So, we all know that April is Tackle Your Clutter Month. When I told my sister that April was clutter month, her recommendation was for women to start with their purses, handbags, totes, pocket books, whatever you carry everyday! .....Can you find anything in your bag? If you drop keys in it, do they travel to the bottom of the abyss and require five minutes of recovery time?

Please don't tell me that you keep mail and bills in your purse to remember to pay them? That is so not right! You spent way too much on that Coach, LV, Gucci, Kate Spade, Michael Kors or B. Makowsky to have it look like a recycle bin! Get it together.

Get rid of receipts by designating a folder and filing them away. Use a skinny case or two, and store lip gloss and other cosmetics in them. Those little cases are great for keeping things from falling to the bottom. You will also be able to find them easier. Clean out your wallet, keep only the cards (credit, rewards, discount) for stores that you frequent regularly. Store the rest in a safe at home with insurance policies and your passport.

We all need to dab or primp throughout the day, so always keep a packet of tissue in your bag not a wad of kleenex from the box by your bed. Purse packs are cute and decorative. Also, fashion tip...handkerchiefs are not just for men. A lady always carries one in her bag.

Ladies, you only have one set of lips and can only wear one or two glosses at a time. Now, you should always have a neutral gloss in your bag in the event that you leave the house without one, but to keep your purse clutter free, grab the one that coordinates with your makeup each day. And yes, you will need to clean out your bag each night. But that is what it takes to keep it neat.

Staying ahead of the clutter madness does take a little time and commitment, but I promise it is worth it. Yes, my sister and I both clean out our bags each night - we also often change our bags to coordinate with each outfit, but that's just us!

Yes, for real! April is National Tackle Your Clutter Month! Not this is not the same thing as spring cleaning! Spring cleaning is about taking drapery down and having is cleaned, washing windows, moving furniture away from the walls and cleaning under then. Tackling clutter is about getting rid of excess stuff!

I've mentioned clutter often, I truly believe that a home is not a home when you have to walk around stuff. Too much stuff is not healthy. That's why hoarding is an illness that requires professional psychological help. Learn how to release things to lead a better less stressful life.

So take a room, closet or drawer at a time and start clearing out your life! Take your time, but don't take too much time! The first step is to create a list that will remind you of how your life will change when it becomes clear of clutter. Once you have a reason, a goal, you will be able to stick to them.

So write it down, and make some plans for your Tackle Your Clutter Month!

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Yes, thankfully, Spring is coming. And while in Chicago, we may not have the warmest weather (it seems to still be Winter in Spring), it is still a new season, and the time for change.

Start by deciding what home improvement projects you would like to tackle this year. Take stock of each room, closet, basement, garage, and the yards - then make a list. If you plan it out, it will be easier to accomplish the tasks, and not end up in December, wondering where the time went.

One of the things I tell everyone who asks me about design, is to create a wish book. Peruse magazines and surf the internet for inspriation. Print copies and store in a binder. When you go shopping, take the photos with you. Look for pieces that reminder you of the inspiration photos.

One of the easiest and inexpensive projects to tackle is purging and cleaning. Any room will feel new with a little shine!

Not that anyone had a choice in the matter, but let me tell you, having a comfortable place to relax in is incredibly important when you are forced to stay inside as the majority of us had to do yesterday! While looking out the window, I was greatful for a warm, clean, and clutter free home, because, I'm spending another day inside, away from the cold and the snow.

Chicago hasn't had a snow storm, sorry, blizzrard of this magnitude in a decade - it is easy to forget the last one (seriously, I don't remember much about 99), when we are not reminded with one often. But the closing of Lake Shore Drive for 33 hours, is a lasting memory that will strike fear in everyone whenever white flakes of snow appear in the sky!

So, as you spend time at home, cause seriously, where are you going?, take some time to straighten and purge, wash and dry. This is also an ideal time to paint that bedroom or bathroom. Hey, you're inside right? Take advantage!

My condo, or palace as I refer to it, is large. It is on an entire floor and approximately 1800 square feet. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms - well, four bedrooms actually, but I turn one of the bedrooms into the dining room. Access to this bedroom is from the kitchen, so logically it is the ideal room to convert into a dining room.

I had first used the small closet as a storage closet for cleaning supplies, but my love of entertaining changed that idea rather quickly. Off came the doors, and in went a wine cooler, a gorgeous Kashmere White granit bar top and floating shelves. While not quite complete, I love the space and it looks fabulous, if I do say so myself.

