decorating

We are longtime fans of interior decorator Kyle Schuneman and were excited to see a story from Sunset magazine about his tips for decorating a rental. Kyle is a believer in making every space work for you, no matter how temporary. He offers ideas for fixes that aren't permanent (peel and stick wallpaper) or expensive (paint!) that can translate to even the most desperate of rentals.

For a sampling of his tips read on!

While the iconic tradition of carving a pumpkin is near and dear to my heart, these orange beauties are full of other decor possibilities. Consider getting crafty this season and trying an alternative approach to your Halloween pumpkin. While I'm not sure I'm completely ready to give up going under the knife this Fall, here are some fun pumpkin decoration ideas to mix things up in your home and complement your carved beauties.

• Paint them up. Instead of carving, consider grabbing some paint. This stenciled option is a great idea, but don't be afraid to draw freehand. This could make for a really fun afternoon with the kids, without worrying about them getting too close to any sharp knives.
• Group together. There's nothing cuter than a group of little pumpkins arranged in a large basket or mixed up with other Fall gourds and squash. Set up an Autumnal scene in an unexpected area of your house with a collection of pumpkins you've found along the way.
• Glitter time. Change the orange hue of your pumpkin entirely and employ some glitter to glam up your gourd. Be sure to check out this project from Stylelist Home for DIY pumpkin magic with glitter as the star!
• Let there be light. Instead of carving out the entire pumpkin and lighting it up from the inside out, turn some cute little pumpkins into votive holders. Simply snap off the stem, position the candle in the pumpkin's depression, cover it with an open-topped glass shade, and insert some pins around to hold things in place — and of course, make it safe!
• Keep it au naturale. There's something so classic about one giant pumpkin sitting pretty outside of a home. Instead of going wild with all the crazy carving, enjoy a pumpkin's beauty in its most natural state. Don't be afraid to think outside the box in terms of color; orange is classic, but there are tons of bright, funky heirloom varieties you can try out. Line up pumpkins up the steps to your home, or just have one big beauty hanging solo outside, keeping an eye out on all the Halloween mischief.

Any other no-carve pumpkin projects you've got in the works this Fall? Be sure to share your ideas below, or in the Su Casa community group!

Source: Country Living

Now that you know where to find hip but affordable artwork online, it's time to get to hanging. Decking out your rooms with artwork can be a daunting task, especially once you've invested in some special pieces — you're not just tacking posters up in your dorm room anymore! But don't let that keep you from finally getting art up on your walls. Follow these five tips for gallery-worthy displays in no time.

1. Choose a theme. To keep your artwork from looking haphazard, settle on some kind of theme before you select which pieces to hang. Your theme can be a color, subject matter, style, artist — anything, as long as it ties all the pieces together in that room.
2. Let your artwork guide your frame choices. If the style and color of your artwork is all over the place, choose coordinating frames to keep it cohesive. If you've chosen multiple similar pieces from the same artist or the same series, try mixing up your frame color and shape so the end result isn't too matchy-matchy.
3. Consider the vibe of the room. Your space is your own, and you can choose to hang whatever artwork you like. But in order to keep from regretting your decision a month or two down the road, bear in mind the vibe of each room as you're selecting pieces. You may want to avoid hanging grotesque pieces in the kitchen, racy pieces in the living room, or creepy pieces in your bedroom.

More tips, right this way!

Unless you're building a new home to your exact specifications, you've got to "work what your mama gave you" when it comes to decorating. Unfortunately, you can't exactly slap a pair of stilettos on a vertically challenged room. Instead, the trick is deception. The Auckland, New Zealand, living room of fashion designer Karen Walker and creative director Mikhail Gherman, featured on The Selby, is a prime model for styling short rooms. There's a lot to learn from this space. Here are a few tips!

• Use low-slung furniture. The seating and tables in this room are very low to the ground, which creates a feeling that the ceilings have greater height. The low seating also offers a sky view through the small, high window that you would otherwise not achieve with high chairs.
• Hang drapery where the wall meets the ceiling. This also creates an illusion of height. Hanging the curtains at the window/door molding would make the room look stocky.
• Hang artwork both high and low on the wall, near the ceiling and the baseboard. Taking advantage of all the wall space makes the walls appear to have more surface area.
• Avoid using oversized ceiling light fixtures. A big chandelier would have too much visual heft. Instead, the diminutive pendant light doesn't obstruct the view of the room.
• Use light colors as the base for the room. Linen curtains and oatmeal walls give the room a feeling of brightness whereas dark paint and textiles would make the room feel smaller than it is.