LoveYourRoom

Using Outdoor Artwork At Your Home

2013-05-16T14:12:00.000-04:00

This time of year many us have turned our decorating skills toward the outdoors. Stores and online websites carry an abundance of choices for furniture and floor decor. There also seems to be a large amount of outdoor wall art to choose from these days. Adding art on a wall or fence can give life, color, and architectural interest to an exterior space just like it does in an indoor room.

Yesterday on 69 News At Sunrise I gave tips on how to use outdoor wall art.

VIEW IT HERE

During the show Eve Tannery reminded me that it was my two year anniversary on the show. Its a fun short decorating segment.

Also go HERE to see a bunch of outdoor rooms I think are very well designed, get more tips, and find out where to get the artwork from the show!! Like this one...

'Spring Up' Your Entryway

2013-04-15T23:27:00.000-04:00

COMBINE COLOR AND SOFT TEXTURE TO CREATE A STYLISH AND FUNCTIONAL ENTRYWAY

Now that spring is here, is your foyer longing for a little 'spring up'? Now is the perfect time to clean the clutter and welcome the sunshine in!

...as seen on TV. Watch the video HERE!

GET THIS LOOK!

See below for similar products that are in this photo.....

1. Rug- Surya MAT-5441 Rug

2. Artwork-Turquoise Coral Wall Art

3. Woven Basket- Serena Lily Round Belly Baskets or make your own (SEE BELOW)
Woven baskets are great for storage left out in the open because it is flexible, inexpensive, comes in many different shapes and sizes, and light weight.

4. Table lamp - Regina Andrew Lighting

5. Knob- Ceramic Melon Knob in Aqua

6. Faux plant- Potted 6" Succulant

7. Dish for keys/sunglasses/phone- Bird Jewelry Dish

Other Decor That Is Right On Trend

Birds, birds and more birds are perfectly perfect for this spring! Here's how you can bring a winged friend into your entryway:

Bring birds in through fabrics-so fun to use in an entry way!

You can get this fabric through Kuhns&Heller.

Try reupholstering a bench cushion or pillow or two in this adorable bold Kasmir fabric.

Bird decor can be found every where!

Another way to bring the bird theme is by adding a bit of a bird habitat, like a lantern or bird cage!

Birds are always in style, so of course, this Yellow Bird Cage from Nordstrom makes a great addition to an entryway!

LOVE THIS IDEA!!

Mix metal baskets with your woven ones! Fill them with ornaments for Christmas, and see what else you can add to them for other seasons (like lemons and limes for the summer, and apples for the fall-use faux fruit of course!)

The key to creating a good basket arrangement is to keep it interesting. Make sure the baskets have:

Different shapes, tones and sizes
Made of different materials
Odd numbers work well

Love these funky pink baskets from Serena & Lilly!

DIY PROJECT THAT ROCKS

Kick up the boldness of a wicker basket by painting parts of it. Try turquoise stripes, a red cross sign, or anything you can think of! It's so easy. All you need is:

painters tape
some paint
paint brush

*you can also use spray paint

Take any old woven basket you have laying around the house, or buy a new one, then have fun adding any color to it, creating a unique work of art!

And don't forget how useful a big woven basket can be!

Watch Shosh and Eve on TV

30 Minute Table Runner Makeover

2013-03-29T11:58:00.000-04:00

Do you own a table runner that has been either sadly laying across your table going unnoticed, or folded up in a cabinet because you were tired of it when it was displayed? Well, I have an inexpensive and easy way to change up that runner in less than thirty minutes!!!

The runner before.

Last night I did this quick little DIY project I just had to share because it was so easy!

I had picked up an inexpensive table runner for a dining room I am decorating for my client Keri. I loved the modern pattern and the colors, but it looked a bit boring when I placed it on the table. So I bought some flirty little looped fabric trim, and in thirty minutes I created a runner that was more dramatic! I have yet to bring the finished runner to Keri's home, so I don't have the 'AFTER' photos of her dining room, but I will soon!!

