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What Newell Turner Learned While Building His House

Style director Newell Turner shares what he learned while building his house.

site where the house was going to be built

Style director Newell Turner looks back on the big lessons of building and decorating his new house this past year.

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Plan, Plan, Plan

Work out as many details before turning the first shovel of soil. Everything will go so much faster.

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Get It Done Off-Site

Kitchen cabinet makers can build shelving for other rooms, and they'll make it in their workshop.

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Invest in Storage

Closet organizing systems are worth every penny. Otherwise, you have a rod, shelf, and wasted space up top.

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Buy "New and Improved"

Look for stainless steel appliances treated to minimize smudges and stain-resistant countertops like CaesarStone.

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Overestimate

You're supposed to order 10% extra tile to cover breakage, but I suggest 15% for breaks down the road.

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Look Up

Ceiling height is as important as the square footage of a room.

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Splurge Wisely

My soapstone fireplace was worth the investment. The stone retains heat in winter and keeps cool in summer.

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Break It Up

Two smaller coffee tables offer greater flexibility than a single large one.

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Know What You Need

Good decorating starts with a good floor plan.

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Don't Forget Floors

Radiant heat keeps floors the perfect temperature so you don't need to turn on the heat as much.

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Keep It Clean

Line up tops of windows and doors. It gives you a clean line around the room.

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Use Visual Tricks

Painting door panels 50% lighter than the full door gives them greater definition.

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Mix It Up

I like using a loveseat at the dining table. It makes it look less like a conference room.

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The Guest Room

The second-floor guest room under construction.

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Look Around

Taking pictures of neighboring houses inspired me to paint my front door darker.

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Find Your Style

Collecting and sorting magazine pages helped me focus my taste.

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Think Outside the Box

Children's mail-order catalogs are a surprising place for great lighting and accessories.

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Don't Over-Light

Rooms are often overlit with expensive recessed ceiling lights. Try a couple of sconces. They're much more pleasing.

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Control Your Light

Put every light on a dimmer — even the porch light.

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Let Porches Breathe

They need to be a minimum of six feet deep or there's no room for furniture.

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Plan for Nighttime

Dark window sashes and shades blend into the landscape and disappear at night.

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Don't Skimp on a Tub

Bathtubs should be deep enough to sink into.

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Don't Be a Snob

All materials don't have to be real. Some products, like vinyl siding, look as good and are more durable, too.

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Create Storage

When planning the house, find unused nooks and use them for storage.

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Save on Hot Water

A tankless water heater works only on demand.

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Don't Be All New

Vintage-looking light fixtures add instant character to a new house.

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Google It

Buying slate floor online was like being at the ultimate stone yard!

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Think Small

Well-designed small houses can be more livable and enjoyable than McMansions.

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Make Doors High

Go for taller doors inside, like 8-footers, for a lofty feel.

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Don't Obsess

You'll make mistakes. You'll learn to love them.

Amy Preiser I'm the Senior Editor of VERANDA.com, and you'll also find me on our sister sites ELLEDECOR.com and Housebeautiful.com.

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