Shelterpop

"I Love My Wife, But She Has Too Much Stuff"

Van Sias — 2011-02-10T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Projects, Furniture

He wants to live in a minimalist space. She likes a home filled with keepsakes. Will they find decor bliss? We send them to therapy.

OK, a couch in the living room I get, but do we really need a footstool? Bookshelves, sure, but a school desk from "Little House on the Prairie"? When I look around my house, I often wonder if we really need all of this extra furniture and decor that my wife has outfitted our home with.

The writer, his wife and their two-year-old daughter. Photo: Van Sias

A home should be a respite from the busy streets of New York, a calm place where you can stretch out, feel Zen. I picture Danish furniture with spare lines, cool colors and a lot of space in between every item. Blank space relaxes me. Instead, since my wife and I moved in together nearly three years ago, I feel like I'm living on some crazy intercontinental overcrowded train.

There's a Moroccan rug and a kimono hanging on the wall, a thousand travel books on wall-to-wall bookshelves, an antique school desk, a Pakistani carpet, a Chinese chest and a bright purple painting from Mexico City. There's an orange couch and red walls, plus a dining room table, end tables, a coffee table and a table for our daughter.

We only live in a one-bedroom apartment -- how is it possible we have that many tables?

The writer with the kimono his wife used to decorate one of their rooms. Photo: Van Sias

When I ask my wife Nancy about her kimono and Moroccan rug and all of those tables, she rolls her eyes. "First of all, who complains that there are too many area rugs?" she said. "The floors underneath are not beautiful -- they are laminate. And second of all, each item of furniture is piled high with your stuff, so I suspect we need more, rather than less."

Maybe it comes with spending so much time living in studio apartments over the years, where every inch was sacred and you couldn't afford to have extra furnishings. But I could do with the bare neccessities: a sofa, a chair, a light and that's about it. I acknowledge this is unrealistic when you have a 2-year-old daughter, but we could at least move closer to it. Right?

Wrong. Nancy is clearly winning the debate: She believes that beautiful things are what make a home. For a long time, before we were married and after she returned from the Peace Corps, rather than buying furniture, she would buy another plane ticket. "Why would I use this money to buy a couch when I could go to Rio?" she'd think.

But when she got her own place, she says her home became her newest journey. "My etchings from that fishing village in Morocco are in the living room," she says. "A gorgeous chest from China holds old bank statements, old letters, old pictures and now, your comic books. And the year I became a high school principal, I found an antique school desk -- you know, the kind that was bolted to the floor -- that looks great in the entryway, a perfect place for us to put the mail."

She says that every item in our house has sentimental value. "My dad passed away four years ago, but the butcher block he built is still in our dining room," she says. "I haven't been home to Maine in years, but our bed is made of beams taken from our old barn, just before it crumbled. For me, none of this is clutter. It's the fabric of my life, and now our life together. It's all essential."

Is there a way for us to merge our styles? I asked two experts: one designer and a marital counselor for help.

The counselor, a friend of ours named Carolyn Faust Piro, helps straighten out family-related issues. Her advice: Stop squabbling over something so silly. "Knowing which battles to pick is important. Save your energy for bigger and better things," she said.

"Think: Will this chair (or whatever it is) be here in 15 years?" she said. "Be able to let go!"

Designer Jason Bell took our problems a bit more seriously. I figured Bell, an old friend from high school would surely be on my side, right? Well...

He admits that couples can do a few things to merge their different styles. First, pull it all together with color. "Unify the color pallette and your space will visually mold together and seem/feel much bigger," he said. In doing this, I may not be bothered by all of the extra stuff, since it will all sort of blend together.

And what about the quadrillion tables we seem to have, I asked him. "If I were your designer, I would highly advise you to give some serious consideration to function and scale," Jason said. "From a function perspective, a living room should have three to four tables; it depends on how many seats you have."

But for Nancy and I, Jason really has some strong feelings on what we should do: Hire a designer or ask someone you both trust.

"They will be honest with you and tell you what does and doesn't work, and how to achieve a happy compromise," he says.

"It might be painful on both sides, but having that middle person solves a lot," he adds. "Sort of like a therapist, they usually only work if you are honest with them and willing to change!"

Check out more great Valentine's Day stories!

And for more great coupling stories, don't miss:
Best Beds for Sex
House Tips to Jumpstart Your Sex Life
10 Feng Shui Tips to Improve Your Romance and Love Life

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This Week's Home News: Sept. 24

Van Sias — 2010-09-24T13:53:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Architectural Digest editor Margaret Russell had this dollhouse delivered to her today. Photo: Michael Grimm for Curbed National.

Nate Berkus makes enemies in the blogosphere, and Curbed sends design editors an oh-so-tiny (but fabulous!) surprise.

Did you leave a comment telling us why you like fall? If not, hurry because today's the deadline on winning a home shredder!

The popular Curbed network has expanded from their New York, Hamptons, Los Angeles and San Francisco sites to launch the very smart, very funny Curbed National. Their first project: Operation Dollhouse, which means sending wood dollhouses and mini-furniture to the top six shelter magazine editors.

Fashion designer Donna Karan is teaming up with Lenox on a line of tabletop products.

Yikes! We're pretty sure Martha didn't see this when she moved over to the Hallmark Channel. It looks like she's taking to Twitter to stem the tide. In other Martha news, actress Helen Mirren says she based her new role as a ruthless secret agent in the film Red on the domestic diva.

You know at ShelterPop that we like decorating, and we know that you do, too. Count actress Claire Danes as a fan, too, or rather a super-fan. Wonder if she'll pull an Eva Mendes? Eva was out promoting her own home decor brand recently.

