Articles filed under Decor

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Spring tablescapes celebrate new beginnings Mar 30, 2013 12:00 AM
In this day of hustle and bustle, where we often grab dinner from a drive-through window, it fills our hearts to pause for a moment and enjoy a home-cooked meal in someone's home. This spring, connect with people you love over a meal in your home. And, of course, you'll want a tablescape beautifully dressed for the occasion.
Modern takes on Easter décor Mar 29, 2013 12:00 AM
Fuzzy chicks and cute bunnies are part of the pastel pantheon of Easter decor, and their charm helps define the look of the season. But for those who prefer celebrating with a modern aesthetic, there are many attractive decor options that are a tad less cute and a tad more contemporary.
An enclosed porch comes out of hibernation Mar 24, 2013 12:00 AM
Everyone looks forward to some special aspect of spring's arrival, whether it's seeing colorful bulbs burst into bloom, packing away the snow shovel or dusting off boxes of Easter decorations. For Sycamore homeowner Mary Waight, exchanging winter's deep freeze for warmer temperatures means a return to her enclosed porch, a frequent relaxing spot for her, her husband, Gary, and their petite terrier mix, Rudy.
English dining table definitely no ‘coffin table’ Mar 23, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I was told this table was made in England from burr-walnut. The legs are a puzzle to me because they look like horse hooves. The table is 94 inches long and 66 inches wide when both the drop leaves are open. I have been told it is called a "coffin table" — whatever that is. What can you tell me about its age and value?
Comforting colors put homeowners in a good mood Mar 15, 2013 12:00 AM
Today's "in" colors are happy colors. Emerald green steps into the spotlight as the color of the year while other jewel tones also reign. Today's colors reflect an attitude of "let's start feeling good about things," said Laura O'Connor of Laura O'Connor Design, Carpentersville.
Bring personality to your home away from home Mar 15, 2013 12:00 AM
We focus so much energy turning a house into a home, we sometimes forget to aim our decorating genius in another notable direction: the office cubicle. Home often expresses who we are, but skip on over to the office cubicle — or, for that matter, an office with actual walls — and it can be a different story.
Instead of a fence, a lush landscape Mar 10, 2013 12:00 AM
Shrinking yards and zero lot lines became the norm during the housing booms, making the 6-foot privacy fence a common sight. But fencing wasn't an option for Charlie and Barbara Majeski when they bought the first house built in Palm Harbor's Falcon Ridge subdivision 28 years ago.
Valuing ‘Wedgwood’ platesMar 10, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I am enclosing photos of two plates that I received from my grandmother's estate. Each plate is about 10 inches in diameter. Both pieces are marked "Wedgwood & Co. Ltd," "Made in England" and "Countryside." One, however, carries the number "9 81," while the other has "12 61." There is also a notation that Wedgwood was founded in 1835. Can you date these plates and tell me what the value might be?
Woodworking no longer a hobby just for middle-aged men Mar 9, 2013 12:00 AM
In a world where technology means you rarely have to lift a finger, more people are looking for things to do with their hands. Increasingly, they are turning to traditional skills and hobbies like woodworking, which is not only popular, it's become downright cool.
Adding warmth to a room with books Mar 9, 2013 12:00 AM
I have noticed over the years that every so often magazines feature beautiful spreads of book-filled rooms, with headlines like "Living With Books" or "The Pages of Our Lives." As a book lover, I find these rooms transporting and inspirational but totally out of touch. A growing number of people, I think, don't have books.
Do-it-yourselfers give new life to old dinnerware Mar 9, 2013 12:00 AM
Outdated table settings, such as a stack of your grandmother's old plates or a bundle of used mugs you scooped up at Salvation Army, can find fresh life with a little TLC. All it takes is a marker or a drill and a basic plan.
Large cabinets are a top-shelf design idea Mar 8, 2013 12:00 AM
I have a color-outside-the-lines personality. Maybe that's why I really enjoy being a decorating myth-buster. Here's a misconception I want to shatter: Big cabinets don't work in small spaces.
Today’s larger kitchen has work zones, rather than a work space Mar 8, 2013 12:00 AM
The work triangle, which determines placement of the refrigerator, stove and sink in relation to a primary work space, assumes the kitchen has one cook. It has been the traditional tool of kitchen design for decades. It worked — then.
Choosing the right pillow for the best sleep Mar 7, 2013 12:00 AM
Pillows are an important part of bedding, and there are a lot of choices available — from fluffy down-filled pillows to memory-foam pillows. They are designed to keep your spine properly aligned while you sleep and they are also designed to support your head and neck. With all the many choices available, which one is best for you? Let's explore.
Dealers say antiques are a sensible decorating option Mar 4, 2013 12:00 AM
The quilt above the family room fireplace answers the show-stopping question: What do you put in that huge focal point under the vaulted ceiling? If you're Debbie McArdle, the answer is a red, white and blue quilt in a star pattern, hung on a custom frame. Yes, she and husband Jim are patriotic. And the nation's colors — translated to muted red, oatmeal and cobalt blue — work well with the country store antiques in their 1970s Dutch colonial style home.
Start now for spring selling season Mar 3, 2013 12:00 AM
Architect Chris French and his wife, Anya Landau French, turned up the volume on their vacant condominium apartment with designer-inspired contemporary furnishings — leather living room furniture, glass and metal side tables, a black dining room table and a fake TV. The aim of the makeover was to draw a buyer who would snap up the property.
Sure bets at the Las Vegas furniture market Mar 2, 2013 12:00 AM
From the curious to the classical, the Winter Las Vegas Market 2013 offered a look at new furnishings that are convenient, comfortable, contemporary and even quirky.
Paint and the pursuit of happiness Mar 2, 2013 12:00 AM
During this lackluster time of year, you might find some joy in a can of paint. For 2013, paint companies such as Valspar are offering a mood-enhancing palette.
Wood plate features famous German church Mar 2, 2013 12:00 AM
Q. I enjoy reading your column in the Times Herald-Record here in the Hudson Valley and this has pushed me to photograph the front and back of a wooden plate that I believe I purchased in a box lot at a farm auction.
TV designer encourages strong choices in color, decor Feb 25, 2013 12:00 AM
Is there any decorating skill more exciting or scarier than using color? Yes, we all say we want the personalization and drama that color brings, but the challenges of making it work are enough to send DIY homeowners whimpering to designers. Thom Filicia, known for his television shows, especially “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,” gives solid decorating tips, including how to use color, in his new book, “American Beauty,”