Staying True to the Period

Having attended the Pasadena Showcase House Tour for many decades, I was particularly impressed with how well the committee managed to preserve the integrity of the period while updating this beautiful 1927 Spanish Colonial to a modern family home.  Like many people, I try to relate what I see in the design world to my own surroundings or those of clients.  This year’s home was a shining example of staying true to the period.

Two bedrooms stood out as far more modern and current than any of the other rooms, but then there are always exceptions.  The young boy’s room had built-in features that had to stay in the room, creating a challenge for the designers.  Original to this room were built-in shelves and a desk as well as a high “captains bed” in dark wood.  Breaking the purist’s rule of never painting wood, the designers did just that, relieving the small room of its heavy and somewhat cramped feeling.

Using a paint to resemble a lime washed oak, or the weathered look of driftwood, brightened the room without sacrificing any of its former charm.   Using a sand- colored grass-cloth on several walls, the room’s northern light was enhanced.  Using the calming blues and greens of the ocean in accents added much needed color to this youthful bedroom.

What you can take away from this room is the use of color in the proper balance; it was certainly impactful, interesting and colorful, yet not overpowering.  I try to convey this need for balance to my more color phobic clients; in reality, most people like color but are unsure how use it to create rooms they can enjoy.

Another light challenged room was the dining room.  Fortunately, the current owners put restrictions on what could and could not be done; for instance the original doors and coffered ceilings were to remain.  In the dining room, the dark and heavy coffered ceiling was a design challenge to lighten and brighten the room without losing its original aspects.  The designer had a custom dining table made with antiqued, mirrored top; and the finish had a silver leaf treatment, with chairs to match.  Mirrors above the sideboard helped reflect light from the windows as did the silver chandelier.  The walls sported a light, warm cream color that enhanced the Spanish style of the home.

The designer did introduce several modern touches in fabrics and objects‘d art, totally impractical for family living, but they helped reflect the light and add an updated feel; it was totally a “designer touch”.

If you find your rooms too dark, but wish to maintain certain aspects of natural woods, you can achieve that goal with light reflecting elements and color.  Do not be afraid to “shake it up” a bit; your country home can still sport a bit of the modern world in light fixtures, rugs and art.

Keeping Country Current

With all the recent columns leaning toward the more contemporary side of the style wheel, so to speak, I thought I would focus on country styles this week.  Design will always be eclectic, to appeal to the varying tastes of the many.  Country style has many facets, i.e. European, Early American/Colonial, Cottage and Rustic— something for nearly everyone.

No matter where your country style falls, there is always a place for change, lest your design become too static and boring.  Consumers always create new ideas for display and showing off collections, and the remodel market with the need to keep the comfort levels of homes in line with lifestyles, while keeping the country style in place.

Changes can be as simple as a change of color and updating picture frames or rearranging them in a different manner or changing out the pictures for newer or older ones that have taken a back seat.

Larger pieces of furniture that need a bit of freshening up from heavy floral patterns of the 80s can be changed to solid colors with slip covers and new toss pillows in more updated floral patterns.  For instance, instead of an overall floral pattern, you can opt for a single botanical with some color impact against a more neutral solid slip cover.  This affords you to change with the seasons and allows the old country to fuse with the new.  If you cannot afford to replace sofas and chairs, or even have them slipcovered, at least you can change out the toss pillows for solid colored ones that will be less optically busy than an overall floral that matches the cushions. 

Lamp shades change styles like everything else; while keeping with the country look, you can tame a frilly country look with a more simply styled shade.  By adding a simple band of coordinating color to the top and bottom of the shade, you will add a dash of interest without overwhelming the room.

By simply reducing the amount of pattern in a room, will help visually calm a room.  Heavily carved or turned furniture works well with plain colored rugs and soft furnishings.  If you are mixing patterns, be sure to vary the size of the patterns, and unify with color, this too will help your room become more pleasing to the eye.

As with all design, you should only use your very best and favorite pieces to live with and display.  You will find that if these pieces are allowed to take more center stage in your home, you will enjoy them more rather than have them competing with lesser pieces.  The process requires careful editing and that editing, and that editing should be an ongoing.  If you have been in a home for decades, the editing process can be a difficult one, and you may need some help making decisions. Small changes can make a big difference.

