<ul class="summary-list"><li>The son of a wealthy plantation owner built a home in <keyword id="6355572" type="LOCATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="sri-lanka">Sri Lanka</keyword> in 1912 to woo his bride.</li><li>In 2011, four friends bought the crumbling remains of the once grand villa for $430,000.</li><li>After extensive renovations, they now rent the mansion out to guests for $1,300 a night.</li></ul><p>It was in 2010 when the interior designer Dean Sharpe first glimpsed the crumbling mansion on the Sri Lankan hillside near the town of Weligama. In its glory days, Halala Kanda - known as Firefly Hill to locals - played host to guests such as Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie and the legendary Australian cricketer Keith Miller. The son of a wealthy plantation owner built the mansion in 1912 to woo his bride.</p><p>But when Sharpe first saw it, the tired relic with its crumbling plaster looked as if it had been lost to the jungle. The coral and stone walls had collapsed, bats were roosting in the rafters, the windows were boarded up, and a tree was growing through the roof of the entryway.</p><p>"It was a ruin of what it once was," Sharpe told Insider. "But we walked in and fell in love with it."</p><p>In 2011, he bought the crumbling, 100-year-old villa and two acres of land for $430,000 along with his friends Jenny Lewis, Richard Bleasdale, and Bentley de Beyer.</p><p>Sharpe was tasked with creating the look of the villa, which wrapped around an open-air courtyard. The group commissioned the architect Ross Logie to bring their dreams to reality.</p><p>Work began in December 2012, a full 100 years after the structure was built. "We wanted it to look as authentic as possible," Sharpe said. "But we didn't want to create a pastiche of what went before."</p><div type="image" title="the facade before renovation" height="1050" width="1400" msid="84609305" hostid="261"></div><h2>Maintaining the bones</h2><p>Because the friends wanted to keep as much of the original building as possible, they considered every piece of the home carefully before scrapping it: "We didn't do a big bonfire and burn everything," Sharpe said. "Each window frame and roof joist was carefully removed and stacked."</p><p>There were certain parts of the villa they couldn't hold onto. The grand entrance was crumbling, and the tiled roof of the kitchen wing had caved in. Termites had attacked the plaster, which meant the builders had to scrape the walls back to the original coral and stone structure.</p><p>"The demolition took four months to complete," Sharpe said. "The builders were concerned as they needed to get the tarpaulin on the roof to protect it from the monsoon season." He declined to share how much they spent on renovating the property.</p><p>Sharpe replaced the roof with white corrugated iron to reflect the heat and give the home a contemporary look. It also helped monkey-proof the roof: "The tiles had been replaced in the 1950s, so they weren't turn of the century," Sharpe said. "We needed to protect it, as it's a bit of a monkey freeway."</p><div type="image" title="Exterior of the renovated Sri Lanka home shows an all-white finish" height="970" width="1293" msid="84609306" hostid="261"></div><h2>Modern additions</h2><p>Previously, the well in the garden had been the villa's only source of water, but the friends arranged for it to be connected to the local mains. They also installed air conditioning, plumbing, and electrical systems. By 2014, the house was in livable condition, though work was ongoing.</p><p>Logie's plans for the house followed the original footprint of the house, but they made the internal rooms more functional. Logie created sight lines in the house that gave every room a vista. He also installed a 23-meter-long saltwater pool in the garden, an art nouveau-style folly, and built staff quarters into the hillside.</p><p>Logie told Insider the biggest challenge was ensuring the qualities of the original were not lost through renovations.</p><p>"I think we achieved this goal by matching the spirit of the existing villa with harmonious, yet contemporary, additions," he said. "For example, the swimming pool and pool pavilion are clearly designed for modern living, yet the pool pavilion shares a fluid style of early-20th-century art nouveau."</p><div type="image" title="a view of the home including the pool" height="2662" width="3550" msid="84609307" hostid="261"></div><h2>Surprises at every turn</h2><p>"When we cut back the jungle undergrowth we found a cashew grove, mango orchard, and coconut trees," Sharpe said. "It was like we'd discovered a secret garden." The friends also planted coffee and tea bushes, pineapple and citrus groves, and pepper and cinnamon vines.</p><p>In the 1950s, the mansion featured pastel-colored walls, but Sharpe decided to let the architecture shine with a simple monochrome theme. He chose not to paint over the wooden rafters, as was fashionable before, instead leaving them bare so the artistry could be on display.</p><p>When it came to decorating, Sharpe scoured the Sri Lankan countryside for antiques and had others made by local artisans. He commissioned a carpenter who had recently returned from working on hotels in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to make the sofas and four-poster beds for the mansion.</p><div type="image" title="interior shot of the home featuring sculpture" height="4021" width="2681" msid="84609308" hostid="261"></div><p>The antique-sourcing trips gave rise to the Room of Curiosities next to the entrance of the house. "It features buys we've collected and items that people have left for us," Sharpe said. "The idea is that it gets added to. Curios include a hexagonal wood table inlaid with tropical woods found in Sri Lanka, as well as chess sets, street puppets, and books.</p><p>"The Room of Curiosities is my favorite place in the house. I like to sit and read or listen to music and hear the buzz of the house - from the people in the pool, to the clatter in the kitchen."</p><p>The friends now rent the villa to guests for $1,300 a night. The TV host Jaala Dyer from New Zealand rented the villa in 2018 with friends from Singapore.</p><p>"Every now and again you stumble onto something truly special. That's the perfect way to describe Halala Kanda," Dyer told Insider. "It's architecturally interesting and luxurious, without being clinical and stark. Everywhere you sit in the house just feels right."</p><p>While the coronavirus pandemic put a stop to <keyword id="6356001" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> tourism, families from Sri Lanka were able to enjoy the villa. The sustainable tea plantation on the property also helped cover some of the costs of keeping the villa running.</p><p>While they still want to make changes to the house, such as creating a new family suite, it has already given them a lot of pleasure, Sharpe said. Even before they finished the <keyword id="69178" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="renovation">renovation</keyword>, it played host to de Beyer's 40th birthday party. "There have been lots of wonderful little moments," Sharpe said.</p><div type="image" title="steps lead to the home's entrance" height="1991" width="2650" msid="84609466" hostid="261"></div><p><em>Editor's note: If you're an APAC-based freelancer who wants to write stories like this one about <keyword id="6354553" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="real-estate">real estate</keyword> and design, email me your pitches at lbatarags@insider.com.</em></p>

4 friends bought a crumbling, 100-year-old mansion in the Sri Lankan jungle for $430,000 and spent years restoring it. Take a look inside.

