Yesterday, Zoe shared a great site with me. Lucky magazine's daily bloggers work very hard to update their site with daily tips and finds. The best might just be their deal of the day. Where you have 24 hours to purchase a particular item at up to 50% off. Today's deal is a jade John Robshaw Ikat pillow.usually selling for $50, today it is only $25 if you use the Lucky promo code "luckydaily2". Hurry you have until 7:59 a.m. EST tomorrow morning!

Read more "Daily Deal"

By Caroline Inge

Being new to the DIY-world, I only take on modest projects that can't cause too much damage if I screw up, and I always, always print off step-by-step instructions which I've probably been googling for about a week. You could say I like to be thorough. Well, I think I've found my next project, and even though it's much more ambitious than say, painting a bookshelf, I definitely think it looks do-able -- at least the step-by-step video looks easy enough!

Having brand new countertops installed in your kitchen or bathroom can cost thousands of dollars, and in many homes, they are the main offender in a tired kitchen. The grey, marbleized laminate in my kitchen makes me sad, and paired with dull, cream cabinets, this space is a total bore. Until recently, there was no way to update your kitchen countertops without completely replacing them. This month, Modern Masters®, a decorative paint and faux finishing brand, came out with a clever way to makeover your outdated, laminate countertops using a three-step painting system. Countertop Transformations™ allows you to change the aesthetic in your kitchen without sacrificing your durable work surface. Check out the website for an easy step-by-step instructional video, or upload a picture of your kitchen and try out each of the five colors!

I definitely think this paint kit would help me achieve my dream kitchen, which looks something like this: 

I love color, and for my kitchen, I want something energetic but still classic enough that we could grow old together. I think this kitchen from Sunset has a nice balance with its soft, minty green cabinets and sleek, black granite countertops. I think the Charcoal paint kit from Countertop Transformations would look fantastic paired with Benjamin Moore's Salisbury Green. What do you think?

Read more "DIYers: Hate your Laminate Countertops?"

I may have solved (one or two of) your gift giving woes early this year (and for under $5 a pop). I know it is a little early, but I can't resist getting excited for the holidays especially when I saw these adorable paper Christmas Creatures.

You can purchase this print and make-at-home kit online at Mibo(for about $5), and they'll email you a PDF to just print on your color printer. like this:

Not only are these cute and festive, but they can be used as ornaments, name holders at place settings, or craft projects for you and the kids (or just you!).

Read more "We need a little Christmas"

It's never too early to start thinking about holiday cards. I always need a headstart because picking the cards, compiling the address list, writing them, and getting them in the mail always takes me at least triple the amount of time I orignially estimated. That said, this Style Court post got me thinking if I start now, I could send Christmas cards this year, rather than Valentine's Day cards. I'd love to order an embosser to ease the return addressing. The Paper Source has customizable embossers for $31.50 available in 10 fonts.

I love this colorful letterpress mandela card from Paper Source - $20 for 8.

Read more "Seasons Greetings -- Never too soon"

By Caroline Inge

Good Morning! First of all, I want to thank everyone who submitted photos of your home! I was so thrilled to see how charmingly family photos were displayed in your homes. Great job! Here are my four favorites:

The first two are from Kristin. Thanks! She used picture ledges which are great for rearranging and switching out photos. They also make alignment and symmetry much easier. Here are some from West Elm that I like. Here are some from Pottery Barn that are similar to Kristin's.She used the same frame in different sizes to unify the photos, but the shapes and sizes were varied for a more eclectic look.

Read more "Reader- Submitted Photo Displays"

Volkswagen is coming up with a list of 10 designs in 5 categories: design, food, music, TV, and fashion for the ultimate list of the 50 Most Timeless. The hip carmaker has teamed up with the modern British home magazine LivingEtc to compile the top 10 timeless designs for the home. You go to the website and vote for your top 10 -- www.livingetc.co.uk/timeless50. Keep their guidelines for timeless design in mind when you cast your vote: "Great designs transcend the passing of the years and are impervious to fashion -- they offer simplicity and style and are the perfect marriage of form and function. By looking as fresh and modern today as they did when they were conceived, they have a timeless quality."