Mid-Century Today

It would be difficult not to see the changing trends in decorating; and as usual, those changing trends will not appeal to everyone.  I wonder how many country dwellers can embrace the swing to the mid-century movement.  It is certainly a style change and seems to be on the opposite side of the style chart from country.

As a mid-century child, I was exposed to plenty of “clean lines” and “sleek, modern styles” along with bright color combinations.  Like most,  I only knew what I was exposed to in my small environment, and I found the style functional, but not especially to my taste; who knew a child had such particular taste?  As I grew and was exposed to more choices, I found more comfort in older more traditional styles, much to my parents’ surprise.  (See: “The Many Lives of the Simple Hoosier Cabinet”; in the January 30, 2009, edition of the Country Journal.)  I found so much to appreciate in the craftsmanship of Early American styles, and old European carvings, and I could see why styles change.   You can easily see the changes from the very baroque Louis XIV, to fewer frills Louis XV to the simpler Louis XVI; mind you these changes took place over generations, but change they did.

Now I appreciate the mid-century modern styles of my parents’ taste, and I understand why they gravitated toward that style.   After all, they lived with the heavy, dark and carved mahogany styles with which they grew up.  As our parents’ possessions became ours and we were faced with what to do with them, magically styles took another turn and older styles became popular again.  I am very glad we did not arbitrarily dispose of many fine pieces from our childhood, and we can see them employed today in new settings with new upholstery.  

The old hi-fi cabinet of fine walnut and handsome styling is now a lovely credenza in my daughter’s private practice; she receives many comments from interested visitors.  The stylish chair that the kids used to call the “Jetson’s Chair” will soon be recovered in a modern classic Greek Key design and once again become a classic iconic piece to be used and admired in the same office.

Not all the styles of the mid-century will work in all settings, but many can be carefully repurposed and used with other styles of your choosing.  If you are a shopper on E-bay, you will see the prices of these pieces skyrocking, while the more country pieces are taking a bit more of a back seat.

One thing you can count on throughout history is that styles will change, but good craftsmanship is perennial.  Yes, there are many knock-offs of lesser quality, but you will find high quality in all styles and can appreciate a well-built piece, even if it does not suit your  particular style.

I am finding row after row of “vintage shops” sporting the styles of my youth, and I am appreciating them with more mature eyes; it is a lesson in how time changes all things.  It may be that there are so many fond memories attached to these pieces that their particular style becomes secondary.

Before you are too quick to dispose of the past, take a careful look at some of the furniture of your past and you might be surprised how they may fit into your current lifestyle.

Prepping for Sale of Your Home

With spring in the air, your thoughts may be turning to refreshing your living space whether you intend to sell your home or just finish some of those “to do” list projects that have been waiting in the background far too long.

If you are looking to list you home for sale, spring is the ideal time to begin the process.  Your Realtor probably will ask you to do a few things to make your home more marketable.  Perhaps you have been making a mental list for some time, but now is the time to get into action.

While some home owners have a good idea of what to do and in what order, others may be intimidated by what they fear will be a huge and/or expensive undertaking.  In all honesty, for some it will be a lot of work; but like any new project, if it is managed properly it can be far less stressful.

People selling their homes can have a difficult time being objective about the appearance of their dwelling.  I frequently coach sellers about furniture arrangement, what to use and what to store, and even what to move out during the sale process.  It may be difficult for some homeowners to understand what “clutter” is to potential buyers; for these homeowners, clutter simply may be necessary because of children or pets, or they suffer from what I call “critical mass syndrome”: too much stuff in too little space.

When you walk into a room not your own, you may immediately see someone else’s clutter; but with your own rooms, you may need some professional help to guide you through the clutter removal process and provide you with good suggestions to solve some of your storage issues.

You also need to be mindful of is how your home appears from the curb to the back fence; being objective is the key.  As you know, first impressions are important to get someone interested in your home; then you need to get them inside.

