Home & Garden

Maria DiGiorgio is a devoted wife and mother, an educator and designer. Visit her Etsy shop: LaPetiteFleurbyMaria, for beautiful, one-of-a-kind, hand embellished floral picture frames.   With...

What can we do to help our kids through a crisis we ourselves have trouble dealing with? What do we have control over that can give them proper stability?

With today’s casual lifestyle, even in the most elegant of residences, the outdoor areas of homes have truly become an extension of entertaining and decorating. Since our everyday routines have changed so drastically within just months, the exterior living space has been proven essential to our health and well-being.

Designers know that no decorating can be accomplished until a home has a “place” for everything and “everything is in its place.”

It’s over-the holidays-and you can breathe a sigh of relief. You survived the stress, the in-laws, and the indigestion.

It should be made official; January is houseplant month. There’s a feeling of emptiness in the post Christmas season after the Christmas tree comes down. The home immediately misses that big beautiful, lush green tree that took center stage in so much celebration.

The holidays are a time for celebration! Sharing faith, food and tradition with family and friends is the earmark of the season. This special time of year affords us an opportunity to reflect upon our personal, religious and communal convictions.

A few weeks ago, I attended a tea party run by the Mad Harlot Tea Society’s outrageous, Penelope Proper. It was held in the old Calderone Theatre, (the building that houses Uniquely Natalie) and it was truly a day of nostalgia. Women wore hats and dressed for tea, ready to be transported to a time when life was slower paced and the elegance of home and table were “de rigueur”.

Nothing is as important to our sense of well-being as the comfort of our home. Our home is an extension of ourselves, a reflection of who we are, what we enjoy and how we choose to live. Whether large or small, simple or grandiose, we can put our very own stamp on our home and make it as unique and distinctive as we are.

Home & How It Helps Getting Your Kids Ready for a Good School Year... The waning summer vacation can not only be used for family fun but for projects that help kids look forward to success in the coming school year. As a designer for over four decades, I have often seen the positive results of creating a home environment that promotes good habits and focus.

Remodeling your home can be one of the most exciting projects to undertake. Whether you're thinking about a bathroom update, kitchen overhaul or a new room addition, planning and setting realistic expectations are critical in ensuring your project goes as smoothly as possible.

Usually at this time of year, I would write about being “house ready” or “backyard ready” for company this summer.