<div type="image" title="family christmas photo thumb" height="2335" width="3113" msid="79287014" hostid="261"></div><ul class="summary-list"><li>Insider asked two professional photographers for <keyword id="42772" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="tips">tips</keyword> on taking <a href="https://www.insider.com/why-never-let-child-sit-santas-lap-2019-12">holiday photos at home</a> so <keyword id="46242" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="families">families</keyword> can <a href="https://www.insider.com/origins-of-christmas-traditions-2018-12">keep the tradition</a> alive this year.</li><li>They suggested finding a simple background and making sure there's enough space to comfortably fit everyone in the frame. </li><li>According to professionals, you should avoid bright sunlight or open flames as they can interfere with the <a href="https://www.insider.com/london-best-places-instagram-photos-2020-2">quality of the picture. </a></li><li>If you're using a smartphone, make sure to opt for self-timer mode instead of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/world-locations-places-discouraged-photos-banned-2019-6">front-facing camera. </a></li></ul><p>The <a href="https://www.insider.com/christmas-around-the-world-2018-12">holiday season</a> is going to look pretty different this year, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/origins-of-christmas-traditions-2018-12">some family traditions</a> — like getting professional <keyword id="19401" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Pictures">pictures</keyword> taken in <keyword id="22383" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="photography">photography</keyword> studios — may not be able to happen.</p><p>But that doesn't mean you can't still capture special moments. Insider asked professional photographers for their best tips and tricks for taking expert-level holiday <keyword id="6359897" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Photos">photos</keyword> at home.</p><h2><strong>Choose a simple, uncluttered backdrop</strong></h2><div type="image" title="holiday photos" height="3840" width="5119" msid="79287018" hostid="261"></div><p><a href="https://www.38thavenuephotography.com/">Debi Cramer</a>, founder and principal photographer at Thirty-Eighth Avenue Photography, told Insider that a <a href="https://www.insider.com/interior-designers-reveal-things-in-living-room-you-should-get-rid-of">clean and simple</a> background is one of the most important elements of a professional-quality holiday photo.</p><p>"Simplicity is key when it comes to backdrops," Cramer said. "Limit what's behind you. If you're indoors, keep the shot close to the subjects to avoid showing the entire room."</p><p>She also suggested posing outside in front of wooden siding or evergreen trees. If all else fails, you can also hang a sheet or blanket to create a makeshift backdrop. </p><h2><strong>Use a tripod to keep your shot stable</strong></h2><p>Portrait photographer <a href="https://www.oksanapali.com/">Oksana Pali</a> told Insider that using a tripod for your camera or phone can greatly improve the quality of your photos. </p><p>"I recommend using a tripod to keep your photo stable and level," she said. "There are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-tripod">plenty of inexpensive ones available</a>, and most of them collapse into a portable size. </p><h2><strong>Avoid taking photos in bright sunlight or near open flames</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="holiday photos" height="2083" width="2777" msid="79287022" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-amazing-wedding-photos-2018-12">Quality photography</a> depends on good lighting. If you're taking your own holiday photos, there are a few basic pitfalls to watch out for. </p><p>"Don't shoot into the sun as it washes out photos," Cramer told Insider. "Campfire shots are also not recommended, as it's difficult to frame people around a fire, and the smoke and glow affects lighting."</p><p>The photographer added that lit candles and bright lamps should also be moved out of frame to prevent unsightly bright spots or shadows.</p><p>But if you really want to take pictures in front of the lit-up <keyword id="8206" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Christmas">Christmas</keyword> tree, just make sure that the subjects don't stand too close to the lights. </p><h2><strong>Keep group poses natural, and avoid waving</strong></h2><p>Rather than arranging your loved ones in a stiff group pose, aim for ones that feel natural. </p><p>"Hugging, holding hands, and otherwise engaging with one another usually appears natural," Cramer told Insider. "Make sure everyone is looking at the camera and mind all arm and leg positioning." </p><p>You can try posing groups around festive dining tables or capturing semi-posed pictures of people decorating a tree, walking outside, <a href="https://www.insider.com/holiday-gifts-for-less-than-5-dollars-2017-12">or carrying presents.</a> But make sure to avoid distracting movements, like waving.</p><p>"Raising an arm or waving is not only distracting, but it may block another person's face in the photo," she added. </p><h2><strong>Wearing matching colors or patterns can tie the photo together</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="matching pjs christmas family" height="576" width="769" msid="79287025" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>One way to make your photos look cohesive and festive is to coordinate outfits. </p><p>"For example, if one person is wearing red plaid, make sure other family members are also wearing red or a <a href="https://www.insider.com/color-combinations-that-look-good-together-2018-8">complementary color</a>," Cramer said. "Solid colors such as white, red, green, gold, and black are best."</p><p>Additionally, don't be afraid to incorporate textures by wearing a shearling jacket or polar fleece, but avoid metallic or sequined clothing as the shine can be distracting.</p><h2><strong>Make sure the border of the photo has enough space for framing</strong></h2><p>If you're planning on having your holiday photos printed and framed, you need to be mindful of the position of your subjects' heads. </p><p>"Remember to leave enough space above people in the photo," Cramer said. "Otherwise, you won't be able to frame the photo without the frame cutting across the tops of their heads."</p><p>A good rule of thumb is to allow for at least two to three "heads" of space at the top of the photo.</p><h2><strong>Remove distracting background items</strong></h2><p>For a clean, professional-looking photograph, try to keep background items <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-make-your-home-peaceful-interior-designers">to a minimum. </a></p><p>"Be aware of any background items that make the photo appear too busy or as if the background item is part of someone's shoulder," Cramer told Insider. </p><p>Shiny or moving objects, such as chrome fixtures or televisions, should be eliminated from photo backgrounds. You should also be mindful of sofa arms and hanging coats, which can sometimes look like additional people.