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Beds are perhaps the most personal piece of furniture that we can purchase.  We spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping, so it's important to have a bed that is both comfortable and pleasing to the eye.  For me, nothing embodies these two characteristics quite like an empire bed.  Upon first glance, empire beds convey a feeling of luxury, style, and comfort that you just don't find in newer styles.

The Empire style has its origins in France at the height of the Napoleonic empire, and often feature elements of Egyptian culture in the designs (since Napoleon was fascinated by that country).  Furniture of this style can appear bulky or heavy by today's standards; but if you like solid wood pieces, this is something you'll definitely want to check out.  

Empire beds originally were very low, with oversized headboards and footboards, but these days the styles vary greatly.  For example, a classic American-style Empire bed looks like a sleigh since the wood is rolled over -- just like the front of a sleigh.  Other Empire bed designs can leave the bed looking like a gondola or a boat.  And, yes, these beds are big enough to pull off the metaphor!

If you want to purchase an Empire bed for your home, you have several options.  This style remains very popular even today, so you'll be able to find brand-new Empire beds in a furniture showroom near you.  You might have to stick with the upscale stores for this kind of purchase, since these beds are usually quite expensive (especially if you want one that is of superior craftsmanship).

A second option you have is to hit the antique furniture trail.  You can search for Empire beds that are in excellent condition and use them as is.  Or, if you are into furniture restoration, you can make the bed your new project.  Choosing the antique route can save you some money, particularly if you do have to perform some touch-up work.  Just make sure that you can actually handle the amount of restoration that the bed requires.

A third option for Empire bed enthusiasts is to have the piece custom-made by an expert furniture maker in your area.  Then you can get a bed made specifically for you in the style and dimensions that you specify.  This is great if you have smaller rooms but still have your heart set on an Empire bed.  Although this sounds expensive, you shouldn't dismiss the idea of custom furniture without giving it some thought.  After all, you actually have a bit of control over the cost.  For example, instead of using a pricey wood such as mahogany, you can ask the furniture maker to use a cheaper wood.  Many furniture shops are more than willing to make adjustments to the details of the transaction in order to arrive at a price that is satisfactory to both parties.

If you are thinking about getting a new bed, why not check out the classical styling of a beautiful Empire bed?  You'll feel like a million bucks every time you slip into one of these luxurious pieces!

  

When it comes to outfitting your living room or family room with furniture, you'll be faced with many choices.  Among them will be whether to go with a sofa or a sectional in your main seating area.  There are benefits and drawbacks to each choice, so let's take a look at some of the key areas that you need to evaluate before making your final decision.

Space
First of all, you'll need to consider how much space you have in the room you want to decorate.  This might limit your choices right off the bat, so it's better to take your measurements before you go shopping and find a piece that you just must have.  A sectional will usually take up significantly more space than a sofa.  That means if you've got a rather confined space to work with, you should probably stick with a sofa.  On the other hand, if you've got a pretty large space, then you could go with either choice.  If you go with a sofa in a large space, you'll likely want to purchase arm chairs, a love seat, or other items to help fill out and balance the room.

Flexibility
Do you stick with one look for a long time or do you prefer frequent change?  If you prefer frequent change, you'll want to go with a sectional.  Sectionals consist of several separate pieces that can be rearranged into various combinations.  So if you get tired of a particular setup, you can quickly and easily move the pieces around for a fresh look and feel.  

It's also possible to get a different feel from a sofa, but this would have to come from accessories such as pillows, slipcovers, bolsters, etc.  Basically, you'll pretty much have the same look for as long as you elect to keep the piece.

Price
Since most of us have limited amounts of cash to spend, price is almost always a major factor in decorating decisions.  Sofas are typically cheaper than sectionals right off the bat.  But that's only if you don't have to purchase any additional pieces for your room.  If you have chairs and/or a love seat, or if you are willing to have a room with just a sofa in it, then you'll be fine with this choice.  

Sectionals are more expensive at the outset, but you get more pieces.  So even if you're furnishing an empty room, you won't have to buy a love seat or any extra chairs.  In most cases, the sectional alone will suffice.

Personal Preference
All of the above considerations are important ones, but they don't really matter unless you actually like the piece you end up choosing.  Furniture is a huge part of our lives -- even if we tend not to notice it most of the time.  The furnishings we purchase have a great amount of influence on the way we feel about our homes; so above all else, you should make sure that you choose a sofa or sectional that will give you and your family years of enjoyment.

By Christina VanGinkel

Decorating a room around a collection can provide you with a theme, or at the least, a focus to build on. However, if your collection is too overwhelming for the room to begin with, you may end up with just a mess instead of a decor for the room. To make sure this does not happen, ask yourself first why you want to incorporate the collection into the room in the first place. Do you feel that the collection has something to offer both the room and your home overall, or are just looking for somewhere to dump it because you do not want to part with it for some reason or another? If it were for the second reason, I would highly recommend that you find an alternative place to store the collection. If it is the first reason, that you honestly feel that the collection has something to offer, be it class, attitude, style, what have you, then take a serious look at the collection itself to evaluate what it contains and assess how you plan to incorporate it into the space.

Begin by going through the collection piece by piece. Make sure that each piece actually belongs in the collection. Too often, we get busy building a collection of one type or another, and if something even remotely seems to fit, we add it. This can lead to both clutter and pieces that we do not even like. This may be hard to do if some of the items in the collection were given to you as gifts and you feel obligated to keep them. Or maybe you bought some of the items yourself, when you first began the collection, and as you learned more about the subject at hand, your tastes changed, even improved a bit if you may say so yourself. Remind yourself that it is your choice on how to decorate your home, and that what another person perceives as an important part of your collection, or even pieces that you thought were nice when you first obtained them, may be nothing more than dust collectors now. Be firm, and if you do not like a piece, remove it from the collection.

Next, consider where you plan to place the collection. Is it of the type that will need to be placed in a central spot, such as a set of elaborate figurines, or is it more of a relaxed collection, say a casual assortment of handcrafted quilts? Let the pieces define the room, not the other way around, especially if you want the room to be a reflection of the collection itself.

However you end up displaying your collection in your home, have fun with it. Even a pristine collection should make you feel glad that you chose to collect and display it. If they make you feel out of place, or awkward in the room, I would hesitate strongly to use them as the basis for the room's decor, no matter how much you enjoy the collection otherwise.

When it comes to designs of any kind, the concept of "scale" is a very important one.  For example, blueprints of buildings, houses, and just about everything else are drawn to scale in order to give people an idea of how big -- or how small -- the finished product will be.  

The concept of scale is no less important when it comes to interior design.  However, when we are talking about scale in terms of furniture, we mean it a bit differently than an architect or engineer does.  Instead of the ratios that architects and engineers work with, interior designers are more concerned with the actual fit of furniture in the room where it is intended to be used.  Let's take a look at some of the components of scale as it relates to furniture and home decor.

The first thing that you'll want to do when choosing new furniture is to bear in mind the dimensions of the room that each piece will be placed in.  This means you should measure the height, width, and length of the room, and select your furniture accordingly depending on the measurements that you take.  In order for a room to look its best, it is critical that the furniture be neither too big nor too small; that is, you want the furniture to be scaled to the size of the room.  This helps ensure that you use your space wisely, and also adds aesthetic value to your design scheme.  In fact, if you look through some interior design magazines or books, you'll see that the really beautiful homes contain furniture that appears to have been made specifically for those rooms.  The pieces fit perfectly, and enhance the living space.  That's the concept of scale in action.

