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A window on the world or how to decorate a window seat

Diane — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:15:47 +0000

A window seat is often just a small area placed in front of a window that is wide enough to sit on or, if you are really lucky, fully recline. They are often carved out of an area on a stairway landing, in front of a bow window or created between two built in bookcases.

The key to making a window seat inviting is, of course, the amount of plush pillows and cushions that are available. And what a great opportunity to use your favorite decorating fabrics.

House to Home shares a window seat that has been carved out of the corner of the room. With the homespun gingham fabric window treatments and cozy quilts, I could sit here all day long.

If the architecture of your home does not offer a window seat, create your own. Find a spot between two walls, add a bench and some comfortable fabric and you have an instant window seat. In this example there was no window so a mirror adds some reflection. And don’t you just love all that additional storage underneath!

This cheerful kitchen window seat designed by Elizabeth Dinkel is a great spot for an after school snack. It provides a comfortable place to sit with your kids and discuss their day.

This window seat designed by HGTV designer Sarah Richardson turns an ordinary dining room window into an inviting spot to share a cup of tea with a friend or read a good book. It also provides additional seating and showcases several beautiful fabrics. Is there a place in your home for a window seat?

Home decor: Is clearing out clutter the mission impossible of decorating?

Diane — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:00:14 +0000

Do you sometimes feel that an organized home is truly the mission impossible of decorating? Are your closets and drawers overrun with “stuff”? Well you can organize your rooms with three simple products and that, my friends, is your mission should you choose to accept it.

But “How?” you may be asking. Baskets, buckets, bins and boxes is all you need to know.

Baskets not only add wonderful texture to your interior design, they can hold anything from magazines and toys to blankets and remote controls. Add baskets to shelves or place a large one next to your favorite reading spot. You can line them with fabric that coordinates with your decor to prevent items from falling through the cracks, so to speak. And, maybe best of all, they are easy to purchase and very affordable. Check out these beauties from Pottery Barn.

Buckets are the perfect storage solution if you enjoy an industrial look. Fill your buckets with cleaning supplies, crayons and pencils, make-up or even those pesty flip flops that seem to be scattered around the house. Place one at the foot of the stairs to corral all the items that need to be moved upstairs and, with one easy motion you can carry everything at once. Ikea is a great source for buckets of all colors and sizes.

Bins and boxes are the ultimate quick and easy storage system. You can choose from clear boxes with lids to store clothing and shoes or colorful cardboard boxes for photos, craft materials, office supplies, tax records and other items that make your home or office look messy and disorganized. Visit sites like The Container Store and Target for ideas on how to create the perfect storage system for your home.

After all, who doesn’t want a closet or home office that looks like this? (photos courtesy of closet world)

Do you have a favorite way to keep clutter from taking over your home? If so, please share with all of us.

Decorating room by room: 5 tips for a really cool dorm room

Diane — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:00:04 +0000

If you have a child going away to school then you not only know how important it is to them to decorate their dorm rooms but you also know how teeny tiny those rooms really are. In order to get the most function out of a dorm room you will want to think about items that have a multi-purpose such as under bed drawers, space saving bins, lots and lots of shelving, hanging bags, wall pegs etc. All of these items can easily be found in large discount stores such as Walmart and Target as well as The Container Store.

dorm logo from the container store
High Quality Photo

But there is more to decorating a dorm room than just storage! The kids are more interested in “stuff” like cool bedding, hip artwork and sic colors. (I have probably dated myself with those adjectives but they are the only ones I know)

1. Remember to personalize their space with family photos, memories of high school and even their childhood stuffed animal. As freshmen they are not too grownup for this stuff yet.

2. How about a special lap quilt that features their favorite colors that they can toss over their legs on chilly study nights.

3. A bulletin board is a must for tacking up class schedules, photos etc. Use colored ribbon for a girl or back it with burlap and add twine and clothespins for a young man. Here’s a link to a great tutorial for covered bulletin boards.

4. Those beds are small so make it as comfortable as possible with a memory foam topper and a cozy down comforter. High thread count sheets will also be appreciated, IF you can find them in the x-long twin size required.

5. Plush towels and plenty of them will also be appreciated. Send your girls to school with a shower wrap that will protect their privacy. Buy them at the store or, better yet, make your own out of pretty and absorbent terry cloth.

Life in a dorm room can be exciting and overwhelming at the same time. This is a transitional time for both you and your child. Make their dorm room as comfortable as possible so they can relax and enjoy college life…and maybe even squeeze in some study time!

ABC’s of decorating: the letter J

Diane — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:00:23 +0000

The letter J is for junk. We all have it—piles of decorating magazines we haven’t read yet; baby clothes we can’t bear to part with even though Junior starts college next year; books that we have read over and over or will never read; all those “bargains” we picked up during our garage sale phase. The biggest problem most of us face with this junk is first, parting with it and then how and where to store those items we simply must keep.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

I know this can be painful but it really must be done in order to clean the clutter out of your life. Tackle one area at a time i.e the garage this week, the closets next week. Create three different piles–one to keep, one to throw away, and one to donate. Once you have done this then immediately throw away the items marked “toss” and box the donated items up and drive them to the nearest drop-off box. Arrange for pick-up of old appliances and electronics. There is absolutely no reason to keep out of date electronics. VHS is not coming back so those old videos can go. Now you can concentrate on storing those items you intend to keep.

