Long after birthing the settee, armoire, Louis XV chair and more, Paris is once again setting trends for home.

As always, the chic elegance that defines French taste was well represented at the recent Maison & Objet show in Paris. But historic looks continue to be redefined, with relaxed finishes and cleaner shapes replacing the polished wood, fancy carvings and elegant damasks of period styles. A veritable feast for the senses, this stylish home fashion show suggests that perhaps a sense of history can be achieved as much with well-worn materials as with well-aged design ideas!

Here were four of the key trends shown…

Unexpected combinations like slipcovers, metal & wicker

1) Unexpected combinations Mixing elegant and casual is well within the French DNA, and unique mixes of materials and textures this year didn’t disappoint. My favorite room setting included a slip-covered linen sofa paired [...]

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Tags: accent furniture, bed, chairs, French design, French laundry looks, industrial style, living room furniture, Maison & Objet, Paris Maison & Objet, slip-covered couches, slip-covered sofas, sofas, table

It’s that time of year again when we find ourselves spending more time inside the house. Often, this makes us more aware of the cleaning and organizing we put off during the active and busy summer and fall months. These slower-paced days are not only a good time to relax, read and reflect; they’re also a good time to give your home and furnishings a little TLC – “tender loving cleaning.”    I don’t know about you, but I tend to think of my home furnishings pieces as investments.  They are truly a part of my design “portfolio!”

Fluted Kidney Desk from Mélange

Wood furnishings, if cared for correctly, can last for generations. Depending on the wood variety, the age, and the finish, each piece may have a different set of maintenance suggestions.  Antiques can be finished with shellac, oils, waxes, or varnishes.  Often, [...]

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Tags: furniture care, furniture care tips, furniture cleaning, furniture cleaning tips, furniture stain removal, upholstered furniture care, wood furniture care

It’s playoff season-are you prepared?  You’re making your famous bean dip and 50 “pigs in a blanket,”  but what will really impress your friends is your TV viewing room! Whether you watch the game in your living room, den , or man cave on your home entertainment center furniture, make sure you follow these easy tips to ensure the best possible football viewing experience!

Choose the right size

Folks, size really does matter in this scenario.  Buy a TV too large and you’ll overpower the room.  Buy a TV too small and your guests will strain to see the action.  First, determine roughly how far away you will be sitting from the screen.  Then, refer to the handy chart below to determine the minimum and maximum size TV appropriate for your space.

Chart courtesy of Amazon.com

Choose an Entertainment Center that Meets your Needs

If you [...]

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Tags: big screen entertainment center furniture, entertainment center, entertainment center furniture, game furniture, home entertainment center furniture, living room furnishings, TV Console, TV consoles

True, ottomans, benches and cubes are perfect for putting our feet up. But they’re taking center stage in living rooms today, offering a pretty, practical and comfy (!) alternative to coffee tables.

Below, a few tips on choosing the perfect ottomans for your home…

1.  Use more than one! Today’s ottomans are designed to be used in pairs, trios or even quartets. That gives them an appealing visual texture… and flexibility! They can be separated and moved where needed. Check out this pair of Sam Moore’s Porter cubes covered in a new pop art cabbage rose pattern in a bright magenta and tangerine.

Porter Cubes by Sam Moore

2.  Choose ottomans that match each other. There are plenty of ottoman designs to choose from today, but keep sets of ottomans the same size, shape and design. Placed next to each other, they’ll reinforce each [...]

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Tags: benches, cubes, foot stools, furniture ottomans, living room furniture, ottomans

At the heart of most New Year’s resolutions is the desire for a better and more meaningful life. And the path to a better life often starts at home.

“We are firm believers that making your home better makes your life better,” said Oma Blaise Ford, executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. “Your home is an extension of who you are, and if a new color on the wall or a new throw pillow makes you smile, that adds to your happiness.”Better Homes and Gardens, which is one of the world’s greatest sources of inspiring ideas for home and garden, sees itself as much more than a decorating magazine.

BHG Editor Oma Ford and me

“We’re really about living well in your home,” said Oma. “One of the greatest passions of people today is creating a wonderful [...]

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Tags: Better Homes and Gardens, home decorating ideas, home decorating trends, home organization, industrial chic, industrial style, New Year’s Resolutions, pattern and texture

In the midst of bowl game and playoff season (not to mention cold nights for staying in and watching movies), chances are you’re spending more of your down time around the TV these days.

You may be noticing some things that went unnoticed this summer and fall, like the fact that dozens of DVDs are stacked on the floor or a table top, or that unsightly wires from the TV are in view. Or maybe the way your TV is positioned in the room doesn’t offer an optimum vantage point or intimate gathering for relaxation.

Summerton TV Console

There is a solution that will help you enjoy your time around the TV more than ever. Your TV’s best friend is quality, functional entertainment center furniture. Today’s TV consoles are far more than rudimentary TV stands. The high-tech age does not mean you have to [...]

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Tags: big screen entertainment center, black entertainment center, corner entertainment center, entertainment center, entertainment center furniture, entertainment centers furniture, home entertainment system, home theater, plasma tv furniture

Organize your closet, organize your life

As we welcome 2012, chances are some of our New Year’s resolutions involve being more organized. Even though our closets are “hidden” from the view of most, it’s amazing how having a more organized closet can lead to better organization all around, and help you enjoy your home and life more.

When every item in our closet is easy to find (and even easier to put away), there won’t be any clothing left to drape over the treadmill: the true sign of a well-functioning closet!

Four Drawer Shaped Front Chest

Sadly, many closets don’t make it easy to get organized. Here are the number one culprits, the obstacles between you and a more organized wardrobe. The good news?  Most of these top 7 closet mistakes are fairly easy to fix…

1.  Too much stuff. A cramped closet is just [...]

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Tags: accent furniture, chest of drawers, closet organization, drawer chest, dressers, home organization, storage furniture, wardrobes