Heated Floors

Imagine stepping out of the shower onto a warm tile floor. According to an article I read on www.HGTV.com, radiant heat floors are becoming a more popular way of keeping things cozy in the bathroom and other rooms in the house. Our sunroom sits over the garage and the tile floor is always cold. Since the room is less insulated, it tends to be the coldest room in the house. I have often thought that putting in a heated floor would help to solve that problem. The Warmly Yours heated floors come in sized rolls and kits to fit rooms of varying sizes. We would have to remove and replace the floor in order to install the radiant heat, but it might be worth it in the long run, since we lose so much heat. Thermostats regulate the temperature and some even are programmable, so they're only on when you want them to be, which could reduce heating costs. Heated floors are a practical and luxurious heating solution.

Cheval Bookcase

I am a lover of books. I cannot resist them, and so there are books all over the house in piles and stacks and on shelves. I try not to buy them because I feel guilty when I finish them so quickly, but there is nothing like the promise of a new story in which I can immerse myself. Many of the books I buy, I try to donate to libraries and other organizations, but there are still a number of them I can't bear to part with, so I need to find a place to store and display them. The Cheval Bookcase by Danbury Imports has a gothic design and a 30s feel to it. The bookshelf also reminds me of a shelf given to me by my grandmother -- it had similar details and that unmistakable period look. The bookcase is made of plantation-grown hardwoods, so it's extra-sturdy, and the black finish goes with everything.

Flush Mount Range Hood

The ductless range hood that is currently over my stove was probably installed way back in the 50s. I'm sure there are now more range hoods out there that will operate more effectively and are also energy-efficient. In my kitchen, there's no way to vent to the outside without removing a wall or moving the stove, so I need to find an under cabinet range hood that will work without ducting. The Flush Cabinet Mount G3000 Series range hood from Imperial fits flush with the cabinet and comes with a Black, White or Stainless Steel panel to match your kitchen cabinets or color theme. This range hood has 350-660 CFM, depending on the type of blower you choose, and is designed for quiet operation.

Santa Fe Trunk

Our bedroom has limited storage other than our clothes closets, so I have had to be creative when storing things like linens and towels. I have always wanted a trunk for the end of our bed but I never found the right one. Visions of antique steamer trunks filled my head, but the ones I found were either too deteriorated or way out of my price range. This Santa Fe Trunk from Covington is made of Brazilian pine with traditional styling and vintage hardware, so it's got the look of something antique but will stand the test of time and maybe even become an heirloom that gets passed down through the generations. What's neat about this trunk is that it can be used anywhere. If I get tired of it in the bedroom, I can move it to the family room or living room and use it as a coffee table, or I can put it in the hallway and use for storing winter or summer gear.

Closet Organization - Shoe Dividers

After years of dreaming and wishing, I finally have a walk-in closet. It's great to be able to have room for all my clothing and accessories and shoes. Right now, my shoes are all over the floor, and I've been looking for the ideal closet organization solution. I have tried using some hanging shoe racks, but unfortunately, I have too many pairs of shoes. What a travesty. These acrylic shoe dividers from Custom Inserts are great because they are clear and you can see everything you have. The shoe dividers are slotted and slip together in a cabinet or on a shelf. The dividers are available with as few as nine or as many as 35 bins, so they will work for the modest shoe collector as well as for the shoe fanatic. And, I'm hoping they will help me to keep my closet a little neater, so I can actually walk in my walk-in closet.

Hand-Painted Bathroom Vanity

A master bath redo is in our not-too-distant future. We plan to remove the jacuzzi tub, which leaks into my closet -- no tub is worth the ruination of clothes and accessories -- and replace it with a two-person shower. I really like the soft pink, cream and sand shades that are already in there, so I think I'll keep the color scheme as it is. The existing bathroom vanity is old, yellowed and so very staid. Ho-hum. The distressed wood and hand-painted design of this Flora bath vanity from Empire give it an heirloom quality, and I love old things. I especially love the roses, since they remind me of the bedroom set I had as a child. A variety of granite and marble tops are available, so I can match it to whatever tile I choose for the shower. With two cabinet doors and two drawers, I can store towels, cosmetics and often-used items. I can also use my own sink, or purchase the vanity with a sink.

Nautical Mirror

We have a nautical-themed living room, complete with ship lanterns, an oar lamp and paintings of sailboats and lighthouses. Ok, it sounds cheesy on paper, but it really isn't. The living room is actually my favorite room in the house. It has these beautiful built-in bookcases in a warm honey finish that surround the fireplace, and a color scheme of blue and yellow. The living room doesn't really need much to complete it, although we would love to have a ship model to put in the window, and another slipcovered chair. I saw this porthole mirror from Danbury Imports and knew that it would be a great addition to the room, with its nautical design and antiqued finish, and would provide a striking contrast on the pale yellow walls. The mirror is 21-1/4" in diameter and comes in Polished Chrome and Satin Nickel finishes as well. Hmmm. The holidays are coming. Maybe I'll put this on my wish list.

Bathroom Storage Bench

Floor space in my bathroom is at a premium, so I'm very careful with what I put in there to eliminate clutter. I would really like to add a bench or something that offers some sort of seating space. The Maui Storage Bench from Echelon Home has an exotic look with bamboo and rattan accents that tie in with the beachy feel of my bathroom. What's neat about this bathroom bench is the fact that there is storage underneath the fabric seat. I can discreetly store extra toilet paper, towels, toiletries or magazines, keeping them out of sight and allowing for a more organized bathroom.