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED:

-Scissors

-Hot glue

-Decorative trim

(pick up from a fabric store)

*My runner required 6 yards of trim

STEP 1

Measure the length of your runner.

The amount of trim you will need is double the length your runner.

I suggest bringing the runner to the fabric store with you and trying out different decorative trim options that could work with the colors on the runner!

STEP 2

Takes 30 minutes or less!

Spread the runner across a table. Starting at one corner, begin hot gluing the trim to the runner. I suggest running a 4 to 6" line of glue like photo above, then pressing the trim down and holding for 15 seconds with your fingers like photo below.

Keep doing this across the length of the runner until you get to the corner edge.

STEP 3

Cut the excess trim off carefully.

TIP:

The edge you cut may fray like this.

To stop the fraying, simple use the hot glue on the edges.

Edges should look like this!

STEP 4

Starting in the opposite corner, again, run the hot glue and trim all the way down the runner lengthwise, then cut the excess fabric, hot glue the frays down, and you are done!!!

Looks like this on the backside of the runner! You get a very finished look!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

This project had me thinking about what else you can add decorative trim to and turn it into a runner....how about buying a long piece of fabric and cutting it to create a runner, then adding the trim to hide the cut ends! No sewing involved! And you can get great deals on discontinued or large scraps/remnants of fabric at fabric and craft stores!

What Are Some Popular Tiles Out There?

2013-03-26T09:40:00.000-04:00

Watch Shosh of LoveYourRoom Discuss Tile Options In This Fun Video

Are you planning to use tile in a room inside your home?

If you did not catch my decorating segment on 69 News at Sunrise, check it out HERE...it's all about TILE! I have included the latest and popular choices for tile. Also CLICK HERE to see my blog post on it to see where to get these tiles and even more tips!

St Patricks Day At Design Sponge

2013-03-17T11:35:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patricks Day! Do you love Design Sponge? Are you inspired by all things clover? I do/I am! I am honored that they featured my Clover Stenciled Wall on their fabulous website. Thanks so much Design Sponge! Here is a link to their post CLICK HERE.

Wednesday Is Tile Talk

2013-03-17T11:12:00.000-04:00

This Wednesday I will be discussing tile on 69 News at Sunrise! Are you thinking about renovating a kitchen back splash or bathroom? I will show popular tile options, new options that are really cool, and how you can use it all, even on a budget! Please tune in Wednesday at 8:40 am! If you miss it, I will post it on my website at loveyourroom.com after the TV segment airs.

Feel free to go to loveyourroom.com to see recent projects we are doing now, and ones we have recently finished...including this one!

Glam Gray and Sparkle Master Suite

Paint Color Choices As Seen On TV

2013-02-25T21:10:00.000-05:00

CLICK HERE to see this video!

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -

Choosing the right paint color for your home can be a tough decision, and, before you pick up your paint brush, did you know that certain colors can make you feel good, while others can make you feel exhausted and grumpy?

Interior decorator Shoshana Gosselin stopped by 69 News at Sunrise to break down what colors will have your room looking good and you FEELING good!

I have listed these paint colors, along with room inspirations using them!

Just CLICK HERE to see them!

Need Paint Color Help? Tune In Tomorrow!

2013-02-19T09:29:00.002-05:00

progress of waiting room for a business in Lehigh Valley

Tune into WFMZ TV 69 News At Sunrise tomorrow at 8:50 am to get new, or be reminded, of how to choose a paint color. I will talk about paint colors issues that I come across all the time!

progress of a residential home project in Allentown.

Here is what I plan on covering:

-What to think about when beginning the search for paint color.

-What shades of color that can make you feel good, and ones that can make you feel exhausted and grumpy.

-Don’t overdue your color; colors to act as breathers in between spaces.

-My color faves for 2013

News!

Also, I am so excited and thankful to 'Houzzers' (that is the cute name for Houzz readers these days) for naming my little interior design agency one of their 'Houzz’s 2013 ‘‘BestOf Remodeling’ Customer Satisfaction' winner.

