The July Project of the Month Winner is tanjuke! The winning project, Dai.I.8, is a delightfully elegant home with great angles, including the balcony, which is just right for entertaining a small group .

As you enter (near the blue arrow), you’ll feel right at home as you easily find the bathroom to your left, the bedroom to your right and then the big open space that includes the kitchen, dining area and entertainment area.

A mirrored armoire helps make the entry way feel even bigger than it is. Paintings and their colors are used effectively to help guide your eye and your movement into the main room. The angled flooring gives a hint of the interesting character of the spaces.

Looking back toward the entryway, you’ll notice how open the floor plan is and how color is used to help define specific areas.

Looking from the kitchen toward the entertainment area, you can appreciate how the angled wall and flooring guides you right to the fun.

The color theme is carried through the entertainment area with light touches of color .

A short angled wall behind the stove helps open up the kitchen and adds a nice complement to the main angled wall. You can imagine having a party and how easy it would be to be part of the fun even as you prepare food and drinks.

The large bedroom gives plenty of room for the bed and a seating area that takes advantage of the view. The chairs, pillows and paintings all add to the continuation of the home’s decoration theme. Color in just the right places make an already nice bedroom even more enjoyable.

Gorgeous red tiles and white fixtures are exactly what you would expect in the bathroom. The big splashes of color help warm it up and the angled tiles help make it more interesting.

Overall, it’s a simple, but very elegant use of space and color to create a wonderful place to live.

It’s your turn!

It always seems that we need just a little more space than we have. In many cases color can help us create the impression of more space. Color and the perception of space are directly linked. In this tutorial we’ll look at a few key elements to remember and use to your advantage.

The first element to be aware of is that we only see things because they reflect light, so understanding that light is important. Natural morning light is cool in color and as the day progresses that same natural light gets warmer. Window placement and the orientation of the home to the sun determine your range of possibilities and give you the basic factors to work with.

Use the Sunlight Simulation tool in the Settings tab in your projects to change the time of day to see how the color changes.

In contrast, man-made lighting can be tailored to fit the need. Anywhere from full-spectrum (closest to natural lighting) to specific parts of the light spectrum can be found. Keep this in mind when designing and when shopping for bulbs.

Shadows add drama to any room. Shadows from windows and from lighting can energize your spaces and bring intricate or bold elements of texture to your space. The lower the lighting is, the more dramatic it will be.

Colors closer to white make spaces and objects look larger and closer. Dark colors cause a space to appear smaller or farther away. Notice how this happens below.

Walls, ceilings, floors and your furnishings can all be used to maximize the amount of space you seem to have. Try numerous combinations while you’re still in the design stage to find the right balance of color and light.

It’s your turn!

Wall-mounted flat panel TV’s are a great way to get the most out of your entertainment and learning experiences. They free up valuable floor space and come in a huge variety of sizes.This tutorial will show you how to make the best flat panel TV for your space, regardless of the size.

You can find HomeByMe’s current selection of TVs in the library Rooms>For all rooms>Electronics and entertainment and also in Rooms>Living room>Electronics and entertainment. You’ll find lots of units with bases that sit on your furnishings, but only one that is wall mounted.

The Areatua wall-mounted flat panel TV can be re-sized to match your chosen aspect ratio and size after clicking on the Properties button. If the red edge (arrow) doesn’t fit into your color scheme or you just want to design your own TV, it’s easy to do.

The fastest way is to use one of the wall decorations in Rooms>For all rooms>Home decor>Wall decorations. Choose one that has an image on it. There’s a good selection, both with frames and without.

This is the key to making  a quick change from a decoration into a TV: in the properties box, change the size to exactly what you want and change the Structure (frame) color to a dark color and the Picture area to a slightly different dark color. Or, use a frame color that goes with your color scheme.

Now you have a flat panel TV ready to mount on the wall.

The natural inclination is to make the biggest TV that you can, but it is the viewing distance that should determine your maximum size. The human eye can only take in a certain width at a certain distance.

There are as many different ways to figure out the best distance as there are trees in the forest, so measure your viewing distance, do a little searching online and find the method that you prefer. Bigger is not always better.

