Happy Fat Tuesday! Tonight, the real Bourbon Street will be overflowing with Mardi Gras revelers hungry for beads, Hurricanes and King Cake.

Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Photo by Cosmo Condina; courtesy of NewOrleansOnline.com

But we found another place where Mardi Gras beads are commonplace: a Pennsylvania basement?! Homeowners Penny and Tony needed [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

Happy Fat Tuesday! Tonight, the real Bourbon Street will be overflowing with Mardi Gras revelers hungry for beads, Hurricanes and King Cake.

Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Photo by Cosmo Condina; courtesy of NewOrleansOnline.com

But we found another place where Mardi Gras beads are commonplace: a Pennsylvania basement?! Homeowners Penny and Tony needed more than a pot of gumbo to recreate their weekends in New Orleans. They needed a 3-story, 2,000-square-foot basement replica of Bourbon Street, complete with their own bar, stage and balcony. Now, they can say  “Laissez les bons temps rouler!” 365 days a year. Take a tour now:

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What do you think? Would you like a built-in Bourbon Street for your very own zydeco band, or do you prefer to visit the real thing? 

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By Liz Gray
www.HGTV.com
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Care for a spot of tea? And by spot of tea, I mean a book? Books and tea have always gone together for me, but I mean that in a “I’m going to make a nice pot of genmaicha and cozy up with a Margaret Atwood novel” kind of way. I hadn’t [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

Care for a spot of tea? And by spot of tea, I mean a book? Books and tea have always gone together for me, but I mean that in a “I’m going to make a nice pot of genmaicha and cozy up with a Margaret Atwood novel” kind of way. I hadn’t imagined there would be any other way until I saw this fantastic stacked teacups bookcase from WoodCurve on Etsy.

This design is cute, colorful and practically crying out to be in a kids’ room. And if you’ve got a little Alice in Wonderland fan on your hands, I can’t think of anything more appropriate for creating a zany Mad Hatter’s Tea Party atmosphere. Pinkies up!

[Via: Pinterest]

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By Briana Mowrey
www.HGTV.com
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My grandmother had a homemade growth chart for me on the back of the door that led down to her basement. Of course, she’s 4′ 11″ and I topped out at 5′ 3″, so it’s not a terribly big chart, but I always thought it would be nice to have something a [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

My grandmother had a homemade growth chart for me on the back of the door that led down to her basement. Of course, she’s 4′ 11″ and I topped out at 5′ 3″, so it’s not a terribly big chart, but I always thought it would be nice to have something a little more…official looking than scratchy pen and pencil marks. When I spotted Dear Lillie’s Oversized Ruler Growth Chart, I thought, Yes, that’s more like it!

The chart has a nice handmade feel — it’s hand-stained and hand-stenciled — and as the product description wisely points out, “you can even take it with you when you move!” (I didn’t really think about it, but that’s a good point. If my gram ever moved, I’d want her to take the basement door with her. Not super practical.) I actually like the style of it so much, I’d consider buying one even though I don’t have any kids. And I bet it’d look killer in a classroom. Just saying.

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By Briana Mowrey
www.HGTV.com
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Let me be the first to say that as a city dweller, I don’t know the first thing about raising or caring for chickens. Although I love that it looks like I have stylish coop options should I ever choose to pursue that. Anyway, as I was saying, I don’t know anything [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

Let me be the first to say that as a city dweller, I don’t know the first thing about raising or caring for chickens. Although I love that it looks like I have stylish coop options should I ever choose to pursue that. Anyway, as I was saying, I don’t know anything about raising chickens, save for what I might have picked up from Return to Oz, but I’m not putting any stock in that. (I mean, the chicken talks, so.) However, I do know what I think is lovely and delightful, and this sophisticated chicken coop from The Art of Doing Stuff fits the bill.

The details on this thing are amazing, from the practical (doors locked with magnets for security, pulley and eye hook system to open the door to the run) to the stylish (the lanterns, I can’t even). This swank coop may be the first thing to really make me want to own chickens someday. Although as my fellow blogger Rashon pointed out, it does kinda look like it could be a modern day outhouse, so maybe if the chicken-raising thing doesn’t pan out, I can try building one of those instead?