When considering the scale of new furniture pieces, it's also very important to take into account the measurements of any existing pieces that will remain in the room with your new items.  Just as you want your furniture to be scaled appropriately according to the room, you also want it to be scaled correctly in relation to other furnishings.  This will bring a sense of unity to the room, which is a goal that most people have when they decorate their homes.  For example, if you have a large sofa, then you shouldn't have a tiny coffee table or a small wing chair.  That throws off the balance of the room and shows a lack of scale.  Instead, you should choose pieces that are complementary in both looks and size.  

As you can see, there is a great deal more to interior design than simply selecting any piece of furniture that is visually appealing to you.  If you really want a beautiful home, there are additional concepts, such as scale, that you need to pay attention to.  It may seem a bit complicated at first, but once you actually start measuring and decorating based on your measurements, you'll get the hang of it.  And if all else fails, there's certainly nothing wrong with calling in a professional to help you!

If it's time for a whole new look in your home, you might want to consider decorating with Shaker furniture.  Many people have heard of this style before, but few can explain what it actually is or describe some of the typical pieces you might find in a Shaker collection.  In this article, I will attempt to do both of these things for you.

The Shakers were a relatively small religious sect that peaked in popularity in the late 1700s and early 1800s in the eastern United States.  Their religion was very strict and ascetic, and these qualities really come through in their furniture.  Many sources of information on the Shaker lifestyle point out that original Shaker furniture was always meticulously handcrafted with careful attention to detail.  Furthermore, the furniture was characterized by its plain, unadorned look and its extreme functionality.  For example, one article that I read said that many Shaker furniture pieces, including chairs and small tables, were able to be hung on walls when not in use, thus creating more space in every room.

The Shaker style of furniture is still very popular today.  One reason for its lasting importance in the world of interior design is that the furniture has a timeless look that will work with nearly any kind of decorating scheme that you can think of.  This versatility obviously has great appeal for many people.

These days, you have countless retail outlets to choose from when deciding where to purchase your Shaker furniture.  First of all, there are smaller furniture houses where each piece is handmade -- just like original Shaker furniture was.  Because the pieces are handmade, the proprietors are often willing to work with you to accommodate your specific needs.  So if you want your Shaker furniture made from a particular kind of wood, or if you have a certain design in mind, you should go with a smaller shop because they are more likely to handle custom orders.  Of course this means you'll pay a premium price for the finished pieces, but it is well worth it if you have your heart set on custom furniture.

The second choice you have is to purchase mass-produced furniture from regional or national chains.  Mass-produced Shaker furniture can still be very attractive and is often of very high quality.  Although there isn't as much allure to mass-produced furniture as there is with handmade items, you'll often have more designs to choose from.  In addition, you won't have to wait weeks or months for your furniture.  You can take delivery on the very same day that you select and pay for your pieces.  And finally, you'll often pay significantly lower prices for mass-produced furniture.  So if you're working with a tight budget, this is definitely the way to go.

If you want to decorate your home with beautiful furniture that will look great for many years to come no matter what the current trends, then I encourage you to check out Shaker-style furniture.  I'm sure you'll love the functional, clean look of this style as much as I do!

If you are running out of space and need an extra room for a family room or rec room, have you considered doing something with an attached garage? There are many factors to take into consideration and it may not work for you, but my sister has done this and every time I see it, I'm amazed how well it worked for her.

I will just describe how it was in her case and maybe it will be able to spark an idea or two for someone. To begin with, the garage needs to have a finished floor, of course. In the case of my sister's extra room, the garage had a finished floor and was big enough that part of it is still being used as a garage.

The garage was first built to sit beside her house. That posed a huge problem in turning it into an extra room, of course, so they built a breezeway (foyer, or whatever term you wish to use for that kind of area) between the garage and house and suddenly they were joined. The breezeway is now decorated in a country theme and offers a nice "quiet place" for reading or craft work.

The garage itself is not heated but they use a large kerosene heater and it does the job very well. The garage room is now used for parties, family gatherings, and anything else one of the family members wants to do with the room. There are area rugs in part of it with comfortable chairs arranged around a television set. That particular area of the garage room is heated with the furnace that is in that corner.

When it is time for a bigger gathering, they borrow long tables and chairs and there is plenty of room for many people. If it is a buffet dinner party or another party where the food is offered in buffet style, there is plenty of room where the buffet tables can sit.

For anyone deciding to do a project like this, you may want to do even more and hang some kind of room divider between the "social" area and the things that one would expect to find in a garage. How much you do or don't do in that area of decorating is up to you.

In what ways could you use your extra garage room? Do you have too many books and no place to go with them? Start looking for shelves at garage sales or in the "for sale" section of the newspaper and turn your extra room into a library. Add some comfortable chairs and a table and you have the start of a personal library. Often businesses for whatever reason will give such shelving away free.

If your room will be heated you may consider turning it into your computer room or a home office. There are numerous things for which having an extra room would be a great idea for a family. Do you have workout equipment such as an exercise bike, weight lifting equipment, or a treadmill?

Do you have children who enjoy playing board games or cards? If so, put up a card table in part of the room. Do the kids need a separated toy room? Whatever you decide to do with an extra room such as this, having the additional space will certainly benefit your family and value of your home.

By Christina VanGinkel

If you are having problems with the decorating of a particular room, it could be because the room does not have a theme or focus. Sometimes we overlook the obvious when planning a room's decor as to its main use, and in trying to make it into what we perceive it to be, we end up with a disjointed effect. To avoid this happening when planning your own room's redo, first take the time to identify what it is you plan the room's purpose to be.

For example, with a bedroom, we often try to fit another space within the space, such as an office area, reading corner, crafting cubby, or exercise space. Any or all of these may be happily able to co-exist within a bedroom, but maybe not. Did these areas come to be within the bedroom by accident or choice, and if by choice, was the space provided for these activities planned out, or were some items just pushed aside to make room for them. Once you determine if these secondary ventures will remain or not, you will need to truthfully assess the space. If space is at a minimum within the room being redone, can the secondary activity be moved elsewhere, and if so, where to. Just dumping the clutter into another room will not help the progression of the current room, because the clutter will be constantly on your mind.

What do you perceive the room's focus to be, sleeping, a quiet corner away from a busy household, or an oversize dressing room? A bedroom, or any room, can mean something very different to one person than it does to the next. You have to identify what the room means to you before you can successfully redo it.

As with any revamping of a space, clear the clutter, and do it systematically. Sort and resort is my motto. Once the clutter is cleared, and the room's main function has been identified, look at what items you have in the room, and what needs redoing. As we were using the bedroom as an example, I will continue with that theme. Is the bedding worn and old, or is it something you have because you actually like it. If it is the first, get rid of it and redo it in something that echoes what you want to feel when you walk in the room. If it is the second, consider the colors in it and try to remember why you bought it in the first place. Use this information in the rest of the room.

Wall color in any room is the most important factor in the rest of the room's style, so choose wisely. While some people feel that it is just paint, and it can always be easily redone, the majority of us are not so quick to repaint, so pick something that you can comfortably live with. Get samples, paint a big swatch on a wall, and look at it for a few days before making your final decision. Hold up fabrics to the painted swatch to give yourself a better feel for the effect of the paint on your chosen fabrics. If you are still picking fabrics, get samples of those too, and compare them with the paint.

Accessories are important, and you should put as much consideration into them as you have the room's focus, color, and use. Choose wisely, as lamps, rugs, window treatments, and other accessories are often the defining points in a room.

By Christina VanGinkel

My bathtub faucet has had an annoying drip for some time. Whenever I mentioned it to my husband, the one person in our household who handles any repairs having to do with plumbing, he would comment that he would get to it. When he never did, I finally put a tub beneath the drip to make a point about just how much water was actually dripping into our septic. Within an hour, the tub was overflowing. Point taken! Luckily, we have an access panel with a shut off valve right at this tub, so in a matter of minutes, we had the panel off, and my husband turned the water off to stop the dripping until we could get to town and purchase a new faucet. Being as it is our front bathroom, used only by guests, this is not really an inconvenience, yet we want to get it fixed as soon as possible.