So take my idea and convert a closet to a bar and expand the entertaining space in your home. The granite top is not supported by the wine cooler - wood cleats as best, especially as the granite I chose is 1-1/4 thick.

The plan is to add mirrors behind the shelves to create depth and allow the light to bounce back. The one light fixture will also be changed out to a small track fixture for more illumination.

Instead of a cabinet for storage, the plan is to build custom bottle storage that will accomodate large bottles, such as margarita mixes.

I haven't chosen a paint color yet, but I'm leaning toward a mediterranean blue. So forgive the wall patching! But I hope this inspires you to add a bar to your home! Many stores offer bar cabinets that only require room to place it.

Happy New Year! I am excited about the prospect of 2011 - the number one is significant and the start of anything and we have all year to start again. Today, 1-1-11, is especially significant, but we also have 1-11-11, 11-1-11, and 11-11-11. Make the most of the year of beginning by committing to live a full and giving life!

Part of the full life is having a comfortable place to live. I'm passionate about 'home' - and yes I do believe that everyone should own their own home, but that is me. There is nothing like the feeling of it being yours, one just has to be smart about it. But no matter where you lay your head, it should be a place of zen and personal style and personal luxury.

But first, your zen home should be clean and clutter free. The easiest way to prevent clutter build up is to stop bringing paper in. Start with a trash can as close to the mail box as possible or place one at the front door. Deposit unwanted mail before it gets in. In addition, just as you can opt out of email marketing, you can unsubscribe to regular mail as well.

I love the prospect that the New Year brings. A time to start again, a time for new beginnings. A great time to clean up and get organized!
Being organized is more than just having a clean home. Being organized can save time and money, and help you to lead a more stress-free life. A few years ago, I started giving organization seminars, and created a twelve step process to a clutter-free life.

Starting January 1, I'll walk you through my suggestions to get rid of clutter and lead a more productive life!

Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

Clean House is one of my favorite television shows! Not only is it chocked full of de-cluttering and interior design tips, but the cast was incredible. Niecy Nash was a lot of fun, brought serious flavor to the screen, and showed how beautiful us curvy women really are.

In order to pursue other endeavors, Ms. Nash has left the show. Style Netowrk has hired Tempestt Bledsoe to take over hosting duties. While I'm a Cosby lover from way back, the jury is still out - yes I know an episode has not aired yet, but still.

Guest hosts, other than Lisa Arch, have always tired to emulate Niecy - and recorded shows that I won't even watch in reruns. There can be only one Nash, and for the next host to be sucessful is to find her own style.

I'll give it a few episodes, but I hope the new host of Clean Host is able to bring style and flair, and leave the ghetto-ness behind.

So I can't believe how quickly time has passed! Another year gone! I'm looking forward to a Thanksgiving feast with family! But even more than that golden brown turkey (yes, I love what peanut oil does to it!) I also love decorating for the holidays. You are probably saying, "Of course you do, Eugenia, you're a Designer!" So ok, guilty as charged, but still, haven't you ventured into a store lately and been blasted with Holiday songs, christmas ornaments, and tables filled to capacity with all kinds of baubles, candles, apothecary jars and place setting notecards?

Well, not everyone is going to go overboard with table decor, but you have to at least think of an extra candle, or maybe a pumpkim or gourd or two for your Thanksgiving Holiday display? I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!

DIY Network has me hooked! House Crashers, Bath Crashers, Yard Crashers are my new favoritre tv shows.The hosts are professionals that stake out home improvement stores looking for DIY-ers that need help from a professional (from the host)!

The home makeovers are done for free and are some of the most innovative, cutting edge products and designs in the interior design industry today. Yes, for free! I keeping going to home improvement stores waiting for a contractor to want to come home with me!

House Crashers does just about every room in a home. From the living room to the basement to the kitchen. Host and professional contractor Josh Temple, who also hosts DIY's Disaster House, with the help of general contractors, plumbers, electricians and the homeowner's friends and family, demolishes and puts a room together in just three days! I would love to know how, and as soon as I find out how the complete room renovations are done in just three days, I will let you know!

Also done in three days is Bath Crashers, hosted by contractor and designer, Matt Muenster. Matt also has another DIY show, Bathtastic. With his crew, Matt looks for homeowners with the largest bathrooms around, and if the room is small, Matt has no problem knocking a few walls down. The bathrooms created in both shows become baths you don't want to leave! Luxury is the standard in every bathroom design.