Once you have made the decision to sell, you need to separate yourself from your home in order to be objective.  It is a good idea to begin the thinning process early and stay with it.  Involve everyone in the family; begin with tossing broken items, selecting things for charities and storing out of season clothing and sports equipment.  You may need to rent a storage locker; and when you have to pay to store your things, you will become much more careful in choosing what you want to save and what you want to give up.

It almost goes, almost without saying that cleaning up clutter and planting pretty borders of colorful flowers will not be enough to cover insufficient maintenance.  Make sure your leaky faucets are fixed and cabinet doors are in good working order.  Potential buyers will open cabinets, drawers and try your faucets.   Yes, they will.

Your best defense is a good offence, so if you need guidance, get it.  If you need help with unfinished projects, call a professional electrician, plumber or painter, but do it now.  You will save in the long run-- not to mention saving your sanity.  Of course, you can make repairs yourself if you are experienced with some of the professional trades, but know your limitations and hire the help you need.      

The Secret to Successful Shopping

Much of my business is sourcing applicable furnishing for clients and helping them expand their ideas of what will work and what can work with a little more thought.  It is not unusual for people to see a dresser as a dresser and a desk as a desk; but often theses versatile pieces can work in many areas of the home and function in a variety of ways.

Just because a dresser has an attached mirror, that the homeowner does not need, does not mean the piece should be dismissed.  Once a mirror is removed, usually with a few turns of a screwdriver, the piece suddenly is less a bedroom piece and more of an entry console, a place for a TV to sit, dining room server, or even a piece for the living room to help visually separate a room that is needed to function as a dining space as well.

In a teen bedroom, a pair of dressers can become a desk set up with drawer space at either end.  Another configuration can have one dresser extending out into the room with a flat surface, such as a hollow core door, placed on top of the dresser and attached perpendicular to the wall with a French cleat or brackets.  This can be a real space saver, while serving two purposes.

End tables can work nicely as bedside tables, giving a bedroom a more sophisticated look; and the pieces do not have to match.  Even low bookcases are serviceable as bedside storage for guest rooms.  This idea allows for you to store treasured books if you are short of space in other areas of your home.  In fact, just about anything can serve as a bedside table; plant stands that you might use on your patio could stand in for end tables with a pretty piece of tile on top or a handy tray that would expand the surface area a bit.  Add a lamp and and your guest will have a spot for their late-night reading book and glasses.

An old trunk is a fun addition to a child’s bedroom as a storage area for toys or treasures they are not ready to part with, and the surface can be used as a play area, or bedside table if turned on its side.

I recently saw a fabulous old dentist’s cabinet from the turn of the century.  Its metal was timeless and fixtures were nickel and never need polishing.  It would make a great addition to a bathroom for storage of all those medicine cabinet needs along with an attractive space for storing pretty cosmetics, perfumes and even towels.  You would never have to worry about things falling out of the cabinet, as they would be safely stored in drawers.  What a conversation piece it would make.

Open vs Closed Storage

As George Carlin once said, we all need a place for our stuff.  I could not agree more with that statement, but it is how we store that stuff that makes a difference in everyday life.

For some it is important to have everything out in the open and within easy reach, while others prefer clean lines and uncomplicated views.  Both attitudes are equally “in fashion”, so to speak; it is just a matter of choice.

Today, kitchens are more open, and cooks want guests to be more a part of the experience, in contrast to the way kitchens were viewed several decades ago.   Now, cooking is an event to be shared.  You will see more and more kitchens with an industrial or professional look to them, with open shelving for easy access to oils, vinegars and spices.  If you think about it, the more open kitchen concept is a bit of a throwback to your grandmother’s day when the cook had pots and pans either on open shelves or hanging from racks above the stove or chopping block.  There may have been a large pantry with open shelves on which stood bins and baskets for storing root vegetables.

Where there is no pantry, kitchens are sporting industrial shelving for canned and dry goods along with some frequently used small appliances.  Country or modern, open and exposed is becoming fashionable again.  For existing kitchens, I am seeing cabinet doors being removed all together to allow showcasing vintage dinner or glassware.  The insides of the cabinets often are painted and lighting is added to enhance the display.

