Real Decorating for Real People
We’ve talked about interior style many times, but what about the style of the exterior of your home? Well, I’m going to walk you through a brief history of home styles and while I’m explaining the different looks and details, see if you can figure out what style home you live in! Well, between the…
It’s time to learn about the color wheel and color schemes so you can pull the colors in your home together like a professional. I have always felt that if I teach you the fundamentals of interior design, you will be able to take that knowledge and create wonderful, well designed rooms for yourself. So…
For years, Matt and I have been teaching how to decorate using an inspiration piece,and if you havne’t heard of this, you need to start reading now! It makes decorating so much easier because you select an item that guides you through all your decorating decisions. What could be better than that? An inspiration piece…
Grab a couple popsicle sticks and take your very own colors with you to the store everytime you shop for furnishings to make sure you are buying the right colors every time! I think by now, we all know that it pays to bring anything from home that you can to the store with you…
It’s on to the letter “C” in our quest for versatile home essentials that follow the letters of the alphabet! And remember, this alphabetical list is meant to tell you about items that you can purchase for your home that are always either a good buy, very versatile or functional along with being attractive. I’m…
There are items that begin with the letter “B” that are essential to making your home decor beautiful, just read on and see! B is for Black. The color black that is. The color black is one of my favorite letter B’s. Black is so elegant and has such presence in a room. It is…
There are just some things that every home needs., and they are those versatile items that can move around the house and have different functions depending on where they go… read on to see what I mean! What is Home Decorating Essential you ask? Well it’s something I made up to tout the benefits of…
If your garage faces the street, your garage doors can be half of the curb appeal of your home so you should take another look at what you are saying about yourself, through your garage doors! The topic of exterior decorating doesn’t come up that often through the colder months of the year. However, as…
By far the must have tool for any home improvement junkie is the Cordless Drill and both Shari and I agree on that one. This is the tool of the hour when trying to install shelves, drapery rods, valances, almost anything that needs a screw driven or a hole drilled, the cordless drill is the…
Well, I’m excited about the additions of the color black to my spaces because it adds depth and richness as you’ll see. It’s been several months now since I added to my Whole House Design Series, and I guess it’s about time because quite a bit has happened around here. I think, judging from the #4…
I’m sitting watching the Cleveland Browns getting thumped by the Pittsburg Steelers. I’m a Cleveland boy so it is quite discouraging to sit and watch. (Ben Roethlisberger is from my home town – so I’m a closet fan) Anyways, I was sitting there thinking about all the things I could be getting done around the…
Walking around my home on October 9th, I would have never thought that winter was around the bend. The temperature had reached 53 degrees and it felt like it was a perfect spring day. If the trees weren’t showing their magnificent colors, I would be considering buying a new swim suit. That is, until October…
Don’t be afraid to tackle paitning that flat surfaced door because it’s easier than you think…just follow these steps! Before I start talking about painting doors, I want to pass on that one of the easiest and inexpensive ways to freshen up a room is to paint your walls and trim. Let’s face it; dollar…
Be extra careful when working with ladders if you are inexperienced. Read through these tips before you get started. As someone who has spent many hours of their working life on a ladder, I feel that I can safely say I know my way around ladders. I have cleaned gutters from a ladder, replaced a…
A baker’s rack is one of those pieces that will fit in any room in your home, and who doesn’t need versatility like that? I guess everyone doesn’t need a baker’s rack, but if you have a kitchen with a little extra wall space, or a porch, entry or dining room — heck, even a…
Sometimes all it takes is one photo to get you started on something new and that happened to me with a magazine photo showing a new color combination. Matt visits my house once every two or three months. We do some taping and going out to eat and then he heads for home. In the…
With furniture getting heavier and heavier, it’s not a bad idea to learn how to move it safely before you spend the rest of the weekend flat on your back! Hey guys, Matt here, before moving on to lighting and the rest of the decorative project, I suggest you set up your room in the…
Paint brushes, good ones, are expensive and they are worth it but you have to keep them in good shape! After I graduated from college and started working, one of my first jobs was as a school teacher and like many teachers I needed a summer job to make ends meet, a friend of mine (who…
Add interest to your furniture arrangement by using angles or placing furniture in the middle of the room! If you have been following along in our How to Decorate Series you know that we’ve just finished drawing up a floor plan of the room. And now it’s time to actually put the furniture you have and…
Don’t dive into decorating projects until you take the time to set budgets or you could get caught spending too much or worse, not getting the job completed! Budget, it’s a pretty scary word when you are talking about a decorating project. We’ve all heard the horror stories about the projects that ran way over budget, the kitchen that cost…