[Via Pinterest]

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By Briana Mowrey
www.HGTV.com
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Terrariums have been enjoying a renaissance for quite a while now, but I’m not sick of them yet. (Perhaps that’s because, as a confirmed plant serial killer, they may be the only shot I have at keeping anything green alive.) Even if you’re feeling terrarium fatigue, this icosahedron Terra terrarium [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

Terrariums have been enjoying a renaissance for quite a while now, but I’m not sick of them yet. (Perhaps that’s because, as a confirmed plant serial killer, they may be the only shot I have at keeping anything green alive.) Even if you’re feeling terrarium fatigue, this icosahedron Terra terrarium by Fort Standard should revive you.

This nifty terrarium has a few things going for it that many others don’t: cool shape, rustic Hard Maple wood, its own tripod stand and…it spins! And I love the Japanese Fukien Tea Bonsai Tree inside. Its graceful curves are even more pronounced when juxtaposed with the lines and angles of the geometric container. OH, gosh. That just reminded me of the worst math teacher joke of all time. Here, I’ll rephrase it for you. What did the Bonsai inside the icosahedron terrarium say? “Gee, I’m a tree.” (Get it?)

[Via: M Stetson]

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By Briana Mowrey
www.HGTV.com
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When thinking of storage options for your child’s Barbie collection, you’ll want to make sure you include her in the organizing process. That way, she’ll have a sense of ownership and be more likely to keep up the system. One of the most important questions to ask her is how would [...]]]> Read more at www.Blog.Rubbermaid.com

When thinking of storage options for your child’s Barbie collection, you’ll want to make sure you include her in the organizing process. That way, she’ll have a sense of ownership and be more likely to keep up the system. One of the most important questions to ask her is how would she like the clothes and accessories organized. By outfit, color, type of clothing, shape of items?

By Beth Zeigler
www.Blog.Rubbermaid.com
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See that giant TV on the left? It is about to disappear…

Televisions and entertainment centers are often the biggest eyesores in any space, and our bulky, ten-year-old TV was certainly no exception. (Remember spotting it in our living room makeover?) Still, it was functional and I happen to live with a [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

See that giant TV on the left? It is about to disappear…

Televisions and entertainment centers are often the biggest eyesores in any space, and our bulky, ten-year-old TV was certainly no exception. (Remember spotting it in our living room makeover?) Still, it was functional and I happen to live with a man who would marry function if he could. Me? I choose form to a fault.

Poof – bulky TV be gone!

So when it came time to purchase a new TV, we were on the hunt for something that could appease his need for function (specifically in terms of audio/sound quality and picture), and my need for pure, technological beauty.

Gone are those cluttered remotes…

We found a unit with the speakers built into the television, so there’s no need for bulky additions and hanging cables/wires (and you know how I feel about exposed speakers). Even better? The sound quality is insanely good, which makes Mr. Function smile ear-to-ear. And because there’s one single remote that operates the entire system (including our iPod and Blu-Ray player), we can ditch the 12+ remotes that often clutter every living room and bask in the delight of seamless function.

Lovely, yes?

We love how the unit makes our small living room appear much larger now that it’s wall-mounted, and I just adore having extra surface area for my magazines and design books.

Of course, if you’re still stuck with your bulky TV, don’t fret. I’ve got some tips/tricks on how we’ve been camouflaging our unit for over 5 years:

1. Store it. Media storage is key when it comes to most living rooms, and a well-designed credenza is just the ticket to hiding unsightly speakers, remotes, wires and players.
2. Distract it. No, design distractions aren’t always the best option, but it’s better than nothing, right? Try creating a stylish vignette next to any technological eyesores that may be happening in your room. (We did this in our living room makeover and it worked like a charm!)
3. Hide it. If your TV is really cramping your style and you don’t necessarily watch it every day, try hiding a corner unit with a room divider or screen if space allows.
4. Mount it. Many units can be mounted on walls to allow for a more seamless design in the living room. My recommendation? If the unit is a flat-panel, try incorporating a gallery wall around the TV, creating your very own art installation.
5. Love it. Face it; televisions are often a large part of our lives when socializing, enjoying family or simply relaxing. Embrace the function of it all, and don’t fret if you can’t upgrade to a more well-designed unit. After all, in the words of my dear husband: Function first! (I still can’t believe I just typed that.)

