One of the topics that I write about weekly (twice-weekly actually) is interior design. I try to come up with creative ideas for home design which I write about in picture-rich ideabooks over at Houzz.com. Houzz is a good site where you can sign up to collect pictures of projects that you might want to do (and you can add notes to yourself or others in text if you want).

I’ve made a whole lot of different collections through the site. I like exploring all different areas of home decorating. I’m always changing up my own house. Lately I seem to be following a new theme though – a theme of making your home fun. Two of my recent ideabooks were on using polka dots and making your home feel Hawaiian.

I think that this is a sign that I want to do something more fun with my home. I’ve made the bathroom and kitchen pretty fun. The bathroom is a flirty style and the kitchen is a retro look. Now I’ve got to move on to the rest of the apartment. I’m a little more stuck there as to what I want to do. I know that I want it to be colorful but I’m just not sure how colorful or in what style. I’ve got some thinking to do!

Tags: decorating, fun design, houzz, Interior Design

As you might know if you read this blog regularly, I’ve been putting together ideabooks on different home decor topics over at Houzz.com. I thought I’d share the links to some of my favorite ideabooks in case you have an interest in this topic.

Links to the best ideabooks I’ve written:

• Sophisticated and Fun: Good Design Can Be Both
• How to Add a Jacuzzi to your Home
• Home Design for the TwentySomething Person
• Save Old Furniture with Bohemian Chic Decor
• Awesome Stairway Ideas

Links to some of the best ideabooks by other Houzz authors:

• Not Exactly Roughing It: Fancy Camping by Kit Pollard
• Workspaces that Stimulate Creativity by txranchgirl
• Favorite Front Porches by Becky
• Decorative Bedding Done Right by Rachel_M
• Warm Up to Fireplaces by jerrifarris

Does anyone else use Houzz? Share your Houzz URL in the comments.

Tags: home, houzz, Interior Design, Link Love

There are two different pieces of furniture that I have always been drawn to for my living room or bedroom space: the fainting couch and the chaise lounge. For a long time, I thought that these two items were the same thing. However, as I’ve started to look at actually purchasing something like this for my home, I’ve started to realize that they are quite different indeed.

The reason that I thought that these two things were the same for so long was because they have the same basic shape and size. They are the size of a small couch. They are typically rectangular in shape. And they usually have four legs to support them. I also thought they were the same because both pieces of furniture were popular in the nineteenth century and have resurfaced as great vintage pieces today. Both items typically also have just a single arm although modern designs may differ on each of them.

So what’s the difference between the fainting couch and the chaise lounge? The shape and placement of the back of this piece of furniture are what distinguish one from the other. The back of the fainting couch runs alongside the longer side of the couch (as it would with any couch) whereas the back of the chaise lounge is at the shorter end (like you would find with a chair). The fainting couch tends to have a back that is high on one end and low on the other whereas the chaise lounge has a back that’s the same height all the way across.

If I had to choose, I prefer the style of the fainting couch although I’d probably be more likely to get a chaise lounge since it would fit better with the style of my home.

Tags: chaise, chaise lounge, chaise vs. fainting couch, fainting couch, furniture, houzz, kathryn vercillo, resting, vintage furniture

One of the places where I publish my writing is Houzz.com. This is a site that is loaded with great photos related to home design. I like to put together ideabooks there where I compile photos around a specific design subject and write about my thoughts on them. Recently one of the articles I did there was about bathroom sinks that are shaped like bowls. These are also called vessel sinks.

There are quite a few different designs for these types of sinks. However, the style that I like best is the style shown in the picture on this post. The sink actually looks like a ceramic bowl which is simply sitting on the counter. Some of the reasons that I’m drawn to this style of sink include:

• Natural design. I find the ceramic or clay pot feel of these sinks to really evoke a natural feeling. I like bathrooms that feel like a spa and I think this is conducive to that kind of earthy relaxed feeling.
• Small shape. Every bathroom I’ve ever had was small so I appreciate sinks, tubs and toilets that don’t take up a lot of room in the bathroom.
• Easier to decorate around. I think that these designs lend themselves to decorating with neat soap dispensers and vases which is something I like to have in my bathroom.
• Unique but not odd. I think these bowls have a really unique shape that differs from the standard sink. However, they’re common enough not to be too weird.

