Vertical space solutions for your kitchen

Utensils are easy to find and never out of reach when hung on "S" hooks from a rod above the cooktop. No need to buy an expensive storage system -- a simple towel rack, tension rod, or dowel can be mounted near the food-prep area.
Keep sharp utensils stored in a stainless-steel box mounted on the side of a counter or island, and they'll always be easy to find. Consider putting the box inside an upper cabinet door if your household includes small children.
Built into a tall, wide stainless-steel backsplash, a roomy shelf and a row of utensil hooks provide on-location storage that doesn't block ventilation.
If you don't have a spot for a wall- or ceiling-mount pot rack, recast one or two base cabinets flanking the range. This narrow compartment is just wide enough for favorite pots and pans, which hang from "S" hooks that fit a track on the pullout rack. Cookie sheets and fold-away roasting and cooling racks are also naturals to store in a narrow space.

For more space-savvy ways to store your cooking equipment, check http://www.bhg.com/

Make your garden glow

Usually for gardens, low voltage lights and candles are used to create a beautiful ambiance. If appropriately placed, lighting would definitely make your backyard or garden glowing and hospitable.

I really liked these ideas from http://www.sunset.com/ and they're really easy to create!

Hang Fire

Create romantic lighting for an outdoor dinner party by suspending votives at varying heights from low-hanging branches.

Use clear fishing line and be sure to keep candles a safe distance from the leaves.

Summer Lights
In his backyard ramada in Scottsdale, Arizona, artist Jeff Zischke houses candles in antique carriage lamps and ordinary mason jars; he supplements their glow with low-voltage lamps."There’s still no substitute for candlelight," he says. "That flickering glow just draws people in like moths."

Buy a showstopper

Blue Inspiration

Today's wedding inspiration is from http://jomygoodness.typepad.com

An all-white wedding

I simply adore the idea of an all-white wedding theme; very classy and romantic. The best thing about an all-white wedding theme is that it's timeless! So when you go over your wedding album years later, you will never think "oh that was 2009".

Back to school!

Get your kids ready to go back-to-school with these wonderful ideas from http://www.pbteen./com

Preppy Pocket Board

Make the most of your wall space with this functional pocketboard. It features a pencil holder and pockets, and it’s woven of 100% cotton-canvas with grosgrain ribbon trim.
Locker Message Board

Make your locker more functional with this space-saving accessory. Camo prints come with a dry-erase board with pockets and a small shelf. Made of sturdy polyester construction. Set includes a combo dry erase pen with an eraser on one end.
Lap Desk

Take your homework anywhere with this mobile study station. The smooth top on the superstorage desk swings open to reveal a corkboard and cubbies for pushpins and study supplies. You can also personalize it!

Say What? Door Sign

Tell friends what you’re up to or let them leave a note with this unique sign. Includes a hook to hang over your door and a dry-erase pen with eraser.

The Great Grid

Organize your wall in an instant with this ingenious grid. Its minimalist design offers maximum storage with a display shelf, six hooks and eight clips to hang caps, photos and more.

Shabby Chic Wedding

Shabby Chic is a major trend nowadays. This style simply refreshes everything old by combining old and worn furnishings or antiques with polished and refined accessories. It is a soft and romantic way of decorating, very comfortable and inviting.

If you're a bride who opts for a more intimate and romantic wedding, you should definitely go for a shabby chic wedding decoration.

Here are some pictures i gathered from around the web of Shabby Chic wedding decorations...

I simply adore this style!

A gorgeous wedding theme

Today's wedding inspiration is from http://photographymathieu.blogspot.com/

This wedding is decorated in beautiful shades of tiffany blue, black and white. The theme is simply gorgeous!

Bring the beauty of outdoors indoors!

Flowers are always a wonderful addition to a wedding. When choosing flowers for your wedding, the most important thing to consider is the season in which your wedding will take place. Focus on the prevalent traits of this season and incorporate the most common colors of the season in your wedding decorations.

In my openion, there's nothing more romantic than Spring. It's the season when flowers start blooming and grass turns green, when sun shines warm and wind blows cold.. it's simply the best season for weddings!

Spring is usually associated with soft pastel colors and light hues of green, pink, yellow, blue and purple. If you're having a spring wedding, you should definitely consider dreamy pastel colors to keep your wedding light, airy and dreamy just like Spring!

Check out this perfect spring wedding decoration created by Beth Helmstetter and get inspired!

Something for every home!

http://www.horchow.com/ is one of the best online shops for elegant furniture and exceptional home decor accessories.

Horchow offers a variety of items from fine furniture and luxury linens to distinctive tabletop designs, rugs, beddings and antique collectibles! It simply brings the best of everything in every style and trend.

I've checked alot of online furniture stores but honestly no one came close to Horchow.

Decorating a teenager's bedroom

When decorating teenagers' bedrooms, we should put in mind the fact that their age is really sensitive, that they're going through many physical and emotional changes and that they're trying to figure out who they are and what they want to become.

They have enough issues to deal with so instead of giving them a hard time, parents should allow their teens to express their personalities, interests and tastes through their bedroom decorations. Let them choose the color, theme and style even if you hate it! Afterall, it's their hide out, their space and it should reflect their individuality and creativity.

Consider it a great chance to work together as a team. Make a few key decisions together regarding color, prints and decorative accents but make sure that your teen plays the predominant role in making such decisions. This will definitely help build up your teen's confidence.