</p><h2><strong>Feel free to use props, but keep them simple</strong></h2><p><strong><div type="image" title="taking holiday photos" height="2358" width="3145" msid="79287027" hostid="261"></div></strong></p><p>When used well, props can add a fun, playful element to photos.</p><p>"The easiest props <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-to-buy-at-target-according-to-stylists-2020-11">are clothing</a>, such as scarves, hats, and mittens," Cramer said. "You can also use tasteful props like wooden sleds, ice skates tied together, or ski poles."</p><p>She suggested avoiding overly elaborate props or costumes, such as Santa suits.</p><h2><strong>Opt for self-timer mode instead of your phone's front-facing camera</strong></h2><p>Although it may be tempting to use your <a href="https://www.insider.com/the-history-of-the-cellphone-2018-7">phone's front-facing camera</a> to see what the shot looks like, Pali advised against it. </p><p>"The camera on the back of your phone is far superior and will give you much better quality photos," she said. </p><p>The photographer suggested taking a few test shots with the front-facing camera, and once you're satisfied with the composition, turn the camera around and take the final shot with the better lens.</p><p>Most smartphones and cameras also have timer options, and Pali recommended using the longest setting available.</p><p>"Using the longer timer will allow you more time to get back into the frame of the shot with your family," she told Insider. "Alternatively, you can purchase a remote control that will trigger your camera to take a photo from a distance so you don't have to run back and forth."</p><p>Prior to purchasing a remote, make sure it's compatible with your phone or camera.</p><p><strong>Read More:</strong></p><ul class="read-more-links"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/furniture-decor-worth-splurging-on-when-you-buy-a-home-2020-8" title="Read more">When buying that first home, it's important to think about what furniture is worth investing in</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-to-build-relationships-with-your-new-remote-coworkers-2020-8" title="Read more">How to build relationships with your coworkers when you start a new job remotely</a></li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-get-amazing-wedding-photos-2018-12">11 tips for getting amazing wedding photos, according to experts</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com.au/tips-for-meaningful-inclusive-wedding-if-everyone-cant-be-there-2020-8" title="Read more">How to have a meaningful wedding day when you can't have your friends and family under one roof</a></li></ul>

How to capture professional-quality family photos for the holidays when you can't go to a studio

New Delhi, May 30 (IANSlife) This summer season is all about trying new trends while spending time at home. Making the most of your cocoon and staying safe in the current times is a priority.<br /><br />For an exciting twist to your everyday home sheltering, here are a few tips of a quick makeover to enjoy, or better yet make the heat a little more bearable. <br /><br />"The lockdown phase has certainly brought along the opportunity to embrace this time by exploring your creative instincts while being mindful of personal and environmental hygiene. Since, your home has become your only shelter, staycation destination and hangout spot for some time now, we should take care of the look and feel of the interiors and maintain proper cleanliness to enjoy being cocooned and safe in our perfect abode," says Parul Mittal, Director, Greenlam Industries Ltd. <br /><br />Mittal shares with IANSlife these easy to do home décor ideas:<br /><br />Vacation vibes at home<br /><br />Is the beach or hill side staycation calling you out? If the answer is yes, then bring the easy-breezy vacation vibes to your home. Opt for a wooden overhaul to refresh your room with its natural essence.<br /><br />Decorative veneers that radiate warmth and tranquility of natural wood give you a feeling of the outdoors indoor. Adorn your accents, sofa covers and cushions in shades of white to invite as much light into the room as possible. Now, all you need is your delicious summer mocktail to relish your vacation time at home!<br /><br />Favourite corner<br /><br />We all have a favourite spot at home which gives us immense comfort and happiness. Such corners can play a major role in unwinding us from a hectic work from home yet recharge you for days ahead. Therefore, it's important to keep it clean and summer ready. Place a bean bag or a single mattress along with floral patterned cushions for an exotic touch. Today, people are extensively looking for wood flooring options that are easy to maintain and durable. Go for real wood floors that are temperature neutral as they resist becoming too hot or cold with the sudden rise and drop in the temperature. Lastly, make the best out of waste by revamping an old suitcase as a table or a storage for your fun activities.<br /><br />Enjoy summer while working at home <br /><br />You can effortlessly replicate this season's liveliness and vibrancy around your work desk at home. Start with mixing playful pastel hues like pale pink, dark sea green and moonstone blue to introduce a new life to your working area. When these shades are used against laminate walls in light brown shade, it beautifully accentuates those pops of colour. Arrange all the essential work stationary and gadgets on your desk to keep the space neat and tidy. This minimal workspace will help you focus while working at an optimum speed to achieve a work-life balance even while working from home.<br /><br />With this decor, enjoy warmth and good vibes throughout the day!<br /><br />Home Hygiene<br /><br />Home paves way for a peaceful mind and a calm soul during the warm season. While keeping yourself hydrated, it is also important to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to keep oneself safe from the germs. Well, worry not, as there are surfaces like antibacterial laminates for your walls and table-tops that can help you do that. Moreover, looking at the current situation, it is best to choose antibacterial laminates which can retard the growth of bacteria up to 99.99 per cent, making it a hygienic surfacing option for your walls. <br /><br />Living room<br /><br />This summer season while quarantining at home our living room will be used more often. Keeping this space clean and spacious which infuses tranquillity and doubles the fun of the quality time with family. Bring some fresh plants inside from your garden to complement the natural decor theme. Pair summer tones like light blue, green and orange with your engineered wood floors to infuse a dose of refreshing air. As an important health advisory by the government, we too suggest to always keep a hand sanitizer close by and maintain cleanliness at home.<br /><br />(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)--IANS<br /><br />adr/tb/

A summer makeover for your home

