by Avril

My clients have typically already decided what cabinet company they want for their kitchens before I come on board. Whether fully custom or Ikea bases with SemiHandmade door/drawer fronts or everything in between. How I normally assist them is with the layout/flow of the kitchen for optimum use of the space, selection of appliances and all of the finishes. I decided to do a comparison of 4 different kitchen cabinets for the same kitchen to help you understand the pros and con

Feng Shui, Quantam Physics, Reiki, Cranio-Sacral, Acupuncture are all modalities/practices that work with energy. You may have heard of Japanese Scientist Masaru Emoto and his Water Consciousness study (it was touched on in the Movie What the Bleep Do We Know ) Now you're probably wondering why an Interior Design blog is talking about energy and water consciousness? Because WE are energy. Our bodies are 60% water! We are affected by the energy in our spaces. Like Masaru's stu

Ergo, the greenest upholstered piece is the one that is already made. This isn't to say you should never buy new, but I want to address the value in considering reupholstery. Two months ago, I walked you through the journey of reupholstering a family heirloom piece. Some reasons for choosing reupholstery would be... You have a beloved family heirloom, which is not to say it's of snooty origins, just that it has sentimental value. You have a good quality piece (not Ikea), orig

Did you know that 7 out of 10 bathroom remodels are driven by water damage? It's true. Making sure the building envelope (the outside of the building) is watertight is paramount to a healthy and well-built home. When it comes to bathrooms, waterproofing is even more important, since just a 12-minute shower is the equivalent of 1,100 inches of rain. There are numerous ways to waterproof, but the most important thing is that it is done properly by an experienced craftsman. What

A few year ago, I shared my thoughts on why reupholstering furniture can be an alternative choice from buying new. This month, I’m revisiting an update on my vintage sofa reupholstery adventure. For those that haven't been following along, I have a sleeper sofa that was my great-grandparents and I had reupholstered it more than 20 years ago. After raising two kids and numerous pets, it was more than time to freshen it up. I had debated whether to keep the sleeper mechanism an

This is my baby brother, Andy Martin and it's because of him, that I have my Silver Lining. Andy passed from a rare form of cancer (sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC)) in the fall of 2004 (you can learn about his cancer cells and Hurricane Katrina here). When he was going to Harvard in the early 90's, he took a class where he learned about carving jewelers wax to make castings. That Christmas, he gave my sister and I a mobius strip design that I still have and wear t

Have you heard of the new term "dopamine dressing"? It's all about choosing outfits that spark joy and elevate your mood, and it’s creating a buzz in style circles right now. This concept highlights the powerful connection between what we wear and how we feel, suggesting that our clothing can be a source of happiness and self-expression. So, why is this same principle often overlooked when it comes to interior design? Why does everyone want what's safe instead of what's magic

I am a huge believer in the power of plants in our interiors, both aesthetically and health-wise (I wrote a blog post about Biophilia here ) . Today I am speaking with Bill Phillips of Green Thumbs of Texas to get some answers about plants for your home. Let's dive in! TSL: What are your top 5 interior plant recommendations that are easy to care for? Bill: The five most popular plants that we use on an interior application are 1. Pothos golden , 2. Jade , 3. Marble quee

Scale = the relative size and proportion of objects, furniture, and elements within a space. In real estate, they say it's all about location, location, location and in interior design, it's all about scale, scale, scale. No matter how stunning your furniture is, if the pieces you buy don’t scale properly in the space, it just won’t work. I never recommend anything for a client until I know the dimensions of their space first. Here are some good rules of thumb to work with to

In a world where quick fixes often steal the spotlight, it’s not uncommon for people to turn to healers, crystals, and other metaphysical tools in the hope of an easy solution to life’s challenges. The allure of a magical transformation that requires minimal effort is undeniable—but it’s important to unravel the truth behind these mystical aids. True healing requires introspection, resilience, and a willingness to confront our own challenges. Embracing a self-healing journey