Landscape lighting is the answer. And, besides aesthetics, mood and atmosphere, there are at least two other good reasons to brighten things up a bit: safety and security. Think form and function. Like anything else, outdoor lighting can be incorporated into your landscape design along a spectrum from minimalist to maxed out.

Here we offer some ideas and considerations for designing and implementing a landscape lighting plan that is just right for your situation. Think of them with the acronym BRIGHT:

B: Be clear about your goals, whether they are to illuminate walkways, driveways and steps; create an ambience for outdoor entertaining; highlight your home’s architectural and landscape features; or deter intruders.

R: Respect your neighbors and guests by choosing and positioning fixtures to avoid outdoor light pollution, which comes in many forms: shining a light in your neighbor’s windows or your guests’ eyes, washing out the night sky, or creating glare.  Shields, collars and guards are among devices that can help.

I: Invest in LEDs. Though they cost a bit more than halogen, LEDs last far longer, are more energy efficient, and withstand shock, vibrations and bad weather.  With new options constantly on the market, LEDs offer nearly unlimited flexibility for dimming, brightening, and creating a design plan with layers of subtlety.

G: Gentle, dramatic, elegant? Regardless of the look you want, landscape lighting can provide it through a strategic mix of down-, up-, and cross-lighting. Down-lighting, also called moon lighting, creates a romantic glow by mounting downward-facing fixtures in trees. Up-lighting, positioned at ground level, creates more drama by aiming light directly at elements you want to feature. Cross-lighting adds depth by illuminating water features, specimen trees, swings, and arbors from both sides while helping to eliminate shadows.

A few more considerations: For trees, select both up- and down-lighting and bathe the trunk in light so that the up-lit crown doesn’t seem to hover unnaturally. In planting beds, establish pools of light placed at least 20 feet apart to lead the eye through the space. Choose bullet lights to spotlight architectural features of your home, with wash lights to fill in the spaces between. For garden walls, fixtures placed close to the base bring textures into high relief.

H: High-wattage bulbs are too much: They lend harshness to the landscape. You might be surprised at how much sophistication even 20 watts can deliver. Consider voltage as well. Most landscape lighting today is low voltage, which is safer to work with and less costly to install than 120-volt systems. A step-down transformer delivers one-tenth of the power, but the effects still are virtually limitless.

T: Types of outdoor lighting to consider, as with indoor lighting, include task, accent and overall, achieved through fixtures like bullets (narrower beams), floods (wider beams), garden (on short posts), wash (softer and more diffuse), and well (buried in the ground). Incorporating all these types will give a “fuller” look and feel to your landscape. Timers ensure convenience and energy savings.

Through artistry, engineering and electrical know-how, you can look forward to a bit more brightness in your (night) life.

Chris Ettel is founding partner of VB Homes and has served as past chairman of the CVBIA Remodelers Council. For more information, contact Chris@vbhomesliving.com.

Top to bottom, staircases perform both functional and aesthetic roles in our multi-story homes. Typically a prominent feature — often in a front foyer or elsewhere near the front entrance — staircases can be anything from eyesore to eye-popping style statement, including bland and unremarkable.

Obviously, you want the style of your staircase to be compatible with your home’s overall look. But a staircase remodel can inject new character, helping lean your design in myriad directions from traditional to transitional to industrial, contemporary, or the ever-popular modern coastal, to name a few. Keep in mind that darker woods skew more formal, while lighter or grayer-toned woods, especially those with pronounced grain or distressing, lend a more casual feel. Light natural wood combined with white and, sometimes, black can create the increasingly popular modern coastal vibe.

If your current staircase is not bringing enough to the style party, following are a few ideas that will help. The options are myriad and can be overwhelming, so try thinking in terms of four main components: handrails and balustrades, treads, risers, and inner string wall — the interior wall where stairs attach. Regardless, choice of material will play a significant role.

Balustrades are often made of wooden spindles with various profiles topped by a wooden handrail. But there is a world of other options with handrails blending or contrasting. For balustrades, consider ultra-modern panels of clear or tinted glass; metals in a range of colors, with silver and black among the most popular; and styles from sleek cylindrical spindles to cable railing, mesh, panels or virtually any motif you can dream up — say, Hollywood Regency or art deco. Wrought iron with perhaps a stylized branch or other plant motif can lend charming rustic appeal. For an ultra-modern approach that still can look very warm if combined with wood, consider a steel stair-to-ceiling, spindle-style balustrade that creates a stair screen. Alternatively, these screens can be made of materials like cording or woven wicker.