Home offices and family rooms will benefit from a little discretion in the open- storage concept.  While it is important to have storage, it is not always important to view the stored items all the time.  I always encourage clients, when looking for furniture to add to their homes, to consider if the piece can also be used for storage; for instance, foot stools can store blankets and throws, or even toys.  Bookcases can hold baskets and bins for items that need to be in the room-- like board games and cards, but not necessarily seen.

In the home office, a combination of open and closed storage seems to work best.  Certainly there are things that need to be within easy reach, but bulky items like printers will fit in credenzas, along with paper and ink supplies.  Having a clear work surface is the key to staying organized.

Adding Drama with Pictures from your Past

It is no surprise to family, friends and current clients of mine to learn I’ve added another piece of drama to my home, through paint.  I have always had a family picture wall, and everyone enjoys guessing the ages of the subjects and recognizing similarities between family members; sometimes it takes a generation or more to notice similarities; other times they appear in the next generation.

Originally, I had photos up on the wall in whatever state they came to me: black and white from early childhoods, moving into artist enhanced color over black and white, then early color photos that faded quickly once they were out of albums and exposed to regular daylight.  I would add photos to the wall, and returning children would immediately go to the wall and see what was new or changed; this routine was more common as family members were added and got a place on the wall. 

Recently, I changed the wall once again, this time the featured wall bears solely black and white photos.   More recent photos that were originally colored were scanned into the computer and rendered black and white for a more dramatic look.  I still have the originals, so nothing is lost.

The current photo wall has a more cohesive look now.   With black and white photos making a comeback, so to speak, as an art form, the space has an updated look with very little effort or expense.

Painting the background wall a soft black, more like the adjacent blackboard painted wall, with its chalk finish, carries the drama around the corner without being jarring to the eye.

The photo wall shows off well as there is a great deal of natural light in the space, but effective lighting can be achieved in a room with less natural light, with careful illumination  from table lamps, recessed lighting or new track lighting.

Do not be afraid to try some drama in your rooms.   You do not need to cover an entire wall with a dramatic color and the color does not have to be absolute black or deep navy blue or even a near black plum; but it does need to be dramatically dark to achieve the desired drama.  Try painting two-thirds of a wall, from the floor up 36 inches; put up a chair rail and paint above for your feature wall.  You can also choose a large section of a wall and frame it with molding like a huge picture and put your framed pictures within the area demarcated by the molding.  

These ideas are all inexpensive and easily alter should you change your mind down the road.  Don’t be afraid to experiment; remember its only paint!

Finding New Solutions with Old Things

Recently, I acquired a china cabinet.  I had seen this cabinet a decade earlier, but paid no attention to it, as it didn’t make an impression on me.  Now it is offered to me since the owner did not wish to transport it and no longer had use for it.  The task of getting it from the owner’s residence to mine was complicated; such pieces as this china cabinet are rarely light in weight nor compact enough for most vehicles.  The giver was as relieved to be rid of the piece as I was disappointed to see it again.

Once it was in our garage, I had to figure out what to do with it.  I had thought of a client or two who might make use of it; but that all changed when I inspected the cabinet again, as it was either the wrong style or too large for each of them.

I thought of removing the top piece and moving the bottom part to my office, and replacing a pair of small dresser drawers I use as a base for a work surface.  For some time that seemed to be the only solution, but it left the upper portion without a use and therefore wasted, which is a difficult thing for me to accept.  I had no other use for it.

While I kept my eyes and ears open for someone who might use this piece, I knew I had to get it out of the garage before my husband took action on his own.  

The cabinet had a trim piece on the upper portion that I found most disagreeable and it appeared too “country” for my current aesthetic, which is a combination of country and traditional with a toss to modern dramatic colors.  

My husband agreed to remove the offending trim piece, which proved more difficult than first thought, of course.  Once that was done, the cabinet took on a more modern look with its Dental Molding at the top.  I think what had bothered me most was its combination of styles, although one might think it would fit right in with my odd style sensibility. 

I hired a painter to sand, prime and spray the piece to match my kitchen cabinets that were painted a number of years ago in black.  I thought the carriage of the large black piece in the dining room, would help unify it to the open concept kitchen that I love.

