On days like this, when it will feel like about 175 degrees outside, I do my best to stay indoors. While my daughter’s at boot camp and my son will soon be deployed on a ship, I’d like to be able to send them note cards that make them feel loved, without “breaking the bank”. I found a way to send hand made / customized cards for less than 50 cents each! For a few years now, I’ve admired the hand made cards from friends. They’re so beautiful, I hate to part with them! I received a “thank you” card…
Read the rest >>Can you imagine how much beige carpet archeologists will find in land fills, a thousand years from now? Seriously, one key reason for solid color, neutral, patternless carpeting in homes everywhere, is that just about anything placed on top of it will coordinate. Building a room’s decor, starts at the floor and builds from there. Starting with a patterned carpet requires a little more planning, but the results, to me, are much more interesting. It’s just another reason why I choose solid colors for sofa upholstery, because you can sit a neutral colored sofa on top of just about anything.…
Read the rest >>As you may know, I’m involved in a long-term “love affair” with lamps! I hesitate to mention this on line, knowing disclosures like this may come back to haunt me one day, but… I visited one of my favorite vintage shops last week, on Palm Avenue, in Carmichael. There, I found a stunning lamp! It came with a bare lamp shade frame, which I understand is the new best thing, in shabby chic circles! I figured I would try covering the lamp shade. After a quick reality check, I realized that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. So I found…
Read the rest >>Whenever possible, I love fresh cut flowers in the home. Yes, I use silk flowers as back up, just to bring color, height, or visual interest into a space. While they’re producing some pretty amazing silk flowers these days, you have to make sure they’re always clean and that you don’t over-do a good thing. Certainly, nothing compares to the “real deal”! So, rather than spending money on cut flowers, I try to keep flowers growing in the garden, during the warm half of the year. My favorite flower of all time, inside or out, is the gorgeous Hydrangea. Not…
Read the rest >>Happy Friday! Already the first of July and our first “heat wave” of summer is upon us! When I’m not blogging, or out finding a new (old) lamp (like the one I found today and will share with you soon), my favorite thing to do is help people decorate their homes. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the true pleasure of working with several young women who are moving into new homes. The pride and excitement is contagious! I remember those days, when life was full of so many “firsts”! We usually start by scheduling a 2-hour consultation.…
Read the rest >>Sitting here in the airport, I reflect on my quick trip to the east coast. The main focus of the trip was to get my only daughter safely delivered to The U. S. Military Academy at West Point, in New York. This a national treasure, nestled in the forest along the Hudson River. Right about now, she’s completing her second day of “Beast”, which is their name for boot camp. I’m sure she’s exhausted, but hopefully happy. She was born to attend this school, even though, Sunday night she was pretty tense. Bright and early, Monday morning, we joined a…
Read the rest >>Well, as promised, I added cabinet hardware to what was, the kids’ “Jack and Jill” bathroom, this week. Before… After… I’ve mixed a round white porcelain knob with silver polka dots, on the doors, with brushed nickel pulls for the drawers. Installing cabinet hardware is one way to add some instant pizazz to any room. During the process of installing the pulls, I’ve confirmed that I have no interest in becoming a handyman. With that said, there are a few tools you’ll need to avoid making a huge mess of your cabinets. Trust me. Besides needing the obvious drill and…
Read the rest >>We’ve lived in our home for nine years now and I’m slowly adding cabinet hardware, to the many unadorned cabinets doors and drawers. I’m sure the previous owners built the house that way, in an effort to save money. But, pulls and knobs are beautiful as well as functional. They’re sort of like wearing the right earrings to compliment the perfect outfit. It’s just a shame to go without! Today, there are more hardware choices than ever before. And since most bathrooms don’t have a ton of cabinets, it’s easier to afford spending a bit more, to achieve a more…
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