Check out this dining room makeover from Better Homes & Gardens in 1956.
Clearly, the dining room was “hideous” before, deemed “gloomy” in the copy, with its hardwood floors, bare window, high ceiling, and chandelier.
The designer fixed these problems by painting the high ceiling pink to “bring it down,” covering the window with drapes, installing wall-to-wall [...]
My friend Cindy over at The Amateur Tightwad told me I had to check out Anna Maria Horner’s amazing kitchen makeover, and I’m so glad she did. Wait until you see what lies beyond those bright blue doors!
Have you heard of Anna Maria Horner yet? If not, you’re in for a treat. Anna Maria is [...]
Hmmm. Something’s just not right with this kitchen. Do you see it? If you want to get a look at it from another angle, click “more” below.
Yesterday we talked about the difference a framed mirror can make in a bathroom. Today I’m going to show you the difference it made in one of ours.
This is what my 5-year old daughter Lily’s bathroom looked like when we moved into our house in 2003 (in the days before we had a digital camera, [...]
You know how much I love a good makeover. Well, when I saw what that talented twosome over at Ramblings of a Renovating Couple did with this unremarkable little space in their house, transforming it into a cheery and functional at-home office, I asked if I could show it to you, and they graciously agreed.
Home [...]
I recently received this cry for help:
Dear Abby (I mean Julia),
I know you’re into decorating with black and white, but can you offer any advice for those of us that are stuck with navy blue carpet - yuk- in the master bedroom?
Sincerely yours,
Stuck with the Blues
It’s finally Spring, and I’m craving color. I thought it would be fun to look at some rooms that are bright and bold thanks to some daring paint choices.
This colorful room, for example, was inspired by a Roy Lichtenstein painting, with the colors outlined in black electrical tape to capture the effect of the artist’s 1990s “Interiors” series. Interesting how it [...]
“Beauty doesn’t lie in the expenditure of much money, but in the artistic disposition of little.” -The Mothers Magazine, 1917
Here’s an excellent example of how a little time and effort can make a big difference. I don’t have a “before” photo of this small mudroom, but it was filled with trash, covered in dirt and [...]
As promised, I’m now going to tell you how I used those black-and-white pillows that I found at Ikea.
I had an empty corner of my master bathroom underneath the window, so I had added a bench there with a couple of pillows. The seat of the bench opens up, adding handy storage, but the natural [...]
In the interest of full disclosure, since we’re talking about wallpaper today, I have to admit that I used to sell it. I not only worked for a year at Wallpapers to Go, but I sold more rolls than I can count as a designer’s assistant in the 1990s.
Maybe this explains my aversion to it [...]
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"What a great blog---more like the Disneyland of Blogging for those who love to decorate. I could be lost here for days!!" -Suzann of Lavender & Roses
