Don't believe that budget furniture can look fabulous? Take a look at these photos on the design blog decor8. They come from stylist Lo Bjurulf and they are exquisite!

IKEA has a reputation for being a little - how shall I put this delicately - budget friendly, but I prefer to think of their items as wonderful starting points. The simple but functional designs can be made over and enhanced in so many different ways - there's literally no end do what can be done with them. Check out the photos to see what I mean.

It just goes to show how much can be done with a little creativity.

Photo © IKEA

A Fabulous IKEA Makeover originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 at 19:27:45.

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Here's a current decorating trend that I believe will become a popular classic: Belgian style décor.

Belgian style decorating has been very trendy in North American homes for the last couple of years and it's easy to see why. It bridges the gap between rustic and elegant and combines rough-hewn vintage items with modern lines, loose fabrics, and natural textures. It has a little bit of everything yet it's clean and spare looking.

In my opinion it's the evolution of Shabby Chic. It has a lot of the same elements yet it's a bit more polished and not quite as feminine.

Belgian style is appealing to a wide range of people because it's simple yet cozy; elegant yet rustic; hard and soft; and combines old-world charm with a modern aesthetic. To learn a little bit more about this lovely style check out our new article on Belgian style decorating, and click here for a great example of Belgian style items and decor from House Beautiful

Photo © flickr.com/CileMontgomery

Belgian Style: A New Classic? originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Monday, July 26th, 2010 at 18:56:38.

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I love pretty arm and side chairs. They're so great for filling empty corners and little nooks. I love the fact that they're not just practical: they're pretty and often sculptural.

I'm a big fan of finding run down versions at flea markets and fixing them up, but I recently found a few in some lovely antique and home stores that I wouldn't mind bringing home with me. They're a little out of my budget but hey, it's fun to fantasize. I put my five favorites in an image gallery. Check them out!

Charming Chairs originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 16:37:43.

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Yesterday I was helping a friend do a floral arrangement for a television shoot and once again it struck me how expensive it can be to make even a small arrangement. It was a fairly simple display full of a variety of pink and white blossoms and still it cost almost $60. As much as I would love to have this type of arrangement in every room of the house my budget simply won't allow for it.

It got me thinking about all the ways we can display flowers in our homes. While big arrangements are great, simply grabbing a few blooms from the garden and arranging them strategically throughout the house can be just as effective. So here are a few ideas for decorating with flowers from the garden without spending a lot of money.

Feel free to leave a comment and share your own ideas for decorating with flowers. We'd love to hear them!

Photo © Photobucket.com

Decorate with Flowers from the Garden originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 11:02:51.

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As far as I'm concerned one of the biggest decorating sins a person can commit is to put carpet in the bathroom. There are soooo many reasons why. The main one is that moisture is a carpet killer.  It can get moldy, smelly, and just plain gross. And imagine if there's a leak of some sort from the plumbing. Ack! But honestly, the biggest reason is that it just doesn't look good (as the accompanying photograph demonstrates).

What about you? Would you ever consider putting wall-to-wall carpet in the bathroom? Why or why not? What's your biggest "decorating don't"?

Photo © flickr.com/Rick Audet

Decorating Don'ts - Carpet in the Bathroom originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Friday, July 30th, 2010 at 10:24:09.

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Yesterday we talked a little bit about mixing modern items with antiques. Today we're staying on the same theme but with a focus on mixing expensive items with cheaper ones.

While it would be nice to go out and shop with an unlimited budget, for most of us it's just not feasible. So here are a few ideas on where to save and where to splurge and how to mix expensive and budget items.

This photo shows how a cheap lamp can look amazing when painted, given a new shade, and paired with expensive wallpaper. What do you think?

Feel fee to leave a comment and post your own ideas for mixing cheap with chic. We'd love to hear them!

Photo © morguefile.com

Mixing Cheap with Chic originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Tuesday, July 20th, 2010 at 13:15:55.

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One of my favorite spots for finding art and accessories for children's rooms is Oopsy daisy, Fine Art for Kids. They have super cute wall décor, clocks and other accessories that are perfect for all manner of playrooms and kid's rooms.

What I recently learned is that they also have "art for grownups". I was checking out their site the other day and now I'm totally coveting the "Birch Trunks on Sky Blue - Wall Art". It still has the sweet Oopsy daisy style, but there's also a bit of contemporary sophistication that would make it ideal for my living room. Now that I think about, three hanging in a row over the couch would be just perfect...

Photo © Oopsy daisy, Fine Art for Kids

Oopsy Daisy Art for Grown Ups originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 15:45:57.

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One of the great things about summer is being able to entertain and host parties in the great outdoors. From barbeques to pool parties to weddings and showers, there's something especially nice about gathering friends and family in your yard and whooping it up under the sun or stars.

If you're going to host a party outside there are a few things you need to think about before the masses descend on your home. From appropriate seating to adequate lighting to outdoor décor, you'll want to be well prepared to accommodate your guest's needs.

Check out some of our tips for hosting a party in the great outdoors.

Photo © flickr.com/Wonderlane

Outdoor Party Tips originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 at 10:30:13.

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I spent some time yesterday with design guru Brett Walther and he was telling me about a hot new trend in kitchens. It's called the "unfitted" kitchen and it's all about using furniture instead of traditional cabinets, counters and islands. It's not exactly a new idea (if anything it's a throwback to the kitchens of yore) and it tends to go in and out of fashion, but it's certainly growing in popularity right now.

Imagine if you will an armoire full of dishes and cooking utensils, an old antique table with lots of storage and shelving in place of an island, and perhaps some plate racks and pot racks either fixed to the wall or hanging from the ceiling. It's a less traditional and more relaxed style of kitchen and for some people it works really well.

Keep in mind that you can also do a partially fitted kitchen. My former boss (who's a terrific decorator/designer) had a totally modern kitchen with every imaginable convenience but on one side of the room she had some of the cabinets removed and put in an antique armoire. Stunning! Definitely something I would consider.

What do you think? Would you ever give up your practical cabinetry in favor of a bookshelf or armoire? If you were planning a kitchen remodel would you consider an unfitted style, or is it just too impractical?

Photo © sxc.hu/marmit

The Unfitted Kitchen is Back originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 at 09:25:40.

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I've been thinking a lot lately about mixing old with new and trends with classics. It's made me ask myself a few questions about what constitutes a trend and what makes an item a classic, and to go even further: how does a trend become a classic?

With that in mind I posted an article about five 20^th Century chairs that, while many people think of them as trendy, are really classics in the making. While it seemed like each of these would have their 15 minutes of fame and then move over to make way for the next big thing, they've held on to their place in the design industry and continue to adorn homes and offices the world over.

Check them out. Do you think they're trends or classics?

Trends or Classics? originally appeared on About.com Interior Decorating on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 11:39:10.

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