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Happy Winter Thoughts: Summer Bulbs
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A House Fit for Fred Flintstone
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5 Steps to a Better Bathroom

Posts by Brooke Foster

When she’s not working on ShelterPop (and even when she is), editor Brooke Lea Foster is often daydreaming about how she’ll decorate her first beach house. (Think: shabby chic, modern, gauzy linens and lots of beach glass!) A former Homes editor at The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, Brooke credits her love of all things design to her mother, who dragged her to one too many antique stores and craft fairs growing up. After renovating a Craftsman bungalow and designing her dream kitchen two years ago, Brooke, her husband, John, and their mutt, Sadie, sold their house and moved to Manhattan. This could explain her latest obsession: how to live better in small spaces.

Decorating Your Bedroom for a Good Night's Sleep

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Jan 12th 2010 2:43PM

Snuggle up to this fact: You'll spend one-third of your life sleeping, which means you'll spend one-third of your life in your bedroom.

So why do we pay this space so little attention? Bedrooms are often the last room in our homes to be decorated, say designers, since they're not "public" spaces. And they're often given short shrift. Many of us fill our bedrooms with items that have little to do with sleep or serenity. Think: treadmill, laptop computer on the nightstand, television.

Yet bedrooms are probably the most important room in the home to focus on: They hold the key to a good night's sleep.

"Our bedrooms should be a refuge from all the cares of the day," says Rebecca Wilson, an interior designer based in Boston. In other words, you should feel relaxed from the moment you step inside.

Anything from clutter to loud color can cause unnecessary stress, which can lead to hours of insomnia. Relaxation starts with wise decor choices. So we put together a fool-proof list of 10 things you can do today to up your Zzz's.

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Decor for Better Sleep

Bedrooms are probably the most important room in the home to focus on: They hold the key to a good night's sleep. Yet they're often the last room we decorate. Here's a 10 step guide to making smarter decorating choices to help you get a good night's sleep.

Decor for Better Sleep

Forget those heavily patterned Marrimekko sheets. They might look stylish, but it's possible that they could stimulate your brain and stand in the way of a peaceful sleep. "Heavy patterns are like bold colors," says Austin Handler, a decorator based in New York's glitzy Hamptons. "They're not going to be conducive to a feeling of serenity." A must for any bed in winter: a chenille throw. Choose a super soft blanket in a soothing accent color and lie it at the foot of your bed to up the snuggle factor. Photo: Living Etc

Decor for Better Sleep

Instead, try dressing your bed in a luxurious set of sheets and one fluffy duvet, and when it comes to throw pillows, remember: less is more. And don't forget what lies beneath. Your mattress is probably the most important piece of furniture you will buy. Check it yearly to make sure it's in good condition. Photo: Mabley Handler

Decor for Better Sleep

Handler says it's easy to put form over function in the bedroom. You may love bold colors, but before painting your room canary yellow or hot pink, think about the effect that will have on your psyche. "When you're trying to achieve a serene environment," he says, "you don't always go with what you like. You have to take a step back and think about the desired goal of the room." And while you're at it, say no to mirrors, TVs and windows without curtains or blinds. A good night's sleep requires darkmess. Photo: Flickr, ooh food

Decor for Better Sleep

One of the most soothing colors: green. According to color theorists, green is calming and surrounding yourself with too much of it will make you complacent. Bingo! Just what we want in the bedroom. Handler suggests a color like Benjamin Moore's Misted Green (similar to the color shown here). But any watercolor blue, green or gray will probably have the same desired effect. Photo: House to Home

Decor for Better Sleep

Is your bed high off the ground in a sleigh bed with an extra high mattress, or is it resting low to the floor on a Japanese platform bed? Either way the style of your bed could be getting in the way of a good night's sleep. "The height of your bed plays a huge role in how comfortable your bed is," says Handler. While some people consider higher beds luxurious, others, like Handler, can't imagine sleeping that high off the ground. Go with your own preference for best results. Photo: Pottery Barn

