Shadow Box Display

Are you looking for a fun summer project? Perhaps one you can do with your kids? Creating a shadow box display is an easy and fun way to show off your pictures and souvenirs that are piling up in that "I don't know what to do with this stuff" drawer!

Most craft or frame stores carry a variety of shadow boxes - usually in white, brown or black. And they come in different sizes. To create a cohesive display, I recommend using boxes of the same color and size.

Your first step is to determine what you want to put in the boxes. This will help you decide which size you'll need. You can display photos, souvenirs, odd and ends that have been collected during a vacation or over time. Then, all you need is some creativity and a few push-pins.

Consider creating a box for each child and letting them collect favorite "treasures" throughout the summer or use them to show off your annual family vacation. If you want to get really creative, paint the box frames a complementary color to your room or cover the inside back of the box with your favorite fabric, wallpaper or scrap-book paper!

Flower Power

Summer is here and so are lots of beautiful flowers. Bring the flower power inside for a fresh, colorful vibe.

This floral pillow (definitely not your grandma's old-lady print) is perfect for a living room sofa of chair. Or, paired with neutral bed linens you can brighten your guest room. Bloom pillow by Area, $72 atVelocityArtandDesign.com.

A bright base is what you need to build a great room from the bottom up. Lay down a bright foundation like this cute graphic rug. Coqo floral rug, starting at $78 at Anthropologie.com.

Adorable 3-D wall decor is a great alternative to wallpaper. Hang and arrange your own bouquet to create a floral focal wall. Flower art, 22 for a set of $25 at Chiasso.com.

Details in the dining room (or office space) pop with these floral chairs. Swap out a few of your solid chairs with these cuties. Scoop back chair in pattern, $79 at WestElm.com.

Do you have a fancy for florals? Share your ideas here!

Feng Shui for your Bed and Bath

Creating a balanced bedroom is really very simple. Consider color, bedding, set-up and styles for a positive, relaxing space.

Color - select beige, brown and accent colors like pink and peach. Bedding - be sure to invest in new items. From a feng shui standpoint, bedding and mattresses contain the energy of other people who've slept there. Set-up - The back of your bed should be up against a solid wall (not a window) and face the door. Styles - be sure to use circular or oval items. Soft-edged chairs and pillows promote the flow of ch'i.

To promote energy in your bathroom, think about spring colors, lowered lids (who wouldn't love that?), warmth, mirrors and good vibrations.

Spring colors - the best colors for the bathroom are yellow, blue, cream, lavender and green which represent health and prosperity. Lowered lids - since it's the largest drain in the room, a toilet can suck energy from your space so be sure to lower the seat! Warmth - multiple light sources activate energy in the bathroom so keep a soft light or night light on at all times. Mirrors - in the bathroom, mirrors circulate energy. Just don't place one directly in front of the toilet which would circulate the dirty energy. Good vibrations - accessorize in pairs such as two towels, two picture frames or two decorative vases.

To learn more about feng shui and your home, check out this book: Feng Shui Your Life by Jayme Barrett.

Feng Shui for the Living Room

Little bitty quickie "history" lesson. Feng Shui (pronounced fung-SHWAY, not fing-SHOO-EE) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive qi (known to us Westerners as ch'i). Modern feng shui is believed by many people to be helpful in living a prosperous and healthy life by avoiding or blocking negative energy and increasing the positive energy.

Creating an inviting living room can be your first step to increasing positive energy in your home!

Correct Position - your sofa should back up against a wall and face the main entry to create security. If your sofa must face away from the door, hand a mirror across from it so you can see the door in the mirror.

Create Symmetry - pairs of seats and uniform arrangements can create connection and positive energy.

Keep it Light - let the natural light in, which boosts the mind and augments ch'i. Yellow symbolizes optimism and communication.

Hide electronics (a personal fav, but not happening in our house) - keep your TV, DVD player and other electronics inside a wooden cabinet so their energy is contained.

Next up: A balanced bedroom and energizing bathroom

Free Class - Backyard Entertaining

Join your local Pottery Barn on Sunday, June 13th for a free class! From a casual BBQ to an elegant dinner party, learn great outdoor entertaining tips. All class participants will receive 10% off merchandise featured in the class. Class size is limited, so reserve your space today.

