, like a plug-in light switch or wireless thermostat, and add others later,” says Grant Clauser, a tech journalist at the product-testing site The Wirecutter. Before buying, ask yourself these five questions:

1 / Will this 2 / Is everyone in 3 / Is the brand 4 / Do I have 5 / Am I willing really be my household reputable? a strong Wi-Fi to take the LOWER YOUR WATER HEATER TO 120 DEGREES convenient? on board? “Cheaper versions connection? security risk? “Most manufacturers set them to 140 degrees, “Think about how “If you have smart are cheaper for a Barrett recom- Every time you add but 120 is hot enough,” says David Nemtzow, you usually operate light bulbs, and reason,” says Brian mends a mesh net- a device, you’re director of the Building Technologies your heating and someone doesn’t work router, more exposed, Office at the U.S. Department of Energy Barrett, tech (DOE) in Washington, D.C. With this minor cooling system have the app and editor at Wired. “To which is a pack of says Barrett. tweak, you’ll cut costs 6 to 10 percent. or appliances,” says switches a lamp off work, these things two to three “Hackers can use Clauser. “Will it physically, the app need to be consis- routers sprinkled devices for another TURN OFF THE “POWER DRY” simplify your life, or won’t work for tently connected throughout your purpose that you FEATURE ON YOUR DISHWASHER be neat at first, other people,” ex- to the internet; house. won’t notice, but This setting was designed to speed up the then grow tired af- plains Clauser. you don’t want a will result in slower drying process. But if you’re not going to ter a while?” product that Wi-Fi.” Always run another load right away, there’s no need, can’t get that change the default according to Tom Kraeutler, host of The consistency.” user name and Money Pit, a nationally syndicated home- password, too. improvement radio show. Plus, you’ll save about 30 percent on your dishwasher 7 STANDOUTS TO CONSIDER energy costs. Open shelves are au courant, Above all, go for gadgets you’ll get a lot of use and value out of. For instance, “the Alexa SWITCH TO “ADVANCED” POWER STRIPS but need regular voice assistant in ’s Echo is now in a ton of other devices, like the Ecobee Smart These multiprong bars reduce the electricity dusting. Roberts Thermostat,” Barrett says, so you can vocally control heating and cooling. Our top picks: wasted when your desktop computer, had one in- printer, TV, phone charger, game console, stalled here for etc. are idle. Nemtzow points out that elegant effect, these “energy vampires” can add nearly 10 and put practi- percent to your monthly electric bill. cal closed cabinets every- REPLACE YOUR SHOWERHEAD where else. “Water-efficient models are phenomenal these days—they deliver a stream that wakes you up in the morning,” says Kraeutler. He likes ones from American Standard, which use 40 percent less water than conventional showerheads and can save a family up to 8,000 gallons a year. PERSONAL HOME ENERGY ASSISTANTS SECURITY SAVERS UPGRADE YOUR INSULATION Roberts raves It’s not sexy, but “it’s the number-one about brass way to reduce your energy bill,” Kraeutler faucets, which says. Peek into your attic. There should Amazon Echo ($179, amazon Nest Cam ($199, nest.com): Ecobee 3 Lite ($199, ecobee wear and be 15 to 20 inches of insulation throughout; .com) and Google Home It’s designed for both indoors .com): This thermostat can save change beauti- if not, hire a contractor or handyman to ($129, google.com): These are and out to keep tabs on com- you an average of 23 percent fully over time. install it. (Kraeutler suggests looking for one ideal devices to try first, be- ings and goings and spy on the annually on utility bills. It keeps at homeadvisor.com.) cause they’re user-friendly and dog. It shoots 24/7 HD video track of whether you’re at home fun. “Voice assistants can that can stream to your phone, or not via geofencing (it reads PLANT TREES STRATEGICALLY tell you your schedule, what the and stores it in the cloud for where your phone is), and gives Positioned near the south or southwest traffic will be on the way to 30 days. Schlage Sense Smart you energy reports. (Experts Make your STAY OPEN-MINDED SPEND SELECTIVELY BE A SNOB ABOUT YOUR SINK SELECT COUNTERTOPS WITH CARE corners of your home, deciduous trees work, or who won the college- Deadbolt (from $229, schlage still love the Nest thermostat, (ones that lose their leaves in autumn) offer football championship back .com): Enter your home with too.) Lutron Caseta ($100, kitchen shade in summer and let in light in winter. in 1988,” says Ismael Matos, an access code or by using your homedepot.com): These wire- If you prefer to cook (and Splurge on the one or two Invest in high-quality, They should be strong, heat- The DOE estimates that they can cut energy a deputy field marshal of Best phone. (Yup, you can forget less switches and dimmers work covetable clean dishes) behind closed items that matter most to you, classic faucets, suggests resistant, and nearly non- costs by 15 to 50 percent. Gigi Saltonstall, Buy’s Geek Squad. And more about forgetting your keys.) from your smartphone. They doors, you’re in the minority: and opt for tried-and-true Carlson. “There’s nothing porous. Marble, to the lament and more, they can control Nest Protect ($119, nest.com): also use geofencing, so when It’s the most Open kitchens are still popu- basics elsewhere. In the more annoying than a of every aesthete, comes principal at G2 Collaborative, a landscape- expensive room to architecture firm in Waltham, Massachusetts, other smart-home devices, like This smoke alarm will tell you you leave the house, your lights lar as hubs for entertaining kitchen, a “can’t-go-wrong leaky or temperamental one. up short. But there are lots of light switches. Asked to choose (out loud, in words) where the automatically turn off. Insignia upgrade, but doing and family togetherness. combination” of white subway And knockoffs of higher- gorgeous choices that meet loves the black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) so adds tremendous for this job: “It has beautiful horizontal between the two, Matos leans danger is, send a notice to your Wi-Fi Smart Plug ($20, bestbuy “People want informality and tiles and IKEA cabinets will end brands are made with these criteria. Natural stones value—and happy branching, and its fall color is a super-glossy toward the Echo because it’s phone (because if you’re not .com): With an app on your mo- rooms that are multipur- keep costs under control, plastic components. You include granite, soapstone, living—to your home. cherry red,” she says. been around longer. “If a prod- at home, you’ll still want to bile, this cost-effective starter pose,” says Elizabeth Roberts, says , editor-in- want solid metal—we like and quartzite (just as lovely uct has a track record of work- know), and monitor for carbon gadget lets you control and Here’s how to an architect in Brooklyn. chief of the home-design site ones from Chicago Faucets.” as marble). For man-made, ing with other things, that’s a monoxide. program anything—air condi- tackle a refresh. “You’re prepping food in the Remodelista. (Big box stores, try composites like Caesar- big plus,” says Clauser. tioner, lights, appliances—you’ve kitchen, and the kids are like Home Depot, are also stone or Corian, or check out plugged into the same outlet. doing homework at the din- worth perusing.) Then, if you’re the new ceramic slabs— ing table.” Consider opening an avid cook, you can buy they’re hugely durable and

PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF MANUFACTURERS (PRODUCTS); OPPOSITE: DUSTIN AKSLAND (KITCHEN) (PRODUCTS); MANUFACTURERS OF PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY up your space if you can. the best range you can afford. come in lots of shades.

And by “timeless,” we mean grays, whites, and natural by “timeless,”And natural whites, grays, we and mean (a cool blue-gray) and Farrow & Ball’s Railings (an inky (a (an cool blue-gray)inky Farrow and & Ball’s Railings activities should be in there,” says professional organizer Andrew Andrew organizer professional York City New says there,” in be should activities A zero-tolerance policy against clutter is impossible to maintain. Instead, “Ask “Ask Instead, to maintain. impossible is clutter against policy A zero-tolerance and change them up as your taste or evolve. your taste trends up them as change and opportunity to create joy, not just duty,” she says. Last, accommodate duty,” says. every joy, she just not to create opportunity an be can “Storage designs. her in bookshelves built-in and cupboards like; with like everything; for home “One triangle: organizational the calls like a piece of furniture, drapes, or pillows— throw drapes, apiece of furniture, like Moore’s Benjamin Blue including Veil she uses, trals” long-lasting,”tones. durable are and “Neutrals says Nino Sitchinava, principal economist at home-improvement the economist Sitchinava, principal yourself, ‘What happens in each room?’ Only objects that support those those support that objects Only room?’ each in happens ‘What yourself, one: principal at Barbara Bestor Architecture, in , incorporates hidden hidden incorporates Angeles, Los in Architecture, Bestor Barbara at principal too. Mellen champions install champions Mellen too. creative, be out.” in, something something But six charging stations,” Mellen says. says. Mellen stations,” charging six dation, add bolder objects, less-permanent tones through blue). Once you’ve serene asimple and foun established site Houzz. Roberts also has acache of has “non-boringsite neu also Roberts Houzz. ing shelves in the sides of closets, and extra-high storage in kitchens. (“My (“My kitchens. in storage extra-high and closets, of sides the in shelves ing Mellen. library step stool is one of the best purchases I’ve made.”) Barbara Bestor, Bestor, Barbara made.”) I’ve purchases best the of one is stool step library palette atimeless Pick This room divider divider room This A/C ducts, arefriger- ducts, A/C a powder room. a powder (ka-ching!) and back the on ator facing the kitchen, houses storage,houses “If there are six people in your household, you need six coat hooks and and hooks coat six need you household, your in people six are there “If multiplying, and migrating from To things keep

