Thank you for your tremendously positive response to the fabulous bathroom makeover last week.  My friend Amy is now a celebrity in the most prestigious circles of New Jersey!  I hope that you will be able to use my valuable tips for your own project.  Now I am back with more insider guidance to take you every step of the way in designing a beautiful living room.

Today I am featuring a project I completed on a very tight schedule.  Normally, after carefully considering my client’s wants and needs, I order custom furnishings that take at least 3-4 months to be fabricated and delivered.  In this instance, my client needed to move into the apartment within 2 months and he wanted a Modern look.  With a little ingenuity and a lot hard work, the project was successfully completed in 2 months flat, from start to finish.  For 90% of the project I used the very same retail sources that you have access to in My Secret Database.

Here’s an easy way to successfully furnish a fantastic living room:

1. Have a clear vision of the look you are after.  Look through magazines and at photos online.  Be honest with yourself.  Trends are tempting; but will you still love the look a few years from now?  Keep these photos with you at all times as a guide.
2. Look at the bones of your project.  In this project the carpeting and the walls were drab.  We changed the carpeting from a flecked Berber to a solid one and then choose a warm celery color for the walls that was used throughout the whole apartment.  A small space feels larger and more unified with one color.
3. Furniture first - the rest later.  You might be inspired by a pillow, but that should not be your first purchase.  Select your furniture and then move on to pillows, window treatments and accessories.  They are the icing on the cake.
4. Be patient - If you you find a sofa and chairs you love at a great price, but you have to wait a couple of months for delivery, then wait it out.  So many people will drive themselves crazy for the next two months looking for a replacement that can be delivered immediately, only to come back to the original choice in the end.
5. Great design is in the details.  This project is 3 years old, but you would never know it.  Here are some affordable tips to get the designer look.

• The custom-made draperies shown are white cotton panels with silver grommets.  Lately I have seen many low-cost imitations at JCPenney, Restoration Hardware and Linens-N-Things.
• One of my great designer secrets is that Crate and Barrel has a phenomenal selection of pillows with down fillers at great prices. 
• The lamp shown is quite expensive, but I wrote a post in January showing an affordable replacement.

I hope this inspires you to start your project and to move forward with confidence.  Explore My Secret Database to quickly find the treasures you seek!

Panasonic 42″ Plasma HDTV from Circuit City

Superbowl Sunday is quickly approaching. If you did not purchase a flat screen TV for Christmas you might be tempted to get one before the big game. The recent International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas further proved that flat screens are all the rage. They are getting thinner and thinner and also are featuring more designer options such as color and attractive stands. Many designers who previously did everything in their power to hide TV’s are now admitting defeat and realizing that tech toys are a source of pride for most consumers and they want to display them front and center. While I admit I have hidden them in armoires and built-in cabinetry in the past I am finding it is easier to work them into the design these days. The fact that they are so thin and can be hung on the wall is a huge plus. Also, many companies have caught on to the trend and there are many attractive storage options for the components.

I know it’s tempting to purchase one at the spur of the moment when the price is right, but if you want your new tech toy to fit more seamlessly into your home keep a few things in mind.

1. Size: Bigger is not always better. You should purchase a TV that is going to work best in your home and that means taking the viewing distance into consideration. How far are you going to be sitting from the TV? CNET has some great advice to share on this topic.

2. Location: Where is your cable hookup and are you prepared to move it to where you think the TV looks best? Is the light from the windows going to shine on the TV? Do you want to be able to see the TV from the Kitchen?

3. Height: Whether you are hanging the TV on the wall or putting it in a cabinet or on a stand, the right viewing height is critical. You don’t want to be craning your neck to see the TV. The middle of the TV should be in line with your eyes. For a 6′ person that is about 52″ above the floor. Consider everyone in the family and average it out.

4. Components: That TV looks pretty slick all by itself, doesn’t it? Well don’t get used to it because you still need to hook up the cable box, TiVo, stereo, DVD player, speakers and computer. Where are they going to go?

Basically you can buy a stand, have someone build it in or have the components tucked away remotely in a closet. But remember, all these options are going to cost additional money. Stands are your least expensive option and there are some very nice ones out there.

TVX1 from Boltz for 34″ - 36″ TVs

If your taste is more on the modern side, I like the products from a company called Boltz that makes some very cool, minamalist stands. The also carry coffee tables and other furniture if you want to tie the whole look together.

Sligh TV Console 9711–1DM

If you are more traditional. Sligh has some really nice stands and they can be ordered from a retailer near you.

Happy Viewing!

Merino Wool Throw from Pendleton

There are so many beautiful styles and materials. From Merino wool to cashmere or a quilt. I genuinely think this is something worth splurging a little on. For the number of times a throw gets used, its cost per use is pennies!

Area Trio Throw from Pillows and Throws - It’s reversible

• Throw one over the arm or back of a chair or sofa to add some color.
• Place a folded large throw at the foot of your bed for a great layered look that is super useful in the middle of a cold night.
• Keep a blanket in your car. You never know when you want to picnic spontaneously or someone might want to take a nap.
• Give one as a gift. You cannot go wrong!
• Put one out on your porch swing and enjoy a snuggle!