Decorating Tips and Tricks

You will be SHOCKED to know the number of chemicals lurking in the average home! We are here with info, tips & suggestions to help you rid your home of as many as possible as quickly as possible. And because this topic & the action you will take after you listen, is so important to your health please share this epiosde with a friend or family member. Copy this link HERE & share the hea...

What Trends are Done? Let's talk about the trends that are over. Remember when buying trendy decor, it's best to not spend too much on home decor trends. If it's super hot today, then it will be out in a few years. You don't want to be ripping out your kitchen counter top every 5 years or even your sofa. We suggest going with classics for your big ticket items, then buy inexpensive items that are...

Oh yes indeedy ~ we have some hot crushes right now ~ on decor of course! Sharing the pieces that are making our hearts beat a bit faster from a Bauhaus inspired chaise to big botanicals. Ideas and tips on how to use these crushy worthy decor items and inspiration to fall for your own. See the chaise Kelly has fallen for HERE . Not sure what Bauhaus design is READ about it HERE . From sleek to old...

Today we're addressing the most commonly asked decorating questions. These are questions that we are asked often and questions we see asked on the internet. Let's get started! The first question is do you have to match the wood floor stain to your furniture stain. The short answer is no. Check out our brown furniture episode 277 HERE For the window Shades Anita mentions, they are Bali natural wove...

With our DTT Urge to Purge just ended and the KonMari method sweeping the world of clutter today we take a deep dive into the piles & the reason why the tidying tide is high. Thanks to ALL of you who participated in the URGE to PURGE - wasn't that refreshing in sooo many ways? We have two winners of the URGE to PURGE Challenge ... Chantel S for the sheer boldness of her purge & Linda D in...

Most people spend a lot of time in their homes. Your home should be a place that is a sanctuary from the crazy world outside. We've got some tips for ways to make your home happier for you and your family. First declutter your home, listen to our episode HERE Make your front door more inviting. You can add a new door mat, a planter or something else like a wreath for your front door. Grab some fre...

Time for another "What's Up at our Houses"... Purging is a hot topic for us this month. Personal purging & hosting the DTT Urge to Purge Challenge. Other stuff includes a life changing event at Kelly's that has nothing to do with decorating. At Anita's house she has embraced the de-cluttering concept with both arms. And she comes ready with lots of great tips on everything from seat covers to...

Yes, it's really our 300th episode. Wow, how time flies. Are you a collector? Do you have a passion for dishes, or linens or something else? Let's talk about how to collect without becoming a hoarder. What are the do's and don'ts of collecting? First, try to curate your collections so that you just have your favorite pieces, the best of the best. You don't need a hundred items to make it a curated...

Let's declutter and get our homes ready for the new year.  If you want to feel more peaceful and you're ready to clear out the extra stuff, then this is your episode. Firstly, please find someone to give your discards to. If you have old towels or blankets, check with your local humane society to see if they will take them. We try to give away the things that someone else might want, to minimize t...

Today is our BIRTHDAY celebration episode ! ( and we have a gift for you!! ) Did you know Anita & were both born on January 17th ...? Coincidence or fate, you decide. Besides the gift, today we have a special show for you. We decide to dive into this topic because we have received so many emails asking about it and because we are very passionate about the subject. It really is all about you, s...

High end appliances are HOT. There are a RANGE of choices and we cover it all today ...and toss in a few more puns along the way! High end appliances are gorgeous powerful machines, but are they for you, your house & budget? We cover the pros & cons, as well as give you some outstanding options to explore to get the look & even the performance for much less. Not just pretty, high end s...

Get excited because today we're talking all about the Decorating trends for 2019. We're discussing the trends we're seeing, what's in, what's out, and our take on the whole thing. For example, floral wallpaper and fabric is coming in along with patterned back-splashes. Vessel sinks will stay in. Dark painted kitchen cabinets are hot now, along with 4 poster beds. Kelly is excited that she got a su...

Wires & the technology that the wires support are part of our lives. The concept of wireless is fantasy. Even the "wireless" phones, gadgets and more that claim to be wireless are not. Even 'wireless' things need to be charged. So rather than giving in and putting up with the wireless lie we have solutions for you! Thanks to Darcy H for her question which inspired this episode. I wireless high...