For treads, consider wood, stone, concrete or even a carpet runner, especially if you have young children or pets. These days, carpet often gets a thumb’s down, but there are contexts where it is just right: It certainly muffles sound, but it can also skate that edge between traditional and current. A precast steel staircase supported by a wall and screen-style balustrade is an unexpected industrial option.

Risers in the same material as the tread will lend the most visual cohesion. But for a different kind of visual interest and focal point, choose for your risers wallpaper, tile or paint that is bold or subtle, sophisticated or whimsical. If you are game, wood and metal treads can float — that is, attach only on the inner string wall.

You can float all but, say, the first three stairs if you want some under-stair built-in storage. If you need more storage, the area under the stairs can be a prime spot for shelving, cubby or pull-out storage, as well as for handsome display.

Things get really interesting when you consider combining materials. One simple way to approach what can be overwhelming is to think in terms of contrasts like warm and cool, both to the touch and to the eye.  For instance, wooden newel posts, handrails, treads and risers — “warm” — combined with black metal cable railing balustrades — “cool” — can evoke a farmhouse, coastal casual or industrial modern aesthetic, depending on the finishes and profiles. Stairs can even be edged with materials like metal for a bit of pizzazz.

The interior wall of your staircase is essential to its overall impact but can be easily overlooked. Wainscoting is traditional — with board and batten providing a coastal look — often with photos or art above. But why not contemplate blocks of monochromatic tile; veneers of brick, stone or wood; or maybe even a skim coat of concrete for a more industrial look.

Finally, in your stair makeover, consider lighting. Options include under the lip of the tread, intervals at the base of the interior wall, and under the handrail on the interior wall. Stair lighting is not essential, but it can raise the safety and drama of your staircase.

Chris Ettel is founding partner of VB Home and has been chairman of the CVBIA Remodelers Council. He is a longtime board member of the Virginia Beach Public Schools Education Foundation. For more information, contact Chris@vbhomesliving.com or go to vbhomesliving.com.

In England they are often called utility rooms, so what I’ve gathered here is intended to make sure your laundry room addition or remodel doesn’t turn into a futility room. Just like a kitchen, one of the hardest working rooms in our homes, laundry rooms should be both highly functional and attractive. Laundry isn’t everyone’s first choice of activities, but if the space where we do it is appealing, the work becomes less of a chore.

Let’s start with the room itself.

First, it doesn’t have to be a room. It might be a corner of your garage, a hall closet or an area within a bathroom, bedroom, mudroom, craft room or pantry. Ideally, though, you don’t want your laundry space located where other activities will intrude, making it difficult to accomplish the work: sorting, washing, drying, hanging, ironing and folding. And, even though today’s machines are far quieter, there is some noise and it’s best if the hum and rumble don’t negatively affect adjacent spaces.

Be realistic about your limitations of space and other resources, as well as how the whole issue of laundry works in your home. You might love for family members to sort their laundry into bins in the laundry room, but your space may simply not be adequate. So be willing to do some work — and perhaps compromise — to ensure that your resources and laundry system mesh.

Here are factors to consider, for starters.

Work areas and storage

Depending on your space and budget, your machines might front-load, top-load or stack.
If they front-load, you can fold clothes on top of the machine. Many homeowners prefer a counter surface above that for seamless folding and for storage of other items. Other people prefer their machines on so-called pedestals, many with storage, for easier loading and unloading of clothes without a lot of bending. But that raises the machines enough that a separate folding surface is needed.

Folks with top-loading washers often find that they still want and need space above for laundry supplies and even decorative items. A shallow half shelf works nicely.
Stacking machines have less capacity but may be necessitated by floor space. They work well in closets with folding and hanging space to the side. For tiny spaces, there are even machines that both wash and dry. These are perfect for small apartments or perhaps a second, upstairs laundry area. With the most compact closets, some designers hang shelving on the side wall to hold laundry supplies, placing the least-used items toward the back of each shelf.

The desire to reduce clutter and make our homes function more smoothly has created a demand for all manner of storage solutions. People can find wall-mounted pull-downs and slide-outs, including, for laundry rooms, drying racks, folding tables and ironing boards. (Think Murphy beds for the laundry.) Decorative wall hooks may work better for air drying, depending on your space. More-utilitarian hooks on a pegboard or a slat system might be just the thing for an unused stretch of wall when floor space is at a premium. I have even seen wall-mounted receptacles for lint, socks without a mate, and coins that fall out of pockets.

