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Tara Bellucci's Recent Articles
Page 38
Before & After: Joellyn’s Grandma Kitsch to Modern Kitchen
I had the great fortune of moving into my grandparents house on our family farm a couple of years ago. It hadn’t been touched much since it was built in 1971, so we saw it as an opportunity to make it exactly what we wanted… starting with the removal of the mostly original carpet. It covered the entire house from kitchen to bathroom!  Since it’s a working farm, our house projects are limited to winter time.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 5, 2013
Before &amp After: Laura’s Refreshed Nightstand
I found this little piece at the Salvation Army for $7.50. I was looking for a nightstand and knew this would be perfect. The top had water stains where cups and glasses were placed, but other than that it was in good shape. Because I feel that I am drowning in brown furniture sometimes, I decided to paint the drawer fronts white. After sanding and patching the holes from the hardware, I used a high gloss lacquer spray paint on the drawers and stained the rest of the piece.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 4, 2013
Paint Color Portfolio: Pale Pink Bedrooms
I’m a sucker for a pretty pale pink, especially in the bedroom. Pink can be soft and romantic, not to mention great for the skin. That being said, it’s tough to find a shade that’s sweet but not saccharine, feminine but not girly. Here are some inspired blush boudoirs that get it right and some paint swatches to help you get the look in your own room.INSPIRATION ROOMS:1. Katie Lydon Interiors via Apartment Therapy2. Crystal’s Dramatic Home in San Francisco3.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 4, 2012
Melyssa & Ted’s Colorful Carriage House
Name: Melyssa & TedLocation: Arlington, Massachusetts Size: 1,000 square feetYears lived in: 3 years; Rented Entering Melyssa and Ted’s home, I expected to walk out back and see the ocean. Not quite a reality for this 19th century carriage house north of Boston, but that vacation vibe mixed with bright colors and quirky touches creates a welcoming, relaxed atmosphere that’s not afraid of a little sand.
Tara Bellucci
Sep 11, 2012
Vera Neumann
“She turned everything from garden flowers to ancient Incan motifs into scarves and dresses, home textiles and posters. Her customers trusted Vera to manage the rainbow for them, and as a result, they were often some of the most confidently colorful ladies around.” — Pantone: The 20th Century in Color Over a career that spanned five decades, Vera Neumann brought art to the everyday.
Tara Bellucci
Sep 10, 2012
Alexandra & John’s Clusters of Color
Names: Alexandra Grenham, her husband, John, and their two daughtersLocation: North End — Boston, MassachusettsSize: 1,336 square feetYears lived in: 1 year; owned When I saw Alexandra’s House Call last month, I was excited to get the job of shooting the full tour. Like you, I couldn’t wait to see more of the beautiful brick and beam loft peppered with bursts of color.
Tara Bellucci
Jul 16, 2012
Before & After: Lucite Bathroom Stool
Most bathrooms are small, wet places, so choosing appropriate furniture is often a challenge. Learn from Jenny, who took a flea market lucite stool and fixed it up to work in her bathroom.Jenny from Little Green Notebook spotted this scratched up stool at a flea market and decided to use it as a seat for when she’s bathing her kids.For wet or messy locales, laminated fabric is a great alternative.
Tara Bellucci
May 31, 2012
DIY Pegboard Headboard
Short on space and lack a headboard? Pegboard, our favorite kitchen and workshop workhorse, may just be the solution you’ve been looking for. Carmel from Our Fifth House transforms her boy’s bedroom from bland to brilliant with a Union Jack paint job and inexpensive material.Carmel’s 8 year old son needed some easy access storage, so when she planned to DIY a headboard, pegboard won.
Tara Bellucci
May 29, 2012
Decor PSA: Hang Curtains High & Wide
When I came across this public service announcement regarding curtains, I had to smile. Though hanging curtains to the ceiling and wider than the window frame is a surefire way to make the walls look taller and the room airier, the prevalence of curtains hung just over the window is enough for interior designer Erin Gates to issue a statement on behalf of windows everywhere. Do you agree?Check out Erin’s full PSA with examples on Elements of Style.Do you hang your curtains high & wide?
Tara Bellucci
Apr 26, 2012
10 Small Space Storage Solutions for the Bathroom
The bathroom is the smallest room in the house, yet stores the most varied collection of stuff. How do you fit everything in and keep it from getting cluttered? Here are 10 creative storage solutions from our archives and around the web.1. Labeled storage. Kristen shared her bathroom shelving solution with us in 2010. She embroidered small baskets for easy sorting and access, and we love the result.2. Mason jars. Keep small items on hand with this DIY mason jar solution via ReadyMade.