We had to run to Home Depot that very evening, to pick up a Christmas gift for a friend, so we figured we would just swing by the plumbing department and pick up a new faucet, and as the water was already shut off at the source, we would have it installed in no time. We should know by now, that any repair, no matter how big or small, is never easy when it is in relation to our house. We did not see any faucet set-ups that looked similar to what we needed to replace, so we asked for help from the first salesperson that walked by.

He was friendly, and after explaining to him what we needed, he continued to be friendly, but told us that they carried no faucet set-ups like those that we had just described. They could be special ordered, but would cost considerably more than those on the shelf. What we needed was a unit that had the faucets and the waterspout for the tub all in one piece. He went on to explain that it would be simpler for us to replace the tub wall that the faucet was situated. I do not think so.

As with most things in my shopping experiences of late, I have found out that it would have saved me considerable time to just shop for the item online to begin with. After thanking the sales person for his help, as my husband was contemplating tearing out the tub wall, I steered my husband, handy person that he can be, as quickly as I could to the checkout to pay for the item we had originally come to pick up. I then told him that I would just do a search through FurnitureDestination.com, and I was sure that I would be able to find a faucet that would fit our needs, all without having to tear out any walls. Sure enough, within fifteen minutes of arriving back home, I found a faucet that should fit, and if we run into any problems once it arrives, I will be sure to let you all know. For know though, my bathtub walls are intact, and I plan to keep my well meaning husband away from Home Depot for at least the next few weeks, lest he get any more ideas about tearing out walls.

If you have a desk in your home, chances are it's a modern-style computer desk, or a "workstation," as they are commonly called.  That means the desk probably has lots of wood shelves and has metal bars supporting the shelves.  You know that kind of look, I'm sure.  It's very functional, and certainly a minimalist's dream.  But these desks just don't do much for your interior design scheme.  If you truly want an elegant desk that will bring a touch of class to your home office or den, then I suggest going with a roll top writing desk.

Roll top writing desks peaked in popularity a couple of decades ago, but I've noticed that they've been making something of a comeback in recent years.  You can tell by the number of furniture stores that are stocking roll top desks these days.  At any rate, if you are young enough not to know what a roll top desk looks like, I will attempt to describe it for you.  The actual size of the desk varies, of course.  You can buy very big ones if you have the space, or you can buy more compact ones if you don't.  The desk usually consists of two pieces:  the writing surface/base and the roll top/shelf area.  The writing surface and base area looks just like any other regular desk with drawers.  The roll top and shelf area consists of letter compartments, shelves for books and supplies, and a top that literally rolls out to cover the writing surface.  This top can often be locked for additional security and privacy.

Roll top writing desks are usually made from wood, which invariably affects the price of the product.  For example, you can get a beautiful desk made of solid cherry, mahogany, or oak; but such a piece would set you back several thousand dollars.  On the other hand, you can buy a very basic desk made of cheaper wood for just a couple hundred dollars.

I personally love the look of a roll top desk.  There is something very traditional and formal about this kind of desk, which is definitely not a bad thing.  Sure, there are people who prefer cozy, comfortable furniture, even when it comes to their home offices.  But don't count me among that crowd.  Don't get me wrong:  I definitely do have a modern, ergonomic computer workstation at my home.  However, there are many times when I need to sit down in a more serious setting in order to concentrate and get things done.  It's at times like those that I head straight to the roll top and leave the computer and Internet connection behind.

So if you are thinking about refurnishing your home office or den, consider getting a traditional roll top desk instead of a modern piece.  A roll top desk will give your office space an elegant, upscale look that metal-and-wood structures just can't pull off.  Treat yourself to the very best and get the writing desk that you've always wanted today!    

So it's the Christmas season again, the aroma of hot cocoa and home made fudge fill the air, you pick up the newspaper and it is smothered with ad's for toy's and other holiday presents given at discount prices.

Another year... time to pull out the same old Christmas tree with the same old ornaments. Tradition is always wonderful... especially around this time, but maybe it is time to try something new. That does not mean that you have to give up tradition, but to add on to the holiday vibe! Why not have two Christmas trees instead of one? Even just a little miniature tree to set on the Christmas table will work.

Now day's green trees are not the only thing that are in. You can go to your local Wal-Mart or K-Mart and find tree's as white as the snow outside. Who ever said that the ornaments on the tree had to be green, gold and red? You can find deep purples laced with silver glitter. This time clothes aren't the only thing in fashion, that's for sure. Dress your tree to wow the crowd. They are many arrays of colors to demonstrate for the family and the guests in celebration of Christmas. Silver, gold, blue, purple, silver... you will find that nothing is limited anymore. Attempt new things... not only can the tree use some decoration, but the dinner table, your entertainment center... even the door if you please.

There are many things that you can decorate, so don't feel the need for limitation. Go buy some wrapping paper and wrap the door up to make it look like a Christmas gift... find Christmas themed table cloth, they should have great bargains at a fabric store, or even your local store for that matter.

Use your imagination and see what you can do with Christmas lights. You can even take it outside if you really want to get it on! They have reindeer or snowmen that you can set up in the yard, this one has been around for years... but they have great new products out to add a sense of update. Perhaps even create a themed Christmas. Let's say you cherish Mickey Mouse, deck the tree out in Mickey Mouse ornaments (you can bet they have them). Treat the house to Mickey Mouse decorations all around. You can use snow globes, decoration sets with a winter theme... angel hair snow and just about anything else to fit your personal taste. Just open up your imagination and get carried away with it. It's a great way to spend quality time with the family, or just simply get in touch with your holiday taste.

Bake some holiday goodies and call a day's event! You don't have to spend an arm and a leg, usually when the holiday's come up you can find awesome discounts in a lot of stores. Christmas season is spendy as is, so just make a simple budget of twenty dollars and go out and get as many decorations as you can! Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

How would you like to own a chair signed by your favorite celebrity?  Such as piece would surely brighten up your living room or den, and would make watching TV shows and movies much more fun.  An autographed chair would also make a wonderful conversation piece that would keep you and your guests talking forever!  Well, where can you buy a celebrity chair?  Not from any store -- that much is for sure.  Instead, you'd have to attend the Celebrity Charity Chair Auction, an annual event that takes place in Chicago.  This is the auction's sixteenth year, and the proceeds will benefit several Chicago-area charities.

There are currently more than 40 chairs slated to be auctioned off at the end of the month.  Among the celebrities who have contributed to this event are Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, Teri Hatcher, John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman, and Halle Berry.  Each chair is unique, and many of the chairs are designed with the specific celebrity in mind.  For example, the Jennifer Aniston chair features her likeness on the backrest, as well as the word "Friends" across one of the panels of the chair, which is of course a reference to the long-running television sitcom that made Aniston famous.  

Many of the chairs are conventional and would fit in with any kind of decorating scheme that you have in your home.  For example, you can purchase a matching set of Mary Tyler Moore and Ed Asner director-style chairs or a wooden kitchen/dining chair signed by Paul Newman and Patricia Neal from the film Hud.  

But I would say that a majority of the chairs are fun, one-of-a-kind pieces that are bound to stand out in any room.  Take the Roger Ebert chair, for example.  Ebert, as you might know, is a renowned film critic who rates movies on his syndicated television show by giving them either a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" designation.  So it's only fitting that the autographed Ebert chair has a movie theme to it.  The base of the chair is styled after a box of popcorn, while the back of the chair is fashioned into the shape of a hand giving the "thumbs up" sign.