A great way to use your imagination and really add some custom touches to your projects is to use Free shapes (Rooms>For all rooms>Free shapes) to make your own TV. Since a flat panel TV is basically a big rectangle, try some other treatments to fit your project.

It’s your turn now!

July Project of the Month Winner – tanjuke

Congratulations! The winner of HomeByMe’s July Project of the Month is tanjuke! The project DaI.8 is a wonderful example of combining the simplicity and elegance of neutral colors with the restrained use of vibrant colors to create a home that looks both fabulous and comfortable…

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Spotlight on Your Projects

Explore BANCQUART’s elegant home from one end to the other

PLAN DEFINITIF

BANCQUART  has created a haven for both the homeowners and their guests on a long thin piece of property. Each element is carefully considered and placed in just the right spot to match the theme of easy and gracious living…

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See how CamilleLK combines small spaces into a delightful studio

Studio_actuel

CamilleLK has used ingenuity to make sure that everything fits snugly into this studio. Inviting colors and materials turn each functional space into its own special spot to relax and be happy

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Enjoy how rzapatagaleano brings the beauty of the outdoors indoors

Plena Naturaleza

Nature has elegance in abundance and rzapatagaleano has refined a blend of being outdoors with the comfort of being indoors in this well thought out home. Plenty of room gives a spacious feeling, yet each grouped setting can become a cozy nest unto itself…

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Examples like these can help as you define your own sense of elegance and simplicity. Only you know what will make you comfortable and happy.

Each of HomeByMe’s libraries of furnishings, decorations and materials have many elegant selections, no matter how you define it. Explore each library and find your own special items.

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To subscribe to the newsletter, just go to the HomeByMe home page and follow the green or red steps below to reach your account info page and then check the Subscribe to our newsletter box. Save your changes at the bottom and you’re done!

Angele22 is the Winner of the August Project of the Month! The project, 12′, is especially notable for two glass walls in exactly the right spot to open up the entire space and give a great sense of openness. They also create multiple reflections and interesting shadows, adding to the visual treats. It’s amazing how much more lively and livable the entire home has become!

If you stand right about where the blue dot is, you’ll have the view above and can easily see how this one glass corner livens up the floor plan. As you enter the home (yellow dot) you have great views whichever way you turn.

Looking straight ahead it’s easy to see how the glass wall turns a fairly long and narrow section into one big space that blends easily with the living room.

Just go around the glass corner and you’ll enter the bedroom. Simplicity helps keep the room clean, while the band of blue and wall of wood add the right amount of drama and warmth.

An already large bathroom is made to feel even bigger with the use of a single glass shower wall. The simple and blue themes are also harmonious with the bedroom. You should also enjoy how much life is brought to each space with the simple addition of a well-placed plant.

The central glass walls help open up the bedroom as well. It feels like the whole space is your room.

As with all of the other areas, furnishings and decorations are kept to a minimum in the living room area. Glass is used effectively again as the base of the coffee table, keeping the feeling light and open.

The kitchen is well organized with most of the work surfaces kept on one wall. The taller sections are on the opposite wall and help form the main wall that leads to the rest of the home. There is also a great view of the deck and easy access to both the dining area and the deck.

What a great space to relax and enjoy yourself. The extra little bump out for another tall plant is a great addition and makes the whole deck more interesting. The plants add privacy along with color, texture and detail. The wood furniture is inviting and helps keep the atmosphere more casual.

With careful planning and reasonable use of furnishings, this home has become an intriguing and wonderful place to live and visit!

It’s your turn!

Good news: HomeByMe launches the Academy, a section dedicated to decorating and interior design advice: http://home.by.me/en/academy/! You don’t know which color to choose for your room, how to design the perfect dressing room or how to maximize light in a room? You can find all the answers on the Academy!

The navigation is very simple. The section is divided into several parts: Bathroom, Decoration, Extension, Interior design, Kitchen, Lighting, Outdoor. Another option: if you need more inspiration, read Articles or Practical guide. In the first you will find all the professional advice to become familiar with the decor trends, styles and techniques. In Practical guide we brought together all design tips to make the right choices in terms of decoration and learn how to enhance your interior.

Discover this section full of good ideas right here: http://home.by.me/en/academy/. Get started with the Academy!

