Real Decorating for Real People
If you want to use the color orange in your home, you need to understand all of its nuances. Orange can range from a subtle off-white to apricot, bittersweet to brown. It is a secondary color in the spectrum being created through the mixture of red and yellow. What this means is that whether it…
When I saw this stainless steel tile back splash I immediately thought, wow that looks so sleek and modern. I love it! Then I started thinking about how my stainless steel sink looks right now and that maybe it isn’t such a great idea. Although, I don’t really scrub my back splash too often, maybe…
Kitchen hardware rarely breaks or malfunctions, we change it out because a new design can transform our kitchens – inexpensively, compared to other kitchen renovation projects. So even if you don’t need new cabinet hardware, you might want to take a look at the new designs that are available. Changing out the kitchen hardware is…
Vignettes, or small groupings of accessories, are great ways to add designer details to your kitchen. They need to be thought out well because the kitchen counter is a very busy place. Of course you have necessities that belong there, but a few accessories do make it feel more like home instead of a sterile…
A recycled jar “carrier” can be used for so many things. I like the idea of silverware and napkins for a buffet, but it could hold candies, craft items, office supplies and more. This is also a good project to do with kids since you can have most of the cutting done at your local…
Of all of the rooms that Shari and I have decorated, the most difficult to organize is the kitchen. There’s just too much stuff, and not enough places to put it. Pots and pans seem to present one of the biggest storage dilemmas. If you have an island in your kitchen, you might try hanging…
A simple flat panel of fabric can become any style you like with how you embellish it – it can even be a no-sew project! OK, here’s my plan, we start teaching our “better halves” the joy of sewing, and while they’re busy stitching up beautiful swags and jabots for our homes, we’re sitting in…
Yes, it’s just like an awning for the exterior of your home, but when you use it on the inside, it really makes a statement! Wouldn’t it be great to travel to a quaint little bistro in the Mediterranean somewhere for a romantic lunch? Well, Matt keeps insisting that you can get that very same…
This pot and pan rack beats them all because it looks permanent and it has lighting inside to brighten up the counter top. A hanging pot and pan rack is perfect for kitchens with a lack of storage space and those looking for a focal point or a little bit of drama. This one is especially nice because it…
Tile can be expensive, but paint is easily affordable and using it you can create a fantastic backsplash that most will think is really tile! Nothing can give your kitchen cabinets more pizzazz than a beautiful tile backsplash. It adds color, depth and a totally customized look. However, ceramic and glass tiles can be expensive and quite…
You can use a menu board to jot down your menu for the evening but it can also just be a great place to communicate between family members! Create a chalkboard to match your decor by adding a thin plywood panel to the back of a pre-made picture frame that matches or coordinates with your…
This is a holiday craft that looks great, helps to support the holiday season and works hard for you because they are more than just decorative, their kitchen essentials! Go ahead and admit it, these are adorable! And, I think they would be the perfect homemade gift for the woman who has everything. I say this…
This is a great project for kitchens that have a lot of extra space above the cabinets, which seems to be a wasted void. It is also a great way to use up any extra lumber you may have in your shop or garage wood pile. As with any project, the dimensions we use in…
When you make this chalkboard out of 8 inch squares, you have all the versatility you want to make the chalkboard large or keep it small! With all of us having such busy schedules; it is a must to have a “command center” where notes and messages can be kept so that everyone can see. This…
Hand made appliqued kitchen towels are something you don’t see too often, but they can be great additions to your kitchen and even nicer if you make them for a friend! Matt and I showed off another cute project for the kitchen: appliquéd kitchen towels. To make one that looks just like the one pictured,…
Potato bags that go in the microwave are the key to making your potatoes taste like they came from a restaurant and you can use the bags for rolls, tortillas and more. Here’s another interesting project from our friends and sponsors at The Warm Company that I can’t wait to try mainly because I LOVE baked potatoes…
There is a product out there that allows you to make projects that are insulated to protect you from the heat so now oven mitts and pot holders can be sewn to coordinate with your kitchen. When Matt and I tape a show, or a whole season of show for that matter, we depend on sponsors…
Most rooms don’t require an entire makeover, if you simply fix up a few glaring issues, some rooms can be wonderful! Matt and I always talk about the kitchen being the heart of the home and I know I’ve experienced that in my home and I’ll bet you have too. It is the place that…
That’s right, it’s a Mold, Mildew and Stain Resistant Grout Color and Sealer in One! In the many years that Shari and I have been doing home improvement projects, we have been asked countless times, what can I do about my dull, dirty, stained or discolored grout on my floor tiles. We have tried countless…
It only takes a day to complete but it will add some style to your kitchen as long as you keep it! Looking around my kitchen, I noticed that our backsplash was a little boring; it was just a basic Formica backsplash that matches the countertop. Well, like most folks, I didn’t have it in…
For those of you who enjoy working with fabric and also entertaining, I think making no-sew placemats and napkins is the perfect project. This might be something you’d like to get your kids involved with as well since it is easy and you can talk about replacing paper napkins with fabric ones so we aren’t…
Message boards are all the rage with the busy lives we lead, so make yours pretty with ribbons that accent your decor and colors that make you happy! I think we can all agree that for something to function properly, it has to be organized. I know I have to clean up my office between projects…
Round up all your recipes from friends, magazines, copied on scrap paper, and lets figure out the best ways to file them so you can actually find them when you want to make something! When it comes to recipes, organization is key. You want to be able to find the recipe when the urge hits…
Islands are a great way to get extra counter space, and they can be fashioned from scratch, or you can use something you already have like a buffet or sofa table! In our kitchen we have very little counter space to prepare meals or to serve guests. So I shopped around looking for a kitchen island. …
Here are 8 different ideas for updating your kitchen that you can do on your own and save a lot of money doing so. Matt always says he loves decorating kitchens because there’s no furniture to move around! What he doesn’t realize is that there are plenty of other projects to keep us busy, and…
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…
Grab a yard of holiday fabric and go to town with these simple instructions for holiday hot pads and napkins. Here’s an easy way to add a little 4th of July fun to your picnic table this year with a star shaped hot pad, or it could be a placemat, and some matching napkins. This…
The ability to slipcover a loose cushion give you alot of verstility in your decor since you can change the design and color of things just by the new fabric you choose. Many people are fearful of slipcovering loose chair cushions because of the zipper along the back. I have to agree. Zippers can be tough,…
Now that there are no sew projects, there is no excuse not to have the prettiest tablecloths and napkins around! When the seasons change, it’s nice to do a couple things around the house each month so your home changes along with nature. Even in this Florida home, where yellows and peach-tones prevail, a darkening of those…
