by Lia Fagan

Here’s makeover motivation for the weekend, from my new Canadian friend, Interior Designer Lia Fagan. (I seem to make lots of Canadian friends—must be the hockey gusto.)

Lia can spy neglected furniture cowering in the corner of any second-hand store; and she has the beauty kit to give it new life – literally. Enjoy this guest post from Lia, where she introduces us [...] Read more »

by GraceAnn Simoni

It’s that time again parents; and here’s some great advice to set your kids up for success, from Contributor GraceAnn Simoni. An Interior Redesign and Staging Specialist and Instructor from the Chicagoland area, GraceAnn shares with us budget tips and advice for decorating with your existing furniture and accessories.

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The kids are going back in school and the homework is starting. Have you [...] Read more »

If you’ve been visiting HomeWorkshop.com for any length of time, you know that I’m enamored with the design of chairs. To design a comfortable and attractive chair is not an easy thing, and that’s why good chair designs become classics. Read more about classic chair designs here.

That’s why I was thrilled when I came across cutoutpaper’s Limited Edition Laser Cuts – unusual art that [...] Read more »

My walls have never been the place for the blah. If it’s bold, colorful, and graphic – sign me up. And as you know, I’m a fervent DIY’er.

So when I saw Lola Gavarry’s new book, DIY Art at Home, 28 Simple Projects for Chic Decor on the Cheap (Watson-Guptill Publications, 2010), I snatched up a copy.

Gavarry, a designer who creates artwork for residential clients [...] Read more »

Transform IKEA Seating in Tricia Guild Style

Tiring of that plain-vanilla IKEA armchair? Or when the neighbors come for dinner, does that pasta stain make you shuffle your dining chairs?

Check out the slipcovers from Stockholm, Sweden-based BEMZ, which are designed to fit most IKEA chairs and sofas – even discontinued models. And now, you can adorn your furniture with the innovative patterns of Designers Guild.

For [...] Read more »

by Regina Garay

Let’s put the alphabet to creative use, with our Decorative Painting and Surface Design Expert, and Contributor Regina Garay. Regina blogs about her artistry and inspiration

at Fauxology.

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In the midst of creating a warm space for themselves, many homeowners decide to bring in a more personal touch with lettering designs.  These can include important quotes, the family crest or monograms.  And businesses need to [...] Read more »

From the Archives: Deck out your Independence Day table with flair, when you whip up a batch of our Patriotic Peeps Placemats – personalized for the family!

It’s a fun DIY project! Click here for complete instructions. Read more »

There’s still time to make Mom smile, when she sees the handmade Mother’s Day gift from you or the kids. We are lucky enough to be enjoying Mom’s company this Mother’s Day, as she has flown in for a visit with the California family.

A quick, fun reuse project is our Sweet Stands. Put some together by Saturday and you can host Mom for a beautiful [...] Read more »

by Regina Garay

Let’s dance with paint today with our Decorative Painting and Surface Design Expert, and Contributor Regina Garay. Regina blogs about her creative work and inspiration

at Fauxology.

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My friend, Sharon Adelman, is a true DIYer.  She loves color, she loves design, she loves learning new skills…it’s the starting that’s the hard part. 

We were recently on a double date with our husbands and were talking [...] Read more »

Here’s a practical project that adds a touch of whimsy to your couch.

“Where’s the remote, Mom? Hey!! Have you seen the remote?”

The interrogation and cushion tossing begins in family rooms across the country. You’d better hope we can find the remote before the opening face-off of The Sharks game.

The solution? A Pocket Pillow to hold the remote. And this one’s extra-special, crafted from recycled denim [...] Read more »

by Diana Durkes

Don your possibilities spectacles and scour the alleys, Design Junkies! It’s DIY time with furniture and accessories makeover specialist, Contributor Diana Durkes. Diana gives “New Life to the Tossed and Found” at her blog, Fine Diving.

This cupboard deserved a second lease on life, I thought when I came upon it in the alley last month. It was in well-used but sturdy shape and [...] Read more »

by GraceAnn Simoni

Here’s a speedy DIY decor update from Contributor GraceAnn Simoni, Interior Redesign and Staging Specialist and Instructor from the Chicagoland area. GraceAnn shares budget tips and advice for decorating with your existing furniture and accessories.

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Spring and good weather are finally here. The sun

is shining and the birds are singing outside my

office window.

This means I will again get out the spray [...] Read more »

by Regina Garay

We’re doin’ the DIY today with our Decorative Painting and Surface Design Expert, and Contributor Regina Garay. Regina blogs about her creative work and inspiration

at Fauxology.

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As a decorative painter, I have access to many finishes and techniques that transform surfaces.  A few years ago, I discovered a beautiful lamp in a gorgeous bright lime green.  I bought it and it worked for a [...] Read more »

Here’s a real, live, high-end design for less.

We got fantastic feedback on the story about Marsh & Clark’s elegant and contemporary powder room design for the 2009 San Francisco Decorator Showcase.

I was thrilled when Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt wrote me about another version of the room they recently completed. Here’s the new room:

Photographs by Elisabeth Fall

As you’ll recall, the original room featured an incredible stone [...] Read more »

You know that one friend you have that leaves a trail of merriment wherever she goes? You know the one who can somehow smile and laugh when she’s stuck for an hour on a stalled subway train?

I just met two of those people.

Seattle-area Interior Designers Piper Salooga and Sara Eizen have fun with what they do. At their latest Home Accessories Swap they scanned [...] Read more »