Kristin Abraham's Blog

Posted by Kristin Abraham

If you're willing to battle the weather and the crowds you may be pleasantly surprised to find that post holiday sales don't just mean deals on ornaments, wrapping paper and holiday cards, many home decoration items go on sale at deep discounts.

New or Old. Are you one of those people who likes to decorate with a different theme or color scheme every year or do you use the same homemade ornaments year after year? If you're going to go a different direction then this is the time to pick up the supplies. If you're a traditionalist then you might want to replace some worn out pieces.

Around the House. Are blankets, pillows, plates, placesettings and other decorative elements a part of your festive spirit? If so then give the sales a once over, this is a hit or miss category when it comes to deep discounts, but you can usually find some sort of sale and the longer you hold out the bigger the discount.

Other Decorative Elements. Some seasonal items work well year round, depending on your home's style. Look through the sales to see if there is anything that might work in your home on a daily or seasonal basis. Or even look for items that would enhance other holiday decorations, such as Valentine's Day.

DIY. Crafters, don't forget to get the deals too. If you like to make presents or future heirlooms then this is also the time for you to get some post holiday bargains. Make your gift list early and pick up your supplies, just remember to buy enough because the item may not come back around next year or the colors may change so you want to be certain you can finish your project.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I'm a big fan of Home Depot and I think their concept of teaching people Do-It-Yourself skills is brilliant, not only from a marketing point of view but it's also very useful to consumers and home owners.

Most Home Depots have weekly clinics which are free to the public and provide some basic tips and techniques, which are very useful if you're attempting something you have absolutely no experience with.

There are also Do-It-Herself Workshops, which are geared toward women and provide the support and education women need to fix things themselves without being condescending. These events don't even happen monthly, so you'll need to check with your local store and make note of their schedule.

If you've got a little one who just loves to help and putter around the house then the Kids Workshop might be something you're interested in. It's geared to 5-12 year olds and gives them some safety tips while also teaching them a few skills that foster a sense of accomplishment. These workshops are usually held on the first saturday of each month.

The newest workshops, the ones that have me excited, are the online ones. The latest in these classes features a celebrity workshop, which I'm not sure will be the best information, but they're be entertaining. The Remodel your Business classes give professionals some tips and tricks and online workshops. And the best online resource Home Depot offers is the Workshop Archive, which allows you to search projects and find information on what to do and how to do it from the comfort of your home.

Find the help you need from the Home Depot Clinics at http://www.homedepotclinics.com/.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Modern Masters is a brand that I'm very familiar with and that I'd recommend for do-it-yourself faux finishers as well as professionals. Their extensive line is very easy to use and the results are fabulous.

I recently finished a tray ceiling in their Gold Rush color and found it very easy to use and the final product was quite attractive. My regular paint supplier told me how one client of theirs had an entire dining room finished in a light pink, pearly color. Apparently, it was just stunning, but very pricey.

Although, I'm sure the entire room was amazing, I'd recommend using the metallic paints for smaller areas, accents, or even as a faux finish over a basecoat.

The key to the ease of using the Modern Masters metallic paints is that they're a laytex paint. That means they clean up just as easily as any other laytex, they dry just as quickly, and they don't smell either.

If you're going to do a large area, Modern Masters recommends you use their Extender. This product lets you back roll the product before it dries and gives you a little more "wet" painting time so you don't have to worry about stop and start lines. If you're doing a colorwash technique you'll definitely need an extender of some type, but if you're going to be painting a small area, like crown moulding or trim you won't need it, and if you're doing a solid area, like a tray ceiling, it would be better to apply several coats of paint, rather than stretching one or two with an extender.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Just yesterday I went on a painting job and we initially approached the job thinking we'd have to repaint all of the newly painted walls. The problem for the homeowners was that they felt their foyer was just too dark. Upon arriving and looking at the walls next to the stone tile floors it was clear that the walls actually looked much better with the floor than the suggested "fixes". So perhaps the walls weren't the problem at all.

After several discussions we realized that one of the problems was the lighting in the house, a new construction, was not quite finished and the homeowners had selected very small cans so there wasn't much light. Another problem was the weather. It is winter here and unfortunately, its one of those really gloomy periods where not much natural light was available.

The biggest problem though, and one we could fix, was the ceiling (or base color) was very dark and this made the room feel closer and darker. To remedy this situation we simply repainted the ceiling in a nice creamy color (Mautz Paint's Sandy Lane) and suddenly the gold color in the wall treatment popped and the dark base color receded into the background.

So if you're not happy with the effect your room gives off, consider changing the paint colors on the walls or even the ceiling.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

If you're a fan of House & Garden magazine and the website, www.houseandgarden.com, then you're going to feel a little lost for a while. Charles Townsend, President and CEO of Conde Nast Publications, has announced that the December 2007 issue of the magazine will be its last and the website will cease functioning soon after.

The decision appears to have been made after an abrupt departure by the publication's publisher, which caused the executive staff to reconsider the viability of Home & Garden. In the end the decision was made to axe the magazine and focus their attentions elsewhere.

Editor, Dominique Browning, has posted a farewell message on the magazine's website and notes that a January issue has been produced, which does make the decision to stop seem incredibly abrupt.

Conde Nast still has several magazines that fall into the home interior and gardening categories including Architectural Digest, Domino, and Vogue Living. And the big news for those fans of Vogue Living is that they'll be publishing more issues next year.

I know that I'll miss this publication (especially the website) and I wish the staff the best of luck.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I am not a big magazine reader, in fact I am so behind in my TV Guides that some of the featured programs are off the air. So when I sign up for or order a magazine I want to be sure it's something that I'm going to read. The Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine does not disappoint.

The first magazine I received surprised the heck out of me. It's a very attractive magazine with full color and glossy pages. It's got 80 pages of information and I really think most of it is good. There is a great article that gives you tips for organizing your entryway and making it more functional, with several how-to tips. There is also a good story about updating a bathroom to fit your budget, the re-dos aren't really shocking, but they're structurally impressive. The article about a classic kitchen claims that it will last, but I don't necessarily agree with this as kitchen trends change very frequently.

I'm particularly fond of the article that shows you how to make a moulding ledge. This is something I've wanted to do for quite a while but I wasn't exactly sure how to do it. Now, I know and I'll be doing it this winter some time. I sure hope they do an article on creating your own window vallance soon, that's on my project list too.

I really recommend signing up for the Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine at www.lowescreativeideas.com, it's got a lot of great information for the how-to home decorator, the website is also full of great information.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

If you've got damage to your wall or need to repair a hole you may also have to do some finish work to get the wall looking like it did before. If you've got an orange peel finish then this tip is for you. Orange peel is pretty easy to replicate because it comes in a spray can which can be found at any paint store and many hardware stores.

Read the instructions carefully on the can before you begin and make sure you've got proper ventillation and breathing protection. Before spraying you'll need to prepare your wall which will require some priming. You may also want to tape off the "good" areas so they don't get any extra spray that may make them thicker in texture and draw attention to the repair.

To get the effect you want follow the instructions, the closer and longer you hold the can in place the thicker the spray, if you only keep it in place for a short time you get a thiner coverage. Make sure you've got coverage that closely matches your original finish and then let the sprayed area dry completely.

Once the new orange peel is dry you'll need to prime it again thoroughly so that paint adheres properly. After the primer has dried you can apply the final coat of paint.

I previously wrote about creating a board before you try a painting technique or even a color in your home. If you're going to create a board you should also try to replicate the texture of your walls so you get an accurate representation of what the wall will actually look like. Orange peel spray works great on posterboard, but it can make the edges curl up so you may want to weigh them down.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I'm going to paint a sample "board" for a client this week to help her decide on the painting technique and colors. This is a pretty standard technique for faux finishers and a great little trick that homeowners can use themselves before painting.

First of all, many painting companies are now offering samples of paint for only a couple of dollars, which is great if you're a bit undecided or you're afraid the actual color won't look the same as it does on the chip.

Many people simply paint a big patch on their walls to help them decide what color they prefer. Besides the fact that many of these patches then stay on the wall for months, if not years, before a final decision is made, this really isn't the most effective way to make your decision. Instead, try creating a board. Simply buy a large sheet of posterboard at your local craft store and coat it with primer and then paint the board. If your wall has a texture you should try to replicate that texture; sand and orange peel can both easily be reproduced.

This board technique is especially useful if you're doing a faux finish as the base color of the wall is often part of the technique and painting directly on the wall can create a noticeable splotch. But it's also helpful for solid paint decisions because it's portable. Sure your painted splotch on one wall tells you more than a paint chip, but with a board you can try the color out in different lighting situations, move it around the room and even cut off a chunk to take fabric shopping.

Use this inexpensive tip from the painting pros to create just the right look on your walls the first time you paint.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I'm a pretty neat person but I definitely have some ex-roommates that would argue with that self-assessment. Maybe I should redefine it, I'm a clean person, neatness is sometimes a struggle.

I tend to have a lot of clutter lying around as I'm usually working on somewhere between 3 and 600 projects all at once. So, I've discovered that I need to have quick and easy solutions for my various projects. I do believe in the "everything has it's place" way of organizing but I have serious issues with all those neat-nics that organize everything into cute little matching boxes that then get stacked perfectly together in a specific order and then are placed inside a closet. Seriously? Are people expected to spend more time organizing their storage solutions than they do picking up their messes? I've found that when this much efforts is involved the job never gets done.

To keep your house clutter free or to allow for quick pick-ups, make your organization plan simple. Use open containers to store things. Don't stack things on top of each other, use shelves so you can easily pull out and push in containers. Don't worry about fussy little storage zones inside the container. Select attractive containers that serve double duty as seating options or coffee tables. Keep items stored in plain sight in attractive baskets or other tidy containers.

These tricks work for me and I'mready for guests in only about 10-15 minutes.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Happy Halloween Everyone!

I love Halloween, it's my favorite holiday and yet this year I just didn't decorate. I could say I didn't have the time, but actually I did. I could also say I didn't have the finances, which I didn't, but I have a lot of decorations from years past. So it was really just laziness and it's left me a little depressed.

In fact, I've already turned my attentions to Christmas decorating. I'm really looking forward to decorating this winter and I'm already thinking about rearranging my furniture to give the house a different feel, something cozier.

I don't think that holiday decorating is necessary, at least not for most people, but I do think that changing your home decorations or the basic scheme of things is important for everyone. The interior of every home gets stale and boring after a while and obviously large, sweeping changes on a regular basis are impractical but small changes such as a new furniture arrangement or adding a new color are very practical for everyone.

