Interior Design - Karen's Perspective

Decorating Tips for the Holidays – Inexpensive!

Are you trying to get by with less this holiday? And now, it’s time to decorate!

I recently moved to a new home so I can’t simply put up the same decorations in the same place this year. And, I don’t have enough to go around anymore. And… if I’m going to spend money this season, I want it to be on gifts, not decorations.

So, what to do? Well, I went to a local crafts store (Michaels) and bought 5 rolls of ribbon. I have bows everywhere! And, anything that is to be a gift is wrapped and sitting out as a decoration.

What’s under the tree? I pulled out my kids old stuffed animals that I had boxed up as well as a wonderful Brio train set.

The house looks cozy, all the old toys add to the memories and feelings of fun, and I spent almost nothing on decorations (less than $10!).

One more inexpensive idea, slip Christmas cards into some of your frames for instant holiday decorating!

What creative ideas are you using?

12 / 06 / 2009
No Comments

Life in a Garbage Truck!

Looking for ways to cut back on your living expenses?

This is way outside the box!

10 / 15 / 2009
No Comments

18 Ways for Loving Your Home on a Budget

Don’t you love watching the flip-it and home makeover shows? Don’t they make you want to redo your own home?

Well, we’ve already talked about a lot of inexpensive ways to update your home in Decorating on a Budget – Paint, Decorating on a Budget – Accessories, and Decorating on a Budget – Exterior. But, here is another list of economical updating ideas.

Interior:

Change the hardware on your cabinets. You can do this in the kitchen or bathroom or anywhere you have knobs that are dull, outdated, or you just don’t like. A great place to find them is at the Habitat for Humanity Restores, yardsales and flea markets.
Change out your lampshades. Check out Target or start noticing lampsades you like at yardsales, even if you don’t like the lamp they’re on!
Paint interior brick. We painted the fireplace in our last house a dark forest green, almost black. When renovating homes we purchase, we usually paint the fireplace brick (interior) an off-white to match the trim in the room. If your brick is blotched or discolored, this really gives a clean, new look to the room.

The Suite Life in a New York Townhouse

I live on 2 acres in North Carolina, but this home has me longing for the Big Apple!
Wow, how fabulous is this?

09 / 10 / 2009
No Comments

Green Walls by Nature!

Green roofs have beautifully proven themselves to be a resource against global warming. There is one problem with the green roof in all its beauty and function… very few people can see it!

Green walls, however, allow us to raise living plants in a whole new way while providing some physical advantages. For one thing, what a wonderful position as a gardener to work standing up!

For the most part, the needs of the plants will be the same as if they were planted in any horizontal plane. More good news, weed seeds have a harder time rooting on a vertical plane.

Check out these green walls! Once again, they challenge us to think outside our own box. I love that!

Starbucks makes a lot of efforts to be “Green”. They are considered one of the most socially and environmentally responsible companies in the world. Now, at many stores, they’re sprucing up their drive-throughs with green features.

Green walls can be used indoors.

Green walls are found most often in urban environments where the plants reduce overall building temperatures which helps reduce energy consumption. Living walls are especially suitable for crowded cities as they allow good use of available vertical surface areas.

How about this amazing building by Korean architect Minsuk Cho! It is the Ann Demeulemeester Shop in the Gangham district of Seoul.

I hope these photos have inspired you like they have me! Another wonderful way to grow gardens! I, for sure, am going to try one.

Imagine raising an edible crop wall. For starters, I think I’ll try growing wheat grass. My husband loves energy shots of wheat grass from Jamba Juice. Wheat grass shots are pretty expensive so now I can try to grow my own. I’ve heard they’re pretty easy; don’t know about on the wall!