With new hardware and clean glass and mirrors, the piece is a lovely stand out in the dining room and does not resemble its former self.  Having vision is an important part of design.

Now, my problem is what to do with the true antique cabinet this piece replaced!   

The Temporary Accent Wall

While accent walls are tempting in theory, often they are too risky a décor feature for many people.  During the holidays, most homeowners will break out of their usual comfort zone and go “all out,” decorating with abandon.  Why not try a temporary accent wall, just for the holidays?  You could use paint, of course, but that is fairly permanent in most people’s eyes, not this intrepid decorator; you might have figured out by now.

You can accomplish an accent wall by hanging lengths of fabric, wallpaper or colored paper.  Fixing these mediums to walls does not have to be permanent; you can staple them top and bottom to a section of wall that you wish to show off, or you can attach the fabric or paper to a large piece of foam board that can be painted as well.  

If you have a special vignette that you wish to highlight, place a large piece of accent fabric behind the vignette and it will act as a great backdrop.  You could use a plain silk drape as well, by simply hanging it on a curtain rod close to the ceiling; the drape can be slightly gathered for added texture or hung and stretched out so it will lie flat against the wall.  This is a good idea if you happen to have wallpaper or a colored wall that doesn’t agree with your holiday décor.  You may want to display hanging cards but don’t want to have competing designs; simply hang or fix cards to the “accent fabric wall” and create your new design.

You may want to add some special excitement to your fireplace mantle by adding a temporary accent color above to punch up the focal point of the room.  This space would be an ideal place to add paint if you wanted to try out an accent color without committing an entire wall to it.  Simply draw parallel lines from the top of the mantle to the ceiling and paint your punch of color.

Remember that a bold color will take several coats of paint, but the surface area is usually fairly small, so this project does not require a great deal of paint.  Your lines do need to be sharp and clean so follow directions when using one of the many painters’ tape products to achieve the look you are after.  Once the holidays are over, if you are inclined to leave the color up, good for you; if not, simply paint it out, using a good primer to cover the bold color and re-apply the room color to the wall.

Let the Christmas Decorating Begin

With Thanksgiving being only a memory for most of us, the holiday decorating now begins in earnest.  Like many, I need to have and enjoy my Thanksgiving holiday without Christmas getting a foothold in my mind before its time--not an easy task if you go out into the retail world any time after the Back to School posters come down.

Some homes are adorned with one grand tree, decorated from tip to tip and top to bottom.  Many trees sport a different theme each year.  Some homes have a tree in many rooms and each tree reflects the family’s interests and each room’s décor.  

Even a modest home can usually support a small table top tree of the family’s special and most precious ornaments, including those classroom, Popsicle creations, the children made 30 years ago, once dripping with glitter.   While some families proudly hang these worn treasures each year on the family tree, some are a bit more hesitant to do so, as not to “spoil” the themed tree.  Why not create a small table top tree of just those special ornaments, or a tree with the most delicate pieces that you fear might meet a disastrous end if they are hung among the mass of shiny, bright ornaments?

A small manzanita branch that is secured in a sturdy base can fill in for an evergreen that is more traditional.  Ornaments can stand out and not compete for attention when they are hanging from delicate ribbons on bare branches.  This is especially nice for the young children who like to admire their own creative works.  

Another great idea for a small accent tree is to hang pictures of favorite people who cannot be with you during the holidays; family members past and present can bring warmth of fond memories as you pass by a small tree set up on a side table or in an entry.

To shine a little light on your accent tree, use a small accent light, the kind usually used for highlighting a plant; simply place it near the faux tree and let the light cast interesting shadows on the walls.

Decorating trees is long-standing tradition for most families; add your own family tradition to the ones you grew up with; simply take into account how your family enjoys this festive holiday.  When the children have a “great idea”, there is no need to stifle it; allow them to create a tree of their own imagination.  After all, it is all about enjoying the season, no need to make holiday decorating off limits to anyone.

