You know those annoying little things around your home that you just live with, because you figure that’s just the way they are? Like a chair with a leg that wobbles or a remote button you have to push at the top right corner to make it work, or the oven you have to set 20 degrees higher than the … Read More
customizing paint colors for your home
When I painted my home office, I mentioned that I used Benjamin Moore’s Stonington Gray mixed at 50% and I got a lot of questions asking what that meant. I explained it years ago, but thought I would do a refresher post, explaining why I love to customize colors on the paint deck. I do acknowledge that sorting through a … Read More
Thrifty Painting Tips & no spend February
I’ve put in a lot of miles on a paint brush and roller over the years and, during all of that painting, I’ve picked up a couple of small, money-saving tips. First of all, it’s worth investing in sample pots of paint (about $5/each usually) to make sure you get the color right. This is one of those things where … Read More
customizing a house | painting interior doors
I’ve been contemplating a way to describe my current house and the changes I’m making. It’s not outdated, it’s not ugly, it’s not run-down, it’s not in poor taste… In fact, it’s a beautiful home. So, how do I explain why I view this perfectly nice suburban home as one that is ripe for a makeover? Then, it hit me. … Read More
selecting fabrics & paint colors
Picking out paints and fabrics can be hard. I’ve painted and repainted enough rooms and made and remade enough curtains and pillows to know. And I think the difficulty may have even increased with the advent of Blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram. We can fall in love with a color or fabric in an online photo, which may not even be … Read More
Cleaning behind the stove
Every time I move something from where it’s been sitting for a long time, I realize just how gross my family (myself included) is! You know what I’m saying? All of those spills and crumbs and dust-bunnies that haven’t seen the light of day and then they are exposed? Even the cleanest, tidiest house has a few dirty secrets. And … Read More
but first, toilets
Warning: This post contains pictures of toilets that some readers may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you know me at all, you know I am bursting to break out some paint in this new house! But I’ve learned from a few moves that a place feels more like home once the toilets are cleaned to my satisfaction. … Read More
the doodle book & an empty studio
Just in case Lucketts wasn’t exciting enough, this weekend is also the launch of my newest book – The Home Design Doodle Book! This book was such a labor of love, partly because of the content, but also because it was drawn/written entirely by hand! I had no idea what I was getting into when I made that suggestion, but it … Read More