Decor for Better Sleep

While a luxe chair in the bedroom can wind up being the perfect place to drape clothes, it can also serve as a relaxing transition between you and your bed. A spot for you to kick off your shoes, close your eyes and savor a few minutes of personal meditation before undressing and getting into bed. Think of it as a "relaxation destination," says Handler. A bench at the foot of the bed can serve the same purpose as could a vanity or dressing room chair. "Getting into bed in a relaxed state is just as important as getting a good rest," he says. Photo: Sarah Face

Decor for Better Sleep

Granted, if you live in Miami or Malibu, you're going to savor the cool touch of wood or tile floors to your feet when you roll out of bed in the morning. But if you live in the rest of the country, where slippers are more common than palm trees, you're going to appreciate a cozy soft shag area rug underfoot. Be warned: While sisal and jute rugs look nice in the bedroom, their scratchy texture may be a buzz kill when it comes to stepping into bed at night. Photo: Flickr, sparklerawk

Decor for Better Sleep

Many of us associate a few rows of throw pillows and layers of sheets, blankets and comforters with a luxurious bed. While Pottery Barn makes us want to own every item shown enveloping beds in their catalog, it shouldn't be work to get into bed, says Handler. He points to the scene in "Along Came Polly" when Ben Stiller gets so tired of taking all of the throw pillows off his bed every night that he ends up stabbing them in an act of liberation. "I threw away all your little throw pillows," Stiller's character tells his ex-wife, Debra Messing. "Yea. Cos' throw pillows suck. They serve no purpose. They're purely decorative." Coming to bed is supposed to be about winding down, but if you're stuck "creating these mini-systems, you're creating more work for yourself," says Handler. Photo: Sweet Home Style

Decor for Better Sleep

Many of us have trouble sleeping if there's too much artificial light pouring through our windows at night – or too much sunlight coming in at the crack of dawn in the morning. The easiest solution – curtains or roman shades that block out the light. But don't head out for thick velour drapes just yet. Handler says you can buy any curtains you think will have the most calming effect aesthetically, even gauzy ones – as long as you back them with blackout lining. "Don't feel like you're limited by picking the heaviest fabric," he says. Photo: Flickr, coco+kelley

Decor for Better Sleep

Bedroom, Your Home

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Decorating a Master Bedroom that Reflects Both of You

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Jan 12th 2010 2:34PM

My husband, John, and I often see eye-to-eye when it comes to decorating our master bedroom -- but that's mostly because he's pretty agreeable with my tastes. He didn't have an issue when I recently picked out a lavender toile duvet set at Pottery Barn, and he's never complained that our bedroom furniture is farmhouse white.

But what he does hate is our bed frame. It's an aging wicker headboard and foot board that I've owned since college, and while I know it's not the nicest piece of furniture we own, I can't seem to part with it. To me, it says cozy. To him, it's as feminine as a maxi pad. If it were up to him, we'd be sleeping in a dark mahogany sleigh bed.

Whenever we move into a new apartment, which we're getting ready to do in a few weeks, he pounces on the topic. "Can I finally pick out a new bed?" he'll ask.

I think I'm getting closer to budging.

After all, a master bedroom should really be a reflection of both your tastes, says Sherry Petersik, designer and blogger at Young House Love. "It's your area, where both of you retreat to," she says. "When you take the time to invest in a bedroom together, it seems like you're investing in your relationship. It shows dedication to one another and your time together spent privately."

But coming up with a decorating scheme that reflects both of you can be challenging. Often a couple can't see eye-to-eye on, say, furniture style or color scheme. She wants floral curtains and pale pink nightstands. He wants a tall chest of black drawers and a mahogany trunk at the foot of the bed. So what gives?

Well, chances are that if you married this guy, you must have more in common than you think. The trick is finding items you both love – and making some critical compromises along the way. "Think of it as an olive branch to each other," says Sherry.

Here's a 9 step plan to help you decorate a room that is as much his as it is yours – a master bedroom that you both can feel good about.

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Decorating a Bedroom for Two

You love each other, but do you love your master bedroom? Since the bedroom should really reflect both of you, we came up with tips on how to make the space special -- without skimping on either of your tastes.

