Well, we’ve survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but the gift shopping season is just beginning in earnest. Here is our list of 10 favorite gift ideas:
Read MoreWhat height stool do I buy?
Vanity stools, Counter stools, bar stools…which one do I need?
Stools are a great small way to change and upgrade the look of your room. These seats can go a long ways toward furthering the design details of the room – they are an opportunity for a splash of color in a monochromatic sea of cabinetry, or a place to add some softness and texture with a fabric and upholstery details. There are many choices – fabric, leather or wicker, wood or metal, swivel or not, legs or pedestal, casters or not, backs or not and if so how tall…but by far the most important thing to get right for functionality is the seat height. Too low and your chin will be resting on the counter and too high and your legs will be wedged uncomfortably beneath it!
Read MoreLucia Roll Recipe
Lucia Rolls are a tradition for Thanksgiving in our house ever since my sister-in-law, Sharon, introduced me to these exquisite bites of heaven. Apparently, though none of us are the least bit Scandanavian by heritage, this is a traditional treat served for St. Lucia’s Day on December 13th. Being the overachievers that we are, we start early!
Read MoreTrade Secrets: Throw Pillows
Throw pillows often seem like an unnecessary extra, but they are sometimes the glue that holds the whole design scheme together. And while you might find ready made pillows that fit the bill, sometimes custom pillows are the best way to get exactly what you need.
Read MoreThe Truth About Performance Fabrics
What do we mean by performance fabrics? Do they sing and dance? Twirl a baton? Do magic tricks? DO THEY ACTUALLY PERFORM??
For the premium price, maybe they should…and maybe they do perform magic tricks, in a manner of speaking…
Read More2019 Color of the Year...and the winner is...
The much anticipated Benjamin Moore 2019 Color of the Year was announced today and it is….drumroll…
Read MoreThe joy of slipcovers - and the secret to getting a deal!
Slipcovers are a great option for re-purposing your upholstered furniture. If you have pieces that are comfortable and have great lines but worn or dated upholstery fabric, slipcovers are a less expensive alternative to reupholstery and are potentially washable as well!
I have met many clients who immediately dismiss the idea of slipcovers because they associate them with something that looks like this…
Read MoreTales from the Kitchen: Apple Picking Season
Fall is apple season in New England and at our house that means a few things.
Most importantly, CIDER DONUTS. If you don’t live here and have never experienced a still warm, sugar coated cider donut at an orchard, I’m sorry for you. These are one of life’s best little pleasures.
Read MoreReusing Furniture in a New Home
ReNesting, reusing, repurposing - they all mean essentially the same thing when it comes to transitioning your furniture to a new house. We have helped a lot of our clients transition their stuff when they move with our ReNesting service.
Read MoreCreating a Gracious Guest Room
‘Tis the season when out of town guests show up to stay with you. Assuming you actually want them to stay, here are a few tips for the gracious host on creating a welcoming guest room.
Think of your guest space as a boutique hotel suite, and plan accordingly.
Read More3 Tips for Creating a Dream Kitchen
Updating a kitchen is on my mind lately…I’ve had the privilege of helping many clients create their dream kitchens over the last 20 plus years. Researching new trends and gaining knowledge about the latest available options is one of my favorite pastimes. And my own kitchen saga taught me a few things early on as well.
Read MoreTrade Secrets: Designing Small Spaces
Designing small spaces is a unique challenge. Like all good design, function, appearance, and comfort are all supremely important, but in small spaces, every inch counts.
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