Furniture and decorations are important, but the people who live there are even more important! Make sure that there is plenty of room for people to move around easily in your projects. This tutorial will cover some of the steps you can take to make your people comfortable.

For an example, I’ll use this small guest house which is separate from the main house and nestles in the foothills overlooking the Pacific ocean. A kitchen isn’t needed since meals will be enjoyed in the main house. A 2D view (overhead view/plan view/bird’s-eye view) is the starting point for effective planning.

To start evaluating the traffic flow of the floor plan, I’ll create a black and white drawing following the easy directions in the How to create a 2D plan blog post. Turn off the Dimensions layer to get a clear view before exporting or printing.

Traffic circulation starts where the openings are – I’ve added red dots to show these and also mark the major areas of activity.

By connecting the dots I can see the primary traffic routes. I now have a quick idea of what furniture is already well-placed and those areas that need some tweaking.

I must also consider the pieces of furniture, built-in features and other areas that need additional access, like closets, dressers and shelves. I’ve shown them here with blue dots with an access direction arrow. The big yellow dot shows where I need to make some changes to gain access to the plantings on the left side of the guest house.

It’s also a good time before I make alterations and finalize my layout  to consider clearances for wheelchairs or someone on crutches.

To check my clearance dimensions, I’ll use the 3D measures tool, which is thoroughly explained in the Placing things with precision blog post. A quick search on the internet will help me find the recommended distances between items and access distances for furniture with drawers and doors. In most cases, clearance dimensions are recommendations to help make the home easier to live in, not absolute requirements.

When I’m in a 3D view I can also use the Measure tool which is in the main menu at the top right of the page. This is very helpful when the I need to check the dimensions between specific parts of items or the items to be measured are curved. In this case, both plant pots are curved and an approximate dimension is all I really want.

By following these steps I’ve learned more about my project and now I am much more comfortable that the placement of furniture and decorations will indeed make the home easier to enjoy.

For more great ideas and suggestions, be sure to check out the Define the Best Circulation for your Home Practical Guide in the Academy!

It’s your turn!

As we all look for new ways to find more space, or to give the appearance of more space, in our homes; there is always the option of clearing away the existing clutter. Little by little, it sneaks up on us and suddenly we have too much stuff and no place to put it. Clearing it away is a difficult challenge, so to inspire you, here are four examples of home projects where the lack of clutter helps define the character of the home.

This project, camille, by meur, makes good use of each space (the next floor up is partially finished) while leaving plenty of room for freely flowing circulation. The view above shows how small splashes of color can lead the eyes through a space, making it appear even bigger.

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Too many colors in a small space can create a cluttered feeling too. Combining a dominant black and white palette with the warmth of wood and just a few plants helps monochrome make a bold statement in the project 2015.

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The novel, complex shape of aliceC’s project Avec vue sur la Mer… makes each piece of furniture or built-in feature stand out. The home itself demands the majority of attention, so furnishings have been carefully and elegantly blended to complement the rooms.

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STEPHANE01 has resisted the temptation to fill this large home and property with everything possible. The result is that CARON ENJOY LEPREUX VOLUMES OPTIMISES  is a much more beautiful and enjoyable home. My favorite part is the slight twist in the position of the ‘L’-shaped couch. It adds a dash of spontaneity and helps join two large areas at the same time.

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It’s your turn!

Congratulations go to aliceC for winning the September HomeByMe Project of the Month! Her project, Avec vue sur la Mer…, is a fantastic combination of artistic creativity and a unique architectural approach. Everywhere you look, you’ll find challenging new ways of defining space and adapting patterns at slightly different scales to create such a beautiful home.

Here we can see how the importance of using faceted (rounded) spaces defines the interior and exterior. The pattern is similar, but the size and number used is slightly different to suit each of the five rooms. The same theme is carried through to the great little terraces that add another level of interest to the design.

Let’s start the tour at the entrance (blue arrow). As we approached the house we could appreciate the overall structural design, but once we’re inside we can start to see how it is subtly altered in each of the rooms. The kitchen/bedroom wall is the backbone of the home with the other rooms spiraling around it

Looking back toward the entryway reminds us that we are in a totally different type of home with just the right amount of furnishings, subdued colors and contrasting textures.

The dining and kitchen areas are one and the openness combined with all the windows make it bright and spacious.

