Wild Flowering Vines & Bushes

Honeysuckle vines & wild rose bushes grow along the edge of the woods on our property. This time of year they give off strong, yet delecate, sweet scents which add a lovely touch of spring to our yard.


The flower of the wild rose bush doesn't look like a rose. The stems, though, do have the recognizeable thorns. The scent now is almost gone, but, a few weeks ago the sweetness was smelled throughout the yard. I think they smell much sweeter than a regular rose or it might just be because the bush produces so many small flowers.















The honeysuckle vine has been a favorite of mine since I was a child. The scent permeates through the whole yard and I inhale deeply to get the full effect. In my opinion it is one of the most intoxicating scents I have ever smelled.

Window Treatment Solution

This bay window is the only window in this family room and the interior side receives no direct light. This created a dark area in the room. In order to brighten up the area and make it a focal point a light colored stripe was used to create a shaped valance that would accentuate the space.



A red small print was used to separate the curved sections of the valance and separate the three windows that make up the bay. This adds visual height to the area and down plays the width. Metal medallions were placed in the top corners of the window treatment for an added touch. To further define the recessed bay area a window seat cushion was fabricated using the same red print. Finishing the look are two bolster pillows at each end which gently direct the eye slightly upward to again visually down play the width of the area.

Decorative pillows were made for the sofa using the same fabics that were used for the window treatment. A small square in the center of the throw pillow using the red print was finished off with a tiny cording made from the stripe fabric. A brush fringe with all of the colors found in both fabrics was used to put a nice edge and finishing touch on the pillows.


Cording that coordinates with the brush fringe was used on the edges of the bolsters.

Unusual Sinks for the Bathroom

It's unbelievable how many choices there are for the bathroom these days. I was in a bath showroom this afternoon to finalize an order for a bath remodel. Every time I'm there I find something new and innovative. I didn't have my camera with me so when I got back to the office I went online to find some pictures of some of the awesome sinks on the market. Of coarse, many of them come with high price tags, but, it doesn't cost anything to look.
The first picture is a sink and faucet that are both hand blown glass. I've seen a lot of glass sinks, but, I think the faucet is amazing.
All of the sinks shown are from www.sinksgallery.com

Seasonal Tablesettings

Winter Tablesetting



There are so many beautiful dinnerware patterns available that it can be hard to make a decision when making purchases. I'm an advocate of changing pillows, accessories and even artwork with the seasons. In the last year I've even started changing my dinnerware with the seasons.
Over the years I collected dinnerware for the holidays. I bring it out the week after Thanksgiving and use it until New Year's Day. On the patio in the summer I would use my everyday dishes or paper plates. A few years ago I was walking through Walmart and saw some plastic turquoise plates that I liked and decided to purchase them for outdoor parties. Not only would they look pretty, but, I wouldn't have to go out and buy paper plates every time I entertained and would also be keeping waste out of the landfills.

Spring/Summer Dinnerware



If you like this idea, but, don't want to make a large investment choose a collection that has several patterns in it. For example, the spring/summer dinnerware above is a collection from Villeroy & Boch called French Garden. Within that collection are different patterns from which to choose. They all have the green, yellow & off white base. Some of them are plain in the middle of the plate, some have a fruit pattern, some have a plain bordered edge,as shown, and some have a basket weave patterned edge. By having several patterns within the same collection you can mix up the patterns to have a different look every time you set the table.


Summer Patio



Being outdoors is fun and refreshing. Colorful dinnerware works beautifully with outdoor greenery and summer flowers. Use an oversized cloth napkin instead of a placemat for a background that enhances the whole table.

Awesome Staircases

These pictures of staircases came to me this week in an email. I thought they were so awesome that I wanted to share them with you. If you are thinking about building a home or are remodeling, use these pictures as inspiration. As you see from these pictures staircases don't have to be boring. The last two are a little over the top, but, they may give you some ideas for something unusual in your home.


We never seem to have enough storage. What a great idea for a space otherwise wasted. Also, maybe a secret compartment??!!




A person who creates iron sculptures could easily make one of these for your home. It certainly would be a conversation piece.




You may not find this in every home and you'd have to be very careful about the spacing between steps; but, isn't it cool!




OK, those of you who are lucky enough to have libraries in you home, wouldn't this be more fun than having a rolling ladder?

Signs of Spring

I walked around my yard today and there were signs of spring everywhere. Nature does a wonderful job of decorating our surroundings.









The moss between the flagstones in my patio is even growing. I don't know why, but, I love moss, especially growing in cracks and crevices. A couple of seasons ago I dug up some moss on the side of the house and mixed it up in a blender with some water. (I found the directions online). I then proceeded to "paint" the open areas between the flagstones with the concoction. With all the wet weather we've had my moss is thriving!






Buds on the Viburnum bush



The first bloom on the Viburnum bush



Buds on the Thundercloud Pear Tree



Bud on the Magnolia



This pot sat out all winter. I don't know how the bulbs survived the snow. Hopefully, I'll have some tulips in a few weeks.



The Clematis vine is starting to grow.

Outdoor Fabrics to Transform Your Porch or Patio

Spring is officially here according to the calendar and the weather is slowly catching up. Soon we'll be entertaining outside so I wanted to show you some of the new fabric patterns that are available for use outdoors. Decorating isn't just for the interior anymore. Beautiful decorative fabrics, in an endless array of colors and patterns, made to withstand the elements turn ordinary porches and patios into wonderful outdoor living spaces.

Art Museum

Recently The Business Women's Networking group of Newark, DE spent a few hours at the Delaware Art Museum. It's been a while since I've visited a museum so it was very enjoyable, especially the fondue lunch that the Museum provided at the end of our tour.





Thanks to Sue Engler of Engler's Photography for taking the pictures. The Museum didn't allow any flashes so I think Sue did a great job considering the lighting was less than adequate for photography.

Color Predictions for 2010

According to Pantone, turquoise is the Color of the Year for 2010. Of coarse, not everyone will want to use turquoise so here are some other colors to look for that will give your home a fresh new look........



Yellow has been popular for a very long time and will continue to be, but, it will be a little brighter.

As many of my clients know, a true blue has been hard to find over the last few years. That will be changing and blue will be seen more over the next year..



Red, another popular color, will have more purple and blue tones.
Lavenders and purples including eggplant are becoming more popular. In the past they were used as accents and in bathrooms. Now they are being used for bedrooms and are moving into the living areas of the home.
Greens will be more of a leaf green.

In the pattern category geometric patterns have been used a lot in the last few years and will still be seen. Instead of the hard edges usually associated with geometrics the new ones will have softer edges. And, one of my favorites, paisleys are back! Many younger homeowners like traditional looks, but, don't want their home to look old fashioned. This problem is being solved by introducing traditional designs and classic patterns in larger scale. This will make them less formal and give them an updated look.



It takes about twelve months before the full results of a color prediction can be analyzed. Some years the public embraces the new colors and styles and other years the predictions fall short. As a designer I get excited every time a new color or pattern is introduced. Homeowners will have the choice of deciding what colors and patterns they like. The fun part is the anticipation and experimenting with the new.

Don't take color too seriously. Have fun with it, experiment and live with what you love!