By Nancy March 27th, 2013
Rugs are like art. They are personal, unique, and their patterns can have fascinating history. I have a brother-in-law from Egypt, and each time he and my sister visit his family there, they bring me back a small rug. Each one is different from the other, and I treasure them as I do my other […]
By Nancy March 20th, 2013
Who remembers the Xanadu house in Wisconsin Dells? I went there on a family vacation, I’m sure it was in the early 1980’s, and I will never forget that house. I thought it was the most amazing place ever and I wanted so badly for my family to move to Wisconsin Dells so I could live […]
By Nancy March 13th, 2013
In Irish mythology, sovereignty was represented as a woman in a blue robe, and blue was originally associated with Saint Patrick. Over time, though, green became the favored association that we know and love today. According to popular history, Saint Patrick used the green shamrock with its three leaves to explain the Trinity to the Irish in the […]
By Nancy March 8th, 2013
Spring is a great time to think about new beginnings. It’s no surprise that for the last 26 years the local Remodeler’s Showcase tour has helped countless people plan for a fresh start in their kitchen, bathroom, or their whole house. Being able to see a remodeling project in a house like yours, in a […]
By Nancy March 6th, 2013
Isaac Newton invented the color wheel in 1666. I have had the same color wheel for almost 20 years. Why get a new one, the information doesn’t change. I keep it by my desk and read the definitions and study it every so often. Following is a primer on color definitions: Primary Colors: Red, yellow, […]
By Nancy February 27th, 2013
We’ve been hearing about the “Man Cave” for years, but not so much about the “Woman Cave”. I have heard some men say something like “women have the whole house, we only get one room.” I guess the thought is that women get the kitchen, bathroom, kid’s rooms, and laundry. Really? This sign is at a […]
By Nancy February 20th, 2013
Look through any current home catalog or magazine and you are sure to be almost blinded by the fabulous jewel tones and bright colors. Optimism is in the air! Liven up a room with a new rug or accessories, or paint an entire wall in an eye-popping shade. Here are a few of our favorites for […]
By Nancy February 13th, 2013
I just met a local artist, Jean Berry, and am so excited about her work! I’m always in awe of people who can put pigment on a canvas in a meaningful way, but some of her paintings have SO MUCH ENERGY that I am just blown away. For Jean, painting is a very intuitive process, […]
By Nancy February 6th, 2013
A contractor friend and I were talking about common “design mistakes” we’re often called on to fix, and he showed me a picture of a bathroom project he’s working on. Take a look at this picture, it’s not hard to find the flaw in the layout. There is over eight feet of space devoted to the toilet, which by […]