Decorating

Anyone else love Martha Stewart like me?--read more

As I read in this funny article, I'm no Martha either!--read more

I've got a new eBook in the Shop. It's called Budget Decorating Tips, and you can read a sample chapter: Seven Ways to Decorate a Child's Bedroom. Remember that subscribers get 75% off store prices every day.

Voila!

John worked very late into last night, because that's how he rolls (paint). And we got a not-too-late start today, so we finished up enough to put the room back together mid-Oscars. And by "we" I mean John, though he says I helped.

There are still some things to do. The windows are not entirely painted; the interior frames need finishing. The picture rails need painting. The door needs taken down, the hardware removed, and the whole thing and its frame painted. I'm sure when my dad comes, there will be all kinds of little touch-ups on it he'll want to do, because that's my dad. [Edited to say: Understand that my dad is not nit-picky. He notices things but would never say anything unless asked.]

The room feels foreign. The valances don't look right--the windows need entirely new treatments, like they've ever actually had a real treatment to begin with--and the walls are too bare.

But for now, this'll do. We don't have the time or the money for fancy around here; we're settling for neat, clean and fresh, such as we can.

"We" painted the TV room this weekend, a project that's been hanging fire for a loooong time now. The "before" picture, to the left, shows the pink walls and stripped woodwork from the last time we painted it--close to 15 years ago! eeeek!

You can see some strange dark green squares on the walls; these were the colors we were considering before we went with my original thought, which is the green we already have in our downstairs hallway and the inside of the arch between the living and dining rooms. It's a dusty sage called "Herbivore" from Miller Paint, and the trim is a creamy white called "Lemonade," which really isn't all that lemony. It's the trim color through the whole downstairs.

You can see the paint tests better here. Pretty bad, huh? In the years since we painted it last, this room has been a roommate's bedroom, an office, a playroom and, quite frankly, a dump. Moving the TV in here out of the living room was the smartest thing we ever did, but now that we were spending time in there the walls were making us crazy. The kids' drawing on the walls when they were little didn't add to the ambiance.

My entire family--mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law and baby nephew--are coming in late March, so we decided to at least get this one project done. The guest room is similarly haphazard; John got a hair up his nose when Lou was a baby to take the wallpaper in there down, and we discovered very quickly that the wallpaper was basically holding the wall up. So, one plastering job later, it's a mess in there and likely to remain so for a while. I haven't even picked out a color for in there yet.

Oh--you're wondering where the "after" pics are? Not yet, my chickens! We were hoping that we--and by "we" I mean John--would be done in time to watch the Oscars, but it's looking like it's not to be. It'll be done tonight, but not in time for popcorn and carpet walks. ah well.

This WAS a post pretending to be a regular person named "Simone." Simone was asking for "help" matching a lamp she allegedly bought at a place called Exclusively Home. Unfortunately for Simone, she used her work address to sign up. Southern Imperial, the company she works for, owns Exclusively Home.

In other words, Simone is a spammer, and Southern Imperial and Exclusively Home think you and I are stupid.

While in Savannah, I came across this fabulous doorway:

www.DecorateMyHome.net/savannahdoor.html
(nothing for sale at this site)

Now while this is too elaborate for most of us, there are wonderful ideas here. Note the balance and interesting shape of the topiaries to frame the door. The liberal use of moldings and corbels create a visual richness. The flag adds a splash of accent color. --read more

And you know who you are! Check these gorgeous bags out--guess what they're made of? You'll never guess. They're recycled chip bags! AKA crisps, you Brits. They're fair trade from Mexico, where women's groups and prisoner support groups make them. They weave bags, baskets and placemats from bags that would otherwise end up in the landfill. I want one of everything!

Via Treehugger.

I found such a great deal for something that I love that I just want to share it!

We called 1-800-Mattress and as expected got a great deal on a great mattress. (My husband and I argued alot about what type of mattresses we wanted, but the person on the phone helped us figure out how to compromise.The service people were amazing too.) BUT as good as it was, that really isn't the deal I am referring to. --read more

Hi All!

Do you have children who are budding artists?

Here’s a great idea for a child’s bedroom or playroom. There is a paint available known as "blackboard" paint. You can paint it on any wall and turn it into a blackboard surface. It should be available at your local home center store.--read more

I am buying all new furniture & I am now specifically looking for a modern coffee table,preferably glass top. I have found a couple & this site has some cool ones that I am interested in
Modern Furniture, but I was wondering if anyone has any references.--read more

The hottest color for 2006 is ORANGE!

What is your reaction to using this color in your home? Have you jumped on this trend?

If so, what have you done that looks great and what has been a disaster?--read more

Do you live in a teeny tiny home?

Is it the most stylish place on your block?

Then we want to hear from you!

