Blog by Beebe Cline, PREC*

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We Can Work It Out: Living (and Cleaning) Together

March 25th, 2013
I had been married more than a decade when I mentioned to my sister, Torey, my regret that my husband, Paul, never cleaned.Torey's jaw dropped. "Whaaaaaat?" "I said he doesn't do any cleaning.""You have got to be kidding me," she said. "He is always cleaning." "Whaaaaaat?" It was my turn with the disbelief.As if on cue, Paul appeared in the kitchen to throw something away in the t ...

How to Love Your Kitchen More, Right Now

February 28th, 2013
Daydreaming about how you would design your ideal kitchen can be fun, but actually doing it is a pretty big splurge — meaning many of us will have to stick with daydreaming for the time being. But even if you can't remodel, spending your energy (and a smaller amount of money) making doable changes that positively impact your quality of life is a worthwhile goal. By focusing ...

7 Tips to Get With a New Minimalist Mentality

February 24th, 2013
Years ago, when my children were little and our home was awash in toys, laundry and papers — to name the top three categories of stuff I found overwhelming — from time to time, when I was feeling exhausted and entirely beleaguered, I would imagine our house burning down. I really wanted to lose only the laundry room, the playroom, a closet or two and several cupboards, but I ...

Take Great Home Photos the Easy Way — 5 Tips From a Pro

February 22nd, 2013
As a professional interior photographer for magazines and books, I've learned a few simple tips that can make a huge difference in helping you take better photographs of your home's interior or design project. Little things like using a tripod, shooting from straight on and avoiding wide-angle lenses can take you a long way toward standard practices that many professional ph ...

9 Inventive Materials for Memorable Fireplace Mantels

February 21st, 2013
Whether made from stone, wood or metal, the decorative ledge we call a mantel has rested over fireplaces for centuries. Mantels display our family photos, art and accessories — often all the things that we treasure the most. As the focal draw of every fireplace, it should be worthy of displaying your most cherished items. See if any of the inventive and beautiful mantels her ...

Line Up for Intriguing Horizontal Elements in Design

February 20th, 2013
A horizontal line might be the very first line humans were aware of. As our ancestors watched the sun set over a flat, straight horizon, they were introduced to a classic design motif that never gets old. Let's look at some new ways designers are accenting the horizontal to fit the landscape, make room for company or simply celebrate humor and whimsy. ...

10 Cleverly Crafty Ways to Refashion a Door

February 19th, 2013
If your dull doors have got you down, don't fret. Houzz is full of fabulous ideas for great statement doors. Some of these ideas may require a long-term savings account, while others require only a quick trip to the home improvement store and a few hours of a semicrafty homeowner's time. Here are 10 of the most clever door intervention ideas spotted around Houzz. ...

How to Choose the Right Exterior Color

February 3rd, 2013
Since the exterior is the biggest and most visible part of your home, choosing its color is a decision you want to be sure about. Unlike with a living room wall or front door, it's not easy to change it if you decide you don't like it. But it's not always easy to narrow down the choices. Are you a red person? A yellow person? How can you be sure? Here are some of our best ex ...

10 Ways to Make Your Neutral Palette Shine

February 3rd, 2013
Have you tried to create a neutral color palette only to end up with a room that is a lifeless sea of beige? A room that is not so much soothing but a complete snooze? Decorating entirely in neutral colors can create a space that is soothing, sophisticated and warm if it is done well. A lot of people are afraid to use color, worried that they will get it wrong, so they end u ...

How to Use Color With an Open Floor Plan

February 3rd, 2013
I'm a color consultant, and one of the biggest concerns my clients have is how to use color with an open floor plan. These days, many homes are built where the rooms open up to one another. This is great for entertaining and keeping an eye on the kids, but when it comes to painting, many homeowners aren't sure where to start and stop each color. Some people decide to use one ...
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