CRAFT STORAGE SYSTEMS STORAGE CRAFT

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84 “For warm light, buy bulbs bulbs buy light, warm “For night, “as opposed to using using to opposed “as night, tage-style Edison LED bulb, bulb, LED Edison tage-style changing them can make a make can them changing says Bestor, who adds that that adds who Bestor, says in the evening is a big deal. deal. abig is evening the in designer Steffani Aarons. Aarons. Steffani designer limitless styles (design ex (design styles limitless Illuminate trees or specific specific or trees Illuminate “If they’re dark and heavy, heavy, and dark they’re “If they’re six to seven times times seven to six they’re than incandescent lights, lights, incandescent than below,” or your space will will space your or below,” windows, and you’ll get 40 40 get you’ll and windows, 40 yards of fabric on your your on fabric of yards 40 can last 25 times longer— times 25 last can “I’ll say to a client, ‘Why ‘Why aclient, to say “I’ll Change to LED bulbs bulbs LED to Change .com cut energy use by more more by use energy cut huge difference,” says says difference,” huge up to 10 to 20 years per per years 20 10 to to up clients, “lighting pools pools “lighting clients, New York City interior interior YorkNew City perts love Philips’s vin Philips’s love perts bulb. They also come in in come also They bulb. above, $9, $9, above, among her West Coast Coast West her among that are 2,700 Kelvin or or Kelvin 2,700 are that more energy-efficient energy-efficient more landscape features at at features landscape Let it shine outside shine it Let standard flood lights,” lights,” flood standard They glow like jewels.” like glow They According to the DOE, DOE, the to According light?’” more percent Swap out window window out Swap don’t we take off the the off take we don’t than 80 percent, and and percent, 80 than feel like “an airport.” “an like feel your life Light up Light everywhere ). A tip from Bestor: Bestor: from Atip ). treatments 3 2 1 homedepot

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- “It should reflect your values and and values your reflect should “It “The marketplace has every flavor of of flavor every has marketplace “The “Being in a place with a lot of living things things living of alot with aplace in “Being Treat like it aretreat A brainy home is cost-effective cost-effective is home A brainy Aim for a “collected over time” look, ver look, time” over a“collected for Aim And remember, no detail is too small small too is detail no remember, And everything; you can find whatever you’re you’re whatever find can you everything; pulls— drawer key drop, hooks, coat outside,” Bestor says. Presto: You’ve dou Presto: says. Bestor outside,” even a small home feel gracious.” gracious.” feel home asmall even effects, says Bestor. She loves succulents, succulents, loves She Bestor. says effects, you rest, entertain, raise afamily, raise entertain, rest, you and maybe work,” Mellen says. says. work,” Mellen maybe and emotionally emotionally an But organized. and “Most people have kids or pets—why not not pets—why or kids have people “Most pinch points in the entryway or living-room or entryway the in points pinch print of your living room and duplicate it it duplicate and room living your of print matches yours,” says Mellen. “Why settle sus “furnished in one week,” says Carlson. Carlson. says week,” one in “furnished sus should please your eye, so don’t settle. settle. don’t so eye, your please should seating situation, and leave some space space some leave and situation, seating spider plants, and fiddle-leaf fig trees. fig fiddle-leaf and plants, spider Whether or not you practice feng shui, your shui, feng practice you not or Whether support you in all these things.” things.” these all in you support and calm feel you makes and senses to spark joy: Even your tiniest choices— tiniest your Even joy: to spark If you have a patio or deck, “take the foot the “take deck, or apatio have you If in big rooms,” Aarons says. “This makes makes “This says. Aarons rooms,” big in intelligent looking for in a period and style that that style and aperiod in for looking for an approximation?” an for home should feel open. Be sensitive to sensitive Be open. feel should home has positive psychological and physical positive psychological has greenery. add and in outside the bring Likewise, space. common your bled happy, too. “It’s a sanctuary where where asanctuary “It’s happy, too. CREATE A PLEASANT FLOW APLEASANT CREATE COMMUNE WITH NATURE NATURE COMMUNE WITH THINGS YOU LOVE LOVE YOU THINGS WITH IT FILL The market is full of stainproof, washable washable stainproof, of full is market The Aarons especially likes the chic options options chic the likes especially Aarons in Pumice, perennialsfabrics.com. perennialsfabrics.com. Pumice, in Country Estate, Estate, Country 70 percent of the fabrics we order for for order we fabrics the of 70 percent take away the anxiety that something something that anxiety away the take Great Outdoors Linenesque, Go for fail-safe fabrics fabrics fail-safe Go for never know they’re super-practical. &Sherry, Holland Hunt, Holly from options that are so luxurious you’d luxurious so are that options will get spilled on?” says Aarons. Aarons. says on?” spilled get will From left: a job are stainproof,” she says. she stainproof,” are a job and Sunbrella. “I’d say about about say “I’d Sunbrella. and home stimulates your your stimulates home Perennials Tatton Stripe, Stripe, Tatton Perennials in hollyhunt.com. Golden, in Slate; and and Slate; in Holly Hunt Hunt Holly

