You remember the lovely bedroom redesign that I did with the help of Membership Reward Points from American Express, yes? Well now I am working with them again to host a Twitter Chat with HGTV designer John Gidding. John will be giving tons of advice next Thursday on how to decorate and find creative ways to stretch your budget — just like I did using my points.
John and I will be on Twitter for one hour on Thursday, July 29 at 8:30p.m. EST/ 5:30 p.m. PST (search #AmexHome). John will be answering your home design questions about anything from creating amazing guest spaces to choosing the right colors for your home. He’ll also have plenty of inexpensive ways to get your home ready for sale and ideas for upgrading rooms on a tight budget.
Now, you may have noticed the whole HUGE giveaway thing we’ve got going on here…
How do you enter to win?
Comment on this post with your questions for John and we’ll discuss some of them during our Twitter Chat. By leaving a comment, you’ll be entered to win items like a KitchenAid mixer, a Bissell vacuum, or a set of Cuisinart cookware (all of which can be bought with Membership Rewards points). There will be ten winners in this giveaway! Here are the prizes:
- Cuisinart® 10-Piece Commercial Cookware Set
- Cuisinart GR-4N Griddler
- Krups FBC2 6-slice Convection Toaster Oven
- All-Clad 6.5 Quart Stainless Slow Cooker with Ceramic Insert
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer with Attachment Pack ( Empire Red)
- Wusthof Classic 8-Piece Block Set
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- DeLonghi Esclusivo Magnifica Super Automatic Machine
- Viking® Professional Digital Hand Mixer
- Le Creuset® 7.25 Quart Round French Oven
(All of these items are available on membershiprewards.com.)
This giveaway is open to US residents only, one entry per person. Ten winners will be randomly chosen on July 30 to win one prize each. International readers are welcome to participate in the Twitter Chat and submit questions, but are not eligible to win. Remember you can ask anything about design and home improvements — this is a fun chance to get advice from an HGTV designer!
I know many of you are following me on Twitter @makingitlovely, but you can also follow John @JohnGidding. If you want to get some ideas for home improvement immediately, go to membershiprewards.com/home. And be sure to follow along to #AmexHome with John and I on Twitter next Thursday.
* Update *
Thanks for joining us for the Twitter chat, everybody! Comments (and therefore entries) are now closed. Congratulations to the ten winners: Aimee (aimeeroo), Mim (mimsfam), LeeAnn (leeannhuber), Sara (naturemurph), Sarah (Sarahquail110), Cara, (cara.andersen), Suzy (sayitaintsuzy), Sarah (Pooglit), Devon (devon.cook), and Kc (kcerveny).
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I live in an open floor plan apartment, and I’m stuck with with a giant white popcorn-walled room with beige carpet. How do I liven it up?
I love all types of styles and colors, vintage, comtemporary, retro, romantic, etc. I’m having trouble making them all work together in my home. Any suggestions on how to mix it up while keeping everything complimentary???
My question for John: I have a lot of wallpaper in my home. Is it okay to paint over the wallpaper? If so, is a water based paint okay?
I have a bult in corner “fireplace” in our apartment, it was never a real fireplace, but it did have one of those old gas radiators. I have no idea what to do with the space. I’m baffled. The shelves to display my owl collection well though…but what about the rest?!
I have a late 60s house with mid-century modern style decor. The windows in the house are either sideways sliding and traditional up-down (all are original, not modern) and are square (approx 40×40). I have a very hard time finding curtains that are inexpensive, yet don’t look it; ones that fit the irregular size; and are generically appealing (we intend to sell the house in a couple years). I’ve looked into roman blinds (which seem like they’d be really difficult to keep clean), accordion blinds, wood blinds, and linen curtains — but I’m worried that I’m going to have to spend lots of money for custom sizing. Any advice?
Our master bedroom is tiny and our bed is huge. What kind of bed side tables do you recommend. Or is their an alternative way to give my husband a storage place so he can store his things?
Thanks again for all of your creativity.
How can I determine what my design style is?