Perfect Palettes - Part 4: In the Bathroom

If you want to feel like you're at a posh hotel at home, refined and relaxing should describe your bathroom. Pale-gray greens and blues enhance what might be a severe white palette. Here's how you can put the colors together:

1. Identify dominate elements - tile generally sets the tone in the bathroom. A celadon floor mosaic and sage wall tiles coordinate well without overpowering the whites.

2. Add contrast in small doses - that means towels, shower curtains and bath accessories. Pale pink salts make the tile seem more vibrant because complementary colors tend to intensify one another.

3. Use reflective surfaces - materials that bounce light will make your room feel larger. In addition to the mirror(s), chrome and nickel faucets and fixtures give this effect.

4. Look up - ceilings can be as important as the walls and floor. Don't settle for white, paint the ceiling the same soft green as the tiles to integrate the two planes.

5. Feature furnishings - light palettes serve as a backdrop for standout pieces with dramatic color or architecture.

Room elements: 1. towel monogram 2. wall sconce 3. mirror 4. console sink 5. chair 6. ceiling color 7. wall color 8. roller shade 9. floor mosaic 10. border tile 11. wall tile 12. faucet 13. bath salts

Make A Small Space Look Larger

Any room can look larger than it really is with a few room-expanding tricks like these:

1. Add multi-purpose pieces. Furniture that serves more than one purpose is a great way to streamline a room. Think: an ottoman with built-in storage.

2. Paint with light hues. Dark colors make rooms look smaller. Think: pale blues, grays, greens, yellows and creams.

3. Reflect your room. Not the wall-to-wall 70's style, but a little glass will open the area and reflect light. Think: oversized mirror leaning against the wall.

4. Space things out. Give your furniture breathing room, your room doesn't necessarily look larger with the furniture shoved against the wall. Think: angling your bed or floating your sofa with a skinny console behind it.

5. Color code. Favorite items can look cluttered unless you give them some structure. Think: arrange knickknacks, books and vases by color to give a streamlined look.

Coming soon: Feng Shui for your Home

Perfect Palettes - Part 3: In the Bedroom

Ahhh, soothing and sophisticated. That's what we want to think about when we envision our bedroom retreat. Purple? No, think Plum . . . purple can seem young and playful, but when paired with graceful grays, subdued browns and chalky whites, the result is a grown-up palette that gives you a sense of comfort and elegance in the bedroom. A few ideas:

1. Give shine to dark surfaces - redo the finish on a piece of furniture by bleaching it to reflect light. A high-gloss white on the moldings brightens the walls that are painted deep shades of lavender and gray with similar intensity.

2. Add contrast - you have a ton of opportunity for texture in the bedroom. A striped headboard, linen and velvet pillow fabric, assorted trim details, and a hand-knotted area rug add texture that contrasts with the smooth bedding fabric. This can also broaden the range of browns and lavenders and can easily be swapped out for a different look.

3. Accent with furnishings - Sleek lines on a side table and a bleached finish on a dresser help reinforce the contemporary palette.

4. Consider views between rooms - Color schemes don't need to be the same from one room to the next, but they should harmonize. Master bedroom are usually located away from the common areas so this is a good place to be adventurous.

Room elements: 1. side table 2. bedding 3. curtains 4. pillow fabric 5. furniture finish 6. wall colors 7. trim molding 8. antique mirror glass 9. headboard 10. chair trim 11. pillow trim 12. lampshade trim 13. furniture pull 14. headboard fabric 15. curtain finial 16. chair fabric (back) 17. chair fabric (seat) 18. slate floor 19. fireplace tile 20. molding 21. area rug

Free Design Class

Tomorrow, May 8th at the West Elm downtown. Spend two hours in the morning and get ideas on decorating your outdoor space. BONUS - receive a 10% discount on anything you purchase after the class. www.westelm.com for more details

Perfect Palettes - Part 2: In the Living Room

Last week we looked at creating perfect palettes in the kitchen and specifically, how to make the kitchen warm and nurturing. When setting the mood with color in the living room think about comfortable and bright. Immediately I think of reds and yellows - however, these colors are often challenging to work with. The key is to ground them with neutral colors like oatmeal gray which results in an inviting palette that's perfect for a relaxing gathering place in your home. Consider these principles:

1. Take a cue from nature - creamy white petals of flowers provide inspiration for accent pieces and the color of honey inspires fabric for upholstery and trimming.