We have been busy here at Love Your Room, and I have had little time to do any DIY projects, although I still fit in time to check out other DIYers, and am loving what people are blogging about! As I stare at a coffee stained list of 'things to do' that has not been checked off for over a week, I am tempted to work on a bookcase project I have been itching to do. I will have to check out some good ideas that other DIYer's have done.

Two Ideas For Two Story Family Rooms

2013-02-18T23:19:00.001-05:00

WARM WITH TRADITIONAL CHARM

We just wrapped up a family room project in Center Valley PA; I am so happy with the end result but, truth be told, so sad to be finished. I really enjoyed working with this family of five. Our first meeting was to find the perfect paint color to create a warm relaxed room to hang out in.

CLICK HERE to see how we got the look!

COOL AND CONTEMPORARY

We had fun playing with box moldings. Check out more photos of this room CLICK HERE.

My Girls' Bedroom Gets A Makeover

2012-12-18T13:52:00.000-05:00

I really enjoyed creating this pink-a-licous bedroom for my daughter when she was really little. We would snuggle on the bed and read, and on Saturdays we could take a nap together (Mommies need to nap more!)

BEFORE

But six years later she is all pinked out and the room needs to function better for her age. I have held off on re doing her room because I know it can be hard to compromise with a kid. I was sure she would be my toughest client yet!

In the end we actually had a lot of fun with the makeover, and I am sure she will write me a glowing letter of recommendation.

AFTER

So let me tell you about this space: My kid loves art; anything crafty that she can get her hands on like the sketch she did of the zebra you see on the wall with the purple gem eyes. It was done on newspaper! So of course, color was a major theme in this room makeover.

Instead of repainting the bedroom, we added more thin stripes to the pink stripes already there. I think we used seven new colors. I am a decorator by trade so I had so many quarts to choose from. It was fun. We painted it together while singing along with our favorite bands on the ipod.

The new day bed was my gift to the room. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it in a furniture catalog. I have never seen anything like it. I do love white leather!! Also day beds with trundles allow a guest to sleep over so they are handy!

I can't believe how much stuff my little one has collected, and of course, nothing can be thrown away, so we went to the ever popular IKEA Expedit bookcases for storage. One doubles as a window bench for more toys (ahhhh!)

Although I have a really cute owl lamp in the room, we realized we needed better reading light so we added a wall light with a movable neck. It is really great. I thought choosing the bedding was going to be almost impossible but we did not even need to compromise. She loved this purple velvet cheetah patterned comforter, and I had to agree that is was funky and soft.

tip: if you have a piece of homemade artwork you want to hang but it is rather small, go get an extra large mat and frame for it (we had to get this one custom made but it was not expensive).

We kept the dresser (CLICK HERE to see how this dresser was refinished) and added a little desk. The wall flowers were a fun gift from a friend. We placed them all over the wall and at night they glow like stars! If you noticed I did not add more colorful stripes to a good chunk of this wall, the reason is that we grew tired-plain and simple! And when I went back the next day to paint more on, I liked it the way it was.

My Kitchen Renovation

2012-12-18T12:29:00.001-05:00

When we moved into our home six years ago we simply decorated the existing kitchen. We did not build this house so had no control over the finishes used. Just this year we finally renovated. Any time you are thinking about taking on a large job like a reno in a kitchen, take your time to plan because it is a costly process. Here are the highlights of the changes we made:

This is the kitchen before:

First thing we did was make a list of the things in the kitchen that bothered us. At the top of our list was:
+ Island is too small
+ Need more storage
+ Cabinet color
+ Laminate

Next we priced out the changes we wanted to make.

Then we began the demo process.

Say 'bye bye' to the laminate!

And good bye appliances!

We were able to do a bulk of the work ourselves, but brought in a professional painter to paint the kitchen cabinets a beautiful creamy light grey tone.