There are some absolutely stunning creations in the collection that I personally would love to own not because of the celebrity names attached to them, but simply because of the fabulous furniture designs.  Check out the John Malkovich number, for instance.  It's actually a wooden bench that is hand-painted, and it looks just wonderful.  The Emma Thompson chair is another very classy piece that would dress up any sitting room.  I also think the Spike Lee chair has a nice retro look to it, and I wouldn't mind owning that one either.

If you want to purchase a great new chair for your home and help fund some good causes in the process, then consider attending this event.  You can view all the chairs up for auction this year by going to the official website at  www.celebritychairauction.com and clicking on the "Auctions" link.  

By Christina VanGinkel

Whenever I see an article or an advertisement for a store that has the word 'budget' in its title, it is a sure bet that I am going to at least give it a once over read. The big home stores, such as Home Depot, have finally come to realize that the majority of shoppers, even those with a few bucks to spare, want the best value for their dollar. Those with even fewer dollars to spare may still need to fix things around the house, so they are looking for even more good bargains. What do you do though if you want to remodel or redo something in or around your home, and the items you need are not on sale? I have had to come to terms with the answer to this question several different ways this past year since we started our own home remodel.

Learn patience for starters. Chances are that if you wait long enough, the majority of what you are shopping for will go on sale. If not the specific item, a coupon goods towards the overall amount of dollars spent may be able to be applied. Not too far in the past, coupons for stores that sold home repair and furnishings were non-existent. Sales were always a possibility, but a coupon good for ten, or even twenty percent off your total purchase was just not an option. Thankfully, these types of stores have caught up with the reality that coupons are a good thing.

Compromise is also good for anyone partaking in a remodel to learn. When shopping for large items, such as a major piece of furniture or an appliance, knowing what you want is necessary, but this same knowledge can help you save large amounts of money if the store happens to be offering a floor model or a scratched item for significantly less. Take for an example if you were shopping for a new stove. You see one with all of the features you want, but in a different brand than the one you were considering, mainly because you thought this particular brand was way out of your price range. Not this one though. It is actually about twenty-five percent less than the cheaper model you were almost sure you were getting. When you ask the salesperson why, they explain that there is not one, but two matching scratches, one on each side. Sure enough, there they are, and long ones too. Upon further inspection, you know that the scratches will not make a difference when it is in place, as the area the stove will be going is in between two cabinets, with both sides enclosed. You also know the depth of the cabinets, and after a quick measure of where the scratches are from the front, you know that they will be invisible once the stove is in place.

Compromise can also work if you shop knowing that, yes, you would really like item A, but item B is not only equal quality, it is less money. I experienced this when shopping for new outlet covers. Small items, but they can be quite pricey. Knowing ahead what my budget was, and how many I needed, allowed me to shop sensibly instead of visually. Sure, I found some I thought I liked better, but keeping in mind what I needed and could spend helped me come to a sensible compromise with a set that looked just as good once they were installed at far less than my first choice.

By Christina VanGinkel

With the holidays in full swing, and no sign of them slowing down for at least the next six weeks, keeping our homes guest ready at a moment's notice is something many of us will be dealing with, all while life as normal with a few extras thrown in, goes on. I deal with this in several small ways.

At our entrance, I put down an extra runner style rug to help catch the extra drips from the mix of snow and so many shoes coming in. With our new flooring, this is especially important. Even though we have installed quality Stain Master carpeting, I prefer to keep all the wet and mud out of the living room and contained in the entryway. I am also putting up a small sign in our entryway, decorated in the spirit of the holiday, which politely reminds guest to remove their shoes. I found it online, via an email advertising that landed in my inbox. It proclaims that 'Bear Feet', notice the pun on the spelling of bare, 'Are Welcome', all inscribed on either a rug or small wall plaque. I also did a quick cleaning of the front closet, which for me was easy this year as I just recently revamped the whole space, and added extra hangars to make sure there was plenty of room for guests to hang their jackets. I also, finally, hung the new hooks that were a gift to me from my son. They make the perfect spot for guests to hang a hat or scarf on.

As to the living room, I have added an extra basket that I can use to quickly scoop toys or magazines into if we happen to receive unexpected guests. It seems like this time of year draws extra sales papers and catalogs, and with my grandson visiting this week, toys are suddenly abundant everywhere. The basket works as a great hideaway without putting too much restriction on our basic living style.

The bathroom is sporting a small wicker basket that I filled with sample size products in a guest pleasing variety of all sorts of small 'necessities' that my guests may find themselves needing. Small lotions, chap sticks, a few extra hand towels, several small bottles of Purell, and fancy wrapped individual soaps. I will continue to refresh this basket throughout the coming weeks.

My fridge has been stocked with several different types of beverages, including bottled water, clear colored sodas, sparkling fruit drinks, and some kid pleasing juice boxes. I also purchased several different types of pretzels and nuts, which I mixed myself and then separated into zip style bags perfect for quick dumping into bowls for when guests drop by unannounced.

I also wrap several universal gifts each year. I have kid friendly ones; usually crocheted gift bags filled with candies, and adult appropriate gifts, usually a bottle of wine, and keep them on hand for guests who arrive bearing unexpected gifts, or with children in tow.

By doing just these few small things ahead of time, I am much less stressed, and much better prepared, for those last minute arrivals.

By Christina VanGinkel

Shopping for a new home can be frustrating when you find the perfect location, and the perfect house, but they are not in the same place. Too often, a person's ideal home can be hard to find when they put these two very important aspects of house hunting together. When people move from their old home and put it up for sale, it is common for them to make many of the improvements that will catch a buyer's eye. Yet no matter how many improvements are made, if the house is situated in the wrong school district, or on too small of a lot, or even facing in the wrong direction for what a buyer envisioned. Selling the home could be a long trail of somewhat interested buyers eventually looking elsewhere. There are things you can do as a buyer to save yourself becoming just one more in a long line of frustrated buyers.

Research

Ask yourself and other family members why you are moving, (The reason may be obvious, such as a job change, or not so obvious, discovering the home you are in not fitting anymore). If you are going to be looking for specifics in a new house, make a list. The longer the list the better, and be sure to take it with you when house hunting. You can help yourself fill the list by taking a walkthrough of your current home and marking down what you like and dislike about it. Some basic features and questions that often find their way onto a house-hunting list include:

More storage space
Defined areas such as a laundry and family room
Garage
Bigger yard
Smaller yard
If you are downsizing, what space in the home are you looking to lose, such as fewer bedrooms? What space will you not compromise on, such a keeping a big kitchen?
More counter top space in a kitchen
Pantry
Fireplace
Pool
Larger rooms
Windows (better situated, larger, newer)
More convenient layout
Better neighborhood (This can mean various things depending on what you want from the area)
School district
Distance from home to work (If your commute is too long, maybe you are searching for a place closer to give you back your time you now spend driving or on the train. On the other hand, the opposite could be true if you currently live in the city and want to move out to give your family a respite from the daily grind of city living)
What are the taxes with the new home (money is always a consideration, even among the well off and wealthy)
View
Architectural features

Know your Price

Your perfect hose in the perfect location may be just sitting around the corner, but if it is out of your price range, it will not do you any good. Know what you can afford before you shop, otherwise you risk falling in love with what you conceive to be the perfect house and will only be deeply disappointed when you later discover there is no way for you to afford it.

Hire the Perfect Agent

After you know in your mind what you are looking for, hire an agent. Do not go with the first one you interview either, unless you have also done research on that front, they come highly recommended, AND you agree with the recommendation upon meeting. Personally, I would still go ahead and interview others. Be very upfront with what you are looking for in a house. An agent cannot do their job if they do not have a clue as to what you want. The more specific you can be, the more appropriate listings they will be able to show you.