Nate Berkus apparently ticked off a couple of design bloggers this week; he invited dozens of them to his show but didn't make them feel very welcome. (We still love you, Nate!) Still, he's got good taste and shares some wallpaper love with Snooki, or at least with the designers of the "Jersey Shore."

Who knew you could do so much with wallpaper beside paper your walls? This wallpaper will actually filter the air in your home.

"Ol' Blue Eyes'" old home recently went on the market, and it looks like he did it his way -- 50 years ago.

Who figured A.C. Slater from "Saved by the Bell" would put together such a stylish home? We always thought it would've been Lisa Turtle! (Hope those "Saved by the Bell" references didn't date us!)

Interior design legend Juan Montoya will kick off the fall lecture series at the New York School of Interior Design.

Ralph Lauren Home's brand Lauren gets a stylish update on beds and beach towels.

Want to get a touch of Haiti for your home and help the nation in the process? Macy's is launching the Heart of Haiti home accents line.

Let's say you have a friend who's really into paisley, and EVERYTHING in their house is covered with it. Be a good pal and seek some help for them, TV-style!

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This Week's Home News: Sept. 17

Van Sias — 2010-09-17T14:53:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

More pop stars are making their way into the world of home. Plus, home design mags make a comeback.

It's a big week for new magazines. Design*Sponge announced the debut of Anthology, a brand new (print!) magazine. Then The Neo-Traditionalist broke the news that Lonny Magazine is now available in print -- and they have a too-fantastic new website! And then came the (much-anticipated) launch of Rue Magazine.

Oh, to be Justin Bieber: He's already the biggest teen on the planet, so what's next? How about a home line?

Images Courtesy of Anthology; Lonny; Rue.

The Bombay Company's comeback continues in a big way with the launch of a large-scale furniture line. Don't they know smaller is better?

Could JCPenney become a hot spot for home shopping? The company hopes you think so.

It looks like some bedbug-related issues could be biting Martha Stewart Living.

Let's say you want to do some gardening, but don't know how to go about it. And you like video games, too. No worries: Nintendo has you covered!

And speaking of technological-type things, Wallpaper* has given its iPhone app a makeover.

Comfort Solutions tries to live up to its name with a new customized bedding program.

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This Week's Home News: Sept. 10

Van Sias — 2010-09-10T13:33:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Iman is hoping to bring fabric to your home. Photo: CasaSugar

Fashion Week draws big names to home design, and Thom Filicia is betting on bedding. It's all in this week's home news.

Internationally reknowned model, mom, beauty industry mogul and wife-of-David-Bowie Iman can add another accomplishment to her resume -- fabric designer. Her new collection, Iman Home, is as graceful and globally-chic as the lady herself.

The Thom Filicia home takeover continues, this time in a collaboration with Welspun USA on bed and bath ensembles.

Karim Rashid, who has designed a snazzy new home soda maker for SodaStream, talks about his desire to redesign numerous boring-looking home goods in a ShelterPop exclusive.

Fabric designer Kevin O'Brien has teamed up with Capel Rugs in an effort to bring fashion to the floor.

Laura Ashley comes to the kitchen table in a new licensing deal with Best Brands Consumer Products.

That kitchen could be getting a little crowded as artist and author Debbie Mumm also enters the room in a deal with Town & Country Living.

Live from New York, it's QVC! During Fashion Week, the channel is opening its first pop-up store in the city, offering the latest for your house and home.

Also during Fashion Week, designers Elie Tahari, Nicole Miller and Diane Von Furstenburg, among others, are partnering with interior designers and decorating five condominiums for a good cause. And ever wonder what's inside a fashion designer's closet? Take a look.

Do you believe in magic? Macy's does, with its new ad campaign starring Martha Stewart and other celeb types.

Bloomingdale's is trying to woo young consumers; its latest home book is emphasizing "country to city" themes. Yes, that is an Airstream trailer in the catalog!

We want to crawl back in bed just thinking about this: Mattress Firm is introducing beds with heating and cooling units!

Wallpaper magazine's twin peaks: planning more coverage of Italy and bringing director David Lynch in as a guest editor.

Speaking of Italy, Brangelina just plunked down $40 million on a fixer-upper vacation home near Verona.

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This Week's Home News: Sept. 3

Van Sias — 2010-09-03T13:16:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

The Oval Office gets the Michael Smith treatment, and Vera Wang wants to give your bed a makeover. It's all in this week's home news.

We chuckled at the clever headline accompanying The New York Times story about the Oval Office; it was called "The Audacity of Taupe." Photo: Brendan Smialowski, MCT

A number of New York companies put their touch on the redesign of the White House's Oval Office -- and so did we! Check out our Oval Office Ambush!

Sorry, AT&T U-verse subscribers: It looks like Martha won't be gracing your screen on the Hallmark Channel after all. It looks like you'll be missing out because she has major ambitions for her own prime-time talk show. Martha vs. Barbara Walters? We'd love to see that!

If you haven't already, enter our contest to win a free color consultation from Martha Stewart's right-hand man Kevin Sharkey: 5pm today is the deadline!

Univision Network's star talk-show host Christina Saralegui is teaming up with Sears Holdings on a new line of bedding and bath textiles that will be found in Sears and Kmart stores.

You don't have to hunt down your favorite IKEA pieces on Craigslist anymore -- You can buy second hand pieces at IKEA.

Bloomingdale's is celebrating its 20 year relationship with star designer Vera Wang by offering an exclusive decorative bedding line from Revman.

The LivingRoom for iPad app, which lets you play interior designer, gets a major upgrade.

Consumer confidence may be down, but spending on your home was actually up, which we at ShelterPop always think is a good thing!

Home Depot selects a supplier for the cabinets in its Martha Stewart Living kitchens line.

Hooray for Bollywood as a star couple promotes their home brand.

Superstar Iman hopes her new home line is a runway success with a debut during New York Fashion Week.