P found a great hardwood floor and installed it in our entire first floor ('go P go!'). They resemble old farmhouse planks, a bit distressed in a walnut tone.

We worked in a new island that answered our need for storage. It is six feet long and has cabinets on both sides, including a double pull out trash drawer. Now that, is good efficiency!

I am a big fan of red shoes and bright lipstick so this race car red finish made my day!

P always wanted a butcher block counter top so I gave in and we used it on the island (not a huge fan of this look typically).

We found these great big glass pendants and hung two in newly moved ceiling electrical boxes.

Lastly we had our walls wallpapered in a textured grey paper.

Here is the new look!

Did you notice that there is no more kitchen table in our kitchen? That brings us to Phase 2 of our project going on right now:

This was the other side of our kitchen:

For us, it was more functional to have a larger island, but we could not comfortably fit a large kitchen table in the same space with out it looking cramped. So we knocked out the long half wall that separated the kitchen from our family room. This created a more open concept floor plan. By bringing the wall and re-configuring our furniture arrangement, we not only let more light in because the window was no longer blocked by the sofa, but we also were able to house our kitchen table there! So functional for us.

We dressed up the entrance to the family room with a pair of square columns.

And the hardwood floor went down!

And here is where we are with the room right now. We are working on new furniture, built ins on either side of fireplace (not sure of the height or if messing with the fireplace mantel.

I am really happy with how the kitchen and family room flow now. It is much more open but we have a long way to go. P needs a much deserved break from this project for now so I just sit in the room with my cereal bowl and dream up changes..........

.............while P finishes up our renovated foyer (can you believe this guy!)

Finished Staging Zionsville Mall Space!

2012-11-21T17:58:00.001-05:00

Just put the finishing touches on the Zionsville Antique Mall staged space! I had too much fun these last few days, and actually looked forward to the little time I spent there each day. It is truly a wonderous place chock full of vintage decor, artwork, and furniture. Here is what visitors will see when B104 broadcasts there live on Black Friday (if you want to stop by over the weekend, the staged space will still be there until Monday morning).

The left side of the space is our living room:

The wall was inspired by the large artwork in the center. I fell in love with it right away!

This coffee table is way cool-marble top and looks like the base is from an old iron sewing machine.

Our giant bookcase!

Staging a bookcase is so personal and there are many possibilities. How would you stage yours?

The right side of the staged area is a desk/vanity area and foyer area:

Mixing furniture pieces, and decor too! creates a unique welcoming vibe in any home.

If you end up heading to the Zionsville Antique Mall take advantage of their sale, free treats, and have as much fun as I had!

Zionsville Mall Space Staging-DAY 2

2012-11-20T22:58:00.001-05:00

Today I went back to Zionsville Antique Mall to continue staging my space for the Black Friday Event! With one extra large coffee, my handy bag of tricks, we made a lot of progress. Yes, the drapes are up, most of the furniture is in, and decor is on the walls!

BEFORE

Day 2 started out looking like this.....

AFTER

......and when I left we had it looking like this.

BEFORE

This morning we scoured the store.......

AFTER

.......and found great finds!

I was like a kid in a candy store today.

Vintage find becomes work of art

I was wagging my tail when I found a really cool piece and did a little DIY project with it. I created a vintage postcard chandelier using fishing wire and drapery rod rings that have clips. I will share the details after Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow, I finish up the space!

If you are in the area please check out the space, and get inspired for your own home by walking around this huge mall and seeing all the vintage finds!

The Zionsville Antique Mall is at 7567 Chestnut Street, Zionsville PA.

My staged space will be open to the public Friday, November 23 thru Sunday, November 25.

And don’t miss Hurley from B 104, who will broadcast live from here Friday, November 23 from 12-2 pm. I will have design tips on the radio! There will also be a sale at the mall!

………Also, some of you may be looking for the five minute news video, here it is! DECOR IN 2013-EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. I did a live segment on WFMZ 69 News At Sunrise last week with ideas about how to get the new ‘Unexpected’ decorating trend in to your own home.