The warmth and comfort of wood is used throughout with dabs of bright color to catch the eye.

Kitchen furnishings contrast strongly in color, yet still work together beautifully. The island is on wheels and can be easily moved to create new arrangements.

Casual seating and an elegant sideboard add functionality without taking up much space.

A cozy and comfortable seating arrangement in front of the fireplace invites you to linger. Or you can use the home office in the opposite corner or even step outside onto one of the delightful little terraces.

A wall of windows can brighten or tone down the bedroom to suit your needs. Once again wood adds the finishing touch to the muted color palette and a slightly different wall texture make it feel like a true hideaway where you can relax.

Big glass windows let in plenty of light for the cacti and keep the bathroom bright, even with the darker wall tiles.

Like the entire home, only what is absolutely necessary is included when it comes to furnishings. Now we find ourselves back at the entry way. I’ll leave you alone and you can explore as much as you like. I’m sure you’ll find many more details that make this such an amazing home!

It’s your turn!

Lights are important in your projects, since much of your time at home is spent in the evening hours. HomeByMe has quite a collection of lights and light effects that can add the drama of shadows and reflections to your projects. This tutorial will show you how to turn your lights on at night for their full effect and several other stages of lighting that are quite useful.

If you’re in a hurry for just the answer to “How do I turn on my lights?”, here it is – in your Settings panel, move the time of day slider to the right until the lights go on. Notice that the light bulbs do not shine brightly. What you actually see is the light that is reflected from other surfaces. You’ll probably need to move your lights around a bit to get the effect you want.

Now for a few more tips and options for your lighting. When you start a new project there are default time and lighting settings that work really well for daytime images.

There are two optional lighting settings that you should be aware of. The Improved graphics when idle button is on by default.  When you pause working for a few seconds – for a small project, or about 45 seconds (or more) for complex projects – you’ll be rewarded with great reflections and improved shadows. If you find that you prefer it off, just uncheck the box.

The other setting to try is the three-position slider that selects Best performance, Best Compromise or Best quality. By default it is set right in the middle, which works out well for most situations. The biggest differences in using Best Quality are the increased quality and clarity of the shadows and reflections. You can see this in particular in the day with the shadows on the table and the reflections underneath.

In night images, the two choices are almost identical. You can decide which setting is appropriate for your particular situation.

During summer the days are longer (as you move away from the equator). The afternoon sun is warmer in color and shadows start getting longer. Just move the Sunlight simulation sliders to change to the date and the time you want.

Now, let’s turn the lights on by sliding the Sunlight simulation slider to the right where the evening hours are. Make sure that Improved graphics is on, and be patient for a few seconds – for a smaller project , or up to about 45 seconds for this complicated project – you’ll be rewarded with rich colors and beautiful realistic reflections and shadows.

Evening lights can give your projects dramatic images to really reflect how nice it will be!

It’s your turn!

Upcycling is a new trend that encourages us to use our imaginations to combine the old with the new and to use our own skills to make our furnishings.

Many of our community members have been using upcycling with great success. Everywhere you look in ernesdtplani’s project, casa entera piscina7.3, you’ll find upcycled and totally new features, including the pool itself.

The patio, columns, wall facings and even the overhead beam and timber structure are created using Free shapes (Rooms>For all rooms>Free shapes). An imaginative new feature is added by simply changing the size of existing HomeByMe plants.

Everything in the kitchen except the appliances was designed and then created using Free shapes. Upcycling and the creative combination of existing elements is key to this home.

One of HomeByMe’s best upcyclers is carlota. Her home, Single, is a great example where she has used upcycling concepts throughout. Steel girders and timbers make up the roof overhangs. Vertical beams make the posts and resized Free shapes with a glass material make the panels in the railing around the terrace.

The shelves over the kitchen counter are actually a resized bookcase that normally sits on the floor. There is an eclectic mix of styles as you move through the home. Modern pieces are set off by the vintage half round table and lamp over on the right.

Careful matching of wood grains and using a majority of neutral tones helps set off the vases (resized of course) and the two containers with very different finishes. This is small house that is big on the details, look carefully and you’ll find more.

