Sewing 101: how to make luxury pillow covers

In interior decorating, if you want overstuffed luxury throw pillows, your best choice is to make them yourself. In the picture, I replaced a set of Armani silk and golden silk wool pillow covers with a custom Mood Fabrics screenprint and silver glow in viscose-linen blends. The cost of fabric for designer pillow covers is…

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Sewing 101: how to bind a blanket

Sooner or later, you will likely have a blanket that needs to be rebound. My puppy loves Pendleton blankets, but the binding the blanket in the picture came with was not a puppy-friendly material. I rebound the blanket with a more durable binding and mitered corners. You don’t need amazing sewing skills to bind a…

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Furniture mods: how to Hollywood your sofa

Reupholstering a sofa with a custom-made cover is the first step in transforming a living room from coastal vibes to a Hollywood allure. Picking the right upholstery silhouette and fabric takes a few weeks to do. The sofa in the picture started with a contemporary off-white cover in an Upper East Side apartment. Living on…

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Puppy decor: a pantry your puppy will love

Organizing a pantry for my puppy was a lot of fun, but finding high quality jars and dishes for her food was not easy. Doggie stores today have a wide variety of seasonal foods and treats. Storing all that food nicely makes eating fun for your puppy pal. The first time I bought groceries for…

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Make it for the gram: quick pumpkin spice latte

Pumpkin spice lattes don’t have to be complicated to make. With the right ingredients you can make your morning coffee into a delicious PSL without any extra time or effort. When I make a pumpkin spice latte, I like to give my puppy a pup cup with a pumpkin treat at the same time so…

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Furniture mods: how to upholster a seat

If you entertain a lot, dining and bar chairs need to be upholstered occasionally. I restored the bar chair in the picture with handsewn black velvet after a merry night with sparklers. Replacing the fabric on a seat is straightforward, requiring nothing more than a little time, some tracing paper, and a needle and thread….

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Custom decor: the power of an exclusive book

A well placed coffee table book that is exclusive and meaningful both brings authenticity to a space and inspires conversation. My sorority recently published a special edition book as part of the Gamma Phi Beta 150th Anniversary Oral History Project 2024. The Gamma Phi Beta book, In My Words, includes stories and photographs from thousands…

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Professional design: making an interior healthy

Healthful living starts with a healthy interior environment. Before undertaking an interior decorating project, it’s helpful to review your built environment against healthy building standards. For example, upgrades to paint colours and lighting will not have the desired impact on your wellbeing if your space doesn’t have thoughtfully installed windows. As an athletic young woman…

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Decorating 101: attractive and colourful linens

When introducing colour into your home, purchasing colourful linens is a great way to test how different colours attract positive energy to your environment. Colourful curtains, pillows, throws, towels and bedding can all enhance the ambience of a room without the permanence of investing in colourful paint or furniture. Linens typically last for about 5…

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#LKRB principle of design: waste not, want not

With a no-waste approach to interior decorating, environmental sustainability and financial sustainability go hand in hand. One of the primary reasons that glamorous historical properties are sold into trusts is because they were built without an eye to maintenance costs. A low-key luxury living space gives thought not only to day-to-day contemporary living, but also…

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