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.

Sugar and cream blend well in coffee. How about white and cream in your room? In my humble opinion, this blend works as well. If you’ve ever had a bright white room, you know that can create cold, clinical feel. Adding cream or other off-white can help warm up the space providing a nice balanced feel. Read on for tips and sample illustrations to blend shades of white for a wonderfully warm home.

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.

If you pursue a major design or redesign project in your home that carries a significant budget, it may be important to you to choose a “timeless” or “classic” style that will endure the test of time. This is wise thinking as a way to ensure your space will look good for years to come and won’t require another remodel if you would need to sell it. Today, I’ll cover styles that have been popular for years and are almost certain to remain popular well into the future. They’re characterized by classic elements and the ability to adapt to remain contemporary without losing the features we know and love.

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!

An interior floor plan is a two-dimensional rendering of a home’s interior – from a full house, partial section or simply a single room layout. It can be used to define everything from architectural features such as doors and windows down to the smallest accessories like tiny pillows for poodles. Okay, that may be stretching it a bit! Read on to gain a basic understanding of interior floor plans.