By Christina VanGinkel

With all of the remodeling we have done, and numerous projects to go, I still have my dream project that I know will most likely only come to fruition if we win a lottery. This in itself would be a dream, as we never even play the lottery, as there is always something else to spend that spare dollar on. Still, it never hurts to dream. What project is it, you might be asking. Well, I would love to redo the bathroom that is off the main bedroom, complete with a claw foot or slipper tub. I can picture it, and know the flooring would be a simple coppery color, and the sink would be modest pedestal, two actually, one for my husband and one for myself, with a cabinet between the two for all of our bathroom essentials. However, the tub is always the focus of my daydreams. I ponder back and forth between an elegant claw footed style, with fancy figural feet, maybe a lion paw design, or something a bit more art deco with smooth lines. The feet would be white though, or if they were colored, they would have to be copper.

I love the look of copper, yet do not really have it any place in my house. I once owned an antique copper bowl that belonged to my parents, that was actually a large mixing bowl that they used for mixing dough in the bakery they owned. I dreamed of one day turning it into an oversized sink, but passed it on to my favorite brother, as I knew he was much more likely to do the same thing with it when he was building his dream log cabin that had come to be a reality.

As to my dream bathroom, other than a claw foot tub, I have always been charmed by what I refer to as a slipper tub. No feet, it sets right on the floor. Sort of like the type, you would see in an old western, where they would haul in a big washtub to be filled in the room for the cowboy to soak away the dust from the road in. Only the one I wanted would be all white, or possibly white rimmed porcelain with a slip of copper all the way around it. No easy hauling, as I am sure it would weigh quite a bit, actually just less than four hundred pounds!

This brings me to a catalog that a friend dropped off for me to browse. It is filled with nothing but kitchen and bath supplies, mainly claw foot and slipper style tubs. On the inside of the very first page is a large note to all purchasers that all tubes are to be delivered curbside. Delivery from curb and installation are the responsibility of purchaser. Upon reading this, and the weight of several of the tubs that caught my eye, I have been busy revamping my dream, starting with how to get the tub of my dreams from curb to bathroom. Actually moving it from the curb to the outside of the bathroom would not be that hard, it would be actually getting it inside that would result in some problems. I know it can be done; I just have to convince my husband that tearing out a wall is not 'that' big of a deal!

By Christina VanGinkel

I am encountering difficulty this holiday season in coming up with gift ideas that are suitable for the recipient. That shows the recipient that I took the time to either shop for, or make a gift that truly expresses my friendship or love. If you are encountering this same problem, the following craft may be just the thing you are looking for.

The secret to the success of this project is to understand that all those wonderful materials that companies are manufacturing for use in scrapbooks can also be put to use elsewhere. Signs are one of the great alternatives!

You can make a sign for an entryway, a child's bedroom door, bathroom, kitchen, or anywhere that you feel a few words of wisdom would be appreciated. With some basics often found in the average scrapbook supplies, you can produce signs that look as if someone spent a great deal of time creating them, when in all actuality they are quite simple to make.

Write a phrase that fits the person you are gifting it too. Go outside the normal WELCOME or MARY LOU'S KITCHEN. For example, for my favorite sister-in-law, I am making her one that states quite simply, "THE QUEEN RESIDES HERE!", as she has always referred to my daughter as The Princess, and in turn, we have always called her The Queen. If a friend is going through some trying times, consider making her one that is a single word, such as FAITH, or SERENITY, that she can hang by her computer or in her kitchen to remind her that someone is thinking of her.

Whatever phrase or words you choose, remember to let your creativity flow with the color, keep the accents simple, and you will be having friends and family calling to ask you if you would make one for them!

Materials:

Assorted colors of cardstock in various finishes
Lettering stencils in chosen font, (I used Tracers from EK Success)
Raffia, ribbon, wire, or chosen hanging material
Assorted scrapbook embellishments that follow the theme of your sign (I used simple stars for the corners of my queen sign)
Markers or paints if desired
Glue or adhesive of your choosing
Scissors
Paper punch
Your imagination!

Decide on the color scheme for your sign, choosing two to three colors of cardstock. Cut the main color of cardstock you will be using into the size desired for the front piece. I made mine with three different colors, cutting each color approximately ¼" smaller than the one behind it. I also chose to cut out my stenciled letters, letting the cardstock behind it show, but you could color in the stenciled lettering, using markers or paints if desired. Decorate, but keep in mind that the words should be the main part of the sign, only decorate to accent the wording. Punch a hole in the upper corners, hang wire, raffia, or ribbon through. Tie in a simple knot or elaborate bow, depending on the sign's overall design. Give as a gift to someone that you know will truly enjoy the expression behind this gift of words.

By Christina VanGinkel

Garden time is anytime. If it is not warm enough to be out in the garden planting or harvesting, then it is time to be perusing garden catalogs and magazines. If you happen to have a garden aficionado on your list of gift recipients this holiday season that would love a touch of whimsy to add to their garden or porch next spring, but enjoy your gift in the house now, to add a touch of greenery through the winter months, this is a great, inexpensive gift.

Ride ‘Em Cowboy!

Materials

- A pair of discarded cowboy boots in a child’s size, or small adult, as an overly large boot will be too top heavy
- Potting soil
- Small amount of pea gravel or small stones for drainage
- Plants

By now I am sure you are already figuring out what I intend for you to do. In actuality, one of the grandest things about this whole gift is the fun of searching your local second hand shops for a pair of boots. I have also done this with a pair of old work boots, but the cowboy boots add that panache and style that a gift should always carry with it. Children's sizes work especially well, as the final gift is not overbearing in size and can be tucked just about anywhere in a room that a bit of sunlight can reach. Come spring they look just adorable tucked in amongst a garden, or as an accent alongside of a walkway, or even on a railing or off to the side on a set of steps.

Do clean the boots once you discover the perfect pair. Polish and shine them up as if the boots themselves were the gift.

Fill the bottom of each with a layer of gravel or stone, about two inches deep. If boots are on the large side, make the gravel a bit deeper.

Add potting soil to about 1 ½” from the top of the boots lowest edge. Add plants, keeping in mind that they should be those that will grow well in a container. Also take into consideration that you want the plant to weather well both indoors and out, so a houseplant that will enjoy a breath of fresh air and sunshine come spring will be a perfect fit.

Add a note card with feeding and watering instructions if the recipient is a newcomer to the world of plants. To make into a more lavish gift for the holidays, add a coffee table book on gardening, such as the American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers, The (American Horticultural Society Practical Guides) by Christopher Brickell. I found an inexpensive copy at FurnitureDestination.com by typing in 'gardening books' in their search box. You could also add a basket filled with small gardening hand tools and a pair of gloves, some hand lotions, even a copy or two of a gardening magazine, such as Horticulture, or Garden and Design, along with a paid subscription to keep your gift giving going all year long.

By Christina VanGinkel

We woke up this morning to a cold house with no electricity. It had been knocked out due to a heavy snow mixed with rain, causing both trees and power poles to come down in a wide radius around our town. When I finally found my son's MP3 player, so I could listen to the radio for news, I realized it had dead batteries. I quickly had a new battery in place, for the simple fact that in my recent organization forays into different parts of the house, I had made sure to sort batteries in different sizes, and to store up those sizes that I knew we used often.. Save for this fact, I would have been at a total loss as to what was going on to restore power. I did have a telephone, as I make sure to keep a phone with a cord, (a cordless phone uses electricity, so no electricity means no phone), so that we have the use of one in the event the power is off, but phone service is still active. When I dialed the power company, I reached a recording saying they were working to restore power sometime in the next twenty-four hours, so the radio was a blessing as they kept announcing areas that power was being restored.

