Family Chic

An environmentally friendly children's room designed by Sabrina - I love her use of color and creative repurposing.

This cool, vinyl thrift store chair had a lot going for it in terms of style, however, the seat had a gash in it. I thought I'd mix up the textures a bit and use a sweater in the same color as the vinyl to recover the seat.

The combination works for me.

Total investment: $30.00.

I picked up this chair at the Salvation Army for $10.00. I considered painting the frame - but then I decided against it. Instead, I polished it up a bit and just recovered the seat. I like the contrast of worn wood against fresh fabric.

We used to have a dining set out here, this year we switched things up and created an outdoor living room. We are loving it.

No walls to hold me back - I brought on some serious color and patterns. I am attracted to crewel work, ethnic prints and neon colors - they are all at work in this setup.

I picked up a 4 piece iron patio set at a rummage sale for $100.00. I left the chippy paint finish - but I had to come up with the cushions.

I had new canvas cushions made for the sofa and pulled together some colorful options for the chairs. The seat cushion is from World Market ($35.00) and the homemade pillow is made from a vintage towel.

I like to create living walls in my garden - our deck has no railing, instead it is surrounded by boxwood and limelight hydrangeas.

Marigolds in a tin tray make an inexpensive and cheerful centerpiece for my table.

A mixture of thrift store and World Market pillows give me that bright, bohemian look I am drawn to.

An old ladder now serves as a plant stand.

Fish tank gravel in neon pink acts as a decorative mulch for my potted plants.

Fish tank gravel is cheap and comes in great colors - I got mine at PetCo.

A table holds old pots and plants.

Instead of cut flowers, a marigold plant is tucked into a thrift store vessel to create a decorative touch for a recent party.

I'm always thinking of interesting ways to elevate plants - it is important to create height in the garden. This plant stand was once a lamp base. I took out the electrical parts and now use it as a perch for plants.

An architectural remnant hangs on my fence.

Every living room needs a fireplace. A little bit of surrealism is alway fun - I created a fake fireplace in one of my garden beds.

Pick up a set of andirons at a thrift store, throw down some gravel, add some logs and it's done.

Garage sale finds create another seating area on the lawn.

Use what you have to furnish your garden room - flip over a basket to create a small table.

Make the most out of your outdoor space - it doesn't have to be a huge financial drain. Take the time to check out thrift stores, rummage sales and mix what you find with great deals from places like IKEA, Target and World Market.

We just had the exterior of our home repainted and we decided to go with a bright chartreuse color (Benjamin Moore's Chamomile) for the front door.

I like to make a splash - but a small one - so this fits the bill. I can change this out with another color in a few years and it won't be a huge ordeal.

I'm drawn to the contrast of sharp citrus tones against drab neutrals - it is my favorite combination. We're really happy with this new look.

I found these ceiling fixtures at a garage sale this weekend - I paid $8.00 for the pair.

Using a candle adhesive - I stuck candles into the socket and gave these old fixtures a new life as candlesticks.

I love the look of these and the paint is perfectly aged.

To make sure the candles were secure in the socket - I used Mr. Mole's Sticky Wax - available online.

I think these are perfect for an outdoor dinner in my backyard - so I added glass hurricanes to make them more suitable for outdoor use.

I needed a change and I needed it fast - this did the trick. I can take this down in a few weeks when the next impulse hits!

I can never look at a Campbell's tomato soup can without thinking of Andy Warhol.

Wheat grass dropped into Campbell's soup cans look great on a table as a centerpiece for a casual meal - but also could be used as fun and eco-friendly party favors.

To make these, I broke up a container of wheat grass into thirds, put some pea gravel in the bottoms of each can and dropped the grass in.

I've lined the inside of this can with a natural, unbleached paper towel and used it to hold rosemary bread sticks at a buffet.

Bring a little bit of Andy to your work space -a cheap, yet chic, pencil holder.

My inspiration - Campbell's Soup Can, 1964 Andy Warhol

A mixture of hyacinths and succulents, individually potted and nested inside of an urn, greet visitors at the front door.

My mantel - several green apples spill out around two urns filled with ivy.

To me nothing triggers memories of springtime more than bright green grass. My coffee table holds a small box of fresh wheat grass and lifts my spirits every time I see it.

Wheat grass is available in the produce section of my supermarket (Jewel).

I have always loved the look of mirrors paired with plants - placing a reflective surface behind a grouping of greenery creates twice the beauty.

Mix into your plant groupings items that add interest and personality.

Trays of lemons, clementines or apples can also add a fresh feeling to a room.

A burst of lemon yellow - definitely a mood lifter.

Boston ferns are available in supermarkets and home improvement stores and many times I find them for under $10.00 each -- an inexpensive way to transform a room in an instant.

Put a plant in every room. Our money tree plant, which my girls have given the name -Sally, has been in our dining room for about 3 years now. Sally adds a dramatic feel to the space and also feeds my fantasy of someday having my own greenhouse.

Keep a bit of natural beauty by your bedside - you will notice a difference in your mood. I picked up these lavender hyacinths at my supermarket for about $5.00 and placed them inside of one of my favorite pots - a pleasant reminder that winter will be over soon!