At Home Redesigns

10 steps closer to selling your house

2009-06-19T11:05:00.000-04:00

The real estate market, ugh...if you are trying to sell.

Here's a suggestion from a real estate stager (me): If your house is on the market, take advantage of the slow-down in showings to do some extra prep.

Here are 10 ideas to get you going:

Pack away your collections. Buyers want to see your house, not your hobbies. Give them a clear view by visually editing your space.
While you're at it, pack away all personal photos. That's right, all of them. Buyers need to imagine themselves living in your house - not you and your family.
Declutter your kitchen cabinets by packing away pots, pans and dishes you do not use often. Cluttered cabinets will give buyers the impression your kitchen is too small.
Clean areas we overlook on a day-to-day basis, like under the kitchen sink. It's amazing how quickly we can accumulate dirt and spills. Leave this area clean and decluttered so buyers know they are looking at a well-cared for home.
Tackle the linen closet by packing away items you don't absolutely need. Buyers need to know there's plenty of room for their blankets, towels and sheets. If your closet is overflowing, they will imagine theirs will be, too.
Give the laundry room, including the washer and dryer, a good scrubbing. It's easy to overlook clutter and dirt in areas we are used to seeing every day.
Now's the time to look at your bedroom closets and weed out items you aren't using and pack away out-of-season clothes to show the closets to their best advantage.
Tackle the basement - or garage - or attic - or shed - or all of them! Pack, give away or sell what you don't need daily. And once you are done, don't allow anyone to refill them before the house goes on the market.
Clean litter and debris from around the yard that might have accumulated over the winter.
What to do with all you've decluttered? Hold a yard sale, sell items on craigslist, give away usable items to charitable organizations and toss what is no longer usable.

We take turns reading to each other and snickering at the decorating missteps

2009-01-26T15:55:00.010-05:00

I've got to tell you there's no better way to shop these days than at consignment stores...

I found this chaise for $150 (I happened to know who consigned this item, so I felt good about buying it; I don't usually buy second-hand upholstered items...worry about possible smoke or pet smells or maybe someone who owned it didn't like The Office and I love The Office...).

Also got the print on the left and the one on the right of the girl with white hat for about $12 each. I decided to put all these items in my home office, giving it a little rehab. I really likely how this arrangement on the wall is turning out.

I placed this "I love you" American Sign Language sculpture in there, too. I originally bought it for the living room, until my 6-year-old son admitted he didn't really like it after he said he really liked it. He was just afraid he would hurt its feelings if he told the truth...and who needs a creepy hand on a stick holding a grudge? It's better contained in my office.

That's what the office looked like before I shoved those magazines out of the frame. I plan to read all of those...but there is a protocol.

You read them once, let them rest, and then go back and read again, this time ripping out the pages you like. But sometimes new magazines come in while the old ones are resting and you have to read those fast, so you don't mess up the order of things, but then the new magazines need a third read because they were not given proper respect the first time around and then the pile grows and grows and grows...and the kitten is staring at me...why is the kitten staring at me???

Be the first to vote...

2009-01-24T11:53:00.005-05:00

...on a poll I'm taking over at my other blog, Dispatches from Suburbia...

Inaugurating a new blog; formal wear optional

2009-01-22T22:35:00.011-05:00

Since some of my recent posts have veered off the topic of design and staging, I've decided to tart another blog, Dispatches from Suburbia, for those. It's meant to be a (hopefully) humorous look at life.

If that interests you, I'd love to see you there. If not, please keep checking back here for future decorating posts.

2 women, 1 lady in a hot city

2009-01-16T09:07:00.006-05:00

I'm back and refreshed for the new year.

Just returned from a mini-vacation with my sisters in Miami.

Because my sisters begged me to join them. The sun won't shine as brightly without you there, they said. The soothing waterfall in the spa, not so soothing. The fruit smoothies by the pool, not that smoothy, they intoned.

I feigned modesty, but knowing that was all true, I decided to leave frigid Rhode Island and join them in their vacation-already-in-progress that they had accidentally forgotten to invite me along on when they made plans months ago.

(But, you are so important, we didn't think your family could survive without you. Your work so critical, and what with the economy already struggling, we didn't want to interfere with the global recovery. Your bank account so skinny given your propensity for charitable giving... So true, so true, I said, and forgave them for the inability to see what I can pull off to save my sisters from the dullness of a vacation without me.)

My sisters are both quite attractive, if you judge beauty in the conventional sense, of course. One has curly locks and is tone and muscular, clear to all thanks to her insistence on wearing a bathing suit in the pool. Truth be told, it's only the hours in the gym that make her that way. But is that natural beauty? I'm not sure...

The other is tall and thin with a mane of thick hair. You hear whispering about "Super Model" when she's around. True, it is she who is whispering, but still others get the point. But is beauty like that without work truly beautiful? I'm not sure...

From time to time, probably because I am generous enough to talk to people whatever their mental capabilities, people mistake me for their mother. I know what you are thinking: While you are the oldest of the three, aren't there only two and a half years between you and the youngest?

Yes, that is true. But I don't think people are judging physical attributes here. Take for instance, the massage therapist at the spa where we stayed in Miami. After appointments with my two sisters (who, as I mentioned, started the vacation earlier than me by mistake), it was my turn.

Another Harrington? he asked. Are you the mother? My initial reaction: I asked him to pinch himself - hard, on his upper arm, on the fleshy part where it really hurts. I was on vacation after all, and wasn't about to do that myself.

But, after that, I realized several things: One, he was clearly looking into my eyes and not at my body that has, after all, given birth. He could see the maturity, I am sure. He could see the way I have counseled my sisters throughout the years, guided them so well that one now owns a successful business and the other manages accounts worth millions. He could see that without me, they would stumble their way through life, accidentally taking dull vacations together.

And then there's the language barrier. "Mother" in his culture probably means "most kind of the three" or perhaps "willing to talk to the mentally deficient." In the end, we had a laugh. Well, actually, he may have been whimpering from the pain in his arm, but he saw the folly of it all.

We're home now, relaxed and ready for whatever '09 brings. I'm still keeping tabs on my sisters, with a maternal instinct of sorts. I have their travel agent on speed dial, for instance, checking in every few hours, keeping a close eye on their plans.

What's better than eating candy? Decorating with it, of course

2008-11-30T18:32:00.012-05:00

Two purposes for this post:

To verify that I am still alive. (Just been very busy, so sorry...)
And to make you hungry.

A local real estate firm hired me and my friend Marianne from Consignments Ltd. to decorate their window for a Holiday Stroll on Main Street (East Greenwich, RI).

The company didn't have a window so much as an entire room, a corner conference room with floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides.

We settled on a red and white theme, with candy, lots and lots of candy. Our theme was Home Sweet Home (get it, real estate company and candy...)

Two reasons to be bummed about this post:

I don't think the photos do the window justice.
You can't really drink those candy martinis...

I can move a fridge in like, seconds

2008-11-10T21:04:00.013-05:00

A long-distance client needed help figuring the layout of a large room with a few twists and turns in it. (That's the kitchen in the lower right corner. In the sitting area across from it, there's a fireplace.)

She gave me the dimensions of the room and of a few furniture pieces that she wanted to use (the large china cabinet, the dining table and chairs, a curio cabinet, the desk tucked in the lower left and a TV). She also emailed me a video of the room she shot on her cell phone.

The client wanted to imagine ways to lay out the room before she bought some new pieces.

When I re-arrange furniture, I always try a couple of options. You can never truly tell what will look best until you try. For this client, I drew up four options... cause moving furniture online is so much easier than in real life...

I have a favorite plan... but I think any one could work. (By the way, if you'd like an online consultation with a certain interior redesigner you could find out more here.)

Room makeover, a before & after: Making the inside as lovely as the outside

2008-11-07T09:14:00.014-05:00

A client recently called me with a challenge: She was tired of the layout of her family room/dining room, which had essentially been the same for 20 years.

The challenge: The room was already quite nice, with beautiful furniture and a fine layout. Its water view along an entire wall didn't hurt either.

But I did see a few ways to improve the room. Notice how boxy and square the furniture arrangements were, both in the living area and the dining area in the "before" photo? I put the dining table at an angle to add some interest.

And I place the sofas opposite one another. This not only adds furniture on the water side (the room was a bit furniture heavy on the non-water side before), but now you get a direct view of the fireplace as you walk in the room.

Overall, the arrangement really opens up the room, giving you an expansive feeling, similar to what you get when you look out the windows at all that water.

The room also felt too brown before. I borrowed red accents and accessories from other rooms to add splashes of color.

Finally, I created a third use for the large room. The table that used to be behind the sofa is now in a corner, where it can serve as a desk or a spot to play a game...or stare at that view...

And she has impeccable fashion sense

2008-11-04T09:42:00.004-05:00

There's a new kitten at Casa At Home Redesigns. Her name is Clare and she's about 8 weeks old, a pound kitten with a feisty personality and a need to snuggle.

But how to nuzzle Clare and type? I created the Kitty Sling, using a generous scarf. So I can work at my computer. And it makes breast-feeding easier, too.

Dozens of little kids at my house: Now that's scary

2008-10-28T21:51:00.017-04:00

We had a Halloween party this weekend that culminated with a parade down the street. So I thought I'd salute this most entertaining of holidays with another parade of sorts here:

Room makeover, a before & after: Creating a cozy living room

2008-10-23T08:43:00.008-04:00

A client of mine recently moved into a home that the family had previously used only for vacations. She needed to incorporate some pieces from both homes and start to think of this house in terms of year-round use.

I thought the living room redesign was a good way to illustrate a few decorating tips. In the before photo above, you can see that the furniture was essentially pushed up against the walls.

In the makeover, I positioned the furniture in the center of the room, creating a cozy sitting area with the fireplace as the focus. There's still plenty of room behind that sofa to make your way to another part of the house.

If your furniture is up against the walls at your house, try moving some pieces into the middle. You may be surprised at how that transforms the room. Just leave yourself obvious paths through the room and into other spaces.

This room was also helped by the addition of lamps. Even if there are lots of overhead lights or sconces, nothing warms up a room like lamps. And, we used small wicker boxes that the home owner's daughter was storing toys in as end tables.

It's always a good idea to have somewhere to place a cup of coffee or a glass of wine while you sit and admire your new room.

We should have named him Luke instead

2008-10-15T17:27:00.000-04:00

As soon as he's off the school bus every afternoon from kindergarten, Jude wants to know if I think Max is home. Can Max come over to play? Or maybe he could go over Max's?

Max lives across the street. They are two boys who are only children. They are in the yard playing Star Wars, with Jude a Jedi Knight and Max, Darth Vader. The Jedi is saying this is the end for Darth.

I think he's pretending. I hope he is. We need Max.

Putting art to work

2008-10-15T16:49:00.003-04:00

Have you priced really large chalkboards? They can get expensive. I love this idea I spotted at an antiques show this year.