Hearing that power was expected to be off, until as late as midnight tonight though, I thanked all who would listen that we had a gas stove and I was able to cook a hot breakfast. I was also able to boil water left in the teapot from the night before, for a soothing cup of hot tea, all this after the sun rose. I never realized how late it stays dark, even though I am an early riser, as my house is always lit up from the second I crawl out of bed. With what still appeared to be a long day of no computer or television before me, i.e., no work without a computer, I decided I would tackle the ongoing problem around my computer. I have arranged and rearranged where the actual computer is in regards to my desk, and I have not been happy with it. Our house is on the dusty side, no matter how much I dust and mop, though not as bad since we replaced much of the old flooring. Still, with the computer itself sitting on the floor next to my desk, I seem to be battling a constant flow of dust. As with anything electronic, dust is not something conducive to long life, so I have been hoping to come up with a viable solution that would allow me to get my computer case up off the floor.

I ended up moving a filing cabinet directly next to my desk, where the computer was, and placing it on top of the filing cabinet. This in turn created a dilemma with my modem cord though, as it was suddenly about ten inches too short to reach the plug-in. Again, some of my recent organization saved me, as I recalled that I had folded up some extra phone cords, labeled the box I put them in, and stowed them in the hall closet on the shelf that was recently bare except for a few boxes such as the one I had stored the phone cords. I can now find any charger or cord for any electrical appliance that uses one on occasion, such as my video camera, cordless screwdriver, etc. All electrical appliances themselves are also now stored there, instead of here, there, and everywhere around the house.

With no distractions, I soon had the space around my desk organized, once again, and maybe this time the computer case itself will be dust free, or at least less of a dust magnet than it was on the floor. As I was plugging everything back in, the power came on. Sitting in front of my newly organized space, I think I finally found a working solution to both the space issue and the dust problem.

By Christina VanGinkel

Every few years I seem to go through a phase where I look at and shop lovingly for a hope chest. I never buy one, save for the first one I bought years ago when I came across a deal I could not pass up. That one I ended up selling to my sister when I came to the realization that the house my husband and I were living in at the time was too small to accommodate it, only to instantly regret it. I even asked her once to sell it back to me, but she never took me up on the offer. Years later, when I had a daughter, I longed to pick one out for her, but it was never something that interested her. I now realize that I should have just gone ahead and bought one, and when she was ready to move out, I could have given it to her as a moving gift. I did not though, which brings us to the present day.

So far, I am the proud grandmother of a grandson. If he ends up the only grandchild, I ever have, I will be grateful for him, as he is the love of my life. However, if by some small wonder I ever have a granddaughter, I know that I am buying her a hope chest. I plan to purchase it while she is too young to tell me that she does not want one, and I plan to fill it through the years with all sorts of wonderful things that I am sure will raise her teenage eyebrows. However, I also know that she will be thankful for all of it once she is out on her own in this big wide world, broke, as most are when we first move out of our parent's home, on our own. Things like glassware, a tiny porcelain music box that once belonged to my mother, also my mother's diamond and strand of pearls, along with some more sensible things like potholders and dishtowels. I love to crochet, so I plan to put in some lacy old-fashioned doilies, and even some lace-trimmed pillowcases.

My own daughter asked me not long after she was situated in a house with her husband and son on the way, why I never started her a hope chest. When I reminded her of the time, I tried to buy her one; she got a glimmer of recognition in her eye and then denied ever protesting that hard. She said I should have just gone ahead and bought her one, and in retrospect, I should have. If you have a young woman in your family, get her the ultimate gift of a lifetime this holiday season. Buy her a hope chest so that you and she can begin to fill it for her future. Go all out, as it is the holiday season, and also purchase, or make, her first ornament for her first Christmas tree of her adult life. It will be a holiday she remembers for the rest of her life!

By Christina VanGinkel

A friend stopped by yesterday who had not been by since we started our remodeling. She said she could not believe the difference the changes we had completed, made to the overall appearance of our home. From the entryway's new door, (which is still unpainted, but on our list of things that absolutely need to be done!), to the new wood laminate flooring down our hallway, through the entryway itself, and into our front closet and guest bathroom, and the new Stain Master carpeting through our living room. Her biggest compliment though was to the most inexpensive change of them all, the painted wall in the living room, and the corresponding wall in the kitchen. The two rooms are open to each other, and we painted one wall in each room the same color, a rich, country green, to bring the areas together, yet still give the impression of openness and spaciousness by leaving the remaining walls their original light colors. She went on and on about how she could not get over the difference the paint made to the feel of the rooms. Where before they were nice, she said, they now spoke volumes, giving the space a feeling as if one wanted to come in and stay a while. I trust her judgment completely, as she not only has excellent taste in her own home's decor, but also would have had no qualms telling me if she did not like what we had accomplished so far.

Too often, when working on a remodel, or even a new build, we are caught up in the drama of the expensive purchases, and rightly so, as that is our hard earned money emptying out of our pockets to pay for them. However, we need to remember that in the end, it is often the small touches, such as paint colors and window treatments, which make a room what it is. When I think of how long it took us to pick out the paint color that is used on the two walls she commented so approvingly on, I am heartened by the fact that we did take our time. It would have been so easy to just walk in, grab any reasonable color, and live with it on the walls until sometime in the future when we were once again ready to paint. A note here: While some people paint their walls nearly as often as they change their clothes, I am not one of them, and neither is my husband. Once the paint was on the walls, we knew we would be living with it for some time. For this reason, we tried to choose a color both with our likes and dislikes in mind, and thoughts to our furnishings and large possessions that would be used in the two rooms. We also looked specifically for a paint that would allow us to wash the walls it was applied.

If you are picking out a wall color, a window treatment, even a minor purchase such as a throw rug, take a bit of time in choosing, and in the end, you will be happy that your time was at least as well spent as your dollars used to pay for the item.

By Christina VanGinkel

Decorating a home often brings instant thoughts of dollar signs. The good part though is it does not always have to be so. Small touches, inexpensive in nature, can breathe new life into a home more often than not. A walk through of your home, room by room, with a notebook and pen to jot down any insights, lest you have a memory like mine, is the best way to identify problem areas and what can be done short term to fix much of what you think needs to be spruced up. The holidays are the perfect time do a bit of this quick fixing.

My guest bathroom is already sporting a brand new floor and accessories, yet it was still missing that touch of 'something'. As I stood in it and looked around it to identify what I could do quickly, and inexpensively, to brighten it up for guests that would be visiting my home during the holidays, I imagined other bathrooms I had both been in and viewed in magazines. What the ones I was impressed by had in common was 'style'. My bathroom was nice looking, the floor was gorgeous in its own right, yet the room overall had little, if any, style. I decided that I had a good start, but I could provide it with an even better start.

I cleaned the room of clutter, and then looked at it again with a fresh view. I ended up adding just a few small touches, such as a bowl of potpourri mixed with some pinecones and glittery snowflakes for both the scent factor and the aesthetic value. I took down the curtain over the small window and replaced it with a new one, purchased on sale, and one that would blend well with the holiday decor and still look pleasant after. I also added a new rug in front of the sink, as the old one was looking just that, old. I kept the color of the rug neutral so it would blend with the holiday touches, but still look nice and match the new curtain all through the winter months. I also hung a new shower curtain and bottle holder in the shower and tub area. On the counter, I added a decorative soft soap dispenser, and then added a small bowl with a few fancy bars of individually wrapped bars of handmade glycerin soap, a few lip balms which I bought from Avon for less than a dollar a piece, and a few tiny bottles of hand lotions that I also bought from Avon. Even though the room is small, we have quite a large mirror over the vanity. I went ahead and hung a few strands of natural looking garland over this mirror, which I first spruced up with a strand of lights and some shiny snowflakes and pinecones to match those in the potpourri.

