Homage

Moving on...

2010-07-10T14:49:00.003-04:00

This blog has moved to www.homagestyle.com. Please click the link to visit! Thanks!

Holiday House Tour

2008-12-18T23:39:00.007-05:00

As always, I'm a little late to the party, but I just found out today about the Hooked on Houses Holiday House Tour, and had to get in on the fun.

So here's the start of my holiday decor...it's still a work in progress, so stop back soon, as I'll be adding more, as soon as we get those holiday bins out of the hallway!

We have a family Christmas tree, that I lovingly refer to as the mosh pit, because it's fully loaded with every kind of ornament you can imagine, from ornaments the kids made to the Incredible Hulk to blown-glass Santas.

Because the mosh pit tree is a family endeavor, the decorator in me needs to just enjoy the fun of putting up decorations with the family, and not be a dictator about the exact placement of every. single. ornament.

Therefore, I have my own tree. Known as Mom's tree. My tree lives in the low-traffic living room. Here it is...

Yes, indeed, it is seafoam green! Isn't it glorious!

And since I have a bird problem, I decided to decorate my tree with strands of pearls, delicate pastel ornaments, and lovely birds!

Here are some of my fine feathered friends...

Of course, I've taken a lot of flack from my family for my bird tree. My husband and my teenage daughter poke fun at my birds, and my sister thinks it's "creepy"...

...and between my standard poodle - a proven bird dog - and my cat who clearly needs a job with the Department of Hunting and Fishing - there is a fair amount of bird hunting going on in my tree...

...so I have to sit around and guard my tree much of the day, but it's not so bad, because I get to admire its loveliness all day long!

Another wonderful result of my bird tree is that my 8-year-old son enjoys sitting with me, asking me, "What kind of bird is that, Mom?" and we talk about all of the birds. Can't get any better than that!

Stop back soon to see the mosh pit tree!

A Bird Problem

2008-12-18T23:22:00.006-05:00

According to my sister, I have a bird problem.

No, I don't have a flock of annoying Canadian geese over-running my yard.

Actually, it's more that I like faux birds and enjoy decorating with them as well.

Along those lines, I made this lovely little bird assemblage...

A faux bird appears to have nested in a vintage purse...

I had it listed in my Etsy shop, AngArtica, but as soon as someone expressed a shred of interest, I realized that I didn't think I could part with it. So I decided to keep it & find a home for it in my own home.

Sigh. Will I ever become a minimalist?

Probably not.

Table on a Budget

2008-12-18T22:47:00.007-05:00

This year, because money is tight, the theme for our Thanksgiving table was "don't buy a thing" decor. Also known as "use what you have decorating".

I wanted to do something different from last year, so I went on a treasure hunt, and scored!

First, I gathered up a couple of tree branches that I've been hording for a while. (These branches have been close to being thrown out more than once by my husband!) I gave these lovely branches a quick spray painting with an off-white that I had in my garage.

A trip to my basement yielded a couple of blue candles, as well as a couple of small blue mod floral plates. I gathered up some faux pearls and a faux bird.

Then I threw it all together and here's what I came up with...

The brown tablecloth & napkins were purchased for last year's holiday...

And the plates are a combination of two sets, since I don't own a large enough set for our once-a-year big event.

Not too bad for $0!

I encourage you to set your holiday table using a $0 budget if money is tight in your household. After all, the holidays are all about spending time with family and friends.

Virtual Decorating

2008-02-22T22:26:00.004-05:00

Recently, I took part in an interesting event - I delivered a virtual decorating workshop on Etsy.

Basically, it was "e-decorating" - I made decorating suggestions, using handcrafted products from various sellers on Etsy for this room...

The homeowner wanted to "modernize" the room.

It was a fun process, and I wrote a follow-up article, Black & White & What All Over? that your can read here.

The homeowner has purchased many of the suggested items, so hopefully we'll get an "After" photo soon...

The Things We Don't for Love

2008-01-30T17:25:00.000-05:00

Don't let this happen to your house...

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's time to think about giving a little loving to your house.

Home maintenance is an oft boring topic, in addition to being all too darn time consuming!