Just get an old frame (and old frames without pictures are pretty cheap). Spray paint a piece of board with chalkboard paint and attach. Or even better, first with magnetic paint and then chalkboard paint. That way you can use it as a magnetic memo board, too. Easy. And good-looking. (Just like my friends. Yea, I'm talking about you.)

I bet I could get a government grant to study this

2008-10-12T19:34:00.004-04:00

A corn maze might make a good test for determining personality type.

My husband buys the map and resists suggestions to wing it.

Our son wants one of us in front of him, one in the back, so he is safe to impersonate Darth Vader, killing the corn stalks with an imaginary laser as we go.

I hang back, take a few false turns, hoping to make them think they've lost me. No one is riled. Mom is always doing stuff like that.

Jude and I decide to imitate Dad as he walks and he obliges by spinning and wiggling his rear.

Finally, I'm hungry and need to use the restroom. Glad someone has been paying attention to that map after all.

Where's Mary been? I dunno, Alaska

2008-10-11T20:20:00.007-04:00

I spent the last week in Alaska on business. Even though it's off-season there, not summer, but not yet enough snow for fun, it's a great place to visit. (I spotted that black bear at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.)

Here's what I loved about Alaska:

The people: Very friendly, helpful and down to earth.
The drinking water: Fresh, crisp. Same for the air.
The mountains: This is what was going through my mind on the flight out when I got a clear view of them: "Wow. Wow. Wow."
Art by Alaskan Natives: Gorgeous. I was especially intrigued by the jewelry made with the fossilized tusks of woolly mammoths.
The scenery: We took a drive about about an hour out of Anchorage and it was as if we entered a whole new world: Pristine and snowy.

The food: Every meal I had was delicious. I live in Rhode Island, so I like to think I know what good seafood is. But the cod, halibut and salmon I had in Alaska were among the freshest fish I've ever eaten.
The beer: The Alaskan Brewing Co.'s Amber. Must be because of the great water.
Exhibits on indigenous cultures in Alaska: I loved checking out the tools, watercraft, and clothing created with only what was available on the land. Think you know something about surviving in this world? These exhibits remind you that you know nothing.

Coffee Heath Bar Crunch is actually my favorite, but the store was out

2008-10-01T22:14:00.006-04:00

I was just reading the online real estate section over at The New York Times. I eat up photos of homes for sale, which would be a pretty low-cal hobby if I wasn't also chowing down on Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk ice-cream.

I had to share this townhouse with you. It's on Manhattan's Upper East Side and is for sale for just under $15 million. I know what you're thinking: Why not Chunky Monkey? That's good too, but banana isn't my favorite flavor.

As for the townhouse: Love that red door. And these ebony floors and staircase:

And this ceiling:

And maybe, best of all, this view of the staircase. Wouldn't it be cool, standing there looking down at that? How many flights to the refrigerator do you figure?

Maybe you should let the kids color on the walls... for practice

2008-09-29T10:19:00.003-04:00

Check out this family room in Lexington, Kentucky, where a guy decorated the walls using Magic Markers and Sharpies. Among other people featured: Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and Rocky and Bullwinkle.

Talk about a low-cost redesign... You can read the full story and see panoramic views at Kentucky.com.

A few more details about a few vintage items

2008-09-26T09:00:00.000-04:00

I got a few questions about some items that showed up in yesterday's post regarding my purchases at the Brimfield Antiques Show.

Carrie of Buzzings of a Queen Bee wanted to know more about the Memory Lane plates I bought. She wrote: "I am in love with that Memory Lane pattern (from a distance). Can you show us a close up? I have been hunting for a pretty cranberry and white pattern for Christmas for years and can never find it, but maybe I don't know what to look for?"

They're actually a little more on the red/pink side in person but I do think they would be pretty at Christmastime.

It's transfer ware stamped Royal Ironstone. It was made in the 1950s and 1960s.

The pattern is pretty easy to find, although I think the prices tend to vary. I hope that helps, Carrie.

Cher from The Texas Woman was wondering about the printing tray on my mantel. "Please show us a close-up of the collectibles in the case on the mantel. Looks interesting."

I'm glad you like it, Cher. It's holds a little shell collection, as you can see in this closeup. I bought this one, but I've made them as well.

I really like this one because all the shells are different, with no repeats. It feels like someone was collecting specimens. Thanks for your interest, Cher.

Brimfield stole my heart, but not a lot of my cash (this time)

2008-09-25T10:46:00.005-04:00

It's been crazy busy here at At Home Redesigns... lots of projects under way. But I thought I'd take a little breather and show you (finally) what I bought (for my personal consumption anyway) at the Brimfield Antiques Show earlier this month.

It was definitely one of the less expensive trips for me. No big purchases. I did get:

Three Santa ornaments. I'm not clear if they are vintage, but they have the look. Just $2 each.
The animal skin (faux) covered cocktail shaker ($10) as a little gift for my sister Kat. Unless she is reading this, then it cost a LOT more than that.
Three plates in the Memory Lane pattern. I picked up a huge set at an auction a few years ago for a song. So I add plates whenever I see them at a good price. These were $2 each.
The wooden box ($5) will go in my bathroom to hold toiletries on the counter.
A vintage Star Wars lunchbox for my son ($20). It's not in the photo cause he was already playing with it, storing his Star Wars action figures in this much-loved, a-little-dented and a-little-rusty lunch box.
And the vintage wooden pins (juggling? a game?) are now on my fireplace mantel.

They were $40 for the three, which I thought was a good deal.

I know, a shockingly small pile, huh? But I had a great time checking stuff out, seeing what's popular and getting a feel for prices. Not again until May...sigh...

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-09-21T10:54:00.006-04:00

Have you ever found a vintage item you just love, but can't figure out how to display it so you actually get to look at it often? These ladies present a few solutions:

Jan Ely of Little Pink Houses put these aprons to work as curtains in her kitchen.

And Sherry Williams of Sherry's Rose Cottage displays this vintage prom dress in her dining room. It's on a wire dress form and she's added matching vintage gloves and a hat.

Isn't this better than stashing these finds in a closet or in drawers? Aprons and prom dresses may not be your thing, but there might just be something that you've got tucked away that would make a great "statement piece" - that that says something about you in your home.

Anyone got any other ideas out there for displaying favorite finds?

I'd love to hear more ideas for future I Love These Ideas! Sunday columns.

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

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Painting antiques? Sure... most of the time

2008-09-18T21:13:00.006-04:00

How cute is this dresser? My friend Marianne picked it up for her shop a few weeks ago when we were shopping at the Brimfield Antiques Show. It's hand painted.

I had a ton of fun redesigning Marianne's store recently using this and her other Brimfield finds, like these painted table and chairs.

We were definitely drawn to painted furniture during this trip. I know some people don't like to paint antiques. But here's my take: I would never paint an antique that is valuable or unique. But there are a lot of pieces out there that are rather ordinary... until someone paints them and then, wham, super cute.

And painted pieces can be so much more versatile. Today, white. Tomorrow, black. And then one day, who knows, pink with polka dots...

Room makeover, a before & after: Great stuff in this great room

2008-09-16T11:01:00.010-04:00

I wanted to share with you one of my favorite things about a recent great room re-design that I did.

This couple has a beautiful home in a terrific setting, with a horse, sheep, a goose, a chicken (not a rooster... which is what I originally called it... cause I'm not exactly a country girl...) cats and dogs.

They love nature as you can readily tell when you look around their home.

But a lot of the items they have collected are little, and they were lost in this big room. Do you see the eggs on the mantel in the before photo? They were up much too high to be appreciated.

So, I took a cabinet that was filled with glassware and situated near the dining table and instead moved it into the living area. I took all the little artifacts from around the room and displayed them there instead.

It's kind of like a miniature museum of natural history. Now you can really appreciate each item.

For the rest of the room, I focused on using large objects that wouldn't get lost... such as the mirror and plants on the mantel and the birdhouse on the console table.

Here are a few more before and after photos I thought you might like to see...

The best Christmas ornaments you'll ever buy - or else...

2008-09-14T11:47:00.050-04:00

This post is a little detour from my usual I Love These Ideas! Sunday column.... but I knew you would forgive me because A) you will love this idea and B) it involves my mother and everyone knows shameless promotion is OK if it involves your mother.

My mother, Mickie Harrington-Rodway, owns a small business called Christmas Memories.

She handcrafts and personalizes Christmas ornaments of her own design. (See the one below? I was the model for that one.)

They are adorable and she will personalize them however you want. Her handwriting is impeccable. I'm showing some of the designs here, but there are a lot more.

They're only $6.95 each and the shipping is free within the United States.

The ornaments have been popular locally for years, but now she's branching out with a website.

People here buy her year after year, so their kids can
have personalized ornaments to mark their growing up. They also use them to commemorate: baby's first Christmas, an engagement or marriage or a new home.

Plus they make great gifts for grandparents, teachers or, heck, anyone with a tree.

So, if you're in the market for some fun, beautifully crafted ornaments, check her out.

Now, Mom, can I stay up late? Get a Brady Bunch lunchbox? Have a sleepover party?

Lamp shades: Not just for your head

2008-09-11T10:54:00.000-04:00

Every time I visit Gloria Lombard's booth at the Brimfield Antiques Show in Massachusetts, I leave behind a significant amount of drool. (Sorry, Gloria.) But, I bet you would, too.

Gloria Lombard Designs, of Charleston, S.C., creates handmade lamp shades that are inspired by designs from England, France, and Italy. According to her website, most of her shades are made from vintage or antique textiles.

Her website mentions that she also makes pillows and sells vintage and antique textiles and small antiques and collectibles. But it is her beautifully made lamp shades that I notice.

She explains that many of them are "one of a kind," or perhaps two or three of a kind if she has enough fabric. But once a design is gone, it's gone. So, if you are looking for something really special to finish a room, check her out.

Scariest thing about some vintage Halloween items: The price

2008-09-09T10:12:00.003-04:00

If you collect vintage Halloween decorations, there's always a lot to choose from at the Brimfield Antiques Show (where I visited last week for a few days). But, let me tell you, this stuff doesn't come cheap.

I overheard a dealer saying that prices had gone down a bit about six years ago, but now are back as strong as ever. I love looking, but I hardly ever buy. Even the stuff from the '60s and '70s can be expensive. The prices on early decorations can be in the $100s.

Many of the older decorations were made of paper and tons of them got ruined or tossed, leaving fewer behind. So... scoop up whatever you see if you're out at yard sales or estate sales.

Some booths were decked out for autumn. I loved the display by Log Cabin Country Primitives.

They did a great job pairing mums and pumpkins with the items they were selling. See how they used the long box as a table centerpiece? You could do that, maybe with an old toolbox.

Or you could copy this little arrange on the cupboard. Most dealers don't take the time to set up their booths like this, but I find myself drawn to the ones that do. Such a simple thing to do, too.

Brimfield brought to you

2008-09-06T19:24:00.016-04:00

I spent Thursday and Friday at the Brimfield Antiques Show in Massachusetts, so I thought I'd give you a look at that instead of running my usual I Love These Ideas! Sunday column.