2. Anchor with neutral colors - if your room contains vibrant colors, it is important that your dominant elements remain neutral (i.e., the sofa).

3. Enliven with accessories - bold pillow fabrics bring contrasting color and graphic interest to the overall design.

4. Make style enhancements - floral prints create cheerfulness and the inspiration of "nature" while an eclectic mix of furniture conveys a relaxed feel even if some pieces are more formal.

5. Add texture for variety - a patterned sisal rug and trim on curtains/chairs provide additional tactile elements as well as subtle color variations.

Elements: 1. Floor finish 2. Pillow fabric 3. Sofa fabric 4. Sofa 5. Sisal rug 6. Ceiling color 7. Trim color 8. Lamps 9. Curtain trim 10. Curtain fabric 11. Wallpaper 12. Stool fabric 13. Stools 14. Chair 15. Chair fabric 16. Chair trim

Bedroom Update

I think the bedroom is one of the best places in your home to show your personal style. Because this room is all about you (and OK, maybe your spouse), it's the perfect place to get creative and do something you might not otherwise do.

If you really like graphic prints, try combining different prints in the same or similar color for a unified, glamorous look. In this bedroom, the prints on the wallpaper, bedding and rug are all very different. They create a cohesive look because they are all in the same color palette of brown/white.

To showcase some of your favorite art or photos, make them into a collection by framing them the same and hanging together as a focal point above the bed. This technique gives you a fresh, modern look using something you already love!

Mismatched furniture looks great when painted the same color. In a neutral room, painting your pieces a bold, favorite color shows off your own style. By painting these mismatched pieces, you get the color you want without committing to big purchases you might regret later(remember that oversized red sofa?).

When changing up your bedroom, don't forget all the elements you have to work with - wall color, bedding, flooring, window treatments, furniture, accessories and art. Don't be afraid to try something new - your creativity just might surprise you!

photos from [the nest]

Perfect Palettes - Part 1: In the Kitchen

As a child, choosing your favorite color was fun. Now, color often goes from fun to confusing but choosing perfect palettes for your home doesn't have to be daunting. To start, let your inner child come out and think about what colors you truly like the best. Paint chips and magazines are a great place to start, but you can also look to nature and everyday objects for inspiration. Keep a folder with your favorites and soon your preferences will emerge.

In the kitchen, we typically think of warm and nurturing colors. For example, a deep yellow-gold provides just the right visual temperature for a traditional look. For a fresh, updated look think about cooler blues and grays. Consider these 5 basic principles:

1. Seek ideas from the every day - a yellow bowl can inspire the paint color used on cabinets and a table. Walls can be painted the contrasting blue gray from a spoon.

2. Keep it simple - choose mellow colors in similar value if you're worried about making a mistake. Use slightly contrasting shades for the accessories.

3. Try unusual materials - with a conservative palette, you can be more daring with surfaces. Think about colors and design on the floors to create visual interest.

4. Find nuances in finishes - don't forget about the colors naturally in wood, stone and metal.

5. Think about how color feels - in a kitchen, this principle refers mostly to food presentation. Generally, food will look more appetizing against warm backdrops as opposed to cool tones.

Remember these as helpful hints rather than design rules. When it comes to color, the only real rule is that you choose your favorites! Stay tuned for Part 2: In the Living Room . . .

Elements: 1. Painted table 2. Cloth tape on blinds 3. Chair trim 4. Wooden blinds 5. Appliance finish 6. Chair fabric 7. Windsor chair 8. Wall color 9. Trim color 10. Table color 11. Countertop 12. Cabinet hardware 13. Floor 14. Runner 15. Vintage cupboard 16. Cabinet color 17. Cabinet hardware

Customize a Cabinet

Don't get rid of those furniture pieces you are tired of - turn them into a new, customized cabinet. Or, if you don't have any extra furniture in need of a face-lift, you can purchase unfinished "cubes" to make your own like this stylish green media cabinet.