Proportion is Important

Finding the right proportions when designing and decorating a room is difficult for many people without some assistance.  Whether in a designer showroom or at the local furniture retailer, it is easy to be seduced by large, comfy sofas and chairs.  Often, people don’t go beyond these pieces to seek out furniture better proportioned to their room; then they are disappointed with the result once the furniture is delivered.  Suddenly, the room is too tight for comfort and the furniture is not returnable; however, sometimes it is, so always check before you finalize your purchase.

It is a common mistake to overfill a room with furnishings; it is good to  remember the old saying, “Less is more”.  Dressing a room for style and comfort is more like dressing yourself for the day’s activity, be it a casual day at home or a formal affair.  Most families today do not require a “formal living room”, when a great room or family room serves the family living style better. If you have a large home with lots of rooms and you do a lot of entertaining, formal rooms make more sense.

Whether you are furnishing your first apartment, condo or single family home, you, no doubt, will have some furnishings to move into the new dwelling but will want to make some new purchases as well.  This is a perfect time to make well-informed decisions as to how the room will function and what is necessary to achieve your goals for the space.  Take stock of what you have, and what you want to keep, and what you want to replace when time, money and the right piece is available.

You may want a large sectional, but if the room in which it is to reside is not large enough, or there are too many doors in the room, making getting around difficult, you should look for another solution.  You cannot change the size of the room without some major reconstruction, which is both costly and messy.

Do not despair; a simple floor plan layout is a good way to get ready for the adventure of furniture shopping.  There are many on-line templates to help you with your layout.  All you need are the measurements of the room, and the door and window placements.  Once you have your scale drawing, you can make or buy standard templates for furniture to move about the floor plan, which will give you a good idea whether or not that  prized recliner or sectional will fit in your space and if you can navigate around it comfortably.

High backed chairs and sofas will take up more visual space than lower profile pieces; the same goes for large rolled arms on these pieces.  There is a lot to consider; since these pieces are part of the actual “living” part of your room, you want to make wise decisions.  

Where You Hand Your Hat or Helmet

Storage where you enter and exit your home is one of the most important things to consider when thinking about efficiency and saving time.  Think about having coats, hats, gloves, scarves and back packs all stowed in one place to pick up as you leave the house and drop off as you enter.  Having a bulletin board with a calendar in this area is another great way to keep track of such things as permission slips for the field trip due today, and reminders for the orthodontist or soccer physical after school.

There are so many ways to orchestrate this “command center”.  You will find open cabinetry that is similar to lockers for hanging bulky jackets and hockey sticks and helmets.  There are cubbies for mittens, gloves and scarves and hooks for all the rest.  Combination units will have openings for baskets or boots, closed storage for all the stuff that is out of season or just not used every day.

Having this type of storage may seem like a luxury, but what price can you place on a little sanity in a busy household with parents working and kids in all kinds of after school activities?  Look for a space or closet that is under-utilized near the door you use most.  Is there space for a small wall unit that would accommodate the detritus of your everyday life?

If you enter and exit through a larger room, like a family room, you can create a “foyer” type space within a room by adding a large cube unit to use for the loose books, boots and backpacks.  Add some hooks to the sides of the unit.  If the unit has an open space for a TV, you can put a bulletin board or white board for messages from one family member to another as they passes through. 

Of course, you can have something custom built to suit your family’s particular needs, but there are lots of ready-made solutions if you can think outside of the box, so to speak.  If you happen to have a double sliding door closet at the front or back door, you can easily remove those doors easily and install a unit such as the ones I have described; it would be far easier to keep it organized without doors and it would be more accessible and therefore useful.

Let your imagination open to some new possibilities that can offer you a better start to your busy day.  

Autumn Foliage and Decor

For months now, home decor and craft stores have been filled with items to help decorate for fall, but why not turn to nature for your decor needs?

Clear glass jars, vases and apothecary jars make great decor, when filled with a bounty of mixed nuts in their shells and make a interesting focal point.  Sprinkle a few fall leaves and scatter some nuts about the base, and you have an edible vignette; add a candle or two, and you have a great centerpiece.

Magazines are filled with clever ideas that can enhance your home’s fall decor.  You can create an entire centerpiece of serving bowls using pumpkins, squashes and gourds.