The room is now both decorative and inviting for any guests that happen to visit this holiday season. I learned too that it is entirely possible to dress up a room on a budget and have it looking as if you spent a lot more than you actually did. Small touches, such as the filled basket can take the room those extra steps from nice to 'Wow'.

By Christina VanGinkel

As many of you know, we live in a prefabricated house that we ordered new years ago. We have lived in it for over a decade now, and have found ourselves having to replace many of the basics such as flooring. Kitchen cabinets are somewhere way down on our list of things that should be upgraded, mainly because of the cost. The layout in the kitchen itself I liked when we first picked out the floor plan, but through the years I have come to dislike that our cabinets do not go all the way to the ceiling. These top spaces were supposed to leave the room looking airy, and as the kitchen is open to the living room, keep the space feeling open. What it does is collect dust. I have fought the battle to keep these areas free of dust from the minute we moved in. I complained, but I dealt with it. I also mentioned to my husband on more than one occasion that in two spots, one being over the pantry cabinet that stands away from the rest of the cabinetry, and in the furthest corner of the remaining cabinetry, that there was a gap in the trim in each of these spots. He was never too concerned with either area, as unless you were standing on a stepstool cleaning these spots, you could not see them.

I had also questioned him on several occasions if a mouse could enter our house through these gaps. His answer was always a staunch 'NO!' Well, as I sat typing the other evening, I swore I could hear something on top of the pantry. Let me first tell you that I do 'hear' things all the time, so neither my husband nor my one son who was home at the time were overly concerned. They both responded that it was windy outside and that I was probably listening to something from outside. I went back to my typing until I could no longer ignore the noise. Standing on a chair to look on top of the pantry, in truth not expecting to see a thing, there sat a mouse looking at me. He quickly darted into, you guessed it, the gap in the trim. As he scrambled, I screamed!

For the first time in all the years that we have lived here, my husband declared that he wondered why the builders had left the gaps. Did they not know a mouse could get into the house through them if they were so inclined? Had I not asked him the same thing on several occasions? Let me backtrack and tell you that a few years back we had a mouse in our house and we went around and sealed every conceivable hole we could find with a product called Great Stuff Insulating Foam Sealant, essentially pressurized foam, which fills gaps and even tiny cracks around water pipes, etc. He had not bothered with the two gaps in the trim though because they were hard to reach. We have since bought another can and filled these gaps, and cleaned up mouse dropping that this mouse had left as evidence of his travels.

Whether you are in an old house or a new build, take a walk trough and look for any gaps in trim, around pipes, etc., as a mouse with determination will find them if you do not, and you may soon be 'hearing' things just like me.

By Christina VanGinkel

If you are one of the many households that will be bringing a live or artificial tree into your home sometime in the next few weeks in celebration of the Christmas holidays, you may have some rearranging to do. Some of us know exactly where we are going to place the tree from year to year. Others of us may change the spot from year to year. We have placed our tree right between our living room and kitchen for years. In part because we have used a live tree and I did not want to deal with needles becoming embedded in the carpet. Now that we have new carpeting, that is a continued concern, and we have decided we would like to place the tree centrally in our living room. In part because of our young grandson, as we want him to be able to literally curl up in front of it when it is all lit up in the evenings. For this reason, we have decided to purchase an artificial tree this year. No fuss with falling needles, no mess to clean up during or after other than to re-box it and store it away. That in itself is a concern for us with our limited storage space, but we have decided we would rather find a place to store it in our already overcrowded spare room, than to be picking needles out of our new carpet come this summer. Who would have ever thought that purchasing something so beautiful would be so hard!

The last time I took a serious look at an artificial tree was so many years ago, that the idea of a pre-lit tree was a novelty, now it is the norm. If you choose to go with a pre-lit tree, you need to decide if you want colored or clear bulbs. From what I can tell so far, whichever I choose will be what I have years to come. For someone who changes his or her decorating scheme for Christmas from year to year, this is a valid concern. For this same reason, I think I will go with the clear. If I ever go back to my pastel look Victorian décor for the holidays, bright colored lights on the tree may not fit in.

Next, I need to decide if I want to go with a larger tree, say a seven-foot version, or a more compact one such as a 4-foot tree. My husband made that a quick decision and said he wants a big tree. Actually, what he said was that if we are going to be sticking a tree in the middle of our living space for several weeks, it might as well be able to hold numerous ornaments and have a lot of space beneath it for presents. (He loves the holidays!)

Our last decision is what type of tree to go with. We have seen fir and spruce that we both like, and we found a stunning Fraiser that fits our other desires of clear bulbs and it is a seven and a half foot version, but it is a bit out of our price range. We figured that if we bought it, we would have to live at least an additional one hundred years to get our moneys worth from it! If you are interested in seeing what is available, just type in 'artificial tree' in the search box right here at FurnitureDestination.com. You are sure to find one that will fit your style and budget. We are still shopping, but I will be sure to let you know what one we decide to buy.

There are generally two different paths you can take when purchasing a home. First, you can opt for new-home construction, where you basically buy a plot of land from a developer and then work closely with the builder as your home goes up. You get a lot of input in terms of the types of accessories, fixtures, countertops, cabinets, and most everything else – including doors – that will be going into the home. The second way to purchase a home is to simply buy an existing home. If you choose this route, then you obviously haven't had any say in the initial decorating choices, which means you might want to make some major changes after moving in.

One of the things you can do to really personalize your new home and update the overall look and feel is to purchase decorative interior doors. It seems that not many people pay attention to their interior doors these days, but considering the fact that a door is generally the first thing you see when you approach a room, the right door can really set the tone for the room.

For example, if you want to convey a down-home, rustic feeling, then you would probably want to go with a wood door. You can purchase doors made from any kind of wood, from deep, rich mahogany and cherry, to lighter-colored woods such as pine. The finish of a wood door is particularly important in terms of the feelings that you want to convey. A door with a weathered finish will look a lot more cozy and comfortable than a door with a highly-polished, shiny finish. For a more natural look and feel, you can even purchase wood doors with "knots" in them. This type of look is especially suitable for cabins, lodges, or similar vacation homes.

If you want to exude elegance, nothing does the trick like finely detailed glass doors. A wonderful characteristic about glass doors is that they are so versatile. The glass portion of the door can take on many different patterns, so the design possibilities are virtually limitless. Glass doors will fit in with almost any existing décor, so they are a great place to start if you want to update a room without having to purchase new furniture. For instance, you can choose to go with glass that runs either the entire length of the door, or just on one half. You can choose to have etched glass, frosted glass, or clear glass. And you can also purchase patterned glass for an even more appealing look.

As you can see, there are many different styles of decorative interior doors available on the market today, so you're sure to find something that suits your tastes. Whether you are currently having your home built or whether you're moving into a pre-existing house, you can greatly improve the looks of your décor with the addition of ornamental doors. So don't overlook this very important component of interior design. Check out some decorative doors online or at your local home improvement store today!

By Christina VanGinkel

Now that Halloween has passed, you can reuse the gourds you have used to decorate your home for the next holiday, Thanksgiving, and even Christmas, if the gourds are taken care of and they do not rot. Gourds are sturdy enough that they will last for several weeks without danger of rotting as long as they are in good shape to begin with and are not allowed to freeze or become overly damp. I always decorate our steps with numerous shapes and sizes for Halloween, and then gather them all up a few days after Halloween to fill a cornucopia decoration for the dining room table.