The show features field after field of antique and vintage items. There's so much stuff that even after spending eight hours each day, we left a whole lot unseen. (I think the super hot weather slowed us down a bit, but we got in and out before the rain and winds from Hurricane Hanna arrived.)

We (meaning me, my friend Marianne who owns Consignments Ltd. in Wakefield, RI, and shops Brimfield for that, and her mother, antiquer extraordinaire) bought quite a bit from the White Home Collections booth.

The shabby chic and cottage booth featured lots of great painted furniture and fabrics. The six chairs that Marianne bought with the pedestal table had new blue toile fabric. Pretty.

Here's another booth that caught our eye. Roomers & Bloomers used beautiful fabric, too. She sells out of Virginia.

This handsome telescope had cherry wood and brass fixtures. It was $200 and I was wishing I could use it somewhere...

We noted more stuff from the '70s this time around. These PEACE chairs would be awesome in the right house (minus the oddly paired floral fabric). The dealer was asking $600 for the six of them.

We saw lots of oak card catalogues and pharmacy cabinets. I love these for family rooms for holding CDs or DVDs. This one was priced at $975.

You could put this cabinet to the same use. It was $595. If you were shopping for new furniture, you couldn't get anything that solid and that cute at that price.

Here's Marianne. I know what you're wondering.... didn't her knuckles get sore with all that walking? Oh, I mean, you probably want to know the price of the gorilla: It was $499. No idea where it was before it was at Brimfield.

Sorry Ringling Brothers, this is the greatest show on earth

2008-09-04T19:00:00.000-04:00

I'm off for a few days to Brimfield, Mass., for the greatest outdoor antiques show anywhere. And that includes anywhere in the universe. I add that just in case there are other life forms out there and they have antiques shows and think theirs are better. Well, there's no way.

I'll report on my findings when I return.

As an aside, RIP: Ralph Kovel, the antiques expert and collector who wrote scores of books with his wife Terry. He died last week at age 88.

I've used their reference books and their website many times. They had a TV show at one time, too, and I was convinced that between the two of them, they knew everything.

I saw them filming at Brimfield once and I was thrilled...

Room makeover, a before & after: Creating a bedroom retreat

2008-09-03T20:10:00.002-04:00

The Day of New London, Conn,'s Spaces magazine today featured a story about how I re-design a room by using furniture, artwork and accessories that a homeowner already owns. The magazine used this bedroom that I re-designed as an example and I thought I'd post a few of the photos that I took because I think they illustrate solutions for some pretty typical problems.

In the "before," it's clear there wasn't much color in the room. It looks like the homeowners just moved in, doesn't it? In fact, the very nice couple who owns this home had been there for quite some time.

A few other problems: There's no headboard, so the bed wasn't featured as well as it could have been. And the bed isn't facing the entrance to the bedroom, which is usually the best spot for making a bed the room's focal point.

In the "after," you can see that I infused color by swiping pillows, plants, frames and vases from here and there around the house. And, most importantly, the print over the bed - which you couldn't really see so well in the hallway where it previously had been - adds a lot of interest over the bed and acts as a headboard substitute of sorts.

I grabbed some daylillies from the garden, too. How nice of them to be growing just as I needed a shot of orange!

In this before, you see the TV on a white table. In a perfect world, it's better to leave the TV out of the bedroom if you're trying to create a bit of a retreat. But in the real world...

...it's better to at least downplay the TV as much as possible. It disappears better on top of the dark dresser versus on top of the white table. (I managed to get more color in this part of the room by using some of the kids' art.)

Finally, I found the wicker rocker in a storage room and freshened it up with a few pillows that where elsewhere in the house (and I really don't think they will be missed) to create a little sitting area. A great way to make a bedroom more relaxing is to add a chair where you can read....or sit and admire your new room...

See the orange print above the white table (that previously held the TV)? You can't see it from these photos, but there are actually four of them in the room. The homeowner had all of them in storage.

I can't tell you how often that happens... People think they need to buy more stuff to make a room attractive when all they really need to do is to shop around their own homes.

Aren't I too old for school?

2008-09-02T19:30:00.005-04:00

My son started kindergarten today. He loved it. He's exhausted. His Mom and Dad are wiped out.

So, I'll keep this one short: Remember how I was talking about fall decorating yesterday? Well, you've got to check out The Inspired Room. Melissa has loads of links to loads of autumn ideas. As soon as my strength returns... I'm going to read them all!

Remember to post some of your favorite ideas or links to your posts here as well. I'll showcase fall fun later in the week.

Now, I'm off. I understand we have to do this kindergarten thing again tomorrow...

How do you decorate for autumn?

2008-09-01T11:49:00.008-04:00

It's getting cool in New England. Farmers are selling their pumpkins. The school buses start rolling tomorrow.

As much as I'll miss the summer, I love the fall: the breezes, the foliage, the decorating. I plan to put out autumn wreaths, gourds and a big bowl of apples this week.

What do you do around your home to mark the change in seasons? If you've got a photo or a blog post you'd like to share, please email me or leave a comment here with a link for a roundup later this week.

I'm leaving you with a final look at summer: Above is a house on Loon Island in Newfound Lake in New Hampshire, where we vacationed this summer (at the lake, not that house. But, wouldn't that have been fun?).

And a tip for next year: Here's a good way (above) to stay warm and dry while touring Newfound Lake when the rain unexpectedly appears.

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-08-31T10:00:00.003-04:00

Happy long weekend! Here are some great ideas to browse as you celebrate:
Daisy Cottage does a great job illustrating how you can use furniture and mirrors outside as well as inside for an interesting look. Lots of eye candy on her blog, so be sure to check her out.

I love this idea from Eleanor at A Bit of Pink Heaven. She created this garden art by spray painting metal objects she got on sale. Very clever!

I'd love to hear more ideas for future I Love These Ideas! Sunday columns.

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

Here's the code:

A sad, but inspirational story and a chance to help

2008-08-29T12:57:00.006-04:00

One of the amazing things about blogging and reading blogs is how you get to know people, or feel like you know people, that you've never met. News of their lives, their families, their work, their problems and their successes leak into the blog posts.

I find myself thinking about people that I've never met, sometimes worrying about them.

Lately my thoughts have been with Stephanie Nielson, of Nie Nie Dialogues. She and her husband were critically injured in crash of a private plane earlier this month in Arizona. The flight instructor died in the crash and Stephanie and Christian were badly burned.

They have four young children and the extent that family and friends have rallied around them has been inspirational, as you can read through Stephanie's sister's blog.

I have to say, I had never run across Stephanie's blog before this happened. But I do read Design Mom, and learned about the family through her blog. And now they are on my mind... that's just how this works.

I wanted to pass this family's story along to you in case you haven't already heard it both because the faith and strength that the couple's relatives and friends are exhibiting is amazing, and because there are many efforts underway to raise money for Stephanie and Christian, whose recovery will be extensive.

Design Mom has organized Nie Nie Day, with more than 300 bloggers auctioning off items to raise money. While they started yesterday, many of the auctions continue through Sunday. If you'd like to participate by buying something, Design Mom has a list of the auctions here.

I'm off to shop. See you on Sunday.

Now I want a new bathroom, and I'm hungry

2008-08-27T16:14:00.004-04:00

Don't you love it when you discover a fun decorating product? I caught part of a lighting special on HGTV the other day, which illustrated how the right lighting can transform a room.

Then they showed the product I love the idea of: a pendant light that screws into a recessed light instead of a light bulb. In the photo above, the homeowner had a few recessed lights over the tub and the designer replaced them with pendant lights. No electrician. No waiting weeks to get an electrician to come to the house. No expense of an electrician.

HGTV lists the source as A Well Hung Light (I dunno...maybe the owner was a writer for Benny Hill in a previous life...).

Looked quick and easy and, next to Lindt Lindor Truffles, in dark chocolate, there's nothing better than that.

Update: Call for help answered!

2008-08-26T12:59:00.004-04:00

A quick update: Wanted to be sure anyone who was interested in yesterday's post about ceramic toothbrush and soap holders saw that Jen at Sanctuary Arts at Home was nice enough to post her how-to on getting better use out of these.

Check her out!

And thanks to everyone else who made suggestions, too!

No other flower will smell as sweet after you try this

2008-08-26T10:45:00.000-04:00

Remember a while back when I wrote a post about planting squash simply because I like to make fried squash flowers? Well, it's time!

I thought I'd pass along a little how-to.

First, mix together milk and flour (sorry, I didn't measure, but the consistency is a little thinner than pancake batter). Add a pinch of salt and pepper and a dash of Tabasco if you want.

Rinse off the flowers and remove the stamens. Pat them dry.

Throw the flowers in the batter. And mix them around (with your hands, unless someone is looking...).

Drop the coated flowers into a pan with heated olive oil. I let them clump together so they wind up like a pancake, but you could use a larger pan and spread the flowers apart more.

Once the flower/pancake is golden brown, flip it and fry the other side. (How did I manage to make such a mess on the stove? And, in the interest of full disclosure, I also started a little grease fire when I flipped the flower/pancake and got oil on the hot coil... But, even if you burned down the house, you'd make these again...)

Then put the flowers on paper towel and sprinkle with kosher salt.

Good stuff! When I was eating this last night, I was thinking it could use a little sour cream dipping sauce on the side, maybe with fresh chives. The flavor is a little nutty and the flowers are tender, almost creamy. And there's a crunch to it.

My 5-year-old son loved them, as did his little friend from across the street.

My husband dismissed them, saying after one bite: "fried and salty." The weird part: He said that like it's a bad thing.

As good a man as he is, you can't rely on his palate. His favorite movie food: Sour Patch Kids. There, I outted you.

A decorating conundrum: Help!

2008-08-25T11:28:00.005-04:00

I love older homes. We couldn't find one in the area where we moved last time we moved. As much as I like my current house, I'd dump it in a second for a vintage one.

Older houses usually have way more character than newer ones. But they do pose some problems...like this one my friend Suzanne has.

Here's what she says: "I have a built-in ceramic toothbrush holder, but not one of my toothbrushes fits in the small holes now that toothbrushes have wide, ergonomic designs. I also have virtually no counter space for a cup (which gathers gook anyway) or any other contraption. I was hoping there would be some ingenious person out there who has come out with an adapter for built-in toothbrush holders. "

She says that she winds up leaving the toothbrushes precariously leaning on her contact solution and they fall down. And the soap dish actually doesn't usually hold soap, but toothpaste tubes (four of them, one for each member of the family...) so a solution for that would be great, too.

So the challenge: How can Suzanne store toothbrushes and other needed items without removing the ceramic holders there now or rendering them useless?

Maybe some sort of a shelf that spans the ceramic holders? Or does an adapter already exist? Or are there other ideas out there?

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-08-24T10:55:00.011-04:00

Kimba at A Soft Place to Land always has great ideas to pass along. Here she combines a platter, wine glasses, votives, gourds and pine cones for a creative, use-what-you-have centerpiece. Clever and resourceful!

