Gillianne's Profile

We had to gut an unsalvageable stained and broken bathroom that sported asbestos floor tiles. We put local gray-green 12" square slate on the tub surround and floor (without removing the asbestos tiles, for safety), built legs and apron for a custom vanity from handsomely silvered cedar posts from the previous owners' dog run that we removed, got a hunk of inexpensive uba tuba granite locally to hold the sink (polished granite for a bit of shiny contrast to the matte slate), and used a hammered copper vessel sink from Mexico I found on eBay a few years ago and stashed until we could deal with the bathroom. With white walls, white cotton bedspread turned shower curtain, oil-rubbed bronze fixtures (local and Ebay), and we have a soothing, spa-like space for a relative song. The combination of DIY and skilled, reasonably priced local crafts people paid off.

@THEFORCE and @PI - I was surprised by the newest looks in Formica--not your granny's kitchen countertops. Found this one on pinterest: http://pinterest.com/pin/239183430180133882/
And AT recently had a feature on Ideal Edge by Formica: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/idealedge-by-formica-kbis-2012-170058
These look surprisingly stylish to me, and they're sure easy on the budget compared with most other solid surface options for countertops. I may take another look at Formica if I'm ever redoing kitchen or bathroom counters again.

Seriously?

Just can't climb aboard the ruffle train; tailored all the way, here. Like Sherria Tric, I stick with white and off-white, in linen or textured cotton, and use paint, tiles, and wall decor to liven things up a bit. An expanse of natural materials is soothing and spa-like to me. Because I grew up sewing, I can't swallow those price tags when it's so easy to make a shower curtain and discount fabric is easy to find (estate sales, burlap, coupons for JoAnns, drop cloths, Home Goods deals). But of course, home decor is a matter of taste and budget, and clearly many people like ruffles and colorful patterns.

I put Silestone counters in my previous home and they were just right for the style and space, though at the time, they were a bit of a strain on the budget. In my current home--very different in character and setting--shine just didn't look right. I wanted a matte finish without the granite price tag and went with a local gray-green slate, picked up straight from the quarry. In fact, I used 12" slate tiles, not even solid surface, with a gray-green grout, and put the same tiles on a bathroom floor and tub surround. I've been very happy. They fit the space, were very easy on the wallet, and have held up well. I also used them for the kitchen backsplash, adding interest with a band of tumbled slate in 1" and 2" variegated colors. If we move again, I'll check out butcher block for at least part of the work surface. (Love the look of wood!) With proper installation and sealants, they might be a reasonable option. I've recently seen solid-core doors repurposed as kitchen counters, and they look terrific.

This life-long "neutral background with spots of color" person applauds the exuberance and whimsy of these spaces. Don't think I could comfortably inhabit them for long, but they're gorgeous eye candy for the online voyeur and make me want to know the family that lives here. (LOVED her turquoise chandelier design the instant I saw it and still do.)

Blogland has some simple ideas for making drawstring or handle-version cloth bags from old T-shirts (iron-on tape makes no-sew versions possible), sheer curtains, or any light-weight fabric you might have around. They're washable and store compactly and help keep produce from any source fresh on the way home. No plastic necessary.

Nope. Never liked pastels, to wear or to live with; still don't. I even plant my garden for stronger hues or neutrals with lots of textures. But I agree with Madame Suggia that some of these rooms are well done, though not my style.

When I lived in what was then the largely rent-controlled neighborhood of Glover Park in NW DC, I had friends of assorted ethnic backgrounds. Most of us were newly out of school or soon to be and pinching pennies, but we liked adventurous eating. We decided to hold rotating international dinner nights featuring family recipes every couple of months. I remember informal meals on the floor by candelight and huddled around my apartment's only a/c unit on one of the city's sweltering August nights. Good food, good company, good times, and fond memories of building community as a single person.

For all those who pine for out-of-budget copper fixtures, remember the transformative power of spray paint. :) Metallic paints even come in hammered finishes now.