I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

Designer RJ Thornburg transforms a former pig farm into a modern retreat.

Old houses are full of charm and character, but that doesn't mean its interiors have to feel as antique. It can be surprisingly fresh to complement the classic bones of an old house with modern, retro, casual, or traditional decorating. 

RJ Thornburg, an interior designer at Bahdeebahdu, and his partner, lighting designer, Warren Muller, did just that with their 1865 country home in the Poconos. Aiming for high style on a low budget, they balanced dark and neutral tones, brought in hints of color, and used artwork to deliver modern decor. The mission was to make the home feel contemporary — without losing any of its charm.

In a space that fits a lot of furniture, fabrics, and finishes, like their living room (shown above), balance is key in keeping it from looking cluttered and stuffy. Thornburg retained the raw exposed beams to balance the more urban look of dark ebony floors and an animal-hide rug. 

"We also paired old rattan chairs with oversized and more delicate silk damask pillows, and the simple modern square shape of the fireplace is matched with a traditional hearth guard," he explained. Warren designed the modern light sculpture above the fireplace, which was made from a piece of old farm equipment.

Hallways are generally transitional spaces, but in this house they are interesting places to visit (see above). In the downstairs entryway (left), they paired an antique console with a substantial sculptural element, which creates a very traditional look. However, the vignette is modernized with modern artwork, which is bright, raw, and unexpected. 

Upstairs (right), Thornburg left the hall unfinished with unstained floors and beadboard on the ceiling, which they purchased from a big-box home store. Again, the country look is accented with a more urban look; the hall is punctuated with a modern light sculpture.

Keep reading for the rest of the house tour!

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

Four designers offer insight on how to make your home a fun and lighthearted place for you and your family and friends.

This week as we look at how your home can help solve your problems we're exploring how it can help you lighten up and have some fun. We reached out to the New York Design Center's new Access to Design designers to get their thoughts and tips on how your home can get you to relax and kick back a little more. (You can also get great advice and find a designer at accesstodesign@nydc.com.)

Evelyn Benatar of New York Interior Design says to turn work into pleasure.
"A home office is a wonderful place to have some fun. It is a personal sanctuary that should put a smile on your face every time you enter. This home office was designed with just that in mind. There is a silver shag carpet, a large-scale pattern on the walls, and bright blocks of intense color on the drapery fabric and ottoman. The photo was taken by the owner's son and blown up into an edgy piece of artwork. This is the kind of office that is not too serious and encourages inspiration and creativity."

Nina Morton of NVM Interiors brings in bold colors and a touch of the unexpected.
"It's always a good idea to have fun in your home! Fun to me stands for Fantastic, Unique, and Novel. I like to mix color and whimsy in a space to suggest adventure and style. In this New York City playroom, the bright blue sofa and the yellow school bus are an example of what my sense of having fun is."

Want even more tips? Head over to ShelterPop for the rest of the story!

Here are a few more of my favorite ShelterPop stories this week:

• Green Spotlight:  Annual Stunners
• Rooms With Double Exposure

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

For its second annual Urban Oasis giveaway, the network is offering up a chance to win this high-style apartment designed by Vern Yip in the Trump International Hotel & Tower.

Calling all city slickers and Chicagoans ready for a lifestyle upgrade! HGTV's Urban Oasis Giveaway is back, and this time the network is offering one viewer the chance to win this luxurious high-rise apartment located on the 35th floor of Chicago's Trump Tower.

The 1,000-square-foot, one-bedroom and 1.5-bath apartment was designed by well-known designer Vern Yip who tricked out the space with state-of-the-art amenities by KraftMaid and Cuisinart, midcentury and vintage pieces such as Mies van der Rohe lounge chairs and Wegner-style seating, as well as furnishings and accessories by local artisans. But the highlight of the apartment is perhaps the sweeping views of the Chicago skyline just beyond the windows.

We have an exclusive sneak peek into the apartment with a personalized video tour of the space with Vern. Check out the video on ShelterPop, and then head on over to HGTV and FrontDoor.com to enter the giveaway!

Here are a few of my other favorite ShelterPop stories from this week:

• Minute Makeover: Make a Small Bedroom Look Bigger
• Growing Curiosity: Maureen Viljoen

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

The decoupage artist and retailer's Provincetown, MA, home lets its history show.

