I know it and you know it.  There is something in your home that needs to be caulked; some mildew in the shower, peeling around the sink, and there’s that huge gap in the baseboard.  So after months of avoidance you pull out the huge caulk gun and pray that the 5 tubes of caulk in your garage have an ounce of moisture left in them.  Of course all five tubes are bone dry and the cyle of avoidance continues…

But alas, there is a great alternative that has just made the scene.  General Electric has just introducted Caulk Singles and never before has a boring home fix it tool had such potential to change your life.  They addressed the problems that a caulk job used to present:

• Achy hands? - This nifty little tube is easy to squeeze with one hand and has no air bubbles.
• Messy Application? - Your skill level raises from a “13-year-old girl using liquid eyeliner” to a pro in a snap.
• Leftovers? - One tube will do a sink, 2 tubes for a tub, and so on.  Just buy what you need.

I read through some of the user comments on the site and most people seem quite pleased.  There is even an artist who is using them as art supplies.  They come in white, clear and paintable finishes and are available at Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and Tru-Value for about $3.  Or you can sign up for a free sample here.  According to user comments the free sample arrives with instructions in Spanish, and that really seemed to tick people off.  Come on people, if you can take the time to come to the site and complain, you can surely find the instructions on the site!  

Have fun and let me know your experience is like with Caulk Singles! 

The ceiling is the fifth wall of your room, but sometimes I think it should be called the forgotten wall.  Everyone gets wrapped up in decorating their walls with faux finishes and fabulous artwork and then they run out of steam when it comes to the ceiling.  In reality, this is a fantastic place to pull it all together and really highlight the room.  I have some simple solutions that will bring your ceiling from forgotten to fantastic in no time.

Paint - Don’t just leave your ceiling the drab old white that was there when you moved in.  Consider painting it a color a bit lighter than your walls or a crisp light blue.  It will give the room a light, airy feeling.  I recommend Benjamin Moore Morning Sky Blue or Whispering Spring.

Lighting - Mood lighting is critical, especially where you are dining or relaxing.  An intriguing iron chandelier or a sleek contemporary pendent accessorizes the room perfectly.

Medallions - Used with or without a light fixture, ceiling medallions are like cuff-links on a fine men’s shirt.  They take it to the next level.  Medallions are a fairly inexpensive way to add value to your space with added architectural detail.

A couple of things to consider when choosing a medallion:

1. Blank Canvas - Medallions are made of plaster or high density urethane and primed to be painted in any way you fancy.  Consider painting one to coordinate with your fixture for an updated feel.
2. Cover up - Ceiling medallions are a good way to cover old marks on the ceiling or a junction box you don’t intend on using.
3. Style - Keep the style of your fixture and the rest of your room in mind.  Take cues from the woodwork in your room.
4. Selecting a Size - There are no hard and fast rules on selecting a size.  I prefer the medallion to be a bit smaller than a chandelier and a lot smaller than a fan.  The larger your room and higher your ceiling the larger the medallion you should choose.  Taping a cardboard template to the ceiling is the easiest way to make a good decision.

Rediscover your ceiling and find the perfect Ceiling Medallion in My Secret Database! 

If your life story was a Broadway play, what would the scenery look like?  Would it include the dreamy canals of Venice or are you more inclined toward a winding back road in Vermont?  Do you love the bright lights of the big city or do you dream of the plains of the Serengeti?  The choice is yours with Murals Your Way. 

I ran across this site while doing my usual treasure hunting and I think it’s a real gem.  Kids should not be the only ones who enjoy imagination enhancing backdrops in their rooms.  Whether it’s your home office, basement, yoga room, bathroom or kitchen, a mural can transport you to your happy place.

Their selection of 5,000 murals are all printed on heavyweight vinyl panels.  They are easy to hang and they offer all the supplies you will need to do the job.  Murals are available in standard heights from 4′-9″ to 8′ tall.  They also offer custom sizes.  The website features a cool Room Tool Tutorial that helps figure out what scale will work best in your room.  You can also give them your own photos or artwork to make into a mural.  The options are endless!  Whether you want to cover a whole wall or just create a focal point, Murals Your Way has got you covered. 

They have a great gallery of photos from their customers and right now they are featuring $25 off any purchase of $150 or more, plus free shipping.  I hope you find something that really strikes your fancy. 

Visit Murals your Way on My Design Secrets!

It seems that everywhere you look these days you can spy a bird motif. From t-shirts to stationery, the blue-bird of happiness is waiting in the wings (I know, corny). Anyway, I saw something today that caught my eye and it’s an easy way to leap into spring or change it up in any room (think kids, holidays, ho-hum kitchens). Wall Slicks is the home to “Modern Wall Graphics”. These decals remind me of the Colorforms of my youth. They are easy to apply and remove, no muss, no fuss, no commitment (like wallpaper or a mural). They look just like paint so your friends will think you have unleashed your inner Van Gogh.

Designers have long known the benefits of high quality leather. It’s durable, long lasting and beautiful. A very cutting edge company called York Street Studio is finding new places for leather in your home. The company is making leather panels and tiles for walls and floors and they are gorgeous. They are water resistant, easy to install and easy to maintain. You can use them in the kitchen, office, or just about anywhere you please. Take a look at the selection offered on their website. You’ll be amazed!

Sometimes you hear a quote or the lyrics to a song and they just ring true. You want to put them in a place so you are reminded of them often.

Well, here is one super cool way to do it and incorporate it into your home design. The company Wonderful Graffiti makes removable letter transfers to put on your walls. They have a variety of great quotes to choose from or you can make up your own. You can choose different sizes, colors and fonts to really personalize it. Lately they have added 2 more products. The first one is called Blank Canvas and you can have anything you like transferred to an artist’s canvas to display as artwork on your wall. The second item is called Graffiti 3D and you can have your words in 3-D enamel letters in Lucite or brushed aluminum.

They have also just added another website tailored specifically to weddings. It is called Wonderful Graffiti Wedding. You can use the lettering for wedding favors, cars, dance floors and place cards. The options are endless. Have fun:-)