My First Staged Space And Radio Spot

2012-11-18T20:29:00.000-05:00

I was in the car today listening to B 104 and oh my, I heard my name on the radio! That was the coolest, strangest thing. Why was I mentioned? I am staging a space at the Zionsville Antique Mall on Black Friday to show how to bring a hot design trend I am crushing on, into your home ....decor that is 'Unexpected.' See the progress so far, below.

Yep, see how adding common decor in uncommon ways can give your home an 'Unexpected' and interesting vibe! Check out exactly what I mean by reading THIS-2013 Home Decorating Buzz-Unexpected.

Zionsville staged space Day 1-paint is up on the walls!

If you are in the area, come by the Zionsville Antique Mall at 7567 Chestnut Street, Zionsville PA to see my staged space and check out examples of how to inexpensively get this look in your own place! I will use more contemporary furniture that is being brought in from Royal Furniture of Emmaus, and adding creative eclectic 'Unexpected' decor to it from the mall. I just love a good mix of style!

I will be blogging about the progress of this space for the next few days that will be complete by Wednesday!!!

The staged space will be open to the public Friday, November 23 thru Sunday, November 25.

And don't miss Hurley from B 104, who will broadcast live from here Friday, November 23 from 12-2 pm. I will have design tips on the radio! There will also be a sale at the mall!

..........Also, some of you may be looking for the five minute news video I did live on WFMZ 69 News At Sunrise last week with ideas about how to get the new 'Unexpected' decorating trend in to your own home. Well, I promise I will have it available next week.

ALSO, had to share a yummy piece of one of my projects with you:

I am working on some really cool spaces like this and will share the fun with you when finished! I also share many of my projects at my loveyourroom website under 'my journal' and 'what's new'. Check it out to see more cool stuff. I am still trying to keep up with my blog, social media, etc. but really don't understand it all yet-oh well. :)

Make A Sweater Vase In 5 Minutes

2012-10-16T17:49:00.002-04:00

It is getting cold out here in Pennsylvania so I bought some yarn and made a sweater for my vase!

If you know me at all, it would be funny to picture me knitting or crocheting, so this yarn project has to be so simple an eight year old could do it (yes, my eight year old helped me).

There is no glue, no tricky steps, and can be completed in one evening while watching television!

This project is great for adding texture, color and 'cozyness' to old vases you have but do not use because they do not offer the right look in color.

Ingredients you need:

1-Yarn (buy at a craft store)

2 - A vase (any size, any shape works-buy at a craft stores and the Dollar Store)

3 -Scissors

BEFORE

For this vase, I used Lion Brand yarn in '408 Wild Fire'. I picked it up at Wal-mart. It is super soft!

This is the yarn I used.

1. Loop your yarn around the vase once knot it.

2. Then wrap it around and around as much as you like.

3. When you are finished looping it around and around, cut your yarn, leaving two inches.

4. Make a knot with the last loop you did and pull.

5. Lastly, tuck it in!

DONE!

AFTER

Warm up a tabletop in your dining room, or get your foyer festive with a sweater vase.

For the vase filling above, I simply added moss on the bottom of the vase because it is see through, then placed in twigs I found outside.

Watch this video

Easy Pine Cone Garland Craft

2012-10-16T17:46:00.000-04:00

This project is perfect for the fall season! It will dress up your home for Halloween and Thanksgiving. With just some pine cones and yarn you can swag this pine cone garland from a fireplace mantel, mirror, wall shelf, or any where else you can think of!

What You Need:

1. Yarn (buy from a craft store)

2. Pine Cones (pick up fallen cones at a park, your back yard, or craft store)

3. Scissors

1. Cut three pieces of yarn as long as you want.

2. Every six inches wrap all three yarn pieces half way around the bottom of the pine cone (the yarn works well for this project because it can get into the grooves of the cone and stay) and make a knot.