I’m really drawn to these types of sinks and plan to look at more of them to see if there’s a particular style or brand that I like best.

Tags: bathroom, bowl sinks, home, houzz, kathryn vercillo, sink shaped like bowl, vessel sink

I used to really enjoy taking baths. After all, settling down into a hot bath filled with bubbles is a great way to relax at the end of the day. Add some candles and a book to read and you’ve got an idyllic evening. However, I almost never take baths anymore. The reason is because I really don’t like my bathtub.

Some of the reasons I’m averse to bathing in my tub include:

• It’s too small. I’m a small girl but I still like getting lost in a big tub. Mine’s just a bit cramped. A deep clawfoot tub would be so much better. (See some cool clawfoot tubs here.)
• The water doesn’t stay warm long enough. My hot water runs out too quickly in this building so I can’t fill a full tub with hot water; it gets lukewarm before it’s done filling up.
• The shower head leaks. When only the tub water is going, the shower head spits water out at me so it’s not very comfortable to get in the tub when the bath is still filling up.
• The tub gets dirty too fast. I try to keep it clean but I swear this tub attracts dirt like no other. It’s not appealing to take a bath in a tub that’s no sparkling clean.

Someday I’m going to have a better bathroom. I’m going to have a really cool shower with dual shower heads. And I’m going to have a separate whirlpool tub!

Tags: clawfoot tub, houzz, Interior Design, kathryn vercillo, tubs

My kid sister has a really cool talent of making her own decorative pillows. She embroiders the fabric with designs that never fail to impress me. (She once did Starry Night on a pillow by hand.) I think that the pillows come out really gorgeous and mentioned that she should try selling them to make some extra cash. This got us to start looking at pillows that are for sale online. What we learned is that there are some people out there making a pretty penny by selling pillows that are rather pricey.

Here’s a look at 5 expensive pillows we came across:

1. Eiderdown Pillows by St. Geneve. These pillows are supposed to be really comfortable and really healthy for you. I would hope so since they sell for over $2000 each!
2. Silk Aubusson Pillows. These pillows are nice. They’re made from silk. They’re handmade. They have pretty designs on them. But are they worth $500 – $1000 dollars each?
3. Lessage Silk Pillows. Silk pillows with pretty designs are apparently a popular choice among people who like expensive pillows. These ones go for around $500 each for a decorative square pillow.
4. Egret Velvet Pillow. There’s a pillow maker called Dransfield & Ross that puts out a bunch of pricey pillows. One example is this red velvet pillow decorated with an egret. It’s about $500.
5. Snoozer Pillows. These are ergonomically designed pillows that are supposed to help people with back problems and discomfort related to pregnancy. If they really work then maybe they’re worth the price which is in the $100 – $200 range.

I happen to think that a pillow’s value lies just as much in how it decorates the room as it does in how comfy the pillow is. And I think you can get pretty pillows for a lot cheaper than some of these go for! How much money would you pay for a good pillow?

Tags: decorating, expensive pillows, home accessories, houzz, Interior Design, kathryn vercillo, pillows

I’ve lived on my own (or with various roommates) off and on for more than ten years. I’ve moved a few times and rearranged my bedroom a few times more than that. I think I’ve finally figured out how to create a bedroom that is truly ideal for a single woman.

Here are the five key features of a great bedroom for a single gal:

1. It feels safe. I think it’s really important for single women to feel safe in their beds (especially if they live alone!) Safety could mean lots of pillows to cuddle up with or windows that lock or lights that are easy to reach from the bed. It means different things to different women but I think it’s always important.
2. It’s pretty. I like having a bedroom that’s pretty. My definition of pretty has changed over the years and grown up a bit over time (or at least I’d like to think so) but I’ve always tried to pretty up my bedroom in some way.
3. It’s also comfortable. Pretty and safe are important features but mostly the room has to be comfortable. It has to have good energy. The bed has to be comfy. It’s the place where you spend at least eight hours of each day if not more so it should be a place where every seat feels totally comfortable.
4. It serves multiple functions. Almost all of my bedrooms have served multiple functions (especially when living with roommates). Most often, it’s been a bedroom as well as a library and office. It’s also usually had a sofa in it that people could sleep on if they stayed over.
5. It’s up to date. I don’t mean that my bedroom has to have trendy furniture and modern art. Instead, I mean that it needs to be up to date with me. My bedrooms always reflect my current passions, moods and beliefs. I think that this is important.

