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.