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PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOANNA GARCIA (STORAGE); COURTESY OF MANUFACTURER (LIGHT BULB); PETER ARDITO (OTHERS); OPPOSITE: DANA GALLAGHER (BATHROOM); ART DIRECTION BY KATIE FIELD AND DAWN SINKOWSKI A comfortable, well- appointed bathroom can keep to “dos” redesign evening and morning single every make Bathe in beauty in beauty Bathe better. Here are five five are Here better. in mind. mind. in

on the walls adds subtle tex subtle adds walls the on tubs (with or without feet) and and feet) without or (with tubs ture and charm. and ture High-quality, traditional big pedestal sinks will never never will sinks pedestal big look dated. Wainscotting Stick with classics with Stick

- and a breeze to clean because because clean to abreeze and the in material practical there’s no pesky grout, says our our says grout, pesky no there’s Marble may not be the most most the be not may Marble your shower is both beautiful beautiful both is shower your home editor, Aragon. Lorna kitchen, but a large slab of it in it of slab alarge but kitchen, Spend less time scouring scouring time less Spend 85 “There’s a movement toward toward amovement “There’s spaces you can hang out out hang can you spaces while they shower, or bathe the the bathe or shower, they while If you do a full reno, try to to try reno, afull do you If in and talk to your spouse spouse your to talk and in increase your square footage. footage. square your increase kids,” says Bestor. says kids,” Build in extra space extra in Build

“If someone is working working is someone “If up come can “A designer —Additional reporting by reporting —Additional near a window. It’s uplifting uplifting It’s awindow. near If possible, install a mirror amirror install possible, If Get ready with the sun the with ready Get is best for applying makeup. applying for best is light natural and morning the in These are four ways ways four are These Aarons says, “they “they says, Aarons you need it it you need comprehensive designs by closet overhauls, and custom and overhauls, closet down to the look you want.” you look tothe down choose other options, options, other choose help and tiles, and colors on things like paint pairing design house calls for and concept boards to boards concept and ages, from consultations pack of arange offer and and bathroom remodels, doing a complete acomplete doing your kid’s room after after room kid’s your overhaul. “Even if if “Even overhaul. you’re just updating updating you’re just can be a huge value.” ahuge be can aren’t only for deep- for only aren’t vices such as Homepolish, Homepolish, as such vices published pros. pair clients with designers designers with clients pair room,” says Aarons. “People “People Aarons. says room,” projects including kitchen stuff—the colors don’t match; says Aarons. Aarons. says so the elements mesh well,” Chains like Home Depot, Depot, Home like Chains Seek help when help when Seek Well-reviewed online ser online Well-reviewed Claire Sullivan pocketed homeowners she’s gone to college,” window treatments. In- treatments. window with an architect, I advise Iadvise architect, an with this all say, bought ‘I will one for aconcept with Sears, and JCPenney make andSears, JCPenney tures, wallpapers, and market off.’ The is scale the to work with an expert: an with work to Interior designers is inundated with light fix light with inundated is Havenly, and Decorist Decorist and Havenly, VIA SKYPE SKYPE VIA for video or phone chats chats phone or video for furniture. A pro can edit it it edit can Apro furniture. home consultations are free. are consultations home BY STORE STORE BY HOUR THE BY PROJECT BY

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