SLIP INTO SOMETHING MORE COMFORTABLE!

Tip # 3 Add Slipcovers to lighten up the mood! The one great trait that I love about slipcovers is the ability to instantly change your home’s look. Overall they can make you room feel entirely different, lending you to take notice of the forms of your furnishings, creating a desire to keep the room as a whole simple. Apart from changing color or texture, all white slipcovers can convey a feeling of ease and simplicity, giving a room an airy quality to it. When we think of spring and summer, who doesn’t conjure up thoughts of a warm breeze caressing our skin, time taken up with outdoor activities and casual. There are a number of ways to purchase slipcovers; many retailers offer them as an option when ordering your new furniture, custom made by a local upholsterer or retailers such as JC Penney and Target or my online favorite CONTORELLE at www.contourelle.com where they have introduced a beautiful new line of textured cream covers.

Tip Two or Through the Tulips!

COOL FIRE STONES FROM OUTDOOR LIVING


Wow I am dating myself with that song from Tiny Tim...Tip Through the Tulips! Seriously, I am on to the next tip in decorating on a dime for Spring. So far I have cleaned (some, no windows yet) and replaced my pillows and throws. Next tip is to clean out that fireplace which is a nasty job, and my husband and I (did I mention his name is Tim), disagree on the best time to do this. Since I live in New England we can have raw cool damp days into June and there are times I like to have it going to dry out the house. So tip # 2 will focus on how you can give it a fresh look to carry you through the warmer weather!

Tip #2. Change out your fireplace accessories to create a more fresh look. Fireplaces that still have your winter accessories can be heavy looking in the warmer months so consider switching to a candle arrangement with varying heights of big white pillars, lanterns or mercury glass candle holders. For the cool factor, check out these unusual Fire Stones from www.outdoorlivingshowroom.com. However, if you are tight on storage, thoroughly clean all the fireplace accessories and switch the wood to one beautiful piece of Birch, the white bark is so lovely; if you are a DIY drill holes and add candles. Or add a beautiful basket with dried hydrangeas, shells, moss or other natural elements that convey srping or summer. All of these suggestions allow you to still have ambiance without the heat.

Spring Decorating on a Dime!

Hi all, finally the sun is to shine here in the north east for Easter weekend! I will surely have spring fever after experiencing weekly nor'easters , floods and record breaking rain in the month of March. Not only will I pull out the golf clubs, detail my car and rev up my work out program, I will be attacking spring cleaning and decorating.

So with many of you looking to do the same, I thought I would give you some decorating tips on how to get your home ready for the warmer weather to come! This will surely bring back memories of our mothers switching out their winter curtains for their summer ones and of course window washing (Cleaning is the first step afterall)! Watch for my tips over the next two weeks.

TIP #1 Replace all heavy textured accessories such as throws and pillows with lighter versions, choosing linen, cottons, flax and sisal. Freshen up the colors by incorporating the lighter hues of your room's palette. I love heading to Pottery Barn where I can purchase pillow covers at a fraction of the cost and they often have coordinating throws. Bring out your decorating books that have warmer weather lifestyles as a focus, arrange them on a coffee table and add a looking glass to encourage your guests to peruse through them. A couple of my favorites are anything to do with gardening, roses and outdoor spaces. Change out your metallic accessories for lacquer, rattan and bamboo all having wonderful textures, but not heavy.

Pottery Barn Pillow Covers