Stair Runners

Hardwood floors are beautiful, but can look a little bare without any type of rug. Stairs, especially, can benefit from a runner. Unlike when wall to wall carpeting is used on stairs dust is easy to clean out of the corners.

Outdated Bathroom

This 9' x 7' master bathroom hasn't been remodeled in over thirty years. With another bathroom being back to back with this one, there is not room to expand. There is an adjacent dressing area with a sink/vanity and two small closets that adjoins the bedroom. Without encroaching on the bedroom space there is nowhere to add more closets.

Most homes being build today have very large bathrooms and huge walk in closets. I can understand the large closets (women never have enough closet space), but how much space do you really need in a bathroom. We're going to turn this small bathroom into one that will serve all the homeowners needs and add some luxury items to make it feel like a mini spa.

Here are some pictures of day one of demolition.






Shower as it previously existed and shower last thing standing after first day of demolition. In the demolition photo you can see the pipes on the left where the dressing room vanity was located.








Vanity and tub removed








Tub gone and wall to linen closet being removed. The door to the linen closet was on the dressing room side.








Vanity and toilet removed

Making Your Patio Special

When decorating your home you probably thought of it as a whole entity rather than isolating each room creating a flow of colors and unity throughout the home. Think of your porch, patio or deck as an another room of your home. it just happens to be exposed to outside elements. Because the area is outside you need to create boundaries and special areas to create a feeling of intimacy.
It's easier than ever to "decorate" your outdoor space. Just browse lawn and garden centers to see the endless choices of furniture and accessories.


Photo courtesy of www.hgtv.com/Traditional sponsored by Target


Coordinate the furniture. It doesn't have to match, but, should have some cohesive element such as style or color. You'll also want to have adequate seating. How big your patio is and how many people, on average, will be using it. Try grouping several small areas if the space is large.
What colors are in your home, particularly in the room adjacent to your outdoor space. Use these colors outside in a lighter, brighter shade or use a bold contrasting color. Have custom pillows made to help coordinate the look. Every year more and more patterns are being introduced for outdoor use and now there are even trims and fringes that are weather resistant.
When purchasing pillows from a retail store make sure the tags specify they're for outdoor use.

Photo courtesy of www.Frontgate.com

I love using garden accessories around the patio. Also, rugs are being see more and more outdoors. Why use a boring trash can when you can use an interesting looking trash recepticle.








Another one of my favorite looks is a climbing vine. I love the look of a vine growing up and extending to the eves of a house and around windows, but, it's a lot of work keeping those vines under control. Instead I opt for a clematis vine which comes in several sizes. Planting in a large pot keeps the growth under control. A clematis vine doesn't have "fingers" to attach to surfaces so you need to provide some type of trellis for it to grow on. Since it won't attach to the column, when sections of the vine get long enough I wrap them around the column and intertwine them.






Plant shrubs to create a natural boundary and give a feeling of intimacy to make your outdoor space feel like an outdoor room.

Photo courtesy of hgtv


I love creating moods and using themes for dining and being outside is not an excuse for abandoning that practice. In a recent blog post I talked about how I change my table settings according to the season.



And, of course, you have to have a centerpiece. Instead of the usual flower, use a bowl of fresh tomatoes from your garden, a lantern or several small pots of herbs.





Photo courtesy of hgtv Linda Applewhite

Even the smallest spaces can be inviting with carefully selected items. A small table with a couple of great looking chairs is a nice spot for an intimate dinner with a loved one or a casual lunch with a special friend.



Mosaic topped tables are a decorative and beautiful addition to your outdoor space. They come in all sizes from small accent tables to large dining sized ones.












Photo courtesy of www.Frontgate.com

Torches and fire pits are yet another element and can be used in all kinds of weather. In the winter we bundle up and have "weiner & marshmallow roasts" over our firepit. Fire pits come in all sizes and cost from hundreds to thousands of dollars, but, if you have some bricks and a half hour of time, you can construct your own.

Did you know that you can now buy TVs that are water proof and specified for outdoor use?

Photo courtesy of www.backyardstuff.com





Photo courtesy of www.hgtv.com

Balance the furniture, colors, textures, flowers and any accessories you may use. Think of it as a room and use the same guidelines as you would if you were decorating an interior room.
I love being outside when the weather is warm. My day just seems to feel better when it's started outside drinking my first cup of coffee in the warm morning sun. I hope you enjoy your outdoor space even if it's just a blanket placed on the ground under your favorite tree.

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.