Pendants - the new chandelier

You remember them, right? Your grandmother's home likely had them. Pendant lighting first emerged in the 11th century. It's more popular than ever now and the selection of styles is endless.

Designers love them as an alternative to recessed can lighting that can cut holes in your ceiling to look like swiss cheese. Ugly.

I snapped the above photo during a recent tour at the EXPO Design Center in Manchester, Missouri.

"Lighting", says Kevin Brown, Lighting Department Supervisor for the Manchester EXPO, "is the jewelry of the home." I couldn't agree more.

Pendants are a scaled-down alternative to chandeliers. Clustered in a corner or over a dining table they can add the same drama and light, but provide an updated look. They come in an array of choices of sizes and styles at a variety of price points.

My eyes are taken-in by the glow and sparkle of glass. Consider the practical version of polyethylene polymer that won't break, but look just like glass!

These woven shades at the EXPO caught my eye. Consider how woven pendant lights can be a new twist on the often-used and popular woven blinds and rugs. The woven shades also caught my attention for the affordable price - most were priced under $100.

For more on pendant lighting, check out Jamila Robinson's article: Make a Light Switch.

Let me help you make the "switch" to pendant lighting!

Not Your Grandma's Hutch - now that's clever!

Are you looking for an updated, maybe even contemporary, look but you are working with dated or traditional furnishings?

That was the case for Ursalon, our Habitat for Humanity homeowner who worked with us to decorate her home. Her hutch – pictured – was dark and dated. Ursalon mentioned her love of green apples so we purchased realistic-looking fake ones at Linens-n-Things.


photo courtesy of Katherine Bish Photography

Rather than arrange them in a predictable decorative bowl, we placed them individually and on stands to create a modern look. The greens and yellows pop against the dark hutch making it look fresh – this is no longer your Grandma’s hutch.


photo courtesy of Katherine Bish Photography

Consider ditching your fruit bowl and placing your fruit throughout your home, in flower arrangements, in a line on your mantle, down the middle of the table…the possibilities are endless.

The Design Fairies – now that’s working together!


The Design Team for the Berry-Crawford Family

I believe in collaborative interior design – developing a team approach to achieve the best results in home decoration. I will speak more about this philosophy as time goes on, but let me say this:

I don’t subscribe to the approach used by many of the more sensational television home-makeover shows where they send the homeowners away during the room or home makeover project and bring them back for the surprise reveal.

You may remember one episode that became know as "Crying Pam", when a woman broke down in tears at the surprise reveal of her living room. The designer ignored her request not to touch the fireplace facade, the only thing she did not want to be changed in the room.

To achieve no-tears design, homeowners need to be in charge of their project; after all, they are the ones who will live with the results when the designers have gone home!

For an example of interior design collaboration on a grand scale, check out “The Design Fairies”, in At Home Magazine.

Hide It - now that's clever!

Ok, one of my pet peeves is when a builder installs the most unattractive elements in full view, like the thermostat or alarm system.



Jane had this problem on a focal wall in her living room. She thought about having her thermostat moved to another wall around the corner, but it would be too costly. Jane has a collection of quilts. So our minds started cooking, why not put the quilt over the thermostat!



For easy access we put the quilt on a swing-arm curtain rod, found at most big-box retailers that carry home decor. We found ours at Linens -n- Things.

Have you ever had this dilemma?

What have you done to attractively hide the most unattractive elements in a room?

Testing, One, Two, Three, I'm On!

Ok, this is official, I am starting my blog. I am responding to a challenge given me by Whitney Johnson, creator of Dare to Dream. She reminded me of my dream and pushed me forward.

I am committed to offering you interior design tips that don't stress your budget or your time and don't require you to have advanced carpenter skills.

Doable, Liveable, Affordable.

Are you with me? Keep reading if you are...and I look forward to your contributions as well.

Happy Birthday, Whitney!