The chandelier used to mark your arrival. Clad in crystal, it met you in the foyer of a well-appointed home, then dazzled you from a power position over the diningroom table. Rarely did you find a chandelier in a starter home. To see them illuminating any room other than one used ...

You've bought every design magazine at the supermarket, carefully studied what was "in" and what was "out," spent too much money on new curtains - and you still hate your living room. You're not alone. You can significantly improve the overall look of a room just by eliminating some common decorating mistakes - and you won't have ...

Indonesia is an inspiration for interiors throughout the world. Here in South Africa, it’s a style that is well suited to our long, hot summers. Indonesia is a rich source of inspiration for architectural and interior design. We have recently seen homes popping up that have been designed in true ...

Most Americans know their ancestral heritage and honour it in some small way: old-world antiques, for example, or crafts from the family's homeland. Likewise, most good houses reveal something of their own ancestry. Here's a case in point, a suburban home with hints of France and traces of tropical Atlantic isles. ...

 You don't have to be an expert to display a vase of fresh flowers in your home. But just in case you're more thumbs than fingers, here's some quick ideas for you.  A summers day Sky-blue delphinium and peachy- orange snapdragon, encircled with hosta leaves. You ...

Dress up a plain MDF / Supawood screen with fabric and paint for a pretty bedroom feature You will need: - Traditional three-panel screen - Sandpaper - Damp cloth - Acrylic paint - celery green - Thin ...

These fabric shelves are ideal storage for a room where floor space is at a premium. You can store a wide variety of things, such as toys, shoes or clothes, and by adjusting the size of the shelves you can store much more. A great idea for a nursery or ...

 Increase your bedroom storage space with a decorative chest. They are perfect for storing quilts, bed linens, or sweaters. You can make a wooden storage chest, or purchase one unfinished. A wooden chest, built from plywood or MDF, using basic tools, can be covered with fabric to coordinate with the bedroom ...

 Delicate pansies in simple cross stitch give real charm to pillow-cases and tie-backs, adding gentleness to your guest bedrooms. Take one pair of plain white pillowcases. Add a decorative frill and your cross stitch piece trimmed with delicate lace to transform your guest bedroom into a room that ...

 If your bedroom feels a little lackluster, don't despair. Instead, think about adding a canopy. We decided to re-create the look of an antique corona in this room.   You will need: Fabric Timber (screws and brackets to assemble) Acrylic paint ...

 A paper doily, auto-detailing tape, and spray paint are the secret ingredients for giving a plain pine dresser a lacy facelift.   You will need: Unfinished pine chest of drawers Oval paper doilies to fit drawer fronts Spray stencil adhesive (not spray glue) Narrow auto-detailing ...

 Before you start arranging for the professionals to come in with quotations, there is one very important item that needs to be done... A bathroom plan. A carefully thought out plan will save you time and stress in the short term, and money in the long term. Planning ...

 Ordinary bathrooms have been transformed into luxurious spaces, making full use of space and light. Pedestal sinks are admired for their style and forgiven for their lack of storage space. The one in this bath prompted a wall of storage that rivals any vanity-bound sink. Glass-front cabinets ...

 What are the latest design trends for bathrooms? We look at Hansgrohe for their latest designer ranges. The principle of reduction Philippe Starck is a designer who goes for extremes. And completely in line with the Starck philosophy of reduction and minimalism, bathroom design is completely ...

Avid gardener Karen Norris loves the bold colors of nature, which is why she couldn't resist using shades from the same palette in her home. You, too, can give your home a wake-up call with the generous use of color. In Living Color A vase of sunflowers on a ...