Centsational Style

We have a row of fine dining restaurants in the downtown area of my hometown.  Years ago, we made friends with Marco, the owner of a Zagat rated Italian restaurant called Risibisi (meaning ‘rice and peas’ in Italian).  A few weeks ago, Marco hired me redo his front window.  My task was to inject some…

Perhaps you saw my tweet a few days ago where I mentioned the peacock feathers I purchased at Pier One. J’adore les plumes de paon. They’re an exotic, distinctive ornament – there is no mistaking it. But like any animal print, one must exercise restraint. Less is always more. I have long been in love…

A few weeks ago, I picked up a mini ottoman at a thrift store for $5 dollars.  It was a beige patterned fabric that was ordinary, but nothing special.  I dreamed of a perch in my office for my feet and my morning coffee, so I set my sights on reupholstering it in a pale…

I moved into my new desk space in my home office/library last night, and it feels like a whole new world.  Throughout this remodel process, I was committed to the idea that I was not going to use anything industrial to hold my office supplies.  That aisle at Staples filled with black plastic letter holders…

Sometimes, you get really lucky being in the right place at just the right time.  My local Villeroy & Boch outlet was closing its doors last month, and they were selling all of their display cabinets for $20 dollars each.  My jaw dropped.  I was giddy with excitement!  At those prices, I could redo my…

Okay, so I finally sat down to answer some of your questions from this recent post.  Quite frankly, I’d rather talk about DIY or design instead of myself, so I’m going to answer a few questions now and perhaps some more later.   Because I’d rather focus on some of my upcoming projects.  So here goes:…

I’ve recently been asked by several readers what tools I consider essential to be a successful DIYer.   Now some gals are proud of their closets full of designer shoes and clothing.  (Need I say Mariah?  Kimora?  Eva?  Paula?)  Not me.  Don’t get me wrong, I love clothes, handbags and shoes too, but I don’t have…

If you thought you were getting a juicy discussion on Hollywood’s best lifts and enhancements, I’m truly sorry to disappoint.  This topic is not nearly as scintillating.  I’m talking about closet doors.  Those standard white doors installed by contractors in every house built in America in the last 15 years.  (That is, unless you can…

I’m right in the middle of remodeling my home office, taking it from blah blah brown to a more chic and glamorous space.  It’s getting a total overhaul from top to bottom, but on a budget.  I purchased some cabinets with glass shelves from the local Villeroy & Boch outlet store that closed its doors,…

I am overwhelmed at the positive response to yesterday’s post about the staircase remodel.  Thank you so much for your kind words.  As you can recall from the ‘After’ picture, I not only redid the railing, but for additional drama, I added a wallpaper treatment to the very blank and boring wall.  Originally, I was…