A little tip: The most important element in a teen's bedroom- in my openion- is the STORAGE SOLUTIONS! Teens usually have alot of CDs, magazines, toys, books, electronics, makeup, clothes, shoes, bags...etc. If your teen prefers having everything out where he/she can see it, then use open storage solutions like shelves, bookcases, wall cubes, organization boards and hooks. If he/she prefers everything neat and hidden, use closed storage solutions like under-the-bed storage bins, corner cabinets, drawer units and baskets.

Pottery Barn came up with a fun line of exclusive furniture and accessories created just for teenagers. So cool!

Check it out: http://www.pbteen.com/

Day to night transformation

A tip from Collin Cowie:

"Transform your table from daytime to nighttime effortlessly. By daytime, fill a decorative glass bowl with lemons, coconuts and white coral – all elements that won't spoil in the summer heat. "

"At nighttime, take the same bowl and fill it with water and float a couple of flowers and candles for a romantic centerpiece. For added glamour, add votive candles. There's no such thing as too many. They make us look younger and add an element of sensuality and drama to the table."

An Indian summer

http://anindiansummer-design.blogspot.com/ is an amazing blog about Indian and Asian intertior design and living.

The site features exquisite furnishings and fabrics, rich textiles and gorgeous arts and crafts that literally reflect the ethnic and cultural identities of Asia.

I really encourage you to visit this blog and you will definitely be inspired by the beautiful and eye catching colors and designs of India and Asia!

Non-floral centerpieces

If you're looking for something creative and original on your tables other than flowers and candles, i think you'll love these ideas i gathered from different sites and blogs.

Click on the image to see a larger version...

A little creativity goes a long way!

Flower arrangements don't have to be expensive to look impressive. Sometimes, all it takes is a little creativity and imagination to create an attractive and charming flower arrangement.

I really liked what Martha Stewart did with these tin cans; they are so easy to create, they look sensational and they don't cost alot of money!


You can use this idea for a barbecue party, a beach party or any occassion that doesn't need elaborate decorations. You can also use those tin flower arrangements in your kitchen and around your home.

Now I have a reason to open all the neglected vegetable tins in my kitchen!

Cottage Style!

I was checking Better Homes & Gardens website and found out the most beautiful beach cottage! Suddenly i feel like turning my home into a cottage retreat!

As you can see in the photos, cottage style is all about simplicity and keeping things light, cozy and airy. With the right mix of pastel colors, soft floral fabrics, painted distressed furniture and fresh flowers, you can create a cheery and inviting cottage look that makes your guests want to stay for a while.

The perfect color palette!

As i was sitting in my office having my regular cup of coffee, i came accross these amazing wedding photos taken by photographer Grey Bumatay and i just had to share them with you guys!

The whole setting was simply breathtaking; it's sophisticated, it's modern, it's fresh! I just love the idea of matching simple decorations with vibrant colors... maybe i should get married again so i can use this color combo hehe!

Are you stuck in an all-beige world?

If you walk through any Kuwaiti house, you will notice that most of the walls (if not all) are in either beige or shades of beige (rosey beige, greenish beige, yellowish beige, light brown, camel, tan, sand, biscuit, cream...etc.)

I know that beige is a neutral color and i know that it combines the warmth of brown and the coolness of white; HOWEVER, what people don't understand is that too much beige can be really dull and boring! So why don't we add more color to our lives than the boring beige that we surround ourselves with?!

My advice: Color can make a room look larger, smaller, warmer or cooler. When choosing a color for a room, it is important to take into consideration the size of the room and the amount of natural light that goes into it. You should also take into consideration the mood that you want the room to reflect... do you want it to be serene and peaceful or bright and fun?

But with so many color choices, picking just the right color can be really hard. Better Homes and Gardens offers a cool online tool where you can choose colors and patterns to walls, furniture and flooring which gives you an overview of what your room would look like!

http://www.bhg.com/app/coloraroom/member/index.jsp

I used this tool to add color to a livingroom, check this before/after picture...

Simple, chic and affordable wedding!

A few simple touches are normally enough to change an ordinary room into something wonderful for your special day. The decorations don't have to be expensive in order to be beautiful; however, you should always make sure that you budget correctly and that you shop around for the best deals.

First thing you should do is pick a color scheme and follow a theme. Use the same colors for your wedding invitations, flowers and decorations. Make sure that your wedding decorations are placed in the wedding hall, the dinner buffet and also the bathrooms.

After picking the color and theme, start choosing your decorations and dare to be different! You don't have to follow traditional wedding decorations, however, give your wedding an individual feel or create your own decorations.

Check this beautiful black, white and pink wedding theme which was featured in http://www.brides.com/ it's different, it's simple and very chic!

Nursery rooms- Have fun and be creative!

The first thing you should consider before furnishing your baby's nursery room is COLOR and THEME! Are you going for pinks and blues or neutral colors? Are you going for a classic theme or a modern theme?

After choosing the color and theme, you should start buying the furniture. The most important piece of furniture in a nursery room is the CRIB. You should never cut corners in terms of budget on this piece! A rocking chair and a dresser/changer are also essential to have in the nursery room.

After you're done with these fundamentals, now start looking for bed linens and room accessories.

As you know, babies grow really fast so my advice is: try to choose a neutral color wall and floor for your baby's nursery room but be bold and creative in choosing the color of bed linens, room décor and accessories since they're easier to change, mix and match!

http://www.angelbabybedding.com/ offers a lovely selection of bedding sets and nursery accessories. The site also ships globally, whoop whoop!