Style

As with a bathroom or kitchen, your laundry room or niche should be as appealing as the rest of your home, consistent in style and feel, even if it is in the garage. Though some homeowners like to inject a little more industrial feel into these hard-working spaces or a vintage feel of sheets drying in the fresh air at Grandma’s, the space should reflect the style of your home.

Think too about whether to conceal the function of the room behind handsome cabinetry, show it off or do some of both. An all closed-cabinet laundry space can look, well, closed off. Yet too much accessibility can look cluttered without a plan.

If you want your laundry items to be easily within reach, consider storing them in coordinating baskets, bins and jars. If you have a collection of containers, consider them for storage and aesthetic appeal infused with your personality. Generally the look should be cohesive, but it doesn’t necessarily need to match.

Doorways

Depending on whether you want to conceal your laundry area or draw attention to it, you have options for covering the opening.

Doors with frosted glass, perhaps even with a “laundry” decal, call subtle attention and lend a vintage look. French doors show off your space; rolling, barn-style doors both draw attention and conceal. A pocket door saves coveted floor space, but it can be hard to open if your arms are full. Think about a swinging butler’s door instead.

If a door isn’t practical, consider curtains suspended from rings on a tension rod.

Lighting

Lighting is important. It should be bright enough to illuminate the workspace and not located where you would consistently cast a shadow over what you are trying to see.
Many homeowners are going for a touch of whimsy by hanging small chandeliers in their laundry rooms. Others choose stylish lighting consistent with that in the rest of their home.

And speaking of style, try to incorporate artwork or family photos into the space. One of my clients, a high school art teacher, hung small, framed reproductions of two of her students’ paintings of clothing in her laundry room: jeans and a kimono.

Chris Ettel is founding partner of VB Homes. He has served on the board of directors of the Coastal Virginia Building Industry Association and is past chairman of the association’s Remodeler’s Council.
 

It’s true that gutter systems are important for moving water away from homes to prevent damage both inside and out, including to the foundation — not to mention for preventing mold. But gutters and downspouts, plus hopper heads and scuppers, should be considered architectural features that can improve the overall character of your home.  Or they can do the opposite.

First some basics: Essentially, there are three main types of gutters, all available in a wide range of colors, materials — aluminum, vinyl, steel and copper, for example — and finishes depending on whether you want your system to blend in or stand out. You may also choose sectional or continuous; the latter is more expensive but needs less maintenance.

• The K-style looks vaguely like a K from the side and is the most frequently used. It attaches to the fascia board on the back and has a range of styles on the front meant to mimic crown molding.  Typically, these gutters are paired with corrugated downspouts, the commonly seen rectangular shape with ridges, for greater durability and support.
• The half-round gutter style is far more charming but cannot move as much water. These have smooth cylindrical downspouts, which are attached to the fascia with support brackets.
• Box gutters, which are square, can move the most water. Also called built-in or internal gutters, they are built into the roof overhang and are often chosen for contemporary homes with clean lines and angular geometry, or for commercial buildings. Pairing them with rectangular smooth-finish downspouts offers a sleek feel of refinement.

In lieu of downspouts, some homeowners choose rain chains for the tranquil way the water cascades down.  They come in many styles but are not suitable for large amounts of rainfall and must be anchored to a water-diverting source like a collection basin, fountain or a rock garden that allows water to percolate into the ground. All can be quite lovely.

The aesthetic fun really begins when you add hopper heads or scuppers into the mix. Hoppers help collect water from gutters and divert it to the downpipe.  Sounds utilitarian, right? They are, but that is only part of their appeal. Compatible with round, square or rectangular systems and available in a similar array of colors, materials and finishes, they can be purchased as is or custom made in myriad shapes and styles from boxes to cones, inverted pyramids, or even gargoyles, with beveling from simple to elaborate.

A cast iron — or cast iron-looking — hopper might be exactly the right touch for a home with traditional European bones, echoing the 19th century Victorian era. Some hoppers are cast with plant forms, letters or numbers on the fronts. It all depends on the look you want, from restrained elegance to elaborate luxury.

Scuppers can also be used with gutters and downspouts to divert the flow of water, generally from an opening in the side of the roof edge. Think of a waterfall faucet in a bathtub, writ large. Available in a vast array of styles, scuppers are typically most compatible with modern, industrial or farmhouse style homes and buildings.  Often designed as a U-shaped channel, they sometimes are combined with a rain chain; in other instances they divert their cascade of water directly into a basin, fountain or rock bed.