Your home should make you feel comfortable, welcome and happy and keeping everything static can drag down your spirits. If you aren't a holiday decorator consider redressing your home in another way, something fresh and exciting that will re-energize your spirits.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

The Today Show reports that over 7 million kitchens were remodeled this year with the average cost being somewhere between $15,000 and $20,000, excluding appliances.

Matt Lauer points out that in the soft market today an updated kitchen may not reap financial rewards when buyers are looking for deals. But the couple on the interview says they've renovated to suit their needs because they plan to stay put for a long time. This is absolutely right and they've brushed against a fact that seems to always be true when American finances get a little tight; people tend to focus on themselves and fixing up their homes to fit their lifestyles. This is great news for people in the interior decorating/renovating businesses.

But then the family goes on to say that when they do decide to sell they believe their updated kitchen will be attractive to new buyers. Nope! I have to disagree there. Kitchen trends ebb and flow like the tides, only faster. What is "cool" today is passe tomorrow AND the problem with the latest round of kitchen renovations is they're hard to remove. Those granite countertops are very heavy and much harder to maneuver than the linoleum ones of the past. And the tiled floors and backsplashes, those are semi-permanent with their concrete glues holding them in place. Imagine the kitchen of the future with sleek, shiny stainless steel walls, or (please no!) flowered wallpaper. Brick, stone and tile will be very outdated.

The expert on the show says that kitchen renovations are a very good idea, if you're going to sell now. If you're going to sell in five years or more she also says the kitchen will be outdated.

So my advice, decorate for yourself and no one else and no ulterior motives and you'll always be happy.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

The White House may have the most famous interior decorating schemes in the entire country. Everyone has heard of the Map Room, the Blue Room, China Room and the State Dining Room. Then there is obviously the Oval Office which is generally redecorated as we change Presidents. Clinton favored a blue, red and gold theme while George W. Bush has redecorated in more subtle tones of peach, off-white and sage.

If you're headed to Washington D.C. and would like to tour this great interior you can get on a special VIP tour that will save you the sore feet you'd get while standing in line. About 30 days before you make your trip, place a call to your member of Congress's office and ask to be added to the VIP tour list. These tours are held Tuesday through Saturday, unless the White House is closed, from 10 am to noon. Once you're on the list you'll get to skip all lines and meet your tour guide for a great trip through the White House.

To find out who your senator or representative is you can call 202 224-3121, or write to the House or Senate Office buildings, Washington, D.C. The zip code for the Senate is 20510 and the House uses 20515.

There's nothing like being a VIP visitor at the White House!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

If you're thinking about creating the Perfect Playroom or decorating a child's room then you'll love this new product I ran across. Dutch Boy has come out with a paint that is designed specifically with children in mind. Dutch Boy's Kid's Room Paint is designed as a one coat paint so you won't have to spend a whole lot of time painting your kid's room and you're sure to get the coverage you need the first time.

This paint also has your child's health in mind as the Kid's Room Paint is low odor and low-VOC. VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound, which are toxins that can be harmful to the health of people within your home. The lower the VOC, the better.

Because children's rooms tend to have a lot of traffic and crayon and chalk masterpieces, this new paint is scrubbable and really takes a beating.

All in all this sounds like a great product, although I must confess I have not personally tried it and do not know if it stands up to the hype, but if it does it may create a new wave of paints designed specifically for the younger set.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Behr paints has contacted me to let me know about a new tool they are offering subscribers. If you go to their ColorSmart website you can actually test different Behr colors for your home without actually having to purchase any paint.

There is a small fee $4.95 for the service but this is actually for a year's subscription so you can use it to check multiple rooms in your home or try a huge variety of colors. Which, if you think about it, is about the cost of a sample pot of paint and it doesn't leave you with patches all over your walls that need to be painted over.

Another great thing Behr has done is their Designer Collection series. There are six different series and each one contains four different colors that give you just the right accent and complementary colors you need, in case color selectin just isn't your thing.

So paint selection is pretty easy and once you've downloaded your digital home snapshot, you can "paint" your walls with a couple different graphics techniques, but each of them are so easy my 4 year old niece can handle it.

When you've finally selected a color you can print out your picture to pass around and see how your friends and family feel.

The only downfall I see with the program is the cost. It's incredibly reasonable, but for some reason I think people will be hesitant to purchase this service, which is too bad because it's a great little tool.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

This week I've gone back to a familiar and friendly client to repaint her kitchen cupboards. The first time I painted these cupboards was about two years ago and at the time she decided she didn't think a primer was necessary. I did wash the cupboards but the paint had some adherence issues. I think that a primer would have been a good idea.

Since the original painting her children have been allowed to fingerpaint on the cupboards. These paintings have left bumps and ridges that are still noticeable and aren't removable without some serious elbow grease and sanding. Then, they have been painted another time to cover the artwork, I assume. So some of the cupboards have 2-3 coats of paint. And I am now adding a third.

The problem when you pile so much paint onto finished wood is that it begins to develop surface flaws and can bubble and peel. Some times the paint will even get so thick that it will almost develop a soft texture that is easily marred and scratched.

I actually like the look of painted woodwork and cupboards but proper preparation must take place if you're going to stick with the look for a long time and then standard care will help reduce wear and tear damange.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Having finally finished painting the trim on my second floor white I'm inspired. It's such a fresh, clean look that I've decided to bring even more white into my home to brighten it up this winter. I'm not going to spend a lot of money, mainly because I don't have a lot of spare income at the moment, but because I don't think it's necessary. I believe a few bold but small decorating changes can keep your home looking new and exciting every season.

I'm going to switch to my duvet cover which is primarily white and has a few thin stripes of green, turquoise and tan in it. This will significantly boost the white quota in the room. I'm also going to switch out the throw pillows to a couple that are a bit lighter and I think I'll purchase a couple of white ones as well.

I have wanted to buy a couple of dressers from Ikea for a while but the purchase is going to have to wait, and my antique dressers will not be getting a coat of white, so that will remain the same, but I'm going to drape the tops of them with long white lace runners which will run down the sides, breaking up the brown and adding more white.

I'm going to keep the window swag I have which has a lot of white in it, but I will update the nasty blinds that came with the condo and purchase some nice white roman shades.

And finally, I'm going to buy (or maybe make) a nice warm, fluffy white throw rug to break up the solid wood of the floors. I can just imagine how beautiful it will all look this winter with beautiful big white flakes of snow falling outside.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

About a week a go I felt mired in old projects and that was just the culmination of this foreboding feeling that had been growing as the pile of unfinished things grew.

Part of it was the time of year. The Wisconsin air has turned crisp and there is definitely a fall feeling floating around as many leave drift methodically toward the ground. I love fall, but it precedes winter, which I don't love, or even like. So fall is a bit melancholy for me. I know that soon I'll be locked in my condo, rarely willing and sometimes completely unable to leave.

First I begin cleaning. I know spring cleaning is a tradition for most people but it's fall cleaning for me. Time to freshen everything before i'm stuck in seclusion. I've taken my time with the cleaning and still have two floors to do. I also have to tackle the remaining plants outside, either update them with fall flowers or pack it all in for the year. A huge project and I truly don't relish any of it.

So today I begin the end of trim painting upstairs. I started this over six months ago and today seems like a great day to finish. I'm not looking forward to it at all and am already thinking of shortcuts but I've got a book on tape to keep me company and I'm determined to finish today.

My next project? The first floor trim. I've wanted to paint it black for about a year now and it's time to go forward with that idea. Hopefully I'll feel relieved after everything is done and ready to spend the long winter months in my clean and slightly redecorated home.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Today I'll be stenciling seashells and a couple seahorses onto a bathroom wall, but instead of using traditional stencil paints I'm going to use varnish. At first this might seem a little hard to picture but when done right it is a really beautiful technique which adds depth to your painted surface.

Varnished stencils obviously don't give you the color variations or depth and realism that regular stencil paints do but it will create an outline of an item. And this is where a little vision is necessary. Simple shapes are best when using this technique as an intricate stencil simply gets lost and becomes a shiny blob. I actually create my own stencils and cut the shapes out of that craft foam paper that is sold in the kid's section of most craft stores. This way I get the shape I want and its very inexpensive.

If you're going to use a varnish technique you need to paint the walls with flat paint. Using a rubberized paint with a flat finish will give you the durability and washability you want and the non-reflective surface essential for this technique. By using varnish on top of a flat paint you get a highly glossed finish which really makes stencils stand out, it also deepens and enriches the original color making it even more vibrant. This is more visible with dark paints than light ones.

If stencils aren't really your thing but this technique intrigues you, try doing simple stripes, the result is a very classy look that's actually pretty easy to accomplish.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

It's almost that time of year again, the Warrens Cranberry Festival in Warrens, Wisconsin. This year the event falls on September 28, 29 and 30th; a bit later than last year and most likely it will be a bit chillier. Take it from an experienced Cranfest goer, it's cold up north, bring a sweater.

This festival has become an annual tradition for my mom and I and we're not coming for the cranberries, although we both end up with at least one bag on the way out. We come for the flea market and the arts and crafts.

The Antiques and Flea Market features about 350 different vendors and a huge variety of wares. I must admit I haven't seen a whole lot of antiques at the market, but there are some old things. More importantly there are some great items at really incredible prices. This is the best place for a savvy shopper to find items for their home and garden.

The Arts & Crafts Show is the other highlight of this festival and is actually the highlight of the craft season for a lot of vendors and customers. More than 800 booths feature artists from around the country. The variety of treats here is absolutely stunning. I can't even begin to pare it down into lists but just suffice it to say that there truly is something for everyone. Which is perfect if you're doing a little pre-Christmas shopping.

If you're a craft lover and flea market fanatic then you really must take a trip to Warrens Cranberry Festival at some point. There is more than enough at this one festival to keep you busy the entire weekend.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

As is normally the case with me, I was doing something totally unrelated to interior decorating and became inspired by an idea. I was at a local pizza parlor and noticed their wallhangings, simple geometric patterns in pastel colors. It reminded me of the wallpaper I had in my bedroom as a child.

Now, if you've read my articles you know of my Wallpaper Woes and you know that I prefer removing wallpaper, even though it can be a pain, to painting over it. There was definitely not much love for wallpaper in my decorating past, althouh I absolutely adored my nook wallpapered with pages from a book. And I've recently seen people using wallpaper as headboards, to decorate table tops and other pieces of furniture and I feel the look is sometimes very effective.