In contrast, Deadmonkeys3000’s project, Concrete Modern is a large two-story home. It is filled with examples of upcycled furnishings and new creative details. The fire pit and barbeque areas are almost completely constructed using Free shapes. The grille itself is buried in the main block so that it appears to be custom built and the railings around the patio are made from the same set of shelves that Carlota used.

The kitchen is dominated by the central cooking surface with a unusual countertop and shelves. It was upcycled by resizing a coffee table and using a granite material.

The home’s main columns are added using the rectangular column (Rooms>Outdoor>Outdoor decorations). The dining room table and chairs, you can see them through the stairs, are on their own platform created with a Free shape. Look for many more examples on the second floor too.

Martin69’s home, Maison 2.0, is quite unusual and filled with many architectural elements that give each space a sense of adventure. The entire wall to the right of the yellow stool was created using Free shape cubes.

In the grilling courtyard the window and door accents were created using Free shapes.

The bedroom has its own share of custom elements, including the window details and two shelves. Please take a moment to open the project and take a look around yourself. There is much more for you to discover!

For more about upcycling you can learn from the experts. Read the Academy article New trend: upcycling.

It’s your turn!

The winner of the October HomeByMe Project of the Month is Deadmonkeys3000! Congratulations! Their imagination has been on overtime. Concrete Modern is a stunning use of creativity, Free shapes and the HomeByMe libraries to create a one-of-a-kind home with two spectacular living levels filled with upcycled details. I can’t possibly point out all of the details, so please explore on your own and find your own favorites.

This view is included to give some overall guidance to start the tour. Come back as needed if you get lost.

As you enter the home (blue arrow in image above), you’ll immediately be greeted with a great example of upcycling. A HomeByMe coat stand has been embedded in one Free shape cylinder and a wood seat is provided which is held up by another cylinder.

Directly off of the entryway Deadmonkeys3000 has thoughtfully included a bathroom. The privacy screen is a re-purposed shower door and another Free shape is used for the floor to ceiling accent wall which adds interest to the simple room shape.

Back in the entryway a turn to the left gives you easy access to either floor. Both floors are outstanding, but head down past the more formal living room towards the dining room. The plants under the stairway are corralled in a Free shape “container”. Plants throughout the home are resized and grouped in interesting ways to suit the spot.

The dining set is raised on a Free shape pedestal and is surrounded by plants. Notice the unique floor level window that gives them the light they need.

More plants containers are built into the Free shape wall along with the fireplace. There’s even a comfy corner seating area also created with Free shapes. The glass table helps make the entire area seem more open and inviting.

In the indoor kitchen, the cooktop is built into a resized coffee table that also provides shelves. The round shape  certainly helps with easy circulation. The microwave and oven are built into the same wall as the fireplace in the dining room.

The outdoor kitchen and firepit use Free shapes in abundance. The BBQ island is a Free shape with an existing grill embedded to look like it was custom built. A cooktop, cutting board, sink and fridge are also built in. The railings are actually resized bookcases!

When you turn around, you’ll see this fantastic view of the two floor tall atrium. Wow!

A large bedroom continues the use of similar woods throughout the home. Small boxes are mounted on columns for storage and several Free shape accent walls add interest.

Once again plants are used to add texture and color. The beautiful bathroom is behind the bed and is completely fitted out.

To keep ourselves oriented here’s another shot showing the next floor up.

A spacious staircase takes you to the next floor. Resized HomeByMe shelves make beautiful railings. Another plant and flower bed brings the beauty of the outdoors inside. Accent wood panels are used inside and outside of the home to add the type of details that really set a home apart from others.

Continuing the use of plants to add beauty, there is a terrace area for access to the outdoors. Free shapes are used for the planting beds and seating area. What a fantastic place to be on a warm summer evening.

There are plants everywhere you look and huge expanses of glass to add depth to the whole scene. You can enjoy the atrium from above and really appreciate the gorgeous tree as a centerpiece.

The master bedroom has its own fireplace and more beautiful plants. As always, Free shapes are used to create accents to make the space even more appealing.

The complete master bath is behind the plantings. Notice how similar details in different rooms give the home a continuous feeling of comfort – compare the sink treatment here with the indoor kitchen sink area in the first image.

Plants that seem to float in the air add another dramatic effect that you can enjoy from both floors. I’m glad that I don’t have to water them!