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

When a couple gets stuck decorating their bedroom, Sherry Petersik, who blogs about design at Young House Love, will send them to the art store for inspiration. She'll tell them to find one painting or photograph that they both can agree on. Then she'll encourage them to build the design around the painting. "You have to start somewhere, anywhere," she says. "Maybe it's not a painting. Maybe it's a chair in your living room or a movie print that you both love. Just find something for inspiration." It usually helps grease the wheels and get couples ready for making choices together.

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

Rebecca Wilson, an interior designer based in Boston, says it's essential that a couple begin with a blank slate when redecorating their bedroom. "Many of my clients let clutter accumulate," she says. "They have exercise equipment in the corner or bills piled up on a desk." Clean out everything, then come up with fresh ideas for accents that mean something to both of you. Says Rebecca: "Something as simple as putting family photos in simple silver frames and grouping them together can give the room a cohesive, less cluttered feel."

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

The easiest way to do this: Avoid extremes, says Rebecca. Count out dark leather furnishings and anything printed with bows and flowers. When it comes to decorating for both of you, you want to be fair. "If you absolutely love floral," says Sherry, "you can interject them in throw pillows, a lampshade with a touch of pink or even by reupholstering your vanity seat." It's pretty emasculating to make your husband climb into a bed covered in pink daisies every night, she says.

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

Sherry and her husband's master bedroom (shown here) is a perfect example of a room that celebrates both of them. She prefers soft and girly things, he loves nature and geometric prints. So they incorporated both. Nature is represented in the jute rug underfoot and the plant that's helping to purify the air. While her hubby gets his geometric fix in the bedding, Sherry says they chose that bedding in a soft blue because it still felt girly to her. She injected large billowy curtains and a brown chunky mirror. When put together, the room is a true reflection of the both of them. "We love it in there," she says.

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

If you're having trouble agreeing, offer up a compromise. You choose the curtains and let him choose the rug. You can pretty much predict what he's going to pick anyway: a brown neutral. "Most of us can live with a nice brown neutral rug," says Sherry. "You don't need a pink or white rug."

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

"The great thing about paint is that you can mess it up and for $20 you can fix it with a new coat," says Sherry. In other words, experiment. If he's leaning toward chocolate, but you can't imagine anything but lavender, why not try both?

The key to choosing a paint color that will work for both of you is in the undertones. Make sure that whatever color you choose is the "muddy" or toned down version with lots of gray. What do I mean? See purple paint shown here. "Imagine your favorite shade of lavender – then dump a bunch of gray into it," says Sherry. "It becomes a soft neutral tone with a hint of lavender." Then both husband and wife get what they want. Photo: Flickr, reebob

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

You and your significant other get into bed, and both of you forget to turn out the light. Who's going to get up and turn it off? "It will start a war," jokes Sherry. "There's nothing more annoying than having to get out of bed." If you both have a sconce or table lamp next to you, it's easy to lean over and turn your individual light out. Crisis averted.

Another idea: Light your room with dimmers. Dimmers can help set the romantic mood, and it's often easy to agree on how bright or dark you want a room to be before bed. "It's critical to making a bedroom calm and inviting," she says. "This small luxury can make all the difference in how two people feel about the shared space." Photo: Flickr, dansays

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

If you're unsure what that means, here's a primer: tans layered with creams paired with chocolate furniture. (This is what Sherry did in her bedroom, also shown left.) Then you can throw an accent color on the wall or incorporate a splash of color in your throw pillows. If you're tired of creams and chocolates, try navy and gray tones. "The walls could be pewter gray with a couple of navy touches and pops of white or even raspberry," says Sherry. "It would look very sophisticated."

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

Gender-netural art is just as important as anything else on this list; an oversized print of Georgia O'Keefe's Jack in the Pulpit or a framed print of a Heman character (shown here) is probably not the best choice. Black and white photographs or abstract art are good compromises. Both can usually speak to both genders. "Black and white photographs is like painting the walls tan," says Sherry. "They're so neutral."