But after working recently with a couple planning to put their house on the [very bad real estate] market in the fall, it reminded me of the importance of keeping up with the very dull & time-consuming reality of home maintenance.

My clients have lived in their 50+ year old house for almost 15 years. Over time, they, like many of us, have kept up with the big-ticket repairs, which are important to the upkeep of any home, but have forgotten about some of the smaller things.

Now that they're planning to put their home on the market, they have to scramble to fix years of minor neglect - nothing earth-shattering - just time-consuming, at a time when they have plenty of other things to do.

Not to worry about them, because after a marathon four-hour pre-staging appointment, I have given them an exhaustive list of everything that needs to be fixed, cleaned, changed, or somehow improved to get the most money in the shortest time when they list their home. Especially important in a downright lousy real estate market. And they are on-task and on-target to make these improvements by the time spring rolls around.

The time I spent with them got me thinking...unless you're a clean freak (and I'm not...remember, I have a dirty little secret), you may be letting these little things go too.

I know the drill, because I'm an expert at it myself. With work, kids, family, dogs, activities, and whatever else you have in your personal mix, there's not a lot of time.

And besides, you're not planning to sell your house soon anyway, right?

At least that's my thought process...and as a professional in the decorating & staging business, I should know better!

Sometimes, unless you're one of the 596 remaining clean freaks that live in North America, you let it go.

How about a different perspective?

When we sold our last house, and I was completing the laundry list of things that had to be cleaned, tidied, or shined before the for sale sign arrived, an amazing thing happened...

I realized that my house looked beautiful, and that I loved it.

Then I wondered, "Why the hell didn't I ever do all of this grout cleaning, lime build-up removing & generalized spit shining for myself? Why only do it for some stranger that might buy the place?"

So, I vowed to do more of that minor maintenance for myself in our new home.

Of course, much of that vow has gone by the wayside.

However, in honor of Valentine's Day, I'm proclaiming February as Love Your Home Month! Instead of thinking of all the things we don't do for the homes we love, let's do a little something for the home we love.

For my home, February will be clear the clutter month. How about you?

Ladies & gentlemen, get out those scrub brushes and love your home!

And someday when we decide to sell this home and move to our next space, whatever or wherever that is, maybe, just maybe, we won't have to spend precious time undoing years of living.

My Dirty Little Secret

2008-01-30T17:23:00.001-05:00

Door to Chaos...

I have a dirty little secret...it's called my *house*!

I know, I know, as an interior decorator, I'm supposed to live in a showplace. In fact, I'm almost certain that it's at least a state, if not federal law.

A law that I break on a daily basis.

Somebody call the decorating police!

Of course, as with most people who live a secret life, I have scads of excuses...not enough time, messy kids, messy husband, too much stuff, waiting for the perfect furniture piece to come along, I want to live in a house for a while so it can speak to me, etc.

But the bottom line is that I'm a perfectionist & wait until all of the planets are in alignment and the world is perfect to decorate my house with the precision of a surgical strike.

It's strange, how I can go into another family's home, and not only can I sense their style & the direction they want to take their home, but I can take action and make their decorating dreams come true. Now!

But like the nurse with sick kids and the landscaper without a lawn (yes, we lived next door to that guy when I was a kid and it nearly *killed* my stepdad, with his perfectly manicured fescue!), I put my clients' homes before my own.

No longer!

This year - actually very early in this year - I pledge to get a move on, and finish decorating my house!

No more inviting strangers into my living room and listening to them ask when we moved in as I see them scan the unopened boxes! No more embarrassment as I ramble senselessly about why we still have boxes after a year and a half!

Nope, I'm on a mission!

I will decorate my house, and not just yours!

Starting today!

[Phew! It feels good to get that off my chest! And while I'm at it, I'll confess that I don't clean as often as I should.]

Stay tuned for updates on how I'm doing...

Moving in...

2008-01-13T20:44:00.001-05:00

I received my January 2008 catalog from Anthropologie, and while most of their clothing couldn't even fit on my pinkie, I do love their style & photography.

Since the line between fantasy & reality is often blurry for me anyway, I decided that I'm just going to move into the Anthropologie catalog, since it is totally the kind of place I'd love to live...at least in fantasy.