Is it possible to have a crush on someone's house? If so, I must confess to being hopelessly in love with John Derian's home. Ever since we had our first glimpse into Mr. Derian's interior world in a feature of his home in Elle Decor in 2006, we've been admiring his style from afar.

Several years back, Derian expanded beyond his New York City apartment and purchased an 18th-century home in Provincetown, MA. It hadn't been renovated in decades. While many would have gutted the old house, Derian left much of what he found unchanged, and it's served as a perfect backdrop for his timeless designs and eclectic collection of antique furnishings. We caught up with Derian and asked him to tell us about this handsome home.

The home features several sitting rooms, including the casual living space seen above. Derian says he believes the house was renovated in the 1830s, and the cabinet to the left of the fireplace was likely part of that renovation. The perfectly simple white wingback chair is the Butterfly Chair, one of Derian's own designs.

The living room is furnished with a pair of Derian's Cove Sofas (the corner of which can be seen above); they are adorned with John Robshaw's printed pillows. The rustic wooden stool is an item from Derian's shop. Of the old beams that have been cut and shaved to size, Derian says: "I use them everywhere — outside, too!"

Keep reading for more of the John Derian Cape Cod home tour.

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

This new concept store by the retailer Nordstrom donates 100% of its profits to charities in New York.

Last Friday was the official opening date of Treasure & Bond, a loft-like lifestyle store by the Seattle-based retailer Nordstrom. We scoped out the shop and quickly understood why it's being applauded by Manhattanites all over. Stocked with clothing and home accessories by brands such as Rogan, James Perse, and Thomaspaul, it didn't take much to convince us that it's worth multiple return visits. But most importantly,Treasure & Bond donates 100% of its profits to charities that help children around New York. Check out the shop here.

Here are a few more of our favorite ShelterPop posts this week:

• Home Remedy: Be Adventurous
• Anne Hathaway: A Fashionable Room

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

We've learned what a mess says about you, but have you considered the impact of where that mess is located? Author and environmental psychologist Sally Augustin, PhD sheds some light on this surprising revelation. (And yes, we've learned lots from this!)

Mess location: The entryway
Chances are you are: Extroverted
"A mess in an entryway that contains personalizing items [think knick-knacks, photos, art, etc.] communicates a need to clearly and immediately establish information about themselves to their visitor," Augustin says. "People with this sort of mess are also apt to be extroverted and interested in establishing a bond with visitors. Personalizing items also establish territory."
What to do about it: Extroversion isn't a bad trait! But have you been welcoming so many people in your home that you don't have time to tend to your own needs? Then it's time to put "you" on your calendar. Make it a habit to clear up clothes, jackets, and other "drop off" items that you leave by the door when you get home and for when you are leaving. As much as you enjoy welcoming guests into your own home, your entryway should be equally welcoming upon visitor arrivals.

Mess location: The living room
Chances are you are: Tense.
"Cluttered spaces...generate tension for humans because our eyes continually review our environment. With lots of stuff around, that process becomes more arduous. In addition, since our possessions are extensions of us, lack of care for them could also indicate, potentially, a lack of self respect-but it may also indicate a toddler is present, money is in short supply, or other similar things."
What to do about it: Since the living room area tends to be the cluster zone for your family, it's all a matter of finding space to hide the clutter. Utilize decorative storage bins and storage ottomans. Seeing a messy area will induce more stress and tension, so take that extra minute to keep things in allotted places. Then, recover from the visual tension by closing your eyes and listening to music.

Continue reading to learn more about your mess!

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

After reading about former pro-skater Pierre-André Senizergues's fully-skateable house in the New York Times, we had to take a closer look.

"Skating has a strong relation with architecture," architect Francois Perrin told the Times. "[Skateboarders] adapt themselves to public space and outdoor furniture. A skater, when he goes around the city trying to find the right space and surface, he really looks at architecture with a different eye than someone that's walking around. It's a more fluid approach. So this idea of people skating in a house has been the dream of many generations of skaters."

Dubbed PAS House (after the owner's initials), the residence features a ribbon of continuous surface that integrates much of the furniture, including a sitting area, kitchen and bathroom. Stand-alone objects, such as a dining table, kitchen Island and bed also bear skate-friendly surfaces (and visitors can enter the house via a ramp). A full-scale prototype of the construction was presented at "Public Domaine," an exhibit on skate culture currently on view in Paris; the final version will be built in Malibu, California.

