When we first moved in to the 1920′s home we live in now, we were flat broke; renovations would have to wait. EXCEPT, that is, for the dining room. This was one room that could not wait. We’re a family who lives for entertaining friends and family around the dining room table so I insisted on painting the walls immediately. Down came the hideous red from the previous owners and up went Guilford Green. It’s been there ever since. And, over the course of the past six years, every room around it has been repainted too.

1. Benjamin Moore Guilford Green (HC-116) My dining room, 2. Benjamin Moore Hancock Green (HC-117) When my dear friend Valerie reluctantly moved from downtown New York city to my suburban town, she needed solace. She wanted to wake up every morning to a color that helped her feel right about her new surroundings. We painted her bedroom Hancock Green and immediately she felt calmer and more willing to enjoy the benefits of living on a tree lined street. That’s not to say that she doesn’t miss the city…right,Val? 3. Farrow and Ball Vert de Terre (234) An earthy, sophisticated green. This makes a wonderful color for a study or any room without a great deal of natural light, 4. Sherwin Williams Mesclun Green (7724), 5. Martha Stewart Seedling Green (MS242) Wonderful color for a sun room or a porch. Very soft, 6. Farrow and Ball Bone – The quietest of greens. Sublime in a bedroom with a pale blue velvet headboard. Do you guys have a green that you like to use? – S

I told you I was going to share what’s on my spring wish list this week, so here’s something I’ve been coveting since they hit the Rag & Bone runway last September. I know, these pants are uber trendy. They go against everything GBGP stands for. But, I love them anyway. There’s something about this pattern that reminds me of the clothes I wore as a little girl. Am I the only one feeling nostalgic? I realize these pants are busy—there is a lot going on here—but I think they are fabulous regardless. Unfortunately, at $345 a pair, I won’t be buying them anytime soon. Though something tells me they won’t be flying out of stores…when are the spring sales going to start!? – L

Everywhere we turn these days, another “For Sale” sign pops up in front of a home in our town.  It’s a buyer’s market, for sure, so sellers need to be putting their best foot forward.  My favorite real estate agent advises sellers to make sure their home is “the shiniest apple on the tree.” So, before you put your home on the market, and without blowing tons of cash you may not recoup in the sale, here are 5 easy and cost effective tips to help make your home shine today and every day.

1.    Make it Real:  Don’t take the advice from staging strategists too literally, particularly when it comes to recommending that you remove ALL clutter.  A home should have some personality.  So, take one piece that you love, whether it’s a vase, a pitcher or decorative bowl and create a still life with it in a key location like the kitchen counter-top or on the dining room table.  Add flowers or fruit to bring the decorative object to life.  This is a simple trick, but it can add  warmth and charm to any room.

2.   Add Color:   Make sure that in each room there is one item of color that catches (and pleases) your eye. If your furnishings are otherwise neutral in color, you should consider purchasing (or borrowing) a colorful lamp to add interest and an element of style.  You can find brightly hued lamps, like this one we spotted above, at flea markets and tag sales that are under $100.00. Or, check out the great statement lamps available on Garnethill.com (we especially love the triple gourd lamp). 

3.    Re-Accessorize: This is easy to do and can make a huge difference to buyers, who seem to take a keen interest in bathrooms.  Go to Kohl’s or Target and pick up a set of fresh white hand and bath towels, plus a new bath mat.  Put them away and take them out only when the house is being shown.  And while you’re at it, check out Wal-Mart’s great collection of wastepaper baskets and other accessories for the bathroom. Toothbrushes and cups should be stored away.  A small vase with fresh flowers goes a long way here.

4.    Clean Like a Genie: Before you pay a painter to go crazy touching up every baseboard, door and doorframe, spend a Saturday morning washing the fingerprints and scuffmarks off by hand with a  bucket of warm soapy water, a strong cleanser, and a wet cotton cloth.  You’ll be surprised to find how a good cleaning can be just as effective as an expensive touch-up paint job. We love the smell of Mrs. Meyer’s products. 

5.    Organize:  Especially the Kitchen. I know. This is a drag.  However, people really do look inside the cabinets and drawers. If they’re messy, it’s not appealing.  The Container Store is the best source for drawer organizers. It’ll definitely be worth the time and effort.

