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Well folks, the day has finally arrived. I know most of you have long since lost interest in my chair saga, but remember how I spent FOREVER trying to choose a fabric? First I tried to choose a fabric then once I finally decided and went to buy it, it had been discontinued. So I chose another. Then I had to wait until I made enough payments on my credit card to actually be able to afford it! But this weekend it happened. I got the call from my wonderful upholsterer that my chairs were done and ready to come home. And I love them! They're a little busy and a little loud but there's nothing that I don't love about these chairs. Fine Interiors by Susan did an amazing job and made my crummy old chairs look fabulous. Even though it took a ridiculous amount of time I don't regret it for second. They may not be to everyone's taste, but these will last a lifetime and wherever I end up living I know these chairs will fit right in.

Before...

After!

My Old Chairs Get a New Look originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 10:22:54.

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">My Old Chairs Get a New Look

Well folks, the day has finally arrived. I know most of you have long since lost interest in my chair saga, but remember how I spent FOREVER trying to choose a fabric? First I tried to choose a fabric then once I finally decided and went to buy it, it had been discontinued. So I chose another. Then I had to wait until I made enough payments on my credit card to actually be able to afford it! But this weekend it happened. I got the call from my wonderful upholsterer that my chairs were done and ready to come home. And I love them! They're a little busy and a little loud but there's nothing that I don't love about these chairs. Fine Interiors by Susan did an amazing job and made my crummy old chairs look fabulous. Even though it took a ridiculous amount of time I don't regret it for second. They may not be to everyone's taste, but these will last a lifetime and wherever I end up living I know these chairs will fit right in.

Before...

After!

My Old Chairs Get a New Look originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Monday, February 20th, 2012 at 10:22:54.

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Decorating can be expensive. That's the truth. It's not to say that you can't decorate on a budget and keep costs down, but decorating a house or even just a room will cost you some of your hard earned money.  To help you figure out what things really cost so you can set a realistic budget for your decorating projects I've started a series of articles about the costs of interior decorating. The fist one is Furniture-Buying Costs. It's tough to say exactly what a piece of furniture will cost because there are so many variables but these are some of the common prices you can expect to find when you head out shopping.

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks...

Photo © Barrymore Furniture

Buying Furniture - What It'll Cost You originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 20:00:16.

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">Buying Furniture - What It'll Cost You

Decorating can be expensive. That's the truth. It's not to say that you can't decorate on a budget and keep costs down, but decorating a house or even just a room will cost you some of your hard earned money.  To help you figure out what things really cost so you can set a realistic budget for your decorating projects I've started a series of articles about the costs of interior decorating. The fist one is Furniture-Buying Costs. It's tough to say exactly what a piece of furniture will cost because there are so many variables but these are some of the common prices you can expect to find when you head out shopping.

Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks...

Photo © Barrymore Furniture

Buying Furniture - What It'll Cost You originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 20:00:16.

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these shots from the recent episode of Person to Person on CBS (via Hooked on Houses). I don't think any more needs to be said.

A Look at George Clooney's House... originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 09:30:47.

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">A Look at George Clooney's House...

Do you want to get into George Clooney's house? Come on, of course you do. Check out these shots from the recent episode of Person to Person on CBS (via Hooked on Houses). I don't think any more needs to be said.

A Look at George Clooney's House... originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 at 09:30:47.

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In my 12+ years in the interior design industry I've worked with countless interior decorators and clients, and in that time I've noticed the same issues come up again and again. The designer/client relationship is an interesting one and communication is very important. I've touched on that subject in this article about working with designers. Have a look and see what you think. I'd love to hear back from designers and people who have worked with them so please feel free to leave a comment on this post.

Working with Interior Designers and Decorators

Photo © RTR Media / Income Property

Working with Interior Designers originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 18:59:36.

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">Working with Interior Designers

In my 12+ years in the interior design industry I've worked with countless interior decorators and clients, and in that time I've noticed the same issues come up again and again. The designer/client relationship is an interesting one and communication is very important. I've touched on that subject in this article about working with designers. Have a look and see what you think. I'd love to hear back from designers and people who have worked with them so please feel free to leave a comment on this post.

Working with Interior Designers and Decorators

Photo © RTR Media / Income Property

Working with Interior Designers originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Saturday, February 11th, 2012 at 18:59:36.

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here's the link. You have to request invite so be patient. Once they send it to you you'll be just as addicted as the rest of us!

For Serious Decorating Addicts Only... originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Friday, February 10th, 2012 at 15:56:18.

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">For Serious Decorating Addicts Only...

How many of you are on Pinterest? I got on a couple of days ago and I'm hooked. For those of you who don't know, Pinterest is like an online pin board. Anytime you find an image you like on the Internet you can "pin" it, and keep track of all your favorite photos. You can allow other people to see your boards and you can check out everyone else's. I'm pleased to say our very own website is nicely represented - thanks guys! If you haven't tried it yet, here's the link. You have to request invite so be patient. Once they send it to you you'll be just as addicted as the rest of us!

For Serious Decorating Addicts Only... originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Friday, February 10th, 2012 at 15:56:18.

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I've been working with some designers lately to design a few kitchens and one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make is what countertop to go with.  There are a lot of great options out there but more often than not I go with butcher block. A lot of people think it's not high-end enough but I love the natural, warm look. I also think it looks just as good in modern, sleek spaces as it does in more rustic varieties. Take the picture for example - it's a contemporary, industrial space yet the butcher block adds warmth and makes the space a little less intimidating. The other great thing? It's cheap! Where you spend thousands on a high-end material, butcher block will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars.

