Karen Cooper

Back to School Snack Ideas

Here’s how the conversation usually goes when the kids get off the school bus: Me:     “Hi! How was your day?” Kids:   “Fine. We’re hungry.” Me:     “Well, nice to see you, too. How was your day?” Kids:   “Fine. What’s for snack?” You get the idea. My kids are 9 and …

Color Showcase: Green

Green is always a popular color in home decor. It evokes feelings of happiness, calm, and good luck. It reminds us of nature and allows us to bring the outdoors in. Today I’m going to show you some ways to use green in your decor. With a light green, like mint green or sage, you …

The Gourmet Kitchen

When you think about a gourmet kitchen, do you think about a kitchen like this? Or this? Of course, not all of us have that kind of budget! Here are some ways to create a gourmet kitchen in your home without a major renovation. Lighting Good lighting is key in a gourmet kitchen. If you …

Choosing Upholstery Fabric for a Couch

A couch is a key ingredient in a comfortable family or living room. The couch is where everyone congregates to watch TV, takes naps, reads, and hangs out. So, the couch needs to ground the room. How do you choose upholstery for a couch? Today, I’m going to show you some ideas. As a general rule, …

Home Goods for the Pampered Pup

I love my dogs. They sleep on our bed. They get premium dog food and treats (but no pizza!). They are family members like the rest of us. But if you want to kick pet parenting up a notch, check out these home goods for the pampered pup! Of course, the pampered pup needs a …

Ooh La La: The Parisian Bath

Bonjour! When I think of Paris style, I think of elegance. That elegance can take two forms: an elegant simplicity, like in this bath: Or elegant glamour, like in this one: So how can you create a Parisian retreat in your own bath? A clawfoot tub is classic Parisian style. Whether simply finished in all …

Sizzling Meals for the Grill

Grilled meals taste like summer to me. I love cooking outside – enjoying the summer weather and not heating up my kitchen. Also, grilling is usually a quick way to prepare food.  Here are some of my favorite things to throw on the grill. I am a big fan of grilled vegetables. Gather some fresh …

Upcycling Using Thrift Store or Flea Market Finds

One of my favorite things to do is go to our local thrift store and find pieces that need some TLC. I love seeing the potential in them and transforming them into something new and beautiful. I’m going to first show you an example of something I upcycled from my local thrift store and then, at …

Your Dream Kitchen

You’ve scoured home decor magazines. You’ve spent hours on Pinterest. You have looked at a million pictures of other kitchens. You are ready to plan your dream kitchen. Where do you start? Here are my top tips to planning your dream kitchen: 1. What’s your style? Face it – you likely, hopefully, are only going to …

Lamps for Every Personality + DIY Tutorial

Lamps, to me, are like jewelry in decor. They sparkle and add the finishing touches to the room. There are lamps for every design style…and, if you can’t find one you like, I’ll show you how to make your own! First, let’s explore the different styles. There are traditional lamps. These usually come with drum …

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