A Gift for You

In her new book, to be released in March, Linda shares her unique approach – to look at the interior structure of a room, creating and embellishing the character from within.

It's a beautiful book full of beautiful ideas you can put to work for yourself. Step by step, Linda shows how to make simple living spaces into  artful, beautiful living places.

Please visit our website's online store to reserve your personally autographed copy of Architectural Interiors. Just enter an inscription of any length and complete your paid order. We will send your book (or books) inscribed by Linda as soon as they arrive. You can also pre-order unautographed copies from www.gibbs-smith.com or www.amazon.com.

Give yourself the gift of beauty.

Linda Applewhite's Architectural Interiors

Book Excerpt #4

Chapter Three: Fat Arches and Deep Niches

Arches that span openings between rooms should be fat, preferably a minimum of 8 inches thick. The bordering fat wall adds a sense of quality to Clorinda, while the graceful elliptical arch softens the surrounding straight lines of the structure.

It was during the remodel of Clorinda that I first learned about the importance of fat walls—walls that are framed thicker than the typical 2 x 4 construction. Fat-wall framing not only offers opportunities to create elegant, substantial openings between rooms, but also provides the option to create fat arches and deep niches. I found that both arches and niches create really good bones in a room, offering possibilities for graceful passageways and the softness of curved lines in the design and architecture of what might otherwise be a straight-lined room.

Why Fat Arches Are Lovelier

Arches can be used many ways in a home—with windows, doors, soffits, and niches; in cabinet design; and even over garage doors. But whenever arches are incorporated into a wall, the wall and arch need to be fat. When there is a significant passageway or opening between rooms that does not have a door, the walls of the opening should look substantial, especially walls without trim. Why? Because passageways between rooms without doors or trim provide an opportunity to actually see the end or cross section of a wall. With typical framing and drywall, this cross section is 4 inches thick. Now, that’s a skimpy looking wall, and I have been in many high-end homes that have this regrettable problem. Skimpy walls and arches degrade the feeling of a structure, insinuating that all the walls are thin and that the house is inexpensively built. Fat walls create the impression that all the walls are thick and substantial, lending more of a quality feeling to the entire house. Fat walls need only be created in major passageways for the impression of strength and quality to pervade the entire structure.

Architectural interest abounds in this elegant bathroom, which combines fat walls and a softly arched soffit to frame the bathtub. The deep-lighted niche provides ample room for a lovely statue, while the window treatment mimics the room’s sensuous, glowing curves.

My favorite shapes are elliptical and semicircular arches, and I sometimes use a combination of both. Whenever I incorporate a curved arch into a wall, I try to repeat the same shape throughout the project. I use arches on top of bookcases, in cabinet doors, in transom windows, in soffits over bathroom or kitchen counters, and in niches. In European-style or old-world style projects, I might use elliptical arches in walls and round arches in niches. There are no rules. Always mock up shapes when in doubt of how an arch will look and what size it should be. Arches and niches should have a substantial amount of wall around them and should be in scale with the room and other structural elements. They make strong statements in a variety of materials—stone, brick, wood, stucco, plaster, drywall, or a combination.

When choosing a look for your walls and arches, always respect your architecture and make choices that complement the style of your home, and repeat their shape in other elements in your home, such as cabinets or soffits. Be creative, take risks, and have fun using these architectural elements to add pizzazz, romance, and drama to your rooms.

This concrete farm sink from Sonoma Cast Stone combines beautifully with the Old Gold limestone counter and handmade tile backsplash from Tile & Stone Concepts.

Meet Linda at Spring Book Signings

Thursday, April 26

Linda will be speaking and signing books at the 13th annual Gardens, Art & Architecture Tour in Mill Valley, California, from 11:30 to 2:30. In addition to copies of her new book, she will also have a limited number of her Appleglow candles and exquisite pillows for sale. The event, which sells out in advance every year, is produced by Marilyn Smith, Linda's long-time friend and client, and owner of the Glen Ellen estate that was the site of our Wine Country Seminar last October. For tickets and more information, go to www.outdoorartclub.org.

Saturday, May 19

You are invited to an open house at the newly expanded showroom of Tile & Stone Concepts from 11:00 to 3:00. Tile & Stone's three Bay Area locations also serve as the official Northern California showrooms for Sonoma Cast Stone. These two state-of-the-art vendors have joined together to showcase the best the industry has to offer in materials and fixtures, many of which are featured in Linda's new book. Linda will co-host the event, located at 1505 E. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, CA.

HGTV Dates for February

Curb Appeal

1960's Contemporary #1109  February 25, 9:00 AM ET/PT