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My Old Chairs Get a New Look

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 10:22:54 +0000

Well folks, the day has finally arrived. I know most of you have long since lost interest in my chair saga, but remember how I spent FOREVER trying to choose a fabric? First I tried to choose a fabric...

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Buying Furniture - What It'll Cost You

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:00:16 +0000

Decorating can be expensive. That's the truth. It's not to say that you can't decorate on a budget and keep costs down, but decorating a house or even just a room will cost you some of your hard earned money. To help you figure out what things really cost so you can set a realistic budget for your decorating projects I've started a series of articles about the costs of interior decorating. The fist one is Furniture-Buying Costs. It's tough to say exactly what a piece of furniture will cost because there are so many variables but these are some of the common prices you can expect to find when you head out shopping.

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A Look at George Clooney's House...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:30:47 +0000

Do you want to get into George Clooney's house? Come on, of course you do. Check out these shots from the recent episode of Person to Person on CBS (via Hooked on Houses). I don't think any more needs to be said.

Working with Interior Designers

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:59:36 +0000

In my 12+ years in the interior design industry I've worked with countless interior decorators and clients, and in that time I've noticed the same issues come up again and again. The designer/client relationship is an interesting one and communication is very important. I've touched on that subject in this article about working with designers. Have a look and see what you think. I'd love to hear back from designers and people who have worked with them so please feel free to leave a comment on this post.

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For Serious Decorating Addicts Only...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:56:18 +0000

How many of you are on Pinterest? I got on a couple of days ago and I'm hooked. For those of you who don't know, Pinterest is like an online pin board. Anytime you find an image you like on the Internet you can "pin" it, and keep track of all your favorite photos. You can allow other people to see your boards and you can check out everyone else's. I'm pleased to say our very own website is nicely represented - thanks guys! If you haven't tried it yet, here's the link. You have to request invite so be patient. Once they send it to you you'll be just as addicted as the rest of us!

A Case for Butcher Block

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:48:08 +0000

I've been working with some designers lately to design a few kitchens and one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make is what countertop to go with. There are a lot of great options out there but more often than not I go with butcher block. A lot of people think it's not high-end enough but I love the natural, warm look. I also think it looks just as good in modern, sleek spaces as it does in more rustic varieties. Take the picture for example - it's a contemporary, industrial space yet the butcher block adds warmth and makes the space a little less intimidating. The other great thing? It's cheap! Where you spend thousands on a high-end material, butcher block will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars.

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Dark Walls - Dramatic or Depressing?

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:12:00 +0000

When I told my mother I wanted to paint my walls black when I was a teenager she just about had a fit. But this wasn't your average teenage attempt at being dramatic, this was a serious decorating endeavor. I knew that a room with black walls was chic and stylish, but all my mother could imagine was me living in a dark and depressing room indulging my teen angst. In any case, I never ended up doing it, but if I had I like to think I would have ended up with something as beautiful as one of these rooms. In my opinion they're cozy, sophisticated and most of all, gorgeous. What about you? Would you ever paint your walls a dark color?

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Side Chairs � What to Know and How to Buy

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:28:49 +0000

Side chairs are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can own. They're practical, they can be used as great decorative accents, and they can move easily from room to room. Before you go out and buy some of these handy pieces think about how you want them to work for you. Check out this Side Chair Buying Guide before you buy, and if you need a little inspiration have a look at our photo galleries.

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Smoke Detectors Take Flight

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:24:54 +0000

We all know that safety should be the top priority in every home and smoke detectors are a must - but they're ugly, right? Not necessarily. The Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was developed through a Dutch design contest aimed to raise awareness of fire hazards in the home. It was originally intended for children's rooms but it could be really fun in a lot of different spaces. What's also different is that it doesn't make that awful screaming sound of most smoke detectors. At the first sign of smoke the bird starts chirping and as the threat becomes more serious it gets louder and makes a "dee-dee-dee sound", alerting you to danger..

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Object of Affection � Zebra Lampshade

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:18:36 +0000

I always say that decorating is about the details, and one detail that often gets overlooked is the lampshade. Every time I go into a house that's full of plain, pleated lampshades I die a little bit inside. Not because they're ugly (although I personally don't care for them) but because they've been done to death. There are so many amazing options out there that there's no need to resort to the old standard. Take this zebra lampshade...

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