Try a Little Sunshine

I would never say my favorite color is yellow, but for some reason I am ready to welcome in the spring and yellow seems to be the best way to do it.

I would never wear yellow clothes or paint my nails yellow... or drive a yellow car, but a big glass vase filled with yellow daffodils screams Spring to me.  You just can't be sad when you walk into a room and see a bunch of bright yellow flowers.  It instantly cheers you up.

Some other ways to use yellow:

1. Try lemony yellow towels in your guest bathroom.

2. Fill a bowl with lemons to brighten up your kitchen counter.

3. Depending on your decor, add some yellow pillows to your sofa or bedroom.

Go ahead... give yellow a try.

My Favorite Things #1

When it comes to decorating kids' rooms, one of my favorite things is to use chalkboard paint.  I just love the stuff!  My children all have painted bedroom doors in black chalkboard paint (the interior part of the door).  Let's face it... kids like to draw on walls so what better way than to give them something to draw on that isn't going to completely ruin the room.  Chalkboard paint actually comes in many different colors these days.  When I painted the doors, I first used a primer that was good for covering the oil based paint that was currently on the door.  Then, I used a roller to cover the door in the chalkboard paint.  It takes a good 24 hours to dry and then give the kids a box of chalk and let them create.

Other uses for chalkboard paint are dresser drawers, desk drawers, bookshelves, toy bins... pretty much anything that can be painted is a great base for chalkboard paint.  You can even use it in your kitchen to cover the inside (or outside) of cabinets.

Chalkboard paint can be purchased at any home improvement store and is comparable pricewise to regular paint. 

TV Decorating Shows

Because it's a lazy kind of Saturday and all I'm doing is cleaning and laundry, I turned on HGTV and caught an episode of "Designed to Sell".  Honestly, it's one of my favorites because how your home looks to others really does make all the difference in how quickly it's sold (if it's sold at all) and how much you can realistically get for it.  Too many people really have a hard time with this concept.  They think that it doesn't matter if there is clutter in the living room, if the beds are unmade, dishes in the sink, empty flower pots on the front porch.  Homeowners who put their home on the market always think that their house will sell itself.  I'm sorry to say it but not everyone feels your home is drop-dead gorgeous.

So... can you really fix up your home for $2,000?  I'll be daring and say you can even do it for $1,000 or even $500 (depending on what needs to be done).  Imagine spending an extra $1,000 to fix some of your home's problems if you can get your home sold for an extra $10 or $20,000?  Seems like a no-brainer doesn't it?  Unfortunately, most people don't do it.

Back to the actually "fixing it up" part.  Yes, it's doable.  No, it isn't always as easy as it looks on TV.  When you get a run-down of the designer's budget on a television show, that budget includes the furniture, accessories, paint and lumber it takes to remodel the room or house.  It doesn't take into account the extras like, ummmmm, labor?????  TV crews do their own work.  The homeowner's aren't hiring contractors to do it for them.  Have you seen how much contractors charge these days?  It can make your budget jump from $1,000 to $5,000.  So if you are planning on doing major renovations (moving or adding walls, replumbing or rewiring) be sure you add labor into your budget.  And one last note... keep in mind all the other incidentals like paint brushes, drop cloths, nails, tools, etc.  They can really add up.

Labor unaffordable?  Can't really do the serious work yourself?  Is it hopeless?  Heavens no!  There is still so much you can do yourself.  A fresh coat of paint brightens up a room like you wouldn't believe.  A new area rug pulls a room together.  Dump the old pillows, blankets and knick-knacks and go for the minimalist look.  Nobody wants to see your collections of stuffed animals, porcelain plates or tribal masks when they are trying to picture themselves living in your home.

Where to begin...

I am a total decorating junkie. I rearrange furniture, repaint, buy accessories, read books and magazines on kitches, baths, small rooms, big rooms, bedrooms and living rooms. I watch endless hours of HGTV and know for sure that I can do better than most designers on TV. I know, I know... everybody thinks they can do better. The truth is, though, that most people still need a little help... a little push in the right direction. Let me help.

If you saw my own home you'd be surprised to learn that I actually do have a degree in Interior Design from a very reputable University. Not only that, I have worked in several design firms over the past 20 years. I've worked in big firms, small firms, with no-name designers and some very well-know ones. I've done hotel design, residential design, commercial design and even some landscaping design. Yes, I've done it all but I still can't find the look I want for my own home. Why? Because it's so much easier creating a style and look for a stranger than to find one for yourself.

So... let's work together to uncover your home's hidden potential and awaken your own personal design style.

Life's a journey, not a destination.