Decorating a Bedroom for Two

Bedroom, Your Home

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Inside the Obamas' Hawaiian Vacation Home

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 30th 2009 2:00PM

Ever wonder where the First Family vacations? Well, our friends over at Housing Watch have some really cool exclusive pics of the Hawaiian compound where the Obamas are spending the holidays. Don't be fooled by the property's modest look -- The photos were taken before the house was given a facelift that increased its value by about $5 million. Wowza! The home is in Kailua on the island of Oahu.

Last time they were in Hawaii, the First Family stayed in this gorgeous vacation home. Check out their recent rental and the previous one...Which do you like better? I think I prefer the older one.

Photo: Brendan Lane Larson

Celebs, Famous Homes, Celebrity Homes

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Put Your Home on an Energy Diet -- and Save

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 15th 2009 10:10AM

energy diet Photo: Flickr, ClaireGren

When you get fat, you go on a diet, right? Well, with winter on the way, there's a good chance that your home's heating and cooling bills are about to get a bit fat as well. The solution? Put your home on an energy diet. Just like you'd go the gym to work out, ahem, problem areas of your body, let's work on the problem areas of your home and reduce your energy consumption.

To make it easy, we came up with a room-by-room cost cutting approach. You'd be surprised at how easy it can be to save big.

And you may even get some help paying for these energy upgrades. Advisers to President Obama are currently working on a "cash for caulkers" program as part of a larger jobs program intended to put people back to work, particularly contractors. To entice people to hire contractors, the program would reimburse homeowners 50 percent on their energy-efficiency investments. It's also a way for the nation to reduce its energy consumption dramatically.

According to a study by McKinsey and Company, a nationwide weatherization of homes could reduce energy use by 23 percent in the coming decade.

But don't worry, we know it's your bottom line that matters most. So we talked to experts at Lennox, a home heating and cooling company, to help us get you on track. Click our gallery below to learn how to save in every room in your home.

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Heres How to Put Your Home on a Diet

Take an energy audit of your doors and windows, especially if they're on the older side. Do you feel a cool breeze leaking in? Is the caulking around your windows cracking or peeling? "Then you may want to buy yourself a $2 tube of caulk and seal these leaks," says Bill Cunningham, a heating and cooling expert at Lennox. "That will save you 2 to 5 percent on your energy bills." Another trick: Open the shades and curtains; you'd be surprised how much the sun can heat up your home.

Getty Images

Before the first snow, walk around the perimeter of your home and examine the exterior walls for cracks. You should pay particular attention to areas where brick or siding fits against another material, since it can be easy to miss hidden cracks. Cunningham suggests an easy way to identify leaks: Hold a candle near the spot where you suspect there may be a leak. If the flame dances, you know you're in trouble. Still, don't fret. It's an easy fix. Again, just seal the leaks with caulks or weather stripping.

Flickr, The Bees

A recent survey of heating and cooling contractors nationwide revealed that 58 percent use programmable thermostats. Why? They know that these handy little gadgets control energy use and costs. Heat your home to 70 degrees in winter when you're home, but when you leave the thermostat will turn the heat down. Still, Cunningham says only 70 percent of people who have programmable thermostats use them. Using one on a regular basis leads to dramatic savings, he says.

Flickr, Mark David Zahn

It will cost you on the front end, but there are savings when you install a wood burning stove. Expect to cut your heating bills by about one-quarter to one-half. Plus, if you don't have a fireplace, you'll enjoy this new piece of décor immensely.

jupiterimages

Do you hate the sound of your kitchen faucet dripping? Well, you'll hate it even more when you hear that its sending your money down the drain with it. According to experts at Lennox, "hot water leaking at a rate of one drip per second can waste up to 1,661 gallons of water" per year. It's a fix that the same experts say will save you $35 annually in electricity or natural gas. Another easy way to save on your energy bills: unplug. If you keep your counter free of small appliances, your kitchen will look neater – and you won't be draining unnecessary energy from outlets.

Getty Images

There are numerous energy efficient showerheads on the market today, and experts say they're worth your consideration. Today's low-flow showerheads, which release 2.5 gallons per minute, waste a lot less water. If you couple that upgrade and limit your showers to 10-minutes each day, you'll save about $145 a year on electricity used to heat the water, says Cunningham. "Look for how these little things can really add up," says Cunningham. "It's not just about turning off the lights."