My Votes -- in no particular order:

Read more "Calling All Design Snobs"

I recently read an article in the New York Times on design time capsules. Specifically, it talks about homes built and furnished in the 1950's, 1960's and 1980's that remain untouched. If you've house-hunted in established neighborhoods, you've likely encountered one or more these such homes. It got me wondering what about this decade will be "the early 21st-century equivalents of the conversation pit and the avocado refrigerator" (writer Steven Kurutz suggests garage-size family rooms and stainless steel appliances) and whether or not they should be avoided altogether.

Here's a look at some styles we're seeing over and over again, weigh in and let us know what you feel is "so over" and what you think is here to stay.

A quick look around blog-land reveals that many of the design-obsessed are smitten with white kitchens. This one, published in Sunsetmagazine, perfectly illustrates the kind of kitchen that has so many -- myself included -- swooning: white, Shaker-style cabinets, marble counter tops, stainless-steel appliances (restaurant-grade, at that), open-shelving, and vintage-style plumbing. Add white subway tile and it is the stuff kitchen dreams are made of. In this case, the "trends" are all well-established -- even classic -- so what do you think? Will we one day look at this kitchen and think it is "so 2009," or can it stand the test of time?

The other end of the spectrum is a kitchen outfitted with wood-toned cabinets and, you guessed it, granite. This kitchen might be sleek (like this one, featured in Southern Living) or have a more traditional feel. Personally, I think this kitchen will more likely look dated, but maybe you disagree. Perhaps the sheer practicality of granite counters will keep them around.

As spa experiences become more and more accessible, more and more people seem to want to bring the spa home. Thus, the "spa bathroom" is born (this one is from Coastal Living). Features might include vessel-style sinks, mosaic tiles, generously-sized bathtubs and shower stalls, color schemes reminiscent of the sea, and multi-head showers. I can definitely see the appeal, but is this the pink bathroom of this decade?

Another trend in the bath is the use of vintage-style fixtures. Pedestal sinks, claw-foot-tubs, beaded board, exposed plumbing, and polished nickel finishes all lend a cottage-feel to a bath and are popular in both historic homes and newer construction. Again, many of these elements are not new, but their resurgence could garner them the label of being purely a trend, thus the possibility of finding them on the "out" list. (This bathroom was published in Cottage Living).

Open floor plans (like this one from Southern Living) are definitely new, and from my experience, you either love them or hate them. What used to be a purely utilitarian space -- the kitchen -- is now flaunted in the heartof a home and is often attached to the main living space. This is certainly a product of a more casual way of living where meals are eaten from stove to table (or sofa!) and the dining room is often only used on "special" occasions, or even eliminated completely. While I love the cozy rooms of a classic four-square Colonial, I don't see this "trend" heading out any time soon. Though it certainly presents some decorating challenges, it just seems to fit the way most people live today.

What do you think? Will any (or all) of these design elements make us cringe in 15 years? And if you love them now, do you even care?

By Caroline Inge

Good Morning! As you may have heard on the news last week, the official Obama family portrait was unveiled on Friday. The shot was taken on September 1, 2009 by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. I personally think it's a beautiful family portrait, and it got me thinking: do you have a favorite family portrait? Not everyone can have a family photo taken by Annie Leibovitz, but do you have one taken by a professional or do you prefer photos taken by friends or family in a celebratory moment? Is it a photograph or a painting? Is it a casual, spontaneous shot? Or is it posed and formal?

Read more "Family Portrait Vs. Family Photos"

If you're looking to put the final touches on your Halloween party or even if you're just getting started, there are so many fantastic decorations you can pick up or easily make to ensure your party is a smash. I've done some internet browsing and wanted to share...

Doctor up your wine/soda bottles with these haunted labels from Martha Stewart for Granin Road.

Read more "Tricks and Treats"

The potter turned designer who mixes equal and opposite parts irreverence, WASP, humor, and glamor to shape his designs is now allowing you to ride the coattails of his well-tested, trademark style. Jonathan Adler has launched a "Design Your Own" section of his website.

He provides six basic products (pillows, rugs, etc), some signature patterns, an assortment of colors; and a few sizes to choose from and then -- Wham! Your designs come to life in the hands of Peruvian artisans and then arrive at your door fresh from the hands of the UPS man. 

Read more "DIY Just Like Jonathan Adler"