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d9797f2880f26136a2aeb58-2400/img5009 copy 23.jpg" border="0" alt="Burrow Nomad Leather Couch" data-mce-source="Jada Wong / Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Jada Wong / Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul class="summary-list"><li>After our 5-year-old faux leather couch started showing signs of wear, my husband and I decided to invest in a real leather couch. </li><li>We tried a <a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nomad Leather King Sectional with a chaise and ottoman from Burrow</a>, costing $3,790. </li><li>It's definitely not cheap but it's customizable (so yours can definitely be less expensive than our set), ships directly to you within four days, and can be put together yourself to save installation fees. </li><li>After using it for six months, I'd recommend it to anyone who has the budget and is looking for a classic leather couch that'll last years.</li></ul><p>One of the most frustrating things about furniture (aside from said furniture shopping) is the delivery and installation. There are extra charges and 10-hour delivery windows that come and go - it just seems like an old-school way of doing things. </p><p>When my husband and I were looking to replace our 5-year-old faux leather couch that was showing signs of wear, we decided to shop online and only at places that offered free delivery and had modular styles that we could put together ourselves. Like Ikea, but not. </p><p>I've known about <a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">furniture startup Burrow</a> for a few years but never had a reason to look at it much since we had a couch. Around the same time that we were looking to replace ours, Burrow launched <a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a full-grain leather version of its popular Nomad couch</a>.</p><p>We ended up getting the <a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nomad Leather King Sectional</a>, a full-grain leather couch that would last years, if not, decades. We added a chaise and <a href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise-ottoman%3Fsku%3DNLSCO-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ottoman</a>, all in black leather with walnut legs. The total cost was $3,790 - definitely not cheap or affordable by any means, but reasonable given the amount of pieces we ordered and the quality of the full-grain leather.</p><p>Six months in, there's still not a scratch, tear, or ripped seam to be found. And we've had young kids and dogs on it too. </p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-sofa-couch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The best sofas and couches you can buy</a></em></p><h2><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Our new Burrow couch</a> arrived in clearly labeled boxes and installation was tricky but manageable; it took about an hour</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d979bf30977cd139d4d74fb-2400/20190511204235.jpg" border="0" alt="Burrow Nomad Leather Couch" data-mce-source="Jada Wong / Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Jada Wong / Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The couch arrived a few days after ordering, and in several clearly labeled boxes. That was helpful as we unpacked boxes in the order of installation - seats first, then the side panels with low armrests, and finally, the legs. The chaise includes a long cushion that lays on top of a base and any seat you want, and the ottoman, well, it's an ottoman. </p><p>Thee boxes also helpfully have holes for handles and easy carrying, and each item is wrapped in thick plastic so it doesn't get dirty during transit. We reused the plastic to carry our old couch to a local donation center. </p><p>The couch a boxy modular design, so you can move the seats around however you want or even remove them to make your couch smaller, and the overall design and function of the couch will be the same.  </p><p>Once we took out different parts of the couch to assemble, there was a big initial cardboard smell, especially on the right side. Thankfully, it's up against a wall and the smell has since dissipated. </p><h3>Here are some of the specs of our king couch with the chaise and ottoman:</h3><ul><li><strong>General Dimensions:</strong> 112 inches L x 36 inches W x 35 inches H</li><li><strong>Seat Height:</strong> 17 inches</li><li><strong>Arm Height:</strong> 23 inches</li><li><strong>Seat Depth:</strong> 22 inches</li><li><strong>Leg Height:</strong> 7 inches</li><li><strong>Chaise Length:</strong> 61 inches</li><li><strong>Ottoman General Dimensions:</strong> 26 inches L x 26 inches W x 17 inches H</li><li><strong>Seat Height:</strong> 17 inches</li><li><strong>Seat Depth:</strong> 26 inches</li><li><strong>Leg Height:</strong> 7 inches</li></ul><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/campaign-sofa-vs-burrow-couch-which-is-better-2018-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">We compared online sofas from Campaign and Burrow to determine which couch startup deserves a spot in your living room</a></em></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d979c10754caa14ee5a787b-2400/20190511210858.jpg" border="0" alt="Burrow Nomad Leather Couch" data-mce-source="Jada Wong / Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Jada Wong / Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Instruction manuals are provided and easy to follow, so we didn't have any trouble there. You basically put two seats next to each other and secure with a metal latch between the seats and on the underside, then you move onto the other seats and armrests.</p><p>We had a lot of issues connecting the seats though because the metal latches between and under the seats were so hard to find and secure. One person would have to use their entire body weight to force the seats flush against each other while the other would fumble around with the latches. </p><p>It took about an hour to set up the couch because of the latch issues, but some reviewers said it took 15 to 20 minutes. I'd imagine the latches were hard to deal with because the seats are well-padded and extend past their wooden frames, but if there's a way to make this process more efficient in the future, I'm all for it. If it weren't for the latches, I would imagine it'd take us much less time too. </p><h2>The couch has a wooden frame covered in full-grain leather, but the underside is covered in thin fabric and secured with staples that is surprisingly cheap for such an expensive piece of furniture</h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d979c3e528879149c4e9633-2400/20190511212039.jpg" border="0" alt="Burrow Nomad Leather Couch" data-mce-source="Jada Wong / Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Jada Wong / Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>The general frame of the couch is made with Baltic Birch, a type of light-colored wood that resists warping. So far, I haven't had any issues with the seats bending in the six months we've had the couch. </p><p>But the underside is covered in thin black fabric secured via staples that is unexpectedly cheap for a $3,000+ couch. During installation, I accidentally ripped through the fabric as I was securing one of the latches and I noticed that one of the staples is just a little too close to the edge and is exposed when looking at the couch straight on.