CHERYLL GILLESPIE

Special to QMI Agency

One thing we always ask for is more time in the day and this year we get the next best thing an extra day. What do you plan to do Feb. 29? If you haven't already made plans, let me give you some ideas and inspiration for a few decorating projects: 1. Stop in at your favorite table wear store and pick up linen dinner napkins, hand towels for the powder room or beach towels for the lounge chairs you¹ll soon be taking out of winter storage. Have your new linens monogrammed with your initials, your last name, or even the name of your house. We love to personalize and this is the perfect way to start. 2. We love messing around with paint, so get creative with an ordinary glass vase or canister and paint the inside to really up the design value. Take a basic glass container and, using ordinary house paint in your selected colour, pour an ample amount inside the glass, swirl and roll it around until the inside is covered. Drain the excess paint back into the paint can and turn the vase upside down and allow to dry on newspaper (not on top of your favoritedesign column). When it's dry, display with pride. We've also played around with multiple colours, including metallics, and this looks fabulous. Just remember you will need to leave some glass uncovered in order for the next colour to show through. 3. Handwritten notes are a dying treasure. Always keep a supply of 'thank you' cards and gorgeous note cards or paper on hand for when the need or the time allows you to put pen to paper and send a simple note to a friend that will make their day. 4. Spend half your extra day visiting vintage, antique and or thrift stores. Look for vintage silver frames, bowls or water jugs and then head home to find the perfect side board or end table to display your new old treasures. 5. Bake cookies -- nothing makes me feel better than a fresh batch in the oven. Take your basic chocolate chip recipe and substitute the chips for broken Skor bar bits or use Bernard Callebaut chocolate bits, dried cherries and ground walnuts. (Kathy Ireland taught me this tip a long time ago during a conversation we were having about family and baking. I never like to bite down on a hard chunk of nut so now I always grind mine). This is one of my family's favorite combinations.

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2012 - PAGE 9

RENOVATION HOMES GARDENING DECORATION

Interiors by Cheryll

Cheryll Gillespie is an internationally celebrated, award-winning designer with a passion for travel. Visit her online at www.cheryligilliespie.com

6. Bring on spring. Plant some fabulous flowering bulbs such as paper whites or tulips into a beautiful bowl or glass vase and in a few weeks you'll have fresh flowers to enjoy. 7. Make a lampshade. Last week my daughter Sam had us making a lampshade using coffee filters. We folded the filters in half and then half again and again to make a flower. The filter flowers were then hotglued onto the shade wow, unbelievable! You¹d never guess this amazing piece of art was once a simple linen shade. For simpler shades, you can glue bullion fringe and drapery trimmings onto the edge of the shade, add a tassel or a few silk flowers to the outside of the shade, cover the entire shade in wine corks or metal beer caps or use paint pens to graffiti the shade. 8. Make a pillow. Hand stitch silk flowers, a vintage brooch, a child¹s stuffed toy or drapery and upholstery trim onto an otherwise ordinary throw cushion. Hand paint a picture or write a poem onto the front. Make something creative for a special chair. 9. Of course, you could simply pick up all your favourite designer magazines and spend the day with a pot of green tea getting inspired. 10. Whatever you do, make sure you spend this extra day giving your home a little extra love. You deserve it!

Cheryll Gillespie

www.cheryllgilliespie.com

You need to upgrade your Flash Player

You need to upgrade the version of your Flash Player to version 9 minimum.

Click here

Adobe Flash Player Download Center