Maybe You Need Some Cushion

Several months ago I was looking at my living room and noticing that even though I had warm colors on the wall and in the furniture it still was a room that didn't invite me in. The sofa, no matter how beautiful wasn't beckoning me to sit. The solution - pillows. Bought some from Ikea at a wonderful price. They have such great selection. Great for those of us who are on a budget.

The chairs on my front porch needed life and I got these at a great deal from Kohl's



for $5. I love great deals. : )

Pillows are a great way to be daring with color and pattern. Liven up your space with these pillows..

Pottery Barn - Olive Tree Pattern Pillow Cover

CB2 - Taxi Pillow


Pillows can add a place of comfort, style and a pop of color. Have a great week all.

Things I'm Loving Right Now

I love beautiful photography. Photography that transports me into the scene and makes my senses come alive.

My husband kept telling me that I needed to check out these pictures of a guy he knows. He said his work was amazing. Well like any normal wife, I didn't believe him. After a couple of weeks he brought it up again, and pulled the photos up on the computer. I was speechless. The pictures took my breath away. This guy captures the pure beauty of nature, and I'd like to share some of his photography with you.

His name is Steven Stryde and he's a forestry officer. Can you believe

that this isn't his full time profession? What an amazing gift!

Take time today to enjoy the beauty and design of nature and let your senses come alive.

Change is Good

"The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement. " - Anonymous

I have a client that just got tired of the color they have in their home. They were looking for something different, wanting change but not knowing how to get there. How many times do all of us who desire change always seem to get stuck in the familiar? However, sometimes what used to be just doesn't work anymore and that's when the push of change comes in.

So, the old brown walls that her kids had a lovely name for..lol..

was finally primed!

A beautiful rich basecoat color was added.

A lighter color on top to add texture and depth...

We still have more to do and as we make progress more will be posted. Come with us on the journey of Change.

In Hidden Places

I have passed by this place a hundred times and never knew it existed. Sometimes all we notice is the big box office actors when the supporting actors can offer just as much value to the big picture. I decided to stop and take notice.

I opened the door and was greeted with a jolly hello and the warmest smile. He introduced himself as Vern and the owner of "The Nest".He has so many unique items - especially for those of us who like the mid-century modern design. Here are a few of those great finds:

1970's Pagoda chairs and whats awesome about these is that they swivel. Price $60 for both.

This chair $20...great in a modern living room space or office.

Credenza and 2 nightstands $250. The credenza could be used as a buffet. Would love to have this piece for my house : )

Blue Mid-Century Modern chair $50. I absolutely adore this chair.

So go see Vern and his wife Cindy at

The Nest

218 E. State St.

Rockford, Il 61104

It's in those hidden places that you'll find the most valuable things.

Paint Me

Has anyone ever used the fake tanning lotions? What a great idea right? You apply it on the blank canvas of your skin and in a matter of 30 min you can become this bronzed beach goddess!

Wait...the lotion has dried and you are so excited but then horror hits you when you look in the mirror----STREAKS! Right then you vow to never use sunless tanning lotion again.

It's kind of like painting a room isn't it? You tried and it didn't seem to work out. The horror movie soundtrack was playing and fear hasn't let you go.

For those of you who are afraid of painting a room and messing it up - let me introduce you to the "Neutrals". Here are some colors for your walls that can literally go with everything. Check out these links http://www.farrow-ball.com/SearchList.aspx?term=string+8&language=en-GB , http://store.benjaminmoore.com/storefront/prodPRM01.html (linen white & horizon gray).


Painting your walls a neutral color will just be a backdrop to the accessories you bring into your space.

So forget about your sunless tanning fiasco and stick with the "Neutrals" because your walls are saying "Paint Me" : )

Where Am I ?

I am in a hurry! I have an appointment.

Where did I put those keys?


Where is that receipt? The paper I wrote that phone number on?

AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!!!!! The frustration!!

I know the frustration...I feel your pain. Sometimes we live in clutter because we have lost that sense of control. Things in life aren't going the way we want it to go. Maybe our lives are too busy - too chaotic and it translates into our spaces.

Your home should be your safe place. Your home should be your sanctuary. A place where you can feel refreshed and renewed. It can help change your outlook and lift your mood.



How can I do this? Take a room that can be the place where you want tranquility and begin to declutter that space. Get rid of things that could be bogging that space down. When those items are removed you will begin to feel better....relief : )



Begin to look at the room and think about what would bring you peace and relaxation. Start to incorporate these elements. These are the things I added to my own sanctuary.

As you fall in love with that space it will begin to translate into the rest of your home.


Where am I? That taunting game of not only your keys, papers, etc... ask you but you asking yourself that question will stop because you and your space will have a connection.

Welcome to your sanctuary!

Have a happy weekend all : )

Passion Finds You

I am passionate about my husband of 11yrs. Truly God's gift to me. He is so full of life and gives his all to his music and songwriting. I am passionate about my children. They bring me joy and laughter...full of imagination and limits don't exist with them.

Unlike my husband and children who have passions that truly represent them as individuals, I was searching for mine. Little did I know it was residing in me all along.

I remember growing up in New Jersey, not having a lot of money and my mom would buy things for our home at resale stores. Even if it was one small item she would rearrange a whole room as if to make the existing items celebrate the welcoming newcomer. Of course, my mother would always enlist my help for these projects : )

Fast forward to about 20yrs later - I began teaching a class helping to rebuild hurting women's lives. I loved seeing how the women had changed from being so discouraged with their current condition to finding purpose in the midst of their pain. What others had discounted as individuals who had no value and watch them become contributing members in their family and society is an amazing transformation.

It was shortly after that i began my addiction to HGTV (lol). It began to ignite what had already existed.

I love design! I am PASSIONATE about it. I love taking a room that is "the ugly duckling" and making it into "the swan".

I am thankful to my mother who began the process of teaching me and laying the foundation.

I am grateful to those women I taught and who in turn taught me that value and harmony can come out of chaos.

My PASSION is for those reading is for you to become truly engaged with your spaces. Creating beauty is truly not as hard as you think. Lets take the limits off together and use our imaginations just like our kids do. : )