But this latest brainstorm of mine could solve some of my wallpaper problems, if only people would embrace the concept. I think framing wallpaper and using it as artwork serves several purposes. Large canvasses covered in paper can be hung on the walls and create a splash of the pattern you love without going through the entire wallpapering ordeal. AND it's quickly and easily changed to suit any whim.

I also am a bit fascinated by the history of wallpaper. Some very beautiful patterns were manufactured in the victorian era and if you're lucky enough to be able to snag a swatch of this I feel it would be not only a beautiful framed piece of art but a great conversation piece and accessory in your home. If history isn't really your thing, I think saving wallpaper from your childhood bedroom or your first home is a really unique way to chronicle your life's journey and create personalized art.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Over Labor Day weekend the city of Spring Green, Wisconsin celebrated its sesquecentennial; as part of the city-wide celebrations Frank Lloyd Wright's home, Taliesin, opened it's doors for a public reception. Since I had never visited the home before it seemed like the perfect opportunity to see what has been called by architecture critic Robert Campbell "the greatest single building in America".

Quite frankly, the first thing you are struck by when you approach the house is not the architecture at all, but the beautiful rolling farmland surrounding the home. I was born and raised in this area and am quite used to the beauty that surrounds the Wisconsin River valleys but ever so often it simply takes your breath away, this was one of those times.

The great architect's home still provides residence for some of the apprentices at the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture. Serving as hosts, the residents pointed out some of the highlights but, for the most part, we were left to explore as we deemed appropriate, spending as much or as little time in each area as our hearts desired.

Wright spent 48 years building Taliesin, and I'm certain that he felt it was never complete. The home was his workshop and he constantly worked out his ideas at home before taking them to the world. One can only imagine what it would look like if he had lived longer, the only certain thing is it would not look as it does today.

I have to say that my first impression was my lasting impression of Taliesin and I'm not sure if it's a good reflection of Wright or not. But I'm left with the images of incredible natural beauty and a quiet unassuming home that almost becomes part of the landscape itself.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

In the second quarter of 2007 U.S. housing prices dropped 3.2%. This is the steepest rate of decline in 30 years, which is when Standards and Poors began keeping track. It also appears that this trend will continue for the foreseeable future.

I'm not sure what the long term effects on the economy will be or what will happen in the housing and mortgage markets but I have a feeling that the interior decorating field will thrive in this environment.

The few people who are in the very best position are the ones who don't have homes at this point and are looking to buy. They're going to get such a great deal on their new home that they'll have money to spare and people working in interiors will benefit.

I also think that people who bought a few years ago at inflated prices (but with deflated interest rates) will be looking to recoup some of the losses they've experienced. I think updating and improving their home will be the most logical solution. They've probably already got the marble and granite and hardwood and all the other decorating "must-haves" of the last decade, but a new hot tub might improve the value, or a wine cellar, or maybe a full blown entertainment room.

In line with that thinking, I believe people will be looking to stay in their current homes longer. Flipping will no longer be such an attractive concept. So, I see homes becoming more customized and suited to the personal needs of the family living there. And along that line of thinking, I believe that trendy decorating might become less common and unique, stylized decorating will move into the forefront. Which, to me, seems terribly exciting. I love it when people are able to break through the mold and create their own style.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I recently told you about the BH&G Decorating Contest, well now I've run across another legitimate and exciting decorating contest. This one is so easy you don't even have to redecorate anything!

Domino Magazine is a great decorating magazine that is relatively inexpensive ($10 a year). It's the magazine's second anniversary and they've got a lot of really great ideas for interior decorating. It's chock full of tips and trends, as well as how-to information and all sorts of great stuff. I really like this magazine and their new contest is totally legitimate so get your cameras ready and enter. You've got nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

The official rules are located on the magazine's website, but basically you only have to do two things.

1) Take a picture of your favorite place in your home.

2) Upload the photo to the official entry page and write, at the most, 100 words explaining why this is the best place in your home.

Domino also asks that you do two other things.

3) Visit dominomag.com every week to view entries.

4) Beginning Oct 23, vote on your favorite space.

And that's all you have to do.

What do you win? One person will win a $10,000 Mastercard gift card to beautify his/her home. Okay, I'll admit I'm not sure exactly what that means, if it can be used only on home interiors or at certain stores, and I can't find an explanation anywhere. But still, $10,000 for the home is always a good thing.

In addition, you'll automatically be entered in a drawing for a free spa trip and you'll get a free sample from Revlon. Now, the cynic in me thinks you'll also get a few unsolicited emails from the spa and Revlon, but again, still worth it for $10,000 bucks!

Good Luck!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Every college town has a move in/move out day, where I live it happens to be today. This means that traffic downtown is absolutely painful, especially for someone as high strung and impatient as I am. But it also means there are hundreds if not thousands of little treasures curbside.

College students are an interesting breed, they'll scrape together coins, sell cds and blood to get enough money so they can have a few beers but they'll also throw out perfectly good furniture, sometimes valuable antiques, just because they don't want to move the heavy piece to their new residence.

The frugal and knowledgeable person will take advantage of this weakness and scoop up the discarded furniture. If you don't it's just going to land in a dump somewhere, lost forever.

I previously have done a little bit of dumpster diving; I once picked up a great antique coca-cola sign and a fouton. I've seen other items and meant to go back and pick them up but forgot, and often regretted it. I not only don't see anything wrong with rescuing something from the trash but I think its the "green" thing to do. If you can use something or need an item, why buy new when you can get it for free. Even if you have to expend a little elbow grease to spruce it up it's still better than paying a lot.

My only word of advice would be to stay away from upholstered items, bedding, carpets, clothing and other fabrics that can hide bed bugs and other creepy crawleys. I'd stick to things like solid furniture, mirrors, artwork, bicycles, musical instruments, and other items that can be easily cleaned and wouldn't have infestation issues.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Another lesson learned but this is one I've wanted to learn for a long time so I dove head first into learning how to use drywall mud.

I went into this project thinking it would be an easywallpaper removal project, I was hopeful at least. But I did know that it is in my hometown which happened to have a certain man who did a lot of wallpapering in the 80's without properly sizing, painting or preparing the drywall. Yes, the wallpaper sticks very well but it doesn't come off easily.

Once again I began pulling paper and large strips of the top of the drywall came up as well. This leaves a cardboard type surface which can buckle when wet (as cardboard does) and a lot of fluid is used to remove the paper, paste and then to prime and paint the walls. It's almost impossible to paint over this "ruined" wall without leaving tell tale signs of the damage.

So I was heartsick when I saw that once again there was going to be drywall damage. I decided, with the help of my assistant - my mom, that it was time to dive into the drywall mud and actually repair the wall for this client. And I've completed the first coat of drywall mud in the "holes" or imperfections and leveled them as much as possible. The wall dried over the weekend and tomorrow I go back to sand where necessary and possibly touch up a few more spots with drywall mud.

Surprisingly, using the drywall mud was pretty easy. I liken it to frosting a cake. I purchased a large "scraper" as that was what the store clerk recommended but I actually found I could control the smaller, 4-inch, ones better. If I had more experience I think the large one would be a god send though.

I purchased premixed drywall mud which was wonderful. I just scooped it up and spread it on the wall and then smoothed it out with the scraper. The key is to spread it very thinly and to try to keep it very even and very level so there isn't much, if any, sanding required.

The mud stays wet for a few minutes so you have time to work, but overworking can create problems as well. And going back to it after its partially set is disastrous. (Don't ask how I know this).

The best part is that the drywall mud is very inexpensive and goes a long way. So if you happen to run across this problem when removing wallpaper, give the drywall mud a try. If all else fails you can call in the experts but I'm guessing that you won't have to. Good luck!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Imagine my dismay as I turn on the Today Show this morning and begin packing my painting crates. Tomorrow I have a wallpaper removal job and I don't want to haul the entire workshop so I'm spending some time weeding through painting supplies versus wallpaper removal supplies. Now, I've sworn off of wallpaper removal after every single job I've done. I absolutely hate doing it but then someone will call and I'll feel bad for them and their wallpaper woes and I'll agree to take the job.

So, this morning the Today Show is giving tips to hang wallpaper perfectly. I haven't heard or read that wallpaper is back but if they Today Show says its so then it's probably so. Which means in a few years I'm going to be flooded with more wallpaper removal requests. So I'll share the tips from the Today Show, BUT please remember to properly size and prepare your walls before wallpapering. You want it to stick to the walls but there will be a time when you want to remove the wallpaper and painting over it is just not a very satisfactory option.

1) Properly prepare the wall. Spackle and sandpaper the wall and apply sizing or wallpaper primer. Cover a work table with a drop cloth and also protect your floor.

2) Cut your vertical strips 4 inches longer than the wall and trim the excess later. Arrange strips on the floor to line up the pattern and tape together with painters tape.

3) Use a tape measure and pencil to mark where paper will lie.

4) If using premixed wallpaper glue apply it to the back of the paper and apply quickly.

5) Apply the paper quickly and smoothly, one piece at a time. Do not overlap, but butt pieces against each other and smooth with a wallpaper smoother and burnish seams with a seam roller.

6) Use the wet glue time to perfectly position the piece and roll out any bubbles.

7) Wash off excess glue.

8) Celebrate with a cocktail. (This is the Today Show's suggestion, not mine).

I'd like to add that once you're done with one wall you should trim off the excess paper with a razor before beginning another wall. The good news about the Today Show story is that they're suggesting using wallpaper for non-traditional projects, like a headboard, which I'm all for. I believe wallpaper used to cover walls should be used sparingly and it should be recognized that you'll be putting about twice as much time and effort into removal as you do into the application process.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I was watching the new reality decorating show and the main character, Jeff, was insisting that travertine was absolutely dead and had been for eight years. Well, I guess I live in Wisconsin so perhaps the 8 year moratorium on travertine hasn't hit yet. Anyway, I thought this might be a good time to explain travertine and its many functions.

Basically, travertine is a sedimentary rock that in its purest form is white but often takes on a yellowish or brownish hue due to impurities. And quite truthfully, those impurities can make a slab of travertine quite beautiful. You'll frequently see travertine used to pave patios, garden walks and a more polished form can be used for floor tiles. Sometimes you'll hear it called travertine marble or travertine limestone, but its actually neither, its just sedimentary rock. Travertine comes with holes and pits all over the surface and is one of its charms, but if you don't like the worn, pitted look you can get a filled product that comes with grout in the holes.