As every homeowner will attest to, useable, functional, and beautiful outdoor spaces are an extension to every home. Yard Crashers, hosted by landscaper Ahmed Hassen, creates true outdoor living rooms in just two days! As if three days inside seemed impossible, two days for yard work is truly a miracle. In one episode, the agreeable homeowners received an in-ground swimming pool. It wasn't an Olympic size lap pool, but it certainly created a refreshing place to cool off in during the summer.

Every show that airs on the DIY Network helps to explain to aspiring DIY-ers projects that they can attempt to improve the enjoyment of each space and increase the value of their home. Even the commericals provide information for small household projects from simple kitchen updates to installing a deadbolt lock.

I highly recommend watching DIY for ideas, inspiration, motivation, and help on your own home-improvement projects.

North Avenue is a bustle of shopping and energy in Lincoln Park. This will only increase with the official opening of the new Apple store this Saturday. Because of all the traffic between the stores around Clyborn and Sheffield, not to mention the Old Town Shops and resturants on Wells, I am mysified as to why there is construction on the Lake Shore Drive access (LaSalle) and the Kennedy access.

Trying to get to these areas is crazy because of the construction! Get off the Kennedy you are stuck on the ramp for 15 mintues. Take Lake Shore Drive and half of LaSalle is being worked on and this week, trying to go West on North Ave from LaSalle now is blocked with construction as well. Today, outside the theatre, they have ripped up the sidewalk on the North side of North Avenue!

Is there a method to the madness? Why are so many projects being under taken on a stretch of road under four miles in length? I hope they get done before the snow falls - traffic will be worse with holiday shoppers!

I have builder's grade lighting in my condo. It is functional, but not very attractive. That's not true - it is ugly! So in my shower bath, I painted the walls and purchased a great vanity light with the glass bulbs, you know those ones you see on HGTV. I painted and took down the old light - it was one of those Hollywood light styles- and found that the developer of my building did not make changing anything easy. Light fixtures are manufactured to be mounted to a junction box. Conduit is used to bring hot and neutral wires into the box which is attached to a wall stud. You connect the wires, and fasten the housing and put the light together. It actually is a very easy thing to change.

What this developer did, was put the hot and cold pipes and the vent in places that made it impossible to change the exposed bulb $9 fixures they installed - which were some special fixture that allowed the flexible conduit to be connected directly to the housing. I couldn't add a junction box because of the pipes. My Dad suggested we hang two pendants because we could mount a junction box to each stud. Well, the vent pipe is too close to one of the studs making it impossible to fit a 4" junction box. (Sorry, the opening is off center, that's why conventional installation methods did not work).

So, my writing is about this - it is easy to make updates and changes to the stuff on the outside of the walls, but once those pipes have been run, cosmetic changes are difficult without proper planning behind the walls. The lights were not pretty - I'll do before and after pictures when the project is complete - and I think that it is irresponsible for a developer to think that their plan is so great that a potential homeowner will not want to make changes.

Developers please be considerate of future owners. Don't believe that your fixtures will appeal to everyone. Please plan behind the walls so that people can easily personalize their home. A condo development is not an apartment. Owner's own a condo, and have the right to make it a home.

Higher a designer - someone that can provide insight into how people will live in a home. Please be considerate.

One of my Godsisters purchased her first home this month. It is a beuatiful place, a gut rehabb with all the bells and whistles: granite counters, stainless appliances, 42" Cherry cabinets, stone kitchen and bath flooring, jacuzzi tub in one bath, a walkin shower with body jets and rainforest shower head in the other. The basement is finished with great tile and glass accents. I mean, really beautiful place.

So she's barely in there two weeks when someone came along and stole the air conditioner compressor! They came in the yard (unfortunately, the bells and whitles didn't include a fenced-in yard), cut the power, water, and duct lines, picked that heavy thing up and walked right out!

This is only the second time I have heard of this. I know, seriously. My broker had two stolen earlier this summer. I find this crazy! How big does someone's, let say ego, have to be to steal this?

I'm also sad because this has happened to this first time buyer. Wanting home ownership and working to close real estate transaction is not an easy process. And immediately is faced with one of the grim aspects of home ownership.

Now, the problem is that there are people that will purchase these stolen units creating the market for theives to walk into others' yards and take what that homeowner has worked very hard for.