Touching up woodwork is one of those projects we all put off, but once you know how to do it right, it’s a breeze! Spring is finally here and it is window opening time and time to do a little window trim maintance. Every spring, I try to do a whole house update. I walk…
Floor planning ensures that the room you are decorating will function for you and that you can fit all of the right pieces into place. I know how exciting it is to get started with a decorating project and how difficult it is to work on the projects that deal with the function of the…
Even I know the basics of painting walls – and it’s because I had a great teacher – Matt! The following is a video by him, full of the kinds of painting tips he taught me! I know you would expect the basics of painting to come from Matt since he was a licensed painting…
It’s hard to think about function first when you want to go directly to the pretty stuff, but you’ll be glad your room is functioning even if it doesn’t look perfect yet! OK, you’ve probably all heard the line, “Form follows Function”. Basically it means you should make sure the room functions for you first, and then worry…
After several months you can really see the difference as rooms start coming together and new ideas emerge. Well, we’re into month 3 at our new house and I’ve shown you the planning stage back at the old place and then the changes we made before moving and where I’m at in the living and…
The first few weeks into your new home can be challenging, here’s what I went through early on. Well, the move has taken place and I am currently about three weeks into the decorating of my new home. I want to talk to you about the painting I did and start right at the front…
There are closet systems, and then there are closet systems. This, I have come to find out through trial and error. Or maybe I should say through, “cheap” and “alright, I’ll pay the bigger bucks”! Not that much bigger mind you, but by stepping up one quality grade, the integrity of my closet jumped up…
Are you looking for a way to give your room drama and excitement that is totally FREE? Well the answer is in the angle! An angle in a room can completely change the way a room feels without adding or subtracting any furniture or accessories. This lovely living room already had a lot going for…
Trying to use your garage as a craft space…in the middle of winter? Well, a garage heater can make all the difference in how much you enjoy your time in there, and it will make your cars happy too! A disadvantage to using your garage as a shop or craft area is that it wasn’t…
When you decide to move, it is one of the few times that you consider the design and colors of your entire home at once. This series will help you make decisions and give you ideas on how to accomplish this difficult task. Hi, everyone! I’ve recently been put in a position to talk to you about…
When you are shopping for comforters and bedspreads it is helpful to know the exact sizes of your mattresses to ensure you are going to get a good fit. I can’t tell you how often I have had to recite the dimensions of a mattress to someone I’m with. Seems crazy, but no one seems…
There are all sorts of pieces parts to a well dressed bed from the dust ruffle to sheets to accessoriy pillows. Read on to find out everything. As you know it is put together in layers. You choose the number of layers you want to have from two, a bottom and top sheet, to six…
Everybody makes mistakes when they are working on a project and so will you, these are just some tips from us about how we try to keep the problems to a minimum. Shari and I often hear that we make everything seem so easy! If only you could drive by her work room or my…
Everyone needs a home tool box, but how far do you go and what should be in it? Well, here’s a home tool box filled with the items we think are best. For most people, home ownership is a source of pride. Your home is a reflection of your family and lifestyle, and can be…
We have all make a decorating mistake or two in our lifetime, so here are the secrets to avoiding them in the future. As everyone knows, the best way to avoid disaster is to know what causes it! The same goes for your home’s decorating. There are certain “disasters” that are so noticeable to the trained…
Decorating is tough enough as it is without going into it blind. So, start with some research and you’ll be ahead of the game right from the start. You know, research is step one in just about any project you tackle around the house. It’s always best to be armed with the latest information when…
There is an art and a couple rules to mixing patterns and once you know them, you’ll be mixing patterns like a pro! You know, it took several years of working with Matt on color, pattern and texture before he felt comfortable giving up those terrible plaid pants and striped shirts! Ha, ha!! Just kidding. Actually,…
Ceiling fans may seem old fashioned but they are great movers of air and installing one can help save on your energy bills! I just took a look at the thermometer on my sun porch. Days are starting to be cooler and nights are beginning to feel down right cold. I love this time of year,…
The steps are easy, but they do take some time, so be prepared to spend a couple weekends protecting a very important part of your home’s exterior. One of the first things that I want to do this weekend is to clean and seal my deck. Doesn’t sound like that much fun does it. Well,…
There is a process for hanging art that works everytime and knowing it can keep you from making hole after hole in your walls! Matt and I have become real pros at hanging art. We almost never have to move the nail over a smidge to hang a piece correctly! And, actually, hanging one piece…
