
As April rolls in, it’s time once again for the 51st Annual St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild Decorator’s Show House and Gardens. The Decorator’s Show House and Gardens is the longest running show house in the country. It is the primary fundraising event for the Guild and benefits Wishard Hospital in various ways. A little bit [...]

I have always believed that good interior design can change the way you live your life and how you experience it. Recently, several friends of mine have been going through some life changes which have now lead into home changes. Suddenly, they’re ready and interested on getting organized, living more simply and bringing some design [...]

It seems that no matter how large or the number of your closets, there never seems to be enough space. Even though we can’t all have closets as large and luxurious as the one pictured above, let me share with you some tips on making the most out of your closet space. 1. Keeping Things [...]

Welcome to Expert Advice: Residential Appraiser | Part II. If you missed Part I, you can catch up here. We interviewed professional appraiser Bob Hanson, an Indiana Licensed Residential Appraiser, with several years of experience for this article. In it, we ask Bob some of the questions people have about the value of their home [...]

What’s wrong with matchy-matchy, you ask? Well, looking at the room above may not answer your question, but it should certainly make you see why it doesn’t work. Still not convinced? Let’s show you a more modern interpretation. Are you smelling what I’m cooking now? Yes, one of the many elements of design is repetition. [...]

The first recorded medicine cabinet, or chest at that time, was found in Egypt. It was a woven palm fiber case on a bamboo stand. Around the turn of the century, when indoor bathrooms as we now know them, came about – medicine cabinets became very popular. At that time, they looked much the same [...]

If you’re like us, pets are an important part of your family and your home. As such, you want to allow for their comfort just like any other member of the family. Here are six ways to help your space more pet friendly. 1. Carve out a space for them: Create a hazard-free zone in [...]

We interviewed professional appraiser Bob Hanson, an Indiana Licensed Residential Appraiser, with several years of experience for this article. In it, we ask Bob some of the questions people have about the value of their home in relation to improvements and market factors. Note: Due to the length of the interview, and in the best [...]

The ceiling is one of the most neglected spaces when looking to bring life to a room; but, great ceilings can make or break a room. Sistine Chapel, anyone? Ceilings can offer a lot of visual appeal. Don’t think your room is finished only to have left your popcorn overhead. Textured ceilings have been done [...]

It’s been a long day. You’re boss moved up the due date of your report by two weeks, you got a flat on the way home and you forgot to pick up the dry cleaning. After hastily throwing together dinner and running your kid through the bath, you’re ready to kick back with a glass [...]

With the recent economic climate in this country, many of us have been faced with various challenges in our living situations. In many cases, houses have been downsized or even forgone completely in exchange for aparments. Downsized housing typically means that rooms have been downsized as well. For a country that has been used to [...]

Themed rooms are very popular today, and the key to capturing a theme is the use of accessories. However, improper use of themed items – using too many, not enough or the wrong kind – can make your room go from chic to weak in seconds. To get a handle on the proper use of [...]

As if tackling home improvement projects isn’t hard enough, finding the right contractor could prove to be the most difficult aspect of the whole project. Chances are you’re not going to be remodeling your entire kitchen, bathroom, etc. completely on your own. Besides hiring an interior designer, you’re going to need a skilled contractor to [...]

Accessories are the spice of life, at least in the world of interior design. A few, well-chosen pieces add the finishing touches that transform a room from so-so to spectacular. Herewith, a few simple suggestions to guide you on the path to perfection: Don’t Over Coordinate If the slipcovers already match the drapes and you [...]

Like many people, you probably look at amazing rooms and think, “Man…if only I could do that.” One particularly inspirational project is wallpaper. Most people’s immediate concern when they see an amazing pattern of wallpaper? Hassle. That got me thinking about painting and generally, that is a lot easier, but kind of bland. So, one great way to get the look of pattern from [...]

You’ve finally decided it’s time to renovate your outdated kitchen. After many years suffering through the existing space, you’re ready to get the kitchen of your dreams. Before you jump right into a major renovation, you’re likely going to want to speak with a professional who can help you achieve your desired design. In most [...]

We’re currently living in a buyer’s market. If you’re looking for a new home, that’s great for you – but if you’re looking to sell your house, your timing could be problematic. In today’s economy, people aren’t as open to making big purchases. Interest rates are high and money is tight. It makes much more [...]

Your home is your castle and it should be a welcoming and relaxing place. Too often, however, we fill our castles with knick-knacks and beloved items that quickly become out of control. If your decor has started to create more stress than it relieves you may want to consider a simpler way of living. Living [...]

Close your eyes and think of white. Glorious white walls throughout your house make you think of what? How about love? How about a beautiful empty palette with which to add splashes of color that make your place unique and your home? White is pure and honest. White can open and enlarge rooms. White is [...]

I think at some point in everyone’s lives we’ve all been guilty of overdoing it when it comes to a themed room. Not long ago, we talked about the good, the bad and the ugly about theme rooms. You may have ready this article and then wondered how in the world can you showcase a [...]

In a perfect world, every kid would have his own space in your house – preferably far, far away from your space. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. Sometimes siblings have to share a room and it’s harder on the parents than it is on the kids! There is hope, however. Here are [...]

Knowing why you have collectibles determines how you would tastefully display them in your home versus turning your living space into a segment on Hoarders, or a sterile museum. Have you ever visited someone and noticed an interesting object, commented on it and then heard the dreaded “Let me show you what else I have”? [...]

Whether you are updating your home to appeal to buyers, or just want to refresh and fall in love again with your home, you’ll want to keep these five places in mind where you shouldn’t cut corners. If you aren’t 100 percent sure of an idea, don’t do it. If money is tight, it is [...]

Does your space need some life zapped into it? Perhaps, your interior dozed off some time ago. Spend an afternoon watching the many home shows on TV, and you’ll really think it’s gone to sleep! Not to blast those shows, in fact, they’re popular because people like you want new interior design. Wake up your [...]