A new exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York shows how women have influenced kitchen designs in the last 100 years.

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This Week's Home News: Aug. 27

Van Sias — 2010-08-27T13:07:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Michael Boodro takes the helm at Elle Decor. Photo: Elle Decor

Michael Boodro gets a sweet new gig. Plus, an old favorite announces a return. It's all in this week's home news.

The Bombay Company is back: Bringing its globally inspired goods back to our world.

Elle Decor gets a new head honcho: Michael Boodro takes over the top spot. Got us thinking about what ever happened to those talented Domino editors?

Celebrity designer Thom Filicia has teamed up with Soicher Marin on a new art collection.

Upscale case goods and upholstery maker Lorts Manufacturing teams up with Atlanta interior designer Christy Dillard on a new line of furniture.

Springs Global and environmental designer Sami Hayek join forces for a new design company focusing on furnishings and accessories.

Simmons gets a little "haute" in the bedroom with its new sleep set -- and at 10,000 bucks, a little expensive too! And if you thought $10,000 for a sleep set was up there, how about $100,000 for an aquarium?

Black & Decker aims to make gardening a whole lot easier with a technological assist.

Overstock.com has gotten into the private sales site side of things with Eziba.com, specializing in home decor products.

Restoration Hardware's north-of-the-border expansion continues with its latest store in Canada.

Interior design social networking site AvaLiving.com is helping homeowners get that particular look just right.

Remember back when everyone in the cable TV industry just got along? A new battle might leave about 2.5 million people out of the loop on catching Martha Stewart's Hallmark moments.

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Buzz: Bombay Is Back

Van Sias — 2010-08-25T19:30:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends, Furniture

The brand is back with a showroom display and a launch slated for September 30. Photo: The Bombay Company

The Bombay Company is debuting its new collection with a Fifth Avenue showroom and a QVC special.

It's been a long time coming for fans of The Bombay Company since it filed bankruptcy in 2007, but the wait is over as its first 250-piece collection is currently on display in a penthouse showroom on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The collection showcases the global look that The Bombay Company is known for with a wide range of items, from tabletop to accessories to textiles.

But that's not all. As Home Accents Today reports, a collection is set for its TV closeup with a QVC debut on September 30, signifying a joint effort between the brand and the retailer. The line will be featured in a one-hour special and includes 14 home decor and accent pieces ranging in price from around $29 to $180.

"We want to demonstrate our commitment to the marketplace and present a fully realized vision of the home lifestyle brand consumers know and love," said Will Hollands, chief merchant of The Bombay Company and president of Hermes-Otto International USA LLC -- which holds the license for Bombay products in the U.S. -- in a statement.

Bombay is bringing back many of its top sellers for the relaunch, such as the Asian Garden dinnerware and the D'Orsay table collection. New looks include updates on the herringbone travel trunks, as well as the damask candle lantern.

Hollands will be on QVC to give viewers the lowdown on the goods for sale. So Bombay fans, set your DVRs!

For more on The Bombay Company, check out The Bombay Company's Return.

(We know, we wish we had pics of all the goods too. We'll post them when as soon as they get released.)

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This Week's Home News for Aug. 13

Van Sias — 2010-08-13T11:09:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Courtesy of Target

The home and design news for the week of Aug. 9 to 13.

A lot of people have been working around the clock -- including us! Take a look at this week's home news.

The new John Derian for Target Collection will debut in just a few short weeks, but we couldn't wait that long to share a sneak peek of the collection!

Speaking of first looks, we followed up our preview of the new Veranda magazine with a chat with Dara Caponigro.

We also announced plans for our next Design Star Twitter party and a free book giveaway. (Will we see you on Twitter this Sunday?)

Also super-busy: Kathy Ireland, as she opens another window of opportunity.

And if having one of the year's biggest films wasn't enough, Buzz Lightyear and Woody will soon be seen on a lamp near you.

Designer Matthew Frederick is partnering with Chelsea House on a new line of art and decorative accessories.

The home and interiors industries will get a little help in looking ahead as trend forecasting service WGSN offers them a new way of seeing things.

Housewares execs will be thinking ladies first when they get together for a conference in October.

If you like Serena & Lily linens and housewares, now's the time to open up your wallets and stock up.

The Interior Design Society gets ready for its online close-up by signing up with HomeFurnishings.com. Prepare to see many more stylish faces on the site.

A garden in San Jose really rose to the occasion, earning the honor of America's Best Rose Garden.

And Kohl's homewares really worked hard this past quarter.

The August/September issue of Lonny Magazine came out, with a particularly dreamy feature on Cath Kidston's home.

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This Week's Home News: Aug. 6

Van Sias — 2010-08-06T12:35:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

What is The Donald up to now? Photo: Noel Vasquez, Getty Images

The home and design news for the week of Aug. 2 to 6.

Reality TV stars are making waves throughout the home. Plus, there's a first for Martha in this week's home news.

You'll be able to keep up with the Kardashians throughout your home as sisters Kim, Khloe and Kourtney get set to launch a line of products for the house. How, you may ask, did this come about? We concocted the play-by-play.

Dog Fancy magazine is going to be celebrating an anniversary, too, and the cover girl on the special issue is someone you know.

Also in the magazine world, ShelterPop (that's us!) gives you a first look at Veranda under new Editor-in-Chief Dara Caponigro, formerly of the Domino empire.

And Margaret Russell announced her move from ELLE DECOR to Architectural Digest!

We also caught up with Angela Adams to talk about her new line for Anthropologie.

Former supermodel-turned-home guru Kathy Ireland teams up with Bush Furniture on a new line of office furniture.

OXO marks 20 years of home product design with a commemorative take on its Y peeler.

The Las Vegas Market kicked off this week and buyers were ready to place their bets on a big show.