When using travertine for a floor tile it needs to be polished smooth and then it ends up with a shiny finish with colors ranging from a beige-grey to a pinkish red. It's actually a very common building material in modern structures and can be used to create a bunch of different effects. But the most notable travertine buildings are ancient and stunningly beautiful. Take for instance the Colosseum in rome, the Sacre-Coeur Basilica in Paris and more recently, the Getty Center in Los Angeles.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Picture this: it's a beautiful day, the sun is shining and its a toasty warm 83-degrees but there is a nice breeze that keeps the air light and fresh. I'm sitting in a park downtown in the middle of the afternoon listening to a few really good bands and having a couple beers with my friends. Instead of focusing on the music and enjoying the day my attention is drawn to the gal across the street who is painting the inside of a cute little building.

I'm initially drawn to the window because I see someone working on a ladder in the storefront and I wonder what she's doing. I quickly realize she's painting the ceiling. I spend a minute being thankful that it's not me but then find that I'm more than curious. What is the store going to be? (It used to be a pilates studio) How will she decorate it? How would I decorate it?

And that's where I lose touch with reality and begin the fantasy. I'm pretty sure I'd turn the store into a coffeeshop/bookstore. There isn't any green space so I'd have to make the inside of my shop extra inviting. I think the wall should be painted a deep yellow but maybe a nice pumpkin colorwash would look good with the yellow. Then, I would put bookshelves up against every wall to break up the color wash and obviously to sell the product. Maybe I'd create a few walls with bookshelves to give people cozy nooks to curl up in and drink their coffee.

The furniture would consist of oversized chairs in contrasting soft pastel colors. Little coffee tables would accompany each chair. A couple workstations would be tucked into corners for people who would like to use the free wifi. I think perhaps I'd paint the floor the pumpkin color of the walls to unify the place and create a solid contrast to the busy bookshelves.

And then I realize that maybe I don't want it to be a bookstore/coffeeshop at all. Maybe one of those cute garden shops would be better. I'd paint the walls in a graduated oil stipple technique bringing the color from a light pastel turquoise at the top to a deeper green toward the bottom. Maybe I'd even continue this sky to grass imagery by painting the ceiling a lighter shade of pale blue and the floors a deeper green. Then the walls would have trellises painted in bright sunny colors to contrast against the pastels and draw the customers eyes. The trellises would be used to display the merchandise.

It's about this time that I realize that I've completely missed the end of one band and a new one is onstage and everyone seems to know that I haven't been paying attention for quite some time. So, I'm willing to admit that perhaps I have a wee bit of a decorating addiction.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I was scanning my Better Homes and Gardens a couple months back and tore out a page I wanted to share with you. Luckily, I ran across it again before the contest ended.

This is one of those contests that I just love because #1 it's run by a very reputable publication, #2 the prize is a good one ($25,000 CASH), and #3 the scope of this contest is so broad that almost anyone can enter.

The categories of the contest are:

Additions

Bath

Decorating

Exterior Face Lifts

Green Improvements

Kitchen

Organization

Outdoor Improvement

Whole-House Remodeling

And if that's not a broad enough base for you, you can submit any sized project. Whether it's a closet reorganization or whether you gutted an existing home and revamped the entire thing in green, earth-friendly accoutrements. Anything!

In addition to the grand prize of $25,000 your project will, of course, also be featured in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens but there are also three more cash prizes for the best large-scale project - $2,500; the best medium-scale change, $1,500; and finally a prize of $500 for the best cosmetic improvement. Okay, so the lesser prizes aren't that great and might not even put a dent in your rennovation costs, it's still free cash and bragging rights.

To enter the magazine suggests you visit BHG.com/challenge for the details, official rules and a printable, mail-in entry form. All entries must be received by January 15, 2008 BUT your project must be completed or have an estimated completion date of December 31st, 2007.

I'd suggest visiting the website as there are further, more detailed descriptions of each project cagtegory and you have a few requirements that have to be submitted with the entry, including 1-15 photos of your project and receipts for the items you purchased. There is also a better definition of what they mean by large and small-scale projects which would help you decide which category you fit into. You can enter more than once.

Please, let me know if you're a winner!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I know my freelance writing cycle, I know it well, come June I begin to worry about money, July brings a frantic panic as I search for work and August leaves me in painters whites filling in my income gaps.

I absolutely love my lifestyle. In fact I just turned down my "dream job" because I couldnt imagine punching a clock for 40+ hours a week. I also didn't know if I could handle the stress of a newsroom again. I know that being a freelancer and self-employeed takes a rare bird and I'm about as rare as a passenger pigeon in this respect but how can I give up never setting an alarm clock? Taking time out of the middle of the day for a run or a visit to the zoo with my niece and nephew? Or sometimes just taking a day off for no good reason at all? Now before you all decide to quit your 9-5's, there is a downside. I work most nights. I roll out of bed and feed the cats, put my coffee on and turn on the computer and begin working. I work every weekend. I work way more than 40 hours a week and I know that I'm much more productive than I ever was at an actual job. So there is stress and there is a lot of work but for me this is the right way to approach it.

So, for some reason in the summer I find myself without work quite often. I should have learned by now that I need to save a bit to get myself through these lean times, but I'm a slow learner. The thing that always baffles me is why the writing world slows down for me at this time of year. I have writer friends that are flush with work at this time of year and they struggle in the winter, which is typically a busy time for me. But this schedule is actually good for a writer who just happens to own a painting company. In my lean times I pick up that paintbrush and begin knocking on doors.

I think the best schedule for me is one painting job a month so I spend between 3-10 days out of 30 doing physical labor, but in the summer I'm willing to don my paint stained togs every day for a month or two and belly up to a large project. I'm not sure if the rest of the country is the same as the midwest, but this is actually a good time to find painting work. The late summer, early fall is a bit better. People are making those lakehouse purchases they've debated up until now and taking advantage of some late season sales. There are also the people who bought before the season and spent the early months repairing the big problems and are now ready to aesthetically rennovate their vacation homes. And then there are the people who I really relate to, the ones who were going to do it themselves and then just lost track of time. They're at a point where they'd rather have someone else finish it so they no longer have that reminder of their shortcomings staring them in the face.

Most people in the interior decorating business see their biggest influx of business before the holidays, even the DIY stores get busier at that time of year, but I know the mid summer to mid fall crowd is out there and ready to rennovate, and I'm getting my painting supplies ready.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

My local Parade of Condos is coming up and I'm pretty excited to see the "competition". I've lived here for just over a year and haven't quite finished the rennovations I wanted to make (ie freelance writer = no cash flow) but I think I've done a pretty good job so far. I definitely don't want to move as I love my home and I love the area where I live, but it's always a good idea to stay on top of the market.

Since I made my purchase there has been a housing crash of sorts, maybe more of a burst bubble than a crash, but definitely a change in the market. I've heard that the condo market is fairly stable and that, compared to some other cities, Madison is fairly stable. But I've noticed more places are for sale lately and those yard signs seem to be out there longer than they used to.

I thought I was a typical condo buyer when I purchased last year; single/divorced person who wants a place to call their own but doesn't want a whole lot of maintenance or a large mortgage. Since then I've met other condo owners who are also typical in this market. The young couple looking for a starter home is more apt to purchase a condo in this economy than they were years ago. When the housing bubble started several years ago these people were too young to have a home building equity and when they wanted to get in on the housing market the prices of nice starter homes had skyrocketed. The empty nesters are buying condos to ease the pain of a rambling home with only two occupants. They are also learning to enjoy all the freedoms they have once again. And finally the retired pied-a-terre market. Madison is chock full of theater, music, and incredible dining opportunities and for the suburbanites who no longer like to drive after dark a second, city home is perfect.

The thing I find most interesting is the freedom and options some of these condos offer. I love the fact that my condo is just a little different than my neighbors etc. But you can now purchase condos in the Madison area and have them built to your specifications. You're not even limited by the square footage (as long as you sign on pretty early in the process I'd assume).

Understandably the downtown area of Madison is experiencing a resurgence in popularity and a "rebirth" of sorts as the area appeals to an older crowd (I guess this means me). I do sort of wish I had bought a home in this area. I'd love to sit in a high rise and look out at the crowds as I write that oft-lamented novel. But I also know that college students annoy the heck out of me and no matter what you do to the downtown area, Madison is still a beer-guzzling college town chock full of parties.

I'll gladly report back on any decorating trends I see in the market, although I'm not sure homes will have that personal touch that I appreciate so much. I think these will all reflect the local builders so I'm expecting a lot of cold, hard aesthetics.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I usually don't pay any attention to the weather. It's hot, cold, raining, whatever. It doesn't matter to me because I'm a writer and I stay at home. All I care about is if there is about an hour window somewhere in the day when I can go running. But I've just learned a valuable lesson about the weather and painting. Obviously, it's something I knew, or should have, and I really didn't take into consideration.

Last week was beautiful, we had some really gorgeous days. Since I'm in the (very slow) process of painting my wood trim upstairs white I thought it would be a good week to tackle one of the windows. I planned on taking the window out of the frame and setting it up on my saw horses and letting it cure for a couple days so having a good weather day was pretty key.

Well, I guess I got a little bit excigted about putting the window back together and the mess of having window panes on saw horses in my office was causing a bit of anxiety so I put the window together after just one day of curing. Oops.

And then the weather. Yes, mother nature, I will now pay attention to those forecasts. It rained and rained and rained and then the humidity hit such highs that it feels like it's raining outside. So what happened. The non-cured paint softened and is glueing itself to the other non-cured paint. I tried not to paint any of the rails so that it wouldn't affect the sliding but there were parts that had to be painted for aesthetic reasons and now they're sticking. I open and close the window several times a day, hoping to prevent any permanent sticking but it's literally back breaking work.

I'm tempted to put a little WD40 on the rails and may resort to this solution. I just don't want the grease to get all over and I have 2 cats that love sitting in that window. So I guess the lesson is, if you're painting windows then let the paint cure properly and take extra pains to make sure you're not painting something that will affect the movement of the window.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I have been so busy lately but not too busy to check out Madison, Wisconsin’s Parade of Homes. This has become sort of an annual tradition for my mom and I so I was happy to bring her along again.

This year there were a lot less homes on the Parade which was actually a good thing for us, we’re both chock full of summer activities and finding a few hours where we are both free can be difficult. Also, I sometimes think the Parades are a bit overwhelming. I remember years in the past where it was all I could do to trudge up another flight of stairs to see a mirror image of the house I was just in across the street.

Our feelings aside, apparently the lack of homes was not a good thing for the builders or the real estate economy. The newspaper reported that there has been such a slump in home sales that not all of last year’s homes moved and so the builders were less likely to sink a lot of money into this year’s Parade home. Which is sad for them, but as a nature-lover I’m actually quite happy to hear that urban sprawl is slowing down.