BrainBox Productions and HGTV
are seeking homes to feature on

Small Space, BIG STYLE--read more

I have an old house, like 1889 old, though it's been remodeled so much you'd never know how old it really is. We have made a few stabs over the years at getting it spiffed up inside--actually decorating and so on--but haven't gotten very far. Our furniture is an amalgam of hand-me-downs, cheap bookcases and a nice sofa and chair set bought back when we had money.

So you can imagine how happy I am now that I have this one really nice little spot: My work area in the living room bay window. I inherited the table, chairs and lamp from my grandmother, and my mom got the curtains free at the thrift shop where she volunteers. The tie-backs are brass pull-chains, and underneath the curtains are plain cheapo roll shades. They replace honeycomb shades from JCPenney that fell apart in less than four years, and I mean literally fell apart. I was never so glad to see something leave my house as those shades.

You can see my laptop and my teapot there in the photo. This is where I sit, looking out the window, writing to you now. There is space for the girls to do their schoolwork next to me. The whole feeling of the living room has changed; it's so much cozier. I'm lucky I get such great hand-me-downs!

Make an area rug out of them:

David Kadavy took some carpet tile samples and some strapping tape, taped the tiles together in the back, et voila--instant heavy-duty fairly decorative area rug. Gotta love DIY.

Hat tip to the lovely folks at Make.

Categories: howto, DIY, recycling, rug, decorating, decor--read more

I'm a fool for kitchen design, probably because my own kitchen desperately needs remodeled and it won't be happening for another few years. So I read Avoid These Now-Popular Home Design Trends in 2006 with some interest. Imagine my surprise; I've been on the cutting edge of design for ten years now. That's how long--maybe longer--I've wanted a farm-style sink. The world is catching up with me. By the time I get my sink I'll be out again. Ah well.

I wondered how long it would take for the basin sink craze to end.

Beautiful African themed tabletop products and gifts. I have been very happy with the gifts I have bought for family and friends – a wonderful Christmas gift idea.

Yes! Surprisingly attractive blinds made out of junk mail! Via Make Magazine's blog, and yet another reason why I love that magazine so. I'm adding the blog feed to the syndicated news feeds, which, if you haven't checked that section out lately, has been slightly refurbished. That section was broken for a while and I couldn't get in to clean it up.

have to save!

I have a room full of neutral colored tile that I would like to use in my kitchen (countertops and for a back splash). Can I paint it a darker color (dark grey, any shade really, just something dark)? How would I do that? Before or after it I lay it? Help! Thanks! --read more

I was watching that English gal on HGTV the other night, Debbie Travis, and she was working on making a couples surrounding match their furnishings. They had many antiques but everything was placed in a very modern structure. Anyways, she took their dining room and with mainly paint greated a Elizabethian room to match the antiques: she painted a faux tin ceiling in bright colors then white washed tit to look as if the lime was leaching out; she painted faux timbers on the wall as that time period the structures were made of timbers and plaster and painted those...was very rich to say the least.--read more

Busy weekend.

SATURDAY: Went shopping for the rest of the furniture we need to finish furnishishing the main floor. Went to an unfinished furniture store and got:

--breakfast nook (L-shaped bench and trestle table)--read more

So my parents came up to visit me for Thanksgiving, and on Friday, my mom took me to "Linens and Things" to begin the Great Apartment Makeover project. She helped me pick out a new slipcover for my couch (it was a freebie, found by the dumpster), a new shower curtain and towels for my bathroom, a down comforter (Wisconsin winters = EEEEP! Cold) and a quilt. --read more

Okay! We have 4 growing children. We have right now a huge rectangle table, with 4 leaves(have 1 leaf in now).
We eat all our meals at this table. Dinner is the main part of our "family time". Stories and adventures. Trials and tribulations are pondered. Lots of laughs and conversations. --read more

For all you Girl Scout leaders out there....

The time has come to replace the siding on our house. It's enough of a mess that it'd be a pretty good idea to tear off all the old shingles and replace it with new siding.

Wood siding gives me sticker shock, and I'm not fond of the look of vinyl siding, so I was thinking of going for an engineered product such as Hardiboard. Any recommendations, warnings, or other comments?--read more

Can anyone give me ideas on pros and cons of Pergo flooring vs. tile?--read more

Found another pair of curtains on sale today, marked down 30% at Target. A nice pair of cream colored jacquard panels for my bedroom. They will do until we build our house and I can decorate my new bedroom like a harem! (Have I got plans...) The first pair of curtains are the real coup de grace! Pink silk curtains at 75% off at Bed, Bath, & Beyond. Got two sets with valances for my little girl's room. The valances have TASSELS! The curtains have quilted trim at the bottom with seed pearls sewn in! They are magnificent. Installed them this week and they look perfect! Her bedroom isn't really her bedroom--in all actuality, really, it is my emotional shrine.--read more

I've decided to repaint my kitchen cabinets, which are very boring and off-white. Next to my white appliances, they look dingy and dirty.--read more