Here's an idea I plan to try. Rhoda at Southern Hospitality offers a creative suggestion for covering up grout that never seems to look clean. I've had our tiled kitchen floor professionally cleaned ... and sealed... and it looked good for about a week. So I'm glad for Rhoda's suggestion. I'll let you know how it turns out on my floor.

Finally, this from A Romantic Porch. It's not so much an idea as it is a photo essay about summer. I love how she approached this. Take a look and escape to a lazy summer day... for a few minutes...

I'd love to hear more ideas for future I Love These Ideas! Sunday columns.

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

Here's the code:

Who are these people anyway?

2008-08-22T13:16:00.005-04:00

I have a final thought to pass along on hanging photos or artwork (for this week anyway).

I love how my friend Marianne hung her collection of silhouettes.

Hanging any one of them alone would have been fine, but see how much greater the impact is with them gathered together? The black and white silhouettes and the black frames create a piece of art themselves, regardless of the subject matter.

This could work with any collection, especially if the frames are all the same. And, if you want to start collecting silhouettes, keep in mind that the older ones are more affordable in singles rather than pairs. You can also find a lot of them that are inexpensive from the '50s, '60s and'70s, when people tended to get their kids' silhouettes done more.

See you on Sunday with my I Love These Ideas! column. If you or someone you know has a fun, interesting or creative idea for decorating, feel free to pass it along to me at Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com.

Thanks!

Time to let these brides shine

2008-08-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd show you one more idea for photos in addition to the tips I posted yesterday.

I found I had a lot of wedding photos when I was going through older family photos for the wall heading up my staircase.

So, I decided to feature a bunch of them on another wall. Some are copies of photos I borrowed.

And a few friends still owe me copies of their wedding portraits. You know who you are...

Picture this: Hanging photos without a hassle

2008-08-20T10:00:00.011-04:00

I'm often asked about the best way to hang multiple photos, along the lines of what I've done in the wall heading up the stairs of my house.

So I thought I'd pass along a few tips:

Decide on a general overall shape you want to wind up with: rectangle, square, asymmetrical... For my wall, I decided to follow the line of the stairs.

This works really well, especially if you've got a lot of pictures: Trace the frames onto paper and hang the paper shapes on your wall with tape. That way you can switch things around without making holes in your wall. When you're sure you're happy, hang the photos.

Mat at least some of the photos to give your eye a rest around the photos. Same when you hang the photos... leave spaces around them so you can really appreciate each of the photos.
If you've got a lot of smaller photo or snapshots, think about combining them in a single piece. If you don't know how to mat your own photos, a professional can do it.

You can cut down on the cost of hiring a professional by finding your own frames. I scouted for antique or second-hand frames for months for my staircase before I took some of them to be professionally matted.

Photos can be copied so easily now and the results are good enough that it's hard to tell when you're not dealing with an original.
If relatives have photos you love, especially older photos, borrow them and copy them for yourself.

A lot of the photos on my wall are copies, like the one above, of my Aunt Carol, Uncle Mike and their kids.

Great family, but Cindy's a little dippy, Jan's insecure, and Marcia, well, it's all about her...

Your assignment: Spiff up your office space

2008-08-19T23:46:00.000-04:00

School's almost in around here. You know what that means, right?

Time for learning... reconnecting with friends.... becoming a better citizen...

No! It's a decorating opportunity!

I re-design a furniture and home goods consignment store a few times a month and last night was all about getting back to school.

The store had about a dozen desks and we focused on them to remind people that it's time to create a quiet and organized spot for homework.

Unlike a store that sells new items and orders whatever it needs, we use whatever the consigners have brought in.

That situation is a lot like what people deal with at home so I thought I'd pass along a few tips:.

See that cabinet? A few weeks ago, we put china in it and paired it with a dining room table and chairs. This week it's holding books and would look great in an office, or even in a dining room that is doing double duty as a homework space.
Got a desk but no chair? Sometimes it's more interesting not to have a matching set. Pull in a dining room chair or even an upholstered chair from a living room. If you have to buy a single chair, they are usually a great bargain at second-hand stores because they are tougher to sell than chairs that come as part of a set or at least a pair.
Need pencil holders? Try a vase or a deep bowl. We put some of those to use last night.
Don't forget the lamp! Even if you've got overhead lighting, you really need a lamp at a desk for that close-up work. Again, single lamps are pretty inexpensive.
Finally, you don't necessarily need something that was built to be a desk to create a useful and beautiful homework spot. Dining tables provide lots of surface space and can be used in offices, or in family rooms. Tables that don't come as part of a dining set can be a bargain, too.

At my cabin, you can also let your freak flag fly

2008-08-18T08:47:00.003-04:00

We're home from a week at a beautiful lake in New Hampshire. Lots of swimming and boating and relaxing...

These are some of the cabins on the property where we vacationed. Some relatives stayed in one of them. My family opted for a bit more room and rented a larger cabin elsewhere on the property that was recently renovated.

The decor in the smaller cabins is definitely rustic. Our rental had the benefit of things like a microwave... Sheetrock... insulation.

I thought I'd show you the photo of the outside of the cabins because that's exactly how I would decorate them if I owned them.

I love the full and well-tended flower boxes and flags and lawn chairs and view of the lake.

The owner, however, did a few things I would not. She nixed the kids' using sidewalk chalk on the driveway and asked us to stash the beach towels that we had drying on a deck railing because she didn't want to look at them.

I mention this not because it infringed on our good time, but to point out something I really believe about good design. Beautiful, comfortable and inviting spaces enhance our quality of life.

But we don't live inside postcards. Sometimes things get a little messy, especially when you're having a good time. And, as far as I'm concerned, the best-designed spaces are the ones that leave room for a little fun.

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-08-17T22:27:00.000-04:00

Vacation is over and I'm happy to make my first post back about some great ideas I found at other blogs.

Check out this idea from Tales From An O.C. Cottage for a switch plate redo.

The blogger writes: "My bedroom switch plate was plain and boring, so I added a bit of zing with a collection of mother of pearl buttons. Since it was my little piece of artwork, I added a frame to finish the look. It looks gorgeous in the morning sunlight!"

How clever is that?!

Little Pink Houses had this wonderful idea for a headboard... made out of a found door given a coat of paint and molding on top. Beautiful and inexpensive!

Finally, from Crazy Kyley. Take a look at the bedroom rehab she did for her daughter. Colorful and pretty!

I'd love to hear more ideas for future I Love These Ideas! Sunday columns.

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

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I Still Love These Ideas!

2008-08-15T08:50:00.000-04:00

I'm off this week for some R & R.

But! Before you run off... I'll be posting some reruns in case you missed them on the first go-around.

How about checking out some previous I Love These Ideas! Sunday columns where I feature the great ideas of other bloggers?

While I'm at it, a reminder: If you have any interesting design, decorating or improvement ideas for the home, office or garden, let me know by emailing me at Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com.

If I feature your idea, you get this great badge and a big dollop of link love!

See you on Sunday with new content!

If it's time to move, it's time to get moving

2008-08-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

I'm off this week for some R & R.

But! Before you run off... I'll be posting some reruns this week in case you missed them on the first go-around.

Selling your home? Here are a few tips for getting it ready... and, in this market, being ready is what it's all about.

Grab a mop: Where design and bodily functions collide

2008-08-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

And then you might want to hop over to Blog Nosh Magazine. An article of mine is featured there today along with others. It's a great way to find other blogs you might like.

Without "before," there could be no "after"

2008-08-12T10:00:00.000-04:00

I'm off this week for some R & R (and that don't mean Redesign and Renovation, folks...).

Before you run off... I'll be posting some reruns this week in case you missed them on the first go-around.

Today: I love Before and Afters. Do you? Here are a few to check out:

Get your running shoes ready: It's almost time for Brimfield!

2008-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:00

I'm off this week for some R & R (and that don't mean Redesign and Renovation, folks...).

But! Before you run off... I'll be posting some reruns this week in case you missed them on the first go-around.

Now, I know I haven't been around long enough for reruns... but I figured if Lost can do it mid-season, so can I.

First up: Posts on Brimfield, the largest antique show in all of the world. (I don't know if that's true, but it's big.) AND it's coming up again Sept. 8 through Sept. 13.

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-08-10T11:00:00.005-04:00

Olympics, Sm'olympics. The real champs are these folks who posted some great ideas this week. Check 'em out:

Monday through Sunday with TWO great how-to's. First, she turned abandoned bifold doors into a beautiful headboard:

And, I bet you think this is tile on her lanai? Right? Wrong! It's concrete she painted. Good job!

Making A House A Home had this great idea for covering up flowered tiles she didn't like in her kitchen. These are coasters. Clever, huh?

Finally, from Savvy City Farmer, who whipped up this little kitchen redo... you know, in her spare time.

I'd love to hear more ideas!

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

Here's the code:

An easy kitchen fix: No cooking involved

2008-08-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd end the week with a simple idea for jazzing up your kitchen if you have one like mine.

Our kitchen had nondescript oak cabinets with no knobs or pulls when we bought our house eight years ago. (The counter tops and back splash were pink laminate... the '80s were not kind.)

To update without spending a lot of money, we put bead board up on the back splash, right over the laminate (after we figured out how time-consuming it was to try to remove the laminate).

We also painted the cabinets white and added brushed nickle hardware. (Another tip: Do you know how expensive it can be to replace hinges on a lot of cabinets? Instead, I removed all the brass hinges and spray painted them nickle. Worked great and super easy to do.)

After all that was done... I still felt that the kitchen needed more charm. So, I recently removed those two cabinet doors and took them to a glass shop. They took out the inside panels and replaced them with glass.

I attached wine glass holders to the underside of the shelves and created a little bar area.

The project was easy and pretty inexpensive. And those are two of my favorite things.

Blue and white and pretty all over

2008-08-07T08:30:00.003-04:00

Every few weeks I help the owner of a local furniture consignment store redesign the shop.

When you take in consignments, you can't entirely plan what you are going to wind up with. The trick is to arrange the furniture and accessories so the customers can appreciate the beauty of what's for sale... and not feel like they are looking at a random bunch of stuff.

The process is a lot like the one I use when I redesign a room in a home. A little rearranging, a little borrowing from here, a little editing there and presto: the room feels pulled together.

I posted this photo from a recent redesign at the store to illustrate a trick I like to use.

With help from the shop owner's daughter, my little helper Charlotte, we pulled all the blue and white china pieces from around the store to use in a dining area we created. You probably don't want to use two dining tables and two china cabinets at home, but you can see how the repetition of color makes the display so much more dramatic.

You can do the same at home by scouring the house for one color of objects and displaying them in a cabinet or on a table.

I double dog dare you not to love it.

My bathroom had that "gotta go" feeling

2008-08-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

So, here I was going through life preaching the benefits of creating a spa feeling in your bathroom, especially if you have a master bathroom.

Even if it's small, I would say, it's so much more relaxing if you treat it like a sanctuary... especially if you are staging your home for sale, but even just to treat yourself.

But, in reality, my own master bath resembled something out of the movie Poltergeist, where you open the bedroom closet to Satan's lair... only with mold and peeling wallpaper thrown in.

