How to Childproof Your Home

By Becky Dietrich - Houzz Contributor

 

All of us with children are grimly aware of the safety issues they face out in the world. But did you know that a child is statistically far more likely to experience an accident or a fatality inside his or her own home? Fortunately, these injuries are easily avoided with a little education and prevention.

I am going to address this topic in two parts. Here I’ll share the opinions of experts, including the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Anne Altman, a childproofing consultant in Santa Rosa, California. Then, in a separate ideabook, I will share my perspective on childproofing as a grandmother and an interior designer. 

 

Remodeling Concepts LLC

Let’s start with household poisons. A huge percentage of household products, from cleansers and kitchen knives to medicines (both over-the-counter and prescription) are potentially deadly to children and should be kept either well out of reach or behind locked cabinets.

Even with that accomplished, keep the poison control hotline on speed dial. 

 

Installing cabinet locks, like these, is a child safety necessity, and they are worth every penny.

 

BuilderFish

Another major safety issue is electrical outlets. They are often at perfect eye level for crawling babies, and they can be dangerous indeed. Avoid the old-style plug-in safety caps, as they can present a choking hazard, and little fingers often have no trouble extricating them from the outlet. Use sliding safety latches instead …

… or a safety cover like this one that completely encloses outlets and plugs and stores up to 4 feet of cord. It’s perfect for permanently plugged-in devices and features a child-resistant dual-press release. It is appropriate for use on all standard single-screw outlets.

Also, don’t forget to cover the exposed outlets in any extension cords with electrical tape.

 

What is it about those damnable stove knobs that are so appealing to kids? When my twin granddaughters were toddlers, they would employ the divide-and-conquer technique: No sooner would I admonish and remove Alyssa than her sister, Alexis, would take her place. A knob-locking mechanism is one way to deal with this problem.

 

KidSafe Home Safety Products

Installing a stove guard like this one is another excellent safety measure. In addition, cook as much as possible on the back burners of your stove, and always turn your pot handles away from the edge so children can’t pull pots over and burn themselves.

 

I get a vivid sense of how old I am when I see how far baby gates have come. This handsome gate has a straight-slat design — unlike with older accordion gates, little heads can’t get stuck in it.

 

Boor Bridges Architecture

Be sure your stairs are gated top and bottom. And don’t use a pressure-style gate at the top if you can avoid it; a screw-into-the-wall version is much more secure.

Childproofing consultant Altman reminds us, though, that “childproofing is an ongoing process. The gate you put at the top of the stairs for your 1-year-old may become his favorite climbing structure when he’s 2.”

Designing Solutions

We are all pretty much aware of the strangulation risk posed by cords on window blinds and shades. Securing the cords well out of reach, or using cordless versions, is imperative.

But did you know that imported vinyl miniblinds can be a source of household lead? In 1996 the CPSC discovered that some of these blinds, which use lead as a stabilizer for the plastic, pose a lead poisoning hazard to young children who touch the blinds and then put their fingers in their mouths.

If you have children 6 or younger, remove any vinyl miniblinds made before July 1996 (or any you’re not sure are lead-free), and replace them with new lead-free vinyl blinds. Look for packaging with the phrases “nonleaded formula” or “no lead added.” 

 

Sharp corners are another common hazard, especially those found on coffee tables and raised hearths. Baby Center recommends covering all sharp corners and hearth edges with bumpers like these to soften any impact.

 

Panageries

Isn’t this a gorgeous chest? But it is also a significant hazard to your ones, particularly when they start to climb. Babies start pulling up on furniture shortly after they start crawling. And when they learn how to climb, well, can you spell T-R-O-U-B-L-E?

According to the CPSC, more than 16,000 children under the age of 5 went to the emergency room in 2006 with injuries caused by tipped-over television sets, bookcases and other furniture and appliances. Between 2000 and 2006, more than 130 young children died from furniture tip-overs. 

 

Fortunately, this is a very easy fix. Tipping restraints for furniture and appliances are available in many forms, and have the added perk of offering protection against earthquake damage.

You can also do things like loading drawers with heavier items on the bottom, so that the furniture is not top-heavy. And never leave drawers open; open drawers create the perfect ladder.

 

Martha O'Hara Interiors

Children are insatiably curious about what lurks inside of purses and briefcases, so beware when Grandma (or another relative or friend) comes to visit. Loose coins, gum, medicine, cosmetics, cigarettes and matches are just a few of the items commonly stashed in a purse that can be deadly to a small child, so be sure to keep your company’s belongings well out of reach.

 

Des Ewing Residential Architects

While windows are wonderful architectural elements, they can be dangerous for children. To avoid injuries, keep windows locked and screens in place. A young child could squeeze through a window opened as little as 5 inches, and screens are not strong enough to keep a child inside.

 

And then there is concern about drowning. Babies and toddlers can drown in very little water. Even toilets left with the seat up can prove fatal to a little one who tries to play in the water, falls in and can’t get out. In addition to keeping the lid down, consider investing in toilet lid locks.

 

Zugai Strudwick Architects

Obviously, if you have a pool, fence and gate it. But according to the CPSC, more children drown in bathtubs than in any other home feature. Altman puts it quite simply: “The best [childproofing] device is still supervision.” Never, never leave your child unattended near or in water.