It's rustic, yet classy, with all kinds of funky antiques and beautiful fabrics! Very European & tres chic! Who wouldn't want to live there? Well, probably a lot of people, including those who have a better grip on reality.

But for those of us fantasy dwellers, check out my new home.

You can get a better feel for the inside of my home toward the back of the catalog. In the front are mostly girls wearing finger puppet-sized clothing...

Another Chalkboard Project

2007-12-05T00:01:00.000-05:00

One afternoon, I got the inspiration to paint another quick & easy chalkboard project. (To be honest, I was procrastinating about some less inspiring household projects when I had this brainstorm.)

My last chalkboard project was my kitchen pantry cabinet doors.

I decided to add a splash of blackboard next to my kitchen sliding door. This would create a visual barrier between the eating area and our family room, as well as highlight the cute beaded dog leash hanger we have, and anchor it to the floor, rather than it looking as if it's floating in space.

Here's the "Before" photo...

A bland, white wall crying out for color!

This project only took a couple hours from inspiration to completion, since I had all of the things I needed already on hand, including leftover chalkboard paint from my last project.

So I taped off the wall using a level to ensure it was even...

...quickly spackled & sanded a couple of spots, then gave it four coats of blackboard paint.

Voila! The finished product...

A welcome contrast to our stark, builder-white walls.

Why not give it a try at your house? Everyone needs a chalkboard!

Holiday Table Setting

2007-11-30T07:10:00.000-05:00

This year, Thanksgiving was a my house, so I decided to make our well-worn dinner table & the six-foot folding table look fabulous!

We were seating 11, rather than our usual four.

This is a table setting that can be put together easily & inexpensively, yet look fabulous & festive!

The theme ~ a rustic holiday, since the first Thanksgiving was more than a little rustic! Same could be said for the first Christmas.

First order of business ~ tablecloths. I went with two brown damask tablecloths from Target.

Also threw in three sets of four plain brown cloth napkins - but they weren't the matching set for the tablecloth...don't want things to look too matchy-matchy.

I wrapped the silverware in the cloth napkins & tied them with twine.

For the placemats, I tore up brown paper bags, which were free for the asking at the local grocery story.

For the table centerpiece, I picked up two strands of pine cone & cranberry garland from Target. The garland was topped off with three fabulous handmade recycled glass beaded votive holders.

Since I don't have 11 place settings of either of the two sets of dishes I own, I mixed & matched, which worked out well & was really cute!

The end result was a lovely table setting, which just about anyone could create a variation of for their table for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or just to beautify your table for winter.

But more important was the opportunity to sit down & have a wonderful dinner with my family. Now that's something to be thankful for!

Faded Memories

2007-11-07T12:38:00.000-05:00

Last week, I was driving down a country road that I frequent to avoid the traffic in my town, and saw an auction sign at one of my favorite houses along that road.

My pulse quickened at the thought of vintage, maybe even antique finds! My rational mind encouraged me to put any such thoughts out of my head, because I have more stuff than I know what to do with right now!

As I drove past, I saw some fabulous & clearly vintage lamps outside the house that someone has already snagged. Envy burned in my heart for a moment.

But then something came over me.

Those lamps, and everything else being auctioned, and even that majestic home that is showing her age, they are all a part of someone's life. The history of a family. Maybe even more than one generation.

Pieces of a life being sold off, one item at a time.

Suddenly I became very sad and hated that this home was being separated from its family and its history.

But what could I do? Nothing that I could think of. I'm sure the decision had already been made. The last resident had probably passed away or gone to a nursing home, and the remaining family members had a hard decision to make.

Then I became even more disillusioned when I drove by early this week & saw the windows were now gone. I hope that it's going to be moved, but I suspect it's a total tear-down.

I know she's in disrepair, but she looks like she's still got good bones...

I'd buy her if I could, but it's not in the cards right now.

I'll keep you posted.

Personalizing Your Front Porch

2007-10-23T20:21:00.000-04:00

There are numerous ways to personalize your home, inside and out.