3. Make another knot one inch above that knot (so it hangs like a tassel).

4. Keep doing this until you get it the length you want it to go

You can add glitter to your pine cones, or change it up any way you want. It will cheer to any room!

Watch this video

DIY Pine Cone Tassels

2012-10-16T17:26:00.001-04:00

Add natural warmth to your home this fall season by making some Pine Cone Tassels. Use them to tie back your drapes, and hang them from door knobs or cabinet pulls. They are fun, and inexpensive to make!

All you need for this project is yarn and pine cones!

I used Lion Band Yarn in 216 Ozarka Forest color for this tassel

STEPS

1. Cut 3 pieces of yarn two feet long to use as a door or cabinet pull tassel, or cut three feet long to use as a drapery tie back. Lay them down side by side flat on a table.

2. Find the center of the yarns with your finger. At the center, wrap all the yarn pieces together around the tip of the pine cone. The natural grooves in the pine cone will hold the yarn in place.

Then wrap the yarn around again half way and tie a knot at the top of the pine cone like this. The reason you wrap it around again half way is to keep the pine cone balanced.

3. Make another knot one inch above the knot you just did.

You are done!

Now you can use it as a drapery hold back or hang it from a door knob or cabinet door pull.

Extra Credit-Add Beads

You can add beads for a glitzier look! You want to use large beads. I bought a pack of table scatter beads at the Dollar Store. You can find these beads at craft stores also.

You will need the following:

-Large beads

-Green wire used for crafts

STEPS

1. Cut a piece of wire four inches long and bend in half.

2. Take each side of the tassel (all three yarn pieces) and bend the wire around all of them.

3. Twist the wire like below (so it will fit in the hole of the bead).

4. Push the threaded wire through the bead like below. Then follow the same steps on the other side.

Add one or more beads! Then hang!

Watch this video!

DIY Branch Sculpture For Your Table Top

2012-10-16T14:09:00.001-04:00

An easy, cost free centerpiece you can add to any table top is by working with branches!

Decorate a buffet or bar top with this naturally sculptural craft!

For this project you need:

-gather a few medium branches to work with (from your backyard or local park-look for branches laying on the ground)

-yarn (buy from craft store, Wal-mart)

-a bunch or two of fake leaves, feathers, tall grass (buy from craft store, the Dollar Store, Wal-mart)

I walked through my local park and collected fallen branches in a garbage bag.

STEP 1

On a clean flat surface, sculpt your branches in various arrangements until you like the look of it.

STEP 2

To keep your branch sculpture in place, use the yarn to wrap around places where your branches meet.

Start by cutting a piece of yarn a foot long, tie one end of it around a few branches and make a knot.

Then wrap the rest around and around, and knot the end.

STEP 3

Add a few real or faux leaves, feathers, grasses....whatever you like! Simply push the ends of each into the wrapped yarn areas.

Dress up your Thanksgiving Day buffet or dining table with a long Branch Sculpture! It will add an authentic natural touch to your celebration!

Watch this video!

5 Minute DIY Projects To Create A Fall Front Porch

2012-10-12T17:39:00.002-04:00

Here are a few 5 minute projects that will add instant festive fall appeal to your outdoor space!

'No glue, no fuss, no mess is included in these quickie DIY crafts'

I gave my front porch some quick cozy appeal by adding some fake nature! I love these ideas because they are easy, inexpensive, and can last all winter!

THE WINDOW BOX

The flowers in my window box were beginning to die out, so I added some real and fake little pumpkins and gourds. Now my window box is full of fall color!

THE FRONT DOOR

I quickly crafted a wreath using a natural twig grapevine wreath I purchased from Wal-Mart for a few bucks and added fake grasses and leaves from the Dollar Store. I did not use any glue; I just pushed the ends of each stem into the wreath. I then wrapped twine around the top of wreath and looped it around my door knocker. Took 5 minutes!

