You might call me crazy, but in the midst of spring cleaning, I always find that this is the best time to refresh your home with a little artwork.

Believe it or not, there is actually an art to hanging artwork and mirrors; although, it is not difficult to figure out if you follow these few simple steps!

“I am a strong believer that less can sometimes be more. Instead of hanging something on every available wall, I typically choose one or two pieces that will stand out as a strong focal point in the room and enhance the overall design.”

First, think about the size of your space in contrast to the size of your artwork. A good rule to follow is for it to be 2/3 the width of the furniture below it.

One of the most common mistakes when hanging artwork and mirrors is that they are hung too high. I know the rule of thumb is typically to hang artwork at eye level, but heights can vary. Follow these tricks to help solve this mystery!

Hanging A Single Piece of Artwork: The center of the piece should be between 56” – 60” from the floor, so it’s on display at eye level. If mounting above a sofa or a piece of large furniture, I suggest leaving about 5” – 9” of space between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the artwork.

Hanging Two Pieces of Artwork: I always recommend leaving between 2” – 3” between each piece to create a nice balance. 

Tip: If you are not sure about the placement of artwork or a mirror and don’t want to nail it in the wall quite yet, try placing it on a table as a test.

At the end of the day, it is your space and you want to make sure what you hang reflects your personal style, and most importantly makes you happy every time you walk by!

I always love my visits with the team of Charlotte Today and last week I shared my top tips for decorating & organizing bookshelves.

Tip #1 Take it Off

     –Start your bookshelf design by taking everything off.  You will be amazed at how much clutter is actually on your shelves.  Now start adding back keeping these tips in mind.

Tip #2 Keep it Simple – Less is More

     –Add back a few special photos

     –Use pieces that are important to you

     –Use books as fillers and to give you height and balance and to fill larger spaces.

Tip #3  It’s All About Balance & Symmetry – Real and Visual

     –Add balance by using the same item on both sides of a double bookcase or add items that may not be the same but are of comparable sizes and visually are of equal weight.

Tip #4 Add Pops of Color

     –Bring your bookshelves to life by using pops of color that pull your room design together

     –Of course you know I love to add my favorite green boxwoods wherever possible — it adds color all year long

The Christmas holiday is officially behind us, and it’s time to start putting those decorations away and getting your space back to its former glory. All of the pretty wrapping paper is gone and all of the soft twinkling lights are packed away and as much as I love Christmas, I’m usually ready to get back to my everyday decor again.  It’s the perfect time to reassess your home design with fresh eyes.

1. Stop and Take Stock! Take stock of what you love about the room and how you’d like it to ultimately feel.

– Start by adding back one thing at a time. Remember, things to necessarily have to go back where you had them. That’s part of the fun!

– Greenery: You know I’m all about the greenery in my design so when the pine and magnolia come down, consider adding back greenery in preserved boxwoods, faux florals (the good kind) or even cotton in stems or balls.

2. Swap Out Pillows & Artwork: Since you’re already moving holiday decor back up to the attic, use this as a chance to swap out your pillows and artwork. Pillows are an easy and quick change.  You can go from wintery/holiday to fresh and bright in seconds.  Changing your artwork in your main living areas can make a huge impact and breathe life into your space.

“Play around with it and have fun!  And make sure your artwork fits the space.”

3. Make Over your Mantle: I’ll place cotton stems or greenery around the base of my wire-vases. Add color and freshness because that’s probably what you’re craving after the holidays.

4. Your Front Door: I’m all about a wreath year-round! Consider swapping out your holiday wreath for a cotton wreath. Cotton is a gorgeous year-round staple in my home. And remember from last time I was here, 30-36-inches is the perfect sized wreath. Bigger is better!

For more tips on how to refresh your space after the holiday rush, tune into WCNC’s Charlotte Today this morning!

I know that all of you are elbow deep right now in preparing your Thanksgiving dinners, but we all know that as soon as the dinner plates are cleaned up, the holiday decorating begins!

So I wanted to share a few tips with you to get you off to a great start.

Start at Your Front Door

The front door sets the tone for the rest of your home.  Make sure your wreath is worthy of your front door!  Staying with my “bigger is better” theory, the best size for a wreath is 30-36-inches.  The general rule is that it should cover at least two-thirds of your door.  Add some lanterns filled with ornaments or lighted trees in your every day pots. The key is to make your front door welcoming and festive.

Use What You Have

I love using decor that I already have and turning it into part of my holiday decorations.  Take a tour of your home and look at things a different way.  Use your glass vessels or trays that are part of your everyday design, and transform them with a sprig of holly or gold dusted pine cones.

Pump Up the Neutrals

So many of us have embraced the more neutral tones in our decor — if you want to tone down the traditional reds and greens and stay with the neutral tones, consider using white or metallics in your holiday decorations.

Don’t Forget Your Guests

The guest room is a room we tend not to go into very often, and sometimes it gets the leftover decor.  So many of us will have family and friends stay with us for the holidays so don’t forget about them!  Add a festive throw and pillows on the bed, a holiday scented candle or diffuser and a welcome basket with cookies, candy, and a book with Christmas stories. You’ll see this cute little Santa keeping guests company when they wash their hands.

Check out more of my tips and tricks on WCNC here

Happy Thanksgiving!

My philosophy on lighting is simple: lighting to a room is jewelry to an outfit.

When I think about lighting, I always say, bigger is better. Don’t forget, you can always add a dimmer.

“It’s a fact that that 80% of homes are 20% under lit.”

Consider choosing a larger chandelier and don’t forget about multiple sources of lighting like wall sconces, table lamps, and overhead chandeliers.

Don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, channel your inner designer to allow your home to make a big statement.

“There’s nothing like going against the grain with your choice of bold colors, wallpaper, prints and artwork.”

Trust me it’s not as scary as it looks! Read on for some of my best tips on how to overcome your fears and make an impact in your home.

1. Add a Pop of Color

So many people are afraid of using color in their home design. With so many color options on the market, there is definitely something out there that will appeal to you and enhance a design. One of the best way to introduce color into your designs is to incorporate it in smaller ways through accent pieces. Keep your big pieces neutral and bring in a splash of color in your pillows, throws and artwork.With bright sunshine and higher temperatures ahead, there is no better room to feature as the room of the month, than this covered outdoor patio! The perfect gathering space for friends and families that is functional, yet beautifully designed with bright pops of color and pattern.

2.Breathe Life into Your Walls

Wallpaper is back and it’s not the nightmare it used to be. If wallpaper makes you nervous, use it in a smaller room that you don’t spend a lot of time in— like a powder room. I guarantee you, it’ll become one of your favorite spaces! Take a chance, I know you’ll love it and will want to continue to use it in your next design projects.

3. Bigger is Better

This is a “biggie” – no pun intended. Increasing the scale and size of lamps, artwork and accessories scares people. The majority of people tend to go way too small—so small that you miss the opportunity to take the room to the next level. Bigger, truly is better. Turn your dull furniture into staple attention grabbers by increasing select pieces, such as using 30-inch tall lamp

4. Mix and Match

There are a few tips and tricks to mixing different prints and patterns. When combining various styles, always make sure there’s a common theme that harmonizes the space. To pull off a consistent look, mix a larger print with a smaller scaled pattern for a stylish geometric effect.

5. Invest In Your Happiness

Splurge on the big pieces—sofas, wood furniture, area rugs, window treatments and lighting. While some pieces are made to fit a specific space, making an investment for more versatile or custom decor will turn your house into a home. The details in quality pieces make a huge difference in the comfort and quality of your space. I’ve learned that if you don’t buy right, you end up buying twice.