It's that time of year...

The growing apples earlier this summer

• It is amazing that the trees are starting to turn up in New England...the days are still warm but the nights are cooler...What were once small, green apples starting to grow on the tree are now lush, ripening apples ready to be picked...

Picked fresh from the tree

• I have a friend that says "there's a pie for every season"....Well that means it's time for Apple Pie...

Gathered basics

• The scent of apples simmering with cinnamon and sugar on the stove is a favorite smell of home as a pie crust is being prepped from scratch...

Pie dough made from half whole wheat flour and half white flour

• Apple pie is right up there with Chocolate Chip Cookies for me...there is something very familiar to this old-fashioned American dish that says "Welcome home"...

A team effort

• If you ever renovate or upgrade your kitchen countertops - designate an area for granite or some sort of stone surface for baking...rolling dough out on the cold surface really makes life easier...

Ready for the oven

• Get the ice cold milk ready or maybe some ice cream and stand by....

Ready for the table

• Want some other apple-inspired ideas...Check them out here:  APPLES

Architectural Salvage...

Great pendant light and vintage pieces adds unique character to this room

• I am a huge fan of architectural salvage locations...I think it is great when items from old houses, old barns or old stores are dismantled and removed before a place is torn down or completely renovated...

• Growing up in New England, I still find it hard to go back to a place where there once stood a classic farmhouse with barns and silos nearby to find a shopping strip mall or condo complex now in its place...

• Luckily, what gave these old places character can be saved in most cases...There are amazing teams across the country in various communities that go into places that have been sold or that will be torn down and remove the items that were original to the location before it is all destroyed and gone forever...

A home office gets a different kind of desk...great idea for a craft room too

• Anything from old staircases, windows, mantles, floorboards to cabinetry, old lighting, moldings and trim or other furnishings that have interesting character or simply things that are not made that way anymore...They are just waiting to be reused...

Vintage lighting - new lease on life

• I talk a great deal - in my design work, in my upcoming book and in my design seminars - how architectural salvage can truly work to your advantage as you remodel your home or build one from scratch...Many people don't even think about this as an option...

• Whether you use vintage lighting that gets new wiring and takes center stage over your work area...old stainless cabinetry becomes kitchen storage...vintage office seating is used for your everyday retro seating options...or perhaps you find an amazing neon diner sign that finds a home in your dining room...The possibilities are endless...

• Repurposing and seeing how architectural salvage can truly be a creative resource for the everyday homeowner can open up a whole vantage point on what your home could offer...

Repurposed cabinets, lighting and seating

• So if you have an old house that has great character but you are removing certain things for a renovation - contact your local architectural salvage location to help you out...or if you are building a new house - think about how you might have some fun incorporating some industrial or retro style into your new design...

Be creative with the things you find

• I guess one thing that I love is that these old pieces have stood the test of time...They have a history and there is a great deal to be said about that in my book...

Built-in Beds : Creative Use of Space

• Built-in beds are great for kids, guest areas or homes that simply need to make use of space in a creative way...

• A small room or narrow space can get built-in, bunk beds that save on space but are useful and practical for everyday use...

• Being a fan of window seats - a built-in bed could have a dual purpose - seating area by day - sleeping area by night...especially when you have a room with a view...

• You can finish the spaces with details such as built-in shelving or cubbies, lighting, contrasting wall finishes or colors and have some creative fun with the bedding...

• If you want, the space can generate a theme or mood, yet still be functional for your kids or guests...

• A built-in bed can be tucked away into any nook - such as this attic rec room shown above or a designated space can be framed out and one can be created...

• Add some storage underneath with baskets or drawers to make use of all the space created...

• A built-in bed idea may be a perfect solution for many homes...What about your's?