Another thing I was happy to see this year was a wiser use of home space. The McMansion is not dead but it appears to be on the way out. (Yay!) The homes I saw were still large but much more reasonable and practical. And I was happy to see they were using as much space as wisely as possible.

Exposed basements were the rule and most were not furnished as simply game and play areas but they contained bedrooms and bathrooms. The media room in the basement has also morphed from the OMG Theater to a functional TV room for the entire family to enjoy. Which means the main floors no longer seem to center around the boob tube, a very good thing indeed.

The Madison Parade homes all seemed to feature a pool table. I think this isn’t really a statement on current home entertainment trends as much as it is a statement about Wisconsin’s local pool companies and their excellent promotion departments. I really don’t expect pool tables to become a staple of the home.

I did notice that wine rooms are becoming very trendy. In fact, I’m inspired to create my own in my basement and I’ll be detailing the process once I’ve saved a bit of money and can find the time.

Throughout the main living area the solid buff wall color was still dominant but a slightly darker shade than past years. The carpets have also gone a little bit darker, which I’m thrilled to see. The homes feel much warmer and cozier than the open, empty, cold McMansions in past years.

Another thrilling development was the willingness of builders to experiment with paint. Children’s bedrooms were usually a place for creativity to blossom but now other rooms are taking on brighter hues (could it be they’re getting inspiration from me?!). A bright green was definitely not an uncommon thing and was often featured in the master or guest bedrooms, girls rooms were bright shades of pink, and boys rooms were often two tone blues with an Americana feel. And, believe it or not, faux finishing was again appearing in limited doses in most homes. Of course, I’m a faux finisher so I have some opinions here, but I never liked a house that had treatments in every room but I certainly like the touches of depth here and there that I saw.

So, overall this was a great Parade in my opinion. The homes were not bankbook displays but rather places you’d actually want to live, with space optimized for the family and some design risks that balanced function with flair. Two thumbs up to the Madison Area Builders Association this year.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

The A&E television network has run into a little trouble with its most popular show, Flip This House and one of the show's hosts, Sam Leccima. The apparent scandal revolves around some claims made by Leccima regarding his renovations and the sales and purchases of the homes featured on the show. A&E is investigating the claims and has pulled reruns of Leccima's episodes.

Claims against the show state that not only did Leccima misrepresent himself (his real estate license was revoked by the Georgia Real Estate Board in 2005) but the show faked renovations and the homes were left in a state of great disrepair. Leccima responded to these allegations by saying you could ask anyone involved in television and that this was how reality television shows were made.

I'd like to respond to his claims since I have worked in television. I was the writer and producer of a how-to and a reality series on The Discovery Wings Channel a few years back and feel I have sufficient knowledge of how our shows were shot and how they aired to respond to his "ask anyone" claim. And I have to say that Leccima is wrong!

I'd like to focus on a show I did called From the Ground Up. In this series we built a kit airplane and showed the building process from the day the kit arrived in a box to its first test flight. Did the audience see everything that went into the building process, of course not. Did we fake the final product - are you kidding? Absolutely not! This plane flew, not a stunt plane or a stand in. This plane was finished and fully functional and, most importantly, it was safe! I obviously resent his implication that all television shows are faked and can attest to the fact that not all reality or how-to shows are fradulent. I believe most television producers, writers, directors, etc have more integrity than that.

All of that being said, do things happen exactly the way they're depicted on television? Absolutely not. There are times when the building process is taken out of order for better continuity or to enhance the script flow. There are steps that are skipped entirely because most projects take much longer than an average audience's attention span. Consider the cooking show that pops in a freshly made casserole and in the same movement pulls out a completed baked product. But if you accept Leccima's assertion, the baked casserole is made of plastic and entirely inedible.

There are other tricks of the trade that enhance the final televised product and simplify the lives of the cast and crew of shows (including additional technical help etc) but from the allegations it appears that Leccima never actually completed renovations on the homes shown and that some of the home buyers were not interested in making a purchase and may have actually been friends and relatives of Leccima. To be honest, these claims have not been proven and are still being investigated. But I did want to refute his claim that reality and how-to shows are fake. This simply isn't true and sullies the reputation of some fine television programs and some very ethical professionals.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I'll freely admit that the weather at this time of year makes me want to get outside. The last thing I want to do is spend time in the house and fuss over my furniture arrangement. I mean come on folks, I live in Wisconsin, I only have 3 weeks of nice weather. (Actually, Wisconsin is beautiful all the time but after being trapped indoors all winter, spring means OUTSIDE).

One thing I love to do in the spring/summer is fill my home with garden decorations and I like to do this in unexpected ways. A vase is just sooooo typical. I prefer using something unusual. I find that the kitchen is a great place to raid for thise floral creations. And if you dont think anything you have really suits the style you're going for, then hit your local kitchen supply store. Tall pitchers in bright colors look fabulous with (here comes the unexpected part) greenery. I like to mix and match and never feel trapped by rules such as "flowers go in vases". A couple of mismatched green bottles holding brightly colored flowers looks good but throw in a red/pink/yellow/etc bottle and fill it with unusual greenery or twigs and you've really got a show stopper.

Or if you want to be a little more creative and crafty and you have kids a really fun activity is making something to hold your garden treats. Let the kids pick something from the craft store to decorate, they can go wild and find glass or metal containers, ceramics, and even wooden pieces that you can plant in. Then select the appropriate paints for their medium and let them add color and flash to their new vases. Of course you don't have to limit yourself to paint, glue anything you want to these projects.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I can't tell you how good it feels to have this project behind me. I really loved the location and because it was a second home to the owners I usually had the entire place to myself (with my assistants of course). And the transformation was absolutely amazing but I just do not have the attention span to spend so much time on the same project.

We began about 9 months ago and then I look several months off during the winter and picked up my brushes again in the spring.

The project was huge but I have to admit that the homeowner is an excellent painter herself and her skills and talents helped finish their home. The plan was to fix and update as much as possible without spending a ton of money and then in 3 years they could decide if they would put more money into making this their home or if they were going to sell.

The entire home was paneled and rather than redrywalling we decided to paint the paneling and used solid, light, cottage inspired colors. The transformation was incredible. Then the woodwork and trim (including a ceiling beam) was primed and painted white which gave everything an even more clean, finished appearance. A great update that didnt cost a thing was the furniture, which was oversized, comfy hand-me-downs.

A decent sum of money went into some replacements and upgrades but it was money well spent. Indoor-outdoor carpet replaced old shag while dated light fixtures were discarded for newer, more efficient ones. The bathroom vanities were also replaced with more stylish, modern ones.

In the end I must say the home looks great and a lot more like a lake house should. I enjoyed the project and seeing it through from start to finish, but it does feel really good to be able to close the book on this project.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Being both a writer and a decorative painter I find that people often want a sample of my work before they hire me. I totally understand their point of view and I think my personal stance on this works well for me but I know this is a controversial area for a lot of people.

I am always willing to give writing samples to someone if they're looking to hire me for a writing job. But I rarely will write something according to their specifications without receiving some sort of compensation.

When it comes to painting I always give clients free estimates, which includes a consult on their room and what techniques we can do and what colors would work well. Usually I'll then create a sample board for them of the technique and use colors similar to what they want. But I wont go out and buy paint colors that they have suggested. I'm not going to sink money into the project before I'm sure I've even got the job. And its always good to have them review a technique before I buy the paint.

My theory is that if they like me and my ideas they'll hire me. And I almost always get the job, but not always. I'm totally aware that the home owner could take my ideas and my color selections and do the project themselves but I tend to believe most of them won't do that and if they do I console myself by imagining them doing it wrong because they don't have my experience. But on more than one occassion I've had to go to someone's home and fix their do-it-yourself project. So even if they take my expertise and use it to do the project themselves it doesn't necessarily mean I've lost the job.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Today I've decided to watch a couple of decorating shows to get some inspiration. As the weather turns nicer I'm just losing my desire to do anything inside so I figured watching other people do things might inspire me

This show claimed to change the look of a room by just using color. Being a painter, this interested me. I was skeptical. And now I see that they're building elements and buying light fixtures and chairs and other pieces. So, not everything is being changed by color.

Overall, its not a bad show and they have some good tips and decorating info to share. But I have a fundamental problem with this particular project they're working on. They've got a nice victorian styled home and a couple that likes to add modern pieces to create a little punch and pizzaz to their home. I think this is great and I love that the couple has defined their own sense of style.

But part of my problem is the outside of the home has blue accents, quite beautiful ones. And the decorator looked at the couple's clothes and the rest of their home and decided they liked blue. But he had already made this decision when he approached the house and mentioned that the blue was giving him some inspiration. He then also based the room on a gloomy day at the beach. What?!

Do you want your dining room to seem like a gloomy day at the beach? This is my big problem. He's supposed to be a color expert and is doing the room in grey and silver and blue. These are not happy eating colors. Yellows and oranges and reds actually create a physiological response in people and make them hungry and they enjoy their meals more. (Just look at the colors of most fast food restaurants and the uniforms).

Also, a dining room is a place where people come together to celebrate and enjoy each other's company. A gloomy day at the beach does not suggest good warm times with friends and family if you ask me.

What would I have done? I would have painted the room a few shades of very light sunny yellow then I would have brought in some nice warm woods (he has selected a black table and spray painted silver chairs). Then I would have pumped up the room with hits of cobalt blue throughout.

The Victorian aspects would be addressed by the yellows and woods and the modern would be touched on with the sleek cobalt accents.

Now, in the end the room was pretty because it was new and the family liked it but I'm actually pretty confident that they'll redecorate it in a year or two.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I recently had a client ask me to paint her basement floor. This is not a job I cherish but its something my family has been doing for generations. In fact, I've heard that a great great grandmother used to rag roll her basement floor to create an attractive faux finished look. It's not as common today as it used to be but it's still a simple and inexpensive way to dress up a basement or garage floor.

If you're going to paint its important to clean the area thoroughly before. I suggest using a primer because concrete will absorb a lot of paint and primer is less expensive and will save you a little money on paint and because it will help the paint adhere to the concrete a little better.

Then, make sure you purchase a paint that is designed to be used on floors. Obviously, you need something that is extremely durable and using a paint made for this purpose is the best choice.

If you're thinking about getting creative there are a lot of options including stencils that help you create a faux stone or brick look. But even a solid color looks better than plain concrete.

Now, I was considering writing an article about painting the basement floor and I ran across an interesting piece of information I thought I'd share here instead. I've never had a problem painting floors in the past and I've done a handful or so, but this article says that some floors can't be painted. They suggest testing the floor before painting. I'm not standing by this technique since I've never tried it but I'm more than willing to share the information if you'd like to try it yourself.