So ends our tour of this truly amazing home. Use the ideas shown here to spark your own imagination for upcycling in your own home!

It’s your turn!

JULIETTE17 – Appart’

Nagual – The Way of the Samurai

MAYAMESA – Mi nuevo proyecto 2000

Vienna – Maison un pent de toit

Pallvi.multani2000 – Schwarz Weiß Apartment

Areyouseriousman91 – Appartement style LOFT

Zozottedu30 – Maison F1

Footfingers – Projet 2

Tomas Baltrons – 1

Just click on any of the project images to be taken to the project page where you can explore it more thoroughly.

It’s your turn ! 

Winter is coming, it’s getting colder outside and you want to make your home cozier and more comfortable to spend autumn evenings. Why not to install a fireplace? HomeByMe users have created 8 projects that perfectly show how a fireplace or a stove can add character and charm to your space.  Find here new original ideas for your projects!

Saffoufa – Modele1

Lauracec – Salon

Jujudeco – Notre-première

Pamelama – Familia Muñoz OG

Alexandra.Pl – 11

Sandrazapata – Proyecto4

Chalopin – Caro-Romain 1

Louise.edouin – Rousselin

Just click on any of the project images to be taken to the project page where you can explore it more thoroughly.

It’s your turn ! 

Upcycling in the real world usually means something like “the transformation of old products, waste materials, useless and/or unwanted products into new products…etc.” Here in the virtual world of HomeByMe it can mean so much more! We have the ability to endlessly combine and change the furnishings already in our product libraries and to make new products until we create exactly what we like. Everything can be upcycled!

This writer’s home-away-from-home project is almost entirely “virtually” upcycled furnishings. Everything in it has been changed and crafted to fit into my concept. Compare it with each of the methods of  upcycling shown below and you’ll find new ways to make your own projects exactly what you want!

1 - Let’s start with something easy to do in HomeByMe. If something you like doesn’t fit in your space, like this Irea set of drawers, change the size! Just click on the bureau and then on the Edit properties button and change the dimensions until it does fits. It’s a lot easier to do it virtually first and make sure you like it.

2 -  Here’s another easy one – many items let you change the colors or materials – click on the same Edit properties button and change the color of an entire item or parts of it. The vibrant wood pattern didn’t really match the rest of the room, so a couple of clicks have fixed that.

3 - Branded items can be added to your project in the colors that are in our libraries and you can check their website for other colors right from the HomeByMe screen. Sometimes you can change the HomeByMe details to match what else is offered. Here I was able to change the drawer front on this pair of duehome bureaus by adding a Free shape (Rooms>For all rooms>Free shapes), changing the color and making it a tiny bit bigger to cover the original.

With just these few minor upcycles I’ve helped the room look more at home with itself.

4 - More dramatic effects can be created by completely changing the proportions and colors and then using the new piece for an entirely new purpose. All of the dark window frames and handrails for the bridge were upcycled from living room shelves.

5 - Combine different items to make something new. Change the sizes until they work together and then look at the colors and materials too. These deck chairs and cushions go together functionally, but still required quite a bit of fussing to get the cushion sizes right, to add a Free shape bottom cushion and to blend the overall chair color with the rest of the deck furnishings. And, of course, to get the right fabric that could also be used for the canvas awning over the whole deck as well.

Upcycling should be fun and creative, but still fit into your plan for the rooms of your projects. This simple little office space is carefully designed to fit in and still be enjoyable.

6 - Add Free shapes by themselves or combined with standard or branded items to make all sorts of new items. These Vanadurga chairs have been modified with wood panels and accents (and don’t forget the coaster under the wine glass on the chair). The coffee table is simply Free shape cylinders stacked and offset in different colors and materials.

7 - Free shapes can certainly be used for more than simple items. With a little care and patience, you can use them to create whole rooms. With the addition of a few HomeByMe product library items, this small custom kitchen looks like no other. The writer and her colleagues will always find good food and drink here.

As you head off into your own projects, remember that everything can be a treasure with some clever creativity and a little help from HomeByMe.

Some quick tips:

– After you’ve worked to combine several items into something new – hold down the Ctrl key and select all the parts to move them as one piece.

– Use the same method and then hold down the Shift key to move them all without them snapping to other things.

