Decorating With Class

Coordinating Elegance

Some of the most beautiful rooms feature a single element and color scheme that is used to coordinate the look of a room. This trend goes a long way to creating timeless beauty that is not affected by fad.

The Elegance of Silver

You don't have to "wish" you were wealthy to live an elegant lifestyle. You just need to indulge yourself in some of life's finer pleasures.

Super Easy Occassional Tables

One of the easiest ways to create an ultra beautiful coffee table, end table or occasional table is to use plaster columns and glass.

If you search "Plaster Columns" on the Internet, you will come up with websites who will charge you a fortune for a plaster column. And the shipping is out of this world for such a heavy item.
I've found the best places to get them is from large craft store chains such as Michaels, Ben Franklin, Hobby Lobby  etc. I've paid as little as $10.00 for a short column and only $25.00 for a 3 foot tall quite ornate model.

Spray paint is the quickest and easiest way to paint the plaster column so I spray mine with a lighter base color then wipe on a darker color acrylic paint, immediately wiping it off so that it darkens only the recesses and imperfections (which look fabulous!).

I then seal it with a spray varnish.

You could also spray paint it gold then wipe on a dark brown (wipe it off right away) to create an antiqued gold finish.
Any faux finish technique such as marbling or sponge painting would create lovely finishes on these pieces.
I then have a piece of heavy, 1/4" thick glass cut for the top to create a table.

To form a glass coffee table (perfect for Italian theme decorating or Traditional decor), purchase two  short models with a 4' piece of glass.

These columns come in many styles such as Grecian ionic, Ornate Corinthian and more contemporary styles as well so there is something for every decorating taste.
Using just one makes a great plant or vase stands.

I use one in my entry way with an enormous dried flower arrangement on it which creates instant elegance when someone enters the house. The one pictured is at the bottom of the staircase leading down to my husbands music studio.

Giving a tile An Exciting product will help me give tile countertops a new stone finish

In our main bath, there is an ugly white with green grout tile surface that is begging for a new finish. Yet I don't want the chore of ripping up the old tile and installing a new solid stone top.

In my search for products and information on how to create a new stone finish without tearing up the tile, I turned to "Faux Effects". Since both my website and blog are geared toward the do-it-yourself homeowner, rather than the professional, I find the opportunity to introduce you to products that you wouldn't normally encounter in your local "Home Depot" or "Lowe's" store.

Creating New Furniture from Old

Sometimes, with a little thinking and some elbow grease, an old, blah piece of furniture can be turned in to a beautiful treasure with a new life and a new purpose.

Spring Cleaning

With temperatures beginning to warm just a hint and buds beginning to swell on the trees and bushes in my yard, I suddenly have that urge to dive head first in to my spring cleaning.

Elegant, Space Saving Kitchen Decorating

The day my husband bought me my first pot rack, I was mortified! I never liked the idea of having one but he went out of his way to choose just the right one, with a bit of elegance and I succumbed to this new addition to the kitchen. Now, I can't live without it! It opened cupboard space which allowed me to put away things I had stored on the kitchen counter, provided me with much needed convenience when cooking and added a new element to the kitchen I came to love.

Create an Elegant Valentines Day

Like Christmas, Valentines Day lends itself to a world of fun decorating that you can do to make it super special!

Antiqued Damask Walls

If you are a lover of true Victorian decorating, then a beautiful damask pattern antiqued with gold metallics is your "end all" wall treatment. It's easy and fun to do, then step back and fall to your knees over it's beauty and authentic appeal.

Rubber Stamps in Wet Plaster Makes Great Wall Designs

A super twist on "Raised Plaster Stenciling" that's easy to do and leaves a great "impression"!