Painting a room seems easy. Grab a brush, slap on some color, and voilà, instant transformation! But if you’ve ever stood in front of a wall, paint roller in hand, wondering why your DIY dreams look more like a DIY disaster, you’re not alone. Let’s delve into three common painting mistakes most people make and how to avoid them.

Redesigning a room can be sooo much fun! You stroll into your favorite décor store with a plan to buy one thing. Maybe a new throw pillow or a rug. Suddenly, you’re at the checkout with a velvet ottoman, an abstract painting that "spoke to your soul," and a mosaic tile giraffe. You’re all smiles until you check your bank account and realize that maybe... just maybe... you should have started with a budget. 

Budgeting doesn’t have to suck the fun out of your design dreams! It can be the friend that helps your project come to life IF you follow the simple steps in this blog.

If you ask your favorite search engine, app or robot for the definition of interior design, you’ll get something like…the art and science of creating a functional, safe, and aesthetically pleasing indoor space. Little art, little science. How hard can that be, right? The answer, if you ask most people, is “darn hard.” It can be tricky to make your interior look as good as those amazing Pinterest boards instead of an Ikea catalog that exploded everywhere!

Stay tuned as this blog walks you through common mistakes and how to prevent them. My goal is to help you avoid turning your home into a "what-were-they-thinking" zone.

It’s not quite the thrill of driving a new car off the lot and getting a deep draw of that intoxicating “new car smell, but buying a new piece of furniture is pretty cool, too! However, for a lot of people, it can be a daunting task. There’s a lot to consider and it’s not a cheap endeavor, so having your ducks in a row before you hit the furniture store can save you time and heartache. Fortunately, I’m here to help. Allow me to help you become your own furniture whisperer.

I’ve rented. You may rent – either now or in the future. Renting definitely creates design challenges. So when it comes to creating a loving living space, the message is clear: Renters need love, too! Today we embrace these underserved dwellers as I share five renter-friendly ideas guaranteed to add personality and color to your home.

Redesigning a room in your home can be fun, invigorating, rewarding and…overwhelming. However, in this blog you will learn how to enjoy the fun, invigorating and rewarding parts and overcome that overwhelming part. The secret if to focus on these three factors -- what I consider to be the three most important aspects of any successful redesign project. Nailing these three will give you confidence that your room will deliver the satisfaction you’re seeking.

True or false: Updating your kitchen is easy? False! Of course it’s not easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not fun and rewarding. True or false: Updating your kitchen is expensive? False! Wow, you’re not very good at this, are you? The good news is if you read the rest of this blog, you will become very good at updating your kitchen by getting inspired by five ideas, each under a hundred bucks. And this is absolutely true!

Honest answer: When you think of ways to beautify your home, do pattern and texture come to mind? Based on my experience, “P&T” are far down the list of ways to spiff up a space –below basics like color and light and style and furnishing and flooring and window treatments and a few others, if they make the list at all. If you’re guilty of overlooking P&T, you’re in good company. While P&T may eventually work their way into the redesign of your home, they often are overlooked as important strategic choices. In this blog I aim to elevate P&T to the TOP of your thinking. They can be great tools to help you love where you live®.

I was flipping through my design magazines and came across several articles on home features we no longer use. Some were interesting. Some fun. Some I had never heard of. Some brought back fond memories from my growing up years when a home can mean so much. Read on for five of my faves.

So what’s your design style? If your answer is “Um…you mean the design style that I would say is mine?” Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Many people are left baffled, muddled and befuddled when that question comes up. The good news is that by reading today’s blog you are certain to become non-baffled, de-muddled and un-befuddled if the style question pops up. More importantly, understanding your sense of style will serve you well, whether you’re redesigning one room in your home or doing a whole home makeover. It’s a critical element that will help you love where you live®! So if you’re unsure of what design style(s) you might be, read on for some easy ways to help you figure that out!

You may doubt whether I snagged the best thrift store find ever. However, after reading today’s blog I think you’ll either agree fully or at least agree it’s ONE of the most epic finds ever found. Following are the steps I took to turn this “not too bad” neglected piece into a true beauty.

When writing blogs, typically one finds little opportunity to write Mwhah, hah hah! In this case I feel justified as I am about to describe to you, dear reader, the Tale of Frankenpot. Mwhah, hah hah! (If you just imagined an eerie castle flashing in the night sky by a massive lightning strike, kudos to you.) Caution: If the drama of this tale overwhelms you at any point, please pause your reading and return once your heart has returned to its normal rhythm. Warning: This story starts out scary; however it resolves to a happy, and I think quite lovely, ending. Read on. If you dare!