DIY Project Im Loving

I’ve done this trick before on Design on a Dime and it really is a great way to repurpose an old table and add surface space.  In this case, your old table becomes a new desk by cutting off half of it and nailing it to the wall.  This is perfect for small spaces too!  Interested in making it?  Email me and Ill pass over the directions.

Canadian House and Home

Behr Paint Contest Winners

Congrats Mark, Grisel, Guillermo, Monica and Michelle!  They have won 3 free gallons of Behr’s Ulta Premium Plus Paint.  Happy painting!

Decorating for the Recession…10 Ideas Under $100!

Grab your paint brushes, your light bulbs and your storage bins folks…. here are 10 easy decorating ideas for less than $100.

1.  Go where you can get things cheaper.  Thrift stores, flea markets, Craigslist or your friend who is moving.  Chances are if you help them pack and move, they’ll start handing you things that they don’t want to take with them.  Ive gotten some great stuff this way and may have lost a few pounds too!

2.  Bartering.  I found several people online that were interested in trade.  If you can’t tile, but can create websites, consider working on a trade basis to keep your costs down.  Who knows… that tile guy may be in need of a new website to draw in new business?

3.  Invest in paint first.  Your cheapest most inexpensive option.  It doesn’t just have to be on the walls either.  It can be on the furniture or even the floor.  Check out this great picture from Metropolitan Home of a floor rug that was painted on!

4.  Modernize your lighting. Replace old lampshades, switch to clear or globe bulbs, spray paint old bases or place lighting in unexpected places like on the kitchen  or bathroom counter.

5.  Repaint your front door and invest in new house numbers.  This is the first thing people see when they come to your house.  You want the first impression to be spectacular.  You might even want to consider wallpapering the foyer.  This will provide a dramatic entrance every time.

6.  Give your furniture an overhaul.  Now you have several options here.  You can sand, stain, paint, wallpaper or you can do what Lindsay over at Penny People did. She used inexpensive unfinished Ikea furniture and gave it her own spin.  Check out how great this furniture makeover is!

7.  Branches, flowers and herbs.  I decorate and I cook with them.  A perfect money saving combo.

8.  Change your furniture arrangement around.  Sometimes even pairing your outdoor benches with your dining table can give it a whole new look.

9.  Hide the clutter.  Your space will seem so much more organized and less chaotic.  I love this idea of putting a roller shade onto a bookshelf courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens.  Easy, inexpensive and your hardware store should be able to cut it to size for you.

10.  Window Treatments. To give the illusion of a higher ceiling go with vertical stripes or hang you curtain rods as high as they can go.  Or buy a plain white shade a design it yourself with stencils, ribbon or trim.  I’ve even used an inexpensive shower curtain because it went well with the space.

Texas, Chicago and the rest of the World…Here I come!

Exciting news!!  I have signed on to give you the dish both in person and on the radio.  I will be the guest speaker at a few home shows across the country this fall, as well as a guest speaker and designer every Thursday at 2:15 EST on Heartbeat Radio for Women on WRHB 1410 am .

Here’s where you can find me:

Home Decor and Remodeling Show in Katy, Texas on September 12 & 13

Chicago Bungalow Association and Green Home Expo, Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL on October 17

Heartbeat Radio for Women WRHB 1410 am

Behr Free Paint Giveaway

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT!!!  SUBMIT YOUR PIC’S OF THE ROOM OR PROJECT IN NEED OF A MAKEOVER AND REGISTER TO WIN 3 FREE GALLONS OF BEHR’S PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA PAINT.  CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT!

Design Blooms with Zoe and Kate

Some things I just can get enough of and one of them is flowers.  So recently, while looking at Casa Sugar,  I was turned on to Zoe Bradley.  Once I checked out her stuff I was hooked.  Zoe’s paper and floral creations are amazing.    She has designed for some of the top names doing catwalks, window installations, and theatre, just to name a few.  Below is a window display that she did for Kate’s Paperie.

After I saw all Zoe’s window installations, my dream to be a visual artist went from, “That would be fun” to “Who will have me?” The good part is that Ive been blessed with a friend who does both.  She is not only an amazing visual artist (she used to work for Anthropologie), but also creates flowers on Etsy just like the ones in the window.   Now you can have a Zoe Bradley look for less!  Check out my girlfriend Kate Burger‘s flowers below and go to her Etsy site HERE.