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.

Sometimes, the most common household items can be used in unexpected ways. Learn what you can use (that you probably already have at home) to fix scratched wood

It's never fun discovering that your beautiful wooden table is marred with a nasty scratch. But let's face it: It happens to the best of us. Whether you're on a budget or just need a quick fix, here are five do-it-now ways to fix scratched wood. Best of all? These solutions feature common items that you likely already have on hand. Let's get started!

1. Oh, Nuts
For scratches that have penetrated beyond the finish, try rubbing a pecan or walnut gently across the surface of the scratch. You'll fill the wood naturally, quickly and cleanly - and the natural oils in the nut will ensure that it lasts.

2. Make It Up
Because it's soft, oil-based and wood colored, eyebrow pencils work wonders at filling in and camouflaging anything from small surface scratches to much deeper ones. Choose a color that most naturally matches the wood, then fill the crack and buff.

3. Pour on the Mayo
If the wood is cracked, and not simply scratched, try a little Mayonnaise. Smooth enough mayonnaise over the crack to fill it, then wipe away the excess and let it sit for a one to three days. The protein and oils in the Mayonnaise will help the wood to swell and will actually fill that crack. When the crack has swelled sufficiently, wipe off any remainder and polish to a shine.

4. Ashes to Ashes
It's hard to believe, but cigarette ashes are the turn to ingredient to repair water rings or spots and surface marks. Make a small paste of ash and water and gently rub into the affected area, then wipe clean. Toothpaste also works in a pinch if you don't happen to have any ashes on hand.

5. Raid the Coloring Cabinet
Manufacturers actually make special wood crayons for this purpose, but why pay extra when you can use what you have on hand? Find a brown crayon around the same shade as your wood and simply color it in. Smooth any excess with a soft cloth and polish to a beautiful, scratch-free shine.

Projects to make with Japanese washi paper masking tape.

If you are a regular reader of craft and design blogs, you have surely heard how Japanese washi paper masking tape has arrived stateside.

Sold stateside as Happytape!, the artful tape has been featured everywhere from Apartment Therapy to Martha Stewart Living -- and everyone is smitten.

(I discovered just how popular it had become when I needed some for a recent photo shoot -- the MoMA Design Store politely informed me they were completely sold out.)

You might think to yourself, "Pretty masking tape, woop-de-doo," and you'd be right to wonder why people couldn't just get by with the standard neutral hue or painter's tape blue.

People aren't excited about Happytape! just because it's pretty, but because you can make beautiful things with it.

Here's a quick round-up of some of our favorite Happy Tape projects on the web:
Jenny of Little Green Notebook knocked our socks off when she created a faux-wallpaper effect in her foyer with Happytape! – and just a month after giving birth! Hello, super woman!

A new line of bright and boldly-patterned textiles launches at NYIGF

One exceptional new line to launch at the New York International Gift Fair was Suki Cheema Home, and like many of the guests in attendance, your ShelterPop editors became instant fans. Suki Cheema Home's booth was filled with irresistible pillows, quilts, rugs, throws, table linens and tea towels, all made in striking, bold prints.

Suki Cheema, a textile designer, designs this line of hand silk-screened fabrics. Looking at his graphic, colorful prints, you can easily see Cheema once worked at Diane von Furstenberg -- right? Cheema says his designs in this first collection are also influenced by his travels to India, and he hopes to have a place-specific theme for each of his future collections.

Cheema describes Suki Cheema Home as a meeting of art, travel and textiles "to be cherished as modern day heirlooms." These fresh patterns were a truly delightful new find -- and Cheema himself a wonderfully friendly and enthusiastic designer. We can't wait to watch this brand grow and evolve!

Want to read more about the New York International Gift Fair?
- Check out the latest from up-and-coming designers
- Explore the wonderful world of turquoise

The best new handmade wares from the New York International Gift Fair

There's just something about the winter that seems to inspire creativity. Walking through the 'Handmade' section of this week's New York International Gift Fair (NYIGF), on the hunt for new handmade wares, made me wonder how many were born on colorless winter days like this one. A good number, I would guess, since what I found was at once cozy and bright and totally clever.

Check out some of this year's thoroughly inspired handmade offerings at the NYIGF:



The design duo behind The Green Glass Co. use reclaimed and recycled glass bottles to make fun housewares like this coat rack (above) and tumblers (below). I also especially liked their bud vases made from bottle necks and sealed to contain water. Coat rack, $72.50 and tumblers, $32.50 for a set of four.