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Recently a friend of mine posed an interesting decorationg question. While she was hanging yet another family picture, her husband made a comment about their family room turning into a photo gallery. Is it possible, she asked, to have too many pictures on display?

I’m not sure it’s possible to have too many pictures, especially when they’re of your family, friends and loved ones, BUT it is possible for your collection of pictures to look messy and cluttered and seem like too much. When it comes to pictures, especially large groupings, the key to making everything look good is to unify your collection.

Unifying a collection can be very easy. You can have all of the pictures in the same, simple frame. If you want a bit more variety, frames in different shapes and sizes will still look unified if they are all the same color. Even frames that are different colors and styles can look unified if they have at least one shared quality, such as using only white matting.

When you are grouping smaller collections of pictures, you still want a common, unifying element, but you can play around a little bit more. One popular way to group small collections of frames is to hang 2-3 small shelves for the photos to sit on. The shelves are the unifying element, so the frames can be any shape, size or color you want. You could also group a small number of frames that come from the same color palette, such as using different shades of blue. The frames will still compliment each other because they have they unifying element of the color palette.

As I told my friend, don’t be afraid to hang those photos, even if you do have a whole wall full already. As long as the collection has a unifying element or theme to pull them together, they’ll look sleek and elegant.

Happy decorating, Amy

As you know, I’m all about decorating, especially if there’s a chance it can help me get ahead in my career, improve my relationships with the hubby and kids or help me sleep better at night. That’s why I’ve always been fascinated with the art of feng shui. Simply put, feng shui is the ancient Chinese art of arranging furniture and objects to balance the energy in your home and maximize opportunities and good fortune.

There are many levels and layers to feng shui. You can even go so far as to get professional training to receive a feng shui certificate. So for all of you feng shui newbies out there, I’m cutting through the confusion and offering a few tutorials on the basics of feng shui, with easy tips to help get you started. Welcome to Feng Shui 101!

The first step when starting feng shui sounds simple, but it cannot be overlooked: Clean out your clutter. Feng shui experts say that clutter stagnates the energy in your home, while at the same time blocking any abundance or new opportunities.

So grab those boxes and trashbags and get rid off all that clutter. Decide what gets trashed, what gets recycled and what goes to Goodwill. (Just don’t let those boxes sit the garage for weeks and weeks. I’m pretty sure that’s qualifies as moving all the clutter into a different spot, therefore still throwing your energy off-balance.)

And don’t focus just on the clutter you can see on the surface. Organize your kitchen cabinets, your desk drawers, the bathroom closet… de-clutter everything from the refrigerator to your sock drawer. The more space you clear out, the more space you make for new opportunities. For some unique no-clutter tips see http://jdorganizer.blogspot.com/.

While you’re de-cluttering, why not take a few minutes to clean and fix a few other things? Clean your windows (which represent opportunities) so you can see opportunities coming. Tighten any door knobs, drawer handles and locks so you can get a better handle on things. Replace light bulbs so you’re not left in the dark in certain areas of your life.

Once you’ve done all that, you’ll have a clean slate. Now you’re ready to layout your Ba-gua, basically a feng shui floor plan of which areas in your home represent the areas of your life. We’ll cover that in part two of our feng shui tutorial, so stay tuned.

Gone are the days when kitchens are supposed to be all one color. Designers are playing with different palettes and styles and consumers are loving it. As kitchens grow in size, so does the amount of creativity that goes into designing them. Today’s kitchens often tout a certain style or wood on the bottom cabinets and a contrasting or complementing (but definitely different) style or wood on upper cabinets. Another popular option is using different styles or wood colors to separate the different workstations. It is not uncommon to see an island or planning desk looking decidedly different than the cabinets that surround it. Countertops are often mixed and matched, too. While this trend works well in larger kitchens, professionals recommend using one color and style in smaller kitchens to produce a cohesive look that will help the small space appear larger. To find out more about this mix and match trend, see these articles: http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080608/news_1hs08kittren.html and http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/newhomes/chi-choices_nh_125jan25,0,7012719.story. Regards!

If you’ve read any of my other entries, you know how I feel about organization. That’s why I’m intrigued by the mudroom. Reminiscent of the back porch, the mudroom, although inside, offers all the same porch-like benefits (without drawbacks — like wet, dirty floors) and dozens more updated, pumped-up features: lockers, coat and key racks, mail and equipment organizers, communication center (black board, tack board, outlet to charge cell phones), shoe bins, pet supplies and whatever else tickles your fancy. These articles herald the modern mud room and share some great function and layout ideas: http://www.moeninsight.com/issue6/article1.html, http://www.rona.ca/content/enter-mudroom_specialized-rooms_room-decoration_decoration, and http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20060209_mudroom.htm. Any other ideas? Regards mud-room fans!

Obviously, the perfect office will vary depending on your work, lifestyle and needs but one thing is for sure: if you aren’t comfortable in your office space, the days can be as long your to-do list. Here are some basic reminders while planning your office design or redesign:

• If you have clients visiting your space, remember to adjust your style to fit their expectations and project a professional image.
• Give your color palette real consideration. Find that perfect balance between relaxation and stimulation. A muted, cool color palette with warm accents can be a good mix for this sort of space.
• Do your research on furniture. The best pieces are the “workhorses”  that will support, streamline and simplify your efforts. Fancy or trendy pieces may look good but fall short when it comes to being comfortable or functional. If you have an old piece you love, try a new coat of paint or finish.
• Organize, organize, organize. Tray organizers, file folders, pen holders, paper trays — use whatever you need to keep your work areas looking less cluttered (which will also keep your brain less cluttered).

For more office ideas, try this series of video clips from expertvillage.com. Best of luck with your design efforts. Regards!

