A “gallery” in my home.

Do you have a wall space that’s crying out for character, warmth or whimsy?  I did.  The long walls of the stairway leading down to my gameroom so seemed closed in and drab. But who buys artwork for their basement stairway?  Solution: My daughter’s art camp projects and some off-the-shelf frames from Target. Not only is it a great way to brighten up a wall space, it’s the perfect way to display her best work.

A few hints for creating your own gallery with your kids’ or grandkids’ masterpieces:

• If you’re hanging a number of pieces, stick with the same or coordinating frames.  All white or all black frames work best.
• Make sure you include a white or light-colored matte; it will really show off the art.
• Or, try “floating frames.”  (Also available at Target.) These are two panes of glass held together by the wood frame.  They’re great because you simply press the artwork between the panes and the wall color serves as the matte.
• It’s okay to trim down the artwork to fit the frame.  The mommy-guilt of altering your child’s work will go away after you see it displayed so nicely.
• Do NOT clean the glass that touches the art with Windex or household glass cleaner.  It will eat away at the artwork over time. Use a clean, damp cloth to wipe away smudges.
• When hanging multiple pieces, lay them out on the floor first to create an appealing layout.
• I have absolutely NO hints for you on measuring and leveling artwork when hanging it on the wall: I simply use a combination of eye-balling it and re-hanging if it doesn’t look right.

Happy framing!  

Love Your Home,
Sue 

Hello!  It’s the 70’s calling.  They want their bar stools back.

Check out these beauties. I actually bought them — brand new — a little over 4 years ago! What the frog was I thinking?!?

I’ll tell you what I was thinking. I was thinking, “OMG, I’m going to have a baby in 4 weeks and I don’t have bar stools!  I can’t bring a newborn home from the hospital if I don’t have bar stools for the bar in the basement!!” And there, my friends, is a little peek into the mind of a 41-year-old, eight-month pregnant woman.

Yes, one Saturday morning in June of 2005 (about 40 pounds heavier than I am right now,) I woke up with this bar stool craving and set out to find them. I waddled all over the furniture stores of Pittsburgh and finally settled on these two swiveling gems because they matched the wood on my bar. *cringe* “Match” is a bad word in the design world.

In my post-pregnancy life as a decorator, I discovered I was not alone. I’ve had clients say things like, “I bought this sofa when I was pregnant and I now HATE it!”  and “I chose this green and gold wallpaper while I was pregnant — please make it go away!” and “This wall color that I had to have for the nursery now makes me nauseous.”

There’s just something about this magical time our lives that tends to mess with our sense of home decorating style. So, if you’re pregnant now and you find yourself craving a little something for your nest, go ahead, go forth and shop.  But do follow this advice: take a non-pregnant, honest and strong girlfriend with you as your guide. You’ll be happy you did.

And as for those bar stools of mine: thank goodness for Craigslist.

Love Your Home,
Sue

Sorry for such a preachy blog entry title.  Just an attempt at humor.  My actual point, and possibly a more appropriate title:  ”Add a Little Whimsy to Your Decor.”  

I saw this little fellow at a garden center while on vacation years ago and those enormous eyes seem to say “take me home.”   Once home, I couldn’t bring myself to put him outside so he’s been squatting in my sitting room ever since.  Seeing him there next to my rather serious, traditional, curved-armed sofa gives me a giggle.  (If you look closely, you can see he’s smiling.)

But more importantly, he’s one of the first things my guests see when they enter through the front door into my foyer.  My home’s foyer is my least favorite space because its architecture is oversized and just a bit too “stately” (a.k.a ostentatious) for my liking.  But my little welcoming toad quickly sets a more fitting tone.  

If you have a room that could use a little personality or warmth, don’t be afraid to add your favorite animal print pillow or smiling pig bookends or even a big-eyed garden toad. Most likely, if you’re reading this blog, you’re the type of person who enjoys a little goofiness .

Love Your Home,
Sue