Here's all you need:

One natural twig grapevine wreath (craft store, wal-mart)

A few bunches of your favorite fake grasses, leaves, or flowers (craft store, dollar store)

PLANTERS

The flowers I had in my planters died, so I replaced them with a fake pumpkin and surrounded it with fake leaves and grasses!

The fake pumpkins I used were made of foam so I placed a wooden dowel in the bottom of the pumpkin halfway and pushed the rest of the dowel into the soil in my planters to keep it from moving.

Here is what a wooden dowel looks like.

You can pick up the pumpkin, fake grasses, leaves, and dowels at a craft store or Wal-mart. This is another quick DIY project!

These 5 minute projects can be done in one evening, and your kids can help you out too!

Watch this video!

Seven Tips For A Great Guest Bedroom

2012-09-19T09:00:00.000-04:00

This topic is so timely because the holidays are just around the corner. If you will have out of town guests traveling to your place to stay over, then this is the perfect short list of hot tips to make their stay fabulous!

First, before we go any further, close your eyes and envision walking into your favorite hotel room. This will be your inspiration for your guest room.

REMEMBER-These tips work whether you have a designated room for out of town guests, or a space that doubles as a spare bedroom.

Seven Top Tips:

1.Paint Palette - Stick to soft creams, grays, or soothing shades of gray blues and greens to keep the room light and airy. I love Benjamin Moore's Harbor Gray (AC 25) and Sherwin William's Comfort Gray (SW 6205)

2.Lighting - Take your lighting seriously. Lack of it leads to a lot of stumbling around in the dark, and poor lighting can make a room look unwelcoming. Be a good host by placing a lamp near the bedroom door if you do not have overhead lighting, AND set a lamp next to the bed that is easy to reach, and easy to use.

3.Bedding - An easy way to create a luxurious looking bed is to think white! White is crisp, bright, and easy color to replace! Start with a cotton 250+ thread count matching sheet set. Next, lay a coverlet or quilt down. Finally add color through a duvet or comforter. This last layer should be laid out from the foot of the bed to about mid way then folded over, like this:

From Coastal Living

4.Essential furniture Pieces - A bedside table and chair are essential pieces. The chair need not be large with arms. Try an upholstered parsons chair, or an ottoman! Another great piece of furniture is a desk.

TIP for small spaces-use a desk as the night stand. This gives your guests more table top space and allows you to do work on it when no guest stays over.

5.Space For Hanging Clothes - If there is a closet in the room, leave hanging space for guest clothing. If no closet, no problem! Use a large double hook on the back of the room's door, or place a hook on the closet door.

6.'Mirror Mirror On The Wall' - ALWAYS have a mirror in the room to allow guests to check their appearance.

7.Pamper Guests With 'Must Haves' -

-place extra pillow and blanket close by bed in a closet, or in plain site in a basket. I have been doing this ever since friends who stayed over told me the room gets cold at night.

-On your bedside table place a book and magazines to read. This will bring so much pleasure to your guests if there is no television in the room.

-Place a bottle of water, fruit, and snack in the room. So they won't go roaming around your kitchen at midnight in their skimpy PJs. Also important for any one who needs to take a pill.

-Place a few essential toiletries in a small tray, bowl, or cute box. I collect the free mini bottles of hair and body soaps, lotions and even shower caps from each of my hotel stays. I recycle them by giving them to my overnight guests. I always get compliments about this!

Just stick to this list and your out of town guests will have a memorable stay at your home!

Check out Shosh share her best guest bedroom ideas and tips with viewers on 69 News

Bombay Company Is Back Online

2012-09-17T18:30:00.003-04:00

Remember the Bombay Company? Their stores used to be everywhere, full of world traveled looking items. Then they shut their doors. Well they are back and will begin selling a full line of home décor online at www.bombaycompany.com starting in mid-September. The initial launch will include more than 200 new designs as well as best-selling Bombay archival pieces in furniture, decorative accessories, gifts, textiles, seasonal and holiday items. The collection will range in price from $20 for accessories to $1,500 for furniture pieces.