This design project is as easy as downloading your newest fav app for the iPhone! Whether you use your own or buy something to repurpose, adding some unique knobs, curvy feet and gorgeous paint will evoke cool elegance. By combining open and closed storage, you'll have a place to showcase your favorite pieces or collections and conceal electronics (or other shame-inducing items like that "O.C." boxed set)!

How do I do this you ask?

1. Select your furniture or basic storage cubes for your needs and space (for cubes, try gothiccabinetcraft.com or ikea.com)
2. Pick out some decorative knobs at anthropologie.com, restorationhardware.com or ebay
3. If you want decorative feet, try premierwood.com or osbornewood.com
4. Decide on paint color - you might even consider two-tone
5. Remove all existing hardware and paint piece inside and out. Let dry.
6. Install knobs
7. If adding feet, drill holes in the corners of the base of the bottom unit and screw on feet
8. Stack cubes to form one piece, placing lighter ones on top
9. To hide wires, drill a hole in the back of the cube or furniture that will hold electronics; run wires through opening and plug in

This photo: various cubes all at Gothic Cabinet Craft; painted in Cambridge Green and trimmed in High Park, both Benjamin Moore; knobs at Anthropologie; bun feet at Premier Wood.

Repurpose Your Lamps (or someone else's)

I know you've searched for tchotchkes on eBay. Have you ever considered reinventing one of your finds?Two kitschy fixtures like these are begging to be reinvented. Think about focusing on the unique shape of the lamps rather than all the colors. To make the pair more contemporary, you can spray-paint them in a glossy head-to-toe color and add some new shades.

This statuesque pair cost about $45; to score your own, search for "figural lamps" on eBay. As for the shades, go with very thick paper so the light spills out of the top and bottom, rather than shining through the sides (and illuminating any streaks once the shade is painted).

And voila, your fabulous new (repurposed) lamps!

Try Mythic

What is the easiest way to update or change a room? PAINT! What can be the most frustrating decision to make? PAINT COLOR! Today there are so many choices – choices in color, brand, no-VOC vs. low-VOC, type of sheen, to prime or not to prime – not to mention how much paint you will need and what will it really look like . . .

While some of these choices are made solely on personal taste, others are a matter of practicality. For instance:

• An eggshell sheen is the most versatile due to it’s “cleanability”
• Colors actually do affect your mood – stimulating colors are usually found in kitchens and dining rooms while soft, muted colors are usually in the bedroom
• Dark and warm shades make rooms appear smaller while light and cool colors make rooms look larger and more spacious
• If the new paint color is lighter than the current color or if you are painting a dark color, you will probably need primer

Mythic Paint is a non-toxic, ultra low odor paint that provides durability and coverage as well as a wide array of color options. Their web site offers a lot of great information, but my two favorites elements are the Paint Estimator (it accurately calculates the amount of paint you will need) and the Mythic Room Visualizer (you can play around with wall and ceiling color combos to get an idea of what your color choices will look like). Check them out!

The Top 10

We want smaller houses and are willing to strip some of yesterday’s most popular rooms – such as home theaters – from them in order to accommodate changing lifestyles, consumer experts told audiences at the International Builders Show held last month in Las Vegas.

After the recent economic strain, most homebuyers are looking for authenticity. Buyers want cost-effective architecture, plans that focus on spaces not rooms and homes that are designed green. For many of today’s buyers, their new homes will be smaller than their current one and high on the list are things like large kitchens that open to the main living area, old-fashioned bathrooms with relaxing elements and small, unique spaces such as wine grottos.

The home is all about family togetherness – casual living, entertaining and flexible spaces. If you are buying a new home or planning a remodel, here are the 10 Must-Have Features in homes today according to the annual survey of homebuyer preferences by AVID Ratings Co.

1. Large kitchen with an island
2. Energy-efficient appliances, High-efficiency insulation and High window efficiency
3. Home Office/Study
4. Main-floor master suite
5. Outdoor living space
6. Ceiling fans (yes, they’re back)
7. Master suite soaker tub
8. Stone and brick exterior
9. Community landscaping with walking paths and play areas
10. Two-car garage

from marketwatch.com