rileysmomma's Profile

if you're more of an informal entertainer, register for a larger number of individual dinner and luncheon sized plates, dinner and dessert forks and spoons instead of complete place settings. and don't forget serving pieces. platters, bowls, drink serveware that go with your dining style. a punch bowl may be over the top for you, but a beverage dispenser with a spicket (think a higher grade version of the picnic variety) serves the same purpose. be honest with yourself about what your life looks like. are you going to be hosting lots of formal dinner parties or are you more apt to be having friends over for game night or superbowl parties? if you're low-key/informal by nature, you don't want to end up storing a bunch of pieces that - while pretty to look at, maybe - never get used.

my mom and i made grommet top panels for my living room last summer and i love them. she finished the edges of the panels and put in deep hems for the top and bottom and then i used the dritz home grommets to finish them off. they're gorgeous.
http://www.hancockfabrics.com/Curtain-Grommets-1-9-16--Inner-Diameter-8-Pkg---Pewter-Hardware_stcVVproductId47584116VVcatId539476VVviewprod.htm

i saw this tip in a magazine a few years ago for mounting 12x12 sheets of scrapbook paper. to keep from losing any of the paper design by having to reduce the size to cover the edges of the styrofoam mount, they suggested gluing ribbon on the ends to create a finished edge. haven't tried it myself yet but the photos in the magazines looked very nice.

ON LIFE AND LAVA: in my last apartment I had the living room, dining room, hallway, and bedroom all painted Glidden's Polished Pewter. Far from being gloomy, it actually brightened the rooms up - the Sherwin Williams Mushroom Cap the apartment complex had originally painted the walls prior to my move in made the place feel dark and cavernous.