Let’s be completely frank and, um–open. Before you commit to open shelving as a design element in your home, you need to know: is open shelving for you? What is open shelving? Basically, it’s shelves without doors. We may tend to think of open shelves only as those planks mounted directly to the wall with brackets […]

Signs. They’re everywhere.  You know, “The Rules of This Family”, “Live, Laugh, Love”, and (my personal favorite) “I’m Sorry for What I Said When I Was Hungry”. I love ’em, too–they’re funny and sentimental and sometimes just what you need for a certain wall spot. But only SOMETIMES.  Because face it, when a trend gains […]

You don’t have to tell me, I KNOW why that living room makes you NOT want to ask folks over: It’s drab and dated. The furniture is still where the store delivery guy set it down 10 years ago. And the room doesn’t even work for your family, let alone guests. But change is possible!  […]

Ghastly to Gorgeous Galley Kitchen: 5 Tips. Love your home and your galley kitchen? You don’t have to knock down every wall to make it work! When my client was over her dark, dated space, we gave her galley kitchen a fresh, bright makeover—without changing the footprint. Think white cabinets to bounce the light, sleek […]

In the previous post, I showed you the first basic layer of lighting in a room: general illumination.  Usually a ceiling fixture or pot lights, general lighting gives overall lighting to your room or area.  But as they say on tv, “Wait! There’s more!” So let’s look at another important layer of lighting… Task Lighting […]

I know you never do this: you’re driving along through a part of town where you like the houses, whether historical district or newer builds that appeal. It’s dusk or dark, and through the unshuttered windows or open drapes (these folks obviously don’t mind you looking!) you see the happy welcoming glow of lamps and […]

How to Decorate a Nook in the Wall Nook: n. a secluded or sheltered place or part. As in, “I searched every nook and cranny” (whatever a cranny is!) Now, you may have some architectural recessed walls, or some call them niches,  in your house–older homes almost always do, and new bungalow or cottage-style plans often […]

Yep, it’s coming up sure enough summer now (100 degrees+ in Texas), so it’s not like we’re using our fireplaces. BUT that doesn’t mean we should IGNORE them.  Because the fireplace and mantel are always a focal point of the room, we should give them their design due in any season.  Keep reading…. The oh-so-current […]

A cheery color palette, a jam session corner, billiard and ping pong tables, gaming and movie center–SCORE! This bright rec room I designed for an active family ticks all the boxes for fun summer days ahead! Spectators following the pool game can perch on the galvanized stools, and the indestructible table is handy for drinks. Colorful […]

I wonder where the idea of displaying plates as art came from? For sure, those who collected rare blue and white china hundreds of years ago put their treasures on display. Later, maybe folks who couldn’t afford art put up their pretty dishes for decoration, first on plate racks and then–“Hey, why not directly on […]