Getty Images

Just like old cars are gas guzzlers, aging furnaces and hot water heaters are energy guzzlers. "Older heating systems typically consume more energy than newer units, which means higher utility bills for homeowners," says Ken Ely, a home heating expert at Lennox. Besides, older units are often repaired more often, an added expense. According to experts, the average lifespan for a heating and cooling system is 12 to 15 years. Even with routine maintenance, your aging equipment is probably increasing your heating bills. If you're not willing to pay for a new furnace, at least change the air filters. Why? Dirty air filters reduce air flow, which means the home heating system has to work harder, which is a bigger drain on your energy bills.

Getty Images

Easy tip: Lower the temperature on your hot water heater from 145 degrees, which used to be standard, to 120 degrees. Cunningham swears you won't notice a difference at all, but you will see savings when you get your next bill, by as much as $36 to $61 each year. Another easy money saver? Wash your clothes in cold water. According to Lennox, you'll save about $40 in fuel that it takes to heat up the water you'd typically wash with – and another $34 each year just by cleaning out your dryer's lint trap, which increases the efficiency.

jupiterimages

If you haven't already, climb into your attic and make sure that you have insulation up there. This sounds like a no brainer; what house doesn't have insulation? You'd be surprised. I lived in my house for two years before we had reason to climb into the attic. That's when we noticed we didn't have any insulation. No wonder why our heating bills were so high.

The good news? It's one of the easiest way to put your home on an energy diet. "You can blow it in yourself," says Cunningham, referring to loose-fill insulation. "Just pick it up at Home Depot."

jupiterimages

This is an obvious one: Not only will replacing traditional bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs save you money -- about $30 over the bulb's lifetime -- but it uses 75 percent less energy. These bulbs also last 10 times longer, says Energy Star.

Cassandra Hubbart, AOL

Green Design, Solutions, Your Home, Projects, Design, etc

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Monday Chuckle: Adorable Dog as Christmas Decor

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 14th 2009 11:59AM

dog as decor Photo: cwakulat, Flickr

All I want for Christmas is this little dog.

Seriously. How cute is he?

I don't know this dog, mind you -- I just spotted him on Flickr, and I have to say I'm sort of in love.

I'm not sure if wrapping your dog in Christmas lights is safe for more than a few minutes, but this pic is so irresistible that I had to post.

Enjoy!

Decorating, Fun Stuff, Holidays

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Gwyneth Paltrow Will Never Be the Next Martha - No Matter How Hard She Tries

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 10th 2009 12:01PM

Photo: Getty Images

At this point, who hasn't made fun of Gwyneth Paltrow's lifestyle website GOOP?

The Huffington Post has called her lifestyle tips, on everything from where to stay while traveling to how to prepare a healthy meal, "painfully, ridiculously obvious," while Esquire snickered that following her regimen "wasn't much fun" and made the writer "quite a bit poorer." In Vanity Fair's September issue, writer Craig Brown spoofs the actress' secrets of inner happiness: "At one end of the room the kids are crying out for you to teach them how to make that truly great detox teriyaki salad with miso-nettle dressing. At the other end of the room there's a new movie script sent to you by the cuddly and awesome director Sam Mendes...Meanwhile, you are desperately trying to get your butt in great shape while nourishing your inner aspect by learning how to fold napkins in a way that will make them more ecologically sustainable."

Critics can pan Gwynnie all they want, but she – and GOOP (didn't she realize that her initials sounded like POOP?) – are here to stay. Gwyneth told a People reporter in July that the site, whose purpose is to "nourish the inner aspect," was a "big success." "It's crazy...crazy!" she bragged. "I just love it. Corporate America is knocking at my door."

