From the yearly archives:

2009

Another 365 Chances

December 29, 2009 Going Green

It’s hard to believe that 2009 is almost over and the second decade of the millennium will begin in a couple of days.  It has been a memorable year, in many ways, and I am counting all of the blessings and lessons that have made it significant. Aside from evaluating the past, have you also [...]

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A Use What You Have Christmas at the White House

December 23, 2009 Accessories

This year the Obamas did things a bit differently than past occupants to decorate “the people’s house:” they decided to reuse approximately 800 ornaments that were left over from previous administrations and sent them to 60 local community groups around the country for redecoration. Simon Doonan, who is well known for his original displays in [...]

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L-Shape Bad, U-Shape Good!

December 14, 2009 Downsizing

If you are downsizing to a smaller home and own a sectional sofa, consider removing one or two armless seats to create a better-fitting unit. A couple I consulted with last week had an L-shaped sectional that was not working in their new living room. While the sofa was attractive and fit the space, the [...]

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What Trash!

December 8, 2009 Accessories

At this time of year, with holiday decorations taking up lots of space, it’s especially important that we rid our homes of junk mail and catalogs. There are a couple of steps we can take to proactively prevent pile-ups and save more trees: calling or emailing the senders; asking to opt out of future mailings, [...]

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Recycling Down Under And Up Above

November 30, 2009 Going Green

When the Union Square subway station in New York was renovated a few years ago, the original 14th Street tile-work was salvaged and turned into beautiful stone-backed columns; each a tribute to old-world craftsmanship. The redesign used what was there to transform the former markers into modern works of art. Right now, above the station [...]

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Hungry Yet?

November 27, 2009 Places & Things To See

If you live in the New York area and you’re not too stuffed to think about food, I’d like to share the names of a couple of casual restaurants where my decorator trainees and I enjoyed lunch last week. The first, Le Petite Cafe on Court Street in Carroll Gardens Brooklyn, has a magical enclosed [...]

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Bits And Pieces

November 9, 2009 Interior Decorating and Redesign

If you would like to freshen up your home for fall and the coming holidays, you don’t have to spend a lot of money. Consider buying a pair of pretty sofa pillows or have some new covers made for your existing cushions. That’s what I did last week: I had some pale banana-colored pillow covers [...]

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LOVE Before And After Makeovers

November 2, 2009 Living Up To Your Full Potential

I just returned from the home of a client I’d worked with previously. When I first met the woman, who is in her late 40s, she’d hired me to redecorate four rooms. At the end of her consultation she asked if I had ever helped clients with personal styling, too. I explained that I have [...]

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