Recently, I had a realtor contact me who deals with investment properties but had been unsuccessful moving this particular home for over a year. One step through the door and I knew why…it had a case of the “uglies”. With the main culprit being a blue and white checkered ceramic tile floor that, because of budget, was going nowhere!

Now, I don’t know if you’ve ever been hired by someone in your own field…holy cow that can be challenging….It’s like a doctor being a patient! He recognized he needed help, but I was met with push back at my suggestions on how to minimize the “ugly”. Enter “decorator Kathy” along with my associate Sam and her flair for design. We collaberated on how to transform this home by minimizing THAT floor and updating the kitchen and master bathroom on a $2000 budget.

Choosing the right paint tones, inexpensive backsplash, discount counter tops along with a few light fixture updates and replacing a plate glass mirror with framed mirrors, resulted in this home being our Cinderella story of the month. Multiple contracts within 2 days in the midst of a snowstorm is proof positive that simple changes can make all the difference. Tell us how you fix the “uglies”!

Urban Outfitters online-only Modern Chair is now on sale for $299. Also available in grey, orange and yellow.

Apparently, when it comes to Halloween ideas, I should stop posting to this blog and just direct you to MarthaStewart.com. I get her Halloween issue every year, and yet I keep finding new ideas on her site. Example: this creepy centerpiece. Totally easy, and – bonus – you get an excuse to buy fresh flowers.

I am the owner of zero nice dishtowels as I always manage to wipe tomato sauce on them. But I may not be able to resist this equestrian themed towel from Anthropologie. $16.

Lovely vintage Bird’s Eye View of Paris pillow cover, $65 at Poppytalk Handmade.

I can’t help but be enchanted by this circus-tent-inspired ceiling treatment. In this room, it brings on the whimsy without sacrificing sophistication.

Via Pinterest.

Embroidery kits and patterns from Studio M.M.E. Illustrations.

Via Feeling Stitchy.

You won’t need Mary Poppins to charm your kids into cleaning up their rooms anymore. The Storage Bag & Play Mat-in-One makes even tiny toys like Legos easy to put away. Finally, shoving everything under the bed will be perfectly ok. Speaking of which, I’m starting to think I need one of these for the cardigans I leave all over the house.

Well, you won’t be able to cut the cord completely, but with custom colors and patterns, at least you won’t have to hide it. See more colorful cords in Earth Sea Warrior’s Etsy store.

Via Remodelista.

Woodpecker scissors from Christopher Raia Studio. $8 at Fab.com.