And she's knocking on theirs. Despite reports that Gwyneth was overheard squashing talk of her wanting to become the next Martha Stewart, her actions seem to suggest anything but. Musician husband Chris Martin reportedly calls her business meetings, "the Martha meetings." She's working on a line of lifestyle products, she offers tips on green living and home design, she's toured Spain with Mario Batali for a PBS series and book, she's added cooking videos to her site and she sold a cookbook of family recipes entitled "My Father's Daughter" to Grand Central Publishing this year, set to be released in the fall of 2010. "People ask me, 'What is it? What are you doing?' And I don't know. I did it, am doing it...and I love doing it...I have all of this great information. It's just a gift," she has said.

In her most recent newsletter, Gwyneth shared her gift list with readers. She suggested personalized melamine plates by Em Tanner, which she says "quickly became a colorful basic in my kitchen this year," as well as one-of-a-kind framed prints she found on a shopping trip in Park Slope, Brooklyn. "What better way to show someone your love this gift-giving season than by giving a personalized present? With just a little forethought and organization, you can do something really special. Here is a list of fantastic places to take your Christmas/Chanukah up a notch," she writes.

This certainly sounds like someone building a brand – catch her warm and friendly tone -- and really, why shouldn't she control her own image? So often a celebrity is reflected through the prism of publicists, paparazzi and glossy magazine stories. But the internet allows celebrities to communicate directly with fans, albeit behind the safety of a Twitter account or blog. And if Gwyneth gets extreme pleasure from being an uber-wealthy, jetsetting homemaker, why shouldn't she share what she's learned on her terms, rather than giving up information to editors to run in their own publications?

Still, we had one burning question: if Gwyneth really is trying to be the next Martha Stewart, could she pull it off?

Celebs, Design, etc, News & Trends

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The White House Christmas Tree Through the Years

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 2nd 2009 2:30PM

It's Christmas at the White House -- and there's no better way to mark the beginning of the holiday season than the lighting of the White House Christmas Tree. Not to be confused with the National Christmas Tree, which the President lights on the White House ellipse every year, the White House Christmas Tree is the First Family's official tree. It's typically positioned in the Blue Room, a public space for all White House visitors to see.

First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the 2009 White House Christmas Tree this morning. The theme is "Reflect, Rejoice and Renew," and the tree will feature over 800 ornaments re-decorated by 60 American communities, celebrating local monuments and institutions. There are ornaments featuring the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore as well as some lesser known national landmarks.

It's tradition that the First Lady chooses the theme of each year's tree. It's never decorated with religious ornaments, instead it's often adorned with a variety of secular ornaments, like bird figurines, historic homes, musical instruments, Victorian dolls, even Wilbur the Pig. Last year, First Lady Laura Bush's "A Red, White and Blue Christmas," tree was hung with over 350 ornaments hand-decorated by artists from around the country. The White House announced, "Each ornament was specially designed to characterize the unique, patriotic spirit of the artist's state, district or territory." (One of the ornaments, designed by Seattle artist Deborah Lawrence, was reportedly left off the tree, since it was emblazoned with: "Impeach Bush.")

While waiting for First Lady Michelle Obama to unveil this year's tree, which arrived at the White House from West Virginia the day after Thanksgiving, we decided to take a look at White House trees of Christmas past. From the Kennedys to the Reagans, here's a look at the official White House Christmas Tree through the years.

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White House Christmas Trees

The White House Christmas Tree is the official tree of the President and First Lady. While the first White House Christmas Tree was displayed at the White House in the 19th century, it was President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy that put the tree in the Blue Room, a public space for visitors to see. Here, President Kennedy and First Lady Jackie Kennedy are pictured together in front of their ornately decorated tree a few weeks before Christmas in 1962.

Bentley Archive, Popperfoto/Getty Images

The theme of the Christmas tree decorations is chosen by the First Lady. In 1974, First Lady Betty Ford (shown here) asked Appalachian women and senior citizens to make the ornaments by hand. The tree, a Concolor Fir, came from Michigan.

Pictorial Parade, Hulton Archive/Getty Images

First Lady Rosalynn Carter (shown) chose an antique toy theme in 1978, decorating the Veitch Fir tree with Victorian dolls and miniature furniture borrowed from the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum. Here, she holds one of the dolls and poses in front of the tree in the Blue Room at the White House in 1978.