Our two-story Money Pit was built in the early 80s. It is Tudor-style, but throughout the major renovation process over the years, we are very slowly transforming it into a French country inspired shabby cottage, mostly DIY. The current stair bannisters are light wood, and I hate them. There is a bannister rail going up the length of the stairs on the wall, and on the other side there is only bannister from where the wall stops down to the foyer floor. Should we replace them with something else (*But what?*) or refinish them? I am at a loss. Thanks!
My husband and I are at odds about what to do in our bedroom. Add a headboard to our bed or hang shelving/art/pictures above the bed? He doesn’t like the thought of something hanging over our head (that could fall). I’d like something more than just a headboard. Please help us find a middle ground..if there is one!
I hate gold-trimmed mirrored closet doors, and they are everywhere in my house. Unfortunately, we need the doors on the closets. How do I improve upon them?
I’m buying my first house, and although it’s not really a fixer-upper, it is outdated and needs some major polish. What are some inexpensive fixes that will have the biggest impact (until I can afford some major remodeling down the road)?
My husband and I are planning on remodeling our kitchen (painting cabinets, removing cabinets and installing floating shelves, changing doors to add glass to them, etc etc). He wants to tile the floor in the kitchen. I want to carry the hardwood from the rest of the house into the kitchen, to keep things flowing nicely.
Any advice? Pros and cons to tile/hardwood in the kitchen? Thanks!
Where can I find a cheap and stylish headboard? or what are some easy DIY ideas to create one?
Book storage/display. What are the best options for that – bookshelves, etc. Some good, reasonably priced ones would make my day. And if they are plain how to dress them up?
I’d like to know some creative, inexpensive ideas for wall art!
I rent an apartment and would love any tips for creating a welcoming space in a TINY bedroom with little to no storage opportunities (read: one closet for the whole house that would better accommodate a mop and broom). I don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on solutions for this temporary living space, but I also don’t enjoy feeling like a squished sardine in a room I’d rather have as an oasis!
I know that adding throw pillows and colorful accessories can add a punch of color/interest to a room. What are some other ideas that can help with this? I finally feel that I have the right paint and right furniture, but am struggling to make my spaces feel “lived-in” and full of personality.
We are expecting our first child in February. I would love to get some tips on arranging/defining/organizing a space for our little one in our one bedroom apartment.
Absolutely amazing giveaway! I would love to hear ideas about organizing in a small space.
What’s one color you always like to infuse into a room?
I love so many different styles. Is it ok to give each room in my home a totally different look, or does it all need to flow?
my sister has a brick fireplace and I would really love to paint it for her to brighten up the room… I was leaning towards white, but not sure what color white to get or if we should go with something that’s completely different? (her walls are an off white/neutral color and her base boards are white)
My bedroom is long and narrow, leaving me with only one option for bed placement against an expansive, blank wall. Do you have some tips for wall art that I could hang above my headbord – keeping in mind that it should be lightweight/secure (to avoid potential injuries during sleep) and should complement rather than overwhelm the small place. In terms of art style, I am a fan of contemporary, vintage, and/or organic pieces.
I’ve been obsessed with turquoise shades for about 2 years now. I’ve found a few that I would like to paint on my bedroom walls. However, I’m afraid it will be too dark for my liking even though the bedding and curtains are white. Do you recommend painting in colors you love or staying neutral with the paint and using accessories to decorate in the stronger colors?
I have three bedrooms in my home. The master, (for my husband and myself), and a room for each of our children; a nine year old boy and one year old girl (so no bed, only a crib). Occasionally I have overnight company and am always loathe to put them in either of these rooms or on the couch. What’s your solution on how to deal with company in a house that’s filled to capacity already. Help!
We just moved into our new house and there is a lot of closet space, but a lack of shelving. How do I organized them to maximize my storage capabilities?
Thanks!!!