</p><p>Thankfully, both issues are on the underside of the couch so you don't see anything. These are things I wouldn't expect from a couch that costs so much and especially when it's made with full-grain leather, but I guess there are bigger issues to have. </p><h2>The Burrow couch has held up well in the past six months we've had it - the frame is sturdy and the leather hasn't ripped  </h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/5d979c77ee40e415e4191e2c-2400/img5020 copy.jpg" border="0" alt="Burrow Nomad Leather Couch" data-mce-source="Jada Wong / Business Insider" /></a><p class="source"><span>Jada Wong / Business Insider</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Despite doubling as a trampoline for two kids and a bed for a dog (sadly, neither are ours), the couch still looks great and the frame hasn't warped or bent anywhere. It's really sturdy and doesn't shift or squeak.  </p><p>My husband has had a full-grain leather wallet for the past five years, so if that's any indication of quality, our couch will last a long time. Full-grain leather is the highest quality of leather and ages well; it'll develop a slightly glossy patina with variations in color. </p><p>Despite the quality, I was personally worried about the feel and that it would get sticky and gross during the summer, but it was actually quite cool even after sitting on it for hours watching "Veronica Mars." </p><p>The seat cushions were initially too padded for my liking, but it has squished down slightly. I guess that's a good problem to have though since that means the seats are well-padded and comfortable. There's a strip of fabric on the edge of the cushion so it doesn't slide down the seat, a thoughtful design detail that goes a long way. </p><p>The couch also has a built-in USB charger which is tech-y and helpful, especially for guests crashing on our couch.</p><p><em><strong>Read more</strong>: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/campaign-sofa-vs-burrow-couch-which-is-better-2018-10https://www.businessinsider.com/burrow-couch-sleep-kit" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sofa startup Burrow has launched a 'sleep kit' that makes the couch a more comfortable place for guests to crash</a></em></p><h2>If you have the budget, I'd suggest taking a look at Burrow's full-grain Nomad couches for their durability, ease of set up, and modular design</h2><p>Couches aren't cheap in general, but given the quality of Burrow's full-grain leather, I'd recommend the investment. Similar to a bed, you're sitting on it for hours every day so you should prioritize quality and durability if you can. We have a full set (four-seater couch with a chaise and ottoman) so ours was expensive. But depending on the size you need, it can be a lot cheaper. </p><p>This is Burrow's first leather couch so there are definitely certain things that can be improved down the road such as a different fabric for the underside of the seats and the staples, but ultimately, these are small issues that didn't impact quality or integrity.   </p><h3><a href="https://www.gopjn.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise%3Fsku%3DNLSC-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy the Nomad Leather King Sectional, $3,295 at Burrow </a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.pjtra.com/t/TUJGRktKTEJGSEhLR01CRktFS05O?url=https%3A%2F%2Fburrow.com%2Fnomad-leather%2Fking-sofa-chaise-ottoman%3Fsku%3DNLSCO-SL-4-HI-DW" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Buy the Nomad Leather King Sectional with Ottoman, $3,790 at Burrow</a></h3><p class="tagline"><p><a href="http://e.businessinsider.com/join/ci/insider-picks">Subscribe to our newsletter.</a><br><br>Find all the best offers at our <a href="https://coupons.businessinsider.com/">Coupons page</a>.<br><br>Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/insiderpicks">Insider Picks</a> team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our commerce partners. We frequently receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising sales team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at insiderpicks@businessinsider.com.</br></br></br></br></p></p>

This Burrow couch is made with full-grain leather that will last for years - here's what it feels like and why it's worth $3,800

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Kinky Rabbit Club in L.A. is again hosting exclusive <keyword id="6355231" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sex">sex</keyword> parties as <a href="https://www.insider.com/hot-vaxx-summer-pandemic-horniness-is-coming-blissful-release-2021-3">Hot Vax Summer</a> roars to a start. </li><li>The club's founder partners with sex workers who post exclusive content from the party on their OnlyFans accounts.</li><li>Journalist Heather Hauswirth donned a green and gold speckled catsuit to see what it was like.</li></ul><p>A crowd of 30- and 40-somethings, mostly semi-nude women, hungrily prowled about the six-million dollar Hollywood Hills mansion dressed in "disco kink." The theme, Studio 69, was an homage to the legendary 70s playground Studio 54. </p><p>I had just watched a buff, brown-haired alpha guy in gold short-shorts and white varsity socks - he told me later he was a researcher at a local university - being pleasured by a man in a shiny speedo and a woman sporting matching metallic star pasties, all in front of a pink Kinky Rabbit statue, the club's logo. A fluffle of onlookers applauded. </p><p>"A mouth is a mouth," the man told me a few minutes later, stroking my hair behind my ear while we chatted on a damp sofa. </p><p>That was pretty much the ethos at<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kinkyrabbitclub/"> the Kinky Rabbit Club</a>, one of L.A's most exclusive sex parties, emerging from the ashes after a year in <keyword id="8764262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid">Covid</keyword> lockdown. </p><p>A dozen feet from me, another live performance was getting started: a blonde and brunette in tassels and beaded lingerie were scissoring in a glittery bathtub, drenching each other in Champagne. When the bottle popped, it squirted me right in the eye - which was not wide shut. Meanwhile, hand-made pink nipple clamps circulated as party favors.</p><div type="image" title="Two women kneel over a golden bath tub in glittery beaded lingerie." height="1401" width="2000" msid="83525678" hostid="261"></div><p>"It's the golden age for sex workers," <a href="https://www.instagram.com/misskenzieanne/">Miss Kenzie Anne</a>,  the blonde in the bathtub, had told me while getting her hair and makeup done hours before the debauchery began. Well known in the adult film and in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-lockdown-boom-transactions-hit-24b-revenue-up-553-2021-4">OnlyFans</a> world, where strippers, adult film stars, and cam girls post their X-rated content behind a subscription-based paywall, Kenzie Anne was the star attraction that night. This was her first live performance outside of her own bedroom, she told me. </p><p>Founded by sex club impresario <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rockachicstyle/?hl=en">Alina Ratuska</a>, Kinky Rabbit brands itself as a "female-empowered" sex club. Most of the performers were not paid directly but are compensated with something they say is even more valuable - the free use of content created during the party that they would later post and monetize on their OnlyFans accounts. </p><p>The platform exploded in popularity during the pandemic, especially after Instagram banned sexual content. Parties like this offer fresh content to help keep their subscribers engaged, they say.