Rugs With Fringe

I like fringe on rugs. I don't like messy fringe on rugs. There is no way that the fringe can stay neat when it is in an area where it gets constant use. Even vacuuming messes it up.



I've found a way to have neat fringe. I read this in an article years ago and have been "combing" my rugs ever since. It takes me only a few seconds to comb the fringe with a wide toothed comb. It's fast, easy and the fringe always looks nice and neat.

Fall Centerpiece

Making a colorful fall centerpiece is easy and inexpensive when you use fresh fruit, colorful gourds (bumpy ones for texture) and winterberry twigs (or whatever else you find in your yard). Using organic materials is also better for the environment than artificial. When you're done with the centerpiece eat the fruit and throw the gourds & twigs into the garden to decay back to the earth.

Bathroom Remodel Complete...how to maximize a small space

Over the summer I was working on a master bathroom remodel. After about six weeks, a couple of damaged pipes and gushing water, a torn out living room wall, and hammering pipes the job was finally completed.
The existing bathroom was from the 1970's complete with carpet and fiberglass shower. There was one sink in the bath area and one in the adjacent dressing room. The dressing room also housed two closets hidden behind bifold doors.
This bathroom is only 9' x 7 1/2'. There is another bathroom backing up to it and the toilets share the same waste pipe. Also, a heating vent is located under the window next to the toilet. These elements made it impossible to expand the space and unpractical to move the toilet. A larger shower with a seat was a must have for this bathroom.
Keeping these things in mind and with the realization that we didn't have much space to work with made this project a challenge, but in the end, the bathroom has all of the elements needed for a very functional bathroom plus a few extras.














The objective was to upgrade the bathroom and dressing/closet area, make it more functional, use materials that would look nice for years to come, and to make the space feel larger.
The walls that housed the old shower stall and the linen closet were removed to open up all of the existing floor space. All surfaces are the same or close to the same color. A frameless shower enclosure was installed to keep with the open feeling and the floor tiles were set diagonally to draw the eye outward and further visually expand the space. It's the details that were used to add interest and to make this bathroom not just functional, but, also add a little luxury.
The dressing room/closet area was gutted and a closet system by Closets by Design was installed. A mini chandelier adds a little elegance to the space.

Dressing area


Small multi colored tiles on the shower floor add interest



Shower seat, wall cubbies and grab bar



Two shower heads...one stationary and one hand held on a slide bar



"Her" vanity has two recessed medicine cabinets. The inside of the cabinets are mirrored so that when they are open they create a three way view.





A large piece of artwork will be placed on this wall to act as a focal point and add some color to this small space





You'll notice this vanity is on an outside wall. Not a common practice because of the vulnerability of the pipes to the weather. The pipes were wrapped with pipe insulation and then packed with regular insulation for protection.




12 x 12 floor tiles placed diagonally to move eyes outward and visually expand the space


Heating cable under the floor will provide a toasty feel in cold months



Thermostat for heating cable



Bun feet add another detail to the vanity



Single lever faucet with European styling




Cubbies help keep fluid lines on the wall



Pull out shelf for convenience




Drop down false panel with added trays to maximize storage options



Other details include dimmers on the vanity lights, a light over the shower, and a unit installed in the center of the ceiling that houses an exhaust fan, a heater with fan, a light and and a night light. Also, listello (a decorative border tile) was installed around the entire perimeter so there would be a continuous line around the room to further enhance the idea of open space. And small decorative medallions were placed randomly through out the wall tile just as an added touch.

What is Your Decorating Style?

Most people decorating their homes for the first time buy pieces they like rather than having a particular style. Lines between styles have blurred over the last decade or two as interiors have become more relaxed. Some would call it eclectic. I like to refer to this way of decorating as transitional.

Transitional to me means traditional furnishings with an updated or more modern look. I also see it as mixing and matching pieces of furnishings rather than buying everything to match exactly.