I didn’t start out as a collector. It just sort of took me over, that irrepressible desire to add to the little treasures that capture my heart and lend personality to my home decor. It starts innocently enough. You see something that catches your eye, like an antique wooden box or a piece of silver. You love it so much in your home, that before you know it, you’re scouting for another. Pretty soon your friends and family feed the fire by giving you additional pieces for your collection, making them all the more precious because they are gifts of love. A collection is born.

Decorating with your collections is a wonderful way to weave your personality into your décor and make your home a truly unique expression of your life and interests. The secret to doing it well is to use the pieces of your collection in artful displays. Here are four tips I follow:   (more…)

Everybody needs a little leather in their life. Especially when it comes to your décor. Leather furnishings are almost magical because they look good in every style home. You’ll find breathtaking pieces that are timelessly classic and those that are edgy and modern. Leather wears like iron and will look as wonderful decades later as it did the day you bought it. To get the full knock-your-socks-off decorating effect of a lovely piece of leather furniture, here are three how-to’s I pass on to my customers.  (more…)

When you hear the term “neutral décor” do you envision a tan-on-tan-on-tan room? If so, you are in for a fun surprise. A space done in neutrals can be much more creative and exciting than just layers of solids so staid they’re almost asleep. The secret is to use a few unexpected neutrals: colors and patterns that play well in the sand box with everyone else yet are full of the kind of personality you need to give your home décor distinctive character.  (more…)

If your life was a movie, what would it be? When Dan and I first bought our historic fixer upper, ours would have been The Money Pit. Remember that ’80s comedy starting Tom Hanks and Shelley Long, about the couple who moves into their dream home only to watch the house begin to fall down around them? Let me tell you, it’s not quite as funny when you’re living it and paying all the repair bills!

No matter what your life story, how you decorate your home should reflect your unique personality and experiences. Through the years, as I’ve decorated my own nest, twig by twig, I’ve drawn decorating inspiration from a wide variety of areas. Here are three places to look for inspiration to tell your own story through your home décor:  (more…)

It happens every year. There’s always an unseasonably warm day toward the end of winter when I lose my head.  Giddily, I tell myself that winter is over and it’s time to get my porch ready for outdoor living.  I sweep the floor, uncover the furniture, pull the cushions from the basement and spend hours accessorizing my outdoor retreat. Then it snows.

Even though I know I’m starting too early, I just can’t help myself. Having my screened porch ready for summer makes me so darn happy because this special outdoor room is one of my favorite spots in my home. This summer, turn your outdoor space into a retreat. Here are my six essentials for a perfect porch to get you started.  (more…)

Those of us who love interior decorating are passionate about creating an environment in our homes that is warm and welcoming, fills our senses and reflects who we are. Even though my personal decorating style is ever evolving, there are a few cornerstones of the look I love, the distinctive touches that make up the “Nell Hill’s style.” Here are four simple tricks and techniques I use in my home to weave in my personality, making my home a reflection of all I love. I hope they will inspire you as you feather your nest, too.  (more…)

I love it all when it comes to home décor styles. But years ago, I figured out that a traditional look works best for my own home. I really like surrounding myself with classic furnishings and accents that have stood the test of time, yet I don’t want my home décor to feel like it’s stuck in a time warp, a museum to a bygone era. The key to keeping your traditional home interesting, not stale, is to update it regularly with pieces that give your classic styling an exciting new lease on life. Here are five tricks for making your traditional décor fresh.  (more…)

Every day is so darn precious. I know that sounds like a strange way to begin a blog about creating cute tablescapes for your spring entertaining. But the older I get, the more I believe that we have to be very deliberate about making time in our busy schedules to celebrate life’s amazing moments and the people we hold most dear.

In my family, those Kodak moments happen around the dining table, where we linger for hours after a good meal, laughing until our sides hurt. There is something magical about eating together, isn’t there? In this day of hustle and bustle, where we often grab dinner from a drive-through window, it fills our hearts to pause for a moment and enjoy a meal in someone’s home.

This spring, connect with people you love over a meal in your home. To inspire you, we’re throwing a Spring Tabletop Event for the entire month of April. We’re filling gallery after gallery at both Nell Hill’s stores with dining tables dressed for dinner. You’ll find lots of new ideas to inspire you to create a table that delights your guests. Here are four tablescapes to get you started.   (more…)

Want to freshen up your décor for spring? Do a quick makeover on your mantel. Whether you want to completely redo your mantel display for the new season or just add a seasonal tweak here and there, it takes just minutes to remake this little stage. But, the payoffs are huge. Every time you walk by your mantel, you’ll get a bounce in your step and a spark in your heart – winter is over, and spring is here! Here are different mantel looks we created at Nell Hill’s to inspire you. (more…)

I know I’m impatient. But as soon as my holiday décor is boxed up and stored away in my scary cave of a basement, I’m ready for spring to start. I can’t control Mother Nature, getting her to snap to it outdoors, so I create spring indoors at Nell Hill’s, beginning in January. By the time spring officially start on March 20 I know exactly how I want to decorate my home to celebrate this season of fresh new beginnings. This year, I’ve zeroed in on five gotta-have tools that I’m going to use to create sensational spring displays inside my home and out.  (more…)