I love plants. Really. I do. And I can even keep some of them alive as long as I can reach them easily with a hose while standing on my deck with my morning mug of tea.
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Designing Curtains for Challenging Windows
There are many different shapes and sizes of windows, and some present more of a challenge than others when it comes to treating them. With any window, you first need to know what you are trying to accomplish - adding softness and pattern to a room, framing a view, providing privacy or light control or all of the above! Transom windows, arched windows, Palladian windows, dormers and cathedral ceilings and unusual rooflines all add to the conundrum.
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How to Choose the Right Light Bulb
Today, we are shedding some light on light bulbs. How do you know which light bulb to buy? Soft white? Halogen? LED? Fluorescent? WHICH LED or fluorescent? Do I want ‘warm’, or ‘cool’, or ‘white’, or ‘full spectrum’, or ‘daylight’, or ‘natural’? And what do all those numbers mean?
The light bulb aisle is a vast and confusing place these days.
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Trends in Bathroom Design
So, I’ve run into several , let’s just say, unusual bathtubs in the last few weeks doing some research, and it got me thinking that perhaps it was time to devote a whole post to the subject of bathroom fixtures.
As I have trumpeted many times, choosing your bathroom fixtures and finishes wisely is important because
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Decorating with Black
Black is the newest darling in decorating trends, but is it a fad or a classic? And why did it crash onto the decorating stage?
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The best way to decorate 'ON TREND' now without risking 'DATED DECOR' later
All home decor cycles through trends. Some are fun, but short-lived, some we hope will be short-lived, and some are trends that turn into new classics. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but when you aren’t sure if a trend will be dated down the road, what should you do?
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5 Key Elements to Creating a Decorating Plan
Whenever you are designing a room, whether you are accessorizing, redecorating, remodeling a room in your house, or moving to a new home entirely, the number one route to a successful outcome is to have a well thought out PLAN.
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Matching Lampshades to Lamp Bases
Lamps. We all need them. Overhead lights, if they exist in a room, are not conducive to reading or creating a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. For spaces where the furniture arrangement may be flexible, and light is needed at eye level, lamps are the only option. And it is not that easy to find a good one!
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Mantel Styling
As promised, here are some practical tips for styling a mantel, and I’ve included inspiration boards to illustrate a few possible suggestions which can be adapted for your particular style and colors. There are an endless variety of ways to style a mantel, but they all fall into 2 main categories: symmetrical and asymmetrical, or balanced.
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Turn a fireplace into your home's best feature
Fireplaces. There is nothing more gracious or appealing than a room with a fireplace. It gives the room a focal point, a mantel to decorate, and an instant air of home…home and hearth go hand in hand, after all. In my fantasy, I have fireplaces in multiple rooms in my house. And it IS possible to have this even if your house is currently lacking the charm of a fireplace or has a fireplace that is lacking charm…whichever.
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Creating the Perfect Home Office
There are a lot of things to think through when designing a home office. Whether you use the space to work full time from home or just as an organizational hub for volunteer and household activities, it needs to be functional. BUT it also needs to be attractive - especially if it is adjacent to the public rooms in the house.
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The Best Way to Decorate Around a Television
If there is a suspiciously large, flat, rectangular TV-shaped package under your tree, you may be about to encounter a new decorating dilemma for Christmas. OR maybe you finally caved and purchased one for a family member who wants to watch the Super Bowl in gloriously large detail. You are not alone. Nearly every household these days has more televisions than occupants, and how to integrate them into the décor is always an exercise in creative problem solving.
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