October 1999 - 1 & 2 of 6

1 - Indoor Garden
Create an indoor garden room with a flower box mounted on the inside under the window.   Paint it to coordinate with the color scheme and fill with flowers, ivy and foliage (artificial of course).  I did this for a girls room in a model home a few years ago.  I also used window shutters to frame the window, and a lace valance above.  I added garden elements, birdhouses, watering can, and flowerpots with daisies, kitty cats and butterflies for the crowning touches.  It was darling and a very popular room to the model visitors.

2 - Quick Changes
Accessories don’t have to stay in the same place in your home forever.  Change them as often as you like.  Change them frequently to create a different look for a new season or holiday or just to create some new interest and personality in your home.  Occasionally move a few accessories to different locations in the room, or from one room to another for an instant makeover.  A picture and accessory item can look very different in a different setting.  I do this quite often in my home.  It’s my way of keeping things interesting without spending more money, every time I want a new look.  The colors are already correct, so I just move them around and have fun seeing how many different ways I can use the same old items.  Sometimes an item will be discovered in a new setting, and never noticed in the old.  We can make the most of what we have by using this tip over and over again.