More and more people are gearing up towards conserving nature.  Environmental knowledge is steering us toward green office furniture that many organizations now prefer.  Here are four eco-friendly tips that you can use to go green now:

Modular offices go a long way in conservation of nature.  Less material is required to set up such offices so less funds are needed to pay for a new set-up.  Modular offices that are small in size mean a lower price for the square footage.

Using recycled or used ...
Continue reading ...

Do you want to remodel your home to get the best price in the market or do you want to remodel for a better quality of life?  Are you asset rich but time poor?  An interior designer can achieve amazing results, save you time and aggravation and give your home or office a "WOW" factor.  An upgraded kitchen and bath lead as the top improvements that increase the value of a property.  If you do not want to gut them and start from scratch, here are 8 down and dirty tricks that are low-cost but hi...
Continue reading ...

Survival means adjusting our lifestyles to fit a new economy.  Everybody has had to confront how to live in a challenging economic time.  I think it's important that we come up with solutions that will work for homeowners across the country.

Homebuilders are looking for ways to decrease the size of the home without having a major impact on buyers.  The average home size is down 20%.  Mortgage payments that people can afford means adjusting lifestyles to accommodate a smaller home.  My challeng...
Continue reading ...

Am always on the "hunt" for treasures.  I heard about "Scrap," a warehouse that is tucked away in an "iffy" industrial area of San Francisco.  It is a step-up from the dump.   So, I ventured out in jeans and a cashmere sweater ($7 at Thrift Town), tote bag, camera, cash and a sense of adventure.

Right away I knew that it would be a productive hunt--in the front yard were barrels filled with bolts of knit fabrics for $3 to $5 each.  I selected a black, tan and rust one that had "comfortable tra...
Continue reading ...

I love the shape of my Louis chair and have established that the frame is constructed out of good quality materials.  The legs are not loose and the whole piece doesn't wobble.  It is fairly heavy, which means it is not constructed out of low quality wood.

The current fabric is stretched tightly so I am putting the new fabric over the old one.  (When you remove old fabric you have a perfect template to use.)   I pulled off the old gimp which was glued on and I pulled out every two staples all ...

Continue reading ...

I have been recycling jewelry before it was cool to recycle things!  It started with dressing up dolls from my mom's jewelry box.  Later in life, when I was a fabric mill rep, I saw a 75% off--Going Out of Business sign in Pacific Grove--well who could resist!  I used a bead board and put together a great necklace that got lots of attention and started me with a new hobby, which turned into a business eventually.

My love of clothes dictates new jewelry, so, recycling what I already own frees u...
Continue reading ...

However limited your storage space, it is vital that you have a convenient storage system.  First, decide what kind of storage works best in each area of your home.  What should be out of sight and what can be left on display.   What can be built-in and what should be movable.  Freestanding storage has to be reasonably attractive as well as useful.

Do you have a room that has a bay or dormer window?  Extra storage can be provided by adding  a window seat with lift-up lid or drawers.  Another o...

Continue reading ...

Pick three, six or nine photos and blow them up to the same size.  Print them in black and white or sepia tint.  Frame them in same size frames in black or brown.  A 12 x 18 inch frame from Aaron Brothers costs about $18.  I would suggest that you pick a standard size frame first and then print your photos to fit.  If you already have several frames (recycle) paint them the same color for a pow-y look!  Your cost will be around $6 for the paint plus the cost of the prints.

A fantastic way to d...
Continue reading ...

A perfectly proportioned room is very rare but there are numerous ways of disguising and enhancing awkwardly shaped rooms.  I will show you how to use paint, wallpaper, fabric, lighting and rugs to camouflage many architectural sins.

Use one paint color for ceilings, walls and woodwork.  Rooms with lots of natural light can use rich, warm colors;  dark rooms look better painted in medium to light colors.

A different wallpaper above the dado will add distinction to any room.  Carefully chosen p...

Continue reading ...

 

             If you do not want to carry out expensive structural alterations such as removing a non-load bearing wall between two rooms, there are many relatively simple techniques you can use.  Paint, wallpaper and fabric can all be used to create the impression of better proportions in a room.

            Dark paint with a matte finish will give the ceiling the appearance of being lower.  A dark stained, painted or carpeted floor, combined with the darker ceiling, will enhance this effe...

Continue reading ...

.  There are no accidents.  Everything that happens is meant to be. When my girlfriend Dianne insisted I go power walking with her I really was not in the mood but she(another thrift diva) talked me into it.  It's good for the bod so off we went down Clement Street toward the ocean.  Ten blocks down she spies a Goodwill store and insists we stop for only ten minutes.
    I head toward the shoes (I used to have a shoe outlet) and I spotted RED SOLES---OMG---I knew what that meant---Christian Lo...
Continue reading ...

Once you know about different types of lighting and are aware of its many possibilities, you can start creating a variety of special effects.
           
The dimmer switch can alter the mood of a room in seconds and is simple to  install.  (If you are unsure about any safety aspects, check with an electrician).

 Make rooms seem larger by flooding the walls with light from bright wallwashers that are either recessed into the ceiling (if you have plaster or wood ceilings, and have enough space ...

Continue reading ...