When you’re in the process of re-doing or redecorating a room, it can be a challenge to pull an entire look together. I recently moved my dining furniture to the living room and converted the dining space to a sitting room. I haven’t done a whole lot in the “new” dining room as I’m still…
Summer temps are reaching into the 90’s here in the Chicagoland area this week. When it gets hot like this I’m motivated to keep my decor light and cool. Taryn at Designing, Dining and Diapers asked me to be part of a summer mantel roundup and I decided to create a summer mantel with favorite…
I think most people collect something in their lifetime. Kids collect marbles and rocks. Pre-teens collect baseball cards and teens collect magazines. Adults collect any number of things from antique coins to dishes to cars and more. One of my favorite collectibles is white ironstone, due to its affordability and timeless appeal. (This post contains…
Happy Memorial Day Weekend! It’s always nice to get a 3-day break from the work week, isn’t it? I’m glad you here today to enjoy a tour of a renovated Cape Cod home. The house stays true to form, retaining its historic charm throughout. Shingle siding cloaks the outside of the home. The cute bulldog…
Do you like to walk through model homes or visit open houses? I do but I’m not really sure why. Does it stem from youth when I played house all the time as a little girl? I’ve just always had a fascination with houses, from their layouts to the way they’re decorated. I never tire…
When spring rolls into summer, I find less time for decorating inside. Warm weather beckons me outside to enjoy the flower beds and vegetable gardens. Lazy afternoons and long walks are more enjoyable than spending time indoors. For quick decorating, I turn to simple flower arrangements to add color and softness. Today I’ve rounded up…
Remember that show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy?” On one of the episodes Thom Filicia, the “design doctor” used apple green to decorate one of the straight guy’s bathroom. I would’ve never thought to use that color in such a small space, but ever since that transformation I’ve loved the color! And the bathroom…
Open floor plans and open shelves have made a comeback in today’s design world. Seems we like the idea of living in open spaces, unencumbered by walls and doors. While this look may not be for everyone, I thought I’d share open shelving ideas from a few friends, along with ideas from my own house….
Pillows should be a fairly simple decorating staple, but sometimes the simplest of matters can be a little confusing. Pillows come in a range of sizes, shapes, and colors. Mixing them up creates the greatest visual interest in your home. If you need a little help, I’m sharing simple tips for decorating with pillows. Photo…
This post on selecting the right coffee table is sponsored by Oak Furnitureland. All opinions are my own. Ever since I added our white, slip covered sectional to our family room, I’ve been longing for the right coffee table. I’ve kept my eyes open while shopping but nothing seemed to fit the bill. I wanted…
Beautiful yellow! It’s associated with sunshine and happiness, smiley faces, and Sponge Bob Square Pants. Decorating with yellow brings warmth and energy to any room. Whether you choose to paint the walls yellow or simply add small accessories in the sunshine color, yellow decor can be a lot of fun! A beautiful yellow couch and other…
A few weeks ago I revealed my new sitting room during my spring home tour. But what I didn’t reveal was an unfinished corner in the room. I’m happy to say I found the necessary pieces for this little corner, which includes a beautiful new farmhouse cow painting. (This post contains affiliate links.) I…
When you want to spruce up your kitchen but don’t want to spend a little money, add a bit of color. It’s easy to do and really freshens up the heart of your home. My kitchen is mostly white which makes it easy to add any color. What’s great about adding color to the kitchen…
Now that my dining room is officially transformed into a sitting room, it’s time to start turning the living room into the dining room. Next steps are painting the walls, fixing the chipped up floor, and changing some of the wall decor. Since I don’t want the room to look too sparse in the interim,…
Are you itching to get outside and do some planting? Here in Illinois the spring weather can be finicky so you’re never quite sure when you can begin planting. We’ve had snow as late as the end of April. To bide the time until planting season, I like to get a little creative with garden pots…
Welcome to a tour of my spring porch and entryway! My house was built circa 1875 in a small farming town that is growing into a popular Chicago suburb. The town has more than doubled its size since we moved here. Today I’m joining the Seasonal Simplicity Spring Tour that features other bloggers showcasing part…
