Visually simplifying our decor with built ins

I am not crazy about  large plasma screens being  the focal point of a room. When we built our home in Normandy Park we created a 4 panel screen that covered the TV above our beautiful stone mantle. I also love hinging framed prints of the same style and size. You can put them on piano hinges and they fold back beautifully. I especially liked this tv cabinet. Made from reclaimed woods with  just a waxed finish.

A room can feel more calm when everything has a place and there are not too many things sitting around. I love using built ins with hand blown glass and reclaimed woods like this piece here.

This color gray is divine with this reclaimed floor. I can never have enough storage space, especially for linens.

I especially adore this built in bookcase. Using a window as the doors makes this a major  focal point of this European kitchen. . The hardware is especially fabulous. I love being able to have a special place in the kitchen for cookbooks.

Keeping open storage spaces with no doors is also a great look.

Another fabulous example of reclaimed woods. Most reclaimed woods can cost 5 times what regular wood will. Also, they are very difficult to find. I would suggest getting #1 common oak to work with. It has a beautiful grain to open up and the number one common will have more knots and things in it.  Here's a little secret! We  open up the grain of woods by sandblasting them! Just be sure and wear great eye and head gear. Then you can wax the piece and give it an aged look. If you want to have great looking counter tops with reclaimed woods. I suggest antiqued zinc. You can go to www.amyhowardathome.com and order our antique zinc kit. It is a fabulous look on a budget.

For many more ideas and uses of reclaimed woods in interiors from this post, check out Beta-Plus series on 100 Projects using Reclaimed Woods. We are getting ready for our Rescue Restore and Redecorate tm workshop this Saturday. We have 2 spaces left. We are having the workshop at the studio. It is a big class size and you get to finish your own piece by the end of the day. We are introducing our new Parisian Furniture Paint. Sure to be a big hit! You can contact the store at 901 682 2558 if you are interested.