Design

A stairwell is the perfect place to add drama. Because it’s not an area you tend to linger in, you probably wouldn’t get tired of an oversize print.

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Gorgeously reclaimed Chicago brick, set in a herringbone pattern, covers this mudroom floor. If you’d like a similar floor, contact Vintage Brick Salvage, which ships throughout the country. The storage unit was custom made and painted in Benjamin Moore’s Acadia White, while the oversize back door with its mullioned glass is from LePage, a Canadian company.

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The best way to get perfect lines is to paint in the direction of the arrows shown here. That way each corner will have a crisp, clean edge, because each one is a new stroke created by the end of the brush. Practice on another surface if you are nervous about working on the wall. When I made mistakes, I just wiped them off quickly and began again. The more I painted, the better I got.

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After my tracing was complete, I painted between the pencil lines using a high-gloss white paint. I traced a bit, then painted a bit. I wanted to see some progress to make sure I really liked it!

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After cutting out the pattern, I began drawing it on my wall with a pencil. I started at the far-right corner and traced up the entire wall. This way the corner of the wall, where the pattern would be most visible, lined up perfectly. As I continued, I traced once and then moved the stencil over and up. This created a pattern similar to the tile pattern I loved, complete with the spaces to mimic the grout lines between the tiles.

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"I started by drawing the pattern onto a piece of paper and cutting it out. Many tutorials recommend cutting the pattern out of cardboard. I preferred paper, since I felt the edge was crisp and since I could also easily bend it around corners and outlets."

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2. Dot the map. Part of what makes this so fun is that it’s completely retro and low tech. Get a world map (mount it on a corkboard) and some basic map pins, and get pinning! If you have a large family, you could color code the pins so each of you can pin places you’ve been on your own. You could also decide on a color for pinning places you’ve been together.

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Track down missing pieces. Take the time now to find the little things that are never around when you need them: trivets, the ice bucket, tongs and so on. Count your plates and silverware to make sure you have enough, then store everything you need for your party in a nearby cupboard. When the time comes, everything you need will be at hand.

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Helen’s Tower, Ireland William Burn designed this castle in the Scottish style and completed it in October 1861. Lord Dufferin built it as an idyllic retreat in memory of his mother. It’s now a holiday getaway with commanding views across Ulster to the Scottish shores.

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Take it outside. Homeowners are increasingly incorporating pet washing stations into their outdoor showers. All it takes is a handheld sprayer or showerhead that can reach down to the ground. Rinse off muddy paws here before they can get inside and muck up your rugs.

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Incorporate your own style. This custom dog bath utilizes vintage tiles that the homeowner had been collecting for years.

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Go bigger with the drain. Longo recommends using a 3-inch drain in a pet washing station. It will handle dog hair better than the standard 1½- to 2-inch shower drain. He also recommends adding a hair filter over the drain.

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Include a handheld showerhead or sprayer. Not only will it help you get your dog's entire bod nice and clean, but it will also let you do a quick paws-only wash.

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Incorporate the washing station into the mudroom. Mudrooms are a very popular spot for dog wash stations. Dogs enter from the back or side door, and their muddy paws never make it into the rest of the house.

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