These days, as budgets force us to stay closer to home and “staycations” are the new norm, we need room porn more than ever! We spotted an item about this boutique hotel in Time’s Style & Design issue and it immediately had us dreaming of a getaway. It’s the Olde Belle in Berkshire, UK and the building dates back to 1135. Luckily the decor is NOT that old. In fact, interior designer Ilse Crawford recently did an update. Throughout the rooms you’ll find touches of tweed, rustic wood, and homespun wool. We’re mildly obsessed with that tiny, red portable radio in the photo above — let us know if you have any hints on where to find it. In the meantime, we are hunting. See more gorgeous photos of Olde Belle here (Oh, and if you’re interested, the rooms are about $550 a night).

I’ve got serious spring fever. I can’t wait to pick up some fresh herbs for my windowsill garden and a new plant or two for my fire escape. I haven’t quite developed my green thumb yet, so I think I’ll go for some heartier cacti or succulents. I’ve been browsing the site for LA-based store Living Arrangements for inspiration. If I lived in the LA area, I could definitely see myself buying their potted succulents as housewarming gifts and birthday presents for my friends. The arrangements start at around $40 and include a “care card” and local delivery. My favorites are the ones in the vintage coffee cans. I’m definitely stealing this idea! — Erica P.

Ever since we posted a photo of Holly Becker’s German bathroom, I’ve been wanting that White Devil shower curtain. But even now that you can find it for less, at around $99 it’s still out of our price range. In my searches for ruffled shower curtains, however, I have found a reasonable facsimile of the $212 ruffled shower curtain by Ann Gish, bottom photo above. At $30, the Ruffles shower curtain at Target, top two photos, is more our speed, though I haven’t seen it in person to judge — have you? Now, has anyone found a version of the White Devil shower curtain that I can afford? –Mary T.

Some days it feels like all I do are the dishes (except of course, on the days when it feels like all I do is the laundry, but I digress). Which is why a little something like this mushroom scrubber from Loofah-Art makes my day. It’s made of natural fibers that won’t scratch delicate surfaces, but it’s tough enough to get an overcooked omelet off an old pan. Made in India by sustainable farming efforts, the Loofah Scrubbers come in many shapes and colors including fruits, insects, party themes, and veggies. Click here to read more about this eco-friendly kitchen staple. About $4 each. — Angela M.

With all my web browsing and online shopping, I’m not sure why I never noticed Target’s Red Hot Shop before. Each month, Target curates a collection of items they describe as “chic, unique and sometimes offbeat.” On this month’s list, I’m loving the bright pink Baroque Frame, $19.99. I think it would be especially cool to fill it with one of my old black & white photos from my grandmother. Maybe it’s just spring fever, but I’d also love to pick up the Sassafras Paint Your Own Birdhouse — my fire escape could use a little sprucing up! It doesn’t end there, folks. I’m eyeing the Triple Hook-Up Strip, the Fred Water Logged Watering Can, AND the Il Duomo Lingerie Bag Set, too! –Erica P.

Ready to get happy? Check out this new artwork from Blanca Gomez just in at the Shiny Squirrel — so colorful, even the falling rain is cheerful. Each limited edition, signed print is 8″ x 11.5″ for just $30. That’s something to smile about.

To get you ready for the luckiest holiday of the year tomorrow, we’re doing RLTK on Monday. Contributor Lisa Cericola of dinner party cooked this up for us.

Even though I am half Irish, I confess to knowing next to nothing about Irish food. When I was a kid, my mom usually made corned beef with boiled potatoes and cabbage around St. Patrick’s Day, but that noxious boiled cabbage smell is not exactly a pleasant memory. (Sorry, Mom.) With the holiday approaching, I wanted to make something that did not involve stinky cabbage or potatoes, which my husband hates. I thought about Guinness cupcakes, but that wouldn’t be much of a dinner (well, maybe?), so instead, I opted for an Irish lamb stew from Gourmet. Simple, hearty, and perfect for these damp, cool nights, it’s a nice way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day–even if you’re not even half Irish. — Lisa C.

Click through to the next page for Lisa’s recipe. (more…)

The New York Times had another timely article last week — $300 room makeovers. As with most articles of the sort, it’s a mix of good advice and head-scratchers. For instance, I recognize the need to do something with blank walls, but I’m really not a fan of the repeating “Morrocan-y” stencil in one of the homes. I am also a little exasperated that only one makeover even came in under $300 (two were nearly $500).

That being said, the audio slideshow in the left margin has good advice. First, the advice to just clean up! Sad, but true — a room where everything is picked up and put away looks a lot bigger and more inviting. Another was the advice to remove some items to make the space feel bigger. I did this in my 10-by-13-ft. home office recently to good effect. –Mary T.
Click for the before and after photos! (more…)

1. “Peach” is not a scary word when it comes to paint colors. As Tyna says: “I was going to say it reminded me of a creamsicle – a warm creamy orange. I have a kitchen with orange accents that desperately needs painting, I may have to borrow this great color idea – thanks!” See Mary’s peachy dining room makeover here.

2. Now that spring is around the corner, we’re looking forward to flea market season! Stef writes: “I love Zerns in Gilbertsville PA and have since I was a kid. I don’t live in PA anymore but every time I make it home, a trip to what my family always called ‘The Sale’ is on the schedule. Amish families selling homemade ice cream and jams, Italian meat and cheese stands, homemade pies and my favorite: chicken livers in butter that you get a little cup of and eat with toothpicks! Heart stoppingly yummy. Plus, stalls with PA old timers selling everything under the sun. I’ve gotten vintage Christmas ornaments, leather coats, old cameras, 50’s furniture…I love this place!” Click here to read about more great flea markets around the country.

3. Game night is alive and well in our homes, including a few new additions to old favorites. Tim says: “If you like Scrabble, you owe it to yourself to check out Bananagrams. Not to replace Scrabble, surely no, but to get that Scrabble feeling without all the Scrabble rigamarole. We’re sort of becoming addicted at my house.” Click here to read more and tell us about your favorite.

4. There a lot of different kinds of pests in our homes! And we all want to get rid of them safely and naturally. For example, Kim writes: “Do you know of anything that works with spiders? They seem to try to move into our basement every fall.” Click here to read about using bay leaves to get rid of ants.

5. You can easily update old, drab furniture with some white paint and new hardware. Michelle VK writes: “When my husband and I moved in together (he was my fiance at the time), he brought with him a drab and dark, but structurally sound ’50s dresser he had inherited from one of his housemates. It didn’t go with our fresh and bright bedroom, so I glued on some cute, wooden details, painted the whole thing white and it was ready to go. I ended up not even needing to change the drawer pulls. We still use it (it’s been about 6 years).” Click here to see how a flea market find became a cute changing table.

The best mod objects of the week are chosen at MoCo Loco. Our favorite? The pixelated upholstery fabric.

Apartment Therapy has a new, cool place to buy vintage goods (and more) online, without the auctions.

Now here’s movie decor we confess we never noticed: the pillows in Kill Bill 2. (Guess we were a little distracted by other things in the movie?) They’re gorgeous, and Casa Sugar tells you how to get some like them.

“Eco Confessions” from Fake Plastic Fish. Yes, we all have them.

A friend pointed us to this article: safer places to invest your money.

On that note, we’ve been trying to offer some posts with affordable chic (we think). But should we all just cool it with discussing the economy? That’s what i suwannee thought. But also read the follow-up here.

Speaking of chic (Who, us? Force a segue?) here’s a cool revamped chair from Eddie Ross with spray-painted fabric. (And yes, it’s chic.)

Finally, four words: chocolate stout mega cake. It’s at Dozen Flours.