Artwork Fit For A Beggar Or A King

One dilemma I often hear voiced is how to cover bare walls without spending a large fortune on original art or a small fortune on cheap reproductions. One great solution is prints. It's possible to buy originals for as little as twenty-five dollars, and prints have enormous stylistic flexibility.

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For those of you who shy away from the stereotypical black and white landscapes, there is a whole world of colored prints with a graphic quality that can read as modern. I have a pair of 19th century seaweed prints in my kitchen which I fell in love with for just this reason. These are from my favorite print souce, Panteek Prints, which has thousands of antique prints online.

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Another wonderful aspect of prints is their ability to mix with other pieces of artwork. Because they tend to be subtle, they make wonderful components of a bigger architectural arrangement. You can start with one or two, which look great on their own, and gradually build around them. That is what I've done in my living room, and it's a trick that works well almost anywhere.

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Prints are also one of the few types of artwork that can take colored mats. This is a great way to introduce edited punches of color into a room, or even create a dramatic paneled effect by covering an entire wall.

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For a more relaxed approach, you can use prints from calendars or postcards and display them as a collection in jars.

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Photo credits: 1. Francois Halard 2. & 3. Anne-Marie Maginnis 4. Marie Claire Maison via Apartmenttherapy 5. via Interior Divine 6. Southern Accents via Things That Inspire 7. Martha Stewart Living via Swish and Swanky

Put On Your Hard Hat - Be Your Own Kitchen Contractor

For being the heart of the home, the kitchen is all to often a cramped space with fixtures that reveal the decade your home was built. And this is understandable given the mind-boggling cost and hassle involved in renovating a kitchen. But there are some ingenious ways to maximize space, efficiency and style in your kitchen, with minimal help and for a fraction of the cost.

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One of the biggest and least expensive ways to freshen up your kitchen is to paint your cabinets. Personally, I think there's nothing better than white cabinets to make a kitchen feel bright, clean and happy. Or paint cabinets a great color like turquoise or pear green for a kitchen with personality. And if you want to have your cake and eat it to - paint the outsides white and insides a color. Adding bright nickle hardware while you're at it takes decades off the kitchen and adds an unbeatable sparkle. Martha Stewart has a great tutorial on "How to Paint Cabinets" here.

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One enviable perk of newer kitchens are the sleek tile backsplashes that line the counter tops. But for all of us who have old pokey kitchens there is a simple alternative that adds both sparkle and increases the sense of space - mirrored backsplashes. They are inexpensive, and don't require a contractor. Any glass supply company will measure and install it for you.

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No matter who you are, everyone needs more counter space. And granite ones sure would be nice. But a great alternative is a marble topped table "island". It adds a real sense of luxury and increases your workspace. And believe it or not, this can cost about the same as most portable islands available through retailers like Crate and Barrel. Just take a narrow table with some character (often available for a steal on Craigslist) and have a local marble supply place measure and install a marble top. And the best thing about it - it comes with you when you move.

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Another common item on the kitchen wishlist is added space for a breakfast nook. And while most of us can't spring for an addition, we can make the most of the little space we have. The photo below (while grainy) shows an ingenious use of a small corner by sandwhiching a narrow table between two porch benches. Who would have thought that space could seat four - and look so charming doing it?

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And for all you with a less than stellar view from your kitchen window, glass ledges in the window sill add an element of visual interest while storing glasses within easy reach of the sink.

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Once the hard labor is done, add personality to your kitchen with details like wine crate drawers complete with nickel pulls:

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Picture credits: 1, 2 & 4. House Beautiful, 3, 5 & 8 Helen Norman 6. Domino Magazine 7. House and Home via Desire to Inspire

Getting The Dirt On Rugs

When I moved into my apartment I had only the bare minimum when it came to furniture. But I did have a rug and that made it feel like home. Rugs have an almost magical ability to transform a hodgepodge of furniture into a civilized and welcoming room.

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Finding a rug that can take a beating (and not give your wallet one) can be daunting, and getting an attractive one to boot can seem impossible. But thanks to a combination of ingenuity and technology, there are some great options out there.

One of my favorites are cowhide rugs. In their natural coloring they can give an earthy feel and a lot of attitude to a room. Or you can get one that's been dyed to look like a zebra skin, which is an instant recipe for chic. And the best of it is, cowhide is both inexpensive and indestructible (no child has a chance of getting that thing dirtier than the cow). Just vacuum and wipe down with soap and water. I've seen a number of great (new) ones on ebay in the $250.00 price range.

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Another classic is the sisal rug. It goes with any decorating style from formal to cottage and always adds a fresh, natural feel to a room. They make great runners on stairs and add a finished note to a hallway. Thinking practically, they are inexpensive and they can take a lot of wear. Impractically, they can only be vacuumed or wiped down with water, so they don't mix well with food. However, now there is a whole breed of polypropylene indoor-outdoor sisal rugs which are attractive and can take anything a messy eater can dish out.

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And last but not least, there is the striped cotton rug. These add visual drama without the least bit of stuffiness. Something about them always carries an echo of vacation and the simple life. They are unbeatable when it comes to cost, and can be cleaned in your washing machine or with a steam cleaner (often available for rent for about $20 from your local grocery store). Dash and Albert carries a huge selection of beautiful striped cotton rugs (also indoor-outdoor ones) at very reasonable prices.

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Picture credits: 1. House Beautiful 2. Myer Davis Studio via Desire to Inspire 3. House Beautiful 4. Elle Decor 5. House Beautiful 6. House Beautiful 750 Designer Secrets 7. Elle Decor 8. Better Homes and Gardens via Dash and Albert