Everything In the Kitchen Sink

When I dream of making over my kitchen, half of me thinks in terms of country style -- traditional shapes, antique finishes and a nod to yesteryear. But I also love the sleekness of a modern kitchen, with appliances, sinks and faucets in stainless steel and a vivid color on the walls or warm wood cabinetry to create a cohesive blend. Contemporary kitchens allow for more high-tech and state-of-the-art appliances and fixtures, so you can put all the latest and greatest innovations to use. If I were to go modern in my kitchen, this Franke Culinary Work Station Sink would be the first on my list. It is the perfect sink for the avid and busy cook. The sink comes with a tempered glass cutting board, a polished stainless measuring bowl, a colander and food prep bowls. The great thing about this kitchen sink is that it has built-in places for waste, so you don't have to break your slicing and dicing momentum to throw away the excess. It also helps to save time on food preparation, because everything you need is within easy reach. I don't think I'll be remodeling my kitchen this year, but...there's always next year.

Classic Bar Stools

We have a pass-through counter from the kitchen to the breakfast room. I've always wanted to add a couple of bar stools and create an little eating area. www.kitchensource.com has a large selection of bar stools in so many style and size options, that it didn't take me long to find exactly what I wanted. This Lyon bar stool from Hillsdale has an etched seat back design with a traditional shape that reminds me of the old-world opulence. The stool is made of wood with an oak brown finish and is available in counter and bar heights to accommodate kitchen counters and bars alike. The swivel seat turns a full 360 degrees and has a vinyl covered seat so it is very comfortable.

Wicker TV Stand

Finding the right kind of storage for our bedroom TV has been a challenge, because our bedroom window overlooks a large pond and we didn't want the television to obstruct it. This TV stand from Sunset, seen on www.shopentertainmentcenters.com, is made of wicker with a whitewash finish, which makes it perfect for our beach cottage decor. The TV stand has a swivel top, so we can turn the TV towards us when we're watching it and then slide it back into place when we are finished. Three drawers store DVDs and other types of media, and there's also a shelf for the cable box or DVD player.

Outdoor Fireplace

I'm not ready to give up precious time out of doors just because there is a chill in the air. Besides, there's nothing better than sitting outside on a crisp autumn night under a blanket of stars in the glow of an outdoor fire. The Sojoe Star and Moon Fire Pit lets me indulge in my stargazing without getting too cold. Of course, a large mug of hot cocoa helps too. The fire pit can also be used for cooking and comes with its own grill. The star and moon cutouts give the outdoor fireplace a celestial look, while providing ventilation and reducing smoke. I'm brushing up on the constallations and putting some hot chocolate on the stove to get ready for some cozy evenings under the stars.

Laundry Room Organization

My laundry room is always in a state of transition. Dirty clothes mount in piles on the floor, clean clothes on hangers and folded in piles wait to be delivered to their home in closets and drawers. Since the laundry area is really a small corner of my basement, space and how I use it is crucial. Whitney Designs makes a laundry center that offers a hamper with three sorting compartments, a rod for hanging clothes and a shelf on top for folded items or laundry detergents and accessories. The laundry center is on wheels, so I can move it wherever I want, making it so easy to transport clothes to and from the washer and dryer. Keeping the laundry sorted is a no-brainer because those three hamper compartments store my dirty laundry all week so it's ready for wash day.

Kitchen Backsplash

Following in the same vein of sprucing up the kitchen without gutting it and starting over, I stumbled upon another idea that would add color and excitement to my kitchen. The area above my stove and under my range hood has been dead space. Quite honestly, I never thought of doing anything with it until I spotted this hand-painted backsplash from The Clay Palette. There are a number of designs available, but I chose this one because the colors really work in my kitchen. The tiles are made of ceramic and feature a still-life mural design that evokes the spirit of good food, fine wine and celebration, which is really what the kitchen is all about, anyway.

Updating With New Cabinet Knobs and Pulls

Since I am unable to do a whole kitchen redo, but still want to give it a fresh new look, I decided to update the cabinet hardware. The existing hardware was tarnished and dirty. I tried cleaning and polishing it, but that just resulted in taking off more of the finish. So, I figured changing the cabinet pulls and knobs would give my kitchen a more uniform and modern look. I chose cabinet knobs and pulls from Schaub & Company with nickel finish and distressed copper accents, which really lights up my honey-colored cabinets. Nickel finishes are very popular these days, and the knobs and pulls blend nicely with my kitchen faucet. What's more, you don't need a contractor to do it. All you need to do is unscrew the old ones and attach the new ones. Depending on how many knobs and pulls you have, you could probably finish in an afternoon.

Lazy Susans

The space in my kitchen corner cabinets has long been a dead space, simply because it was such a hassle to reach around in a dark cabinet to find what's stored there. These wood half-moon lazy susans from Rev-A-Shelf are designed specifically for blind corner cabinets and give you easy access to everything without having to fumble blindly in the dark for it. The trays slide out smoothly so I can reach even items placed in the back without additional effort. The maple wood complements my cabinets nicely and has a protective clear finish.

Ideal CD Storage

I have a very large music collection(over 400 CDs) and I find it very difficult to keep them all organized. They are always spilling out of baskets, off the shelves and onto the floor. Of course, that makes it extremely difficult to find what I'm looking for. Most people would say to give up the CDs and go digital with MP3s, and I have a ton of songs on my iPod, but I'm not ready to get rid of my CDs just yet. So I found the perfect solution for CD storage at www.ShopEntertainmentCenters.com. The Library Card File Style Multimedia Storage Cabinet from Leslie Dame has room for 456 CDs, giving me more room to store more CDs if I get the urge to buy any more. I love the fact that the CD cabinet is library card style, so if I feel the need to alphabetize or categorize (yeah right), I can do that by putting a label in each slot. I know I'm going to love having more floor space, and maybe this new media cabinet will help me stay organized.