Decorating Tips and Tricks

What's the deal with antiques? Is it a great time to buy? to sell? Are they still popular? We're talking about which items that have gone up in price and which have gone down. We're also discussing why there has been a big shift in pricing recently. No matter how you slice it, if you love antiques, then enjoy yours. If you want to sell yours, and the total value is over $1,000, then you might want...

Come on over to our houses! We want to share with you what we are up to inside and out. Anita is thinking about becoming an Air BnB host. We have an episode on just that. Listen HERE . Kelly is so pleased with the growth of her hedges after feeding her plants with THESE organic fertilizer stakes. Awnings are a nice addition to many homes. They provide sun/rain protection and might just be the touc...

We are taking a deep dive into dining room tables in this episode. We're talking about what the best dimensions are, the things to consider when buying them, and so much more. Check out these dining room table upcycles that Kelly found HERE We're also sharing some cool dining room tables we found. The links are below. Madeleine dining room table HERE Black metal table with wood top with chairs HER...

When transitioning from summer to fall you can up your general happiness by focusing on home. Taking care of your home is a form of self care that can really increase your overall happiness. Ramp up your happiness at home with our tips and advice. Happier at home = happier overall. Today we have tips & ideas on transiting from summer to fall, easy fall decor touches, fall scents & products...

Negative space is essential to beautiful decor. Today you'll learn why, what it does for your home and how to create it. The use of negative space is not something most people really consider. After listening you will consider it and we think you'll agree no room should be without it. The big take away from today's episode ~ leave room for negative space in every part of your house! Want to feel c...

Home hardware is the unsung hero of decor. If design is in the details ~ it is surely in the hardware you choose. The right hardware, whether knobs, pulls, handles and hinges can complete your look. Today we talk all about the best hardware to choose, the new trends in finishes. Updating your home hardware is a terrific, inexpensive way to upgrade kitchen cabinets, doors and thrifted furniture. So...

It's not about how much money you spend, but about paying attention to the details. If you miss some of these details, then it could make your home look a little cheap, and we don't want that. Let's talk about things you can do to make sure your home looks 'high end'. Listen in to get our tips. They are easy to incorporate into your home. This rug from the Better Homes & Gardens collection at...

This episode originally ran March 26, 2019. This was a very popular episode and we're delighted to share it with you again. When we see images on pinterest and instagram, it can be a wonderful inspiration for future projects, we get ideas but there's a dark side to the social media. Sometimes we begin to hate our houses because they don't measure up. Here are our tips to be content with your home...

Anita & I put our head's together & developed 20 STEPS for creating a decorating plan. A plan is absolutely essential to getting your rooms right, staying on budget and having fun in the process. No skipping ahead & no buying until STEP 19!! One STEP invloves determining your style. Listen to our episode on just that HERE . A limited color palette is discussed in this episode HERE and...

Victoria and Albert have changed Christmas traditions and wedding traditions. They also made many other things popular like giving gifts to significant other, and pet portraits! Listen in as we answer a frequently submitted listener question. How to paint a brick fireplace. We get into the details on best technique & tools to use. Kelly is crushing on these shoes HERE Anita is crushing on thes...

Trends are so popular and we love to report on them. Sometimes the decorating pundits say a trend is hot, when it's not. Now that 2019 is more than half over, let's take a look at those reported trends and go over which ones were a hit, and which ones were a miss. If you want to hear our previous episodes on the trends you can find them below. Our preview of the 2019 trends that we recorded in Jun...

We are continuing our 'Best of' series this summer, sharing some of the most popular episodes with you. Today we're talking about Pinterest trends 2019. Pinterest is a fabulous source for all sorts of inspiration, especially of the home decor kind. It is a positive force on the internet and a giant search engine with beautiful answers. Today we are exploring the 2019 Top Trends on Pinterest based...

Coffee table or cocktail table? What do you call it? We don't care, we just love them! They add presence to your room and make the living room feel grounded. Today we're talking about what to look for in a coffee table and also including links to our favorites. Anita loves these coffee tables Aberlard coffee table HERE Devito coffee table HERE Rittenhouse tufted coffee table ottoman HERE Janise co...

