
The great features of this piece:
1. the glass top makes it appear to take up less space, if you are worried about a coffee table cramping your room, this would be perfect.
2. Solid wood base keeps it grounded and gives the piece some visual weight.
3. Organic shapes could help if your room is starting to [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.28.2008 at 1:10 pm// Tagged: craigslist treasures, design solutions, making your rental a home

I was inspired to create posters for my office. I saw it here, and loved it enough to make it, not enough to buy it. The phrase ‘Keep calm and carry on’ is a message that was posted all over Britain during World War 2. It was a message from King VI to the people [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.27.2008 at 4:30 pm// Tagged: design solutions, making your rental a home

I love a little mid-century modern piece, and this post from Design*Sponge is fun. Check out the before and afters.
This is always inspiring to see this kind of creativity. It makes you wonder what you have that you turn into a fun piece!
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.24.2008 at 8:30 am// Tagged: design solutions, making your rental a home

Rugs always make your place feel more cozy. It makes it more comfortable, adds color and texture, and shows that you’ve put some thought into how your room should look.
Here are a few rugs I think make a fun statement (Do you have some I should add?):
Pottery Barn’s Moorish Tile Rug (I have two: one [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.22.2008 at 8:25 am// Tagged: design solutions, making your rental a home

This article about a Taylor Woodrow community proves that almost anything can be negotiated when purchasing a new home. A few negotiable incentives include:
Discounts: Asking price can be negotiated.
Upgrades/Credits: Others ask for credits for upgrades or furnishings.
Closing Costs: Mainly for those who are short on cash, the builder can pay closing costs.
Rate Buy-Down: The builder [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.19.2008 at 4:22 pm// Tagged: buyer advice

Stainless Steel furniture:
You can see the original post here.
You can see additional pictures here.
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.17.2008 at 4:28 pm// Tagged: odds and ends
Remodeling magazine’s report on average return on home improvements is as follows:
Improvement
Project Cost
Value at Resale
Rate of Return
Bathroom Remodel
$12,918
$10,970
84.9 percent
Home Office
$20,057
$12,707
63.4 percent
Kitchen Remodel (minor)
$17,928
$15,278
85.2 percent
Kitchen Remodel (major)
$54,241
$43,630
80.4 percent
Roofing
$14,276
$10,553
73.9 percent
Sunroom Addition
$49,551
$32,854
66.3 percent
Window Replacement (vinyl)
$10,160
$8,500
83.7 percen
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.17.2008 at 4:23 pm// Tagged: buyer advice, landlord tips, seller hints

Interior designer Coral Nafie from About.com wrote a great article on cleaning your hardwood floors. They look amazing, and here is how you can keep them amazing:
Vacuum once or twice a week to remove dirt and sand. Use a soft brush attachment to minimize scratching.
Since water is one of a wood floors worst enemies, get [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.12.2008 at 7:41 am// Tagged: odds and ends

Anyone who knows me, is aware that I am a deal shopper. I love creating the Pottery Barn look for the Ikea price. Having said that, I know when it’s time to buy the real deal.
This weekend my husband and I went out to a furniture distributor to pick up a new bed for our [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.07.2008 at 8:49 am// Tagged: design solutions, making your rental a home

Okay, I know stencils can sound hokey. But in moderation and good taste, stencils can look phenomenal. I have put together a collection of excellent uses for the stencil.
Okay, so how can we learn from these successful applications of stenciling?
those that have the ENTIRE surface covered in stencil chose a low-contrast color combination. Choose two [...]
Posted by ohbrooke on 08.06.2008 at 12:59 pm// Tagged: design solutions, making your rental a home, painting tips