Take a large piece of plastic, something like a garbage bag or a plastic drop cloth, and cut at least a 12 x 12" square and tape it securely to the floor. Let the test spot sit, untouched, for at least 24 hours and then inspect the ground underneath. If the concrete shows signs of dampness then apparently you have a moisture problem in your basement and, according to the information I read, your floor cannot be sealed and painting may not be an option.

Again, I'm not sure this technique works or is necessary but it seemed valid enough to share and I encourage anyone who tries it to let me know how it goes.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Yesterday was my condoversary and in some ways it's hard to believe I've lived here for a whole year and then in others it definitely feels like a year has passed. I'm proud of how far I've come in my decorating and how far I've come as a person since I moved. I can truly say I've never been happier in my life and I absolutely love where I live and where I currently am in life.

So, I thought I'd list the improvements or changes I've made since moving in.

The first change was the master bathroom, which had orange ceiling and walls. This room was horrible and made you look like an oompa loompa. I faux finished it in 3 colors and painted the ceiling white. The final result was not good. It was better than the orange but not good. Eventually, I repainted that room yellow.

I also wanted to paint my bedroom immediately. I love that soft turquoise color so I wanted to surround myself in it.

Then, I turned my attention to getting bedding and some furniture. I picked up pieces for the living room and diningroom and then took a large financial break from anything more than little knicknack type items.

Around Christmas I got the decorating bug again. This time I replaced the kitchen countertop, put in a new sink, put hardwood floors in the upstairs, painted the kitchen, the office, the downstairs bathroom, and the trim upstairs. I also bought new furniture for the livingroom and for the office.

And quite possibly my biggest accomplishment this year, the basement. I know I didnt get around to putting up drywall or anything. But actually, going through all of my stuff and putting it up on shelves, and hiding those shelves, and cleaning the place is one big accomplishment.

I still have a lot to do, top of my list is replace the carpeting and get new appliances (my refridgerator is as loud as a motorcycle) but I'm going to take a little time off from spending again and focus on getting some of the smaller things done and finishing the trim painting.

There are also 2 large white canvasses that I'm really anxious to paint, but that can always wait.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I recently received an email from a reader who was considering painting his white trim with a much darker shade. I whole-heartedly encouraged him to dive in and try a new color.

Dark trim is becomming very popular, replacing the white trim of old. I personally love the way black contrasts with some of today's trendiest colors like powder blue, soft aqua, and lime green. It gives a little more depth to the room than white does and very neatly frames views when applied to windows sills. But black isn't the only option. If you're good with color, consider selecting a deep shade that is similar to one you've used on your walls. Use a rather neutral color but something with loads of depth.

If your home already has painted trim and mouldings then switching is easy. Simply paint over them in the newer color. Remember, it's only paint, so if you don't like it you can just as easily paint it back.

If your home has wood trim you may want to take a moment to decide if painting is really an option for you. Most people love painted trim and the accent it provides but there are a lot of people who just love the look of wood (how else can we explain wood paneling) and if you're one of these people think hard because removing paint can be a real pain and you may even have to buy new trim.

My home has wood trim and I've decided to take a pretty unique turn in my trim decorating. I've painted the upstrairs trim white which contrasts very well with my deep turquoise bedroom, keeps the yellow bathroom looking clean, and keeps the pink office light and bright so I'm encouraged to keep writing and not take a nap.

The downstairs trim is getting a bath in black. to highlight the black accents already present in the home and to break up the bright green and yellow walls.

The area between the two levels will get a unique, handpainted treatment as I'm planning to paint this wood white and paint intertwining vines and flowers all over these pieces in black. This way I'm incorporating both trim colors but in a very personal and artistic way.

So, if you're thinking about giving your trim and moulding a fresh coat of paint, consider trying a brand new color for added appeal and to catch the eye of your visitors.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I just watched a news story about women tackling DIY projects. Being a single woman, in a new home I've had to tackle more projects that I had contemplated in the past and I have discovered that I am actually in a majority.

Women are no longer afraid to take charge in their own homes and build, remodel, tear down, and just plain renovate. Home Depot realized this and has developed some classes targeted specifically at women to teach them the basics they may not have learned while growing up. Some tool companies are even manufacturing tools designed specifically for women.

But this trend may have more to do with necessity than choice. In my case I believe this to be, at least partly, the case. Statistics say that single women are more than twice as likely to buy a home than single men. Many of these women are divorced and studies have shown that a woman's income will most likely plummet after a divorce, leaving some of them near poverty level. With a mortgage looming over their heads and a drastically decreased income, women can no longer afford to have costly home repairs done by overpriced contractors.

There is also a psychological factor to DIY projects for women. For most of our lives we're pushed away from manual labor and either told we cannot handle home repairs or some knight in shining armor steps in to help us out. When a newly single woman, in her very own home, installs her own hardwood floors, fixes a leak, rewires her electrical system, etc she feels empowered, re-energized and able to conquer the world.

So, I am happy to join the ranks of DIY women around the world and take control of my home as well as my life.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

It seems like I haven't been painting for months but I've actually spent the last several months painting my own place. And now I'm painting a client's lake house. This particular client actually enjoys painting herself and so I'm just there to prep the house for painting. But she also takes care of the hardest prep work for me.

The goal is to turn a very dated lake house into an updated and fresh looking cottage. When we first started this project last fall the place was so grungy it was almost impossible to look past it and come up with a future vision.

So we began by priming the paneling. My client washed all the walls before I began painting. Yes, you can paint over paneling and with some very successful results. It works best when the paneling is older and weathered, which this paneling definitely is. Older paneling has broken down a little bit and the varnish is more likely to absorb paint. Washing is important because you need to get years of grime and grease off so the primer and paint adheres even more.

A good primer is essential. Talk to someone at your local hardware or paint store to see what they recommend, but whatever you do, don't cut corners with the primer. Primer doesn't go on pretty so don't worry if some spots seem thicker than others. Just make sure every bit of surface area is covered. If you're going to roll it on use a thick nap roller sleeve because paneling has grooves that need to be filled. You also have to make sure you dont get drips, which happen easily on paneling. If you do get a drip then just wipe it away. If its already dry then sand it down.

Primer dries quickly so you can begin painting once it's dry to the touch. Painting will be similar to priming but of course your coats will need to be much smoother. It's also important to let the paint dry thoroughly between coats. If it's still slightly tacky then the roller or brush can actually pull the paint off and the paint and primer has generally already "glued" together so you'll end up with a big spot of paneling.

Because paneling isn't as absorbant as a regular wall you may need to do a couple extra coats to get a nice even coverage.

So my last few days have been spent priming basement paneling. Not a bad job. Not as fun as painting but not as bad as scrubbing the walls clean.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I'm in Florida for the end of the snowbird season, my second vacation every year. This time my mom is really into making beaded necklaces and incorporating her ocean treasures. The necklaces are really pretty phenomenal and I've caught the bug a bit myself.

Typically I learn a new skill/craft/hobby and instantly my mind begins turning it over and adapting it to fit another area of my life. So I'm already trying to come up with ways to add little touches of beading to my condo.

Actually, before the trip, I had already decided to glue some square, flat beads to the inside of my bathroom cupboard doors. I've painted the outer trim black and the inside white but where the 2 colors meet I didn't make the neatest paint line. Instead of touching all of this up, which I normally would do, I decided to line the inside with these beads because I think the contrast between black and white is just too stark. So I'm already including beads in one way.

But how about a beaded curtain? That might be really pretty in my office. I don't need to block my neighbor's view because it's just an office and my beautiful crabapple tree does the job most of the year. I could also do a beaded lampshade. Or some beading in decorative pillows.

Then, my little brain continued working and I realized that I've incorporated my hobbies of knitting and felting into my home in afghans and pillows. My painting has left every wall splashed with color and I have two canvasses just waiting for my loving touch.

Which makes me wonder how other people are incorporating their hobbies into their interior decorating schemes. I simply love the idea of decorating a home with your own personal artistic touches and would love to collect several ideas and write an article to share these ideas. So feel free to flood me with your thoughts and projects.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

9 Hours! Yesterday I spent 9 hours finishing my cupboard doors. And that was just the final touches mind you. Actually, I still have to hang them but I'm planning on a quick one hour turn around on that task.

When I bought my condo the kitchen cupboards were one of the top items on my list of re-dos. I hated them. They were old, oak-looking, 1980's style, cheap cupboards. And they were beat up and dirty. So after almost a year I finally got around to the task. Initially I was going to replace them but that was too expensive and refacing them also was out of budget so I did what I do best, I painted them. I started with a good one coat finished wood primer. Then selected a semi-gloss black for the finish. This actually isnt too shiny and when properly cured you can wipe stains, fingerprints, food spills, etc. off and not ruin the finish. I pulled off all the doors and drawers and primed and painted the frame work. I could have gone the extra step and painted inside the cupboards but that seemed like too much work and I think the black would have shown dust and dirt and spilled flour etc. in the baking cupboard. So i left them with the wood veneer.

Then I painted the drawer faces; I actually unscrewed them from the drawer, which just requires a screwdriver and makes painting easier. I used a foam brush for this to eliminate brush strokes. I should have scrubbed the surfaces a little better before I began because old oil, whether from cooking or skin, can cause paint bubbles and I do have a couple.

But the last task was the most difficult. I wanted the insides of the doors to look different. I thought that much solid black would be dark and depressing so I wanted to do something different. When I say inside of doors I don't mean the back, but the front. The doors are built almost like a picture with a frame around the outside and a slightly recessed center. Pretty standard door pattern in the 1980s and it's still quite popular. So this area would be very visible and I really wanted something unique.

I considered painting it the color of the walls, another color entirely, doing a faux finish, applying wallpaper, taking the wood out and putting in glass or etched plexiglass. Finally I decided to paint them the color of the walls. That is until I got them painted. Then suddenly the yellow and black took on this schoolbus feel and I quickly decided that wasn't going to work. So faux finish it was. I wanted to experiment with the level of shine as well as color. So the original yellow base was an eggshell finish. I chose a rust color in semi-gloss to compliment and then to finish it all off I selected a putty color of stencil paint, which has a very flat, almost dusty, finish.

The faux finish tecnique was to lightly cover the door with the rust paint and then negative sponge a lot of the color off. Then, once that had dried, I did a positive sponge in the rust to give more depth and a darker contrast color. And finally, after all that had dried I stippled and lightly brushed the stencil paint in circular motions around most of the surface, creating more depth of field and the contrasting sheen.