It's round about the time to start putting away the Christmas decor. Some feel their homes look bare now, while others love the clean slate, and minimalist look that January brings. No matter which side of the fence you sit on, we're talking about things you can do to transition from the holidays to a winter look for your decor. Greenery, pine cones, cozy touches & metallics work well all thru...

It is New Years Eve! Exciting!! Anita and I both prefer a cozy New Year's Eve at home. And since I have the Rose Bowl Parade literally yards from my house, leaving my area tonight is not an option. So making a lovely dinner at home is the call. If you don't finish your champagne ( call me ;) ) well first try the spoon in the bottle trick. Today we share our favorite kitchen tools to make doing tha...

We have so many tips for you on how to create the sense of additional space in your bedroom. You'll need to listen in for all the details, but here are a few suggestions to start you off... PURGE!! ; A big, light colored rug; Remove furniture - at least give it a try; Get rid of your bed's footboard; Sconces instead of table lamps; Horizontal planking; Reflective surfaces; So many more ideas to cr...

Cozy is so inviting anytime of the year, but especially when the temperature dips & the calendar turns to the holidays. We have some easy tips & suggestions for creating cozy in your house, along with some specific decor items that can instantly transfrom a room with cozy. Furry pillows HERE and HERE Lambswool rug HERE See our favorite Soft Surroundings snow leopard throw HERE Anita's Soft...

Brown paper packages wrapped up with string. These are a few of my favorite things. We both agree simplier is better for wrapping gifts. We suggest using kraft paper or plain white wrapping paper with bakers twine or a simple ribbon bow. If you want more color, go with a simple two color paper, or go with tone on tone. Then match your ribbon to your wrapping paper color. Check out our affiliate li...

Tis the season for hosting parties, but ours tips apply no matter the time of year. The over arching tip is ~ keep it simple, stay relaxed and enjoy! If you do those 3 things your guests will have a wonderful time no matter what. We have plenty of other specific tips from what to serve, the decor & a fun game. Have a easy to prepare signature cocktail or mocktail on a tray at the door for gues...

Our best holiday gift ideas are here today! These are affiliate links. The hair dryer/round brush HERE Pet portraits for your pets HERE The email address we mentioned is gentlemadness@hotmail.com Yoga pants with the phone pocket HERE Le Creuset Stoneware French Press HERE French Duralex containers (very practical gift!) HERE Honey spoons HERE Rescue Me book by Fifi O'Neill HERE Menus: A Book for Y...

In this episode we pull back the lace curtain if you will and reveal what really gives a home a romantic vibe. Hint, it has little to do with pink, cabbage roses & cherubs. Listen in to get our thoughts on how to get romance right in your decor. Touches of Florentine add romance. Learn about Florentine from Kelly HERE . Tosseled not coiffed - listen to hear what we mean by that... THANK YOU to...

Today we are revealing how to create a stunning tree. We've got loads of ideas and tips to help you create a beautiful and memorable tree no matter if it is faux, real, big or small. We cover it all & top it off! Watch Kelly's YouTube video with a great tip for decorating a tree HERE . Prelit hinged trees are super easy to set up, see HERE We love to use a base of silver ornaments on our trees...

Today we are heating it up with hot mantle decorating ideas. Lots of ideas and inspiration on how you can create tasteful, beautiful mantle decor all year long without much effort at all. A listener question you'll all love and more. We cover: ~ the rule of threes ~ layering ~ Breathing room at a critical spot ~ one glorious thing ~careful editing ~ overall composition You can see Kelly's mantle i...

Want to know what colors are hot for 2019? We're talking about them today. Benjamin Moore has announced their color of the year, but not only the color for the year, but an entire palette of colors HERE Their Color of the year is Metropolitan, which is a nice putty gray. Check out the other colors in the link above. Want to know how to mix in other colors? Check out the color rules by listening to...

Today we explore all the possibilities for your Christmas/holiday color palette. Anita also shares the history behind red & green. Very interesting... Whether you are a traditionalist or pushing the envelope of your holiday decor, you'll get some new ideas & a fresh take on the classics. We also answer one of your questions. It is good one, that many people struggle with in their decoratin...