Recently though we pried open the door, beat back the demons and got to work.

Two counters used to form an "L", with another sink where the towel rack is. We closed up the plumbing on that wall and moved the two sinks to one wall to make the place roomier.

But what I really want to point out are the two ottomans. I wanted to incorporate some seating for that spa feeling, and this is really all that would fit. (I took this photo standing in the bathtub, so although it's a good-sized bathroom, you can see it's not gigantic.)

We were skeptical at first. Would the ottomans be in the way? Would we trip on them in the night? Would they feel contrived?

So far, so good. I really like sitting there to blow dry my hair or paint my nails.

I'd give it a go in your bathroom if there's any space at all. Add a chair or a stool, a plant and a few fluffy towels and see if it doesn't transform the room.

Any other suggestions out there for creating a bit of a spa at home?

No love like blog love

2008-08-05T08:00:00.002-04:00

My cyber friend Courtney from Nesting Instincts surprised and flattered me with this award yesterday:

She does the same kind of redesign work that I do, only in Oregon. I read her blog daily cause it's full of great ideas, and I recommend you hop over there and check her out if you don't already.

Since I can't give the award back to her... I'm passing it along to a few other blogs I also love...

Just a Girl

Chris at Just a Girl has sooo many good ideas. No kidding. I dare you to check out her blog and not find something you want to try... She'll show you everything from how to make an Indiana Jones birthday cake to how to arrange accessories on a shelf.

Plus that girl knows how to find a bargain...

Porchlight Interiors

These interior stylists from Australia offer a blog so loaded with eye candy... you really should floss your contacts right after reading. Whether they're showing us a study in black and white or inspirations for a home office, the emphasis is on beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Restyled Home

Linda does wonderful work and is always worth checking out. But you've absolutely got to see the playhouse she created for her daughter. I so want to move in...

Thanks again, Nesting Instincts!

I'd go back: Only to decorate...then I'd drop out...

2008-08-04T09:36:00.001-04:00

Here's what I didn't like about my first college roommate (approximately 30,000 years ago):

Not that she went out partying one night the first week of school.
Not that she stumbled into our dorm room drunk and woke me up.
Not that she threw up and passed out.
Not even that I had to clean up her mess since I really didn't know anyone else yet and my choices were: make it go away or try to sleep with it there on the floor all night.

No, what really bothered me was that she ruined a rug that her parents had bought for the dorm room to put over the institutional carpeting.

And I thought that was cool that they did that because decorating a dorm room wasn't that common, you know, 30,000 years ago.

Now there are so many choices for making dorm rooms comfy. So I scouted around to show you a few ideas in case you know anyone heading off to college soon.

OK, bed risers are fairly common and aren't just for dorm rooms... but I do love them. They make room for storage under the bed and give a bed so much more presence.

Macy's has these on sale for $9.99 for four.

JC Penney has these floor loungers on sale for $79.99. They're adjustable. I think they look like a fun place to hang out.

Dormbuys.com offers 80 peel and stick Dottilicious Wall Art dots for $49.99. You can arrange them any way you want.

I like the idea of this Cling Thing Message Board, also from Dormbuys.com. It's supposed to stick to walls without hurting the paint and then you just stick stuff to it.

PB teen has this lounging/storage system. I would have loved this when I was in college... or now.

Has anyone out there found anything fun to add to the list?

PS: Lil' Miss Pukester and I parted ways shortly after she redecorated the rug. I hope she's happy now... or in prison... whichever.

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-08-03T10:15:00.009-04:00

Happy Sunday! Time for a look at some great ideas I found on blogs this week:

Check out this idea from project: domestic bliss for creating art with paint samples. Clever!

At My Life's Little Pieces, Deb gives us a tour of her daughters' bedroom that she decorated. Beautiful job. I especially love how she used shadow boxes for storing stuffed animals.

Another wonderful idea: This one is from The Berry's Patch. She does a great before and after for hiding electronics... the stuff that can easily overrun a room.

I'd love to hear more ideas!

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

Here's the code:

We have a contest winner!

2008-08-02T09:09:00.003-04:00

Congratulations to Hot Tub Lizzy, who won the vinyl art by Stampin' Up's Décor Elements line that was featured in my contest post!

Official contest results:

Enter a lower limit: 1
Enter an upper limit: 49

Random Number: 10

To the rest of you, have a great weekend!

And a few questions for you to mull that my 5-year-old son recently asked me:

Are we on the top of the earth or the bottom?

and

Him: How many days have there been?
Me: Since when?
Him: Until now.

Ummmm...

Can't wait for summer... next summer, that is

2008-08-01T08:54:00.000-04:00

Isn't this chair beautiful? Guess what... it's a patio chair... made of aluminum. I spied this in this month's issue of House Beautiful.

It's by Treillage and costs $750.

To have a set of those... on a patio overlooking the ocean... sipping a cocktail...

Does anyone know how to get tongue prints off your monitor?

Anyway... what I was going to say was: If your patio has served you well this summer and it could use a little freshening up, now's a good time to do it.

Stores are moving on to the fall and winter seasons and are marking down prices on their outdoor furniture, pillows and other accessories.

Restoration Hardware has those Miramar Pillows in Navy outdoor pillows on sale for $19.99 each.

These Pottery Barn Pressick Lanterns are on sale, too, for between $19.99- $24.99.
Pier 1 has Oil Lamp Garden Stakes are on sale for $7.48 each. (Pier 1 doesn't have an online store anymore, so you'll have to live near one to take advantage of the sale.)

A pair of these Hampton Bay Wicker stack chairs goes for $90 through Home Depot.

And the umbrella is on sale for $299 for CB2.

If you buy now, you'll be all set for next season and won't have to scurry around buying at full price... or like we like to say around here: fool price.

Last chance: Today's the last day to enter my contest for a fun art project by leaving a comment on Saturday's post!

Real Estate Staging: Fireplace for sale; comes with house

2008-07-31T09:00:00.001-04:00

Here's the thing about fireplaces when you're trying to sell your house. If you've got one, you've got to get it to jump up and down and scream: "I'm here!"

Cause everyone, and I mean everyone, loves a fireplace.

Here are a few tricks that I used to get a fireplace hopping at a home I staged for sale.

Notice how in the before photo, the print on the mantel blends in with the paint... but the darker star jumps out. The green plant in the corner draws your eye to that part of the room as well.

But, perhaps most importantly: the chaise portion of this sectional sofa, which stuck out in front of the fireplace is gone. (It's a little tougher to see in the top two photos, but look at the photo below and imagine the chaise jutting out in front of the fireplace.)

I moved the chaise to the master bedroom, where it helped create a luxurious feel in there. And the family room now looks bigger and you've got a clear view to that fireplace.... that fireplace that's going to help sell that house...

P.S.: Remember to enter my contest for a fun art project by leaving a comment on Saturday's post!

Real Estate Staging: Making room for family

2008-07-30T09:14:00.001-04:00

Sounds like a few of you are planning to put your houses on the market soon, given the responses to a before-and-after of a real estate staging that I posted earlier this week.

So I thought I'd offer up another example. This time it's a family room in a house that I staged.

You can see in the before shot of one side of this family room, there were too many knickknacks displayed for a house that is for sale and there really was no focus.

In the after, the knickknacks are largely gone and the sofa takes center stage. The pillows add some visual warmth and the furniture arrangement really illustrates how this room is great for family time.

On the other side of the room, a bar was the focal point, basically breaking two rules for house staging: Put away your collections and don't feature alcohol.

Alcohol-related items, along with family photos and religious items, fall into the category of the personal and are better off packed away while your house is on the market.

Besides, this end of the room looks better with the table and chairs. It's a perfect place to sit to play a game of chess... or to write up an offer.

P.S.: Remember to enter my contest for a fun art project by leaving a comment on Saturday's post!

Always a lil' devil... not always a vampire

2008-07-29T10:00:00.006-04:00

If you're anything like me, you've got a bunch of family photos on your walls.

Wouldn't it be fun to punch up the usual fare? Check out these two websites... you can upload your photos into their photos to make... well, take a look at this photo of my son taken last Halloween:

From Dumpr:

And from PhotoFunia:

Wouldn't that be fun on your wall? Only, you know, with your own scary creatures...

P.S.: Remember to enter my contest for a fun art project by leaving a comment on Saturday's post!

Real Estate Staging: Keep the kids; sell the house

2008-07-28T09:20:00.003-04:00

Before you know it, summer will be over, kids will be back in school (where did that confetti come from? Did you throw that?) and the real estate market will start to wake up.

As a professional real estate stager, one question I get a lot is: How important is it to stage (rearrange furniture, accessories etc. to make a room more attractive to a buyer) children's bedrooms?

Here's my take on that. They are not the most important rooms in the house when it comes to staging, but there are some simple things you can do to make a good impression with buyers.

Put away (or get rid of) as many toys, clothes and kid stuff as possible. That way you give potential homebuyers an idea of how large the room is, what sort of shape the floor and walls are in, and how much closet space there is.

It's also a good idea to arrange the room to show off its best features.

Check out these two examples of children's rooms that I staged:

In this case, I placed the bed kitty corner. That takes up a bit more room, but it highlights the two windows. Who knows what the new homeowner will use the room for? Could be an office; could be a guest room. But hopefully the potential buyers will remember the nice windows when mulling over the house.

I also removed some of the furniture, leaving only what was absolutely necessary while the home was on the market.

I did much the same thing in the next child's room. Aren't you more drawn to the windows in the after photo?

And I recommended the homeowner stash the giant gorilla that is under the windows in the before photo... You want potential buyers to remember a bright and airy room...not a giant primate, you know, when you can help it.

P.S.: Remember to enter my contest for a fun art project by leaving a comment on Saturday's post!

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-07-27T13:46:00.000-04:00

After you check out these ideas I spied recently in some great blogs, remember to enter my contest for a fun art project by leaving a comment on on Saturday's post!

This is such a creative idea from Restyled Home: She used scrapbooking letters to monogram dining chairs. I think this would look great on a porch or in a breakfast room.

The Nesting Place has a great idea for both re-using fabric as a shower curtain and making a bathroom look more elegant.

Inspire Co. did a wonderful job with her daughter's bedroom. My favorite part: Using tulle as a bedskirt. Easy and pretty!

I'd love to hear more ideas!

Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

Here's the code:

A contest: Win yourself a fun project!

2008-07-26T12:15:00.001-04:00

What's better than a contest? How about a contest and a how-to? Oh yea, now we're talking.

See those flowers over the bed in my friend Chris's room? They are actually vinyl art that you can apply to walls or any other hard, smooth surface. The folks at Stampin' Up came up with the idea as part of their Décor Elements line, which offers several pretty art options.

The company sent me two sets of the flowers to try and another two sets for one of my readers. If you'd like to throw your name in for the flower art and the little tool you need to apply them, leave a comment and I'll draw a winner's name on Friday.

The flowers come in a set of three sizes. Chris and I decided to jazz up her bedroom using three brown flowers and three tan flowers (which the winner will also receive).