</p><p>Ratuska said she preferred to work with performers who have <a href="https://www.insider.com/people-are-creating-onlyfans-accounts-after-losing-jobs-during-pandemic-2020-6">OnlyFans</a> accounts because it allows her to cut out the middle men who manage sex workers. "Whatever people want to do, I talk to the girls and make it their thing," she said. "I make sure the girls feel comfortable and super hot and super empowered."</p><div type="image" title="A women dressed in a low-cut bodysuit stands in front of a rabbit sculpture." height="1600" width="1084" msid="83525679" hostid="261"></div><p>I came here with a hard-headed plan to do a story about sex workers emerging from the pandemic. After a year of isolation, I - straight and single - was vaxxed, waxed and ready for whatever the hell "<a href="https://www.insider.com/hot-vaxx-summer-pandemic-horniness-is-coming-blissful-release-2021-3https://www.insider.com/hot-vaxx-summer-pandemic-horniness-is-coming-blissful-release-2021-3">hot vax summer</a>" was going to be. But I really had no idea what I was in for.  </p><p>For the occasion, Ratuska had loaned me a green and gold speckled catsuit with a black leather waistband and plunging V-neck that she designed herself. It fit like a latex glove--latex being a popular fashion choice with this crowd. I could barely breathe.</p><p>Party-goers drifted to the open bar where they could order drinks like a Kinky Mule or the Fifty Shades of Greyhound.  </p><p>"I'll have two shots of anything," said my new friend, the researcher in gold disco shorts, as he wiped his sweaty brow and flirted with the shirtless bartender. Around us, a few people critiqued his performance. "I'm not sure he got it up the first time," suggested a woman standing next to me in black bell bottoms, a lace bralette and purple wig. "But they did a good job covering him."  </p><p>It was all what you might imagine a wild sex party looks like: attractive people, predominantly women, in outlandish costumes, wontonly frolicking around to a fun and flirty theme. This being 2021, there was an "honors system" that everyone present was fully vaccinated against Covid. No cell phones were allowed. Everyone could be refreshingly straightforward about what they were there for: a night of hot in-person sexual thrills. "I'm over online. This is so much better than a sex party on Zoom...trust me, we've tried," said a woman, wearing shiny disco flairs and a Jimmy Hendrix jacket.</p><p>After a string of erotic performances set the mood, a cluster of glittery, glistening bodies climbed a stairway.</p><p>On the next floor, in the largest of three bedrooms, a black St. Andrews Cross (a 7-foot wooden "X" graced with binding straps) was center-stage. Beyond it, a sliding door led to a balcony overlooking a pool. Below, people were smoking what I could only guess were postcoital cigarettes. </p><div type="image" title="A woman is seen wearing a low-cut sparkly catsuit and heels." height="4032" width="3024" msid="83525680" hostid="261"></div><p>There wasn't the usual party small talk that warms people up to strangers. It was all very direct; not a lot of foreplay.</p><p>"As a bi woman, I find it hard to meet girls who like other girls," a busty brunette with bright blue eyes in a silver dress told me. "But this party is a place where everything is on the [table]. Where else can you get f**ked by your boyfriend and then have a girl eat you out while you are tied to a St. Andrews Cross? Now I get to have my cake and eat it too, and don't need to worry about offending anyone--because we all know what we're here for. Sex."  </p><p>A buxom woman, shrink-wrapped in a black minidress with orange lingerie glowing from underneath, looked fetchingly at me as she held a cat o' nine tails. I walked over to her, and she led me to the Cross. My new friend then made me an offer. Maybe it was the Champagne residue in my eye, or the orgy churning away on the bed behind me, but I acquiesced to her invitation: to flog me on the cross. </p><p>"Let's tie your wrists," she said. "Sorry, I haven't done this in a while," I quipped. I turned my head to watch her strap my wrists and ankles to the cross, turning my body into a giant "X marks the spot."  </p><p>She started to flog me, and she was merciless. I had always thought of myself as a wannabe masochist, but the leather straps were smacking my thighs instead of my ass. I kept offering my buns, but she never hit the mark. Another woman beelined in my direction, and we locked eyes. She touched my hair, then went in for a kiss. I turned away. It was sensory overload. </p><p>I get how such extreme sensations unhinge the mind from pedestrian concerns, not to mention the pent up stresses of a tough year. I was hoping for a cathartic release, but found myself more self-conscious than anything else. And all this, in front of an audience of expectant voyeurs. </p><p>As I climbed down from the cross, I resigned myself to the possibility that I wasn't the sexual Olympian I had imagined I was. I had limits; a comfort zone smaller than most of the revelers around me. And yet, as I left the Kinky Rabbit Club in the early hours of the next morning, I found myself noting that the next party - a Bacchanalia, in the "kingdom of kink" - was only a month away. </p>

I needed more than my second Moderna shot to be ready for this OnlyFans orgy

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The Kinky Rabbit Club has emerged as one of L.A's most exclusive <keyword id="6355231" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Sex">sex</keyword> parties as <a href="https://www.insider.com/hot-vaxx-summer-pandemic-horniness-is-coming-blissful-release-2021-3">Hot Vax Summer</a> roars to a start. </li><li>The club's founder partners with sex workers who post exclusive content from the <keyword id="56" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Party">party</keyword> on their <keyword id="9183253" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="onlyfans">OnlyFans</keyword> accounts.</li><li>Journalist Heather Hauswirth donned a green and gold speckled catsuit to see what it was like.</li></ul><p>A crowd of 30- and 40-somethings, mostly semi-nude women, hungrily prowled about the six-million dollar Hollywood Hills mansion dressed in "disco kink." The theme, Studio 69, was an homage to the legendary 70s playground Studio 54. </p><p>I had just watched a buff, brown-haired alpha guy in gold short-shorts and white varsity socks - he told me later he was a researcher at a local university - being pleasured by a man in a shiny speedo and a woman sporting matching metallic star pasties, all in front of a pink Kinky Rabbit statue, the club's logo. A fluffle of onlookers applauded. </p><p>"A mouth is a mouth," the man told me a few minutes later, stroking my hair behind my ear while we chatted on a damp sofa. </p><p>That was pretty much the ethos at<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kinkyrabbitclub/"> the Kinky Rabbit Club</a>, one of L.A's most exclusive sex parties, emerging from the ashes after a year in <keyword id="8764262" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="covid">Covid</keyword> lockdown. </p><p>A dozen feet from me, another live performance was getting started: a blonde and brunette in tassels and beaded lingerie were scissoring in a glittery bathtub, drenching each other in Champagne. When the bottle popped, it squirted me right in the eye - which was not wide shut. Meanwhile, hand-made pink nipple clamps circulated as party favors.