Fall decorating makes me think of feathers. Maybe it's the migrating birds or an upcoming turkey in the oven - who knows? I do know that I love decorating our rooms with feathers. My very small collection consisted of turkey vulture feathers, inky black and strong. Once in a while, there's one left on our deck. I run out and capture it before the wind takes it away. Each is charming and unique. Last Christmas, Connie...
Have you noticed that wallpaper is making a big comeback? To be sure, it's a commitment, both in pattern and price. Remember when you could paper an entire room for $100? Now days, one roll can easily cost twice that much. But, wallpaper is still a classic way to add detail to your rooms. Framed as above is a unique way to use wallpaper. To keep on trend and on a budget, here's some more ideas you might try....
Happy Fall! Doesn't it seem like we could use a little cheering up right about now? Years ago, I stayed with a French Canadian family living in Nairobi, Kenya. One fall day, a box arrived, filled with crisp orange and yellow maple leaves from their homeland. I can't describe how excited everyone was. That got me thinking that even rooms can cheer us up. Usually, fall brings me feathering the nest and getting ready for se...
Don't you love a screen in a room? Just counting around here, there are two out right now and two in the basement waiting for that perfect time. Seems like any room can benefit from a screen. What other object is beautiful and practical at the same time? Let's look at some fantastic screens and their place in rooms. Once we're inspired, let's figure out how to make a screen for under $100.
50 some years ago, British models Jean Shrimpton (top) and Twiggy were everywhere and truly the first Super Models (although that term hadn't been coined). As you can see, they were sometimes covered in flowers. Flowers dominated fashion and decor. Let's have some fun seeing what was happening back then and how Flower Power is still with us today. It's amazing that such movements are still influencing our rooms....
Are you staring into a dark fireplace box this summer? Often overlooked, here's a great opportunity to do something unexpected in your room. Styling a firebox can be a bit tricky. The key is to make it cohesive with not too many elements. In the photo above, a collection of white vases defines a summery look. Easy to achieve by spray painting yard sales finds a flat white. Let's take a look at some other successful summe...
Remember the pin-up light? Growing up, they were here and there in all our houses - most anywhere there was a need for gentle ambient or bright reading light. I always loved Aunt Helen's little clip-on shaded lamp on her headboard. Still practical, as they use no floor or table space, a pin-up light is now most commonly called a "corded sconce." If you can't hardwire, these are the perfect solution as they can be attached...
Do you see stripes in your rooms? A great antidote to florals, stripes can be soft and romantic or bold and brash. Maybe it's time to consider stripes in our rooms. Let's look at how to get inspired.
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Beach house perfect - bold stripes are the focal point of the room.
In our Shelter-in-Place world, why not mix it up in our rooms? Some call it "layered design" but I think design historian Emily Evans Eerdmans says it best, "We're hungering for complex carbohydrates again." The idea is to use textures, repurposed materials and layers about our rooms. There's also a call for bold color but even if you're a "neutral nut" like me, there are some easy ideas we can use to create warm and comforti...
What kind of person has 17 mirrors hanging in their house? I just took a count and that doesn't include the ones over the bathroom sinks. How many mirrors are too many? Maybe a good rule of thumb is one mirror in most rooms but I seem to sneak more in wherever I can. Mirrors bring in light and brightness, make a room look larger and can be a pleasant, cheap thrill.