What is so nice about gourds is that they come in so many shapes and sizes, that they will accommodate you in just about any decorating scheme for fall that you could possibly conceive. If you decorate deep windowsills with a bit of holiday festivity, stash a few gourds in each one, along with a spray of colorful fall leaves. To help them last through the season, touch them up a bit with some varnish before placing in the windows. This is simple to do and only requires a few basic supplies; a spray can of varnish, newspaper, and masking tape. Cover the stem with the masking tape to keep it dry and clean, place a variety of clean, dry gourds on the newspaper in a well-ventilated area, and spray thoroughly. Be sure to cover all areas of gourds and let dry. Remove the masking tape from the stems before placing in windowsills. This is also, where one of our first lessons ever learned in Kindergarten will come in handy! Leaves can be ironed between waxed paper first to help them maintain their color and keep them from drying out and crumbling.

If your home is fortunate enough to have a fireplace mantle, gourds, and leaves can be displayed across it. String some green garland and place the gourds in small groupings with leaves or across the whole top. Gourds can also be used in bowls placed strategically about the house. Add a bit of eucalyptus leaves or other greenery to the bowls, or a strand of simple lights. That is what is so fun about decorating with gourds. They can be used in conjunction with just about anything and they will look spectacular.

If your gourds are still in good shape after Thanksgiving, pull out your acrylic craft paints and a small paint bush and turn some of those gourds into Christmas decorations for some of the same spots. Let your creativity roam free and turn them into jolly little Santa's, or even just colorful stained glass looking creations. For the Santa gourds, choose a few that have long necked stems. With a craft pencil, sketch an outline, using the stem for the beard, and keeping your lines coloring book style, so all you have to do is go back and fill in the sections with paint. Even someone who claims to be non-artistic can usually turn out some decent Santa's from a few gourds. For the stained glass look, just graph some simple geometrics over any shape of gourd and fill in with a variety of colors. Cover with a decent spraying of varnish to seal the acrylic paints.

By Christina VanGinkel

Finding household storage solutions sometimes means looking outside of the house. Storage sheds that you can assemble yourself come in all shapes and sizes, not to mention a variety of materials. As long as you have the yard space to accommodate such an item, this can be the best solution for storage of large items, such as sports gear, or seasonal items, such as lawn movers or snow blowers. This is especially so if you lack a garage or basement, or they are already filled to capacity and you are in dire need of just a bit more space. If you happen to rent and cannot construct something more permanent, this can be an ideal solution, but be sure to check with the property owner before constructing. If there is any chance, you will be moving the structure in the future, be sure to consider this when choosing a size and flooring material. For example, a floor made of plywood laid across a floor kit will be easily disassembled, while a floor kit covered in rock will take some time and effort to remove.

A shed can be outfitted with numerous storage solutions for specific items such as rake and shovel holders, attachments to hang baskets to hold balls and other loose gear, and ski and snowboard hangars. Built-ins to create your very own gardening shed with all the storage you would ever need for your tools and pots, and even a flat surface to pot plants on are also available. Where once a do-it-yourself shed meant a tin structure that would be too hot for such a purpose, there are now sheds constructed of pre-drilled, pre-planned wood panels and even Rubbermaid plastic panels that literally snap together to build a shed in a mere hour or so.

When choosing a shed, be sure to consider how you intend to use it and what you plan to store inside. An eight by ten shed is ample enough space to store a lawnmower, even a ride-on, but if you purchase one with a single door instead of double doors, you will be limited on the size of objects you can fit through the doorway. Some shed kits come with no windows, while others will give you a choice of windows strictly for light, or windows that will open allowing for air flow. If you plan to use your shed for anything other than strictly storage, such as a gardening shed, or even a playhouse for the kids, then airflow will be a need.

Floors are not always included in shed kits. Depending on where you plan to place it, what you plan to store in it, or what you intend to use it for will all play a part in your floor choice. Many sheds come with floor kits that consist of strips that connect, but no real floor. You will have to decide if you want to cover the floor sections with wood panels, gravel, or even sand. Be sure t take into consideration the difference in costs when comparing kits that have an included floor kit, to those that do not.

My first futon, like so many futons, was an integral piece of college dorm room furniture. It was chosen because it was the only model that fit into the very specific space left in our dorm room once all of the other essentials, like beds and computer desks, were put in place. With our bunk beds deconstructed into lofts, it was the centerpiece of hanging out, studying, and taking quick naps. And with the arrival of a friend visiting from another college or a sister on a campus visit, it folded out into a handy extra bed.

Yet despite their prevalence in dorm rooms, I don't feel that futons have to be resigned to the college years. Now that I've "grown up" I still keep my futon around. It's simply another piece of furniture in my living room. I appreciate that it still serves the purpose of providing a place to sit while also allowing my husband and I to invite company over from far away because we can make the futon into an extra bed if necessary. I realize that a sofa sleeper could fulfill the same purpose, but they can be so bulky and difficult to move. I also find a futon mattress to be more comfortable than the thin mattresses placed in hide-a-beds. This is mainly because futon mattresses are usually thicker, but even when they're not, they have no springs to poke into your back.

Now, I am starting to feel like my futon is getting a little worn out. Most futon models have a metal frame, but mine has a wooden frame that hasn't withstood years of use as well as I might have hoped. It's even been repaired once or twice when it didn't travel from dorm to hometown so well. So I’m in the market for a new one. I'm just browsing at the moment, but I've seen a surprising variety of futons available. Some of them were definitely made with the college market in mind. For instance, there was the futon frame with shelves underneath it made of metal formed to look like locker doors. And the cheapest futons usually come with suitably cheap and thin mattresses. But in the very same store, I found a very classy and adult futon. This one had a metal frame for the actual seating area, but the arms were made of wood. They were wide and had a small storage space, like a magazine rack. But the futon's real poshness came from the mattress. It was fairly thick and covered in a light brown microsuede fabric. I'm considering adding it to my Christmas list this year.

I imagine that futons aren't for everyone. If you're concerned about every single piece of furniture in your living room matching, then you're never going to find a futon in one of those coordinated furniture sets that I see so often in furniture store ads. But I think that they can be surprisingly comfortable, handy, and typically affordable, so they're definitely worth giving a chance.

Often when young couples first get married, or young singles first venture out to live on their own, their first piece of real furniture is a card table and a few folding chairs. Card tables will serve very usefully as one of the only pieces of furniture in a newly rented home or apartment, sometimes being the only thing the residents can afford, and often, the only thing they have room for in a tiny space.

In a small efficiency apartment, space is often a precious commodity. Especially if more than one person is living in the apartment, furniture must be chosen wisely. Fold out sofas and Murphy beds are very useful items for small living spaces, and card tables can serve all kinds of purposes. A fold-up card table can be used as a kitchen table for eating meals, whether formal or casual. A cup of coffee and a few slices of toast munched casually over the morning paper can easily be enjoyed on a card table; but put a pretty lace tablecloth, a couple of candles, and some fine dishes out, and the card table will suddenly be transformed into a romantic dinner place.

But meals are only the beginning. Card tables are useful for paying the bills, doing artwork, playing a board game, doing a jigsaw puzzle, and even changing the baby. Card tables can be used for folding laundry, doing homework, writing letters, or simply reading a magazine. Card tables also come in handy when it's time for a garage sale. They always provide a high, flat space for the necessities in life, or just the extras. The best part about card tables is that when you are finished using them, they are easily folded and stored in a closet, behind a sofa, or along the wall.

When we first moved into our home, we had traveled across the country and our furniture was in storage for months. We found ourself in the first house we ever owned with nothing but our computer, sleeping bags for everyone in the family, one folding chair, and a card table. That card table served us well. We found a few more folding chairs at a local thrift store and the whole family huddled around the card table for meals. At other times of the day, we set up our computer on the card table and we were able to pay bills, do work, and surf the internet without crouching on the floor.

When our furniture ultimately