Some families like to personalize the exterior of their homes with more than just the street number on the mailbox, so that you can identify their home as belonging to their family.

Rolandsgifts.com has a wide selection of outdoor decor products that can be personalized with your name or street address, or both.

One simple way to make your front porch uniquely yours is with a personalized doormat. It's not permanent, so you can take it with you if you move, which is a perfect way for a renter to update the exterior of their home. At rolandsgifts.com, there are various styles to meet your decorating needs, from rubber to cedar to slate and more.

A more permanent way to make a mark on the exterior of your home is with a custom address plaque with your address or family name to make your statement.

There are styles to match the exterior of just about any home. My personal favorites are the personalized etched avonite plaques...

...and the round address plaques, with have a terrific, understated style.

In addition to personalized address signs, rolandgifts.com offers a wide selection of personalized mailboxes and personalized crocks & planters.

So, if you're into personalizing your front porch, check out these products!

Quick & Easy Transformation

2007-10-11T19:29:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, even a decorator has to compromise.

That would be the case in my studio.

When we moved into our new home just over a year ago, I was thrilled to have a large loft as my studio. It's big, and the entire house is within earshot - perfect for a work-at-home mom. In fact, I call it the Eagle's Nest, since I can be perched up there & monitor just about everything.

But it wasn't long before I became a wee bit disenchanted.

Mostly because this great big, lofty space was loaded with boxes full of all manner of arts & crafts supplies that had to go somewhere.

And typical of a loft, it was a big, empty room, oddly without a lot of usable space.

So, I began to brainstorm about storage for the room.

The brainstorm continued, but the ideas weren't exactly forthcoming.

Finally, I thought that getting built-ins might be the best idea, but after pricing the configuration I wanted, I quickly vetoed the idea.

Which left me where I started - with a big, empty room, oddly without a lot of usable space and boxes full of all manner of arts & crafts supplies that had to go somewhere.

I called in my sister for her opinion, and after telling her everything that I wanted, she said, "You want it all!"

Of course I want it all! Form and function!

But, as a friend of mine recently said about a completely different topic, every situation has its limitations, and you'll be better off if you can figure out what those limitations are and work around them.

Sage advice, especially when considering a decorating project!

Because I can't stand "visual noise," I really needed closed door storage. An armoire would have worked, but I couldn't find one that I liked enough to spend the money on. I had some great ideas for some antique pieces, but couldn't find those either.

Finally, I decided to take a cheap & easy approach.

A white laminate utility cabinet from Lowe's for $218. Plus, for an extra $60, I got it delivered & assembled in my home.

It served the purpose, but wasn't terribly stylish.

So, I decided to change the door handles to a more funky, stylish pair - the Modern Heidegger Pull in Brushed Stainless by Pacific Modern Hardware.

It made all the difference in the world, transforming a utility cabinet into a mod armoire.

Changing the door pulls only took about 10 minutes, and cost only $9.99 for each pull.

A quick, easy, and inexpensive transformation! That is unless you count the gorgeous chair I bought for $199 while I was shopping for the pulls!

At least it was on sale!

Simplify

2007-09-10T00:23:00.001-04:00

Recently, I've been thinking a lot about simplicity. Thinking about what it means to simplify. Or, more specifically, what I need to do to simplify.

Simplicity may seem counter to what a decorator stands for. After all, don't we fill houses with stuff?

Well, sort of.

Decorators choose special elements to make a house a home. To be able to focus on the unique, special aspects of a home, there must not be clutter & chaos.

An excellent book on the subject of eliminating clutter is It's Just Too Much by Peter Walsh of the television show Clean Sweep.

One of the things Peter focuses on in the book is the emotional attachment we have to things. Often, we feel that we can't get rid of something because of the memories associated with it, even if we no longer need or use that particular item.

He sings the tune that we must realize decluttering doesn't mean we have to get rid of the memories.

Reminds me of my last post...

Even though you & I may not have newspapers piled up to the ceiling, and probably aren't candidates for Clean Sweep, I would bet that many of us are holding on to something that we could afford to let go.

So, I challenge myself, and I will challenge you too...start to look at everything you own. If you love it & it has a place in your home, keep it and treat it with the respect if deserves.

