East Valley Tribune - Indoors

Lower energy costs with high style

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:27:40 -0700

When decorating our homes, we tend to consider things like beauty and comfort, the durability of pieces we might buy or the image they project. But how many of us stop to consider our energy bills?

Tips for staging a home yourself

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:06:33 -0700

Staging is the buzzword these days! When selling a home, it is suggested the home be staged for a better or quicker sale. The idea behind staging is to make the home look uncluttered and as professionally decorated as possible so it appears fresh and inviting to potential buyers.

Divine Design: When worlds collide

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 10:02:25 -0700

Ken and Sue are living proof that opposites attract. Ken, an old hippie at heart, is content to curl up with a good book, while social Sue thinks life is one big dinner party. And when it comes to their design tastes, things are just as polarized: Ken likes traditional lines, antiques and lots of color, while Sue thrives on a neutral, urban vibe.

Home managers live opulently, temporarily

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:54:13 -0700

Jim and Laura Fisher can’t leave dirty dishes in the sink or children’s toys on the floor. They might have to rush out of their home on 20 minutes’ notice. And they never know when they’ll need to move into another house. Quickly.

The tradeoff: The Fishers live like multimillionaires, in opulent, expansive homes, some overlooking the water. They have no mortgage and get a discount on rent.

Company fills empty homes for sale with managers

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:47:24 -0700

Many homes on the market sit empty. Others are staged and may look lived in. Then, some of them are lived in. There are 29 “home managers” working for Showhomes, a company that places people in vacant properties, which they maintain for a steep discount on the rent.

Home managers lives opulently, temporarily

House to Home: Pump up the guest bath

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:40:40 -0700

If you are like me, holidays seem to arrive out of nowhere and suddenly I'm expecting a house full of relatives and wondering when I'm going to get the food shopping in. It's the same every year: I hear my inner voices - I seem to have many - excited about seeing the family but acknowledging that there aren't enough beds, the bathroom's a bit scruffy, menus are complicated by vegan and low-carb diets, and wondering how to entertain this motley crew.

The nursery gets back to basics

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:25:17 -0700

Once upon a time, the ideal for a child's room was a cozy haven filled with sturdy push-pull toys, handmade dolls and a few baskets of dress-up clothes. That was before batteries, computer programs for toddlers, and the array of stuff that talks, squawks, jangles and jolts in little hands.

A 'Well-Dressed Home' complements the closet

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 09:16:25 -0700

Are you a T-shirt-and-jeans person with a chintz living room, or someone who loves the structure of a suit but wakes up in a shabby chic bedroom? The decorating world is shifting toward a streamlined look that, at the very least, complements the personal style that people already incorporate into their wardrobes.

High-impact touches for understated holiday decorating

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:44:18 -0700

After years and years of decorating my home and others' for the holidays, I've come to this conclusion: I think Christmas decor looks its best when it's subtly woven into our year-round displays, adding just a whisper of the season in a few key spots, rather than being the center of the show. Understated displays feel more natural and less contrived, and keep your house feeling like a home, not a Christmas store.

House to Home: Seating Switch

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:39:36 -0700

Dear Debbie: I have acquired a set of dining chairs that are old but in good condition except for the upholstered seats, which are threadbare. Is it too difficult to recover them myself? - Francoise

This season's hottest holiday looks

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:23:45 -0700

When you're a home-decor retailer, it's a bit like living at the North Pole: It's always the holiday season. As soon as the decorations are down for the season, we're off to market to pick out next year's. Our warehouse fills up with holiday decor in spring, and by summer, we're transforming the stores into winter wonderlands. Call me crazy, but I love living Christmas year-round because I get to check out the new holiday trends early in the season. To get your holiday-decorating juices flowing, here are a few of the great looks you'll see this season.

Divine Design: A recipe for relaxation

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:34:02 -0700

When Damon and Jodie bought their house, they focused all of their energies on renovating the kitchen so they could start a catering business. They spent many hours uncovering the room's beautiful brick and building a restaurant-inspired island with lots of cooking space. But now that they have a great kitchen, all they do is work.

Halloween's hippest decor

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:23:58 -0700

Goth and glitter. Bones and ornaments dusted with lime, ebony, orange or purple sparkle. Startling images on dishware and textiles. These are just some of the ways retailers and designers are playing up Halloween’s theatrical vibe this year.

Fireclay sink can be work of art

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 12:35:48 -0700

Q: My wife and I read your recent column on cast-iron kitchen sinks, and it got us thinking about our old kitchen sink and how we would like to change it. Since it was you who inspired us to take on this project, could you give us a little more information? Besides cast iron, what other materials are now popular for kitchen sinks? - Jeff, New Jersey

Turn the tables on Thanksgiving dinner

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:49:10 -0700

Every year at Thanksgiving, Dan and I face a dilemma: How should we use our dining-room table to best accommodate the friends and family who join us for this food fest? Should we attempt a traditional sit-down dinner, with everyone squeezed around our dining-room table? Or should we use the table as a buffet, letting guests scatter about the house, snatching a seat in any chair that does not hold a sleeping cat?

House to Home: Hidden pleasures

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:44:11 -0700

Getting a good night's sleep is a top priority for all of us. We don't need the scientists to tell us we can think, move and act with more energy and precision when we have slept well. The color of the walls, the window treatment and the floor covering play a part in the overall visual impact - the bedroom's aura. How you decorate will change with the times as well as your age and situation. The choices are varied and imaginative.

Home study place helps students get in the groove

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:38:42 -0700

Good study habits start at home in a designated area where students can hit the books after the school day ends, experts say.

Recycle pantyhose into Halloween decor

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:33:46 -0700

Before they stuff themselves silly with Halloween candy, let your kids stuff some spare pantyhose to create plump pumpkins and other seasonal, soft-sculpture decorations.

Go from dark tunnel to cheery hallway

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:26:13 -0700

If you have a long hallway, it might seem as though it goes on forever, resembling a gloomy and dark tunnel. The best way to bring it into better light is to have something at the end of the hall that not only catches your eye, but also makes the space seem less elongated. There are several ways to do this:

Streamline your laundry room

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 11:15:51 -0700

Follow these quick tips for organizing your laundry room: