home + garden

Still miss Domino? Lonny.com is the next-best thing.

I’m a regular reader of the bi-monthly online shelter magazine because it’s just like flipping through a real glossy mag. It’s also full of relatable down-to-earth design ideas and offers a smart take on how real people outfit their interiors

This month’s issue ponders “Interior Design Rules You Should Break.”  DIYers are intimidated by conventional wisdom regarding how to put together a room, said Lonny. When I went through the checklist, I discovered I was a already a decorating iconoclast –  unintentionally.

Rule: Match Your Wood Finishes
Many people are afraid to mix wood finishes in a single room, said Lonny.  I must be pretty brave because my family room is an assortment of  whitewashed wood hutch, dated 1990s golden oak coffeetable and dark walnut side table from a junk bonanza.  No worry. “Varying wood tones create a layered look,” said Lonny.

Rule: Every Window Needs a Window Treatment
Two walls of windows remain bare and exposed in our family room addition finished four years ago.  At night, the neighbors can easily watch me watching “Gray’s Anatomy,” and during the day the space feels unclothed and cold.  I’ll dress the windows some day. “There’s no shame in a naked window,” says Lonny.

Rule: Use Small Furniture in a Small Room
I have a tiny dining room and it’s overstuffed with a huge mahogany dining room table. At Thanksgiving, guests have to take turns pulling out chairs before sliding in. But beggars can’t be choosey when given a cast-off from a relative who moved to Florida. “Using a few large pieces in a small space often creates the illusion of a bigger room,” said Lonny. Often doesn’t mean always.

Are you a decorating rebel? Tell us what works for you.
If you’d like to see the complete list of rule breakers, go to www.lonny.com.

Photo from Lonny.com

A decade ago the top of my Christmas list read like a Tiffany's ad -- I wanted all things sparkly and shiny. Last year, I wanted warm boots. This year? I could really use an extension ladder.

Over the years I've found that not only has my Christmas list changed, I have as well. The material things aren't nearly as important as spending time with the people that matter most to me, and as we've gone through several belt-tightening measures, my list has become more practical than fanciful (hence the warm boots). And my list is more home-centric than ever. Although practicality usually rules my Christmas list and pocketbook, it sure doesn't hurt to dream. So, just in case a certain someone might be reading:

Dear Santa:

I'm sure you remember me -- we're the ones who usually have to rely on generous friends and sometimes elves of the Keebler variety to leave a solid treat on Christmas Eve. Despite that,  I am hoping I've earned a place on the "nice" list this year. If I do, here's my list for you to consider:

Sitting pretty: My son's bout with the flu last week makes a new couch high on the list.

Candice Olsen designed this couch, which would look great in my house.

Nailed it: My parents gave me a sweet electric sander a few years back. I love it. But it would be great to have a small nail gun to accompany it. My only request: no compressors. They intimidate me.

Upsizing: Vaulted ceilings and stupidly placed light fixtures are sometimes the bain of my existence. An extension ladder would help me reach new heights -- literally -- and will come in handy as I start in painting the ENTIRE interior of my house over the next year.

Storage wars: I've been searching high and low for a cabinet to that could become a make-shift pantry. Should you see something, 31 inches wide is what I need.

Counter fit: I love the burn rings and stains on the light gray countertop that mark my children's kitchen adventures, but they're growing up, so shouldn't my countertops follow suit?

Safe travels on the sleigh, and we'll actually try for homemade treats this year.

XXOO, Nicole

As a reporter who writes mostly about homes and gardens, I don't get a lot of hate mail or angry phone calls. Nothing like the days when I covered city hall and could expect at least one or two a day.

Life is calmer, but I have  sometimes wondered if anyone -- other than my mother -- is reading my stories at all, or just glancing at the pretty pictures.

But homes, in this economy, are a lot more controversial than they used to be. Just this week, the Star Tribune published two letters from readers critical of the Homes section. Here's today's:  "Opening this section makes me sick. I am usually not a bitter person, but I can only wonder how anyone can afford this stuff." (http://www.startribune.com/opinion/letters/182904101.html)

I also fielded a few annoyed phone calls last month when we published a story about pianist Lorie Line's $4 million lakeshore mansion, and then, three days later, a story about it heading into foreclosure. (www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/179217631.html)

Featuring rich people's houses is "rubbing it in readers' noses" that they will never live like that, one caller told me.

For what it's worth, we do try to feature a mix of houses -- big and small, expensive and modest -- as well as overall home-related trends that affect everyone. When we do have a grandiose home in our section, we try to balance it with another story about something more accessible.

Before the recession, big, expensive homes rarely generated comment. And their owners were, on the whole, happy to share them with readers.

The faltering economy changed that dramatically. Affluent homeowners got a lot more reluctant to showcase their affluence when so many others were struggling. When we did feature a big, expensive house, we got a lot more negative feedback. 

Last week, I had lunch with a freelance writer who told me she's changing her focus. "I can't write about rich peope's houses anymore," she said. 

Me, I'm still fascinated by all the spaces we call "home" and the people who create them. I love the quirky starving artists' homes and the freedom they feel to glue rocks to their woodwork and paint murals on their ceilings. I love the elegant old mansions, and the sleek modern dwellings. I even loved the "punk house" I wrote about a few years ago, where a bunch of young musicians were staging shows in their filthy basement.

How about you? Are you sick of seeing homes that you can't personally afford? Or do you like peeking inside all kinds of homes?

December means anticipation for many things. For interior decorators and those who wish their interiors looked professionally decorated, it's the month when Pantone reveals the "breakthrough" color that it has decreed the "color of the year."

Drum roll: For 2013, that color is emerald -- Pantone 17-5641, to be exact.

It's described as a "sophisticated and luxurious green" by the Danish design firm, Room Copenhagen, whose first product with the color is a white cup ("whipped cream white," if you're paying attention) wrapped in a silicone band in Patone's particular green.

This is how Pantone describes the color: “Emerald is the color of balance and harmony, enhancing one’s sense of well-being and inspiring insight and clarity.”

Nice when a single color does all the heavy lifting.

So, what do you think? Personally, I like a green with a little more depth -- the forest and moss greens of the world. That shade probably is not especially good for clarity, however. All shadows and moodiness.

How would you use this color? Do you like it? Or has your anticipation for 2014 already begun?

I had all year to get new carpet in the living and dining rooms, but waited until right before Christmas to start hunting for it. I guess I got used to seeing that big gray stain next to the dining table and the rust blob from spilled water under the plant stand. But I sure don’t want anyone else to see them.

Inviting people over for holiday gatherings is a better motivator than Tony Robbins.  The looming deadline pushes me  to get my home  rejuvenation  projects all wrapped up.

Last year,  I replaced ny nonfunctioning old stove with a new one the day before my pals came over for our annual Christmas cookie bake. It's easy to get energized when the end result is fresh-baked cookies.

This year,  I really need a  push. In the 12 days before Christmas, I’ll be pondering frieze, cut and loop pile and saxony at the carpet stores. Then moving furniture for the carpet installer. That’s on top of grocery and gift shopping, cooking baking, cleaning, and of course, making my house merry and bright.

I have friends who waited to remodel outdated bathrooms and kitchens until right before they threw a big graduation party. For my son's graduation bash,  I plan to put in a big concrete patio and plant lovely landscaping in the backyard.

But there's no hurry. I have until May 2015 — that’s when he graduates.

Do you procrastinate? What are some home projects you’ve accomplished in a short time under the gun?