Sometimes a no-brainer is nice. Like my fit-and-flare navy cotton frock with its matching skinny belt. Or if I’m going to get the fries with my protein-style burger at In-N-Out (one glance through the window at the hypnotic potato-julienning aerobics, and it’s a given). And even a set of matching bed linens can be just fine. Or NOT. Maybe it’s the drummer in my head, […] Read more »

“So I want to knit beadboard,” I said to a friend in my machine knitters group. Her eyes moved up and to the side like you do when you are trying to remember that math formula from ninth grade. “You know, that white-painted wainscoting that you see in beach cottages? I want to knit that.” The look of vague recollection inched across her face. “Hmmm,” […] Read more »

Quilts aren’t only calico triangles and hexagons anymore. Interested in quilting since I was a teen, I’ve always especially favored the bold, graphic color play of Amish designs. Having created some art wall quilts myself, I appreciate the effort and artwork involved in making any quilt. But early on, I felt as though we needed an updated idea of the quilt as art. Though beautiful, […] Read more »

Over the past week I augmented my design quiver with some seriously geeky techniques. Neighboring Silicon Valley, and having my share of nerdy tendencies, this was inevitable. First off—take cover people—I’m workin’ a laser! Wednesday night, I headed up river to the best little maker lab I could find, and got schooled in using the laser cutter! Design considerations, software, safety, all culminating in controlling […] Read more »

by Mari Robeson Everyday can be special, when you welcome friends and family around your table. Mari Robeson—Interior Design expert and Contributor—helps us do so with style and function. Mari takes us inside the world of design, and helps us bring beauty and color to the places we call home.   I love entertaining. The way you set your table and present your entrees can […] Read more »

by Sherri Blum Here’s a fun DIY for you and the kids, from our Nursery and Kids Room Design Expert and Contributor, Sherri Blum. A pioneer specialist for children’s-room interior design, Sherri designs for celebrities, and for the baby next door. Let’s face it, most children’s rooms are small. And considering that these rooms usually hold more junk stuff than most, parents find ourselves dealing […] Read more »

As studded-up shoes stomp down the fashion runways, watch for more ways to out your inner rocker with your home accents. Side-studded Faux Suede Decorative Pillow at Overstock. Spot-On Studded Leather Boxes Studs and nailheads are leaping off edges, moving from trim to the featured decoration. And the pyramid stud—formerly punking only leather cuffs and collars—is going mainstream. Pyramid Studded Mirror at Lamps Plus Pyramid-Studded […] Read more »

A traditional handicraft can add warmth and character to a space. A graphic Amish quilt suspended as a headboard, a braided rag rug anchoring the coffee table, Grandma’s crocheted, zig-zag throw draped over the arm of a club chair. Or colorful, textural crewel embroidery. As a young girl, I spent many an evening cranking out chain and satin stitches, and flocks of french knots. You’d […] Read more »

by Mari Robeson It’s party time and Mari Robeson has good advice for us. Mari—Interior Design expert and Contributor—takes us inside the world of design, and helps us bring beauty and color to the places we call home.   What a wonderful holiday season it has been and just two days left to say good-bye to 2010. No doubt you’ve been invited to numerous New […] Read more »

It’s time for another design influence, on Day #14 of 30 Days of DIY Designer Ornaments. This time we turn to the Arts and Crafts movement. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a notable designer of the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements. One of his most recognizable motifs is his geometric “Mackintosh Rose.” I love the simple, tumbling layers of the Mackintosh Rose, and decided […] Read more »

Our Contributors here at HomeWorkshop.com are a talented tribe of design doers, and I am amazed daily at their creations. Excitement abounds today as I announce that our maven of makeovers and wrangler of reuse has published her first Ebook!! Diana Durkes put her sandpaper, paintbrush, camera and keyboard into overdrive, and Secondhand Shabby, her 90-page downloadable Ebook is here!! Inside, Diana demonstrates how to: […] Read more »

The Rules, Straight from the Source It’s a dirty little secret for many of us. Thanksgiving morning—roast-turkey scent wafting throughout the ground-floor, guests wheels up and on the way—we’re bothered by a nagging uncertainty – the voice in our heads murmering, Where exactly does the salad fork go? Mom or Grandma may have clued you in years ago, but the details—mixed with that early glass […] Read more »

Haute Height Chart™ Now Available in My Shop! Loved it the moment Jessa ZG showed me a photo. Her pop-art creation for tracking little one’s growth is Clean, Colorful, Contemporary. Not just a growth chart, but a work of art. To be sure the product was good enough for you, I borrowed a sample, and gave it the two-year-old test. Aah, our model-in-the-making in front […] Read more »

A Quick Announcement: I just heard from our friend and Senior Fobotologist, Amy Flynn, about her Annual Year-End FOBOT Sale, happening: This Monday, November 1 Starting at Noon Eastern Time At ifobot.com You’ll recall Amy’s fun and funky FOBOTS (Found Object Robots) from our Artist Profile back in May. Amy will be uploading about 50+ new bots for sale Monday at ifobot.com. Rumors are, you […] Read more »

by Mari Robeson Today we travel along with Mari Robeson, as she finds design inspiration at an antiques show. Mari—Interior Design expert and Contributor—takes us inside the world of design, and helps us bring beauty and color to the places we call home. This is not your grandmother’s antique show! One of my favorite things about being Interior Designer is that I’m always working with […] Read more »