Here, take a gander at some of the house's coolest features . . . if you're so inclined (get it?).

Head over to ShelterPop to see more photos of this skateable house!

Here are a few more posts from ShelterPop that I'm loving lately:

• Would You Live in a 65-Square-Foot Tiny House?
• Crazy/Sexy/Cool: Bojaki Inflatable Housewares
• Crazy/Sexy/Cool? A Cloud You Can Live In

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

Who knew that a pawn broker could be so glamorous? We chat with Lauren Kaminsky, the 22-year-old vice president and head of sales at the EZ Pawn Corporation, a family-run business based in New York. Her latest project piqued our interest: Curator at Manhattan's Beauty & Essex lounge/restaurant, one of our favorite hangouts. The drinking-and-dining area is actually hidden behind a pawn shop...and that's where Lauren comes in. Here's a glimpse into her day-to-day life.

So, you are not what comes to mind when we think of a pawn broker. Why are you in the biz?

I just started! In fact, I'm just about a year in. This will sound funny because it's a family business...but I shied away from going into the business! But then I worked with my dad for the Summer and discovered I loved it. There were facets to the job [of working in the pawn industry] that I never realized. Like how to choose jewelry, watching interest rates change and then the whole treasure hunt aspect.

Where does your inventory come from?

A little bit of a mix of people pawning and then me going out into the world and finding amazing pieces at dealers, estate sales, vintage places, and other pawns.

Here's a little bit about the business-side of being a pawn broker: To come to a pawn broker as a client is to get a loan based on a collateral security. We keep in touch and they generally come back for it. In fact, we have 90% redemption rate from our pawn clients. Then, there's the 10% of the time that they can't pick up the item or can't pay. The loan defaults and then a decision is made on whether to resell the item.

You mention going out in the world to find a good chunk of your inventory on the secondhand market in a bunch of places. Where's the best place to find treasure?

Going to the pawns, because you really get down and dirty with jewelry. And I mean down and dirty: I'm literally digging through packages that haven't been opened in months. My hands get incredibly filthy from this! Then, I decide whether the piece should be melted down, or if it is a good candidate for resale. It's a complete treasure-hunt in every sense.

How do you know whether to resell a piece or to melt it down?

It's all about how it looks. I have an eye for something that looks different. I often also take a look at a piece with diamond appraisers to determine value.

What's a top seller in your shop?

Top trend is definitely rings. Also, necklaces that have "stand out" appeal. We had a great piece that I called the "Cleopatra necklace." It was a collar-style necklace with this amazing Egyptian geometry motif.

How do you price your items?

It comes from a mixture of style and the current price for gold and diamonds. I really put the emphasis on pricing items according to the gold and diamond prices, though...and often, the main criticism is that my prices in the store are too low [for how stylish the pieces are].

So going back to how often you spend time finding great pieces for the shop: What have you learned about shopping and finding that diamond (literal or figurative) in the rough?

Really, it's to trust your eye--if you pick it up, it means it caught your eye and it spoke to you in some way. The next step is to know about diamonds (read about the market beforehand for the typical price, diamond prices are set). Then, weigh the gold; ask if its 14k, 22k.

Intrigued? Read the rest of the post on ShelterPop!

Here are a few more of our favorite ShelterPop posts this week:

• Growing Curiosity: Alex Mitchell
• Baltimore Museum of Art Curator Talks Purple

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

Whether it's your Blackberry or non-stop work talk, work is work and home is home. We spoke with former House & Garden magazine editor Dominique Browning about how to unplug and keep work at bay and out of your personal life.

More and more in the digital age with the plethora of compact laptops, hand-held phones/computers, and eReaders in the market, it's as if there's no escape from the office even when you're not there. We'll be the first to admit that we're guilty on every front when it comes to bringing work into our living space. That prompted us to dig a little for ways to clean our work physically (and mentally) out of our home lives.

We spoke with Dominique Browning, former House & Garden magazine editor and author of Slow Love, a soulful and thought-provoking autobiography about her journey to blocking out work and reconnecting with herself. Scroll down for our Q&A with Dominique along with tips that we've been implementing since speaking with her.