The Donald is helping some unlikely candidates find jobs in a collabo with Serta, the company that makes his brand of mattresses.

Shaw Living is coordinating its efforts to match broadloom products with area rugs in its new Woven Expressions line.

Want to know how the companies that make all the stuff in your home are doing? HFN has put its State of the Industry report online.

Leggett & Platt is playing the name game by giving new monikers to its consumer lines and adjustable beds.

It's going to get a lot tougher to buy something from a Jennifer Convertibles store as dozens of units are being liquidated.

Luxury interior designer Lina Quintero has launched the Lina Collection of fabric, which covers a wide range of design styles.

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This Week's Home News: July 30

Van Sias — 2010-07-30T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Rebecca Naden, AFP/Getty Images

The home and design news for the week of July 26 to 30.

Martha Stewart's company hit a bit of a rough patch, while the Royal Family does its part for the environment. That's a mere smattering of what made headlines this week.

Prince Charles must figure if the Royal Family can recycle, then why can't the whole U.K.? He's having some curtains at his Clarence House home turned into carrier bags. Plus, he's hosting a garden party in September. Right on, Prince Charles!

Former Domino editor-in-chief Deborah Needleman is publishing a new "guide to living with style" -- it's called WSJ Magazine.

Designer and architect David Rockwell brings his talent to The Rug Company for his first product introduction: A collection of hand-knotted rugs.

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia had a rough go of it on Wall Street this past week as the publishing portion of the company continues to struggle.

Apple is thinking home and office decor with its range of color options for the Mac mini.

Furniture retailer American Signature is still going forward with its launch of NBA star LeBron James' children's line -- even in the Ohio area, where he's public enemy No. 1.

Homedics, maker of personal care products, is getting into bedding with Hollander Home Fashions.

Get ready to mark your ballots: Market-goers will be able to vote in the first Gift for Life/New York International Gift Fair Product Design Competition as the finalists have been chosen.

Now you can fancy up the floor in your child's room as high-end area rug producer Safavieh unveils its first kids collection.

Ethan Allen has rolled out a new website for its contract business, which offers product and interior design for the company's hospitality and commercial clients.

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This Week's Home News: July 23

Van Sias — 2010-07-23T14:27:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

AMC

The home and design news for the week of July 19 to 23.

Target is ready to help you beat the holiday traffic, plus here's your chance to show you can decorate your home in '60s chic à la Mad Men. Read on to find out more in this week's home news.

Ready to do some holiday shopping? How about in July? Target's got you covered with its first "Back in Black Friday" online sales event happening today.

You probably weren't expecting ShelterPop to do a sports report, but professional athletes have to live somewhere, right? Arguably, the biggest star in the NBA, LeBron James, is house-hunting in his new town, Miami.

Discount retailer Marshalls is heading north of the border in 2011 with stores slated to open in Canada.

Robb & Stucky Interiors has been dealt a major design project, partnering with the CityCenter in Las Vegas.

Design Within Reach is ready to help you do some renovations, Don Draper style, with its new Mad Men contest.

Getting in on the summer blockbuster game, textiles licensee Character World is expecting an influx of interest in its Toy Story line of duvet covers and beds when the third movie in the franchise hits the U.K.

IKEA is trying to do its part with its home textiles lines by promoting sustainability. This after the big news that they're also phasing out all incandescent bulbs by 2011.

Iman Home (and yes, it's that Iman) is on the way from P/K Lifestyles with the line featuring 15 decorative fabrics.

An Internet star may be born as Canvas has launched a new website.

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This Week's Home News: July 16

Van Sias — 2010-07-16T11:31:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Are the Clintons on the move? Photo: Bennett Raglin/WireImage.com

The home and design news for the week of June 11 to 16.

Wow, HSN sure is busy these days! And it really pays to be the Clintons. That's just some of what's happening in the home and design world this week:

We gave you a peek inside Jonathan Adler's studio the other day. Well, some of the ideas born there will be coming to HSN in October as it debuts his home collection.

But before that, Martha Stewart makes her live HSN debut on July 19.

London's Claridge hotel is getting a little more glamorous as Diane von Furstenberg will lend her stylish touch to 20 of the rooms.

That Secretary of State gig must pay big: Bill and Hilary Clinton are said to be closing on an $11 million mansion in New York.

Congratulations from ShelterPop! Mitchell Gold, co-founder of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, married his partner Timothy Scofield last month in Iowa.

Were you Googling yourself at work Thursday and wondering, "What's that cool-looking Google doodle?" It was in honor of the birth 125 years ago of legendary home textiles designer Josef Frank.

College students probably aren't thinking about going back to the dorms just yet, but JCPenney and Target are.

August is a big month in the Big Apple for new companies making their summer trade show debuts.

Speaking of trade shows, the Atlanta International Area Rug Market is going on right now and Nourison is bringing its expanded Calvin Klein line to the floor.

While he's looking to latch on with an NFL team, football player Terrell Owens revealed a post-playing ambition: working in interior design!

Auto products manufacturer Bosh is out to make your gardening work a little easier with new corded and cordless tools.

Thinking of getting your kitchen or bathroom renovated in a few years? Maybe you should see if the designer you pick is a Brigham Young University -- Idaho alum; they just won a pretty big award.

Who says unreal innovation can be found only in the comic books. Check out this lamp. Iron Man would be proud!

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Curate an Art Gallery -- In Your Home

Van Sias — 2010-07-15T12:35:00 00:00

Filed under: Your Home, Living Room, Projects, Fun Stuff, Crafts & Projects, Parties & Entertaining

Magnus D, Flickr

When one writer didn't have any art for his walls, he got a little help from his friends (and threw one great party).

My path toward becoming a "gallery owner" started the way a lot of people explore new things:
With a breakup.