Lastly, open all of the windows and let the fresh air in! – S

Every spring, as soon as the weather turns, we immediately head to our closets to do the all important “clothes swap” (fall/winter pieces are stored away in a far away closet or sterilite bin, and our favorite pieces from last spring/summer resume their place in our tiny, jam-packed closets). This year, I was definitely disappointed as I went through last spring’s pickings. Alas, from wear and tear and the occasional stain, only about fifty percent of it is recoverable. So, I’m looking to inject a little excitement into my tired wardrobe in the form of a sundress. How can this glorious weather have you thinking of anything else? This week, I’ll share with you what I’m putting on my spring wish list. Have you had your eye on any one piece recently?

From left, Cynthia Vincent pin-tuck cotton dress $216 (sale price), Diane Von Furstenberg shift dress $326, Jill Stuart amber dress $398.

What’s great about all of these dresses is that they can be dressed up or down. You really can wear them with either flat sandals or with a heel for a night out. The Cynthia Vincent column dress would look especially chic with a studded or embelished skinny belt worn at the waist to give it a little bit of a rock and roll edge. The DVF shift doesn’t require anything more than a great black strappy sandal, and my personal favorite, the Jill Stuart frock, would be divine with any of spring’s chunky brown wedges. – L

We try and celebrate Earth Day everyday, even though yesterday was the “official” day. Today we’re honoring three of our favorite eco-friendly designers and their coolest pieces.  You’ll be as surprised as we were to find that eco-friendly can also be design-friendly.

1.  Canadian interior designer Ami McKay’s Cyrilla daybed comes from her earth-friendly line of furniture called Pure. This incredibly chic daybed (notice the curved legs), is made using all organic and biodegradable materials.  McKay’s pieces are all assembled in Canada (not China!), so less fuel is burned in shipping.

2.  LightenUp Design makes lamps that we love. This one is called the knockout oval lamp.  It’s made of natural clay and coated in eco-friendly, homemade paints & glazes. And, of course, each lamp comes with an energy-saving LED bulb.

3. In2green’s collection of  gorgeous blankets and throws are colorful, modern and made with recycled yarn. Each blanket is created from pre-consumer clippings, cast off during the cut & sew mass production process—think t-shirts.  All of in2green’s throws are soft and incredibly stylish. We especially love their designer collection.

We’ll keep posting on eco-friendly pieces as often as possible.  Do you have a favorite eco-friendly designer?

Mother’s Day is coming (May 10th) and it’s not too early for daughter’s everywhere (yes, Lauren, that means you too) to start figuring out what nice gift or gesture you could bestow upon your wonderful mothers. Below, a few ideas, not that you need them

1. For moms who still prefer snail mail: We fell in love with this whimsical stationary created by fashion designer Gilles Deacon in collaboration with Smythson. Receiving a note on beautiful stationary is such a treat.

2. For all moms: Order flowers from Martha Stewart Flowers (great website, very user friendly). I’m not kidding when I say this is a great service. The bonus is that the flowers arrive in a pretty vessel which you can reuse. The idea of waking to fresh flowers beside my bed in the morning sounds heavenly. Heads up: get your order in early!

3. For techie moms: Fred Flare’s USB tulip hub couldn’t be cuter!

4. For moms inspired by First Lady Michelle Obama’s prolific use of the waist-cinching belt: Wear it with a colorful column dress, or a summery tunic top and cropped pants.

5. For moms on the go: Tocca’s new solid Brigitte perfume (after Ms Bardot). It comes in a pretty little gold box inspired by Italian candies. Perfect for travel or when you just want to freshen up between daytime and evening. Perfume can be difficult to buy for someone else, but this one is subtle enough that I think any woman can appreciate it.

6. For me, I mean, moms who like to travel: Find a great weekend hotel deal on TripAdvisor.com and ask your daughter to babysit for her adorable eight year-old brother (below, left). This includes feeding him three meals a day and attending approximately two Little League baseball games in the blazing sun.

And as for you mom, a.k.a. Kaye, I’m coming to see you on Cape Cod soon. We can hang out on the porch and talk about how much you love your new Kindle! – S