If you don't love it, or have ambivalence about it, pass it on to someone who needs it or will love it.

Simplify your life by simplifying your stuff.

Physician Heal Thyself

2007-09-08T22:33:00.000-04:00

I recently read Getting in Touch with Your Inner Spiffer by Martha Beck in O at Home magazine.

In the article, Martha Beck speculates on the reasons why we wait until we're selling our home to spiff it up.

Why wait, right?

Our homes should be beautiful & peaceful - a place we enjoy living - today!

To that I say, "Physician, heal thyself!"

You'd think that as an interior decorator - a home stylist, no less - that my house would be the perfect manifestation of all of my decorating dreams.

The truth is, it's not.

We moved to this house one year, two months & nine days ago, and I still have some unpacked boxes.

In fact, the room that is intended as the dining room, but that I am planning to transform into a combination living/dining room, is still loaded with boxes.

And my office, while it's not loaded with boxes, is still a disorganized mess.

How could that be, when I can go into a client's home, wave my arms & make a decorating miracle occur?

I suppose there are plenty of excuses - busy with work, kids, some health issues - it all adds up, right?

By now you're probably wondering if maybe we downsized...

Uh, no. Actually we went from nearly 1,500 square feet to almost 2,800 square feet.

What could possibly be the problem?

I'll tell you...

Too much stuff.

Yes, I admit that I'm doing exactly what I tell my clients they can't do!

Our previous home was a funky California-style cottage, with lots of niches & shelves to accommodate far too many tchotchkes! I had lots of funky vintage & vintage-style pieces decorating the entire house. It was an adorable home that we loved beyond compare, and the decor suited its quirky appeal.

When I'm decorating my own place, I like to let the home "speak" to me. I like to let the style of the home dictate colors & style.

Our new home said "sophisticated". I don't want to go as far as saying formal, because we're not formal, nor is our home. It's not anywhere near as funky as our old home, but my eclectic flair is so ingrained in my soul, it still comes through, even in a more sophisticated home.

Let's call it Pottery Barn Eclectic!

If you close your eyes and picture a page of the Pottery Barn catalog, you can see what I'm going for.

Then you can probably also see in your mind's eye that there's really not room in that picture for loads of colorful, funky vintage-look pieces. Maybe a splash here and there, but not uber-loaded, like my last home was.

By doing those simple calculations, you can mostly likely understand the reason for the remaining boxes in my living room.

And I, like many of my clients, have had a difficult time facing & parting with those decorative elements that translate to memories. Memories of a home that I loved and lived in for 10 years.

Perhaps it's time...physician heal thyself.

Welcome Back!

2007-09-08T22:29:00.000-04:00

Looks like I took the whole summer off from blogging!

Been busy with lots of fun decorating projects for terrific clients!

I've also been busy thinking about this & that, so I'll have more posts coming along soon!

Extracurricular Activities

2007-05-10T09:06:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Pottery Barn that went something like this...

While I'm sure it will be a Pottery Barn infomercial, it's always fun to experience another decorator's perspective. So why not? Perhaps I'll go....how about you?

Mother Knows Best

2007-05-08T17:13:00.000-04:00

After reading my blog entry about Message Central, my mother commented, "The cabinets look really cute, but you know me, I couldn't handle the chalkdust."

As they say, Mother knows best!

After only one day of 2 kids drawing all day on the new chalkboards, I couldn't handle the chalkdust either. Fortunately, my sister, who is an elementary school teacher, informed me that I could purchase dustless chalk. Hallelujah!

You can order dustless chalk online at Discount School Supply for mere pennies. It comes in white & vivid colors. A worthwhile investment to accompany any chalkboard!

Proper accessories are always important, even for a chalkboard!

Message Central Mission Accomplished

2007-05-05T16:08:00.000-04:00

I finally gave up on trying to find the perfect blackboard tiles & decided to paint our pantry cabinets with magnetic paint, followed by chalkboard paint, hoping with each stroke of the roller that we don't sell the house before I do an extreme kitchen makeover (i.e., a major kitchen remodel to make the kitchen actually work sensibly!)

