Our TeamSusan Mitchell Blavin

Susan Mitchell Blavin

Latest Stories

Do Red and Purple Go Together? These 6 Design Ideas Prove They Do!

If you’re looking to turn heads with your home’s interior decor, you won’t want to overlook using red and purple as design elements. When it feels like everything has been “done” before, this combo doesn’t disappoint. A color wheel will tell you that red and purple should not be combined, since the hallmark of interior design is the use of contrasting colors or monotone colors to create an interesting space.

Jul 11, 2022

Basement Apartments: Tips for Creating Light & Spaciousness

As the economy continues to putter along, city dwellers are finding cheaper ways to live. While some have decided to move out of the city, others have decided to move below it. Once considered dark and undesirable, English basement apartments are now appealing to those who want to stay conveniently located in the city with a smaller budget. English basements may now be attracting thrifty professionals, but that doesn’t change the fact that they’re still dark.

Susan Mitchell Blavin

May 7, 2020

10 Ways Make Your Flowers Last Longer

We all know a few well-placed flowers can provide an instant fix to a dull space. A fresh bouquet lights up a room and fills the air with a sweet aroma. But, the joy is always temporary, and eventually the flowers wither and die. Here are some easy tips for keeping those beautiful buds alive. The most simple, yet least followed, tip to keep your flowers alive: Change the water!

Susan Mitchell Blavin

May 7, 2019

Warm Winter Style: Choosing a Warm Throw Blanket

Winter has settled in, and it’s time for hot cocoa, good books and snuggling up in our favorite reading nooks. There is nothing better than finding that perfect cozy blanket to wrap yourself in as the days grow colder.Finding the perfect blanket can be difficult, especially if you’re not familiar with the fundamentals of heat retaining properties of certain materials. Some fabrics are warmer than others, but knitting is also important in determining warmth.

Susan Mitchell Blavin

May 6, 2019

What to Do With an Inherited Collection

There are many ways to inherit collections. Sometimes loved ones pass and leave behind keepsakes or parents downsize during a move. Collections can be highly personal and carry a sentimental value that outweighs any monetary value. There is no proper way to handle inherited collectibles. Each situation will vary, but often the most difficult decision is the most basic one: do you keep it?

Susan Mitchell Blavin

Mar 12, 2019

Pros & Cons: Faux Leather Furniture

There are many reasons to buy faux leather furniture. It’s cheaper and animal friendly. And, there are many reason not to buy faux leather furniture. Real leather ages well and looks more expensive (because it is). If you’re thinking about buying new furniture and you’re torn between faux and real leather, here are a list of some of the pros and cons. Faux leather comes in many forms and some are better than others.

Susan Mitchell Blavin

Mar 2, 2011

Mandy & Michael’s Crafty Charm

Name: Michael & Mandy, author of the craft blog Fabric Paper GlueLocation: Arlington — VirginiaSize: 608 square feetYears lived in: 3 Mandy and Michael’s place is just like them, adorable. Both are Nashville transplants who came to the DC area for grad school and decided to stick around. Michael is a criminal defense lawyer and Mandy works as an analyst for Health and Human Services (HHS).

Susan Mitchell Blavin

Jan 24, 2011

Laundry Organization For Small Spaces

Laundry is a time consuming task that has a tendency to build up and become overwhelming. If you live in a small space, laundry procrastination can take over large areas of valuable space making your apartment feel cramped and chaotic. We all know the simple solution to this problem: do your laundry every week! But busy schedules always seem to get in the way of regular household chores.

Susan Mitchell Blavin

Nov 17, 2010