Not Your Grandma’s Apron Strings
Aprons! My grandma wore one every day (of course she cooked from dawn to dusk). Although I don’t cook as much, I still like to protect my clothes from spills and splatters.
I started my career as an interior designer when we finished remodeling our home that was built in the 1890s. I loved the space planning, choosing finishes and decorating every little inch. It was trial and error, and we made mistakes, but I learned a lot along the way. Along with being a learning process, working on our home was also a hands-on project. We did everything ourselves (actually, my husband Tom did all the building and heavy work, I did the fun stuff!). I’ve had the decorating bug ever since I was a little girl, but I wanted to know everything about design, so, as a result I returned to college (Mount Mary) for a second degree in Interior Design.
I’ve been collecting antiques and vintage furnishings forever. My favorite shopping places are flea markets, antique stores and of course, Goodwill. I love DIY projects and saving money by taking an object and re-purposing it into something beautiful and useful. I’m also an amateur photographer, love to travel and study French (J’adore tous ce qui est franҫais)!
Although I love to entertain, I’m not much of a cook. My party philosophy is "if the table looks fantastic, it doesn’t matter what you serve."
My weekly column for Amazing Goodwill and my design blog, Design Coach, are about all things design, living a stylish life and entertaining (like setting a great table). I share DIY projects, decorating and design tips, as well as ideas and secrets.
If you have a specific question for Merri, feel free to email her at askmerri@goodwillsew.com.
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Aprons! My grandma wore one every day (of course she cooked from dawn to dusk). Although I don’t cook as much, I still like to protect my clothes from spills and splatters.
Last month I gave you some ideas for staying on top of the piles of papers that come home from school. To help your kids get (and stay organized) provide a homework table just for them.
Going to college and moving into the dorms is an exciting phase in any teenager’s life. But it doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive if you shop Goodwill. I recently decorated a suite of rooms at the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Interior decorating isn’t complete until artwork is hung. Art and photos are the finishing touches, the bits of personality that represent your style and personality. It’s also the part of decorating that most people struggle with, but there are a few guidelines to consider before you put a hole in the wall.
When it comes to reading, do you prefer actual books or the electronic kind? I love the anticipation of turning the page to see what happens next. But with electronic books I’m never without something new to read. For your next book club meeting, treat your fellow readers to dinner using their favorite titles.
School is almost here and you know what that means. Tons of papers and notes and permission slips and all sorts of things that you need to keep track of. Instead of getting buried under a mountain of notes, set up a system to stay organized.
It’s that time of year, kids going back to school and college students moving into the dorm. Goodwill is a great place to shop for items to furnish a dorm room. Most rooms are rather small, but that’s no reason they can’t represent the person who lives there. You just have to be creative and think outside the proverbial box!
Because we can find everything on the internet, globes have gone the way of the dinosaur. But, they still make interesting decorative items, especially vintage ones.
It’s mid-summer and hopefully, your garden is in full bloom. If you’re between plantings, but still want to work in the garden (besides weeding), try adding accessories. I particularly like to place old chairs among my flowers. They add interest and give height to potted plants.
Remember doilies? Maybe your grandmother crocheted these decorative circles for her coffee table with off-white cotton string. They became popular again when country was the big decorating style in the 1970s.
Flowers are a big part of a wedding. Bouquets add color, texture and contrast to a bridal gown and bridesmaid dresses. They’re also a very expensive part of the décor. One way to save a little money is to make the bouquets yourself. Although silk flowers have improved in recent years, they’re still fake. Why not make your own flowers from recycled clothes found at Goodwill.
When you’re entertaining this summer, don’t think you have to stick with traditional red, white and blue. Try a beach theme, even if you don’t live near water.
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