Let me walk you through the process of creating Message Central on our pantry doors.

First, I taped off the area around the inset...

Then I wisely laid down a drop cloth. Since it was such a small job, I actually considered not using a drop cloth, but fortunately I didn't go with that line of thought, because here's how the drop cloth looked after some painting...

Yikes! That would not have been good for the hardwood floor!

Finally the prep work was complete and I broke open the magnetic paint. Actually, it was a magnetic primer, black & very thick, since it actually has iron filings in the paint.

Perhaps I have pica, but when I stirred the magnetic primer, I wanted to taste it so badly! It looked so thick & delicious, like brownie mix!

I resisted the temptation to taste the paint, and proceeded to use it as intended.

The magnetic primer was not the easiest paint to work with. The directions indicated that it is normal for the paint to have a watery layer at the surface, which it did, and that didn't make life easy.

Magnetic primer has a texture, because of the iron filings, so it's essential to roller it on very evenly.

I used three coats of magnetic paint, as indicated by the manufacturer. Each "coat" actually consisted of going over the area twice, then letting that layer dry for 30 minutes. It took about 30 minutes to complete one coat on all of the doors, so the project moved along rather quickly, taking only about two hours from prep to completion of the magnetic primer layer.

Here's how the doors looked after the magnetic primer was completed...

As you can see even in the photo, the magnetic primer has lots of texture.

The primer needs to dry for 4 hours prior to painting, but because I got a late start, I waited overnight.

The next morning, I started with the chalkboard paint. This paint was easier to use than the magnetic, but still not a walk in the park, since the roller marks were very obvious.

The chalkboard paint took 4 carefully applied coats, again with each coat consisting of two thin applications, being very mindful of the roller marks.

Because of the small area being covered, this part of the project was also very quick, about 3 hours, including a leisurely coffee break and clean-up time.

Here's the final product, looking terrific!

I really love how it turned out - it gives our brand new kitchen a vintage schoolhouse charm! And the kids can hardly wait to start using chalk on it, but it should "cure" for 24 hours, and then be "conditioned" by rubbing the side of a piece of chalk over the entire surface, then wiping with a barely damp sponge. Make it easy on yourself & use a chunky piece of sidewalk chalk to make the conditioning move along faster.

Because of the magnetic primer, the chalkboard has more texture than I would have preferred - it has almost a vinyl appeal. But, I really need the magnetic aspect, allowing me to post this & that paper on Message Central, so I'll make do with the texture.

I'm not much of a long project type, and this one was quick, easy, and rewarding! I'm ready to start magnetizing & chalkboarding more surfaces throughout the house!

How about you? How did you use magnetic & chalkboard paint? Send your project photos & story to me at andrea@homagestyle.com. Maybe we'll post your project here!

Desperately Seeking Message Central

2007-05-02T17:32:00.000-04:00

As you may know, I'm desperately seeking chalkboard materials to create Message Central in my kitchen.

The reason that I am desperately seeking a chalkboard product, is that I am trying not to end up painting my cabinets with chalkboard paint. Even though I'm more adventuresome than most with decor, I'm still a little skittish about a permanent change to the kitchen cabinetry.

It just so happens that the kitchen cabinets are the perfect location to create Message Central in our home.

So imagine my joy when I saw these new Modular Chalkboard Tiles from Pottery Barn.

They really are terrific, although they didn't work for my purposes. The very thing that makes them great - that they're very sturdy & heavy - is why they didn't work for me. I need something lightweight to attach to my cabinet doors. But they would work well in a kid's playroom, or if you were creating your Message Central on a blank wall, rather than on cabinets.

Ultimately, I may end up keeping them for another room, but as for Message Central, I may need to accept that to create message central, I need to paint the cabinets!

Let's Hear It for White Walls

2007-04-28T18:14:00.000-04:00

After several posts about the virtue of diving into a house full of colors, I must confess that I live in a world of white!

Our home is a new build, and we've only been here for about 9 months, so the walls are still builder white.

And I hate it.

But...

Even though having white walls is the equivalent of store brand coffee when I can have a Starbuck's Iced Mocha, in my opinion, it's important to live with the house for a while before jumping into paint colors.

