Recently, I bought my husband an espresso/ cappuccino machine and the purchase made the two of us reevaluate what we have on our kitchen counter tops. Were we using the small appliances that were taking up space?

Are you using all of the small appliances on your counters, daily?

Our toaster, coffee maker and blender certainly have been earning their keep. But our food processor, juicer and waffle maker, which are used infrequently, were not worthy of our precious counter top real estate and had already been stored away. Since the new machine would not be used daily, we decided it, too, would grace a shelf on our kitchen island where it would be accessible yet out of the way – I get urges for frothy soy hot chocolates with cinnamon sticks!

Frothy hot chocolate - yum!

Do you feel you could use more counter space?

An appliance garage

Unless you have an appliance garage or a very big kitchen, why not take a minute to reevaluate which machines you use a lot and which might be put away? If you do, you may be surprised to find you can create more workroom and, at the same time, make your kitchen look a lot more spacious, too.

There are so many great new outdoor decorative accessories and furnishings coming onto the market today; it’s fun creating/redesigning fresh air “rooms” where clients can read, relax, entertain and eat. One of the benefits of having a well-utilized outdoor space is that it really does make a house seem quite a bit bigger than it actually is.

Time to light up!

This year, two of my favorite things are Restoration Hardware’s Laguna Fire Tables and Fire Columns. These modern concrete pieces are stylish and can add drama to an outdoor room at night, throughout the year. The compact Fire Columns can also work well on smaller patios and terraces where space is limited (they come in various sizes, shapes and finishes).

Now, my husband can have the fireplace he loves…  outside of our Florida house! Hot, indeed.

If you are in the market for a new sofa, dining table or bed, or any other big piece of furniture, it’s a good idea to measure your door frames and any narrow hallways leading to the room, before making the purchase, besides checking the dimensions of the room itself. All of this information is vital if you are buying something large that is on final sale.

Do you think your home might present delivery men with a challenge?

Staircases and elevators can be a problem for delivery people, so remember to take these measurements and angles into consideration, too, and advise your salesperson. If you have any doubts the piece will fit, ask the store to send someone to measure your space. This step can save you a lot of time, money and agita.

One of the most frequently asked questions I hear from my clients is, “What size rug is best to use in a conversation area?”

Which size rug is right for your room?

The 3 most popular standard sizes for a family room or living room rug are: 6′ x 9′, 8′ x 10′ and 9′ x 12′. Here is a breakdown to help you determine which dimensions might be right for your room:

6′ x 9′ – This size will anchor your conversation area and may or may not allow the front legs of your sofa and chairs to sit on it.

A 6' x 9' rug

If you are purchasing a new rug and want to save money, buying a smaller size such as a 6′ x 9′ is a good option. In addition, you will probably get a lot of use from a smaller rug as the size will fit into almost any room, should you decide you’d like to switch things around in your home.

8′ x 10′ – This classic size will allow the front legs of your sofa and chairs to sit on it and will actually reach the mid-point under most seats.

9′ x12′ – If you have a fairly large room and you’d like all of the legs of your conversation area seating to be on top of the rug, this is probably the right size for you.

a 9' x 12' rug

One consideration: Plan ahead. If you intend to downsize in the future, a smaller rug will safely fit in the family room or living room of your smaller-scale home.