Dorm Room Essentials

Headed off to college? Reaching for the hankies because your child has left the nest? Here’s are a few dorm room essentials that may have been left behind. They offer the perfect excuse to reconnect before classes get underway – even if it’s just through the mail. Care packages are always welcome. Read More…

Chair of the Day: Dorm Room Delight – Mali Flex Futon

Once upon a time I was a college student living in a tiny dorm room. I was lucky enough to have a room to myself – that is when I didn’t have the good fortune to entertain out of town guests. Or, from time to time, an over-served friend. Enter Mali’s Flex Futon ($229.99 at Target) one of many must haves for every dorm room – the extra bed. Or, in this case, a sofa that’s also a bed.

It’s always nice to have an extra seat in a dorm room. And there’s lots of room underneath this futon to place cloth boxes for extra storage. I also like this particular style because it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

Don’t have room for an extra chair or sofa? if you push your bed against the wall, you can create a sofa using king-sized pillows  along the length and bolsters for the sides. Add some toss pillows and you’ve got the perfect studio apartment.

Jr League of Detroit Show House Presentation

In between bouts of coughing attacks last week, I spend my time feverishly (pun!) putting together my presentations for this year’s Jr. League of Detroit Show House. The house is a beautiful, French provincial stone home set right on Lake St Clair. That’s the large lake seen at the end of Grosse Pointe Blank and Gran Torino.

I put together two proposals. My partner in this venture, Sandra Olave, did another. We needed at least three. I thought I’d share my presentations with you.

I’ve been sitting on this idea for a while, hoping to work on a little girl’s room one day. My favorite feature of this garden wonderland are the painted screen doors at the entrance to the room and the bath. Painted screen doors is an urban art form from my hometown of Baltimore. My screens depict trees. The doors feature window boxes (filled with handmade felt flowers and critters) along with a birdhouse.

The rest of the room continues that floral theme. The window boxes sit atop radiators. Caf?© curtains and a canopy on the antique spindle bed are dressed with flowers and floral fabrics. A floral wallpaper continues the flowery fun. I’m painting the ceiling, trim and fireplace in a coordinating color. A desk, similar to the one in the picture will be painted one color on the outside – another on the inside.

I find that this type of presentation is well received. I put it together on Photoshop and have it printed in tabloid size on good paper. It’s visually appealing, neat and clean. I don’t have to have actual fabric samples if I can find what I’ll use on a website. I scan things as well.

I’ll share my Bohemian Teen room tomorrow. Meanwhile, I’d love to know what you think of this room. Would your little girl like a room like this? Can I make a million felt flowers by May 1st, and how much should I sell them for? I’ve got to pay for this room somehow! :-) I can take the criticism. I don’t even know if I’m getting a room. I find out Friday.

Holiday Table Decorating Idea

I saw this table arrangement in an email from Rejuvenation and thought it was lovely and unique.

Notice there isn’t a centerpiece. No need. Instead, the table is dressed with tall candlesticks of varying shapes and heights. Wood birds are scattered here and there, and a variety of moss balls decorate the beautiful arrangement of dishes and glassware.

Notice, too, the tablecloth. It looks pretty, doesn’t it? This holiday season, I’m going to try to tempt everyone to rethink using tablecloths. Think of them as a backdrop, a starting point.

Which do you prefer – tablecloths or place mats?

6 Weeks Of Giveaways! Domino’s Decorating Book

We’ve got only six weeks before Christmas and just five before the first night of Hanukkah arrives on December 11th. Better get those lists started! Make your first stop Design Hole. I’ve rustled up a pile of fantastic gifts and I’m giving them away – starting today.

First up is Domino’s Book of Decorating. This giveaway runs all week through Friday. I’ll announce the winner, chosen at random, on Saturday.

We were all so sad to see such a great magazine shut its doors. This book offers the best of their decorating how-to’s.

To enter, simply leave a comment under any of the Domino giveaway posts. I’d like to know what interior design subject you’d like to know more about. Is it color palettes? How to choose different fabric patterns that work together? More DIY projects? I’d love to know what you’re interested in.

Let me know your thoughts – long or short. The giveaway is open to anyone living in the contiguous United States and Canada. To avoid paying duty, I’ll ship it as a gift, because that’s what it is!