Today's question was inspired by an article I read on The nest, '9 Decor Trends to Skip .' So the question is......"Why is a trend not necessarily great style?"

The opening line of '9 Decor Trends to Skip' says, "Just because it's trendy doesn't mean it will work for everyone." This is true because all of us are unique and we must be true to our own sense of style. You don't have to follow the trends to be stylish!

In my soon-to-be-released e-course, Sassy Decorating Secrets, I ...

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Paint the walls! – While this makeover tip isn’t exactly quick, it adds a lot of impact for little money. You can paint an entire room in as little as an afternoon depending on how much preparation your walls need.

To prep the area, you need to move all the furniture to the center of the room and cover it with drop cloths. Take down all your curtain rods, outlet covers, and switch plates. Keep them in plastic baggies ... << MORE >>

Today is the continuation of last week's Ask the Diva!™ question with how to paint a faux Tuscan finish on your walls. There are many ways to achieve this type of finish, but if you just want something quick and easy you can follow the simple directions below.

photo from fotolia.com

Painting a Faux Tuscan Finish

What you will need:

• Two colors of paint
• paint roller
• sponge, rags, or color washing paint ...

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This week's tip is to add molding to your rooms. This sounds expensive, but it makes a big difference. If you do it yourself you can save money. You can also save on the cost by enlisting the help of friends who have done this before. This takes time, but it is well worth the investment and the money.

You can change the baseboards according to the style of your home and/or the decorating style you have chosen for yourself. If you are going to sell your home one day, choose ... << MORE >>

Today I was reminded by Maria Killiam in her blog, 'Colour Me Happy ' that I have left something out of my own blog. Why do I stage homes, redesign homes, and just flat out decorate? So that is what I am going to tell you today!

Since high school, I have been interested in interior design. It began with my first issue of Elle Decor magazine. The rooms were so beautiful and I wanted to live in all of them! I ... << MORE >>

Judy from Florida asks, "I'd love to learn how to faux EASILY so I could turn my dining area/kitchen into "tuscan". What is Tuscan anyway?"

This column will be in two parts. The first is an explanation of Tuscan style. The second will be an explanation of how to easily faux paint a wall.

Tuscany is a region in central Italy. Its capital is Florence and it is known for its wines. Many consider Tuscany to be the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

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Whether you are staging your home for sale, or just updating, adding new fixtures to your home is one of the simplest changes you can make to define your style. Builders use whatever is cost effective (read cheap) and generic enough that you don’t really notice them. They are selling the architecture, not the décor.

 

If you want to personalize your home, change the light fixtures, the switch plates, the electrical outlet covers, drawer and cabinet ...

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This week's question has to do with home staging. When you are updating your home it is good to think about what someone else is looking for in a home if you are thinking about moving. If you're planning to live in your home long-term you can be a little more creative and personal.

"Chris, I am updating my house. When decorators say update does that mean every surface? I have changed lighting, flooring, stripped all wallpaper, and repainted with a neutral color. My bedroom and bath I put a very light blue ... << MORE >>

Last week the quick home makeover tip was using area rugs. Tip #2 is using mirrors to enhance your space. Just as with area rugs, mirrors come in all different shapes and sizes. Look in your ‘style file’ and see what kind of mirrors are in your pictures. Look for something similar when you go shopping. Home stagers can use this information as a guide when staging a client'shome.


This week's tip is going to be a little different because we are going to incorporate some Feng Shui. Adding ... << MORE >>

"The future is not something we enter, it's something we create." - Leonard Sweet

Sitting back and letting life happen to you only leaves you wondering where the time went. If you want something, Don't sit and wish for it to happen. It never will.

You must change your mindset. Ask yourself, "How can I make it happen?" Write it down. Here are three questions to get you started:

1. What do I want my business or life to look like in 3 years?

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