Sneak Peak: White Bear Lake Home Before & After and Exciting News

What a pleasure it is to make a house a home!

This family loved the design work I created in their living room, master bedroom, and dinning room; they have now asked me to remodel and design the rest of their home!

I am honored and excited to once again work with my talent contractor and crew to create this families' life style into their living environment.

Here are a few before and after snap shots:

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After:

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How to Add High Style to Your Family Photographs With Materials in Your Home

I love hanging photographs of my family in my home and office.

I also find myself asking my clients for special photographs to hang in their spaces; as personal photographs adds instant impact and emotional connection.

Here are a few inside designer tricks to add high style to frames with items you may have in your home. This project will take less than five minutes.

I have created a grouping of sailing photos taken over 40 years and backed the images with vintage lake maps. You can also create continuity to a group of unrelated images by using the same backing material.

It is very easy to be inspired with this simple project. I liked the pattern on this shopping bag and cut it to fit this frame.

I like the pattern and shine of this shopping bag.

This image is backed by a piece of fabric.

This image is backed by a piece of wallpaper.

This image is backed by a piece of sandpaper.

Master Bedroom Design Board & Feng Shui

Here is a design board for my current master bedroom project. I am excited to work beside my carpenter to create this modern day canopy. My client wanted lots of rich fabrics and bold patterns. I will work with a subtle wall treatment to balance textures, fabrics, and patterns.

I use basic feng shui principles in my design practice. I like to use the color red in master bedrooms. The color red carries the energy of fire. Fire represents the energy of sun, life, excitement, joy and sexual desire. Red ignites passion- which in turn adds stimulation to a lack luster relationship.

The color also signifies richness and luxury. I use caution when working with red as can be over stimulating. I find the feng shui principles with the color red are easily achieved by designing and decorating with red accessories, linens, and small furnishing rather than a wall color or large furniture.

I will post photos of the finished master bedroom.

Do-It-Yourself Elegant Granite Entertaining Platter

Summer Entertaining is One of My Favorite Ways to Spend Time with my Loved Ones.

This project came to me while shopping for granite counter tops for one of my clients. While I was deciding on color and texture, I asked the store owner if I could buy a few granite remnants to help me make my choice. The store owner was very generous and told me I could just have the remnants. ( I am not sure this would be the case for all stores. I had made a very large purchase the week before- other store will sell pieces for under $20.)

After my client and I decided on the granite for their home, I had two lovely pieces of granite to put to good D-I-Y use.

I decide to make entertaining platters with the remnants.

This project's cost was under $10. I purchased craft glass glue and four rubber stoppers from Michael's Craft Store. I recommend putting the glue on the bottom of the stopper and then hold the stopper in place on the underside of the granite for a minute.

Photography By: Keith McKenna

Chandeliers In Unsuspected Places Throughout Your Home

Chandeliers add Glamour and an Element of Surprise- When Added to Area of Your Home Beside the Dinning Room. Please View Some of My Favorite Ways to add a Chandelier to Any Space:

Creating Impact With Mirrors

Mirrors add style and sophistication to our homes. Here are a few design tricks that outline why I enjoy working with mirrors:

Shine A little Light

A mirror hung to reflect a window gives the illusion of another window in the room. The space will look bigger and, depending on the weather report, brighter.

Add Space

Prop up a large mirror (at least three-fourths as tall as the wall). It’s a classic interior decorator’s trick to create instant―square footage.

Bring the Drama

Venetian mirrors — which have designs etched into their surface — glam up any room: bedroom, bathroom, entryway, and even dining room.

Illusion and Impact

Break up a mirrored wall with moulding or hang smaller square mirrors evenly from ceiling down for a polished look and to create the illusion of more space