Tara Bellucci
Apr 19, 2012
Before & After: Melissa’s “Cloffice” on a Budget
The challenge (and fun!) of small space living is finding the best use for every inch. Even though tiny apartments are usually short on closet space, a place to stash your suitcases is less useful if what you really need is an office. Melissa put her closet to work for her — for only $130!Melissa Massello is the Stealfinder in Chief of Shoestring Magazine, and with a title like that, you know she’s looking to save a buck.
Tara Bellucci
Apr 17, 2012
Create a Tidy Open Closet (Without Tossing All of Your Clothes!)
Do you roll your eyes at those staged closets in catalogs with their 4 dresses and 2 pairs of shoes? If you don’t have enough closets — or any — you can still create a tidy exposed closet without getting rid of your wardrobe.Matchy, matchy. When your closet is exposed for all to see, the easiest way to create a seamless look is to have matching storage solutions. Shoe boxes, hangers, shelves, etc, should match each other, if not follow one color scheme.
Tara Bellucci
Apr 10, 2012
Inexpensive Alternatives to Mini Blinds
Nothing screams “rental” like ecru, landlord-issue mini blinds. They’re hideous, but you’re stuck with them, right? Wrong! Here are 7 stylish upgrades that won’t cost you your security deposit.First, get rid of the offending blinds. Most all of them pop out of their mounts quite easily and can be stored in the basement/crawl space/style jail until it’s time to move out. All of the options below are under $30.
Tara Bellucci
Mar 20, 2012
Brian & Kerry’s Brewery Loft
Name: Brian & Kerry Grabowski Location: Jamaica Plain — Boston, Massachusetts Size: 800 square feet Years lived in: 4.5 — owned Entering Brian & Kerry’s loft, the first thing you see is the courtyard. It’s hard to miss an entire wall of windows that reaches up to the 18-foot ceilings. “In the winter, it’s like living in a snow globe,” Brian reminisces, “…when it actually snows.
Tara Bellucci
Mar 16, 2012
Polish or Fake: Brass Hardware
Brass hardware is making a big comeback. If you have a piece with less than blingy brass, here’s a primer on how to polish it to perfection or fake it to fabulous.Kate from Centsational Girl is one of our favorite people for how-to tips around the home. She has a thing for brass details, and wanted to restore the hardware from a dresser and a campaign desk. Kate provides a comparison of commercial polish, homemade polish, and faux patinas for brass and brass plated hardware.
Tara Bellucci
Feb 7, 2012
Before & After: Streamlining Scarf Storage
I may have a bit of a scarf addiction. With practically nonexistent closet space, they were taking over the hooks on my bedroom door. Not only was it an eyesore, it was impossible to grab a coat or scarf without creating an avalanche of accessories. This weekend, I found a solution that was quick, inexpensive, and visually interesting. Check out the after, after the jump!My bedroom is a square with this little nook large enough to accommodate the open door.
Tara Bellucci
Oct 20, 2011
Craft Conundrum: What to Do with Friendship Bracelets?
Typing all day, peeling nail polish, or fluttering while talking– my hands just can’t stay still. So it didn’t take much more than a few trend reports and a breeze through a fabric store before I restarted one of my favorite crafts from childhood: making friendship bracelets. Since I’m not trying to score an invite to a superfun co-ed sleepover birthday, help me: how can I decorate with friendship bracelets?
Tara Bellucci
Sep 22, 2011
Make a Big Splash: Clear Glass Tub
Flipping through the latest issue of Boston Home, I was struck by the beauty of this “invisible” tub. Made from a thick sheet of glass inserted between the two tile walls, it’s so simple, yet I’ve never seen anything quite like it.Boston-based architecture & design firm Stern McCafferty created this custom bath based on an inspiration photo from owners Amy and Ethan d’Abelmont Burnes.
Tara Bellucci
May 27, 2011
5 Qualities of Luxurious Bathrooms: Create One at Home
Maybe it’s because I started reading Cleopatra: A Life, but I have luxury on the brain. Though I haven’t come across any descriptions yet, I bet the Queen of the Nile’s bathroom had some, if not all, of these five qualities of a truly luxurious bathroom.Luxurious bathrooms have at least a few of the following:1. Space. A utilitarian room, most bathrooms are small to allow for more room in other areas of the home. So instantly, a larger bathroom is a luxury.
Tara Bellucci
May 24, 2011