Photo © RTR Media / Income Property

A Case for Butcher Block originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 10:48:08.

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">A Case for Butcher Block

I've been working with some designers lately to design a few kitchens and one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make is what countertop to go with.  There are a lot of great options out there but more often than not I go with butcher block. A lot of people think it's not high-end enough but I love the natural, warm look. I also think it looks just as good in modern, sleek spaces as it does in more rustic varieties. Take the picture for example - it's a contemporary, industrial space yet the butcher block adds warmth and makes the space a little less intimidating. The other great thing? It's cheap! Where you spend thousands on a high-end material, butcher block will only cost you a couple of hundred dollars.

Photo © RTR Media / Income Property

A Case for Butcher Block originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 10:48:08.

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When I told my mother I wanted to paint my walls black when I was a teenager she just about had a fit. But this wasn't your average teenage attempt at being dramatic, this was a serious decorating endeavor. I knew that a room with black walls was chic and stylish, but all my mother could imagine was me living in a dark and depressing room indulging my teen angst. In any case, I never ended up doing it, but if I had I like to think I would have ended up with something as beautiful as one of these rooms.  In my opinion they're cozy, sophisticated and most of all, gorgeous. What about you? Would you ever paint your walls a dark color?

Photo © Andrea Schumacher / O Interior Design

Dark Walls - Dramatic or Depressing? originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 15:12:00.

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">Dark Walls - Dramatic or Depressing?

When I told my mother I wanted to paint my walls black when I was a teenager she just about had a fit. But this wasn't your average teenage attempt at being dramatic, this was a serious decorating endeavor. I knew that a room with black walls was chic and stylish, but all my mother could imagine was me living in a dark and depressing room indulging my teen angst. In any case, I never ended up doing it, but if I had I like to think I would have ended up with something as beautiful as one of these rooms.  In my opinion they're cozy, sophisticated and most of all, gorgeous. What about you? Would you ever paint your walls a dark color?

Photo © Andrea Schumacher / O Interior Design

Dark Walls - Dramatic or Depressing? originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 15:12:00.

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Side chairs are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can own.  They're practical, they can be used as great decorative accents, and they can move easily from room to room. Before you go out and buy some of these handy pieces think about how you want them to work for you. Check out this Side Chair Buying Guide before you buy, and if you need a little inspiration have a look at our photo galleries.

• Elegant Side and Arm Chairs
• Famous 20^th Century Chairs

Side Chairs – What to Know and How to Buy originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at 19:28:49.

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">Side Chairs – What to Know and How to Buy

Side chairs are some of the most versatile pieces of furniture you can own.  They're practical, they can be used as great decorative accents, and they can move easily from room to room. Before you go out and buy some of these handy pieces think about how you want them to work for you. Check out this Side Chair Buying Guide before you buy, and if you need a little inspiration have a look at our photo galleries.

• Elegant Side and Arm Chairs
• Famous 20^th Century Chairs

Side Chairs – What to Know and How to Buy originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Saturday, February 4th, 2012 at 19:28:49.

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We all know that safety should be the top priority in every home and smoke detectors are a must - but they're ugly, right? Not necessarily. The Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was developed through a Dutch design contest aimed to raise awareness of fire hazards in the home. It was originally intended for children's rooms but it could be really fun in a lot of different spaces.  What's also different is that it doesn't make that awful screaming sound of most smoke detectors. At the first sign of smoke the bird starts chirping and as the threat becomes more serious it gets louder and makes a "dee-dee-dee sound", alerting you to danger..

Up until now it's only been available online but it's recently been approved by the Canadian and US markets and should be in stores this month. Cute, no?

Photo © Chick a Dee

Smoke Detectors Take Flight originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 19:24:54.

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">Smoke Detectors Take Flight

We all know that safety should be the top priority in every home and smoke detectors are a must - but they're ugly, right? Not necessarily. The Chick-a-Dee smoke detector was developed through a Dutch design contest aimed to raise awareness of fire hazards in the home. It was originally intended for children's rooms but it could be really fun in a lot of different spaces.  What's also different is that it doesn't make that awful screaming sound of most smoke detectors. At the first sign of smoke the bird starts chirping and as the threat becomes more serious it gets louder and makes a "dee-dee-dee sound", alerting you to danger..

Up until now it's only been available online but it's recently been approved by the Canadian and US markets and should be in stores this month. Cute, no?

Photo © Chick a Dee

Smoke Detectors Take Flight originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Friday, February 3rd, 2012 at 19:24:54.

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I always say that decorating is about the details, and one detail that often gets overlooked is the lampshade. Every time I go into a house that's full of plain, pleated lampshades I die a little bit inside. Not because they're ugly (although I personally don't care for them) but because they've been done to death. There are so many amazing options out there that there's no need to resort to the old standard. Take this zebra lampshade from Shades of Light for instance - it's stylish, sophisticated, and adds a bit of fun to just about any room.  Why go plain when you can go wild?

Photo © Shades of Light

Object of Affection – Zebra Lampshade originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 15:18:36.

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">Object of Affection – Zebra Lampshade

I always say that decorating is about the details, and one detail that often gets overlooked is the lampshade. Every time I go into a house that's full of plain, pleated lampshades I die a little bit inside. Not because they're ugly (although I personally don't care for them) but because they've been done to death. There are so many amazing options out there that there's no need to resort to the old standard. Take this zebra lampshade from Shades of Light for instance - it's stylish, sophisticated, and adds a bit of fun to just about any room.  Why go plain when you can go wild?

Photo © Shades of Light

Object of Affection – Zebra Lampshade originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 15:18:36.

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