</p><div type="image" title="Two women kneel over a golden bath tub in glittery beaded lingerie." height="1401" width="2000" msid="83462782" hostid="261"></div><p>"It's the golden age for sex workers," <a href="https://www.instagram.com/misskenzieanne/">Miss Kenzie Anne</a>,  the blonde in the bathtub, had told me while getting her hair and makeup done hours before the debauchery began. Well known in the adult film and in the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/onlyfans-lockdown-boom-transactions-hit-24b-revenue-up-553-2021-4">OnlyFans</a> world, where strippers, adult film stars, and cam girls post their X-rated content behind a subscription-based paywall, Kenzie Anne was the star attraction that night. This was her first live performance outside of her own bedroom, she told me. </p><p>Founded by sex club impresario <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rockachicstyle/?hl=en">Alina Ratuska</a>, Kinky Rabbit brands itself as a "female-empowered" sex club. Most of the performers were not paid directly but are compensated with something they say is even more valuable - the free use of content created during the party that they would later post and monetize on their OnlyFans accounts. </p><p>The platform exploded in popularity during the pandemic, especially after Instagram banned sexual content. Parties like this offer fresh content to help keep their subscribers engaged, they say.</p><p>Ratuska said she preferred to work with performers who have <a href="https://www.insider.com/people-are-creating-onlyfans-accounts-after-losing-jobs-during-pandemic-2020-6">OnlyFans</a> accounts because it allows her to cut out the middle men who manage sex workers. "Whatever people want to do, I talk to the girls and make it their thing," she said. "I make sure the girls feel comfortable and super hot and super empowered."</p><div type="image" title="A women dressed in a low-cut bodysuit stands in front of a rabbit sculpture." height="1600" width="1084" msid="83462784" hostid="261"></div><p>I came here with a hard-headed plan to do a story about sex workers emerging from the pandemic. After a year of isolation, I - straight and single - was vaxxed, waxed and ready for whatever the hell "<a href="https://www.insider.com/hot-vaxx-summer-pandemic-horniness-is-coming-blissful-release-2021-3https://www.insider.com/hot-vaxx-summer-pandemic-horniness-is-coming-blissful-release-2021-3">hot vax summer</a>" was going to be. But I really had no idea what I was in for.  </p><p>For the occasion, Ratuska had loaned me a green and gold speckled catsuit with a black leather waistband and plunging V-neck that she designed herself. It fit like a latex glove--latex being a popular fashion choice with this crowd. I could barely breathe.</p><p>Party-goers drifted to the open bar where they could order drinks like a Kinky Mule or the Fifty Shades of Greyhound.  </p><p>"I'll have two shots of anything," said my new friend, the researcher in gold disco shorts, as he wiped his sweaty brow and flirted with the shirtless bartender. Around us, a few people critiqued his performance. "I'm not sure he got it up the first time," suggested a woman standing next to me in black bell bottoms, a lace bralette and purple wig. "But they did a good job covering him."  </p><p>It was all what you might imagine a wild sex party looks like: attractive people, predominantly women, in outlandish costumes, wontonly frolicking around to a fun and flirty theme. This being 2021, there was an "honors system" that everyone present was fully vaccinated against Covid. No cell phones were allowed. Everyone could be refreshingly straightforward about what they were there for: a night of hot in-person sexual thrills. "I'm over online. This is so much better than a sex party on Zoom...trust me, we've tried," said a woman, wearing shiny disco flairs and a Jimmy Hendrix jacket.</p><div type="image" title="VV" height="1333" width="2000" msid="83462788" hostid="261"></div><p>After a string of erotic performances set the mood, a cluster of glittery, glistening bodies climbed a stairway.</p><p>On the next floor, in the largest of three bedrooms, a black St. Andrews Cross (a 7-foot wooden "X" graced with binding straps) was center-stage. Beyond it, a sliding door led to a balcony overlooking a pool. Below, people were smoking what I could only guess were postcoital cigarettes. </p><p>There wasn't the usual party small talk that warms people up to strangers. It was all very direct; not a lot of foreplay.</p><p>"As a bi woman, I find it hard to meet girls who like other girls," a busty brunette with bright blue eyes in a silver dress told me. "But this party is a place where everything is on the [table]. Where else can you get f**ked by your boyfriend and then have a girl eat you out while you are tied to a St. Andrews Cross? Now I get to have my cake and eat it too, and don't need to worry about offending anyone--because we all know what we're here for. Sex."  </p><p>A buxom woman, shrink-wrapped in a black minidress with orange lingerie glowing from underneath, looked fetchingly at me as she held a cat o' nine tails. I walked over to her, and she led me to the Cross. My new friend then made me an offer. Maybe it was the Champagne residue in my eye, or the orgy churning away on the bed behind me, but I acquiesced to her invitation: to flog me on the cross. </p><div type="image" title="A woman is seen wearing a low-cut sparkly catsuit and heels." height="4032" width="3024" msid="83462792" hostid="261"></div><p>"Let's tie your wrists," she said. "Sorry, I haven't done this in a while," I quipped. I turned my head to watch her strap my wrists and ankles to the cross, turning my body into a giant "X marks the spot."  </p><p>She started to flog me, and she was merciless. I had always thought of myself as a wannabe pain slut, but the leather straps were smacking my thighs instead of my ass. I kept offering my buns, but she never hit the mark. Another woman beelined in my direction, and we locked eyes. She touched my hair, then went in for a kiss. I turned away. It was sensory overload. </p><p>I get how such extreme sensations unhinge the mind from pedestrian concerns, not to mention the pent up stresses of a tough year. I was hoping for a cathartic release, but found myself more self-conscious than anything else. And all this, in front of an audience of expectant voyeurs. </p><p>As I climbed down from the cross, I resigned myself to the possibility that I wasn't the sexual Olympian I had imagined I was. I had limits; a comfort zone smaller than most of the revelers around me. And yet, as I left the Kinky Rabbit Club in the early hours of the next morning, I found myself noting that the next party - a Bacchanalia, in the "kingdom of kink" - was only a month away. </p>

