Work in Style

If you're like me, you want your "home" office to be just as stylish as any other room in your home. In fact, more so! So how do you marry style with functionality? Good design is all about making form and function beautiful. Let's start there.

Of course the people at Pottery Barn know how to make furniture that embodies good design, which is why they created a great line of office furniture that is not only stylish, but increadibly functional as well.

Now personalize your space with a splash of color, rich textures and interesting patterns. Embellish this space with not-so-officey artwork and accessories that show off your personality. The result? You'll end up with an office you love to work in day or night!

Beam Me Up Scotty!

Take candlelight to a whole new level with the "Candela Glow" pillars (picture here) from Vessel.com. These 6" rechargeable plasic pillars sit in their docking station until needed and can be used indoors and out without the worry or hassle of real candles.

In fact, Vessel has all kinds of interesting and fun lights including their "Luau" rechargable lantern and their "Guardian" night light perfect for chasing away scary monsters and boogie men!

Lamps Plus

With a simple light kit (easily found at your local hardware or home improvement store) you can turn almost any object into a one-of-a-kind lamp. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. For your first attempt at lamp making- choose a vase that you can simply drill a hole into.

2. Select a wooden base that will support your vase.

3. Now purchase a light kit that fits the dimensions of your vase.

4. Follow the light kit instructions for assembly.

Remember - choose a lamp shade that will compliment your new lamp base. The shade should stand approximately 2/3 rds the height of the base and should hide all of the mechanics of the lamp. Light colored shades will cast more light while darker colors will concentrate light over the surface.

For more ideas and information, please visit the DIY Network.

Let There be Light

If you can believe it - this chi-chi lamp has a steel shade and can be purchased at Ikea! Yup - yours for just $49.99. This stylish find is the perfect must-have to put on your fall shopping list!

Summertime

...and the livin' is easy. Outfit your outdoor rooms with these fab finds perfect for entertaining. The nautical rope accent table from Pottery Barn can serve as an accent table or extra seat. Fill a flexible tubtrug from Gardeners.com with ice and beverages. Don't forget lighting - paper lanterns from partylights.com will keep you rockin' into the wee hours!

Garden Style

Whether your outdoor room is acres and acres of grass or just a corner of your patio, make it special with a variety of furnishings and accessories.

Garden inspired furnishings should have an airy quality about them, but should also remain comfortable. Outfit wrought iron chairs with plump cushions and pillows. Mix upholstered pieces in with weathered wicker. A garden bench makes a wonderful banquette in a kitchen or dining room. You can mix found treasures and cast-offs with regular furnishings – a classic garden style formula. No need to re-do gently distressed pieces, just clean them up a bit and let their aged-patina shine through.

Large planting pots and urns can be transformed into accent tables with a simple glass round. Display vintage garden tools with framed seed packets as an interesting wall collage. Architectural elements and garden statuary can stand in as fine art or as a backdrop to other decorative pieces.

Chill Out

Chill out this summer with these fabulous finds... The rattan wrapped carafe and glasses will look cool and stylish in any setting and will update your table when entertaining this summer. Find them at Smith and Hawkin.

This inspires one of my favorite looks for the summer... to get that "Out of Africa" adventurous, elegant, yet casual look mix the rough-hewn, the tactile and the refined together.

You can find a similar canopy at Bed, Bath and Beyond. Add a tribal looking rug, some crisp white linens and some aged silver and you have the beginnings of a beautiful room.