In addition to passionate design hobbyists, incredibly talented design and home professionals follow HomeWorkshop.com. This includes many interior designers, architects, set designers, contractors, home stagers — the list goes on.

And I know from visiting, talking and tweeting with you all, that a major focus in the Trade right now is making choices that are better for this Earth.

You use greener materials, finishes and furnishings that [...] 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 »

Design Expert: Kelly Van Patter

An awarding-winning Production Designer for television shows such as Survivor and The Apprentice, Kelly Van Patter is passionate about making smart choices for our planet and our pocketbooks.

Kelly is focusing her efforts on green design for the entertainment industry, residential construction and interior design; she shares her knowledge and advice with us in Be More Green and Save Green.

Click the arrow [...] Read more »

Inspiration from two creative women converged for this DIY winter decoration. Our makeover maven, Diana Durkes and her Recycled Sweater Rug, and my Mom—wreath-maker extraordinaire.

I knew I’d design a wreath this year. I grew up watching Mom wire all variety dried flora to round metal frames. I remember a year in New Hampshire when she had Dad drilling tiny holes through walnuts and chestnuts. [...] Read more »

by Diana Durkes

Today let’s work some DIY magic with our furniture and accessories makeover specialist, Contributor Diana Durkes. Diana gives “New Life to the Tossed and Found” at her blog, Fine Diving in Chicago.

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Not that anybody asked me, but in my opinion, crafters are geniuses. They take often overlooked bits of things, parts big and small, and put them together in the most practical and [...] Read more »

You know when your computer hard drive melts down and steam comes out your ears and you want to smash the whole thing up with a hammer? When it happened to Allan Young of Charlottesville, Virginia, he was mad, but then he did something different.

“One day at work I had a hard drive crash and lost a lot of work. Very devastating,”

said Allan.

“I have been [...] Read more »

I came across this promising new solar product and just had to share.

Solar technology = Good.

Solar panels on your roof = Not so good looking. Until now.

SRS Energy has created a solar solution with

curb appeal.

Its Solé Power Tile™ is shaped to mimic clay tiles, and designed to integrate with existing clay tile from US Tile, the leading manufacturer of clay roof tiles in [...] Read more »

Wish I’d thought of it. The creative peeps over at Organelle Design took ordinary clothes hangers and plastic bottles, applied their reuse wizardry and made these wonderful light fixtures.

I just adore the “Hangeliers.” Here’s the wooden version.

You can buy the gorgeous fixtures over at Organelle’s Etsy Shop

(via 2Modern.)

Which of the fixtures would look best in your space? Read more »

by Diana Durkes

Get your DIY on as our furniture and accessories makeover specialist, Contributor Diana Durkes joins us again today. Diana gives “New Life to the Tossed and Found” at her blog, Fine Diving in Chicago.

I was excited to find this framed mirror at a yard sale last weekend. The square shape was friendly, though its industrial grey paint color gave a mixed message. I [...] Read more »

by Diana Durkes

Get your DIY on as furniture makeover and upcycler specialist, Contributor Diana Durkes joins us again today. Diana gives “New Life to the Tossed and Found” at her blog, Fine Diving in Chicago.

This month’s makeover is a favorite of mine for adding fresh color or a new layer of pattern to a room. It’s also a great way to use the beautiful printed [...] Read more »

Here’s an uncommon accent—ball-shaped pillows.

Taryn showed me her groovy Recycled T-shirt ‘Sphere Pillow’ from her Talking Squid Etsy Store and I was hooked. Superb in her client’s space, don’t you think?

Here’s a closeup of her shredded, recycled t-shirt pillow.

Then I found some more texture in Realm Dekor’s rockin’ ‘Retro’ and ‘Fuzzy’ spheres:

You and the kids can have a killer pillow fight with Handmade Prettie’s [...] Read more »

by Diana Durkes

We are in for a treat today, when furniture makeover and upcycler specialist Diana Durkes joins us as a HomeWorkshop.com Contributor. Diana gives “New Life to the Tossed and Found” at her blog, Fine Diving in Chicago.

I’m a plaids and stripes kind of person. Something about vibrant colors arranged in sensible lines and angles will have me forever gravitating to a vintage [...] Read more »

Do you have a thing for funky end tables? I do. I adore a whimsical and unexpected spot to hold my magazine and cup o’ joe. Crisp-painted cottage end tables, worn flea-market trunks, shiny new aluminum numbers; they have me at “Hello.”

So I smiled when I came across these unusual end tables over at Bambeco. Cool shapes and tactlie textures that add an [...] Read more »

by GraceAnn Simoni

Today we are joined by Contributor GraceAnn Simoni, a Redesign Specialist and Instructor from the Chicagoland area. From time to time, GraceAnn will be sharing budget tips and advice for decorating with your existing furniture and accessories.

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“Green” design and decorating goes way beyond just purchasing the new products on the market.

Each of us has the ability to apply “green” decorating initiatives in our [...] Read more »

Isn’t it interesting how we can stumble upon a way of doing something? That’s how it was for Joel Hesterof The Weld House. Joel told me how he came to build these one-of-a-kind tables that he creates in his Mesquite, Texas studio.

“I had a 30-something customer bring me a small, metal, original beer sign to incorporate into the top of a coffee table I was [...] Read more »