9 ideas for Valentine's Day decorations that adults will love.

Valentine's Day is billed as the most romantic holiday, but it can often seem like the day is designed to appeal to tiny tots, not grown-ups. All those cute-as-can-be cupids and frilly hearts can seem a little too much to an adult aesthetic.

To solve this overdose of saccharine design, ShelterPop rounded up our favorite grown-up-friendly Valentine's Day decorating crafts. These ideas all stick to the traditional V-Day palette of red, white and pink, but they're long on style and short of over-the-top-cutesie-ness. Don't worry, the kids will like them too!

At right is a simple, quilled paper garland from How About Orange. We like the clean, graphic look of this easy DIY project. For a full tutorial on how to make the garland, check out the full post on How About Orange.

We love the idea of sending a "living valentine" instead of the traditional card or a soon-to-fade bouquet. Both Brides.com and Sunset magazine's site offer ideas for creating a Valentine's Day arrangement of live, blooming plants. It's the greenest way to say "I love you."

Take a look at the photo and read through the clues. Can you figure out which celebrity lives here?



Which multi-platinum pop super star's uber posh penthouse includes this boutique style dressing room where her body hugging outfits are arranged by color and her sky high heels are stored and arranged, also by color, in a room of their own?

Hints:

1. She grew up in Huntington, Long Island, New York.

2. Prior to hooking up with her, the singer's newish husband dated another Grammy nominated singer, a reality television star, and a Victoria Secret model to whom he was briefly engaged.

3. Her recent role in a feature film earned her Oscar buzz but no nomination.

4. She's won 5 Grammy Awards.

5. People Magazine named her one of the top 25 most most intriguing people of 2009.

Turn in tomorrow to see who calls this her "clothes room."

Breaking: Luxist reports that Scarlett Johansson listed her home at a loss.

From message boards to spice racks: the very best methods to get organized.

As the hub of many families' homes, I'd argue the kitchen is one of the toughest areas to keep clean and organized throughout the week. Equal parts bill-paying center, homework desk, meal preparation surface and entertainment seating, kitchens are for multi-tasking.

Yet how much love are you giving to your kitchen? Spend a few minutes today to look around -- Are things in their proper places, or are your kitchen counters a free-for-all? If you're guilty of the latter, check out these few easy steps to gearing up for a more organized kitchen (which, funny enough, equals a more organized family!).

In our column "TwiTalk," we reach out to our readers on Twitter for their opinions. Today's topic: White paint.

We're introducing a new weekly column here at ShelterPop as a way to get you lovely readers involved with, well, the awesomeness of home decor. If you're following us on Twitter, feel free to join along, as we'll ask a weekly question and seek your advice on whatever it is that we're stumped about!

Today's question has left us reeling for years. Everyone seems to have an opinion on the best interior paint brands, but how do you choose the best color (I personally have the hardest time with white!)?

We sought the advice of some of our favorite Twitter followers, and here's what they suggested.

We asked: What is the best white interior paint you've used, and why?

Here's what you can learn from Country Living's clever and cost-saving kitchen renovation.

1. Keep the layout the same
As soon as you start moving the position of gas and plumbing lines the higher your bills will climb.

2. White is right
For kitchens and baths, white is always a foolproof choice -- it looks clean and it makes tight spaces seem more spacious. Plus, it's always a safe color for resale purposes down the road.

3. Keep the cabinets, replace the countertops
If you're blessed with real wood cabinetry, keep them, but replace tired-looking countertops. Here the fresh Vermont soapstone countertops were cut to fit the existing cabinetry and are a major upgrade to the hokey laminate that preceded it.

4. Revive old cabinets.
The owners gave the old cabinets a new life with a fresh coat of paint and new glass-paned doors on the upper cabinets.

5. Fake the details
The addition of crown moldings and designer-looking hardware give the basic kitchen cabinets a high-end look at a minimal cost.

6. Match the architecture of the house
Instead of trying to cram a sleek, modern kitchen into an older, Tudor-style house, the homeowners were true to the house's era.

Five easy ways to dress up an uncovered light bulb

Homeowners spend hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars on light fixtures, shades and covers. However, sometimes, a bare bulb in a simple fixture is beautiful all on its own.

In the early part of the 20th century when electricity was still new and rare, light bulbs actually represented luxury and grandeur, which is why you'll see fixtures with exposed bulbs in historic houses and locations like Grand Central Station in New York.

Don't worry, we're not suggesting you just leave all the bulbs in your house bare -- in many instances a shade is necessary. However, here are five examples of uncovered light bulbs that prove that bare is beautiful.

At right is "The Chandy" a creation of Scott Bodenner, which appeared in the book Craftivity: 40 Projects for the DIY Lifestyle (Harper Paperbacks). Bodenner crafted this bulb cozy from crystals of various sizes and 50 or so 1/4" jump rings.

Below is a simple makeover from the ever-resourceful Anna Dorfman of Door Sixteen. Anna turned ugly, brass sconces with frosted, fluted shades into something modern and fresh. Simply remove the shade, spray paint the sconce and replace your usual bulb with a silver-tipped round glass bulb.

A round-up of ShelterPop's coverage of the New York International Gift Fair, Winter 2010

The New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF) took place in New York last week, and your faithful ShelterPop editors were there to cover the latest trends in the gift, home and tabletop markets. From turquoise to faux vintage to environmentally-sound trends, 2010 is sure to be filled with some exciting new products. Here's a rundown of our complete NYIGF coverage:

Eugenia reported on the best up-and-coming designers at the fair. Among the lines that caught her eye were Bailey Doesn't Bark, Alice Supply Co., Waylande Gregory Studios, Nick Munro, Thorsten van Elten, Scintilla Limited and Jardins de Fleur. Eugenia's full coverage of new and exciting brands is not to be missed (check out the beautiful linens from Scintilla Limited above).

Jane reported on the latest news in kitchen and tabletop trends. The big themes for the new year seemed to be going green with eco-responsible designs and a slew of luxe metallics like those from Alan Lee, Michael Aram and Michael Wainwright.

Don't freak out! There's no need to redo your whole room. Set the vibe with these simple touches from our friends at The Nest.


1. It's true: You might end up on the floor. So make sure there's something super-soft for cushioning.
Sheared Sheepskin Floor Cushion, $159, West Elm

2. Need a little extra warmth? Wrap yourself up in this cozy blanket. Besides, who can say no to pompoms?
Blissliving Home Temi Throw, $95, PillowsandThrows.com

The Source:
MyKnobs.com

The Goods:
What seems like a never-ending aggregator for low-quality hardware is actually a diamond in the rough that's saved me many a headache. With the best selection of cabinet pulls (hands down) and an impressive variety of door knobs, this site is a breath of fresh air amidst a smog-filled and overpriced market of door dressings.

In "Decor by Mood," we tell you how to attain a feeling in your home. Here's how to decorate a charming home.

So you were never the brooding type and charismatic? Well, most of us can only wish for charisma. Yet there's one characteristic that's as easy to infuse into your own home as the ABC's: Charm. Think colorful, bright and floral; the charming aesthetic is easier to achieve than you think.

If you're charming:
You're the gal (or guy!) that everyone loves to bring home to meet the parents. Aunt Laura dotes over you, and you've never had to pay for a parking ticket (even during that whole 70+ mph debacle). Get your home up to speed in the charm department and you'll be an unstoppable force!

Find out how after the jump.