It’s almost Tax Day! It might not be the biggest day of celebration, but there are some tax breaks for homeowners that we heard about from Bob Vila. Will you get a tax credit for anything home related?

• Energy-efficient home improvements can help land you a tax break. If, for example, you replaced your windows with energy efficient ones, you could be eligible for this tax break on your primary home.
• Unfortunately, if you built a new house, the energy efficient breaks aren’t available to you. But if you replaced, renovated or retrofitted, you might qualify.
• Sometimes you can get a tax break for installation costs, and sometimes not. Check carefully.
• Save ALL documentation of your energy-efficient replacement efforts. You’ll need to submit documentation and you don’t want to be caught short during an audit!

As always, remember to consult your tax professional if you have any questions about tax breaks for home improvements.

Image courtesy of401K on Flickr.

In the March 2012 issue of Architectural Digest, actress Brooke Shields admits she’s a sucker for older homes. (Who isn’t?) Of her and husband Chris Henchy’s relentless real estate search throughout Manhattan, the actress said, “Our shared ideal was the sort of confident old house that has been lived in for generations.”

Eventually, they found it in the form of a four-bedroom brick townhouse built in 1910 and located in posh Greenwich Village. A self-proclaimed “real-estate romantic,” Shields teamed with decorator David Flint Wood to outfit the home with many classical elements blended with modern sensibilities.

Dark woods and monochromatic paint schemes are contrasted by white baseboard and crown molding. Elegant fireplaces are located in the living room as well as the kitchen, which also includes a custom dining table just feet from the stove top — a perfect arrangement for any foodie.

You can see more of Shields’ gorgeous townhouse here.

While perusing Twitter, we came across Nigel Maynard’s Tweet about these interesting hooks. As HomeIQ says, these “will either make you smile or freak you out.”

By artist Nick Davis, these bronze hands and feet are perfect for hanging coats, acting as 3D art and scaring your guests. What do you think? Would you want these in your hallway?

Images courtesy of HomeIQ. 

Writing for Houzz.com, Marianne Lipanovich shares some thoughts on traditional landscape design:

Traditional landscaping can get a bad rap in design circles. It’s not daring; it doesn’t push the envelope; it’s something you can see everywhere. However, traditional gardens that are done well have a lot going for them. They’re instantly appealing, they work well with any number of house styles and they evoke a sense of graciousness and a connection to the past.

One of the core elements of traditional landscaping, she explains, is greenery: well-manicured lawns with clean lines provide the foundational canvas, and trees often play a major role. The garden beds are often filled in with shrubs and leafy green plants.

Marianne’s post is full of more detail, more ideas and loads of beautiful photos. Check it out.

[photo courtesy of Winn Design & Remodeling via Houzz.com]

To meet the owners’ desire to bring a little taste of Texas to their new Maine home, Jesse Thompson of Kaplan Thompson Architects designed a modest abode built to withstand the brutal winter cold while also considering the couple’s love for horses.

This 2011 myMarvin Architect’s Challenge winner sits atop a two-stall horse barn featuring a steeply pitched gable roof and double hung windows. Cedar shingles and clapboard were also used to fit the rustic Maine archetype.

Sustainability was a priority. The building plan allowed for extensive use of local woods and energy efficient insulation (R-30 to R-60 values on all surfaces) to stand up against the harsh winter conditions. Thompson utilized windows and doors from Integrity by Marvin Windows and Doors to help ensure a tightly sealed thermal envelope and options consistent with the woodwork.

With its breathtaking view of New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington and sweeping pastures for horses to roam, Thompson was able to meet the owners’ needs by creating a sustainable, yet modest home with just a touch of Texas.

Mill around on Pinterest long enough or flip through the latest issue of Elle Decor and eventually you will find a brilliant home library complete with dark-stained shelves holding hundreds of tattered hardcovers, along with a cozy leather chair and an antique floor lamp. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?

HomeDesignFind.com asks, “Is the home library dead?” It’s a good question. Fact is, while most of us would love a home library, they have typically been reserved for the very wealthy whose sprawling homes could allow such a limited-use room. Cost aside, other factors threaten the future of home libraries, as well.

• The rising popularity of e-readers means fewer books to take up physical space and storage. (A blessing and a curse.)
• Modern design favors open floor plans and multifunctional rooms. (No one ever accused a home library of being versatile.)

The HomeDesignsFind.com article (linked above) shares some helpful tips for integrating the more practical elements of a library throughout your home. The gist:

• Find a quiet, out-of-the-way corner of your home and dedicate it to reading. Make sure your seating is comfortable and the lighting is right.
• You can’t go wrong with adding bookcases, whether in your office, bedroom or living room. And even if you’ve quit buying books since you purchased an e-reader, several websites actually sell “faux books” to fill your shelves. (We’ll keep it a secret!)

[Photo from HomeDesignFind.com]

A company’s heritage is built on vision, determination and an abiding commitment to core beliefs. At Marvin, our heritage of excellence goes back more than a century. It reflects an unwavering dedication to quality, service, innovation and community. That dedication has been passed on through four generations of family leadership. And thousands of our skilled workers have been steeped in our heritage through a lifetime of family connections to our company and the communities we proudly call home.

Now, that history and heritage is on full display on Marvin Windows and Doors’ Facebook page, through the beauty of the site’s new Timeline layout. Jump over to Facebook and scroll through the years. You’ll see photos and milestones dating back to 1912, when the Marvin Timber & Cedar Company was founded in Warroad, Minnesota.

Sometimes everything seems to be upside down — including houses! This kooky house is the brainchild of Alexander Yee, who designed this Malaysian house (called Rumah Terbalik) to mimic the neihborhood it is in. The only difference is that everyhting is upside down. The sofa is on the celing. The car in the carport is bolted to the roof.

It might be dizziness-inducing, but this house literally turns everything on its head!

We devote plenty of space on MLuxe to the latest trends in home design, but today, we’re going a slightly different route to look at furniture and accessories that are quickly going extinct.

The list comes from Brie Dyas at AOL Stylelist Home, and it was inspired by her friend’s recent proclamation she no longer required a coffee table in her living room. Preposterous, right? Perhaps not, because Dyas’s friend instead elected for a low ottoman, which can act as a more functional centerpiece and as a coffee table with use of a tray.

Now, just because you may have an item or two on Dyas’s list doesn’t mean you should purge perfectly good furniture and accessories in a spring cleaning frenzy. But don’t be surprised to see the following items slowly disappear from existence:

• The coffee table - Dyas writes, “They used to complete the living room, now the ottoman (or, side tables) are the more favored option.”
• The loveseat - “It’s either a three-seat sofa, or a side chair. No in-betweens.”
• The sideboard - “We love them because they give us options (buffet, storage or a bar), but it’s harder to find these pieces in stores.”
• The nightstand - “But if you don’t have nightstands, where are you putting your books?”
• The full-sized bed - “Even in guest rooms, the queen-sized bed reigns supreme.”
• The landline phone – “In the age of smartphones, why bother with another bill?”
• The tablecloth - “During the holidays, you’ll find a few choices. But the rest of the year? Good luck. When it comes to dining room tables, the average home prefers them bare.”

Are there any other furniture items or accessories you believe are on the way out?