Author: Joy Skinner

From the best angle to trim stems to the optimum water temperature for perkiness, we’ve done our research when it comes to keeping cut flowers alive. But the question remains: Which blooms actually give you the best bang for your buck? Here are our suggestions for Long-Lasting Flowers You Can Buy at The Grocery Store and How to Care for Them. Next time you treat yourself to a bouquet at checkout, we highly suggest grabbing one of these six beautiful and long-lasting flower varieties—all of which have an impressive vase life of two to four weeks.Alstroemeria: 2 WeeksYou’ve probably seen…

I’ve always gravitated to the crisp, clean match-up of black and white. I absolutely love it in fashion. It’s a pairing that I wear all the time, and probably would wear every day if I could! I also have memories of being envious of my best friend’s bedroom which was decorated in none other than black and white. The trends for 2023 indicate a movement from the white kitchen to adding a little black into the mix so we’ve culminated some Country Farmhouse kitchen inspiration for you …. Here’s 20 Modern Black & White Kitchens: Country Farmhouse Style.Black and white kitchens have…

The Bougie Style Home is all the rage in 2023. Pinterest claims it to be one of the top trending topics in the Home Decor sector, so what is it that’s creating such a buzz? We started our last Blog Posting with an in-depth discussion on what Bougie / Boujee actually means. You can read up on that if you choose … Bougie is a Design Style, but WHAT does Bougie (or Boujee) Mean? In this posting, we’re going to take a look at the Boujee Design Style, and more specifically How do I Glam my House Bougie Style? Throughout…

When it comes to the Top Trends for Home Design & Decor 2023, there are a few noteworthy differences and we’ll go into those. Thanks to the pandemic, Health and Wellness as well as Sustainable Materials are having a huge impact on the decisions people are making, and Home Design & Decor are impacted. That being said, let’s take a look at the 12 Top Trends for Home Design & Decor 2023.1. Color Palettes, Patterns, and TexturesWe will see a move away from neutrals and people will be using more vibrant colors and boldly patterned fabrics. Citrus green, RAF blue,…

For decades, the American dream kitchen has been covered in gleaming white surfaces, from subway tile to countertops to cabinets. Save for a few historic blips—think pink and turquoise in the post–World War II years, and avocado green and harvest gold in the ’60s and ’70s—white has remained the default choice for kitchen design, most recently embodied by the Pinterest-approved trend of light and bright cooking and dining spaces.But lately, a new It color has been gaining ground in America’s kitchens, and it’s not one that we associate strongly with a bygone era. Indeed, that may be part of its…

We’ve all looked at photos or been in Maximalist Style rooms that looked like a Thrift Stored that was shaken upside down. No joke, there is a fine line when it comes to the maximalist style and we all like the luxurious side of maximalism if it’s done right … SO, Let’s take a look at some ways to Spice It Up: Go Maximalist Without Looking like a Thrift Store.Layer, Layer, LayerIt all comes down to the fine art of layering in Maximalism. Layer your colors, textiles, decor, collections, books, souvenirs, knick-knacks, etc… Remember more is more; and remember the…

The Covid Pandemic caused so much upheaval and unpredictability in people’s lives over the past several years, trend forecasters believe that many are now searching for support, connection, inspiration, and self-expression. Experts say that trend leads to looking outdoors at nature’s beauty to find solace, causing neutrals, earth tones, and sun-drenched colors to take center stage as the colors of the year for 2023 and beyond. So what is the Inspiration Behind 2023 Colors of the Year? Experts say an overall desire for wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually.Pantone Viva Magenta (18-750) is Pantone’s color of the year for 2023. It is…

One of the biggest trends for 2023 is an overall focus on wellness. Wellness is comprised of eight mutually co-dependence dimensions: emotional, physical, occupational, social, spiritual, intellectual, environmental, and financial. If any one of these dimensions is neglected over time, it will adversely affect one’s health, well-being, and quality of life. So, to take this thought one step further, Interior Designers’ Favorite 2023 Trending Colors appears to be following that theme as well. Earthy and pink tones promote tranquility and healing. Lavender and other shades of purple represent wellness and digital escapism. Are we surprised that Digital Lavender is Pantone’s…

Home Tour of the Vanderbilt Mansion, Hyde Park, NY – In 1895, Frederick Vanderbilt, grandson of the Commodore, built his country estate overlooking the river in Hyde Park, New York. The architectural style of the Vanderbilt mansion is known as Beaux-Arts.Though members of an elite, wealthy society, Frederick and Louise Vanderbilt lived graciously without spectacle. Hyde Park was a seasonal residence, one of a portfolio of homes the Vanderbilts owned in New York City, Bar Harbor, Newport, and the Adirondacks.The family stopped living in the mansion in the 1950s. Today it is owned and run as a tourist attraction by…

African cloth has been popular in Western cultures for quite some time. Among the most well-known is the Ankara fabric from Western Africa, Kitenge from Eastern Africa, and African Mudcloth. These fabrics are used to add an extra element of style or design, with each having its own rich history and meaning from their respective cultures. The African Mudcloth Decor: Fascinating Art and Rich History offers you a new perspective on African Culture. You will better understand the process and where this home decor trend originated.African Mudcloth Rich HistoryThe fabric hails from the Western Sara Region of Northern Africa in…