Archive for July 2011
Risks Have Their Rewards
A few weeks ago, I was looking at fabric options, after staining an oak chair a dark walnut. I considered a traditional fabric… …but thought it was too “safe”. So I looked beyond my own fabric stash and found a leopard print, in an ultra-suede. This was not a slam-dunk fabric decision because recovering a…
Read MoreFrugalicious Friday
Just because you’re on a limited budget, doesn’t mean you have to forsake a new perk-me-up for the home, now and then…especially if it comes from Target. A few years ago, when I was staging homes for sale, Target was my home-away-from-home. I could find just about everything under the sun, to give a home…
Read More10 Things I Love About This Room
1. First of all, I love how balanced the room is, starting with the fireplace, flanked on both sides with beautiful “twin” bookcases. Even the miniature pictures on the shelves are similarly placed on the shelves on both sides.2. Feng Shui Experts place mirrors in a room, to reflect both positive and negative energy. I…
Read MoreThe greatest dad ever!
Hello there! My cat is sitting beside me, in my family room, as I write this short tribute to my dad. I’m a lucky woman who at 56 years old, loves her dad, respects him, admires and wants to protect him, at all costs. My dear dad sits in the hospital, oblivious to all that’s…
Read MoreFrugal Friday
As a self-described “smart shopper”, I’d like to highlight two of my many favorite spots for savvy shopping. I stopped in at Restoration Hardware’s outlet store, in Vacaville this week. It’s tucked far back into a corner of the center and would be easy to miss, if you didn’t know it was there. But if…
Read MoreCustom Lamp Shade #2
You may recall that I recently attempted to make a lampshade for my newly acquired vintage lamp. The only problem was that the I ended up with a lovely “shabby chic” lamp, and no offense, but that’s just not my style. So, I thought about painting the shade. Free hand? Not talented enough. Plus, it…
Read MoreSan Francisco Weekend
While I’ll be back in San Francisco later this week, for the Picasso show and “Billy Elliott”, we’re spending the weekend in the city. Most Saturday mornings here begin at the Ferry Building Farmer’s Market. Between the MotoRoto (motorized rotisserie truck) the fresh peaches, lavender and flower stalls, the aroma is wonderful. The Hayes Street…
Read MoreSaturday Quick Tip
If you’re looking for an excellent way to obscure an ugly view, or keep out the light in a media room, this may be just the answer. Mirrors are wonderful, throughout your home and especially used in these window panes. A less expensive option could be wallpaper or contact paper in a beautiful print that…
Read MoreOn-line “Deals” for Your Home
Ever buy a “deal” on-line, that turned out to be a “bust”? If you’ve resisted the lure of on-line auctions and “tag” sales, you should commend yourself! As someone who tells others to avoid making purchases that are non-returnable, I’m guilty of some less than wonderful purchases, particularly on EBay. I got all excited about…
Read More10 Reasons Why I Love This Room
I wish I could tell you who designed this room, but one thing’s for sure, I can’t take credit! But I will tell you why in so many ways, it a perfect room, from the ground up. 1. First of all, I’m a sucker for beautiful, hand made rugs on hard wood floors! And these…
Read MorePaper Gift Tags, Oh My!
I had so much fun making gift cards this week, I decided to make some festive gift tags. Tied to a ribbon, wrapped around some tea towels, for a hostess gift, or used on a gift bags (custom decorated of course), you could probably get away without including a card. But do you dare? And…
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