Black homeowners in Houston say they're still patching up holes in their floors nearly five years after Hurricane Harvey

<p>When you have a big, blank wall to fill, your first thought may be a <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/538039/list/A-Gallery-Wall-for-Every-Personality" target="_blank">gallery wall</a>. There's nothing wrong with that, but sometimes it's nice to break up all of that flat framed <a href="http://www.houzz.com/photos/artwork" target="_blank">artwork</a> with something different. Enter baskets, brackets, paint-dipped objects, wall sculptures, special paint effects and more. Check out these 12 ways to fill your walls with color and creativity. <br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/529f618fecad043b0f58f414-873-655/blank-wall-1.png?maxX=800" border="0" alt="blank wall 1" width="800" /><p class="source">Natalie Fuglestveit Interior Design</p></div></div><br /><strong>1. Cluster colorful baskets. </strong>Why hang one or two baskets when you can hang a whole bunch? Collect decorative woven baskets in various sizes and colors, and play around with possible arrangements on the floor before hanging them. Can't find colorful baskets? Create your own by painting the interior of plain baskets with craft paint.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/529f624feab8ea231258f413-945-709/blank-wall-2.png" border="0" alt="blank wall 2" width="800" /><p class="source">Wettling Architects</p></div></div><br /><strong>2. Layer giant letters.</strong> In this case two is definitely better than one - a pair of oversize letters, whether vintage or new, makes a big statement anywhere you put them. Slightly overlapping the letters creates an even stronger graphic statement than hanging them side by side.<br /><br /><strong>3. Make a dip-painted wall sculpture.</strong> Yes, the piece shown here was created by an artist - but that doesn't mean you can't craft your own spin on it. Try dip-paining an old farm implement or wood-handled cooking tools in brightly colored paint to give them a modern twist, then hang them on the wall.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/529f62ad69beddc916e32dde-910-682/blank-wall-3.png" border="0" alt="blank wall 3" width="800" /><p class="source">Pink Door Designs</p></div></div><br /><strong>4. Tape off a graphic statement wall. </strong>Paint a base color on your wall, then tape off sections (these will show through later) and paint the next coat in a contrasting hue. Vary the width of your taped-off stripes to create a random look similar to what is shown here. Hang pictures or just let the wall be a statement on its own.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/529f63376bb3f72d7458f407-990-742/blank-wall-4.png" border="0" alt="blank wall 4" width="800" /><p class="source">Emily Johnston Larkin</p></div></div><strong>5. Use wall brackets to bring dimension to your art.</strong> Instead of just hanging art directly on the wall, why not try propping it up on decorative wall brackets? It would boost visual interest, and you can change things around whenever you feel like it - framed prints one day, bud vases the next.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/529f637becad04d51558f414-990-743/blank-walls-6.png" border="0" alt="blank walls 6" width="800" /><p class="source">Mina Brinkey</p></div></div><strong>6. Hang your hats. </strong>Don't let cool hats hide behind closed doors - show off your fedoras, trilbies, cloches and skimmers on hooks on the wall for a functional display. Unless you are going for a dorm room-bachelor pad vibe, I would avoid hanging baseball caps. No hats? Try the same thing with your statement necklaces for a similar effect.</p>
<p><strong>7. Add oomph with framed paper.</strong> Lengths of wallpaper framed with basic wooden wall molding beef up the headboards of a pair of four-posters in this bedroom. A gorgeous F. Schumacher paper was used here, but you could frame a really pretty gift wrap for a budget take on this look.</p>
<p><strong>8. Track down a vintage sign. </strong>A massive vintage store sign, like this one that hangs in the Parker Palm Springs Hotel, is sure to become the focal point of the room - so choose one you really love.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static3.businessinsider.com/image/529f6421eab8eaf71658f400-988-741/blank-walls.png" border="0" alt="blank walls" width="800" /><p class="source">Stiles | Fischer Interior Design</p></div></div><br /><strong>9. Go subtly sophisticated with wainscot paneling. </strong>Create architectural interest on a plain wall by using 4- to 6-inch-wide pieces of <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/3123423/list/MDF" target="_blank">MDF</a> wainscot paneling applied in a grid pattern, then paint it all a superrich, dark hue.<br /><br /><strong>10. Stick a message on the wall. </strong>Yes, I said<em> stick</em>, not paint: This crafty renter used a projector to display the message across a door and wall, so she could trace it onto black contact paper. The contact paper can be peeled off, so this is a perfect project for renters ... or if you want to test out an idea before committing to it with paint.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static1.businessinsider.com/image/529f646169bedd5314e32de2-992-744/blank-walls-1.png" border="0" alt="blank walls" width="800" /><p class="source">Soledad Alzaga</p></div></div><strong>11. Go retro with a metal wall sculpture.</strong> We can thank Jonathan Adler for creating a new wave of popularity for the midcentury metal wall sculptures of <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/998243/list/-Mad-Men--Trend--Retro-Metal-Wall-Sculptures" target="_blank">C. Jere</a> - these cool retro pieces make frequent appearances in Adler-designed spaces, and he has reissued several C. Jere designs, so it is now much easier to find them. Here interior designer Soledad Alzaga used a linen-covered canvas to frame the wall sculpture, giving it even more depth. <br /><br />Don't want to spend the bucks on a C. Jere original? There were many other makers of metal wall sculptures who produced work in a similar style during the same time period. Try using a phrase like "vintage metal wall sculpture" in your web search and you should be able to track down plenty of options at all price points.<br /><br /><div class="image-container"><div class="image"><img src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/529f64e0ecad040c1658f40d-987-740/blank-walls-2.png" border="0" alt="blank walls" width="800" /><p class="source">Haute Culture</p></div></div> <br /><strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>12. Hang something with an interesting pattern. </strong>Keep an open mind and you can find unique wall hangings just about anywhere: metal sheets used to cover radiators, garden fencing, punched tin doors, woven screens, baskets … the list is endless. Check your own <a href="http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/19242127/list/www.houzz.com/photos/garage-and-shed" target="_blank">garage</a>, attic and storage shed, and keep an eye out for curbside freebies - you never know what you may find!</p>
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