For this week’s design dilemma, I wanted to brighten up some space just in time for the summer. TyPennington.com community member, Cheryl Hill asked: 

We have an older out of date and DARK kitchen. I want to go for more of a fresh, clean and crisp feel.

My issue is budget and I am not sure if I pay to re-front the whole kitchen (many of the doors have been gorilla glued...yep they are all starting to fall apart) or do I just replace the ones that are bad and paint? I also want to change the darker wall color that use to be popular many years ago to a more clean crisp color...but need your advice and HELP!!!

Thanks for writing in Cheryl and don’t worry, I have some ideas that will help brighten up that dark space. 

Since color is the first thing that hits you when you enter any room, I recommend replacing darker paint with something that sets an energetic, cheery mood. Think red, yellow or orange tones. Trust me, you’ll quickly notice a fresh feel when you brighten up your dark walls. 

Bold accents to rugs, curtains, chairs, and centerpieces will also help give your space the pop you’re looking for.  Painting dated, dark cabinetry creates a vast improvement too, so don’t feel that you need to re-front the entire kitchen. Also, try to update a smaller article like your kitchen table to liven up the space a little. 

Have any suggestions for brightening up a dark space? Leave them in the comments below. Also, if you’ve got a design dilemma you’d like me to answer let me know in the comments! 

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Photo Sources: Apartment Therapy, Better Home & Garden, Archzine, Attic Mag

Today’s Design Dilemma comes from TyPennington.com user Ann Albers, who writes:  

I love photography and would love to hang poster size photos on the walls that can be changed with the seasons. But I haven't seen any attractive options for this other than big bulky frames or ugly poster frames... any ideas?

Thanks for your question, Ann. I would say think outside of the box when it comes to framing photos. You don't always have to frame art to hang it. There are lots of creative ways to showcase it - I've done this with large black binder clips and decorative tacks. 


Photo clips, clothing pins, and clipboards are other great ways to display your artwork creatively. Think about what reflects your taste and make it happen – there is no shortage of clips and pins you can use to shake up how you hang décor so have fun with it.

If you have an idea for creative art displays that I haven’t covered, share them in the comments below. Got a design dilemma? Tell me about that too and I just might have the answer you’ve been looking for.

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Photo Sources:  Apartment Therapy, How About Orange

My friend Lara Spencer from Good Morning America stopped by the Revolution last week to talk about three of my favorite things: thrifting, yard sales, and flea markets!

I have to say, she’s really not messing around – the lady knows how to spot finds and refurbish them so that you’d never know they were thrifted. 

Take this birdcage, for example:


When Lara found it at a flea market, it was just a plain old birdcage – she only paid $20 for it. Slap on a few coats of paint, electrify it, and you’ve got an incredibly unique and striking lamp that looks a lot more expensive!

The trick is to think about the structure and the condition of the foundation of an object – don’t fixate on things that are easy to change like color, fabric, etc. If you know you’re going to fix up an item, you can normally get it for a pretty decent price.

For more examples of her refurbished finds, check out the clip here. 

What’s the best thing you’ve found at a yard sale or flea market lately? Tell me about it in the comments below – or better yet – upload a photo and leave me the links. 

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When it comes to design influences, it can be hard to pinpoint all of the individual things that have helped form my eye, but the style from the 1960s is one thing I can say with certainty has contributed to my taste. 

One thing I love about the 60s is the bold use of color – especially greens, violets, reds, oranges – to add flavor to a space. 


I have also drawn on the use of shape and texture as part of a design scheme and the use of spaces like walls.


Here are a few examples of my own designs that showcase my 1960s inspiration:




See what I mean? It’s amazing how, when something inspires you, it will start to show itself in your own work. 

What about you – what era inspires your taste and personal style? Let me know in the comments below.

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Photo Credit: ffffound!, Flickr

In case you missed it on “The Revolution,” we gave this room a big dose of color and style by painting the ceiling. Most people forget about the blank canvas they have above them, but ceiling design is a great way to tie together your design theme and add interest to a space. 



In this case, we added just a few punches of color to brighten up the room without overwhelming it, but here are some other great examples of how you can incorporate painted ceilings into your design scheme:









What do you think – would you consider painting your ceiling? If you’ve painted ceiling or have seen one recently that you like, let me know about it below.

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Photo Sources: Her Blog, Traditional Home, Annsley Interiors by Layla Grayce, Remodelaholic, Vippins, Décor Pad, Apartment Therapy, Material Girls Blog

You’ve heard me say it before, but the best design is design that reflects who you are- your likes, history, preferences, interests, and eccentricities. Your home should always feel like an extension of you.  There are creative ways to incorporate your favorite things no matter what your interests are, but for this week’s Last Look, we’re focusing on one of my biggest passions: music.