Pictorial Parade, Hulton Archive/Getty Images

American President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan decorated their first White House Christmas Tree with ornaments loaned by the Museum of American Folk Art. In subsequent years, they had residents from the drug treatment program, Second Genesis, make the ornaments. In this photo, the former President and First Lady stand in front of a tree in their personal living quarters.

Bill Fitzpatrick, White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

Hoping to promote family literacy, First Lady Barbara Bush chose to decorate this 18-foot Pennsylvania Fraser fir with dolls depicting characters from children's books. President George Bush and Barbara pose in front of the tree in 1989.

David Valdez, White House/Time Life Pictures/Getty Images

For her second White House Christmas Tree, which went up in 1994, First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton asked art students to create ornaments. The tree, a Blue Spruce, was brought to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue from Missouri.

Consolidated News Pictures/Getty Images

Two years later, First Lady Clinton chose a more traditional theme: "The Nutracker Suite." She asked woodworkers and ballet companies to contribute ornaments. The tree, a Colorado Blue Spruce, came from Ohio.

Joyce Naltchay, AFP/Getty Images

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, First Lady Laura Bush urged all Americans to find comfort in family and home. And familiar places. Calling her theme "Home for the Holidays," she decorated the White House Christmas Tree with artist-made miniature replicas of historic houses from around the country.

Mike Theiler, Getty Images

In 2005 First Lady Laura Bush's theme was "All Things Bright and Beautiful." White lilies and crystal spheres covered the Christmas tree, casting a twinkly glow over the Blue Room.

Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images

A closer look at the 2005 White House Christmas Tree.

Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

Celebs, Famous Homes, Fun Stuff, Holidays, Celebrity Homes

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Kendra Wilkinson Decorates the Nursery (And We Love It!)

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 2nd 2009 11:15AM

kendra wilkinson baby nursery Photo: OutOfSightMedia/BuzzFoto/FilmMagic

Kendra Wilkinson proves that even naughty girls make doting mommies.

The former E! reality star of "The Girls Next Door," who landed her own reality show "Kendra" last June and is due with her first child on Christmas Day, has finished decorating her soon-to-be baby boy's nursery. Kendra, 24, and her husband, NFL player Hank Baskett, 27, who recently moved to Carmel, Indiana after he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, are nesting -- and they let us peek inside their darling nursery.

The space is bright and white with dark wood floors and simple accents. They splurged on the furnishings, choosing the Bellini Vanessa crib in mahogany as well as the mahogany Cottage Series 3 drawer/1 door dresser and the Bellini slide top changing table. "I think dark cherry wood is good for a boy," Kendra told US Weekly.

Photo: US Weekly

Celebs, Famous Homes, Celebrity Homes

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Bizarre Home Exteriors: Be Thankful These Aren't Your Neighbors

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Dec 1st 2009 2:00PM

You think your neighbor's house is hideous? Well, you may feel a bit better after you click through our gallery of some of the weirdest home exteriors in the world. The owners of these spaces didn't think twice about exerting their strange (and sometimes wildly creative) visions on to their home -- no matter what their neighbors say. Don't miss the "Porcelain House" -- a home built from 400 million porcelain fragments -- or the German building that has city officials demanding it be repainted.

And next time you walk out your front door and roll your eyes at your neighbor's disastrous front yard, you can breathe a sigh of relief. At least their house doesn't look like this...

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Bizarre Home Exteriors

People who live in the nation's capital may be more patriotic than most, but these homeowners in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. wanted everyone to know just how much they love Uncle Sam. The photograph was taken in October 2001, perhaps an ode to national unity felt after 9/11.

Alex Wong, Getty Images

Most of the homes in this Sacramento over-55 community are muted shades of stone, beige or brown. But one homeowner wanted to exert his wild streak by painting his house a bright green. Is it an ode to Kermit the Frog or split pea soup or the Jolly Green Giant? It's unclear, but if you don't live next door, it's pretty cool.

jovino, Flickr

Cheers! At the Farm Pub in Bristol, England, sip your beers outside among ducks and cows and lots of flowers -- painted ones, that is. According to the Farm Pub's website, the "building has been beautifully sprayed by Graffiti artists, the garden area has been returfed, and we have a large covered and heated smoking area on the patio."

