The Perfect Father’s Day Gift
The Perfect Father’s Day Gift I’ve never had an issue finding dad’s sweet spot when it comes to the perfect Father’s Day gift. The man is always in the process of restoring a vintage muscle car or another, and he delights in gifts that justify his need for speed. So needless to say, dad has …
Grey: The New Neutral
There was a time in my home decorating journey (and it IS a journey) that I embraced bold colors on walls and on furniture. Over the past few years, my taste for that has waned, in favor of soft neutral backgrounds with punches of color coming in my accessories (did you catch my recent guest …
Guestroom Refresh on a Dime
There’s nothing like a deadline to make you get your act together on your home decor projects! In my case, my son’s graduation is looming and I needed to makeover my guest space to graciously accommodate out-of-towners. My budget? Minimal. But fortunately, I had a vision. I was starting with a dark space, previously a …
Easy Ideas to Enhance Curb Appeal
It’s spring, and that means time for planting and cleaning up our yards and gardens. Sometimes, creating the look you want for your yard can feel daunting. Here are some easy ideas for creating instant curb appeal. Paint & Plant in Containers I had a bunch of pots that weren’t the same style or color, …
Decorating Secrets Revealed
Ever seen a great room in a decor magazine or show and wondered, “man, how do they make it look that good?” The answer is simple: trade secrets! Designers and decorators have written and rewritten the book on making their clients’ homes feel more comfortable and complete; and they all have go-to tricks that deliver …
Regal Purples
Seductive and deep, shades of purple from soft lilacs to regal amethysts are popping up everywhere. Traditionally associated with spirituality, wisdom, luxury and wealth, tones of purple will amp up any décor with sophisticated flair. Here are some great examples of rooms that incorporate shades of purple for just the right amount of intensity. Purple …
Gift Ideas for Mom
Mother’s Day always sneaks up on me a bit — something to do with the end-of-school craziness. I often end up scratching my head over gifts and thinking I can always resort to flowers, right? And my mom happens to love getting flowers, but I really prefer to take a more personal road with Mother’s …
Happy (Easy) Cinco de Mayo!
Margaritas, tortilla chips, salsa; what’s there not to like about a holiday that celebrates spicy Mexican food, warm weather and military conquest (over France, btw). If you’re planning on feasting with your amigos this weekend, and have been just too busy to actually plan anything here are some easy tips and treats for an impressing …
Beautiful Spring Gardens in 3 Easy Steps
Spring is officially here! That means it’s time to rediscover your garden and put those green-fingers to good use. Don’t know where to start? Try these 3 easy steps to a beautiful spring garden. 1. Expert knowledge at your finger tips If you’re new to the joys of gardening and eager to learn, or …
Let the trees in
Did you celebrate Arbor Day by planting a tree? Don’t fret if you did not; I didn’t either….but only as a kindness to the trees. Let’s just say that a green thumb I do NOT have. However, I still appreciate a holiday that promotes the maintenance and planting of lush trees and greenery to help …