If you’re as much of a music lover as I am, it’s nice to incorporate different musical items into your décor. Here are a few examples of how to incorporate albums, musical instruments, and more into your home:

Try framing albums, using your shelf space for cd’s and music books, or filling an empty corner with your most beloved instrument.

What do you think of these ideas? Would you try any of them? Let me know in the comments.

Wishing you a weekend filled with good tunes and good company. 

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Today’s design dilemma comes from TyPennington.com member Tricia Schmitz- thanks for writing in Tricia.

“My design dilemma is our living room/kitchen. I am having a hard time defining the space. Both rooms fit in only about 9 x 16 square feet of space. I don't really want my kitchen to look like my living room. But since it's such a small space I am afraid to chop it up and make it all look smaller. 

I also love to have family and friends over so I would like to seat guests, but sometimes we have a hard time finding seats for the 5 in our family. If you could help me with this dilemma I would be so very grateful!”

Since the rooms are connected, it’s best to paint them the same color to avoid exactly what you are afraid of, making them look smaller. One room can be a shade darker than the other, but the same color tone is important. 
 
Stackable seating is very popular for small spaces. I had the same problem, at one time my small round dining table could normally seat only 4 people, but when I had more friends over I didn't have room to seat them. So I found some vintage stackable office chairs that were really cool, in bright colors. 

They fit in my coat closet, and when I needed extra seating, I could just pull out the extras and everyone had somewhere to sit.

Have any other small space tips for Tricia? Leave your thoughts below. Also, if you have a design dilemma you’d like me to tackle let me know in the comments!

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Last month on “The Revolution” something great happened: I got to wear my pajamas to work.

If only every day could be Pajama Day. Once you got past the sweet outfits Tim and I had on, you probably noticed some pretty cool headboard ideas we shared. 



Shelving is a great way to maximize space, while tufted headboards give any bedroom a definite style and polish. 

Here’s some more creative headboard inspiration for this week’s Last Look: 








Which look is your favorite? Let me know below. 

Have a great weekend everyone. 

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Photo Credit: Apartment Therapy, Babble, Lowes, Decorating Ideas, Perfect Match, Design Sponge 

Sleek lines; rustic elements; a noticeable lack of throw pillows- they’re all signs that you’re in a guy’s home. And while you might expect a manly home to be defined by the number of beers in the fridge and toilet seats left up, there are actually a lot of ways to make your home manly and inviting. Men’s Health recently found the 25 Manliest Homes in America and I thought I’d share some in today’s Last Look. 

This rustic pad was formerly home to comedian Dan Whitney, otherwise known as Larry the Cable Guy. The property boasts indoor and outdoor movie theaters, a stocked fishing pond, gym, and safe room, but the real man cave is the indoor game room, pictured above. 


Designer Brad Norris of Norris Architecture blended the design of this home with its wooded surroundings and only used real elements. "No fake stuff," says Norris. "Real stone, real wood, real structure." Real cool.


This manly bar comes thanks to the crew from the DIY Network. What guy doesn’t want to pretend he’s a cowboy?


Car lovers rev your engines- this is one awesome garage. This beauty fits 12 cars—eight on the floor level and another four up on built-in lifts. The space also has its own guest quarters, exercise room and wine cellar. Oh yeah, and there’s also an estate attached. 


Wouldn’t have to ask me twice to move in here. This Squaw Valley Ski Resort (available for rent via community marketplace Airbnb), includes a saltwater hot tub, 15-person sauna, 6-foot fireplace, and a 63-inch flat-screen- man heaven. 

Which home do you like best? Let me know in the comments. 

Have a great weekend everyone. 

Source: Men’s Health 

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Last week I met with my design partners at Sears in Chicago and got to check out my new outdoor tabletop collection.

The collection is in stores now, and I thought I’d share some of my favorite items with you:

1. Palm Leaf Accent Bowl ($3.59); 2. Palm Serve Bowl ($7.19) 3.Palm Lantern ($17.99); 4 .Palm 4 pc Condiment Server ($23.99); 5. Citronella Bucket ($4.79) 6. Palm Green Margarita Glass ($3.59)

For this season’s collection I was inspired by natural elements and colors, as you can see in the green and brown color palette and bamboo leaf theme. You can check out the whole Ty Pennington Summer Tabletop Collection here. 

Let me know which item you like best in the comments! 

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