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By Erin Loechner
www.HGTV.com
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Last week, I shared photos of my embarrassingly bare bedroom. (Remember that mattress on the floor? I certainly do.)  Since sprucing it up is our first real project, I’ve spent hours upon hours this week holding up paint chips and scouring Pinterest for THE perfect shades. Besides getting a really great arm [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

Last week, I shared photos of my embarrassingly bare bedroom. (Remember that mattress on the floor? I certainly do.)  Since sprucing it up is our first real project, I’ve spent hours upon hours this week holding up paint chips and scouring Pinterest for THE perfect shades. Besides getting a really great arm workout (fan decks can get mighty heavy…), I’ve managed to narrow the field down to two possible palettes.

Our master bathroom has ’50s-era aqua tile that’s not going anywhere anytime soon, so I wanted to incorporate that color into the bedroom palette to create a cohesive look. Overall, I”m looking for a modern natural feel, with flashes of bright colors alongside more muted hues. Which do you prefer?

Palette 1: Energetic Greens
I’m a little obsessed with yellow, so it’s not surprising that this look-at-me hue made into one of my palettes as an accent color. Chartreuse and aqua give this look a vintage feel, while warm neutrals keep it feeling modern.

Pillows via Coastal Living; bedding from Urban Outfitters

Palette 2:  Tangerine Dreams
Tangerine  (Pantone’s color of the year!) and aqua are color wheel opposites, but they’re a classic combination. I love the idea of bringing in a bright orange, vintage leather chair as an accent piece. Soft mocha paint (or a subtly-patterned wallpaper) would make the walls warm and inviting.

Peaches via Laura Vegas; Chair from Rate My Space contributor NYDesignGuy

Which color swatch should I use? Cast your vote in the comments below!

Read Liz’s previous House Diaries posts here and follow her home inspiration board on Pinterest.

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By Liz Gray
www.HGTV.com
Back to Organizers Extraordinaire! Home

I’m a sucker for a nice bathroom. I know a lot of people care more about kitchens or bedrooms or living rooms, but for better or for worse, I’m a bathroom stickler, and it’s been the make-or-break factor in almost all of the apartments I’ve rented. If this gorgeous bathroom by Blanca [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

I’m a sucker for a nice bathroom. I know a lot of people care more about kitchens or bedrooms or living rooms, but for better or for worse, I’m a bathroom stickler, and it’s been the make-or-break factor in almost all of the apartments I’ve rented. If this gorgeous bathroom by Blanca Sanchez of Halo Design Interiors was in a rental, I’d be all, “Where do I sign? Give me the keys!”

The whole space looks clean, calm and inviting — so, pretty much everything you’d want in a bathroom — but the romantic twinkle of the overhead lighting is what pushes this over the top for me. I can imagine spending a lot of time here, relaxing and daydreaming in the tub, and “stargazing” at the celestial patterns and shapes on the ceiling.

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By Briana Mowrey
www.HGTV.com
Back to Organizers Extraordinaire! Home

This tabletop gel fire pit is a great addition to your outdoor space. You can use it to light a staircase or cozy up to it on your patio. The frost-resistant, stainless steel material is lightweight and stands more than 7 inches tall, so it can easily fit on your outdoor table.

Have you used your outdoor fire pit this winter? [...]]]> Read More at www.HGTV.com

This tabletop gel fire pit is a great addition to your outdoor space. You can use it to light a staircase or cozy up to it on your patio. The frost-resistant, stainless steel material is lightweight and stands more than 7 inches tall, so it can easily fit on your outdoor table.

Have you used your outdoor fire pit this winter? Tell us in the comments below.

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By Farima Alavi
www.HGTV.com
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