Redecorating the Living Room

Contribution by Stevie Kirby

We are doing some decorating in our home. I have decided to change the color of the living room from a light yellow to an egg shell tone. We have a vaulted ceiling and I am going to go with the current trend of doing an ombre ceiling. I have seen several designs similar to what we are doing in “Architectural Digest” and “Town and Country”. I have decided to keep the same sofa, but change lamp shades and cover a couple of chairs. I chose a great fabric that is also ombre in jewel tones. I have been moving things around all week to get ready for the painters. I took down all of the pictures on the walls, removed the outlet covers, and removed the light switch covers. I did not move the ADT equipment . The painters are going to be able to paint around the keypad. I have been waiting a long time to be able to redecorate. I hope that everything is going to turn out exactly how I have imagined it.

Kitchen Thoughts

I've been thinking about a kitchen makeover.  Some articles say that the quickest way to freshen a kitchen is to replace the cabinet doors and update the hardware.  That may be true, but I always like to change out tablecloths with each season.  And, without a doubt, Autumn is my favorite time of the year.  Of course, it helps that the colors of the season match well in my kitchen.  Some new towels and potholders are an inexpensive way to freshen up your kitchen.

Do you ever notice how efficient kitchens are on all those yummy cooking shows?  There's almost always a kitchen island decked out with all the latest cooking tools.  They certainly make us take more interest in cooking these days.  And, it's not just at home.  I have a friend who can make a gourmet meal with a hot-plate and stuff stored in a mini fridge at the office.  It helps remind us all that a true cook can take nothing and make something delicious for dinner.

What's your 'go to' meal when you're running low in the pantry?