Window treatment ideas (link)

Check out these window treatments for your home. Suggestions include: Minimal is in; Let in more light; and Pick contemporary colors. [That's a little limiting, I think. I'd rather have something that works with the room.] And there are more links to other ideas.

Link:
Six Tips for Great Window Treatments : Kitchens : Home & Garden Television

Dark colors on your walls

This home ideas website/blog (AOL) focuses on dark walls. Gray is apparently popular now, though not everyone cares for it (see comments) and you do have to be careful. Link: Trend Watch: Gray Walls - Shelterpop

I've always been fond of one wall being a different shade. I wonder if a different shade of gray would work, or if you need a lighter color...

Wheel Estate

Wheel Estate (Johns Hopkins Press, 1997) is an in-depth look at mobile homes and housing. It was originally published in hardcover by Oxford University Press in 1991, and it's dated, but full of historical background and photos.

I bought it when I discovered that my uncles, who were pioneers in the mobile home field (they began building them on my grandparents's farm, where I was born), are mentioned in it. (They would really gnash their teeth when people called mobile homes trailers. I was raised knowing the difference.)

For a while my family lived next to the first factory (Rollohome) and I'd visit it sometimes.

Contemporary kitchen (link)

Laquered light beige cabinets, quartz countertops, glass appliances, and a red wall covered with glass--a backsplash--to protect it. Check out this Asian modern kitchen: Designer Portfolio : DP KITCHENS : Home & Garden Television (See other contemporary kitchens there too.)

Those upper cabinets seem short against the red wall. Is it because they're lost in that big space? Is it because of higher ceilings? I've seen other cabinets recently that seem short also. Is it a trend? Are they cheaper?

HGTV's Dream Home for 2010

The 2010 HGTV Dream Home will be done in the Southwestern style. It looks a lot more interesting than previous homes. Here's the link for background info and plans: Building the 2010 HGTV Dream Home : HGTVPro.com

Design ideas on a budget (link)

This article covers the basics--Do it yourself or get family or friends to help, shop secondhand stores, check out seconds, spruce up old pieces, ask about sales and discounts, and remember "... there's no better budget stretcher than your own imagination." Link: Design Ideas on a Budget : Decorating : Home & Garden Television

I have a concrete garden bench at the end of my bed, btw. It's not going anywhere when the dogs bounce off and on it. (Your legs will learn to avoid it.) Fancy sheets make cheap coverlets; and I have a fancy rug runner on the dining room table.

My children's and teen's stories

I've had dog and cat stories published in Dog Song and I Love Cats; and Sammy's Beautiful Tail, an ebook, is "out of print" too, but Why Won't Anyone Play with Me?, a picture book, is available from Barnes & Noble.com - Book Search: Why Won't Anyone Play with Me? , among other online vendors. And you can read Taking Tawny Home at Story Station: Viatouch - Learning & Leisure - Story Station "Taking Tawny Home"

Taking Tawny Home is a sequel to Lost in the Long Dark, which was published online in Alien Skin. Both stories are in my story collection, Aliens, Animals, and Adventure, which is available from Anthology Builder: AnthologyBuilder: create your ideal anthology

Concrete countertops (link)

"Concrete countertops are an affordable alternative to granite and synthetic solid surfaces." Check out these ideas--and see how it's done--at HGTVPro.com: Slideshow : Concrete Countertops: Design & Installation : HGTVPro.com There's also a concrete table and chairs that look really uncomfortable.

Energy-efficient home plans (link)

This HGTVPro website has pictures and info on homes designed for energy efficiency: House plans, home plans, floor plans, home blueprints, construction plans, home designer, house plan at hgtvpro.homeplans.com

Color tips (link)

The Top 10 color tips on this HGTV website include the 60-30-10 rule, which means 60% for the main color, 30% for a second color, and 10% for the accent color. In a room, this usually means 60% on the walls, 30% on the upholstery, and 10% with an accent piece. This obviously is a guideline, not a rule. One accent piece?! What about patterned upholstery? And draperies? Get out of this box now!

Link: Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space : Decorating : Home & Garden Television

Gardening decor ideas

I received a Gardener's Supply Company catalog (Late summer 2009) recently, and it's full of fun things for living large outside. There are even more solar-powered lights--and a fountain! There are glass birdbaths--one with the warning, "Do not place birdbath in areas that contain bark mulch or other flammable materials." Another glass birdbath says, "Protect from freezing." [I keep glass to a minimum outdoors.]

There are also water barrels (the urn is beautiful) and compost bins, along with pond and plant supplies and ornaments. And the seed packet marker is a great idea; it protects your seed packet. Btw, though there's a good selection of compost pails, I still use cut-down plastic milk cartons. Link: Gardeners Supply Company Garden Supplies and Gardening Tips for Home Gardeners

Bathroom fans (link)

From Ed Del Grande's blog:

"With all those plumbing fixtures packed into a small space, most bathrooms will inevitably be very moist areas. To my dismay, many homeowners and their family members never use the exhaust fan for their bathroom unless it's wired directly in with the main bathroom light switch. I bet some of you believe that you are using your exhaust fans properly, and think the fan is just meant for eliminating bathroom odors when company is over. While your bathroom fan does help to control normal odors, the real reason for an exhaust fan in your bathroom is to control the moisture."

For more: Ed Del Grande: Ask Ed -- Why Is a Bathroom Fan So Important? (HGTVPro.com)

Carpet and rug ideas (link)

FLOR carpet squares can be fun to experiment with, and they make a great custom area rug. I've always enjoyed their choices, but having pets, I avoid carpet, and most of my rugs are washable. And I'm not fond of rugs on carpet, but I'm sure that sometimes it's a lovely and interesting choice. Btw, how come animal prints haven't gone out of style yet?! For more ideas, see: Be Inspired: 6 Stylish Carpets and Area Rugs : Decorating : Home & Garden Television

Home furnishing and decorating ideas

There are some interesting articles and photos in the August issue of Country Living. I enjoyed the roundup of America's favorite silverware patterns. Queen Elizabeth (Towle Silversmiths) is elegant; the others are fancier, but Eloquence (Lunt Silversmiths) is too ostentatious.

The furnishing of the set for Julia Child's kitchen (for the movie, Julie & Julia) was interesting. They had to build Child's signature Peg-Board and Norwegian armchair, but found Spode Blue Willow dishes, etc. Child was 6'2", btw, and had high counters. (Meryl Streep stands on a platform to appear taller.)

There are decorating-with-fern prints ideas, restaurant plate collectibles, and ideas for flower arrangements. Folding back tulip petals gives you a fantastic look! Lots of other decorating ideas too; a real estate sampler of homes available next to protected land, including Yosemite National Park; and there's a cute French bulldog in a Pedigree ad.

Flooring choices (link)

These flooring choices include concrete, hardwoood, bamboo, tile, and marble. (You can have complimentary (sic) marble countertops with your bathroom's marble floor.) Link: Slideshow : Remodeling Photo Gallery: Flooring : HGTVPro.com