We think that 'budget' is a bad word! Don't think "budget' ~ as that seems so negative & limiting. Think "I am going to be creative and save $ as I decorate". That is much more positive! It is really how you look at it. Today we have our favorite creative tips for decorating your home on a budget. If you want even more ideas check out these previous episodes on budget decorating HERE and HERE...

We know you can do this! Be your own contractor with our tips and hard won advice. Two main ingredients to success as your own GC are confidence & communication. Acting as your own general contractor definitely saves $$$. We empower & teach you how to make the plan you need, put together a team of sub contractors, get what you want and end up with the house/project of your dreams. Anita's...

You've got some. We know you do. The question is how do you feel about it ? Today we dive deep into a discussion of "brown furniture". Prompted by a request this episode is sure to shed some light on how brown furniture is view today and what to do with yours. Listen in ~ Brown Furniture Bummed or Blessed! So Kelly was asked to ring in on this topic. That request prompted lots of thought. Not soul...

Like religion & politics ... whether gray is here to stay in our decors is a hotly debated topic. But should it be? Listen in as we weigh in on both sides of the battle. And find out which camp we are in... Get big paint samples HERE . Here are some grays we have lived & loved and a few new ones: Agreeable Gray Pussy Willow Stonington Gray Silver Chain Kendall Charcoal Revere Pewter Metrop...

What are the prior trends that are making a comeback? Turns out there are quite a few. As they say, they're nothing new under the sun. Trends seem to come and go, but when they come back, they are often repackaged with a new name. Here are some of the trends that seem to be back. art deco rattan/wicker/bamboo boho living rooms vintage appliances Here are the links to specific products mentioned in...

We all want a timeless look that will look fantastic for a long time, so today let's talk about what you can do to create a look that transcends time. One of the best tips is to avoid trends that can date your home. If something is super hot and super popular today, it probably won't stand the test of time. We suggest you hone your very own signature style that you love. Then you buy things that a...

This episode originally ran March 17, 2019. Finding the right wall decor is a challenge. We know you think so too as we have gotten many requests for help in this department. So today we are sharing many sources for beautiful, unique, meaningful wall decor. Let's get right to it: Marian Parsons aka Miss Mustard seed has turned her talents to painting on canvas and we are thrilled. Her work is trul...

This is the perfect time to look at your house with eyes wide open & implement some quick & inexpensive refreshes! We all get blinded to what is around us as we see it everyday. Look with intention and shake things up a bit for a new fresher look! Here are some hints regarding what we are suggestiing you freshen up... You sometimes put your family in them; It accompanies a harp; They make...

Armed with our formula for creating a styled & meaningful bookcase you will be able to design your shelves with one eye closed & a hand tied behind your back! Fool proof tips & advice for a space that is hard to get right. We start off with a controversy of sorts ... find out which way we land on it! Not just books, but decorative items, photos, slavage pieces, tall, short, medium heig...

How do you handle the bare wall? We're offering lots of tips on how you can add interest to your wall. Texture, textiles, ladders, bookcases and more will be discussed. Yes, we're talking about artwork, but also so much more. Many of these ideas are very budget-friendly.  Our listener question is all about the hot exterior color trends. Anita's wall hanging from Wisteria is sold out. May contain a...

Do you know your decorating style? Let's talk about several of the popular styles. We think it's important to know a bit about what your particular style is, so you will have some direction when you are shopping for new things. Here are a few of the styles we discussed are COUNTRY FRENCH, SHABBY CHIC, COASTAL, MODERN, CONTEMPORARY, TRADITIONAL, TRANSITIONAL, MINIMALIST, GUSTAVIAN, AND ECLECTIC. Co...

We love the idea of using - really using and enjoying - your living room daily. There are some hot trends to discuss, suggestions we have and so much more. So get a 'coffee or a cocktail' and settle in to get the scoop on all things living room. Statement ceilings - dark colors are bold and lovely. Lucerne Blue by Ben Moore is a color listener Jen W. used to great effect on one of her ceilings. Th...