Unity., Flickr

Architect Peter Kaschnig thought it would be interesting to paint this Austrian house a vibrant royal blue both inside and out. Doesn't it look like a lego? Maybe that's why, despite its color, this home doesn't bring on the blues. It's pure playfulness.

annia316, Flickr

Located in a gentrifying neighborhood of the nation's capital, this homeowner decided to treat his home's exterior like a painting -- and the more color, the better. Considering this is a very diverse part of the city, I wouldn't be surprised if the colors matched the flag of the occupant's home country. See more pics.

inked78, Flickr

This French-styled house, built by a Chinese collector in November 2008 in Tianjin, China, was constructed using 400 million porcelain fragments, 5,000 ancient vases, 4,000 antique china dishes and bowls, over 20 tons of crystalline rocks and agate and 400 white marble stone carvings. It's open to the public as a museum, and as of November 2008, it was worth over $65 million.

China Photos, Getty Images

Purple is the hot color in decor and fashion right now. Will the craze extend to houses? This San Francisco Victorian looks positively perky in the hue.

Jeremy Brooks, Flickr

Imagine buying a building, renovating it into your dream property, and then the local city board tells you it's "too colorful" and demands you re-paint it. Well, that's what happened to this Bavaria, Germany resident. City officials said that painting the exterior walls like this, even if designed by an artist, was an act of defacement. I wonder if in the U.S. the homeowner could argue that the order somehow violated his freedom of speech -- or expression.

DPA/ZUMA Press

A close-up view of the colors. It is pretty ugly.

DPA/ZUMA Press

There aren't any windows in the front of this Coquitlam, Canada home. Still, it gets plenty of light; the entire back of the home is just windows.

hradcanska, Flickr

Decorating, Color, Famous Homes, Design, etc, Architecture, Cool Homes

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The White House Christmas Tree, Oprah and the Obamas

by Brooke Foster (Subscribe to Brooke Foster's posts)
posted Nov 30th 2009 2:35PM

white house christmas tree michelle obama First Lady Michelle Obama and her girls greet this year's White House Christmas Tree. Photo: Olivier Douliery, Abaca Press/MCT

First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha welcomed their first White House Christmas Tree to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue last Friday. The Douglas fir, 18 ½ feet tall and 12 feet wide, was handpicked by the White House Chief Usher at a Shepherdstown, West Virginia farm.

The tree arrived at the White House in a carriage pulled by two Belgian draft horses with red Christmas bows tied to their tails. It will be decorated by volunteers in the White House's oval-shaped Blue Room, a public space, so tourists visiting the White House can admire the tree, a tradition that started with Jacqueline Kennedy.

Those of us who can't get to Washington this holiday season can still take part in the festivities. Daytime talk show queen Oprah Winfrey is visiting the White House to film a behind-the-scenes look at the First Family preparing for the holiday for a special: "Christmas at the White House: A Primetime Special," airing on ABC, Sunday, December 13 at 10pm. In addition to the promise of insider holiday footage, she will also interview the President and First Lady, and take a tour of the White House.

oprah white house obama First Lady Michelle Obama and Oprah in October. Photo: Getty Images

But the real stars of this year's White House Christmas may be Eric and Gloria Sundback, the 80-something Christmas tree growers who delivered the tree to the Obamas last week. "It's big enough for Sasha to climb in," Eric Sundback joked when the tree pulled up.

The Sundbacks have been growing trees since the 1950s, and they planted this year's White House Christmas Tree in 1996. Their trees have been chosen for the White House more often than those of any other grower; they sent two of their trees to the White House during the Carter administration and one to the Reagan family.

They don't get too sentimental about chopping down a tree they've been pruning for over a decade. "I always look at it as, if I was a tree, would I rather be a Christmas tree, or would I rather be on a roll in your bathroom?" Gloria, 83, told the AARP Bulletin.

Good point.