After getting out of a longtime relationship and living life out in the suburbs, I made a break for the big city and ended up in Brooklyn, where I found a 450-square-foot studio apartment in a building located next to a Sweet-and-Low factory. City living at its finest!

The place offered plenty of space for me to be alone with my thoughts, and I set about trying to make it as homey as possible, which I don't think is always the easiest task with a studio apartment. You have to be conscious of things not running into each other: For instance, you don't want your computer in your closet space! I felt I navigated that quite well, as I set up a corner of the small place for music, a space for reading, etc. Things started looking good.

Except for those walls!

When I say my place was 450 square feet, it felt like at least 400 of it had empty wall space. Or, maybe it was just the illusion created by the 12-foot high ceiling, the long hallway with nothing to look at that lead to the living space and the off-white color of said walls screaming for something to be done to them. I had a tiny cross that I hung up, which was immediately lost: It might as well have been camouflaged for all that it added.

I really hadn't given much thought to putting up stuff on the walls before, save for posters, but at age 31, I considered myself a full-fledged grown-up. I couldn't really decorate with INXS and R.E.M. memorabilia like I did when I was in high school. Plus, I was living in Brooklyn, the birthplace of hipster chic, so I really had to come correct! Meanwhile, I could feel those bare walls closing in on me every time I walked in the door.

One evening, I was hanging out at a co-worker's place in New York City's East Village when I noticed a series of cool abstract paintings on his wall. I asked him where he got them and he said that he had painted them over the years. He even gave me one -- It was a canvas of someone looking at a picture in a museum. (Go figure. I thought it was a stick of dynamite with a square around it.) Nevertheless, I took it home and proudly hung it above my TV: my first piece of art. The question was, though, how could I get more without breaking the bank, as "city living" was a lot more expensive than I thought.

Pick strong pieces to hang in the center of the room. Photo: Ani-Bee, Flickr

After pondering how to build an art collection, it hit me: Why not ask more friends for things they've done? I knew plenty of people who painted and took artistic photographs. Aside from Chris, who gave me the first canvas, there was my buddy Tommy's wife Christy back home in Alabama, who liked to paint. I thought of Eric, who worked in photo archives at a magazine and graduated from art school. Plus, there was Bill, who I used to work with at a newspaper who drew caricatures of celebrities. So I reached out to all of them -- and they were thrilled that I did.

So was I. Suddenly, on the wall above my futon, I had a beautiful mix of art: my first canvas as the centerpiece, flanked by two smaller ones on each side with scenes ranging from tropical to abstract collages, as well as four of celebrity sketches and caricatures, including ones of Eminem and Chris Rock.

As an added incentive for donating their prized paintings, I told my friends that I would display them at my housewarming party. I'd let people know how to get in touch with them if there was interested in buying a piece. That is, if the artist was unable to attend the festivities.

So after procuring (a big word in the art gallery world) some of the artists' works, I strategically placed them on my poor, barren walls. The place immediately lit up and I couldn't wait to show people my new digs!

For the big night -- my "studio studio" opening -- I had bottles of wine and snacks to serve as any good host should. Plus, I even made little tags to put up by the artists' work, with contact info if anyone wanted to get in touch with them. When the guests arrived, I gave them the tour of my place ("That corner is the music room. The mantelpiece over there is my library ... "). With a studio apartment, the tour didn't really take that long. Then I directed them to gaze at my walls, my lovely walls!

Artists and guests mingled, and I overheard a few conversations about the artwork. (That's better than me telling people the centerpiece of Chris' work was a stick of dynamite!)

As the party ended and the place cleared out, I had to give myself a pat on the back. A good time was had by all, my painterly pals got to show their stuff and I ended up with walls that were no longer blank canvases, all for the low price of free, which my wallet thanked me for!

Here's some tips on how you can "go for Baroque" with your own pad:

A Little (or a Lot of) Help From Your Friends
Do you still keep in touch with those old friends from high school that were always doodling on their notebooks? Or the ones that graduated from art school? Either way, reach out to your friends that like nothing better than to put their creativity to canvas and ask them for a piece of their personal work.

Light the Way
Using lighting effectively, be it natural or otherwise, and putting it on your art is probably one of the most important things when it comes to displaying your new canvases or mini sculptures. If you want to get festive for your party, you can even use Christmas lights. (They're good for any time of the year!)

The Match (or Not) Game
Personally, my taste when it comes to home decor leans toward the conservative side. I'm big on matching my area rug to my curtains, for example. However, with the majority of the home being uniform, there's more room for expression with the art as far as color and imaging goes. If you like eclectic, you can stay that way with your art.

Size Can Matter
You don't want all 8-by-10-foot canvases adorning (or completely covering) your walls. A good mix of sizes, with three to five pieces per wall, can go a long way.

Party Time!
Everyone loves a party, right? Once you have a few pieces, why not plan a fun time with your new artwork as the center of attention? You can have wine drinking, cheese tasting and art watching, all in the comforts of your own home!.

For more home decorating tips, see these stories:

Design Drool: A New Kind of Beach House

Give Old Books New Life

How to Be at Home With Country

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So Happy Gardening Together

Van Sias — 2010-07-13T14:20:00 00:00

Filed under: Gardening, Garden Tours, How-To

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Community gardens are growing in number, bringing heirloom tomatoes and new friends to a neighborhood near you.

Let's say that you've never gardened much, but you're struck with an urge to eat homemade spaghetti sauce, made with homegrown tomatoes, which means you've gotta grow your own tomatoes. But wait! -- you don't have a yard. Quick: What do you do? Join a community garden of course!

Still, even if you do have a yard, there's plenty to embrace with the community garden, such as "meeting like-minded people in your community, physical activity outdoors and the opportunity to learn how your food grows," says Liz Sharp, one of the principals of the Brooklyn Bears Community Gardens, which has three sites in the borough.