The vinyl designs are sandwiched between two pieces of paper, a backing and a sticky side that you attach to the wall.

Now the how-to:

Before you remove the backing, decide where to put the designs and tape them to the wall with painter’s tape.

Mark the locations with a pencil.

Remove the backing, after rubbing it to be sure the design is well attached to the sticky paper. You need to do this step slowly and re-rub the paper if it isn’t quite sticking.

Apply the sticky paper to the wall. Rub the design well.

Pull off the sticky paper and poof: you’re done.

It took us about an hour and a half to do this. Getting the design to stay on the sticky side was the toughest part. But we worked on the technique and it went faster the more we did it.

The two sets of flowers and the tool cost about $50 if you were to buy them.

The company offers other designs, alphabet sets, and letters for monogramming. You can use them on walls, mirrors, lampshades, and even furniture.

So comment and win yourself some fun!

Room makeover, a before & after: Taking back a spare room

2008-07-25T10:15:00.003-04:00

Do you have one of these rooms in your house? Nearly everyone does. It's a guest room/storage room/retired furniture room/good place to hide to eat the last piece of birthday cake room.

I thought I'd show you a re-design of a room like that in a client's house. The homeowner used this room as a guest room for her mom. But there was also a wine cooler in there and a mish-mash of furniture that didn't quite fit anywhere else. (The fourth wall you don't see is a wall of closet doors.)

The homeowner wanted her mother to feel more comfortable when she stayed. So, we moved the wine cooler into the closet, and the wicker settee into another space to create a reading nook.

I moved the daybed to make it the focal point of the room and used the homeowner's blue and white bedding for a fresh look.

I grabbed a bookcase, coffee table and accessories from elsewhere in the house. (Take a little bit from here, a little from there and you really don't harm the look of the other rooms.)

I even brought in a patio chair. It's a placeholder until the homeowner gets a more comfy chair for the room, but it serves the purpose for now.

The blue and white in the accessories help pull the room together and the lamps make the room cozy.

Who wouldn't want to stay here... especially now that you know there's wine in the closet?

Room makeover, a before & after: Saying "welcome home"

2008-07-24T09:35:00.003-04:00

What's the first thing people see when they enter your home? I mean, on a good day... when the shoes are away, the jackets stored, the iguanas back in their cages, the engine parts stashed...?

I thought I'd show you this mini-makeover that I did as part of a client's living room re-do to illustrate how to brighten your entryway... even if it isn't very large.

In this home, the wall to the right of the staircase and opposite the front door was a perfect place to define as a welcoming spot. In the before, however, the table is a too small, and is turned toward the living room... trying to be a part of it, but not quite making it.

And the candle, vase and other little accessories don't make a bold statement.

To create a more dramatic landing spot, I used a larger piece of furniture, facing it toward the front door, and a bigger picture and vase with flowers, all of which the homeowner owned.

And I always like a tray, or a long, shallow dish like I used here, near the front door. It's a good place to put your keys, sunglasses etc. when you come home. (Added bonus: You'll always know where they are!)

Finally a lamp brightens the area and catches your attention, making you pause before you enter the rest of the house.

And think of all the stuff you can hide in those drawers...

(If you're looking for lots of great ideas, check out Rocks in My Dryer's Works-for-me Wednesday feature... even though it's not Wednesday...)

Warning: Graphic post ahead

2008-07-22T10:00:00.007-04:00

Have you noticed lately the trend toward bold graphics in upholstery fabrics, dishes, sheets, pillows and throw blankets?

You can spot them all over the place: large, stylized flowers or geometric shapes with generous spaces between them (like the chair by Pottery Barn above.)

I'm loving it for two reasons:

One, it's so darn pretty and fresh.

Two, it's easy to get the look by incorporating a few pieces into a room.

You can add a rug or a few throw pillows for an updated look without replacing everything.

A few examples: This indoor/outdoor rug by Linens n' Things:

And this rug by CB2:

And these pillows, this handmade one available on Etsy, below, and the one below that by Pier 1.

I wouldn't go with something this dramatic on a big piece, like a sofa, because it's not easy to change the look later if you want. And we all know, we're going to want to change the look...

Just a couple of girls hanging out

2008-07-22T08:00:00.002-04:00

Me and Mrs., Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones,

We got a thing going on

This is my girl, Olive, aka Olive Jones. She is my cat and, while she loves my husband, I am her person. We are the only girls in this family of a husband, son and boy cat.

For the most part, she is wherever I am. She's at my feet, or in the nearby window when I'm working on the computer. She's always stealing my seat, that red wicker one, in the kitchen.

She studies me when I'm getting ready, like she wants to know how to apply mascara for when she's grown up.

I can't quite sleep until she jumps on our bed and the heft of her settles in against my legs... or on top of my chest.

She's never accepted my son, even though he was born five years ago when she was two, and swats at him whenever she can. Still, he named one of his Webkinz "Olive."

If the boy cat Homer gets too close to me, she licks his head and then nibbles his ears and then bites his neck until he stamps his feet and leaves.

She enjoys a paw massage and looks like she's listening to something intently when you slowly rub her back along her spine.

She's not so much fat as her head is too little.

She loves treats, prefers to eat cat food off the floor rather than from the bowl, and is a super marathon sleeper.

She hunts down the belt of my bathrobe and tries to kill the shoelaces when she catches my husband tying his sneakers.

She prefers the indoors to the outdoors, but visits there a few times a day, particularly when it's warm and there are moths to be caught.

Now she's gone. Looks like a coyote got her this weekend, leaving only a bit of her tail, which we've buried in the back yard.

I really miss my friend.

Well, it's time for us to be leaving

And it hurts so much, it hurts so much inside

And now she'll go her way, I'll go mine

But tomorrow we'll meet at the same place, the same time

Me and Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones

Regular programming will resume tomorrow...

UPDATED: An idea from my easy friend...I mean an easy idea from my friend

2008-07-21T10:49:00.006-04:00

Don't you hate it when you find a really simple solution to a problem...after trying to solve it all the hard ways first?

Perhaps this will save you a bit of that frustration. The photo above is of my friend Marianne's dining room. She recently replaced her dining set with a round table and upholstered chairs in a pretty plaid to complement the yellow and blue toile wallpaper.

She searched all over for a round rug that would fit into the French country decor... and would have the same blue from the chairs and wallpaper... and would be the right size as well as shape. She thought she finally found one online, but it was wrong. That meant paying for shipping - twice.

Finally: The answer! She went to a local carpet store and discovered you can have a carpet cut and bound into any shape you want. Most of us know you can get a rectangle or square cut, but there are all sorts of possibilities. Marianne found several options that would have worked just fine, picked the best one and had it cut into the size circle she needed.

Here's one more trick you can steal from Marianne: While waiting to find the perfect round table for her dining room, she had someone cut a plywood circle and put it on top of her old, oval dining table (with a table cloth).

The carpenter put a little lip on the plywood in a few spots so it wouldn't slip. And you'd want to put a table pad underneath the plywood so you don't scratch the table.

Clever, clever girl, Marianne is. Think I'll hang around with her for another 30 years to see what else she comes up with ...

Update: I've added another photo of the room so you can see the wallpaper as well. I also got a few questions about the cost. Of course, the price of a custom job like this would depend on a few factors, including where you shop, how expensive a carpet you pick out etc.

But, in Marianne's case, getting the carpet cut into the circle in the size she needed added another third to the cost of the carpet. Getting exactly what you are looking for, though, is worth it sometimes.

Thanks for your interest!

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-07-20T10:36:00.011-04:00

It's Sunday and that can mean only one thing: Tomorrow's Monday.

OK, I guess it means two things: It's time for me to show you a few great ideas I spotted this week in Bloggyville.

My Romantic Home published a how-to on creating a living wreath. So pretty. See the tutorial here.

This is an inventive idea from Pretty with Ribbons. She used part of an antique cabinet door to display art. Very clever... and great looking. Visit here.

There's another great example of how to re-use furniture with a beautiful result at Magnolias and Sunshine. She found a headboard at a consignment shop and transformed it into the perfect addition for the French country room that she created for her daughter (that includes the desk in the second photo).

Great example of a beautiful look without spending a million bucks. Take a closer look.

Finally, from Daily Danny, an idea for using a bird bath as a cooler for an outdoor party. Read more here. (Before sure to give the bird bath a good scrubbing before and after you use it.)

Nice work everyone! And I'd love to hear about more. Drop me an email at:Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com if you've got an idea of yours or someone else's to share.

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

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Room makeover, a before & after: I could really use a back rub, too...please

2008-07-18T10:30:00.005-04:00

I mentioned last week that I finally got around to putting my deck together for the summer... good thing, since pretty soon I'd have to skip the whole thing and hang the Christmas lights out there instead.

I wrote that I rearranged the furniture, much like you would do in an interior room, creating a focal point (the bench) and giving the room some definition (with the potted trees).

This week I finally put out the soft things: the pillows, tablecloth and flowers, the stuff that beckons you to come on out and take a seat....

...but first, would you mind grabbing me a cocktail...maybe a little bowl of chips...my slippers...ooh, a magazine...heck, my pajamas...?

A Snapshot: Roses are purple, violets are orange...

2008-07-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

I picked up this oil painting for my office for two reasons. One: It perfectly complements the green of the walls. Two: All the colors are all crazy. The seagull is black, the sky is green and the ocean is yellow. And around here, we appreciate crazy...

Room makeover, a before & after: Maybe I just want to hide...

2008-07-17T10:09:00.002-04:00

I seem to have this thing about tents, like maybe I'm really supposed to run off and join the circus.

Case in point: Check out these two room re-designs that I did for a client. In both cases, I used curtain panels to create little fortresses in the girls' rooms.

Here, using a canopy frame that the family already had: Before:

and After:

And here hanging the curtain panels from the bump-out in the ceiling (I've explained this one in more detail in the past.)

Here's the before:

And the after (although if that wasn't obvious, perhaps I really do need to consider circus work for my next career...):

But, what to do in a boy's room? Good question.

Here's what I did for my son. I used two twin bed sheets and clipped them to a rope (do this only after your kid is past the pulling on the rope relentlessly until it comes out of the wall, and then hurting himself with it stage...) . I screwed heavy-duty closed hooks into the wall and tied the rope to them.

It's a fort when the drapes are closed, stage curtains when they are open. Pass the peanuts, please.

What a great way to start the day!

2008-07-16T10:10:00.005-04:00

I'm so flattered and appreciative to be featured today at Today's Creative Blog. And one of my tips is listed at Tip Junkie!

It feels like my birthday...without the getting older part.

Thank you, ladies!

1 table is good; 2 or 3 are better

2008-07-16T10:00:00.003-04:00

An unexpected coffee table can be one of the best ways to add character to a room. Here's my favorite idea these days: Use nesting tables in front of a sofa instead of beside it.

I picked this set up at a consignment store recently and love not only the table shapes (two rectangular and one round), and varying heights, but also the versatility they offer.

Sometimes they stay put; sometimes they are separated to hold snacks or a laptop computer. The accessories are always changing, too. It's just that kind of landscape.