– Or, after you’ve selected them, hold down the Alt key to make copies of everything you’ve selected.

It’s your turn!

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home – and one of the hardest to design. It’s used so much that it’s necessary for it to look fabulous and function beautifully. Here are ten of your kitchen projects that do a great job with the space they have. Each kitchen is labeled with a general type of layout. Check out the HomeByMe Academy article (link at the end) to get more information on each style.

Single wall with a counter – this is an interesting example which has the sink in an alcove at the end of the room with a nice window right over it.

 FSALAMANCA – Piso Abuelo Cocina Abierta

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L-shaped with an island – Kitchen islands have become hugely popular since they help bring everyone together comfortably in the kitchen with some extra seating and also let the chef(s) enjoy their guests more.

titi_mor22 – wood house 2

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Single wall with an island – This layout is about as open as you can get. Everyone will know when the food is ready!

 vanessa__2B – vaness

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L-shaped with an island – There’s plenty of room here for easy preparation and informal snacks and meals.

 TERRON – PLAN MAISOM

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Single wall with an island – This bold kitchen has the dining room close by and overlooks the generous terrace, garage and outside activities. The sun brightens up the room through the day and into the warmer light of the late afternoon.

 pauletta – maison-transformations

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Two parallel walls with an island – These walls are far enough apart to allow an island for casual meals and snacks right in the middle of the kitchen.

 beaufilsmarion – cuisine

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U-shaped with an island – Two sinks and granite surfaces everywhere define this kitchen. There’s plenty of counter space and the island is huge.

 joseernesto – terranova 3

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L-shaped – Clean lines and bold colors are a strong factor here. The black floor and medium gray wall tiles help balance out the overall effect.

 geli – COCINA COMEDOR 1

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L-shaped with L-shaped island – Having the island L-shaped in the opposite direction is a neat trick to make a room within a room and still keep things open.

 geffray.estelle – RENOVATION CUISINE SALLE A MANGER

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Two parallel walls – The use of black helps keep the main wall of cabinets visually a bit smaller and the open shelving on the opposite wall make the space between the walls seem bigger.

lora1929 – appar I

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That’s 10 great kitchens filled with different ways of using space and materials to make the kitchen a place you want to be. Let’s have a get-together at each place to see how they handle a good-sized group of people!

The HomeByMe Academy has an informative article about kitchen layouts that you should read too. It has more details and explanations to help you make your own kitchen your favorite of all.

It’s your turn!

Autumn is the best time to pay more attention to your home and to change its decor. To create a warm and cozy interior, play with textures, cushions and throws. Prefer soft lights and candles. Remember also that plants can bring a green touch to your home, so necessary when it is raining outside. Finally, do not hesitate to add a nice carpet that can completely change the look of your room! We have selected these nine 100% autumn interiors created on HomeByMe by our users to give you more inspiration.

American-Dream – Photosecosse

C0k1n – gema-4

Josemi_48 – Salon

SnoBma – Maison-avenir

Leeloo44 – T1-Bis

Nagual – Wohnungstyp-12

Nabilah_dinno – Modern home-2

Cheyjordan – Maroon-Living Room

Dev2022 – Project-231

It’s your turn! 

Hey, look at what we have done with your projects! We transformed them into spooky and creepy haunted houses!

Will you find Freddy the skeleton  hidden in each picture?

Just a friendly advice: keep your eyes wide open Saturday night, especially before going to bed, we never know what can happen… Brrr!

Congratulations vanessa__2B! Your project vaness is the November Project of the Month winner! Come with me and let’s explore this light-filled and spacious home.

A plan view is always a good place to start to get oriented. The first thing I notice is that the home is divided into two large squares; one for the public areas and one for the private spaces. A long rectangular terrace also provides space for two outdoor rooms.

The living room is comfortable and the open plan helps it feel like it is huge. I can see the dining area over behind the sofa and the kitchen with a casual eating area too.

The dining area is flexible and it’s easy to imagine a family dinner or a big party having plenty of space to spread out to enjoy the whole large area.

Whoever is doing the food preparation can still be part of whatever is going on. It’s a nice touch that the end of the island extends into the main area which helps bring the whole room together.

Just off to the left there is a big laundry room that also provides storage space to help keep the kitchen clutter-free.