Remember those Magic Eye posters that were popular in the ’90s? Look at it one way and it’s just a psychedelic poster, look at it another way and it’s a picture of dolphins swimming. Sometimes it’s the same with home accessories: look at something one way and all you see is its original use. Look at it in a new way, and suddenly you’ve got something else entirely.

I love using this approach when decorating. Not only do I save money by not running out and buying something new, but I also get a thrill when someone compliments my creativity.

Take this little martini glass (which was part of a set until its twin had an unfortunate incident with the floor). Used for its original purpose, it’s chic and eye-catching. It became 10-times moreso when I used it to hold dip at a recent cocktail party.

Glasses like this would also make great dessert cups. Fill them with some pudding or ice cream, top with a little fresh fruit, and you’ve got a dessert dish guaranteed to impress your guests (and maybe even Martha Stewart, if she should happen to drop by). A friend of mine uses similar glasses as a chic way to hold Q-tips and cotton balls in her bathroom.

One glass, endless decorating possibilities, and you don’t need to spend a dime. It’s a beautiful thing. Browse these two articles on about.com for more fun accessorizing ideas: http://interiordec.about.com/od/articlesonbasics/a/finishingtouch.htm and http://interiordec.about.com/cs/quicktips/qt/qt_customize.htm.

Happy decorating and regards!

Paint, faux finish, texture — regardless of your wall finishing choice, you still need the final touches. Without artwork, photography or some other kind of focal point, your room will lack the personality and uniqueness that makes your house home. While poking around for some ideas, I found the a great set of video clips here that cover quite a few ingenious methods for wall decorating. They are also cost effective, which is always a great perk. Tell me what you think. Happy decorating and regards!

Obviously, the “green” trend is really catching on in the US. Nearly every industry is looking to cash in on being environmentally friendly. But, is there more going on in our subconcious than we know? I read an article earlier today which made me think being aware of the natural environment is only part of our desire to do better.

“Some researchers have found that natural surroundings help increase motivation. We think that this is a great argument for liberally decorating your house. This is because we think the source of this beneficial effect is the fact that you can identify with your surroundings. We are natural beings who need to be surrounded by recognizable forms.” (Feel Better Just by Decorating Your Home, Dallas Dougan)

This paragraph was impactful enough to me to reaffirm the green solution is the right direction for our future. One of the most effective ways to create a comfortable area is to add plant life. Perhaps this simple decorating tip is a more than just a hint that we need to always be thinking of our environment.

“Reduce, reuse, recycle” croons Jack Johnson from our Curious George soundtrack. Maybe he is on to something. Seems like you can’t throw a stone without hitting something “green.” And, as far as I’m concerned, that is a good thing.

I am a huge fan of reusing furniture, accessories, fabric, clothes … you name it. Old draperies become my newest table cover, an old picnic basket becomes our favorite new craft carrier, my grandmother’s old writing desk is painted and becomes my sturdy little laptop stand, grandpa’s barn wood hangs our outdoor swing. The list goes on, and I’m sure you can add to it. The idea is finding pieces you LOVE and repurposing them in ways that fit perfectly into the functionality and feel of your home.

There is so much great quality used furniture out there, why always buy new? Not to mention the sentimentality that goes with owning something your grandparents used. To find these hidden treasures, peruse all the usual venues: your local antique or vintage stores, garage and estate sales, Mom’s basement or grandma’s attic, E-bay, craigslist and the like. Ask friends if they have anything they want to part with. You never know, that dusty piece of wrought iron in the garage may be your new quilt rack or funky wall hanging.

With a little ingenuity you can be reusing furniture and accessories in no time. And, if you aren’t into doing it yourself, there are plenty of places to buy vintage that is ready to use. Here are a few of my favorite blogs on old (but new to you) furniture, housewares and fabric and some fun shopping sites, too. Feel free to share your faves or any tips you have on this topic. Enjoy being green and regards!

http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2008/01/01/vintage-used-furniture-find-green-gold/

http://vintageindie.typepad.com/vintage_indie/crafting_diy/index.html

http://plump-pudding.typepad.com/plump_pudding/

http://mediazene.com/

http://www.gono.com/vir-mus/village/bwemporium/furniture/barn%20emp%20furniture.htm

http://www.vintagevending.com/

While I love to make my home more beautiful, the hardest part is not necessarily doing the decorating project. For me, it is developing the idea in my head. A well-formed concept allows me to begin the planning phase of a project. Usually my projects start out as a slight annoyance like “that wall sure seems bare”. While it may not really be that the wall is bare, it is this voice inside telling me something needs to be changed.

Because I do this as a hobby (and usually only to my own home), I can usually think a week or two (or sometimes longer) about how to fix it. During this period of time, I typically look at the project at different times of day to see how light will be hitting it. This is one of the most overlooked steps as a room can change appearance significantly throughout the day. Items, furniture and fixtures in the room can change as well. The second step is to talk to my friends about their ideas and how they may “fix” the problem. Sometimes I find out that what I thought was the problem was not really the source of the issue. In the example of the “bare wall”, I ended up changing the color of that one wall to compliment the rest of the room while highlighting the decorations. The wall really was boring, not bare. This advice came from a friend who had seen a picture in a magazine with this treatment. Just that little question, “have you thought about painting the wall?” changed my whole view and ultimately became the solution. A different perspective is often helpful and can quickly put you on track. You may be so close to the issue, you are unable to see the real problem that is obvious to another person.

I typically find developing the concept is one of the most challenging parts of the project. Once I know what I want my end result to be, the planning and execution fall in place easily for me. If you have any tips, please post in the comments to share how you develop your initial decorating concepts.