Here are a few other examples I spied:

Set of three black wicker tables from Target, for $89.99:

This round pair from Crate & Barrel for $399:

And this trio from Restoration Hardware for $299.99:

Room makeover, a before & after: Better than winning the lottery

2008-07-15T11:20:00.001-04:00

Looking for a little more excitement in your life? Would you settle for some in your family room?

This redesign I recently completed for a client illustrates a few ways you can brighten things up.

First: I loosened up the furniture arrangement. There was not much space between the sofa that faces the fireplace and the wall behind it. Now the room has a much airier feel.

Second: I added lamps to the end tables. Even if there is plenty of overhead lighting, lamps will add a warmer, cozier feel to a room. They also add much-needed height to the tables.

Third, and perhaps most importantly: I sprinkled in pillows and accessories, adding the color blue. The rug has some blue in it, as does a print above the chair shown at left. Spreading that color around the room brings zing to an otherwise neutral color scheme.

1, 2, 3. Now that's exciting.

A Snapshot: Where did I leave my foot...?

2008-07-14T08:00:00.007-04:00

I got a box of these old shoe forms at an auction a while back... I can't decide if they are whimsical or if it looks like someone has been dismembered...

My next trick: Turning 1 room into 2

2008-07-14T08:00:00.005-04:00

Thanksgiving and Christmas are months away. If that means you have no use for your dining room until then, it might be time to rethink how you use that room.

After all, what fun is it to leave one room untouched most of the year?

About six years ago, we decided to create a dining room/library in our house because the dining room is a good size, but the house isn't particularly large and because, if my husband had a dollar for every book he owns, he'd go out and buy new books.

We added the bookshelves, a few comfy chairs and reading lamps. And, poof!, we actually use the dining room.

Need more office space? Consider creating a multi-functional dining room. This is especially easy now that laptop computers mean there's a lot less bulky equipment to store. You can hide paperwork and office supplies in a sideboard.

A dining room can be a great place for doing crafts and homework.

Need a quiet spot for a quiet conversation? Add a couple of comfortable chairs or a settee if you've got room.

Play music? Incorporate a small piano or display other instruments there. A dining room can be a peaceful place to practice and to entertain.

Who knows? You spend that much time in your dining room, you might even think to eat there every now and again.

"I Love These Ideas" Sunday

2008-07-12T12:45:00.007-04:00

Here at At Home Redesigns, we're celebrating our second (week) anniversary of "I Love These Ideas" Sunday with some super ideas for stealing. (OK: Posted this on Saturday by mistake. So pretend it's Sunday. Except you don't have to go to work tomorrow! Unless you work on Sundays...in which case, I'm sorry...)

This great idea for making paper table lanterns comes from Design*Sponge, which includes a how-to-here.

Here's an idea close to home...my mother suggests re-using an item. This is a mailbox that she used at her previous home. She didn't need it at her new house, so she stores face clothes in it instead. Great idea!

My mother doesn't have a blog, but she does sell super popular hand-crafted, personalized Christmas ornaments at Christmas Memories.

This week Sanctuary Arts at Home offers a great tutorial on how to distress furniture. Check it out.

Sisters Kari and Kijsa explain how to create a tray with photos and other mementos. A wonderful idea that is pretty and useful. See how to here.

Finally, Fancy Pants brings to our attention a great tool for painting objects. The Painter's Pyramid lets you get to all sides and the bottom of an object at the same time. A time-saver. I love it!

Featured bloggers, grab a badge if you'd like:

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Got an idea for next Sunday? Drop me an email at:

Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com

Organize your chargers, live forever

2008-07-11T11:04:00.017-04:00

Do you have one of those spots in your kitchen where everything lands? The cell phone chargers, pens, pencils, scraps of paper, stray kittens, junked cars, spy manuals?

Don't we all?

I was shopping around recently for a solution for a client who wants to organize her kitchen counter top and came up with a few solutions I like:

This one is from Pottery Barn and comes in black, red and in a couple of wood stains. I love the way it organizes the electronics. You could stick a vase or planter for pens and pencils on that top shelf, too.

It sells for between 59.99 and $79, depending on the color.

This one is from Vat19 and is $48.95. It's a bit more utilitarian looking, but would blend right in if you've got a dark counter top.

Check out this one from spacesavers.com. It's smaller, but I love this lime green. It's $19.99 and comes in black and red, too.

This is from KangaRoom Storage and is made of bamboo. It's got a sleeker, more modern look and costs $45.

Finally, this comes from Levenger and is quite handsome, I thought. It also comes in black and is $158.

Where you put the kittens, though, I don't know...

A Snapshot: Welcome, baby

2008-07-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

The latest member of our little paperweight family.

Where will it all end?

2008-07-10T08:30:00.002-04:00

My friend Elisa wanted to make my head hurt and she didn't have a hammer so she posed this question to me instead: Where to stop painting?

Oh man, this is a doozy. The bedroom walls are being painted blue and the ceiling white. But, the two skylights butt up ("You said butt!"... sorry that's what my 5-year-old son would have said if he were reading this post over my shoulder.)

Back to work: The two skylights are really an extension of the wall.

So, I asked myself WWMWBRD? (What Would My Wonderful Blog Readers Do?)

I had a few ideas. I toyed with telling you what I told Elisa in tomorrow's post. But, let's face it, if you guys come up with better suggestions, I would have totally stolen them and claimed them for my own.

So, I'll tell you now what I said:

Keep the blue paint going up through the middle of the skylight and paint the ceiling and the left and right walls of the skylight a lighter shade of blue. More work. I'm not sure she'll go for it, and who could blame her?
Try painting just the middle strip and let's see what it looks like. If it looks like a plane is about to land there, paint the left and right sides blue, too.
If you must end the wall at the ceiling height, then add a bit of crown moulding to create an end to the wall.

Not bad, but I'm sure you could do better. What have you got?

A little amour for the armoire please

2008-07-09T08:30:00.002-04:00

The popularity of the flat-screen TV has left an ocean of orphans in its wake: the once-loved, now-neglected armoire.

Furniture consignment stores are chock full of them; Craigslist is overwhelmed with them.

But I'm here to tell you: Armoires were around a long time before the advent of the bulky need-to-hide-them televisions and computers and there are still plenty of uses for them.

A little history: Cavemen used armoires to store their drawings. Vikings hid the keys to their ships in them. And prairie folk put their Popsicles in them, but that was pretty much a bust until they invented ice.

It's been, in fact, only for the last several hundred years that people have stored televisions and computers in armoires. And now that lots of folks are down-sizing those appliances, it's a good time to buy those cast-off pieces of furniture.

The armoire shown here cost $135 at a consignment shop. It is a solid oak piece that was built as a computer station. Now it houses toys. A few baskets and it tames the toys that were in the family room of one of my clients. The shelf that once held the keyboard now holds puzzles.

Armoires are a handsome way to store office supplies, linens and, of course, clothing.

So, in the words of David Soul: Don't give up on us, baby. We're still worth one more try. (And if you don't know who David Soul is and you don't find out...you are dead to me.)

Room makeover, a before & after: Now everyone's going to want an invite

2008-07-08T16:02:00.007-04:00

I thought I'd fill you in on a redesign I've been working on for a family in Massachusetts. Their home is beautiful; it just needed to a little punch and a little more color. I employed few design strategies that I thought I'd pass along.

The kitchen table was originally surrounded by four chairs. I pulled in a bench that was in the mudroom and was really too large for that space anyway. This not only provides two more seats at the table, it makes the dining area more interesting.

Next, I added a cushion to the bench to warm it up. The foam was cut to size, something most fabric stores will do for you. I covered it in a cheery blue, green and yellow stripe. The fabric is outdoor fabric, meaning it should stand up a bit better to the two children in the family. I also added a pillow with flowers in the same colors.

The original table centerpiece was too small. So, I found a cutting board with feet that the homeowner already had and grouped items that are used at the table anyway: salt and pepper shakers, napkins, oil and vinegar holders.

The lemon tree was lost as an accessory elsewhere in the kitchen. But on the cutting board, it provides a nice bit of color.

With a bit of contrast (the iron of the bench vs. the wood of the chairs), a little softness (from the cushion and pillow) and some drama (the height of the cutting board and the grouped accessories), the space is much more inviting.

Later this week, I'll show you a few other spaces in the home...if you behave.

Need a cure for the Sunday Blues?

2008-07-08T15:00:00.002-04:00

Email me an interesting design, decorating or improvement idea for the home, office or garden for my Sunday “I Love These Ideas!” column and get this cool badge (and a link to your blog)! Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com

Don't start grilling the burgers yet...

2008-07-07T11:00:00.003-04:00

You can tell it's been a busy summer (and that I haven't had a party yet) when I'm just getting around to my deck now. The furniture has been out, and the odd accessory, but no va-va-va-boom.

So I started to tinker yesterday, and then decided to take my own advice when it comes to redesigning a room (and a patio is really just a room outside). I started from scratch, emptied the deck and then arranged the furniture.

You can throw all the accessories you want at a room, buy artwork, pillows and trinkets, but you will never be happy until the furniture arrangement is right.

So, I moved a bench from another part of the yard up to the deck and arranged potted trees to form a wall of sorts from the rest of the yard. I wanted the bench to be the focal point of the deck, what you see when you look out the French doors from the family room. There's another chair with an end table you can't see in this photo.

Now that the skeleton of the deck looks good, I can get the fun stuff ready. I need to buy some flowers and the cushions are in the laundry.

I'll let you know how it turns out when I'm done.

I Love These Ideas! Sunday

2008-07-06T09:00:00.003-04:00

Welcome to "I Love These Ideas!" Come on in and take a look at some of the inspiration found in Blogland.

Just one rule: No shirt, no service. Sorry that the behavior of some who shall rename nameless (Cousins Maryellen and Tricia) make that warning necessary...

Folk artist Catherine Holman at Pigment of Your Imagination explains that when she moved into her home the floor was in bad shape. So, she painted a faux rug instead of refinishing it or installing carpet. Check this out: The slippers are faux too.

Oh, to be so talented... but Catherine says there are stencils out there you can use if need be. Read all about it at Pigment of Your Imagination.

Jessica at How about orange... posts a great how-to for starched fabric decals. Great idea, don't you think? Check out the details here.

Chris at Just a Girl did a great job arranging these photos, pictures and shelves. They are small items and alone wouldn't have had much impact. But arranged together like this, the display has punch. Read the post.

Caren at City Momma/Country Momma found a dresser on the side of the road and rehabbed it by painting it red and - here's the best part - covering the drawer fronts with chalkboard paint.

Now she can easily label them for her craft room. This would work great in a child's room, too....marking drawers for socks, pants, shirts, etc. Check out the entire transformation at City Momma/Country Momma.

Amy at Cape Cod Makeover offers a great idea for stealing. Need wall art? Try stretching fabric over frames. Amy offers details on how to do it.

Bloggers: Thanks for the inspiration. Grab a badge!