Storage

There are literally hundreds of products on the market today made specifically for containing and storing items. Large items can be placed in space bags that eliminate the air and “squash” bulky items down to a fraction of their size. This is perfect for out of season clothing, linens and especially for those pesky stuffed animals you just can’t part with. Corral smaller items in clear or color coded boxes that stack nicely in closets and on shelves. Purchase special hooks and racks for large items such as sporting equipment, tools and household appliances like the vacuum cleaner, steamer etc.

Maintenance is the key to any 12-step program

Seriously, after you have spent so much time and energy getting rid of your “junk” you do not want to fall back into bad habits. If you purchase a new blouse, donate one or two other items of clothing. If your kids get a new toy, have them choose several old toys to donate. A good lesson is to take them with you to the donation center and let them experience the joy of giving back to others.

You will be amazed at how much better you feel living and how easier life is in an organized environment.

Eight great dorm room decorating ideas

Diane — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:00:44 +0000

www.pbteen.com
High Quality Photo

How exciting! The time has come for you to move in to your own space even if it is an 8×10 dorm room that will be shared with one, two, maybe even three other girls. The trick to dorm room decorating is to find storage in every little nook and cranny available and to use items that are multi-purpose. And while you want the room to be pretty and reflect your personality, it must be functional first. Here are eight easy ideas that may help when it comes time to create your own space.

Most dorms do not allow you to paint the walls. Besides, how difficult would it be to get all you girls to decide on a color? To hide those ugly dorm room walls (or at least your section) create a custom message board that is half cork to post notes and pictures and half white board to write reminders etc. In place of all those posters that serve no functional purpose, this can hang right above your bed. Paint the molding a color that coordinates with your bedding and it will act as a headboard.
Under bed storage is a must; as are units with drawers and wheels. Shops like The Container Store have items made specifically for a dorm room and there are cool colors and patterns available.
Space bags make it possible to store out of season clothing and bedding in small spaces, allowing you to be comfortable all year long.
If you know your roommates, you can coordinate your bedding for a real pulled together look. But chances are you will meet her on the first day of check-in. Result—each girl will have different colors and patterns. So choose what makes you happy and comfortable. Buy the best sheets you can afford so insure a good night’s sleep because you are going to need it!
To help ease the pangs of homesickness, be sure to have plenty of pictures of your family and friends around. To save space, have these pictures transferred on to a lap quilt, pillow case, wall hanging or tote bag.
Even something as simple as clothes hangers can make a decorative statement. For an uncluttered look, choose hangers in one color that, again, coordinates with your bedding. For a wild and crazy look, buy hangers in all available colors for a rainbow effect. You can assign a color to each type of clothing i.e. red for jeans, blue for blouses etc.
Hanging purses on the wall can act as a functional piece of artwork and add color and texture at the same time.
Most dorms provide each student with a small desk and chair. Create a cute slipcover or seat cushion for your chair and turn that utilitarian piece of furniture into something pretty.

Moving into a dorm room is both exciting and scary. Surrounding yourself with your favorite items and your favorite colors will make it possible to create a little home away from home

Upholstery-Ottomans, Footstools and Hassocks

Diane — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:00:11 +0000

There are some pieces of furniture that are simply workhorses in your room because they can be used in so many different ways. Ottomans, footstools and hassocks fall into this category. But is there a difference between these three pieces of furniture? The simple answer is—not really. They are all small pieces of furniture whose purpose is to provide a spot to rest your feet. That being said, ottomans tend to be larger and are often used in lieu of a coffee table; a hassock is smaller and rounder and a footstool is usually a bit lower to the ground and smaller in size. Let’s take a look at the various ways these furniture pieces can be put to work.

Ottomans

It is common to find an ottoman used as a coffee table. They can be made into any shape including round, square and rectangular. The legs can be fitted with casters allowing you to move it out of the way or around the room as necessary. Placing a tray on top of the ottoman will provide a spot set a drink glass or to corral all those necessary items such as eyeglasses, books and the ever present remote. The top can be removable, exposing lots of storage space for extra blankets, magazines etc.

This trend of using an ottoman in place of a coffee table will work in any interior. A tufted velvet ottoman with brass casters is lovely in a traditional setting. For a contemporary space, a sleek black leather ottoman on polished chrome legs fits the bill. In a country, eclectic or transitional interior, choose a fabric that coordinates with other fabrics and colors in the room for a coordinated look.

Hassocks

Really just another term for an ottoman, a hassock is generally a bit smaller in size and is often round in shape. These, too could be used as an end table by placing a piece of glass on top. You may consider sliding two hassocks under a console table for use as extra seating when needed. Placing one in front of a fireplace provides a nice spot to warm your toes without taking up too much space. Like ottomans, they can be upholstered in any fabric of your choice.

Footstools

A footstool’s sole purpose is to provide a spot to rest your weary feet. They sit low to the ground, ranging from 9-12″ in height and 12-15″ deep. They can be placed directly in front of a chair, sitting between two occasional chairs or up against a wall holding books until they are needed. Since they are so small you can upholster them in a fabric that you would not want to use in large volume such as an animal print, a bright color, a custom needlepoint etc. Have fun with these.

Tassel trim, braid, gimp and nailheads can all be used to embellish your footstool, ottoman or hassock to add a unique look to your home.