Some people are all in when it comes to buying new versus used furniture. They can’t imagine why anyone would take the time to “save” a piece just to save a few bucks. If you’re on Team New, I respect that. However, in this blog I’ll make a pitch for refinishing—even if you’ve never refinished a piece before. I view refinished pieces like the rescue dogs of interior design. True, they may take more effort, and you may have to look past some initial flaws, but they have the potential to bring great fulfillment and joy to your life.

Summer is officially here! Results may vary, depending on your location. Here in Southern California it finally feels like summer has arrived. We are lovin’ those epic rays! And warmer weather means more outdoor time, so read on to learn five tips to help you make your outdoor space even more enjoyable. No rocket science here, just a few simple ideas you may not have considered lately to make your outdoors become the “great” outdoors.

Whether you’re seeking a specific item for a planned project, or hoping the perfect item finds you and slyly whispers an idea for a new project into your mind, thrifting is the answer. While not all thrifting trips may be productive, each presents the promise of grand adventure. People who fish know sometimes the best days on the lake end with a nearly empty bucket. No big catches, but maybe a great story: You should have seen the one that got away! So you keep returning to the water for the experience, and because you know if you’re patient, when you least expect it, a “big one” will leap out and practically land in your boat. On my most recent thrifting outing I had barely dropped my line in the water when I reeled in two of my very best catches.

Bees play a vital role in the life cycle of flowers that make our outdoor spaces lovely and more enjoyable. Unfortunately, bees are facing a rising threat of population loss, so many advocates are shouting “Save the bees!” Since redesign is all about eco-friendly design, I began researching the best ways to keep bees away from the areas where my family and pets hang out. If you share this problem, read on for a more bee-friendly solution.

If you know me or have read my blogs for any significant time, you know that I proudly consider myself to be a paint fanatic. I preach the gospel of paint. So what’s the best and most affordable way to completely change the feel of a room? Say it with me, brothers and sisters……PAINT! And if I were running for president on the paint platform of the paint-ocratic party –someone should really do that – you can be assured that “I approve of this message.”

As a longtime paint proponent, I’ve logged many hours, and square feet, of vertical space enhancement. I’m happy to share some of my favorite tips and tricks to help you step up your paint game.

Color is a love-hate thing. I know this from many years of helping people with their home’s interior. Although people love how color enhances their home and their life, many hate choosing colors due to fear. What if I pick the wrong color? What if the color in the store doesn’t look good in my home? What if the color looks weird next to other colors in the room? The fears are many, and the struggle is real. So, if you want more color in your home and life, but you struggle—even a bit—with selection, then read on. Let me share an unforgettable tool. A simple mnemonic device to make choosing colors much easier.

Redesign means different things to different people. In today’s blog I’ll explain what it means to me. This, in turn, may prompt you to think about redesign and what it might mean in your life.

Have you ever chosen a paint color, one you absolutely love, and then once it’s up on the walls your love has turned to lukewarm like or downright disdain? Why? Why is this happening, you may ask yourself—especially if you already painted the entire living room the color you just knew would be perfect.

Today I’m going to share with you three things that can affect your color choice. Once you’ve learned these, you won’t ever have to suffer “painter’s remorse” again! So let’s walk through them.

What do you get when you take a run-down, falling-apart, completely ugly shelving unit and apply a little TLC and DIY magic? The answer is amazing. You get an amazing solution to the common problem of needing more storage in your laundry room. Or an amazingly cute piece to create an instant mudroom space. Move over ugly duckling. It’s time for the tale of the ugly shelving.

When we talk about designing or decorating our homes, we often talk about injecting our personality so we feel as comfortable as possible. Did you know that the way you choose to decorate and design your home can reflect whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert? Let’s break things down and explore intro v. extro interiors. The awareness may help you customize your space to better suit your inner you.

Many people get hung up when it comes to choosing a color scheme for a room they want to redesign. If you’re one of those people, you won’t be for long. In this blog ’ll share a very special trick to help you cruise when you need to choose. On the basis of that last sentence you’re probably thinking, “Michele, are you a wizard? Or a poet? Or both?” True wizard poets never reveal themselves. Let’s leave it at that.

If you follow along, you know my other blog this week was about spring cleaning, decluttering, and organizing. Those activities often lead to the realization that we have a bunch of stuff we no longer need or use. If your stuff has grown to an embarrassingly large amount, you can blame the hoarders in your family tree (we all have them) OR turn your vice into a virtue by helping others through a garage sale. Set some low, low prices, give to others, and get rid of your stuff!