If you are serving a hearty soup this season, why not carve out a large pumpkin and use the pumpkin as a soup tureen?  You can use smaller pumpkins can be used as soup bowls.  If the smaller pumpkins have stems, keep the top as a lid to keep soup hot and as an attractive addition to the decor.

Small to medium pumpkins and other squashes make great containers for dips and sauces that you are serving.  If you want to make a project of it, lightly carve these squashes in creative designs, once they are hollowed out.  Do not carve too deeply; just remove the skin portion and a small amount of the flesh of the squash for affect.  With some supervision, the kids can make designs with tissue paper patterns and special carving tools.

A pair of colorful, tapered candles set in a pair of slightly hollowed-out squashes make an interesting addition to any table.  Add some fall leaves or juniper or other evergreen branches to truly bring in the outdoors.

If you have a sturdy container, and a small branch with or without leaves in an interesting shape, you can create a small vignette around the branch.  By adding some candles or votives you add some warmth to the setting.  Bring out some of your favorite small ceramics or silver serving pieces you can personalize the space.

You can make a good use of some of your old favorite photographs from past fall adventures.  Scan your photos into a black and white format and frame them in black frames with white mats.  Keep to a fall theme and set them on a table for all to remember and enjoy.  If you are having a party, you could collect photos from those attending and surprise them with old photos of them at a memorable football game, bon fire or hay ride.  If you are entertaining multi-generational groups, it would be interesting to all to see that while styles may change, or not, fun times and activities tend to remain constant.

Some Respect for Vinyl

In the vast supply of building materials, vinyl gets a low score in appeal and often in performance; but let's not be so quick to discredit vinyl as an option in some cases.  In the 1960s, housewives of America were thrilled to finally have a product that did not require a paste wax application for a clean and shiny kitchen floor.  It was practically a revolution; television commercials sang the praises of the new product, and every household in the country wanted a new kitchen floor.  The space age was coming of age

Vinyl has taken a bit of a beating in the ensuing decades as new products were introduced and vinyl showed its shortcomings: tearing, discoloration and those "trendy, colorful patterns".  Almost as soon as vinyl hit its peak it was being replaced by hardy ceramic tile, with its own inherent problems.

In spite of its history, vinyl still has a place in our homes. It has some disadvantages, certainly.  If you have high concentrations of moisture in your concrete, pass on vinyl as the moisture will simply be trapped, and you will soon find discoloration and hard mineral deposits forming lumps under the vinyl.

On the positive side, one of my favorite vinyls is the vinyl plank, and it has come a long way from the vinyl of yesteryear.  Where you want a wood floor, but it is not practical due to overly high traffic patterns, go to vinyl plank.  Your home entry is one possibility, where an excited medium-to-large dog is waiting to greet you, digging sharp nails onto your flooring.  Vinyl plank will take the beating that will outperform wood by a high percentage.

Bathrooms that have a tub shower combination are excellent places for  high quality vinyl tiles; look for brand names like Marmoleum and Amtico.  In vinyl planks look for Congoleum.  These products have been greatly improved over the decades, and  consumers often cannot tell them apart from the products they are imitating-- honestly.

You will find very expensive applications of all of these products that will rival the cost of natural stone and high-end hardwoods; however, you will also find more modestly priced products as well.

Think in terms of where you would love to have the more expensive hardwoods, and ask if they  will perform adequately; if not, think vinyl plank or tiles.  I am not endorsing the old peel and stick vinyl tiles here, but suggesting that you look into the above-named products for better choices. 

Vinyl planks will come in all the current looks of exotic woods in varying widths and go down one plank at a time, just like hardwoods.  You can add contrasting borders and patterns at much lower cost than hardwoods.

Vinyl planks in entryways where heavy dirt, mud and snow are an issue make for a good solution; just remember that any "hard surface" will require a mat to wipe your feet; but it is far easier to wash an appropriate mat or rug than shampoo carpet.

Make the Most of a Small Bathroom

When you have a small bathroom, you need to make every inch work for you.  If you have to share a bathroom with others, the space is even more important is the space.  Typically a small bathroom will consist of a commode, a sink and a shower or a tub/shower combination-- just the essentials.  Put all these fixtures into a space only slightly larger than a closet, and you have a real challenge.  A bathroom five to six feet by eight feet is a tight squeeze, so make it all work for you.

