Throw pillows are, undeniably, one of the best and most cost-effective ways to elevate the whole design of a room. Just look at any beautifully staged home, catalog picture, or shelter magazine and picture the room without the pillows...it falls flat, doesn’t it? BUT How many should I use? What size should they be? How does their arrangement impact the room? So. Many. Questions.
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4 Ways The Right Curtains Make a Big Difference
The right window treatments can transform a room - they can be functional, providing privacy or light control, or they can be decorative framing a view, or softening a sea of hard surfaces. Curtains, shades, and valances are more than just a frilly extra. They can correct architectural problems, or highlight architectural features.
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Organizing the Linen Closet
A well organized linen closet is a beautiful thing! It can make life both more efficient and more enjoyable if opening your linen closet makes you smile instead of causing you dread at the potential avalanche of linens or toiletries.
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Entertaining Outdoors
Outdoor entertaining season is here…well at least according to the calendar it is. I know those of you in other parts of the country are enjoying lovely gardens and warm sunshine, but here in the northeast we can’t seem to shake the damp and cold. And “at least it isn’t snow” only counts for so much now that it is MAY. As my friend Nancy remarked this morning, “I think I’m beginning to mold!”! In any case, EVENTUALLY we will get some gorgeous weather to make us forget all about this slime. And when we do it will be full steam ahead with outdoor living and parties so we are planning now in anticipation!
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Bespoke Lighting and Lampshades
Seen Around Town: Blanche Field Bespoke Lampshades and more…If you want something truly special, and uniquely yours, this is the place to get it!
As I was at the Boston Design Center this week sourcing fabrics for a project, I stopped into the Blanche Field showroom to
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Planning a Kitchen Renovation
What is the MOST important thing when planning a kitchen renovation? Space planning. This is THE most critical aspect of design. – especially for renovation projects. it’s kind of like putting lipstick on a pig to put
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Are fake plants okay?
I love plants. Really. I do. And I can even keep some of them alive as long as I can reach them easily with a hose while standing on my deck with my morning mug of tea.
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Designing Curtains for Challenging Windows
There are many different shapes and sizes of windows, and some present more of a challenge than others when it comes to treating them. With any window, you first need to know what you are trying to accomplish - adding softness and pattern to a room, framing a view, providing privacy or light control or all of the above! Transom windows, arched windows, Palladian windows, dormers and cathedral ceilings and unusual rooflines all add to the conundrum.
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The best way to decorate 'ON TREND' now without risking 'DATED DECOR' later
All home decor cycles through trends. Some are fun, but short-lived, some we hope will be short-lived, and some are trends that turn into new classics. Hindsight is 20/20, of course, but when you aren’t sure if a trend will be dated down the road, what should you do?
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5 Key Elements to Creating a Decorating Plan
Whenever you are designing a room, whether you are accessorizing, redecorating, remodeling a room in your house, or moving to a new home entirely, the number one route to a successful outcome is to have a well thought out PLAN.
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Matching Lampshades to Lamp Bases
Lamps. We all need them. Overhead lights, if they exist in a room, are not conducive to reading or creating a pleasant, relaxing atmosphere. For spaces where the furniture arrangement may be flexible, and light is needed at eye level, lamps are the only option. And it is not that easy to find a good one!
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Mantel Styling
As promised, here are some practical tips for styling a mantel, and I’ve included inspiration boards to illustrate a few possible suggestions which can be adapted for your particular style and colors. There are an endless variety of ways to style a mantel, but they all fall into 2 main categories: symmetrical and asymmetrical, or balanced.
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