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Got an idea for next Sunday? Drop me an email at: Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com

Best design idea yet: The long weekend

2008-07-04T10:46:00.004-04:00

Happy 4th!

Entertaining and need a last-minute munchie idea? Check this out.

Or cocktail idea? Check this out.

Have fun and be sure to check back on Sunday for the first installment of "I Love These Ideas." I'll be serving lemon drop martinis and Chex Mix (come anyway).

At least I didn't tell you about Poo-Poo Pie

2008-07-03T15:17:00.009-04:00

Here's a sentence you've probably never said in your life: Can I have your recipe for Vomit Dip?

And an answer you wouldn't expect either: Why, of course you can.

I know I'm risking offending the sensibilities of some readers here (who if they move along at this point will forever have that image stuck in their heads anyway, so they might as well read the rest...).

Here's the explanation: I make an awesome heated dip made of yummy cheesy salsa goodness. Everyone loves it. Except for my husband. And he named it.

And so it came to pass that Vomit Dip was known throughout the land. In mixed company (people who don't like to refer to their food and bodily functions in the same sentence), we have shortened the name to V-Dip.

Cousin Keyne put in an emergency Fourth of July email for the recipe today: "I usually go to allrecipes.com and find just about any recipe I need - but I am pretty sure 'vomit dip' will not yield any search results ~ and frankly if it does, not sure I want to make it."

Good point. So, here it is, as a Fourth of July present to Keyne and to the rest of you:

8-ounce package of cream cheese
8-ounce container of sour cream
1 bottle of salsa (any kind, any heat, any size)
8-ounce package of shredded Monterey Jack cheese (or any Mexican blend)

With electric hand mixer, combine cream cheese, sour cream and salsa until (relatively) smooth. Fold in shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or so.

Serve with nacho chips.

Stand back as crowd attacks the dip.

Suggestion: Wait until after your guests try this to tell them the name...

Art or obsession?

2008-07-03T08:30:00.000-04:00

You might think the best thing about living (relatively) near the ocean is the view, or the sound of the surf, or the fried seafood.

In fact, the best thing is: Free art in the form of all the seashells you can carry home in the bottom of a tote bag full of sand and wet towels.

Check out this grouping that hangs in my bathroom. I took six picture frames and glued a shell to each, on the outside of the glass.

You could do the same with interesting rocks or bits of sea glass.

I also tossed some in a wooden box in the family room that keeps the remotes in check.

You can glue a collection into an old printer's tray and use it like you would a print or a painting, like I did in my family room.

Or you can use them to in your patio, deck or garden decorating...

You wouldn't want to overdo it, though. It's too late for me... Save yourself.

A Snapshot: Ut-oh...more seashells

2008-07-03T08:00:00.001-04:00

I do not have the power to resist.

Please drink responsibly and other disclaimers

2008-07-02T09:00:00.005-04:00

Planning to entertain on the Fourth? I've got a drink suggestion for you. It's a cocktail I created by modifying and combining a few other recipes.

Crush about a handful of blueberries in about a teaspoon of sugar (use a fork to mash them in a bowl).

Place them at the bottom of a glass.

Add crushed ice and pour some raspberry-flavored vodka over the ice. (Add a little fresh squeezed lemon to the vodka).

Top with crushed raspberries.

My friend Marianne and I consider ourselves connoisseurs of martinis... because that's just a nicer word than some others we could come up with. And we like to experiment. Marianne bests me more often than not, mostly because she makes a really strong drink. And the speed at which your tongue becomes numb is one of the criteria we use in judging a cocktail.

But this was my invention and we thought it was quite tasty. We toyed with different names. The Firecracker...The Red, White, and Blue...The Patriot. In the end we settled for: Gimme a nuther of that little drinkie-poo, wouldja?

You can also make a non-alcohol version; just substitute Sprite or another clear soda (or pop, if you live in the South) for the vodka. Yummy!

Red, white, then blue: Don't mess up the order

2008-07-01T10:00:00.005-04:00

It's the Fourth of July in just three days. You know what that means: It means today is the First of July.

And it means you better hurry up and break out your red, white and blue if you're going to be ready for the festivities.

Here are some folks who sell their wares on Etsy who can help:

Aren't these Fourth of July cupcake picks great? They're $2.50 for a set of six.

Fourth of July vintage glassware by George Briard. $29 for six. They'd look even better with lemonade in them.

If you are a size 7 you must, and I do mean must, buy these vintage 1950s De Liso red, white and blue pumps. Who'll be cuter than you if you wear these on the Fourth? Nobody, that's who. Only $45.

I'm loving this vintage style flag garland. It's $17.50 for 10.5 feet. Wouldn't that look great draped across a porch? Or your shoulders?

And finally...this bow and headband. It's $11.99. I don't think the kid is included, but you could always ask.

Strawberries: A cautionary tale

2008-06-30T09:00:00.006-04:00

Dear Reader,

Today's post is not design-related. However, I think it's critical to share this with you, as I've noticed many, many entries in blogs recently about strawberry-picking and toddlers.

Please take the time to read this important message. It was an email I sent out to friends about three years ago, when my son was 2.

Hi guys:
I've got to share this story with you... cause it's probably all over town and you'll hear it soon anyway.
So...
Sunday is my day to sleep in... and Tony wakes me about 9 a.m. to tell me he's changing Jude's PJs and sees a rash on Jude’s chest. Jude had a bug earlier in the week, so I call the doctor and leave a message for the nurse to call me back.
As Tony finishes taking off Jude's jams, he notices a bright pink circle on Jude's lower leg (about the size of an orange) with all these little red marks in it that look like broken blood vessels. He lets out a panicked shout for me.
Naturally, we think meningitis, and rush to get clothes on and get in the car. On the way, I call the doctor and tell them we're going right to the ER, but they say come to the office since the office is attached to the hospital anyway.
Tony drops me and Jude off at the door and I rush us into the office, brushing past the behind-the-counter woman trying to get my health insurance info. (Think Terms of Endearment... where Shirley MacLaine is screaming for them to give Debra Winger medication).
So the doc takes us in right away, and we strip down Jude.
Hmmm... he cannot figure out this mark.
He takes a wet gauze and ... wipes the smushed strawberry off Jude's leg ... where it landed after somehow migrating into his pajamas during breakfast.
(Rash on chest was real, but of no note).
We feel we must now move. House is on the market.

Mary

Share your ideas! Get famous!

2008-06-29T12:50:00.010-04:00

Starting next Sunday, I'll be running a new weekly feature called "I Love These Ideas!"

I'll be searching blogs for interesting design, decorating or improvement ideas for the home, office or garden. If you've got one to share please let me know by emailing me at Mary@AtHomeRedesigns.com.

Feel free to send photos as well. I'll be sure to give you lots of credit and a link back to your blog.

And what will you get? Why, that's the best part: That badge to display on your blog.

What if you don't have a blog? I still want to hear your ideas! And then you can print out the badge and paste it to your forehead...or wallpaper your living room with it...or use it as your Christmas card. It's up to you.

Will you stop sleeping on my lawn now?

2008-06-27T11:36:00.015-04:00

Since I posted an item about how my talented friend Chris frames her children's artwork and displays it over her desk, she's been all over me for more blog time. She goes on and on about how it changed her life: she's happier; her hair is softer; fruit tastes fresher.

So, she's been really busy trying to get my attention: Spray painted her dog (good for furniture, Chris, not animals); upholstered her children (again, nice effort); wallpapered her car (I really don't know what to say...).

Then she finally hit on something: She had a big frameless mirror so she smashed a bunch of dishes (I think she does that pretty regularly anyway) and glued the pieces on the mirror, making herself a mosaic frame.

Then she made it the centerpiece of an art wall in her family room.

Good idea, no? Can't wait for the next one...

A Snapshot: This chick doesn't slow down

2008-06-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

Here's one more from Chris: She bought this piece of paper for about 50 cents at a scrapbooking store and framed it. Great idea!

Green with envy, that is

2008-06-26T09:18:00.008-04:00

I've got to tell you something: When it comes to preserving the environment, I'm as green as the next guy.

Unless the next guy is my sister-in-law, who unwraps presents centimeter by centimeter to save the wrapping. And unless it's my neighbor who composts. Or that guy who drives the electric car...

But here's one thing I definitely do: Reuse furniture and other household items. Not only does it save the environment, but the result is usually much better than what you could buy new.

Take, for example, that garden gate my clever friend Marianne put in her garden. She got it at a second-hand store, hung a little sign on it announcing "Sullivan's Sunny Side" and planted around it. Looks great, especially in contrast to the white fence.

A note of caution: When it comes to re-using older weathered items, practice restraint. A few items are charming. Too many items, and you've gone from Martha Stewart to Sanford and Son.

A Snapshot: Brought to you by Mother Nature

2008-06-26T08:30:00.001-04:00

Another idea from Marianne that you can steal: Tie starfish or other shells to twine and drape outdoor stairs. Move your house to the ocean, too, if you can manage it.

Toys? What toys?

2008-06-25T10:00:00.005-04:00

Ever wish we lived back in the day when kids had like one toy apiece? It might have been a dried up apple core, a wee strip of tree bark, maybe some fossilized dinosaur poop?

Storing those toys would have been easy. Today, not so much.

Here's a suggestion for keeping children's things under wraps in the more public rooms of the house.

See the cabinet up there? I got that for $5 at an auction. It needed a few nails, a little stain and I hacked off the legs.

And here was the tricky part: I nailed a few starfish (dried; I think the live ones would wiggle too much) to the doors. Just use little nails and don't whack them too hard.

It's about four feet tall and inside there are wooden drawers when little toys live and some shelves for games.

I'd love to hear if you have any good ideas for storing toys in your living room or family room. Pass them along!

Steal these baby shower ideas

2008-06-24T08:58:00.001-04:00

My cousin is adopting a baby boy from Vietnam and her shower was this weekend. She received a lot of lovely gifts both for her new baby and for children at the orphanage in Vietnam.

There are two things you should know about this shower: One is that I won first-place in the getting-to-know-the-guests game. It's some sort of point of pride with me to win and I often do...even if I have to trample, push or otherwise horrify complete strangers to do it.

(For example: You know that game where you get to steal clothespins or bracelets that guests have collected if you get them to say the bride or mom-to-be's name? Here's how to win: Walk up to a stranger, introduce yourself and then say nothing else.

In an attempt to fill the awkward silence, the woman will inevitably say: So, how do you know (insert bride or mom-to-be's name)? Then you rip the bracelets or clothespins off the person, scream "Loser!" and run away. It's a great way to win...and to get to know people.)

Anyway, the second thing you should know about this party: There were a few great baby shower ideas:

The centerpieces were Tonka trucks. They were filled with fortune cookies, because the shower was at an Asian restaurant, but any treat would work, and balloons were tied to them. Some trucks will go to our new little guy, the rest to the orphanage.
Guests got to learn some words in Vietnamese thanks to English/Vietnamese flash cards on the table.
Finally, the mom-to-be's sister created a book with family photos and asked guests to write a message to the baby. I'm not sure but I think a few people were warning him about me...