Now, I have doors propped up all over my house as I'm allowing them ample curing time. I will probably hang them tomorrow but will be going on vacation soon so they'll get even more time to cure before really being used.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

This blog comes after hearing about a horrible incident that happened to a friend and client of mine. A pipe broke at their lake house and by their next visit (only 2 weeks later) there was mold everywhere. Of course their problem is much larger than the typical mold issues, they had standing water and their furniture, floors, drywall, etc have to be replaced or repaired by professions. But I immediately remembered a recipe I have for cleaning mold and their main floor and finished attic could probably use a good scrubbing.

The recipe is:

2 parts water

1 part bleach

1 scoop powdered laundry soap

It's a very simple recipe and it really does clean the mold off your walls, floor, bathroom, anywhere and it disinfects.

This recipe is best on small areas of mold or mold that doesn't go deep into your walls. If you're going to be painting over a moldy area, like a basement, you will want to scrub the walls with the mold recipe and then use a paint with Kilz or some other anti-mold agent. These products work great and will help keep mold out of your home.

I realize this isn't the most attractive or the most fun aspect of interior decorating but sometimes decorating requires a little elbow grease. And for the health and safety of you and your family it's important to make sure you are living in a mold free home.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Oh, what a discouraging weekend it is. I was hoping to be much further along in my projects than I am. I've taken today off of work (yes, I work most Saturdays) and was going to finish the craft/game room downstairs and get a good start on the kitchen cupboards.

First of all I ran out of velcro...again. I have bought so much velcro lately it's crazy, but I figure this is the best way to hang the basement curtains. I am also using curtains as a faux ceiling. Right now they're an off white color but are begging for a dye job. So with the velcro I can always take them down and dye them, or take them down to clean them etc. But besides running out of velcro, I have found the sticky side isn't nearly as adhesive as the velcro side. So I'm sewing them to the curtains. Well I'm trying to anyway. I'm having a terrible time with the sewing and I'm not exactly certain what the problem is. I know the glue is gumming things up and breaking thread and unthreading my machine which is getting really hard to thread. I just got really frustrated and nailed half of one of the curtains to the rafters. But this won't do. So I'll have to pick that task up again later when I'm not so frustrated.

Also, when I ran out to get velcro I went to pick up the beads I'm using on the bathroom cupboard doors. I've painted the cupboard and the inside of the doors is white while the decorative frame outside is black and I'm using square blue beads to ease the break between the colors. It should be very pretty in 3 weeks when the beads I had to order arrive. So there is another project that will sit around unfinished.

And then the cupboards. Actually, no big problems there yet but it's slow going and still not sure how I'm going to be decorating the doors. But it's taking 6 coats of paint to get the effect I want. So, I guess I better get back to painting.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I'm really excited about today's project. It snowed about 4 inches last night and so I'm trapped in my condo AND I have a pretty light work load so it's time to focus on the basement. (The (UN)Finished Basement)

Today I'm going to work on The Great Wall of Fun. If you've read about my basement project you know that I have "walls" I've created out of curtains that cover shelves of junk. But there is one remaining basement wall I have to deal with. The wall is concrete and ugly grey. It's also not smooth at all and my solution is to just try to camoflague it as much as possible.

I'm going to prime the wall with magnetic primer. I haven't used this product before so I'm really anxious to see how it's going to turn out. I think I'll try to get two coats out of this quart I bought just to make sure it works.

On top of the magnetic primer I'm going to use chalkboard paint. Another product I'm been dying to use. This does work, I've seen it used and I'm really excited to have a wall that I can write all over and then erase and start over. I have a hard time when I'm writing keeping track of characters and their backstories so I thihnk this will a fabulous solution for me. AND it will be a big hit with my niece and nephew (I hope).

Then, I'm going a step further, I purchased a classroom chalkboard at a church-school-going-out-of-business sale last year. That is going to be the centerpiece of my wall and there is a ceiling beam right above the wall so I can attach it with hooks and chains and then slip it off when need be. Around the chalkboard I'm going to put boards from board games. Not in a solid line but spaced out and framing it. I still haven't decided how to attach these to the wall, I'm hoping the magnetic primer will be really strong and that will work somehow but I doubt it. (I'm open to suggestions - remember, concrete wall). So the plan is to have a chalkboard and game boards I can remove if I need the space or the kids want to draw all over the wall.

I also bought a magnet maker about a year ago so I can turn family photos into magnets and my niece can play dress up dolls or I can turn NASCAR photos into magnets and my nephew can stage the Basement 500.

I think this wall will be great and I'm really excited about getting started.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Since I moved into my condo in April I've been hiding a secret. My basement. It's a complete disaster with boxes all over the floor, some empty, some full, some half full. One day last spring I went downstairs to tackle the mess and I had good intentions but it was overwhelming and all I ended up doing was separating the boxes into categories and leaving them in piles on the floor. About two months ago it hit a brand new low and getting to the back to find my painting supplies was almost impossible. Yet the mess stayed.

Finally, Kevin and I finished installing the hardwood floors and since the weather outside was about twenty below without windchill we decided to saw the floors inside in the basement. This was great for the floors but horrible for the messy, opened boxes in the basement. A fine layer of sawdust coated everything and a huge pile of dust and chunks lay in the little aisle I had to walk between boxes.

The day after the floors were finished I decided the basement needed attention. I purchased 6 huge, rugged storage shelves and used them as walls in the basement to map out a couple of rooms. There is one small utility room and one large game room and the laundry. Then came the hard part of sorting the boxes, dusting them, and placing them on the shelves. Some day I'll go through every box to weed out the necessities but for now they're all off the floor and tucked away.

Then, I bought some huge panel curtains that I will attach to the rafters in front of the shelves. These will be my walls. If I need to get to a box I can just pull the curtains aside. Right now the curtains are plain off-white but in the future I think I may paint them to add a little spice to the room.

There was leftover hardwood (HUGE problem with the floors) and enough that I can finish off the floor in my laundry room. I saved the carpet from my upstairs office and this is going to be cut to fit the game room. And I'm considering painting the floor in the rest of the basement.

The walls that are still concrete will be getting a coat of primer and then paint. In the game room I'm going to put chalkboard paint on the wall and then hang game boards from some games I have and I'll pick up a few more at the local GoodWill store so the walls look very fun. The laundry walls will be painted either white or another clean pastel color to brighten this dark area.

I've purchased some additional lights since the original basement lighting was only two bare bulbs hanging from the ceiling. And with a little more elbow grease, voila! I will have a finished basement that is still basically "unfinished". It was inexpensive and it's really starting to look good!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

So, if you've been following along you know that I'm redecorating my condo. I bought the place last April and really didn't do anything right away. I painted the master bath and master bedroom and that was about it. And then around Christmas I decided my financial situation was okay and I began ordering and buying and planning in earnest. I was so excited about the upcoming decorating projects it was all I could think about on my vacation.

When I got home from vacation I began the painting process. First the master bath (New Technique). The first paint choice was a mistake - which is ok, it's only paint. Then the office, which turned out really well (Pretty in Pink). Then the office needed shelves which I enlisted best friend Kevin's help for. And the whole doorknob ordeal. Okay, so maybe the snowballing started with the doorknobs and the hinges. Hindsight is 20/20, right? So, I can see that now. Well, $200 on doorknobs and hinges and that was the beginning of the spiral.

Decorators, painters, designers, builders; we all know about the decorating spiral. And a few savvy home owners know about it too. You decorate or paint one thing and suddenly everything else looks a bit drab or out dated and the "to do list" just keeps getting longer and longer and longer.

So, I have now decided that the rescued fouton (Fouton Grab) just won't do in this room and I need to buy a sleeper chair and then an ottoman that has storage. And of course then the room needs bedding, window treatments, rugs, and I probably need more books for all those bookcases we built. And as I looked at the nice new Pergo floors (Installing Hardwood Laminate Floor) I realized that I want to do the entire second floor in Pergo. So I have ordered the rest of the floor. Which of course means the remaining carpet in the condo needs replacing.

In the meantime I've moved to the kitchen. I'm repainting 3 of the 5 walls and then, in an attempt to save money, I've decided to paint my cabinets rather than reface or replace them. And I already purchased a new rug but I could use a runner and an entry one that matches. And of course there are window treatments. And as I look at the remaining paint jobs I think they look drab and a bit beat up, and the previous painter didnt paint the vents which now stand out so maybe I need to repaint those rooms as well.

And the window treatments in the living room. And painting all the trim in the entire house. Oh! And the basement. I've just got to redo the basement and create an art/craft room down there. And fix the laundry. And make some storage areas. And maybe make a spare bedroom. And...and...and...down I go into the decorating spiral.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

I received this email question today...

"I am redecorating my family/living room which is 18'x18'. I found a picture that I really like but it is 60" wide and 46 1/2" high. I would like to hang it over my sofa which is 88" long. However, my walls are only 8' high although I do have a cathedral ceiling. Is the picture too large for my room?

Thank you,

L.H"

Well - on first blush I'd think the picture would fit BUT there are other things to consider. How do you use your spaces? And what is your decorating style? If you have smaller, fussy furniture with small details such as scrolled arms on Victorian chairs then a large picture might dwarf the rest of the room. If you have large, oversized furniture then the picture might go very well.

There is also the other walls. Do you have a cluster of small family photos or a neat line of larger photos or pieces of art. This also needs to be taken into consideration before you take the leap.

Also the art itself. If it's a piece with large chunks in one color it might flow better than a very detailed, intricate piece of artwork would.

So there are a lot of things to consider, but physically I would say it seems like you have the space and it might help draw the eye down from the cathedral ceiling and focus it on the artwork.

If you're simply concerned about it fitting and everything else about it seems perfect for your room you might want to mock it up. Get some blue painter's tape and make an outline that is the size of the picture. Then stand back and take a look to see if it feels right to you.

Remember to use painter's tape because traditional masking tape may tear the paint off your walls. And even with the painter's tape, I wouldn't burnish it to the wall in most spaces and I'd be carefully when tugging it off.

Good luck!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

If you read (Girl Tackles Doorknob and WINS!) and heard of my doorknob victory you may want to hear about my defeat.

Today I decided to put the bathroom I had a bit of an issue with my expensive hinges and so it was a little difficult to hang the door and it ended up a little tight. But then again it was tight to begin with and a total of 8 layers of paint didn't help much.