Some things you can do to maximize your bath without changing any fixtures is to use the insides of cabinet doors for keeping curling irons and hair dryers within easy reach, without giving up valuable cabinet or drawer space.  Look for wire type hangers for this purpose or look in the kitchen section of your home improvement stores for something like plastic and foil wrap holders, these are narrow enough to hold hair sprays, tubes of gels, and containers of lotion and the like.  While these items are necessary, they do not belong on your counter tops.

There are a myriad of drawer dividers for jewelry, make-up and hair accessories; don't overlook kitchen cutlery dividers; you will find them in a variety of materials, from mesh metals, to bamboo and enameled plastic in great colors.  If you do not have drawer space, put these items into a travel kit and put it away in a cabinet or closet; and bring it out when needed.  Again, these items should not take up counter space in any bathroom; they are the number one clutter creator in a bathroom.  You can store these items under the sink in baskets just as easily.  There is no need to keep lots of cleaning supplies under every bathroom sink either; doing so is a luxury indeed; instead get a carry-all intended for cleaning products and keep it with your other cleaning products, i.e. brooms, mops and furniture polish.

Little girls love lots of barrettes, ribbons and colorful clips; and busy moms need them accessible.  Consider using clear plastic file pockets fixed to the wall, and fill them up with bands, clips and ribbons, this will keep them organized, readily available, off the counter and out of the way of everyone else who needs to use the bathroom.  If you have enough space to add shelves to a blank wall, you can put these items in colorful baskets to go with your decor; label them and make them part of your decor.

Another tight area in a small bathroom is the tub/shower area.  Sliding glass doors are difficult to bathe small children, and shower curtains often create more visual clutter than is necessary.  If you can use a plain shower curtain instead, you can add a clear pocket liner to keep some toys, sponges and shampoos organized.

Take a ready-made shower curtain and carefully cutting off the grommet edge; save it; add a clear plastic or open mesh fabric, section to the width of the curtain, then add the grommet edge on top of the clear plastic piece, you will have a more open feeling to your cramped bathroom.  By adding the new bowed curtain rod, you will add even more space to your shower area.

There are lots of ways to save space in small rooms; you just need to be open to seeing the space in a different way.

Guest Room Closet Space

Whether your guest room is just now empty of summer visitors, or you are ramping up for a flurry of fall guests, now is a good time to pay some special attention to closet space.

If you are fortunate enough to have a room dedicated to guests only, including a closet, you may find a few of the following tips valuable on how to spruce it up a bit.  Or if you have a guest room that must serve more than one master, some of these ideas may help you and your guests achieve optimum satisfaction.

Naturally, a closet left free of out of season clothing is ideal, but not always possible.  If you can assign half of the closet to your personal storage needs and the other half for your guests you will both be happy.

Edit your seasonal clothing storage at the end of each season and donate or toss items that you have outgrown or just no longer need.  On the "guest" side of the closet, fit the space with a shelving unit or bookcase deep enough to hold some baskets to hold personal items a guest may need to take from the bedroom to the bathroom.  Also, fill a basket with items that your guest might have forgotten: toothpaste, toothbrush, disposable razors, scented lotion, aspirin and anything else he or she might need.

If you have a shallow bookcase that will fit in the closet, one that is about 13-15 inches deep, you will have no trouble finding baskets to fit; think in terms of color and texture to enhance the space; make them pretty and functional.  You can roll some spare towels, provide soaps and perhaps a blanket to fit as well.  The shelf unit does not have to be filled to capacity; leave enough space on each shelf to avoid a crowded feeling, and stager your baskets or bins for a little visual relief.

If your bookcase or shelving unit does not take up a full half of the closet, all the better as you can leave a small space for hanging clothes.  Baskets and bins can hold socks and such, while empty space on the shelves will be a perfect place to hold folded T-shirts and sweaters your guests may have brought along.

By having space in the closet for all these items, your guest will not have to live out of a suitcase, which is awkward at best; and the suitcase can be stowed out of sight, leaving the guest room a more restful space.