28. March 2008 by Parker.

Even with the best catalogs and décor magazines on your desk, you still cannot seem to create the perfect home you desire. Endless trips to the stores, an exorbitant number of purchases and returns, and still no final product to cherish. You are surely not alone on this endeavor. These are ten decorating mistakes often made along the home décor journey.

Beige: Just because builders and real estate agents have a homogenous relationship with beige, does not mean that it is the right color for every room in your home. Accent walls add depth to a space, vertical stripes add height, and borders add width. By utilizing paint and even unique wallpapers, you can transform a hollow space into a cozy den without breaking your wallet.

Heights and Widths: It is easy to fall in love with a gorgeous piece of artwork or even an elegant settee on the showroom floor, but will it fit within the confines of your home? Art should be relevant to the furniture around it and vice versa. Also, wall accessories should be hung at eye level for someone 5”6 or a minimum of 10 inches above the furniture or chair rail.

Sets: Companies make coordinating pieces to sets so that the consumer can pick and choose which pieces would work best for their abode. However, many people will perpetually buy all the pieces for one room (you know who you are!). Instead, try utilizing a few pieces and add in something complimentary from another company, some personal memorabilia, or even an antique in order to make the room truly yours.

Cookie Cutter Rooms: It is extremely easy to fall into a cookie cutter design and never eat your way out. An episode of Friends where Rachel fills her living room with the exact Pottery Barn display window is a good example. If you love the look of Ethan Allen, go ahead and copy SOME of the design elements, but do not force your home to adapt to what is hip and trendy if it does not fit the vibe of your home.

Jungles: Some people have a natural green thumb and the rest of us barely manage to keep one plant alive for more than 6 months. If you have been blessed with the ability to nurture and care for plants, do not fill every crevice of your home with them. Place groupings of complimentary greenery in specific areas and keep the rest outside in their natural habitat. This also holds true for silk arrangements as faux plants are difficult to keep dust free. Try rotating arrangement for different seasons if it will help you pare down your displays.

Editing: Everyone is a collector of something. The trick is to not display everything throughout the home. Organize accessories by grouping collections together on a table or shelf. Use similar objects and colors together, and remember that using odd numbers of items looks better to the eye. Be an editor and learn the art of choosing and placing. Try rotating furniture and decorative items as well. After all, Holidays and season changes give us the perfect excuse to make some changes.

Stoic: Don’t take interior decoration too seriously. Have a sense of humor and some fun with your space. Whether it’s what you purchase or how you orient items, you have to live there so make sure it’s enjoyable. If a room feels sterile or overly proper, it won’t feel like it was designed for real people. Remember that we don’t live in catalogs, we live in real spaces.

Cliches: Styles like minimalism aren’t for everyone. Don’t fall for all the design clichés because they seem to be in fashion. Feng Shui and French Country may not be your cup of tea, perhaps Art Deco or Colonial? The style should reflect your own personality and taste.

Copycat: It’s natural to see a beautiful dining room in a model home and want to rush out and recreate it in your own space. However, you should not let other homes dictate what you to do in yours. Just because you’ve seen it work somewhere else, does not mean that the look and style is right for your home as well. Think about how you live or how you want to live in a particular room and decorate accordingly.

By taking time to figure out what you need from your home and what décor fits your style and budget, you will surely be able to create the perfect space for your family.

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14. March 2008 by Parker.

Colors and textures change in the design world every season so a room can readily look outdated after only a few years. Since most people cannot afford to redecorate every three to five years or invest hours of labor into a revamp, you may want to put these thrifty options to the test and give your checkbook at vacation in the process.

Movement: A new direction or change in layout of a room can make all the difference. If you couch has been along the same wall for ten years, it may be time to float it in the middle of the room and anchor it with a console table in order to create a truer traffic pattern.

Focal Point: It is normal for homeowners to want to create a universal space within their four walls. However, you also need to find or create a focal point whether it is the fireplace, an exotic piece of artwork, or even a pretty flower arrangement on the tabletop. By focusing these spaces with something eye catching, you give the viewer a starting point within the room and give yourself the ability to draw attention away from any eyesores.

Greenery: Flowers – silk, potted, or dried – can liven up a space instantaneously. Large topiaries can frame a space without much effort, as two flowing hanging plants and a beautiful centerpiece can help add a splash color and variety to the color scheme.

Paint: Paint is by far the easiest and least expensive fix to a room or piece of furniture. Look around at your space and pull colors from the existing artwork and fabrics to create a unified space. With as little as a quart of paint, you can transform a dingy end table or create an accent wall.

Curtains: Have you had the same draperies hanging in your bedroom since before you can remember? Can’t afford a new set? Then take down the old drapes and turn them into a swag or valance to create a fresh look with the same material. You can even use the leftover fabric to make coordinating pillows for your bed.

Pillows: The good news about throw pillows is that they are a simple way to add texture, pattern, and depth to a couch or bed. Toss different yet coordinating colors, fabrics, and sizes for a maximum effect. Still better, they can be changed quickly and affordably. You can feel free to play with various styles throughout the year.

Fabric Disguises: Need a change that costs less than a night at the movies? Then try a throw blanket. A gracefully draped throw blanket will add color, disguise a threadbare couch, and camouflage worn cushions. There are a variety of slipcovers on the market as well these days. A well fitted slipcover can hide an embarrassing couch or even a dining room chair. Just make sure that you do not get so cover crazy that your dining area starts to look like a sea of fabric as seen in our before picture.

Rugs: Much like throws, rugs can add instant color and appeal as well as hide scratched floors or stained carpets. Pick a bold shade for immediate impact or opt for a unique pattern that draws attention. An area rug is a wonderful way to define a conversation area, split a large room, and add a little warmth along the way.

Hardware: Replacing hardware on your cabinets or dresser can also be revitalizing. Cabinets make a huge first impression in a kitchen so replacing something as simple as knobs and handles can update and dress up the cabinets in a matter of minutes.

Clutter: The fastest way for your space to feel more contemporary and updated is to eliminate clutter. Newer designs call for less “stuff”, sleeker lines, and bolder hues. Trashcans can be hidden under sinks, magazines inside storage boxes, extra shoes within closets, and more. Clutter can affect the feel of the room and cancel out your desired mood so find innovative ways to store the things you need and purge those you do not.

Often we fall into the mistake of thinking that the only way to redecorate a room is through elaborate changes and expensive furnishings. Wrong. A few inexpensive and simple solutions will bring new life to any room. You do not have to break the bank to easily and economically fix many decorating problems.

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4. March 2008 by Parker.

If you think children’s birthday parties are getting out of control, you need to check out this place. This website wants to raise awareness of the problem and offer alternatives for parents and kids who want birthdays without pressure. They are a small group of parents and professionals in St. Paul, Minnesota with a vision to launch a local and national conversation about:

• What is out of control about birthday parties?
• Why they have gotten out of control?
• What are the consequences for kids and parents?
• What can parents do about it?

They also have questions you can ask your child to find out what he or she really likes, and does not like, about birthday parties. Go ahead and browse their website, share your stories, take the quizzes, and spread the word that birthday parties can be fun and enjoyed without pressure.

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2. March 2008 by Parker.

Pets have been becoming more and more like children these days and their doghouses reflect how beloved they truly are. Here are a few high end designs by La Petite Maison:

The canine cabana is actually from HGTV Dream Dog Houses….

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