I love people who aren't afraid of color. Take, for example, Laurel's Rainbow Bright Home. Thanks to her fearlessness of color, her home shouts personality . . . the kind of style that simply can't be replicated. But, given that I like my color in small doses, I'd be more likely to fill my house with items like the Chroma Lab Fruit Stripe Dresser ($480). Its turquoise acrylic satin polyurethane topcoat is certainly bold, but its slivers of watermelon and lemon color are hidden until you open the drawers. The colors aren't always competing for attention, but you know they're there.

For some reason, I find Autumn mud and muck so much more annoying than the mud and puddles you find in the Spring. Maybe it's because the mud is usually combined with snow and slush, or because you can't leave the door open when you clean out your entry, since the temperatures are too low. Whatever the reason, I'm not a mud fan.
Over the years I've encountered some funny family theories for dealing with getting mud out of rugs and carpets. Have you tried spraying shaving cream on fresh mud that's worked its way into your entry rugs? My uncle swears that if you leave it on for at least 10 minutes, and then blot it, the mud will come out. My mom, on the other hand, says that sprinkling cornstarch on mud works best for her. The cornstarch should be left on for 30 minutes or more, and then the whole mess can be vacuumed up.

Of course, the best way to deal with mud is to stop it before it impacts your floors, rugs, and carpets. I've rounded up some great bristle-laden mats, boot trays, and more to help you keep the mud outside, where it belongs. To see my finds, read more

Today's Designer Spotlight goes by the name of Ondine Karady. Ring a bell? That's probably because you've watched her facing challenges and wowing us with her design skills on season two of Top Design. As you may know, Ondine was part of a small team of designers on the set of Sex and the City. Unfortunately for all of us (tear) Sex and the City's television pulse stopped beating, but Ondine moved forward, starting her own eponymous SoHo-based boutique design firm. She's since carried an impressive list of clients, including celebs, Hollywood directors, and Washington political elite. Her firm, OK, also has a collection of custom furniture, ceramics, and hand silk-screened wallpapers inspired by mid-century designs. If that weren't enough to impress, she also designed the sets of Requiem For a Dream and 25th Hour. To see some work from her portfolio, read more

In my post about the new Hygge & West shop, TeamSugar member KateDavis commented, saying that the illustrated frames in the shop's graphic reminded her of one she'd drawn herself as part of a gag on her husband. Of course, I told her I'd love to see her frame, and she posted a photo to the Su Casa group. While her husband was at work, KateDavis hung one of her husband's paintings on their wall and drew an ornate frame around it with a Sharpie. Check out KateDavis's post to learn why her husband may have been less than thrilled to see his work so prominently displayed. It's hard to see the markered pièce de résistance very well in this photo, but it looks like KateDavis has some artistic talent of her own! It also reminds me a lot of Graham & Brown's Frames wallpaper, don't you think?

Whoever said, "Don't judge a book by its cover," spoke too soon. The folks at JudgeBy.com may disagree with me, but there are plenty of cases where a gorgeous cover is a sure sign that a fantastic read will follow, and vice versa. When it came to Domino: the Book of Decorating, I knew I was in for a page-turner when I spied the sumptuous wallpaper on its cover, and I was right. If you read my review of the book, you know I recommend it, but what you don't know is that I'm achingly in love with its seafoam green Chinoiserie print cover.
Lucky me, I stumbled upon the wallpaper — or at least a close second with a bird and branch print that I equally adore. Now I've just got to find a wall for it in my home. To see my find, read more