Finally, experts suggest that parents prepare for the emergencies they do their best to prevent. First, learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the abdominal thrust procedure (Heimlich maneuver). Second, make sure you have a well-equipped first aid kit with emergency instructions close at hand. And third, make sure that important numbers — like your work and cell phone, poison control, your pediatrician and a neighbor or nearby relative — are posted someplace where caregivers or family members can easily find them.

See Your Home in a Whole New Light

By Fred Albert - Houzz Editorial Staff:

 

Lighting is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to transform the look of a room. Proper lighting can highlight a room’s assets and help disguise its shortcomings, increase function and set a mood.

Good lighting and bright lighting are not the same thing. A room that’s well lit will offer illumination at varying levels. The combination of light and shadow helps sculpt the space and makes the room more interesting and atmospheric.

To make the most of the lighting in your home, just follow a few basic rules:

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

Consider Function

Before lighting a room, consider how you use the space. Will the room get most of its use in the day or in the evening? What activities take place there, and in what locations?

Pinney Designs

If you plan on using the room for reading, for instance, you’ll want to provide lamps beside each reading spot. If the room is used for TV viewing, you’ll want overall illumination that can be adjusted to different settings, with light sources that won’t reflect on the TV screen.

Where to put your flat-screen TV

Webber + Studio, Architects

If the room is used for tasks, circulation, or by the elderly, you’ll want lighting that’s bright and uniform. If the space is used mostly for relaxation, turn down the wattage and turn up the atmosphere.

Tom Stringer Design Partners

Consider Decor

Next, consider the room’s style. If the decor is contemporary, consider fewer lamps and more built-in lighting, such as overhead cans. If the style is more traditional, lamps, pendant lights and sconces can provide illumination and enhance the look you’re trying to create.

McCroskey Interiors

The Three Principle Types of Lighting

Ambient light: Lighting that provides overall illumination for a room. Ambient light can come from a ceiling fixture, recessed cans, torchieres or sconces.

The light should illuminate the space fairly evenly and be bright enough for vacuuming or other mundane tasks.

Tip: If you don’t want to install recessed lights or sconces, another option is to have an electrician hook up a wall switch connected to one or two of the room’s outlets, so that when you flip the switch several lamps come on at once.

Lisa Wolfe Design, Ltd

To determine the amount of ambient light you’ll need, a good rule of thumb is to multiply the room’s dimensions to get a total square footage, then multiply that number by 1.5. That will give you the total number of watts needed.

Example: A 10-by-12-foot room totals 120 square feet. 120 x 1.5 = 180, so you’ll need 180 watts of ambient light.

Whatever you do, don’t stop at ambient light. There’s nothing drearier than a bedroom, for instance, with a single overhead fixture — it’s flat and unflattering, and doesn’t provide sufficient illumination for anything but the simplest tasks.

Brad Ford ID

Task light: Lighting that illuminates areas for activities such as reading or cooking. It most often comes from a lamp or hanging fixture.

Task lighting should cast a pool of light that’s at least double the room’s ambient light, and should usually be placed in front of the person performing the task, to prevent his or her body from casting a shadow over the work surface.

Jancy Ervin Interiors

For reading, the light source should be located beside the person.

A three-way bulb that tops out at 150 watts is ideal. If that’s not possible, look for a fixture that will accommodate a 100-watt bulb or two 60-watt bulbs. The bottom of the shade should be at eye level to prevent glare.

Zack|de Vito Architecture + Construction

Accent light: Lighting that highlights specific features in a room, such as an architectural element or a work of art. It’s usually produced by track lights, a directional recessed can or a spotlight. Accent lighting is the frosting on the cake — it’s not as critical as the other two, but it adds a nice finishing touch.

Edwina Drummond Interiors

Highlight a painting by placing a wall-mounted “art” light above it, or spotlight a decorative mantel with a track light or directional can light. Showcase the texture of a masonry wall by installing recessed wall washers above it, or place an uplight behind a plant to accentuate its form or cast pleasing shadows.

L K DeFrances & Associates

Ideally, every room should include all three kinds of lighting, although you’re usually fine with just ambient and task lighting.

Lumens

Skylark Incandescent Light Dimmer by Lutron 

Dim and Dimmer

The "public" spaces in your home should have at least two lighting levels: a bright one for tasks or festivities, and a dimmer one for relaxing or more subdued gatherings. You can achieve that variety by varying the lights you turn on, or with dimmers.

A wall dimmer (rheostat) costs less than $20, and the rewards will far exceed the price, letting you adjust built-in lighting to set a mood and even save on electricity and bulbs. If your lamps don’t have dimmers on them, you can add one to the electrical cord for just a few dollars.

Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

Location, Location, Location

Hang chandeliers about 30 inches above dining tables for optimum visual comfort. Install wall sconces 5½ feet above the finished floor or 15-18 inches above a mantel.

Birdseye Design

Wall-mounted lights flanking a bed should be placed 21 inches above the top of the mattress or 42 inches above the finished floor, provided you are using a standard 21-inch-high mattress. Set it 45 inches off the floor with a 24-inch mattress, and 48 inches for a 27-inch mattress.

Jessica Lagrange

Need Help?

If lighting still has you stumped, there are resources out there to help you. Architects, interior designers, and kitchen and bath designers can assist with your illumination needs. Lighting designers are specialists trained in the art of lighting; they can be especially helpful when dealing with new construction or a major remodel.

4 Cool Paint Colors Touted for 2014 — and How to Use Them

Muted but complex, these hues from Farrow & Ball can stand on their own or play supporting roles

By Jennifer Ott - Houzz Contributor 

Paint and wall covering manufacturer Farrow & Ball has chosen four key colors for 2014, and they are among my new favorites. Cooking Apple Green, Stiffkey Blue, Purbeck Stone and Mole’s Breath are all fairly cool hues that are interesting and attractive without being too overbearing. These complex colors have a soothing, muted quality, but they can also easily stand on their own in a room. They work well with neutrals or can be paired with a whole slew of bold accent hues.

I’ve gathered together images of interiors featuring each paint color as well as suggested palettes to help you work the hues into your own home.

More colors of 2014: Pantone | Benjamin Moore | Sherwin-Williams | PPG Pittsburgh Paints

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

1. Cooking Apple Green

According to Farrow & Ball, Cooking Apple Green is “an uplifting color … is clean and comforting, not challenging in any way, and it creates an uncomplicated haven in which to live.”

This is one of those flexible colors that works well in a variety of spaces — from kitchens and baths to bedrooms and living rooms. It’s also a good choice for an open-concept floor plan, in which you typically want one unifying color that isn’t so assertive that it takes over the entire space.

Holly Marder

Cooking Apple Green imparts a fresh and clean vibe when paired with light wood tones and white, as in this charming kitchen. This room is blessed with plenty of natural light, but because Cooking Apple Green is fairly light and has a touch of warming yellow to it, it’s a good choice for a room that doesn’t get an abundance of natural light too.

Or use it as a backdrop to zestier accent colors, such as a bold reddish orange or a vibrant watery blue. Because of its subdued quality, it won’t clash or compete with decorative elements that have stronger coloration.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

This sample palette is for those who desire a colorful yet light and soothing space. Any of these three muted hues would work well as a main wall color, with the other two in supporting roles as accent colors.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

2. Stiffkey Blue

Named for the unusual color of the mud in Stiffkey, a parish along the northern coast of England, this blue has a slight hint of green to it and lots of gray — the latter of which tones down the depth. Stiffkey Blue looks crisp when paired with white, but for added drama you could also pair it with accents of crimson, gold or green.

Lighten up this dramatic hue by combining it with plenty of white. It helps, too, if your space is well lit. I like the light blue used as small accents here; it’s a nice transitional color between the dark Stiffkey Blue and the much lighter shades of white.

Or play up the drama by working in dark wood tones and cool red hues. Don’t be afraid to take a chance on a bold wall color such as this one. But eliminate the guesswork about whether or not you’re going to like the color in your own space by painting large samples of potential colors on poster board or spare pieces of wallboard. You can then move the paint samples around the room and evaluate them at different times of the day, with the differing light conditions. By sampling colors first, you’ll avoid committing to a color until you are sure it’s a winner.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

Stiffkey Blue works well with a variety of hues, including rich reds. But a little bit of Radicchio goes a long way, so I’d limit it to a single accent wall, or even a partial accent wall, but inject plenty of Parma Gray and Stiffkey Blue for a cool, elegant space.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

3. Purbeck Stone

This taupe-gray hybrid is the warmest of the four selections. This is my go-to hue for homeowners who seek a departure from white or beige, but want their home to be light and neutral, with a touch of warmth.

Purbeck Stone has a bit more life to it than white. It feels fresh and modern while being light and soothing.

Designerpaint

It’s a terrific background color to livelier hues. It’s not going to compete for attention with any of the bold elements you happen to have in the space.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

This pretty, muted palette would work well in a bedroom or office space, or really any room in which you want to feel relaxed and mellow.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

4. Mole’s Breath

One certainly cannot accuse Farrow & Ball of using dull names for paint colors! This medium-dark gray has a good bit of brown, which gives it warmth and richness. This is another neutral that will work with a variety of other colors. I like it best with watery greens and blues or red-raspberry hues. Or stick with a neutral palette and pair it with with other shades of warm gray as well as white.

This is a fairly deep hue, so if you use it in large doses, be sure to consider the quantity and quality of the light in the space, so the room won’t feel gloomy and cavelike.

I think this color works best in minimalist spaces that have just a few well-curated decorative elements. Otherwise it could start to look overworked and much too busy. Or simply cut back on the amount of the hue in the space, so it won’t complete with your accessories.

Jennifer Ott Interior Design

 

I like playing up the warmth of Mole’s Breath by pairing it with a contrasting cool blue. If you desire even more warmth, add wood tones.

Tell us: Which of Farrow & Ball’s four trending hues is your favorite?

More colors of 2014: Pantone | Benjamin Moore | Sherwin-Williams | PPG Pittsburgh Paints