I’m planning a kitchen/dining area renovation, and am stymied on floor choices. We have a concrete slab. the adjoining living room has brazilian cherry engineered flooring, but we don’t really want wood in the kitchen. Tile is practical, but hard on the feet (we do a lot of cooking/baking). I’m leaning towards cork tile, but am wondering about the upkeep, and if its smart in a water-prone area like the kitchen.
What a wonderful giveaway!
I’m in need of a new kitchen floor. So much in need that I have duct tape over a section of the floor! Eeeek! What kind of flooring is affordable & still looks nice? Is it easy enough to install myself or would I need to hire someone?
Our new addition serves as office, family room, and dining room. What is the best way to break up and distinguish these areas while still feeling joined?
How do you decorate a living/common area while keeping things baby/child friendly?
Are there rules on how to arrange furniture in a room? I have a long narrow living/dining/kitchen open floor plan. There is also a corner fireplace in the living room. I can’t seem to get the right configuration. I love everything I have seen you do. :) Thanks!!!!
Half my house has white trim, and half has wood. Is it okay to have mixed trim colors, or do you recommend going all white to make things more seamless? Will white trim go out of style? It seems pretty trendy right now…
I have a rather large hook installed in the ceiling of my rental apartment, in front of a window. I assume it had been used for hanging plants in the past, but I’m not sure I’m okay with a hanging plant with my decor. Any suggestions?
I’ve fallen into the blue-blue-blue thing with my bedroom decor. Deep oceany-teal headboard, light blue linens, blue patterned curtains. I grew up near the beach and like my bedroom to be light and airy, but am resisting adding yet another shade of blue to the walls. Any suggestions that won’t go dark (not that I’m scared of dark) but will still keep it light and airy that are not blue?
And do people actually paint their walls white anymore? :)
Is there an easy way to tell whether a piece of furniture at a thrift store or yard sale is made from real wood or particle board?
*Crossing Fingers*
I would love tips for brightening up a dark bedroom. Due to some really deep eaves, the room doesn’t get as much natural light as I’d wish, but I’d love some ways to keep it from feeling like a cave.
Is there one store that you would love to buy everything from – if you could?
How do you make dog crates attractive? Or at least less ugly? We crate both our (big) dogs and having two of them super visible in our living and dining rooms is a buzzkill to my decoration. Help!
what are your thoughts on painting dark wood trim white?
What type of lightbulbs should I use if I want to acheive a more natural looking light in my living room? (P.S. My living room has NO natural light, so it is all lamps and overhead lighting)
I’m having a color problem. We’re painting over the previous owner’s bad choices one room at a time. We painted the family room, including its high cathedral ceiling, a very deep teal: Duron’s Cote d’Azur. We painted the living room a pale grayish purple: Duron’s Vesper Violet. The two rooms are at opposite ends of the house on a diagonal and not visible from each other. However, now I’m ready to paint the hallway areas that do run into both colors. Can you recommend a color choice? I’d love a pale neutral gray more than a cream, I think, but I’m open to any suggestions.
what is one thing that is always worth splurging on rather than finding an inexpensive alternative?
Do you have any advice for making a tiny bathroom (3′x10′!) appear larger?
What is the one piece of advice you always give to someone when they are starting to decorate a room? Is there something that is just universal about decorating that people need to know or be reminded about?
Our home has little natural light. Can you give me some inexpensive and creative ideas and tips to make a space lighter and brighter when there is not enough natural light?
John,
Curtains? Blinds? Curtains and blinds? We’ve got the big, white, faux wood Home Depot blinds through most of the house now, and I like the way it looks, but am I missing out on a lot of pop and drama by not having curtains too? They are so pricey, yet cheap curtain hardware and curtains are one of those things that really *look* cheap. Help!
What are three great design tips or ideas for making a rental house feel like a home without being able to paint!
what do you recommend for a rug with pets. I want a shag rug, but am afraid that it will get filled with pet hair. we currently have a short black one, and its linty ALWAYS. where can i find the best deal on the nicest area rug
I’d like to know, what paint colors make rooms seem bigger? Are there any colors to avoid when painting a small space?
Thanks!