That bonding can be a strong motivating factor.

"My wife Ally and I have been members of the Hollenback Community Garden for four or five years now," says Brooklyn resident Lorne Lieb. "We joined after we moved into the neighborhood to meet people in our community and to try and grow some veggies."

Chicago resident Leah Ray, a communications manager for a design firm, joined the Peterson Garden Project when it broke ground a couple of months ago. "It's been an incredible community-building experience, which I didn't see coming," she says.

Community gardens are, pardon the pun, "sprouting up" across the nation, which can be traced to a variety of factors, according to Bobby Wilson, president of the American Community Gardening Association (ACGA).

"One, is that we have a garden at the White House for the first time in decades. Michelle Obama had a major impact on where we are right now," Wilson says. He also believes that food scares and the slow food movement are bringing more people into community gardens, particularly families. "Parents are concerned with helping their children make the connection with where their food comes from and how they're going to eat in the future," he adds.

The ACGA counts as members the 2,267 registered gardens across the country, but Wilson says the number is actually a lot higher since not everyone knows about the registration service. He guesses that it represents only 25 to 30 percent of community gardens nationwide. Still, the numbers are growing and they seem to be popular just about everywhere -- there are even community gardens in Alaska.

Michael Callahan, one of the founders of the Bethel Community Garden in Bethel, Alaska, admits that gardening this far north is certainly a challenge. It's a carefully measured process, he says, taking into account the weather and amount of sunlight available.

"We are generally able to get our starts in the ground anytime after June 1," he says. "Our growing season ends about the last week of September."

Still, the gardeners are devoted. "It is not uncommon to find one or two gardeners working their plots until after midnight," he says.

Getty Images

If you're interested in joining a community garden, here are some things to think about, wherever you are:

Location is Key

"Look for a garden that is close to your home or work so that it's easy to get there on a regular basis to weed, water and participate in work days and social events," says Brooklyn Bears' Sharp.

And who knows? This could be the perfect remedy to relieve the stress of the day, says ACGA's Wilson. If you live in the suburbs and work in the city, he recommends finding a city plot to garden in. You can avoid the traffic by staying in town to garden for a couple of hours. "You're going to produce some good, fresh vegetables and you're going to release a lot of stress by not sitting in traffic for two-and-a-half hours," he adds.

Beginners Can Have Some Luck

There are plenty of people in the world like me that have never planted a seed outside of third-grade science class, but that doesn't have to be a discouraging factor, Sharp says.

"Gardening experiences should not be a necessity," she says. "There is so much information available through the Internet, and through local greening organizations." If in doubt, you can always ask someone for an assist, she says. "Most gardeners love to share their knowledge!"

Lieb and his wife didn't have any experience when they joined a community garden in Brooklyn. "We checked out Gardening for Dummies from the library and read it, " he says. "We also got a lot of good advice from the seasoned gardeners in our garden."

Patience Is a Virtue

With plenty of people living in urban areas wanting to take part in the "back to the land" movement, many of the community gardens have waiting lists in place. As of February, there were 87 people on the waitlist at the Potrero Hill Community Garden, which is open to San Francisco residents. In Minneapolis, the Dowling Community Garden stopped taking names for one of the 190 plots because the waiting list is too long, reports the website. Some gardens require that you "apprentice" for a year, helping out on the garden property for a year before getting your own plot.

But don't give up! "Our garden has had [a waiting list] for years for vegetable plots, but anyone can help out," Sharp says. "People do move fairly often, so plots do open up."

And the Plots Thicken

A lot can be done with a single parcel of land, which usually varies in size, once you get one.

"All the plots at the Peterson Garden are 4-by-6-foot raised beds," Ray says, adding that she grows a variety of vegetables there, from heirloom tomatoes to Chinese broccoli to golden beets. She says that she spends about 15 minutes every couple of days there watering and weeding. More time is spent hanging out with the other gardeners.

Lieb also gets a lot out of his 4-by-8-foot plot, and makes it a family affair of sorts. "I spend a few hours throughout the week watering and weeding," he says. "Lately, I've been the one tending to our garden since I have a more flexible schedule than Ally -- splitting my time between taking care of my 17-month-old twins Emmett and Dahlia, and running my documentary production company Plowshares Media. I usually take Emmett and Dahlia to the garden in the morning and they watch me water, then we look at plants and flowers.

"This year, we're growing cherry and heirloom tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, basil, cilantro, beets, chard and our first flower--dahlias."

Weather Permitting, Of Course

Work in a community garden continues through the cooler months. "In the winter, we prep the plots for the snow, and put leaves and mulch down to protect them," says Brooklyn resident Lieb. "Some plants still grow -- like cabbage -- but mostly the garden is quiet for the winter. When the snow melts, gardeners start coming back and getting their plots ready for spring. It's something to look forward to when it's freezing outside."

And sure, it gets real cold in New York and Chicago, but what about the tundra-like climes of Alaska? Tending the land is also a difficult chore there, Callahan says, but there are techniques to deal with this.

"Gardening in the sub-Arctic region presents some unique challenges, not the least of which is this nagging layer of ice (permafrost), which lingers not too far beneath the ground's surface," he says. "Last year with about 100 linear feet of rows, I was able to harvest over 200 pounds of produce."

"Many of us start our own seeds in our homes/apartments several weeks prior to the official planting opening date," Callahan adds. "By the time the top soil here is thawed and tiled, we are ready to put our young plants into the ground."

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The Cost of Doing Business

Of course, whenever you enter a new venture, one of the first things you have to consider is the anticipated blow to the wallet, whether big or small. How much you pay for your food-and-floral-growing foray usually depends on the garden you choose. In the spirit of community, you can expect dues at community gardens to remain low.

