helgaj's Profile

She is my favorite designer. I like how she uses used and antique furniture and makes it new again with finishes and upholstery. Yes, she is one of the few designers worth watching on HGTV.

I bought a beige leather sectional sofa. The two ends could flip out to recliners. I regretted almost immediately the purchase of this sectional because it ate up the landscape in the room. It was poufy and my feet did not touch the ground when I sat on it. Even though my living room, dining room and kitchen are one big open space, I felt as though the sectional was two giant elephants blocking up the free flow of the room. So now I have a three seater sofa, rocking chair and two Lazyboy recliners and the room arrangement is way more flexible than having that sectional in there.

There is a wonderful flea market in Raleigh NC each Saturday and Sunday. It's indoors as well as outdoor. I've always enjoyed that one and there are a lot of antiques and used items for reasonable prices.

Never could figure out why IKEA picks their locations. Here in North Carolina they picked Charlotte as their spot. Raleigh would have been a better and more central location as it's the capital and also has more universities and businesses. Charlotte is a sinking ship. Wishing IKEA would relocate to Raleigh, I'd be there every day.

Yes, this is the best house tour so far on Apartment Therapy. I would like to see more international house tours. I like decorating ideas from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Germany as well as much from Dutch folks.

No pets or food in our bedroom. When our kids were little we allowed them to play in our bedroom but they were never allowed to sleep in our bed. If they came to the bedside during the night, we tended to what they needed but escorted them back to their own rooms. Bedrooms are for sleep and privacy.

Love those little spoon-printed curtains above the kitchen sink in the kitchen. I hope those leaning and large framed mirrors and glass windowed doors are actually attached somehow to the wall as I could see that being very dangerous with small children around. All around, though, this home is very cozy.

I think unfinished, non-sealed plywood is a very unhealthy item to have in a home. Think of the release of all that formaldehyde that out-gases from the plywood. The place also has the look of a monastery or convent with very little to look at that would stimulate.

I would not keep matches and candles or for that matter, lit scented candles in the bathroom. My 5 year old nephew got fascinated with a lit scented candle in a bathroom. He took a few tissues out of the tissue box and decided to wave these near the lit candle. Of course, a huge flame ensued and in his fright he shook the flaming tissues about. Good thing he screamed as well as that drew the attention of adults. It doesn't take long to burn a room or whole apartment to cinders. I'd much rather leave a can of air freshener around.

It's one way to insulate house walls.