Real Decorating for Real People
Flat panel draperies are meant to be used with ring clips and metal rods and these no-sew versions look just as good as the store bought variety! OK, our no-sew section has several no sew window toppers available to you, so now you need to be able to make draperies for underneath if you like. …
Being an Interior Designer is both fascinating and challenging. I have immersed myself in major design projects, like this condo renovation, over the past few years and being back in the field has taught me so much more about creating livable, comfortable, and exciting spaces. Every realistic project starts with a dream, and then you add…
Recently I had the pleasure of traveling to Europe and I took a few quick photos of some of the clothing boutique windows. What I would call a true nature inspired green seems to be the go-to color for this year. This window showed a wide range of nature inspired greens in everything from outerwear…
Spring is the time of new beginnings and these lovely floral nests are the perfect accessory to your spring table settings. Ok, you know how there are some projects that you really feel good about? Well this is one of them. I would LOVE for you to make a half dozen of these and use them…
Floating Jack-O-Lanterns are spooky fun because you make them as scary as you like, and the fun comes when they appear to float in your yard! This is a great photo of floating jack-o-lanterns from flickr.com. It’s a photo that is hard to take, so I’m borrowing an expert’s! Some floating jack-o-lanterns are hung from trees,…
Every building project is different, but I never heard of the “man cave” being the first place to be “decked out”! Here’s how it happened. The property that we purchased came with three structures on it, a pump house, a tree house and a garage – the home had already been demolished. The pump house…
The other day I was driving home through an area of shops and restaurants and I passed by something I’ve never seen before – a thatched roof being created. With the framework in place, this man was either stacking several palm fronds together or maybe rolling several together…it was tough to tell from where I…
This reversible valance is a simple way to dress up plain purchased sheers or draperies. In fact, this valance is simple enough to whip up quickly for the holidays or for something as unique as a special treatment to display on a birthday or anniversary. Materials List: Two coordinating fabrics Matching sewing thread Trims or…
The process of designing your dream home has several steps, and you should have started these steps already if you have a builder and an architect already selected. Because before you can choose the right partners for your project you must know if they have the same vision of your dream home as you do,…
My initial plan with this simple valance was to get Matt involved, and while he sewed, I would relax! Well, after much deliberation with the sewing machine, Matt got an idea of his own…iron on adhesive tape! And he was right, this is just one of many window topper treatments you can create without the…
When it comes to window treatments, the sky is the limit. However, sometimes our time is limited! So, embellishing store bought flat panels is a great way to add a personal touch to your window treatments without starting from scratch! Read along…this is one window treatment you’ll definitely want to try. Materials List: Store bought…
How about creating a beautiful ribbon pillow by weaving together beautiful holiday ribbons? It makes for lovely décor or even a special gift. Anyone who knows me well knows that pillows are one of my favorite accessories, any time of the year. I think holiday pillows are particularly festive – especially when they are hand-made…
Birch tree napkin rings seem like a fall to winter item to me, but if you have rustic style decor in your home, Shari seems to think they’d be fine all year-long. Well, that sounds even better to me because once I make them, I really would like them to be used! Birch tree napkin…
If you are looking for stress free Thanksgiving decorating ideas, these simple suggestions on keeping it natural will add pizzazz to your holiday décor without driving you crazy! Make it Natural! If you have a backyard full of pine cones, colored leaves, branches, bittersweet and the like, a Natural theme might be just what the…
So often at this time of the year we see an autumn centerpiece and wreath in “autumn” colors of gold, red and brown. This combination of colors is beautiful for the season and I’m definitely not knocking it. However, this year I wanted to try something different for my autumn centerpiece. I started with a…
Usually, when the seasons change, so do the color trends that you see in stores for home furnishings, clothing, and accessories. Well, this fall, there are about 6 or 7 colors that you find in just about everything. This is good to know if you are getting ready to make any decorative changes around your…
These adorable mini homemade ghosts are perfect for all sorts of Halloween decorating. Use them on shelves, in centerpieces, even on the kitchen or bathroom counter to spread the Halloween spirit around the house. You can have some homemade ghosts too and here’s what you’ll need. Materials: Three small craft blocks, about 2 ½” cubes…
Have you ever seen a ghost? I have, it’s a Halloween ghost. In fact, there’s one lurking on my front porch right now. No, I’m not a psychic or a medium. I’m just someone who loves Halloween and all the scary decorations that go along with it. When I suggested to Matt that I’d like…
Of course we all know that real autumn leaves can be preserved, but if you don’t have the time and are looking for a way to bring the falling leaves inside, you can make your own leaves (in colors and textures that appeal to you and your spaces) in no time at all. Here’s what…
It’s pretty tough to come up with great new ideas for fall wreaths every single year. That’s why being open to the classics is a good idea! However, I’ve snapped some shots of what is new and interesting in fall wreaths as I’ve been out shopping. I’ve seen new ideas in color, shape and content….