Are there rooms in the home where work should not be allowed?
Absolutely. First, work should never be allowed in the bedroom. If you wake up looking at your desk and go to sleep with piles of paper and notes and computers blinking around your head, you'll never clear up the mental space you need to work with focus and clarity. After that, avoid work in the kitchen, for the obvious reasons: Peanut butter on keyboard, wine on eReaders, etc.

For those who have home offices and work material that tends to get everywhere, what would you recommend?
I'm not strict or judgmental about material getting everywhere. Some people have to have that sort of "mess" in order to think straight. But you do need periodic clean up. Otherwise, put everything in baskets and pile them up on shelves or in a neat row under the desk with large labels so you know where things are. But don't let it get out of hand.

A clean home often means a healthy home, but it doesn't necessarily mean it's work-free. What are decorating tricks that can help keep work out of the back of our minds?
Make sure your space is lovely for you to be in and that it energizes or calms you as you need it to. Most important, make sure you are comfortable. Sounds obvious but you'd be surprised how often people don't even consider the height of their chair or the work surface area of their desk. Make sure you have something that gives you a middle distance focus--something you can "fall into" when you look up from your computer--a view of your garden, mountaintops in the distance, skyscrapers. Or the simplest way: Hang a poster or a landscape painting that gives your eyes another focus.

What we've learned from Dominique and what we've been doing since.

1. Limit Work Talk. Whether you live with your family or roommates, allot 10 minutes of work talk in the living area right when you get home. Get everything out of your system then and put a cap on it for the rest of your evening.

2. Set Up Email Rules. If you're the type that's chained to their cell phone and email inbox, set strict rules for yourself to not check it at home. I've been feeling more refreshed recently by keeping my phone in my work bag on silent at dinnertime and when I'm with friends at home.

3. Keep Work Out Of Sight. It's important to organize your work material and documents so that they're out of sight in your home and on your personal computer screen. Leave your bag in the closet by the entry and keep your phone on silent on a table. I've been hiding my work documents in a folder on my laptop.

Here are a few more of our favorite ShelterPop posts this week:

• Home Remedy: How to Stay Healthy
• Design Eye: Martin Margiela on Net-a-Porter

I'm excited to present a post from one of my favorite sites, ShelterPop!

We asked four designers how your home can help you make (and keep, and enjoy) friends.

In our latest bid to show you how your home can help solve your problems, we're exploring how it can help you make friends. We reached out to the New York Design Center's new Access to Design designers to get their thoughts and tips on how your home can inspire you to get more creative. (You can also get great advice and find a designer at accesstodesign@nydc.com.)

Kirsten Brant of k.brant interiors wants you to focus on seating.
"In this space, I built a banquette that wrapped around the entire room, so there would be seating for everyone and their friends. A great place for conversations! There are televisions and drink tables for your snacks as well as a bar with a wine fridge and soda storage right next door. Any space with a lot of seating is great for being with your friends and making new ones."

Chris Coleman of Christopher Coleman Interior Design is committed to color.
"Create a welcoming hang-out place. Mix and match to bring the friends home! Look for pieces that are eclectic, colorful, and modern. Mix shapes and sizes and don't forget the accessories that add a dazzling interest and create conversation."

Richard Lee of Richard Lee Interior Design relies on "portable furniture."
"What I like to use are little benches that can go behind a sofa or under a table, that can be pulled up and perched upon. I call it 'portable furniture', and it can be used to augment other furniture arrangements . . . instant conversation-seating additions."

And Tara Seawright of Tara Seawright Inc./Interior Design has her eye on materials.
"When designing a room for entertaining, I want to be sure that guests will feel at ease. This space is glamorous, yet still comfortable, and offers surfaces made of marble, glass and mirror — all of which are appropriate for guests to place glasses on without wondering "Do I need a coaster?" The fabrics are also durable, and the rug is patterned to avoid seeing all spills or crumbs. This room also allows the hostess to be at ease, and when your hostess is relaxed everybody has a great time."

Here are a few more of our favorite ShelterPop posts this week!

• WIN IT! Springmaid's New Garden-Inspired Bedding
• A Fashionable Room Inspired by Kim Kardashian
• Confessions of an Ivy League Cleaning Lady