To move into the rest of the house let’s head down the L-shaped hallway on the left.

The doors on the left lead first to the toilet and then into a large and nicely fitted out bathroom. The curves on the cabinet and in the sink add a graceful touch.

A spacious and comfortable-looking home office is at the end of the hall, ready for some necessary work or relaxing fun.

As you continue down the hallway to the right you’ll find both bedrooms with plenty of room and access to the outside terrace too.

The master bedroom is to the right and has double sliding door access to the terrace.

To the left (out of the view) is a big dressing room and plenty of storage.

The “room” right outside on the terrace has comfortable seating for relaxing, especially on those long, lazy Sundays.

There are quite a few great spots for eating or just sitting and enjoying the sunshine or the stars, including this one right outside the living room.

I hope you enjoyed our tour. Please visit the project and give vanessa__2B a “like” (heart) if you really do like it.

It’s your turn!

Bon appétit!

We’re all spending more time in the kitchen as it becomes the focus of more home activities. Kitchen islands have brought the guests right into the kitchen and allow far more interaction between hosts and guests. With all this extra attention on the kitchen, it’s important to look at all of your options and choose wisely to fit your particular needs and style. Let’s look at the main kitchen design concepts and some examples.

ma maison 1 project by fonfonette

The key concept to keep in mind is the work triangle, which is the area where you spend the most time. For most meals you’ll move back and forth from the refrigerator to the sink and to the cooktop. This trio of activities determines your work triangle. To make things faster and easier try to keep each leg of the triangle at a max of 9′ (2.7 meters). Smaller is good too, but not too small, especially if you have more than one cook. In each example shown below the red area indicates the main work space.

It’s also important to plan out your paths for actually serving the food to your family and guests. If you have multiple choices, a little planning ahead of time can make a big difference. The blue arrows in each layout show likely delivery paths.

Counter space is also a major consideration. You need space around each appliance to do preparation. A few good suggestions are to have 18″ (0.5 meters) on either side of your sink and 3′ (0.9 meters) next to the cooktop. Also remember to keep around 18″ (0.5 meters) close to the refrigerator for unpacking your groceries. And, of course, you should consider a microwave, dishwasher, countertop appliances, lighting and storage. It’s easy to see why the kitchen layout deserves so much time and consideration.

dream home project by prisnc

A single wall kitchen is highly appropriate for smaller homes and narrow apartments or when combined with an island. Adding the island is a great way to merge the kitchen into an open home plan. In this layout the sink is right below the window, where you want it, with the cooktop and refrigerator on either side and it opens directly into the main living room. It can’t get much easier than this to quickly serve the diners.

Nuevo comienzo project by isabaltons

Whatever you call it; two parallel walls, galley or corridor, this is another layout that works well in smaller spaces. It minimizes the distances between the three areas of the work triangle, but be sure to keep at least 48″ (1.2 meters) between the sides . This particular layout helps make serving the food easy – inside or out.

12′ project by Angele22

An L-shaped kitchen can be quite efficient too, as long as the major appliances are close enough to one another. It’s also a good way to allow traffic flow into the general area without interfering with the cook. The island encourages interaction between the cook and guests and provides extra counter space. Serving the food is simple and quick.

Avec vue sur la Mer… project by aliceC

A U-shaped kitchen keeps all the needed tools close by and can even have a central island like this example. It also works well to serve multiple dining areas, from casual to formal. The grill outside makes it super easy to get the food on the table.

Concrete Modern project by Deadmonkeys3000

The island is the kitchen (almost) in this design. With the sink and cook top on the island and the ovens and refrigerator on the wall between them, it’s easy to include guests in the cooking process. Serving can be as simple as straight from the stove to the plate for family and guests in the casual seating at the end of the island.

vaness project by vanessa__2B

This galley kitchen has challenges. Not only is it the kitchen, it’s also the most likely way for traffic to flow back and forth through the whole house even though there is another hallway on the other side of the central island. It also has four different locations that need to be served. As a kitchen by itself, it works well, but it points out how important it is to think about serving the food too.

For even more information on these layouts and how to create your perfect kitchen layout go to the Academy article Kitchen Layouts: 5 Ideas from the Experts.

It’s your turn!