Once gutter systems are on your radar, you won’t be able to look at a house again without assessing how much the system contributes — or doesn’t — to the look of the home.  If you are contemplating a remodeling project or a new build that will require a gutter system, start taking note of attractive designs.  Take advantage of this opportunity to add some real style and character to your home in an often-overlooked way.

Open floor plans

Take for instance “open floor plans.” If you watch home design shows or even skim home design magazines, you know that open floor plans are synonymous with a stylish remodel. You may feel there is something wrong with you if you don’t want to take a sledge hammer to a wall. And sometimes there is good reason to open things up — for example, to avoid obstructing a view or, say, to keep an eye on the kids in the family room while you are in the kitchen.

But sometimes not. You can bet that once the pendulum has swung in one direction, it is eventually going to swing back the opposite way. Reasons to close up spaces might be a desire for more privacy, intimacy or coziness, or, as in one client’s case, the need to restrict canine family members to certain areas through the installation of custom gates in doorways.

Stainless steel appliances

Stainless steel appliances can be terrific. They reflect light, complement both warm and cool color palettes and are rugged (though they do scratch, dent and can even rust), while lending an air of culinary sophistication . But, along with granite countertops (see below), they have almost become a cliché. So, if neutrals are your preference, why not matte black, brown, slate, “truffle” or warm metallics, like bronze or copper? If you feel a bit more daring, go for maximum impact with a bright pop of modern color, like red or even a retro color like mint green.

Granite countertops

Granite countertops — yawn — have their place. And all materials have their drawbacks. For instance, you have to be careful about butcher block due to staining and burning, stainless steel due to scratches, and tile due to the creation of an uneven surface in addition to grout’s susceptibility to staining. Marble, too, will stain if not sealed; plus it is on the softer side and can be etched or gouged. But there are still more options. Consider quartz, soapstone, concrete and terrazzo, perhaps one of the most exciting, for aesthetics, functionality and ease of maintenance.

Barn doors and the farmhouse aesthetic

Barn doors are great … on a barn. But, seriously, they have their place in homes. However, the rolling style door with exposed hardware need not sport barn styling and should, instead, complement the style of your home. Plus, just because you have the wall space for this style of door doesn’t mean you should fill it with one. Well, maybe one as a focal point. But avoid going overboard. Instead of creating a cohesive look, you are liable to give the impression that you got a good deal on barn doors. Similarly, the farmhouse aesthetic, popularized by Chip and Joanna Gaines, is appealing to many, no question about it. But, too much shiplap and too many Mason jars can look contrived.

Midcentury modern, minimalism and shabby-chic

Perhaps as a function of the “Mad Men” craze, any brand that wants to appear instantly hip incorporates midcentury modern furnishings and accessories into their print and television advertisements. If you love midcentury design, by all means purchase some nice pieces. It is a sleek style that plays nicely with others. Similarly, minimalism suggests sophistication — this style can never be accused of being folksy or “cute” — but while it may create a beautiful magazine spread, it may not be practical or functional for a home in which real people reside. Fortunately, there are other ways to be hip and sophisticated, with authenticity and being true to oneself among them.

At the opposite end of the spectrum is shabby-chic, which is, at times, more shabby than chic. As with so many trends, what started out as one thing morphed into something else. The appeal of furniture and decorative objects with character and history gave way to pieces slapped together, painted or upholstered with poor craftsmanship. For a while it seemed that anyone with a piece of thrift store furniture, a staple gun and a can of chalk paint was cranking out “artisanal” home goods. With nothing against the DIY movement, there is a difference between shoddy and chic.

Decorative objects

Beware the overused pattern, like Ikat a year or so ago and chevron more recently. If those prints legitimately appeal to your sensibilities, embrace them. But, often, familiarity may breed contempt if you overload your home with what can be found in abundance in discount department stores, craft stores and on populist websites. The same applies to other style statements like oversized letters and word art in stencil or decal form on walls or panels, framed or unframed. How much of a style statement is it if everyone is making it? If a look is all over Pinterest, it is not likely to be a true reflection of your individuality.

Chris Ettel is founding partner of VB Homes. He serves on the Tidewater Builders Association board of directors, served as past chairman of the TBA Remodelers Council and is a longtime board member of the Virginia Beach Public Schools Education Foundation. For more information, contact Chris@vbhomesliving.com or go to www.vbhomesliving.com.

