Decorating with the stars

December 17, 2011 at 7:28PM

Decorating with the starsHow do the rich and famous get into the holiday spirit? HGTV continues its star-struck holiday programming with the second of its "Celebrity Holiday Homes" specials.

On Sunday, you can peek inside the homes of actor Wayne Brady, country crooner Jo Dee Messina and actress Alison Sweeney, as they deck their halls with help from interior designers.

Messina transforms her Nashville home into a "homespun family holiday" with twigs and berries, while Brady opts for a Hawaiian theme, complete with coconuts and starfish. Sweeney goes all-out purple, splashing the royal hue on everything from her tree to her tablescape.

KIM PALMER

Kitchens and curb appealWhat do homeowners most want to improve about their homes? Kitchens are No. 1, both locally and nationwide, according to a new remodeling and decorating study from Houzz (www.houzz.com), a Web resource for home design enthusiasts.

But exterior projects that add curb appeal also appear to be a high priority for Minneapolis homeowners, at least compared with homeowners in other parts of the country. The findings are based on the activity of users of the Houzz website and app throughout the year.

This comes on the heels of Remodeling magazine's recent survey showing that in the region that includes Minnesota, exterior projects also offer the best return on investment.

On the WebCopycatchic.com: If you love high-end home decor but have an Ikea budget, check out this designer's blog, which highlights "find the look for less" options for furniture, lamps and more. Case in point: A recent post featured a $2,200 wooden sideboard along with a strikingly similar $400 option from a more wallet-friendly store.

REAL SIMPLE

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