I was disappointed that it wasn't shutting properly so I spent a lot of time adjusting the hinges so I could get it to shut. Not perfectly but it shut. Then I turned to the doorknob, which could create more problems because the face plate didnt exactly fit the predrilled holes. I slid the locking mechanism in and lo and behold, the door didn't shut. So I tightened everything a little bit more and pushed the door shut. And then realized I was locked in the bathroom.

I sent a pre-distress email out to my friend Kevin who, rather than being worried about my safety, promptly asked why I had the computer in the bathroom. I explained that I was listening to a book on tape that I had downloaded to my computer. In the meantime I continued working on getting the lock to slide back from the plate while pulling hard on the sticky door with the few fingers I could fit in the remaining doorknob hole. Luckily I was able to free myself in just a few minutes and I'm pretty sure Kevin got his laugh for the day.

Obviously I decided the doorknob should be installed before I try that trick again so I got the knobs ready and inserted into the hole and realized that the screw holes on the knob and the face plate do not line up. It seemed like a manufacturer's defect but I decided to call the company and make sure there wasn't a little trick I was missing. Nope, manufacturer defect. So I have to go to the store and wait in line and return the knobs. And part of them is installed and I'm not taking them out.

To add insult to injury. I purchased shelves from this same store earlier this week and of the 3 shelf kits I bought, every single one was missing a piece or had extra pieces. I had to contact the company to request 8 cross bars (because all were missing) so I could finish the shelf. These boxes were just too heavy for me to return and buy new ones.

And then, I wanted to build some shelves that I saw in a picture in this same store. I bought the supplies but they didn't have all the supplies I'd need and actually the shelves in the picture were not functional so the project required three trips to the store and more cuts than initially planned and a lot of additional support and they still don't look right.

Big sigh. Today has been one of the most frustrating home decorating days in my personal history and I may just focus on some other tasks, something totally unrelated to home decorating.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

The walls are painted, most of the trim is painted. The closet doors are painted and one is installed and the main door is painted. I've done so much I didn't want to shortcut the process so I decided to purchase all new door hardware.

I'm a silver/white gold/platinum sort of person. I just don't like the look of gold or brass and my condo has these horrible aged brass looking doorknobs so why not replace them?

The first shock came at the hardware store. Now The knobs were about what I expected, around $17 a piece. BUT for just $10 more I could get these snazzy ones that are oval rather than round. I debated and the impractical side won. I spent the extra $30 for three doorknobs that are oblong. Not a shock. And then I got to the hinges. Each door needs 3 hinges, each hinge cost $9! That means I need 9 hinges at $9 which is going to cost at least $81, not including tax. Almost $100 in hinges alone?! What a colossal rip off. But what could I do? I knew I should shop around or go to Restore, but I wanted to get the project done today. So I sucked it up and decided I'd eat Ramen noodles for the next couple weeks.

Then I got home and realized my hinges don't work like my old ones. I like hinges where I can just hammer out the pin and move the door if I'm bringing in big furniture or painting etc. These appear to lock permanently so I think I'd have to unscrew them every time, which seems ridiculous, but I'm not planning on repainting them so I guess I go with it.

And the doorknob itself. The old one came apart pretty easily. The new one's locking mechanism didn't want to go back in the hole, the old metal piece was still inside and it was greatly impeding my progress. Also, the locking part had a plate and my old one did not. This was not good. I couldn't return the $27 knob because in opening the hermetically sealed box I had to destroy it and basically cut it into a snowflake. My frustration was mounting.

Then I decided to read the directions. It was quite evident then that I should use my screwdriver to pry off the plates and then I should install a small circular one with a collar, like my old doorknob. Then I was to hammer the locking mechanism into place. I began hammering and it moved, I figured it was sliding into the metal cuff that was stuck inside my door but pretty soon that cuff popped right out the hole. Perfect! Now the locking mechanism went right into place.

Getting both knobs to line up and then holding them in place, with the knob twisted so I could tighten the screws was a bit tricky and I could have used another hand or two, but I managed and my doorknobs are installed!

Posted by Kristin Abraham

Traditionally the beginning of the year is a slow work time for me. For some reason the stars align and my financial work, my painting and my freelance writing all slow down after the holidays and I'm left with nothing to do. This year I've decided to tackle and wrap up the 17 different decorating projects I began a few months back.

First up, the master bath. I painted this room soon after I moved in, the oompa loompa orange had to go but I'm afraid my faux finishing solution was muddied and unattractive, so it was top priority. I selected a buttery yellow, a color that looks good on me, and now I'm in love with the bathroom. There is still some work but it's such a happy color and it compliments me when I look in the mirror, which is actually very important in a bathroom that contains the main vanity.

The next room, the office. This is such a pet project because it's sort of dictated the direction the rest of the upstairs will take. I already laid Pergo flooring in the room (Installing Hardwood Laminate Floor) and I've now decided to do the entire second floor, except master bath, in Pergo. I'd also decided to paint the trim in the office white and this of course means that all the trim upstairs must follow suit. So in a way the office is directing the flow of decorating ideas.

But the very best part of the office is the color. Initially I wanted to paint the room white and add little pink touches here and there. I like the color pink but didn't want to make a "baby's room". I thought the touches would soften the office feel of the room and make it more inviting. This room will also be serving as a guest room and I'd like an office that make me feel cozy and happy.

Well those logical plans flew out the window and I painted the entire room a soft but rather bright pink and I couldn't be happier with the results.

The previous owner had painted the walls and ceiling a neutral tan or a deep flesh tone color. The effect was you weren't sure if the room was painted or not. My first step was to paint the ceiling white. I know painting ceiling and walls the same color is a trend but what it does is bring the ceiling down and in a standard, small, mass-produced room a low ceiling is confining. It also makes the walls seem to come in and meet the ceiling in a claustrophobic way. If you haven't guessed, I personally do not like the same color ceilings. The white lifted the room and was like a cool breeze coming through.

The previous walls were a warm tan color and I erased that with my cool, fresh, girly pink. It made the entire room seem so much bigger. Then I accented a window cut out with a very deep pink. This dark color will also be used to behind book shelves so a little color pops through behind the books, but it's not overwhelming.

Pink is VERY popular right now, expect to find dark, deep pink accents all over the place. This is the reason I chose this color for an accent, but not the reason I selected pink. I think you really have to love pink to commit to the color, it's not for the faint of heart but the results can be amazingly pretty and cheery.

Posted by Kristin Abraham

January is my "vacation" month. My writing work is a bit slower and the pre-holiday rush to get houses painted is over. Usually I take a vacation and spend a few weeks in Florida, which I've done. Then I try to find some time to do things I've been putting off. This year I'd like to wrap up all the projects I've started around my condo.

The Pergo laminate wood floor is installed in the office and I'm going to order more for the landing and the master bedroom. I wasn't sure if this was what I wanted but now I've decided that the second floor will be all hardwood (or the Pergo alternative). So now I can paint the office. Which means the trim as well as the walls.

My condo was built in the later 80's and the trim is that standard brown that most homes have but the doors have their own "charm". Someone went extra cheap on them and bought doors with a pinkish tint. I don't know if the stain came out wrong or what but it's really ugly. So I want to paint the trim upstairs white to make the rooms seem a little bigger, much fresher and cleaner. Not that the tiny baseboards will do much but the windows are old and worn and a fresh coat of paint will do a lot. And the doors will no longer have that pinkish hue. Ok. So the upstairs trim gets painted white.

And what of the downstairs trim. I have the same ugly door dilemma on the main floor. But the dilemma goes deeper. The fireplace has wood trim, that frankly I love. It matches my bookcases (which hold yarn for my knitting projects), my tv stand and my console table. It sort of matches the trim, similar to the window trim anyway. So I do not want to paint the fireplace. Then to add to the confusion, I'm painting my kitchen cabinets black (cherry wood doors may be added later). So painting the trim in the kitchen white would look a little silly. So the solution I came up with this morning (and it's early so I'm not entirely convinced) is to paint the downstairs trim all black. I've seen it in decorating magazines lately and it's pretty stunning. Really sharp and it would set off the wall color just as nicely as white does and it's a bit unexpected. The fireplace and my furniture already have black accents (metal trim work) so I could leave those pieces as is.

I'm just having a hard time adjusting to the idea of black trim on the main floor and white trim upstairs. Since the flooring is different I have an obvious transition point, but I'm still debating this bold move. Maybe all the trim should be black?

Posted by Kristin Abraham

When I purchased my condo I noticed that the carpets have a dirty appearance around the edges, especially on the stairway going to the second floor. This has always bothered me because I just could not understand how these areas could get so dirty and how someone could let the dirt continue to build up in the edges. I mean my vaccuum comes with a little attachment that gets in corners. But the difference in color between the sides and even the high traffic areas is incredible.

So, I am sitting here watching HDTV and there is a couple with the exact same problem except it wasn't the dirty carpet that bothered her as much, she was bothered by a moldy smell. And the House Detective (from the show of the same name) knew immediately what the problem was. The stairs, underneath the carpet, do not meet up flush with the walls. This means that as the air return is sucking up air it's pulling it up from the basement, through the cracks between the stairs and the wall and the air is being filtered through the carpet. This is why it gets so incredibly dirty looking.

AHA!

So I've already decided to replace the carpet in part of my condo. The rest of the place is getting hardwood/pergo flooring (see this article http://interiordecorating.suite101.com/article.cfm/installing_hardwood_laminate_floor if you're interested in installing flooring). But the stairs are definitely going to stay carpeted. I'm VERY accident prone and having fallen down stairs several times in the past I don't want to make them more slippery. So the carpet stays. But hopefully the stain goes and never comes back.

Now, the television show said that the stains could be cleaned and they set the husband to t hat task. They didnt say which products they were using but I'm guessing that a nice strong (maybe even industrial) carpet cleaner would work, and he was using a brush, so scrubbing is probably necessary. Remember that every carpet fiber is stained through and through with dirt so it might take a while. Luckily, mine will just take money, because I'm replacing that yucky 1980's carpet.

Then to fix the problem, and prevent my new (probably expensive) carpet from getting stained the show recommended filling the gaps. They used caulk to fix small gaps and foam insulation spray to fix the larger leaks. On the show they guy went into the basement and just simply fixed it from below. My problem is my stairs are not exposed to the basement. So, when the carpet is removed, prior to the new carpet coming in, I will caulk the cracks to seal them.

As I learned when doing the floors in the office, under the carpet in my condo is horrible. They contractors and builders were horrible and did things in a cheap, quick way. So I'm totally not surprised that the filthy carpet is because of faulty building rather than bad cleaning habits of prior owners. It's good to know I can fix the problem relatively quickly and easily.