Beautiful and thoughtful design creates a functional and comfortable space for your family to live in. And while that is important, it is often those unique or quirky design elements that you remember the most from your childhood. Those little nooks where you could stack a pile of pillows and curl up with a book or a sketch pad might be the highlight of one kid’s memory, while a cement basement cleared out just for rollerskating might be another’s cup of tea.

Planning custom spaces for kids or adding eccentric touches to the spaces within your home can create special memories that your kids will remember for years to come. Here are a couple of simple DIY projects that can make your home a creative space for kids, and the best part is that you can do them in one weekend…

Add Some Chalkboard Paint to the Kitchen-Grab a can of magnetic primer and chalkboard paint and get creative. You can convert an old, wooden-paneled fridge into a communications and scribbles center, or create a space on the backdoor for messages and artwork. Start by priming and/or sanding the surface if it is wooden. Add a coat of Rustoleum magnetic primer (available at many hardware stores) according to the directions, and then finish with chalkboard paint.

Hang a Swing from the Ceiling Beams-If you happen to have an area in the basement or garage without a finished ceiling, use hooks and bolts to hang an old fashioned tire swing, a porch swing for two, or a traditional single seat swing you can pick up from the hardware store. If you’re feeling particularly inspired, this project would even work well in a bedroom if you can find a good spot that has a sturdy ceiling beam.

Build a Clubhouse Under the Stairs-Now this is a project that can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like. Kids love to have their own special spaces, hence the childhood fascination with forts and clubhouses. So why not transform that awkward, unused space under the stairs into a clubhouse? You can simply add some small furniture and curtains to create the space, or you could go all out and add drywall, windows, doors, and a siding like the one pictured left from Oleana Boutique’s blog. Either way, we can guarantee this will become your little one’s favorite space in the house (and it might even encourage your kids to keep their toys out of the main living space!).

A luxury, custom home built by Hibbs Homes in Chesterfield, MO

What sets a luxury home apart from some of the larger, high dollar homes in developed communities built along the hems of golf courses and in the quiet corners of St Louis suburbs? While the answer to that question may fall into the nebulous territory of ‘I’ll know it when I see it’, there are some common, important and distinctive design features in a luxury home that you might not find elsewhere.

Unique Floor Plans Most realtors and homeowners agree, a true luxury home has a completely custom floor plan. While a custom home built in St Louis might not always include an indoor bowling alley, unique floor plans and finishes that can’t be found anywhere else are a hallmark of luxury homes.

Architectural and Interior Design Details Along the same lines as a unique floor plan, the architecture of a luxury home is carefully planned and often boasts unique details and bold classics-from the inside out. These architectural elements include, but also go beyond, crown molding and beautifully coffered ceilings and include dramatic design details throughout. The luxury design details also extend to premium finishes throughout the home, from floor to ceiling to counter tops-top dollar and exquisite details are a necessity in the luxury home market.

Location, Location While price can vary by region (luxury homes in St Louis, MO for example generally cost upwards of $1M, while in Malibu, CA that may double), a luxury home is in a highly coveted area that is well established and is surrounded by other luxury homes. While at times location can be overlooked in favor of a breathtaking view, location is so important that there are a few instances when location can elevate a home to the level of luxury real estate based almost solely on it’s highly sought after location.

With all of the unique details and customized plans that go into the home, building a luxury home is not only an exciting and rewarding process. And when working with architects and home builders experienced with custom and luxury properties it can mean a solid and rewarding investment for homeowners as well.

Image Credit: thegloss.com

With the new year just getting started the gym is packed and downloads for budgeting templates are at their peak. While self improvement is an admirable and very popular goal, improving your living space can also bring a sense of calm and order to your life-a concept at the core of many top new year’s resolutions.

So while you’re plotting your reps, dollars or yoga poses consider adding these three design resolutions to your goals for the new year:

Learn to Let Go of The Outdated-This is probably one of the hardest things to do, but essential to making room for better design. From lamps to old light fixtures, holding on to something when it is no longer in use or no longer appeals to our taste is a tempting option, especially when you consider the price tag for such items. However, learning the difference between something that is classic and just needs to be spruced up and something that would only find an acceptable second life as an upcycled item is key to letting go of bad design and embracing good. Classics are items that are solidly constructed and something you could name the style in which it was produced. Something that couldn’t withstand being passed through generations or that could only be categorized as a passing trend is begging for a replacement and this is the year to do it!

Find Your Personal Style-If you haven’t done it yet, make this year the one where you identify your personal style. Do you edge towards the classics, super-slick modern, or combination of the two. Use a notebook or a site like Pinterest (you can find Hibbs Homes on there and follow some of our board for design inspiration) and begin clipping and collecting items that really appeal to your personal sense of taste. In short order you will start to see your personal style emerge and you can begin relying on that to make decisions when picking out cabinets or purchasing new rugs. Designing with your personal tastes in mind will help you to create a space that is perfectly suited to you-which will never go out of style.

Tackle a Makeover in the Room You Dislike the Most-Everyone has one, the room into which you never invite guests. Starting today make a resolution to get that room under control and begin planning your project. Here’s how to do it:

1. Start by setting a realistic budget for the project and begin saving.
2. If it’s a major renovation project you’ll need to decide if you’d like to tackle the project yourself or hire a professional contractor to handle all or some of the project. If it’s a simple redecorating project start comparing prices and places to find those perfect pieces.
3. Begin looking at photos on websites for inspiration and start dreaming up your perfect space.
4. Once you have all of the pieces in place and you have a plan for getting it done set your start and completion date and you can enjoy watching your home design transformation unfold.

You can adopt one or all three design resolutions for the coming year, and, unlike going to the gym or budgeting, they can be pretty easy to stick to. But one thing is for certain, living in a home that is designed to suit you does wonders for your psyche!