Often, in my experience, the house will speak to you & tell you which colors will work.

Plus, many times you may consider several different versions of a room. Waiting it out a bit gives you time to ponder & think about what will make you happiest.

For example, one of the possibilities that I've considered for my kitchen is to paint one full wall with black chalkboard paint. When I came up with the idea, I was thrilled, and almost ran out to Lowe's that minute.

Good thing I waited...

Upon reflection, I realized that painting an entire wall would mean lots of chalk graffiti by the kids, which, in turn, would mean lots of chalk dust, and I'm not the world's most stellar housekeeper. I'd have to stay after school every day to wash the board!

Then I also realized that the real reason for painting the wall as a chalkboard - to create "message central" wouldn't work either, because the wall is primarily in the dining area, not the cooking area, which is where I need my "message central."

Waiting also helps to reinforce that your original plan is the one you want.

For example, I plan to paint my guest bathroom a deep brown, with a hint of blue & maroon. I've had several paint chips taped to the wall for months now, and even though it's a very dark color for a small room, it's the color I love & keep coming back to.

So, take your time & let the walls and rooms speak to you.

Thinking About Remodeling?

2007-04-27T22:51:00.000-04:00

Before you start interviewing contractors to remodel your home, you need to figure out what you really want your remodeling job to accomplish.

Look through magazines and decorating books for ideas. Collect pictures that look the way you would like your finished project to look.

You can also get design and decor ideas by touring model homes. Take your camera along with you, and if you spot something in a model home that really suits your fancy, take a snapshot and add it to your collection of design ideas!

Take note when you’re visiting your friends, family, and neighbors. They may have a special feature in their home that you would like to incorporate into yours!

Think about how you will use the space in the future to determine any special features you might like to add for future use.

After you’ve thought about all of these considerations, talk with your contractor and describe your ideas as specifically as possible. Show your contractor the pictures that you’ve collected. Your contractor should be able to tell you how to make your dream home a reality!

How Color Affects Your World

2007-04-27T22:43:00.000-04:00

Color has a powerful effect on human beings. Science has even proved this to be true. Here is how color affects your world.

Black

Black is a powerful, classic color. When used with another color, such as white, salmon, or teal green, black creates a sense of heightened drama and contrast.

Blue

Blue, the color of the sky and the sea, is a cool, serene color, known to lower blood pressure and pulse rates. Blue is a traditional, conservative color that emanates dignity and harmony.

Brown

Brown, a comfortable, earthly color, is solid and warm, inviting thoughts of things from natural, such as clay, wood, or leather.

Gray

Gray is a soothing, dignified color that can establish a calm feeling in a room.

Green

A restful, soothing color, green is refreshing, as well as tranquil. Green, a familiar color that surrounds us in nature, can bring a freshness to an otherwise plain room.

Orange

Orange is a warm, yet intense hue that is known to stimulate the appetite. Although orange is an energetic color, it is usually too aggressive for an entire room and should be used as an accent color or in a toned down form, such as peach.

Pink

A youthful and romantic color, pink conveys happiness and is know for its calming qualities.

Purple

Purple, a luxurious, sensual color, has been associated with royalty and dignity throughout the ages. Purple is a great backdrop for family areas of a home.

Red

Red is an energetic color associated with passion and excitement. This warm, strong color can raise your blood pressure, pulse rate, and your body temperature! Red is even said to stimulate conversation and the appetite, which makes it an ideal color for your dining room.

White

White is a classic color that lends a bright, open, and airy look to any room.

Yellow

An upbeat, happy color, yellow radiates warmth and optimism. Yellow is known to speed your metabolism and is thought to enhance memory and concentration. This strong, bright color is best used sparingly or as an accent color.

Taking a Risk with Color

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Be brave with color!

Dare to choose a shade other than white or off-white. After all, if you don’t like it, you can easily and inexpensively change the color, simply by repainting!

If you can’t bear to paint an entire room, add color to at least one wall. You may find that you enjoy the effect and may soon paint the rest of the room, and after that, you may go on a painting spree throughout your entire home!