"Every community garden is different in terms of dues, supplies, grant writing, construction projects, events and support it gives gardeners," says Cara Montague, co-coordinator of Brooklyn's Hollenback Community Garden.

Membership dues are usually minimal, if there are any at all. For example, in the past few years, Hollenback Community Garden voted to change the dues to a sliding scale of $10 to $50. "The garden uses that money to pay for plants for common areas, events, office supplies, tools, repairs and small construction projects," says Montague. "In general, dues go to cover things that will benefit everyone in the garden."

Some gardens, such as Hollenback, make garden tools, like shovels and rakes, available for members, keeping costs down for individuals. Plus, some gardens offer seed/seedling shares and giveaways to help gardeners get started.

Friends, Along With Other Benefits

Community gardens offer much more than fresh produce. Ray says that she's learned about seed diversity, and has gained a deeper understanding of the importance of gardening sustainably. Lieb loves that he can pop by and pick up the ingredients for the night's dinner. There's a sense of accomplishment that comes from growing your own food, he says.

Still, it's the sense of community that gardeners seem to like best. Says Callahan: "Gardening has given me the opportunity to keep myself occupied, meet and interact with new friends."

For more gardening stories, check out these posts:

Fragrance in the Garden
Upside-Down Gardening: Fab or Fad?
10 Edible Garden Plantings You'll Love

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This Week's Home News: July 9

Van Sias — 2010-07-09T12:05:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Thom Filicia has announced a new partnership with Kravet. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris, WireImage; Kravet

The home and design news for the week of July 5 to 9.

Gardening no longer takes root at Target, plus home and TV go hand in hand. Here's what happened in home this week:

Are you doing anything Sunday night? Probably watching Design Star, right? If so, join ShelterPop's Allison and Amy for a Twitter party to express your thoughts on the show in 140 characters or less!

Thom Filicia delves further into the home in a new partnership with Kravet on a line of fabrics for showrooms.

Groceries at Target? Check. Your gardening supplies? Not so much. The retailer is scrapping that business.

A solar lamp from D Light Design has taken home an award for its eco-friendliness.

If you're a fan of the book Eat, Pray, Love, then the Home Shopping Network is the place for you to be in August.

Outdoor living manufacturer GazeboCreations.com will have Reege and Kelly sitting pretty when the talk show pair goes Canadian this month.

Randy Ouzts is adding some more looks to his array of garden products, as well as opening a new shop.

Yikes! A class of flame retardants that can be found on some home products can be hazardous to your health.

The Red Dot Design Awards, looking at some of the best in design--including home products--have been given out.

A campaign has been launched in Israel calling for interior designers and architects to unite on making homes safer for children.

True story: The set designer for HBO's hit vampire show True Blood talks about making the old South come alive in the homes seen in the program.

House Beautiful magazine has someone new in charge of making the pages look, well, beautiful as Sabine Rothman has been named style director.

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This Week's Home News: July 2

Van Sias — 2010-07-02T12:15:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Screenshot of brides.com

The home and design news for the week of June 28 to July 2.

Domino is back online, and it seems that everyone's hopping on the Martha Stewart "brand"-wagon these days. But other big names are making big moves, too. It's all part of the home news this week.

Domino fans can stop hoarding back issues -- the magazine's archives are now online at the new brides.com -- and ShelterPop broke the story!

To say it's been a busy week for Martha Stewart would be a bit of an understatement, seeing as how she's got a new partnership popping up just about every week! But there's been some major goings-on with the company, particularly on the retail front. First, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia launched a line of pet products to be sold in Petsmart stores and on the company's website. Then, expanding its coverage, so to speak, Martha Stewart Living carpet landed in Home Depot's stores. The Martha retail revolution continues!

Marcel Miller brings its luxe stylings to sheeting with its new Bespoke line, set to debut at the Atlanta International Gift & Home Market.

VisionBedding, which does things your way with its customizable bedding, gets a little funky.

Walmart makes a big change at the top by naming Bill Simon president and CEO of its U.S. operations.

We know you investment types are always looking for possible stock bargains: Keep your eye on La-Z-Boy.

Even though the company's performance might be hurting some, though, La-Z-Boy did name its first designer of the year.

Here's a bit of "shady" business for you: TUUCI looks to keep you covered with eight introductions among its parasols and umbrellas.

I guess you can call the Robb & Stucky Interiors showrooms in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, Florida, the new "Polo grounds" as Ralph Lauren Home Galleries will be installed there next month.

Do you wonder how Mad Men gets that authentic '60s look down through the home? Production designer Dan Bishop tells all.

Eco-friendliness will abound throughout the New York International Gift Fair, particularly in the "SustainAbility: design for a better world" exhibit.

Speaking of the "green" effort, General Electric is spending a lot of it on it.

Point-and-clickers, your home shopping will get a little easier next year as Pier 1 gets ready to restart selling online.

The Rug Company and architect/designer David Rockwell team up for a new hand-knotted collection.

Home industry leadership group WithIt has awarded its 2010 Jena and Stephen B. Hall Scholarships to two students.

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This Week's Home News: June 25

Van Sias — 2010-06-25T14:22:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Getty Images

The home and design news for the week of June 21 to 25.

Martha Stewart has mixed fortunes abroad, and there's rumors the Hamptons could really come alive if a certain pop superstar sets up shop there. Those are just some of the stories in this week's home news.

The summer scene in the Hamptons could be getting a whole lot livelier, to say the least, as Lady Gaga is reportedly scouting out some "prime property."

Buying some interior shutters can give you a chance to learn interior design from one of the best, the U.K.'s Kelly Hoppen.

Someone not visiting the U.K. right away, even though her magazine will be hitting the stores there, is Martha Stewart.

One of the more recent locales for Martha's products, Macy's, has done some shuffling of the ranks of its home department.