I am so happy to see this new increase in online presence from some of my favorite decor stores! First Pier 1, and now Bombay Company!

Last Minute Decorating Tips

2012-08-16T13:39:00.000-04:00

Quick Fix Decorating Favorites From Shosh of Love Your Room

Need a plan of attack for last minute decorating? We all run into this situation-Last minute guests will be coming in a few hours or a day. The Love Your Room design team, made up of Shosh, Sara Jane and Jenna, have listed our personal favorites RIGHT HERE! So watch the video above for some fun talk and visual, and then print out these 12 fave decorating fixes for emergency situations!

Pier 1 Online is Back!

2012-08-04T22:28:00.006-04:00

New look and new features

You may already know this, but Pier 1 is now offering their furnishings online again. Yeah! I like their products and now I can buy them from home again. They call it 'Pier 1 To You'. Just add your items to your basket, pay online, and your new stuff is delivered directly to you. They also have 'Pier 1 To Go' that will send your new stuff to your local Pier 1 store so you do not have to pay the shipping. Another great feature they offer is that you can return anything to your local store instead of mailing it back, and that is such a convenience.

This is not a plug for Pier 1, just want to give them 'props' for their great features. I, for one, appreciate any money saving and convenient advantages retailers can offer.

Happy shopping friends!
.
p.s. CHECK OUT MY RECENTLY COMPLETED RESIDENTIAL DESIGN PROJECTS
-Designed Open Concept Family Room and Living Room
-Infuse Bold Yellow And Red Into Your Backyard
-Allentown Family Room Gets An Updated Look

A Wall Of All That Makes You Happy

2012-07-11T00:52:00.001-04:00

My adorable smilin', chicken raising, open minded client, allowed me put holes in her walls! We recently worked on her family room, addressing the furniture, the window treatments, and now it was time to think about the finer details-creating interest on the walls. To keep the warm cozy feel we envisioned, we raided her basement and found sentimental artwork. Why buy art when you have a variety right in your own place!!

I love the eclectic feel of bunching together art pieces that wouldn't necessarily 'strike up a conversation at a dinner party'. Works that don't just look pretty, but have meaningful history behind them. You may have some pieces in your own home you can use. Maybe you just have to look past the current frame and/or matting. We reframed a few prints, and it made a huge difference!! It's as easy as 1,2,3,4!!!

This is how we did our wall gallery.........

STEP 1

First we played around with the pieces on the floor until we found a combination that made us smile.

STEP TWO

We began by finding the center of the wall and sticking a piece of painters tape there.

STEP THREE

We hung the largest piece of artwork first, right where the center mark was.

STEP FOUR

After that, balanced the smaller pieces on either side. Add drama and color by adding plates, plaques-any fun 'out of box thinking' decor to spice up your wall gallery! We used paper mache animal heads from West Elm.

I celebrated the new look and our hard work with iced coffee from Wawa.

This room will be done soon (still waiting for our end tables and one more picture that is at the framers').

A Peek At Projects In Progress

2012-07-01T22:01:00.001-04:00

Back in March I blogged about how to frame fabric and use it as artwork. Since then, the project I created them for has been completed! CLICK HERE to see the room and get the details!

Right now I am finishing up a family room and living room makeover where we used a newly published calendar as art! If you are looking to pull color into a space through framed art, try using a white finish for your frames. This way, the art takes center stage, allowing the color in your print to jump out more in the room! I will have the details of this young and hip home very soon! Bring on the cool vibe!!

It's hard to see with this iphone photo, but the back wall of this living room space is wallpapered. I can't wait to share the finished product because, if you are like me, you may be looking for ideas on how to turn your living room into a space that is more useful. This will be a chic bar lounge area.

Also, I am so thrilled with the way another project I am working on is coming along that I wanted to share a few pics.......here is a sneak peak as of today! We mixed a steel gray paint typically used in contemporary spaces, with more traditional wallpaper, and it works so well together! Who knew how much fun you could have mixing up styles!

"I am crazy for boxes!"