The other day my niece texted me: “Aunt Mary Carol, I’m having a debate with a friend, and we need your help to decide who is right. Is brass back in style?” There was a bottle of wine at stake, so I couldn’t let her down. “Yes, brass is back in!” I assured her. Her swift reply: “You just won me a … [Read more...]
Decorating Dilemma: How to Decorate Above Your Stove
Some spots in your home are easy to decorate. Others … not so much. One of those problematic places is the empty space above your stove. Many of us have a blank wall there, begging for a creative treatment, something to make us smile while we’re slaving over the hot stove. But what? Here are some … [Read more...]
Bathrooms Get Cottage Charm Makeover
Sometimes, I look at photos of homes with large, lovely, almost palatial bathroom spaces, and sigh wistfully. As a lover of historic homes, big bathrooms are not a reality for me, unless I knock out a lot of walls. But I have found that just because your home has little bathrooms doesn’t mean they … [Read more...]
The Cottage Next Door: A Peek at Nancy’s Living Room
Everyone needs a few Happy Places. Spots where they can go to escape from it all and refill their hearts. One of my friend Nancy’s happy places is her cozy cottage, with its snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug rooms that look out over a placid little lake. Lucky me, Nancy’s cottage just happens to be three … [Read more...]
Kids Room Transformation: Georgia’s Room
Speaking from experience, it’s great to be the youngest in a pack of three kids. Despite what my siblings might tell you, as the baby of the family, I was not spoiled, and I did not get away with everything. As our family’s caboose, I was pulled along in the whirlwind of excitement that always … [Read more...]
Kids Room Transformation: Annabelle’s Room
I would love to have grown up as one of the Cook girls, with a mother who is a fearless decorator, who follows her spot-on instincts to create living spaces that are packed with personality. When I saw how Lisa and her middle daughter, Annabelle, reinvented Annabelle’s bedroom, I was agog. I wanted … [Read more...]