In July, KitchenAid does its part in the fight against breast cancer by being part of the Cook for the Cure event.

Interior design is just one of the categories recognized by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in its National Design Awards.

Mystery meals could become a thing of the past as signs point to gardens at schools being used to stock cafeterias.

JC Penney really likes what Springs Global is doing in textiles, giving the company its top home vendor prize.

Pop goes the MAD store! The Store at the Museum of Arts and Design is setting up a pop-up location at the New York International Gift Fair this summer.

Dwell on Design, a conference celebrating all things modern and sustainable, begins today. The best part? You don't have to be in L.A. to go on the house tours.

Crafters will be thrilled to know that DwellStudio's fabrics are now available by the yard.

If you like Madeline Weinrib's rugs, then you'll really love her new wallpaper.

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This Week's Home News: June 18

Van Sias — 2010-06-18T12:35:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Photo: Jennifer Graylock/jpistudios.c

The home and design news for the week of June 14 to 18.

Hanes makes a "brief" statement for the home and Dora the Explorer heads to Utah! Here's the home news for this week:

Guess who they have their Hanes on now? You and your bedroom, the company hopes! Underwear maker Hanes has entered a licensing deal with WestPoint Home on a new line of bed and bath products.

Designer Diane Von Furstenberg has teamed up with Springs Global to fancy up your place with the DVF Home collection. Take a look a the line.

It looks like it's all about teaming up as The Robert Allen Group has signed a deal with contemporary design house DwellStudio for woven and print collections.

Williams-Sonoma, the company behind Pottery Barn, is taking note of how you think about shopping and is making adjustments.

Tens of thousands of dollars for a mattress? Let's hope it ensures a perfect night of sleep every night -- for the rest of your life!

And the winners are...: The San Francisco chapter of the American Institute of Architects names its honorees for 2010.

It looks like Utah was the place to be if you're a parent as Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants made appearances at several R.C. Willey furniture stores to promote a new licensed line.

There's nothing like sitting outdoors and helping the environment while you're doing it: Telescope Casual Furniture is launching a new line of recycled acrylic tabletops.

If you're a compulsive shopper looking for stuff for the home, you might need a split-screen TV for this: The Home Shopping Network is launching another channel, HSN2.

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This Week's Home News: June 11

Van Sias — 2010-06-11T12:21:00 00:00

Filed under: News & Trends

Photo: Getty Images

The home and design news for the week of June 7 to 11.

Ahh, to live the life of a mogul. Plus, a certain design magazine is doing a lot these days. It's all in this week's news:

Set your DVRs, TiVos, what have you, if you want to get some "How-To" advice from Martha Stewart. The Hallmark Channel unveils a scheduling block of advice-driven shows kicking off Sept. 13.

"Diddy" does it all -- music, movies, fashion. So why not home? Macy's rolls out the first part of the Sean John home collection in October.

Your big product recall news of the week, this time dealing with Ikea: Certain mattresses sold by the retailer have been recalled for not meeting flammability standards.

Buying artwork for the home online can be a little tough to do when it comes to making sure everything matches. One Touch Art plans on changing that with its new website.

Owens Corning displays its interior motives in helping the green home movement.

Writers, photographers and stylists from Wallpaper* magazine hit Taiwan in full force to capture the design stylings of the nation.

Showcasing Taiwan isn't all Wallpaper* is up to: Outdoor wear comes into play in a partnership with Timberland and Martine Rose.

Target's home business hasn't exactly hit the bull's eye the past couple of fiscal years. The retailer is looking to improve that with "other merchandise innovations."

If you're buying stuff for the home from Big Lots, you can still think you're getting it at "closeout prices," even if the retailer is telling you something a little different now.

Robb & Stucky Interiors is adding a big name to its roster as Robert Weinstein signs up as a licensed interior designer.

Let's say you happen to be thinking of a redesign for your hotel in New York. Wait, you don't have a hotel? Well, just in case you do, it looks like Stonehill & Taylor Architects is the way to go judging by the companies picking them, such as Hilton.

Chicagoans rejoice! Not only did the Blackhawks win hockey's Stanley Cup, but it also looks like the International Home + Housewares Show is staying in the city.

Dwell Media and Remodelista.com are giving out 100 free interior design consultations at the Dwell on Design conference.

Uttermost is jumping into social media with contests seeking "New Product Ideas," with winners getting an iPad.

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This Week's Home News: June 4

Van Sias — 2010-06-04T14:14:00 00:00

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Jeffrey Mayer, WireImage

The home and design news for the week of May 31 to June 4.

Oprah and Wallpaper* give you a chance to show off your design chops and there's news good and bad at retail. It's all in this week's home news:

Ballard Designs waited a long time before doing any designer collaborations, but items from its collaboration with designer Suzanne Kasler are on the way, including mirrors, wall decor and display shelves.

Let's say you've been sitting around thinking, "Hey, I have good taste: I could do a show on interior design." Well, Oprah Winfrey is giving you a chance to make that happen.

That's not the only way you can potentially show your stuff: Wallpaper* magazine has an online app that lets you make your own cover for the August issue.

Rumors of Pier 1 Imports' death were greatly exaggerated as the retailer continues its turnaround.

If you happen to be in Frankfurt this summer for the Tendence trade show, expect to see even more indoor and outdoor furniture and decor there making its debut.

Wow, we didn't know you thought that way! But according to a survey from Consumer Reports, Costco was rated the best place to shop in America by you.

Be careful with what you paid for: Ikea is issuing a mattress recall and Whirlpool is doing the same for oh, about a million or so dishwashers.

It's going to be the dawn of a new day at Architectural Digest as longtime Editor in Chief Paige Rense is retiring.

Sad news for the design world as artist Tobias Wong passes away.

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