By Kathryn Weber Few cities are more romantic than Paris, France. With a style and grace all its own, the Parisian "look" is classic and timeless. Even if you've never been to The City of Lights, it's easy to spot Parisian style in books, magazines and films. While you probably can't imitate French architecture, you can easily bring a chic touch of Paris to your interiors. Tres elegante In Paris, most people live in apartments, each a … [Read more...]
Bunk beds have grown up in style, function
By Kathryn Weber Contemporary Kids by Aspen Photographers Hufker Photo Bunk beds used to be the domain of the under-7 crowd, but not anymore. In recent year, bunk beds have grown up in style and function. More than just a way to create additional floor space, bunk beds for adults can also offer privacy and even a touch of luxury. Adaptive style Nowadays, many bunk beds are built-in versus assembled. This allows greater design detail and … [Read more...]
Decorate your home perfectly pink
By Kathryn Weber All shades of pink have been finding their way into homes, advertising, and even the Olympic Games. Radiant Orchid, a deep pink with blue tones, is Pantone's makeup Color of the Year for 2014. You could say that pink is red-hot right now. But even pink is not just for little girls anymore, there are limits Do's and don'ts The bubble gum pink of the '60's is passe. Today's pink is more lustrous, with deeper tones … [Read more...]
Warm up this winter in your own backyard spa
By Kathryn Weber Say what you want about the kitschyness of a hot tub, ski resorts know there's no better way to warm up and soothe aching muscles after a long day on the slopes. Since it's good bet winter will be sticking around for a while, why not fight the frosty monotony with a toasty dip in your own backyard spa? The benefits Hot tubs are wonderful if you exercise frequently and they can be used into the summer months. The warm … [Read more...]
Decorate your home for Chinese New Year
By Kathryn Weber Each year, after the Jan. 1 Western, or solar New Year, the Chinese celebrate the lunar New Year. This observance can take place any time from mid-January to mid-February, depending on the arrival of a new moon. Many American cities now host elaborate Chinese New Year celebrations, but you can observe Chinese New Year at home by adopting some of the customs and rituals thought to bring luck and good fortune. At the very … [Read more...]
A shift to neutral adds decorating style power
By Kathryn Weber Think that only bold color has the corner on drama and high decorating style? Think again. Neutrals are not only calm and serene options to impact style, but they carry a punch of their own. They're both elegant and relaxed looking -- something that marries well with today's lifestyles. But following a few simple rules will help you keep your neutral design from stalling: TAN IS OUT Today's neutral is not tan. While … [Read more...]
Avoid bringing bed bugs home from vacation
By Kathryn Weber A chance to relax and escape the everyday demands of work and home is a real reward, but today's vacations bring with an extra worry besides airline baggage fees: bed bugs. Once rarely seen, these blood-sucking creatures are appearing with a vengeance at the very places we go to escape -- hotels and vacation rentals. But worse than finding bed bugs on vacation is bringing them home. DO SOME RESEARCH Before … [Read more...]
Have yourself a merry little Christmas tree
By Kathryn Weber Years ago, it was always the eccentric aunt who bought a small, spindly Christmas tree. Today, though, small trees have begun to play a bigger role in holiday decorating. Whether it's a live pine or a rosemary bush festooned with ornaments, mini trees can be big on style and presence. A large Christmas tree is a pretty standard element in holiday decorating. But if you've seen all the wonderful small trees now available -- … [Read more...]
How to store winter clothes safely
By Kathryn Weber With cold weather finally out of the way in most parts of the country, it's time to rotate the clothes in your closet. In fact, regardless of whether you live in a seasonal climate or a temperate one, cramming all your clothes in the closet all the time makes it harder to find what you want. Also, leaving your wool, cashmere and specialty fabric clothing out during the summer -- when bugs are more prevalent -- could leave you … [Read more...]
Beautify your bathroom with easy updates
By Kathryn Weber Contrary to what you might think, updating and beautifying your bathroom doesn't have to include ripping out plumbing and reconfiguring layouts. Some paint and new accessories may be all it takes to transform your bath into an elegant, spa-like retreat. Opting for some unique items not usually seen in the bathroom can make the difference. MAKE IT LIVABLE The bathroom is no longer simply a perfunctory room for quick … [Read more...]
