In this last post of 2023 I wish you, and your home, the happiest of holidays! If you’ve read my blogs, you know I think of a home as having a heart and soul and personality, so the sentiment seems appropriate. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support. You’ve helped make this a pivotal year for The Redesign Habit and that is an amazing gift I will always treasure. No matter where our business journey takes us, I’m grateful to have your support during these first, most scary and challenging steps.

Happy holidays to you! Many of us are starting to feel the “holiday crunch,” and no I don’t mean a tasty treat – although treats are on my mind, and in my tummy, lately. I mean the feeling that there’s too much to do and little time and money to get it all done. The three recipes that I am going to share with you today will make at least part of your holiday planning a little easier and certainly more delicious!

Today I’m flipping the script on choosing colors for your home. Instead of providing guidance on what to do, I’ll focus on what NOT to do. What will happen if you do the things I advise against? Well, I may show up at your door proclaiming to be commissioner of the color police to publicly shame you, although that’s rather unlikely. But not impossible. You've been warned. Of course, it’s your home and you should do what you want. My hope is these “negative” tips help you avoid some common pitfalls and achieve positive results. We’re both looking for the same solution – for you to love where you live!

I’m baaaaaaaack! Wow, what an exciting and wonderful time we had in Japan! There is so much to share with you all. It was a time for family, food, drink, sights, sounds, and unforgettable experiences. Did I bring you something back? Of course I did! You know I wouldn’t forget about my favorite followers just because I travelled to the future (Japan is 16 hours ahead of my normal U.S. Pacific Time zone). My gifts to you, which will spread across a number of blogs and YouTube videos, include images I’m confident will beguile and inspire you and design-related observations I hope will help you see new options from a new perspective. So, let’s get started!

Konnichiwa! Passports? Check. Plenty of yen? Check. House/dog sitters? Check. Ready for the trip of a lifetime? Check. We are about to embark on an adventure in Japan and we’re so excited.

Today’s blog is all about an early birthday gift from my hubby, tickets to the 2023 San Diego Modern Home Tour. He knows just what this birthday girl likes. Beautiful weather. Beautiful homes. Leisurely pace. Lots to see and learn. And one more gift – the opportunity to share the experience with you. I hope you find this secondhand blog tour (blour?) educational and enjoyable.

I’m sure our story isn’t all that different than a lot of yours. You know the one…the one where you’re able to afford a great house in a terrific neighborhood. With a catch. The house hasn’t been updated since it was built over 20 years ago. Well we’ve been catching up in our “new house” for six years now, and we have been slowly but surely worked our way through the very, very long list of needed updates. This year, 2023, was deemed the year of the bathroom. In our house, we are fortunate to have three bathrooms. One powder room and two full baths, including an en suite to the primary bedroom. Stay tuned for our primary bath reno for a journey that included some crazy twists and turns – and dubious sales tactics – but ultimately a great result.

This is a furniture makeover challenge I issued to myself. Let me set the stage…

My hubby and I recently redesigned my workshop in the garage. There was an old buffet piece I had been using as a workbench. Now, with the new workshop area, there was no longer a place for the buffet. Being a reuse and repurpose girl at heart, I couldn’t with good conscience throw out a piece of furniture (no matter how scary the current condition was) without trying to fix it up and pass on to someone who could use it. This is where the makeover story begins.

Many, many hours. That’s what I spend in my garage working on different projects. Some for fun and some for work, which, thankfully, is also fun. The projects range from furniture redesign and refinishing to crafting and decorating projects. When you do something for many, many hours, you’re smart if you make the space that you’re working in the best it can be. That definitely was not the case with my garage space – but that’s all changed now, baby! I got me a great workspace and I’m oh so happy! It’s nothing fancy, and people with a really nice, dedicated workshop may not be impressed. But for this redesign gal, it’s just right. Let me share how I got from workshop mess to workshop bliss…

So you may wonder why on earth you would ever need to know how to read a floor plan. You got me. I cannot guarantee this skill will benefit you. However, if you ever remodel your home, look at design magazines, or simply want to use a simple floor plan to rearrange a room in your home, this skill can come in very handy. And learning new things is always good. And think of all the other ways you probably spend part of your time…seen any cat videos lately? Case closed. Read on to get the low-down on floor plans!

Quick: What’s the purpose of accessories? Believe it or not, they do much more than make a space look pretty, although they certainly do that. For example, baskets or decorative containers can function as extra storage. Large pillows, throws, and rugs can add comfort and warmth. Candles, accent lights, and floor lamps not only help you to see better but they can also visually impact a space by making it feel cozy, warm, and intimate. In this blog, I will give you some tips when it comes to choosing those accessories.

Chalk paint can be a magical tool to help you refinish a piece of furniture that has seen better days. Unfamiliar with chalk paint? It provides a hard finish that will cover a lot of imperfections and simply make them disappear. Many brands are available online, in a home improvement center paint department or even in your favorite craft store. While there are lots of good choices, they can be quite expensive. The simple solution to that is to make your own. Today, I will share three different chalk paint recipes I have tried and let you know which is my favorite and why.