Site: A pool can be built on virtually any site, but the cost may be prohibitive if the property isn’t naturally suitable for construction. Issues to consider include soil composition, water table, elevation changes and accessibility. Generally, the heavy equipment needed for pool construction requires at least 8-foot- wide access.

SHAPE: If you are determined to have a pool, there is probably a shape that will work for your application, even if it isn’t exactly what you had imagined. For example, a long narrow rectangle is ideal when space is limited.

STYLE: Though it probably goes without saying that your pool and surrounding area should complement the style of your home and landscaping, be it classic, rustic, sleek, modern or whatever, there is another possibility. What happens if you are dead set on a hip South Beach-style escape that seems completely at odds with your Tidewater Colonial? All may not lost be lost, as a top-notch designer will likely be able to create a transition from one world to the other through expert selection and placement of landscaping and hardscaping materials, not to mention the design of the pool itself from tropical lagoon to urban plunge pool.

LIFESTYLE: Before you take the plunge, get crystal clear about your lifestyle and how your new pool will fit into it now and over time. Do you want the pool for exercise, leisure sports, cooling off, entertaining, or ambiance? Your pool design should work hard to afford you the lifestyle you have worked hard to achieve. Most people spend more time looking at their pool or dwelling around its edges than actually swimming in it, so consider the likes of wading areas for young children or for adults in lounge chairs, a tanning ledge and, for the ultimate in resort style living, an in-ground spa. Consisting largely of some type of seating and jets, spas are as varied as pools but should visually harmonize. The newer “spools” combine a larger spa with a smaller pool.

LOCATION: Virtually every city government website hosts an exhaustive list of zoning and building laws related to pools, decking, fencing and insurance, including in relation to their location on your property. Work with your contractor and designer to ensure that you are in compliance to avoid a costly misstep.

LINER: There are essentially three types of pool liners: concrete (gunite), vinyl and fiberglass. Each has advantages and disadvantages related to initial cost, installation, durability, maintenance, appearance and more. Carefully study the pros and cons to make a selection that is the best fit.

LIGHTING: Since pools are valued as much or more for ambiance as they are for swimming, you will want to enjoy your pool even as the sun sets. Consider lighting both in and around the pool. Most experts will agree that LED lighting is the brightest idea for creating the desired mood. For the pool itself, LED lights can be installed in the coping or in pipes within the walls, casting a soft glow across the water, even one that can be programmed to change colors. Around the pool – for both aesthetic and safety enhancement – low-voltage lighting is generally the preferred type. Because of the presence of water, however, special considerations come into play. Let an expert guide you.

AMENITIES: Think of your project as a poolscape rather than simply as a pool. Design the entire space holistically, even if you build it in phases. Amenities to consider include a pool house, outdoor kitchen, loggia, pergola, gazebo, cabana, firepit, fireplace, outdoor shower, play area, and other sun and shade options. People typically want to both sit and lie beside a pool, so consider a variety of seating options, including lounge chairs for a resort feel, but also hammocks and daybeds. Features and focal points that make your space even more deluxe include rock waterfalls in a more naturalized setting, water spouts or deck jet water features for a sleeker and more contemporary context, a swim-up bar, underwater benches, shallow beach-style pool entries, or even a dry recessed lounge area within the pool.

MATERIALS: Concrete used to be the material of choice for pool decking, but it is prone to cracking and is complex to repair. Also, growing eco-consciousness related to run-off makes a more permeable decking more desirable. “Unit paving” as opposed to poured slabs, addresses both concerns and options now abound. Three main considerations should drive your decision besides appearance and budget: heat absorption, feel on bare feet and anti-slipping properties. Some options include unglazed tile, cast concrete pavers, stone, wood (including exotics like ipe), brick and rubber.

MAINTENANCE: Though all pools have different maintenance needs, the key is regular and routine care in these areas: skimming, vacuuming/brushing, cleaning the filter, professionally servicing the heater if applicable, maintaining water level and pH level, chlorinating the water, locating and repairing leaks, and winterizing.

Now, go on, get your feet wet and enjoy a year-round staycation.

Chris Ettel is founding partner of VB Homes. He serves on the Tidewater Builders Association board of directors, serves as past chairman of the TBA Remodelers Council and is a longtime board member of the Virginia Beach Public Schools Education Foundation. For more information, go to www.vbhomesliving.com.