What do you think are the most important features of a bedroom for a woman who lives alone?

Tags: bedroom, decorating, houzz, Interior Design, kathryn vercillo, rooms, single, women

I like to use a lot of different colors to bring life and energy into the places where I live. I hang up art and postcards. I spread colored fabrics across tabletops and hang them from the walls. I choose drapes and pictures frames and furniture that are all colorful. And I love to use bold paint to make a statement in a room.

I’m not picky about the colors that I use when decorating a home. I’ll try almost any color once to see how it makes me feel to live in a room that’s decorated with that particular shade. This experimentation has taught me a lot about how colors can alter your moods. And it’s taught me a lot about the colors that I like to live with.

One of the things that I noticed recently is that I’ve used the color yellow in every single place that I have ever lived. Yellow isn’t among my favorite colors but it offers a really great feeling for home design. It’s bright and optimistic and inspiring.

My first attempt at yellow actually wasn’t so great at all. I repainted my parents’ bathroom yellow when I still lived at home. Then I sponge painted over it with orange. The effect was garish. Believe me, looking into your reflection in a mirror that’s in a yellow room is not actually all that pleasant of an effect.

My other experiences with yellow in rooms has gone much better. My favorite was a small bedroom that I had added on to my old house. The walls were a great shade of bright yellow. The ceiling was painted to look like the sky. I always felt happy and peaceful in that sunny room even though it didn’t get a lot of natural sunlight.

Right now I’m using yellow to create bright patches in my bedroom. There’s a yellow and green piece of fabric over my desk. There are a few yellow fabric art pieces on the wall. There’s a yellow blanket slung over a small couch. And there is some yellow artwork on the French doors that separate my bedroom from my living room. It makes me feel like waking up. I think I’ll always have yellow somewhere in my homes.

Tags: color, decor, decorating, design, home, houzz, kathryn vercillo, paint, yellow

My dad recently re-did the floors at my sister’s house. Dad is a custom woodworker who also does urban harvesting and sells that wood to others. He had a bunch of extra wood because of this and was able to use this reclaimed wood to create my sister’s new floors (as well as a really great new wooden door for the front of their home). The new floors themselves are such a work of art that they dramatically altered the style and mood of the house.

This got me thinking about how floors can be used as fifth walls to really shape their space. A truly wonderful floor can be a style foundation for the home. Bold rugs, painted floors, unique tile options and the placement of large sculptures directly on floors are all ways that you can start to use a floor as the canvas for a room’s design.

I’m not sure yet what this means for my own home. I live in an apartment that already has wood floors. They’re nice but they need to be cleaned up. Plus I think that they need a bit more than just their own selves to be truly beautiful. Perhaps some rugs? Maybe some art propped against the walls to bring the eye down to floor level? I’m not sure yet but I’m hoping to figure it out. Or to at least have fun trying!

Tags: decor, design, floor, hardwood floor, home, houzz, Interior Design, kathryn vercillo, style

I was just compiling pictures of canopy beds for a design article over at Houzz.com. I’ve never had a canopy bed but I used to really want one when I was younger. I can think of a few reasons that I’d still like to get a canopy bed.

Canopy beds seem great because:

• They’re playful. They just look like a lot of fun. Entering a room that has one feels exciting!
• They create a safe place. If you have to spend the night alone then it’s nice to get all tucked in. A canopy bed enhances that.
• They’re romantic. If you’re not spending the night alone then the flirty enclosure of a canopy bed could help set the mood.
• They’re private. If you have to share a room with others then a canopy bed could be a great way to shut them out when you’re ready to sleep.

Although I don’t have one, I can see some great reasons to get a canopy bed. Do you agree?

Tags: bedroom, bedroom design, beds, canopy beds, decor, design, houzz, Interior Design