Yes, Virginia, there are cheesy Christmas decorations. Santa toilet seat cover? You have to see to believe. Antler hat ring toss game? I’m not kidding. Christmas decor can run to tacky in a New York minute. Will you allow me to help you avoid the pitfalls of mass-produced Christmas schmaltz with a few tips? This […]

Face it. During the holidays, paper goods manufacturers are counting on you to stock up on plenty of disposables. Why not mess with their minds a bit and use some real dishes? After all, what are you saving your pretty stuff for? Holidays with family and friends are centered around the table, so–make a memory […]

As a designer, I’m asked this question a lot: “I don’t see a lot of color in recent styles.  Is color OUT?” First of all, in your own home you can do anything you like! Secondly, while popular styles often uses a neutral background of white, grey or black along with wood tones, it is […]

It’s a grandma’s decorating 9-1-1! Paula  came to me feeling stuck. She wanted to make this gameroom into a playroom for her grandkids, but couldn’t seem to figure out how to do it since one child was a firetruck-loving boy and one was a princess-loving girl! It is difficult to combine both in one space, […]

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall…” It’s not only in fairy tales that mirrors are magic. Used to advantage, they can pull off some pretty magical effects in your home! Let me show you some examples from my clients’ homes. Mirrors lend their sparkle to a gallery wall. (Have you noticed starburst mirrors everywhere?)  Sure, you […]

We look to experts to give us predictions on everything from weather to sports. Did you know that home design experts also make forecasts? They do–and although they’re not infallible, we pay attention because we don’t want expensive home purchases to be too trendy.  So how did the home design forecasts from 2022 pan out?  […]

If you live in a non-custom new build or an older tract home, chances are the finishes inside are what’s known as “builder grade”. That is, pretty basic and (sorry) registering pretty low on the style meter. That wall paint, those light fixtures–the builder bought generic stuff in bulk and at discount to complete a […]

Oh, Texas summer. You are such a great idea in theory. Then the temp hits 100 degrees and I am drenched in sweat just walking from my car into the grocery store. What’s a Texan to do? The only surefire way to beat the heat is to embrace it. My two boys walked out of school and […]

When we built our new home, I finally had a luxury I’d never had before. No, not the freestanding soaking tub, although that’s pretty terrific. Instead, it’s a– guest bedroom! How easy and fun it is to welcome family and friends overnight now that we don’t have to displace the boys from their rooms to accommodate […]

The housing market is brutal right now, and lots of would-be homeowners are stuck in rentals while waiting to find or afford the right home. Even if the rental is a pretty decent house or apartment, it’s tough to know how to make it feel like YOUR home.  I can help with that! Allow me […]