If you’re still unsure about painting a room, try adding accessories to the room that are in the same color family as the paint color you’re considering. That will help you to discover if the effect of that color is appealing to you.

Choosing a Color Scheme for Your Home

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When selecting a color to paint a room, think about the colors you like and the mood that you associate with those colors.

Whether it’s the shade of your favorite article of clothing, the tint of a page from your favorite childhood picture book, or the color of your café au lait, if it’s a hue that makes you feel happy, comfortable, or cozy, it may be suitable for room in your home.

There are a few basics to remember when choosing a paint color.

Bold colors catch your eye and jump out at you, and may make a room seem smaller. Warm colors, those in the red, yellow, and orange families, also create the illusion of moving toward you, and may also make a room seem smaller. On the other hand, these colors may make your room seem warmer, cozier, and more intimate.

Quiet, softer colors are more subtle and can make an area appear larger. The cool colors in the blue and green families have the effect of making an area more open and airy. These colors are ideal to create the illusion of space, especially if you don’t have that much of it!

Brighten Your World With Color

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Brighten your world, or at least your home, with color!

Painting with color is a fun and inexpensive way to update the look of your home. It’s also a great way to put the finishing touches on a remodeling job. Where else could you get a brand new look for the cost of a gallon of paint!

Scientists have proven that color can affect your metabolism, and psychologists understand that color influences your emotions and behavior. All the more reason to choose colors that reflect your personality and define the mood you’d like to set in your home. The colors in your home should make you feel comfortable and at ease. Colors give you the opportunity to express your individuality!

First Impressions

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People get a first impression of your home before they ever step inside. The outdoor decor of your home says as much as the indoor style.

After eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring, it's finally time to add some flowers to our front porch!

Once I found the right planters which I picked up on sale at Joann, Etc., it was really a simple affair, even for someone with a brown thumb! As simple as picking up plants from the local nursery. Here's the end result:

It's a simple recipe. I picked out some plants that I thought would look nice, a combination of taller & shorter plants, as well as some vines that will eventually trail over the side of the planter. Also a combination of flower colors.

I chose more than one of each plant - two or three of each - so there would be symetry around the planter. Honestly, I don't even know the name of all of the plants I chose - I know a couple, like the Wave petunia and geranium. More important was that all of the plants were full sun, so they could live happily together!

Then I filled the planter about 2/3 full with potting soil. Then came the simple part. I started placing the plants in the planter, starting with the spikes in the center - yes, they're actually called spikes - followed by a geranium plant on two sides of the spikes.

Next I placed a Wave petunia next to each of the geraniums. After that I filled in the areas that still had holes in the dirt with the daisy-like plants. Finally, I placed the trailing vines & tiny trailing petunias around the edges of the planter, so they could do their thing & trail! A couple handfuls of potting soil to fill in any remaining blank spots & voila!

A view from above...

It took a grand total of maybe 20 minutes to complete both planters, and they look fabulous & add interest to the front porch.

It's the simple stuff that makes a difference!

Trying It On For Size

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Since spring has indeed sprung here in central Ohio, I decided it was time to spruce up our front porch with flowers.

Ever since we moved to our new home, I had a picture in my mind of the type of planters I wanted for the front porch.

Imagine my delight when I saw my dream planter in the Target Sunday newspaper flyer. And it was on sale! Here it is...

Well, imagine my surprise when I placed the planter on the porch & thought, oh no, it doesn't work!

My dream planter was way too fussy for the style of our front porch! I couldn't believe it! Slouching, I dragged it to the garage, where it awaits my next trip to Target to return it.

Eventually, I found a different set of planters that weren't my dream planters, but they worked much better ~ not fussy at all!

The moral of the story is that even a pro sometimes needs to try it on for size. Occasionally, our mental picture works just right, but reality hits when you see it in real life!

Your Home

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Your home should be a place of peace & respite, whether it's a one-bedroom apartment or a sprawling mansion.

Your home should exude warmth & comfort, even if it's a Spartan modern beauty.

Most of all, your home should be a reflection of you!

My hope is that you will enjoy & incorporate some of the ideas presented in this blog, making them a part of your beautiful home.