Do you remember the Alfred Hitchcock movie “The Bird’s”? Well, that’s NOT what I’m talking about here! This season, why not bring fall birds into your décor. I mention this because they are everywhere, in nearly every home décor product, and in so many different species, you can choose your favorite! Owls Owls have been…
If you’ve never made applesauce before you MUST do this. It is so easy, takes only a few minutes, and tastes fantastic! Choose apples that are soft so they cook down quickly, like Braeburn, Cortland, McIntosh, Fuji, Golden Delicious, and the like. You will get the best applesauce if you mix up the types of…
Aprons with pockets make so much sense, but I never see anyone wearing them. What’s the problem? They are super easy to make, so you can have one that you love in a couple of hours, and you can make them to fit YOU! Here’s how. Materials List: 1 ¼ yards of your favorite washable…
Any time you sew a home decor project like a drapery, shower curtain, bedspread, etc., you have seams. Seams are made up of a stitch line and raw edges of fabric. It’s the raw edges that need some care so your project holds up over time and washings! Also, if the project won’t be lined,…
Apples are a fall staple, and I think its fun to add them to your seasonal décor during the autumn months. A fun and very inexpensive way to do that is by hand stitching up a whole basket full of apple napkin rings out of felt. Here’s how easy it is to do. Materials List:…
You might not call my “apple” cloth napkins elegant, but they certainly were easy and you can create any ambiance you like by selecting fabrics that portray the look or feeling you are going for. When you select your cloth napkin fabrics, make sure they are of an absorbent fiber like cotton. Materials for 2…
Little is as impressive as the results of napkin folding on your dining table. Your guests will marvel at the unique origami shapes you are capable of creating. Relax though, they are easier than you think, but let your guests think otherwise! How about starting your napkin folding expertise with the bird of paradise? Here’s…
Easy-to-make miniature landscapes, or terrariums, make for interesting accessories in just about any room in your home. They seem fitting for all seasons of the year, but it’s during the winter months that the green is so welcome! It doesn’t take much time or money to fill your home with these tiny gems. Just follow…
Once you have a builder selected, and your budget in order, the next most important person on your team is your architect. He or she is the one person who is going to take your dream and make it reality. So, it is extremely important that you and your architect think alike…or even better, they…
You can accomplish any one or more of these methods to update a room in a single weekend if you really put your mind to it. Budget is no excuse – some cost very little or nothing! Skill is no excuse – anyone can paint. And don’t even mention time…if you want it badly enough,…
How do you determine the budget when you are building an entire home from scratch? Well, here are some tips to get you started. Let’s Start with What NOT to do. The excitement of building a home of your dreams is something I wish everyone could experience. The thought of knowing you can create it…
Here’s a perfect opportunity for all of you creative folk to help out a fan who is stumped. Konnie has this Beer Barrel Bar that belonged to her husband’s parents from a bar that they owned, and Konnie’s father refurbished it for them, so both Konnie and her husband have sentimental feelings towards it. Konnie…
When it comes to selecting a builder, gosh what could be more important? Use these tips to select the guy or gal who is going to make your dream a reality. Remember, you are going to spend many hours with this person and you want to have a great working relationship and a comfort level…
As an interior designer, I have always wanted to plan a house from start to finish; certainly for the experience, but also as a test of my accumulated knowledge and skills. Can I build a house that functions perfectly for my family, projects the essence of who we are, and stay within budget? I sort…
You’ve packed your Moving Day box, right? Well if not, you need to read these moving day tips! Moving tips need to start at the current house and then “move” to the new house, so here goes… Packing the boxes! * Don’t over pack boxes. It’s better for your health to take more trips and…
If you are living in a home with little natural light, you are probably looking for ways to brighten a room or two, short of putting in bigger windows. Well, we have 5 ideas that can help you to maximize the natural lighting you do have to brighten a room, or all your rooms! 1….
One of the most prevalent colors on our planet, green offers a wide variety of hues, making it ideal for walls. It is a secondary color, meaning it is created through the blending of two of the primaries; in this case blue and yellow. So, greens with more yellow are going to be the olives,…
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…
Spring has definitely sprung, and we’ve collected a variety of Spring home essentials that we think will really get your home in shape for the warmer months. It’s time to take off the heavy throws and velvet pillows to lighten and brighten your home, just like this pretty room photo using bright pinks and spring…
All designer’s have their tried and true paint palette. And why not? They’ve been specifying color for years. They know what works and what doesn’t, so why not benefit from a designer’s experience? Since I’m a designer who has had years of experience selecting paint colors, I thought you might appreciate a list of the colors…