As long as people buy stolen merchandise, thieves will steal. It is vital that everyone buy honestly. Personally, I need a receipt for what I buyl. In the event what I bought breaks or malfunctions, I need to be able to return, repair, or get a replacement. It's how I live.

Let's all be more honest and stop giving the theives an outlet for taking from others.

As if the home market isn't tough enough today, prospective homebuyers hoping to secure an FHA loan will be facing higher mortgage insurance premiums.

An FHA loan is one that is backed by the government, allowing new buyers the ability to purchase a home with only 3.5% of the purchase price as downpayment. This is a good thing for those who do not have 20% of the purchase price as the downpayment. The way the mortgage market works, a homeowner needs to have 80% equity in his or her home in order to NOT pay mortgage insurance premiums. Most often, when you buy a home without a 20% downpayment, you will also have two mortgages! Yes, one mortgage for 80% of the purchase price, and another one for the other percentage, in the case of an FHA downpayment deal, 17.5%! Both mortgages are not necessarily at the same interest rate either!

Now, that is not a bad thing, but you have to know what you are getting into up front. 

As for the increased mortgage insurance, the current rate is .55% of the loan if a buyer puts down less than 5%. The new rate, which goes into effect on October 4, 2010, increases the rate 64%. How much is that? Well, on a mortgage of $150,000 (with 96.5% loan to value - 3.5% down), the current rate is equates to $68.75. On October 5, the mortage insurance will be $112 per month!! An increase of 43.75, yes per month!

That is a big difference! And as reported by Dorothy Tucker on CBS News at 5pm today, every dollar counts in today's economy.

This does not effect current homeowners, only those looking to purchase now. So what should you do? Get approved, talk to your Realtor, (I'm one - contact me!) and get a contract on a home by October 4, 2010! You don't have to close before the rates change, but have a fully executed contract by then - a contract approved and signed by all the owners/stakeholders.

You can get a deal and interest rates are low, real low! Don't wait any longer!

So an online article in Yahoo Finance defends the benefits of home ownership versus renting. Despite steadily decreasing housing values due to foreclosures still occuring, and the sinking economy, home ownership still affords many conviniences that renting does not. That is if your mortgage is manageable in the event you experience a job loss, medical emergency, or family death.

Think of it this way, you will have to live somewhere. Why not own the place where you live? By owning you are able to live where you want, manage your property the way to want, and even decorate the way you want. When renting, you have to ask permission to do certain things.

The key is to not have a mortgage that consumes half a months pay! If you are thinking of buying, don't purchase a home that is the full amount you are approved for. Just because the bank approved you for $450,000, doesn't mean you need to buy a home for $445,000!  That way if something happens, you won't have a $3000 monthly mortgage note!

Read the article and let me know what you think!

I was born on the south side of Chicago. And after a two year stint in Justice (don't ask - too far), I came back to the South Side and now a home owner. No, I am not in Bronzeville, the hip, fabulous historic neighborhood, (despite the fact that my dissertation study is focused there), I am a Chatham resident. Driving down Cottage Grove, did you know that there is not a grocery store from 95th street until 69th? Thankfully, Target expanded their grocery line in April, but that is a long stretch of road not to have a grocery store. There is a Pete's Produce on 87th street, but that is closest to Stony Island. Chatham Food Market is closest to the Dan Ryan.

But I guarantee, you will find more than one liquor store!

The life of a writer, or any entrepreneur who works mostly from home, does have its moments of uncertainty. When will the money come in, where will the money come from, will they pay on time. But having your destiny in your own hands, and not dependent on someone else is the true freedom of working for yourself. There is a true satisfaction from it, even when it it slow.

When working from home, to be successful, it is imperative to have a place dedicated to work. A place that will inspire you to work and not watch television! I have a great home office, a bedroom turned into a place just for work, and my favorite books. It is decorated beautifully, although I need to paint and add some more organizational tools (I'm a little OCD when it comes to ORG-anizing), it is a still great place to create. On days like this though, my office goes mobile and I grab my laptop and head to the deck. 

There is a slight breeze in the air, the sun in overhead, but not too hot, the background noise is someone mowing his lawn, so I also have the sweet, fragrant smell of freshly cut grass to tickle my olfactory sense. In the last 30 mintues another neighbor started barbequeing, some more olfactory sensation. This is the beauty of summer. I am inspired to write, my mind is clear, and life is pretty good.

So if you have a terrace, deck or balcony on days like this, go outside and enjoy it! The fresh air will make you feel so much better, and I guarantee you will accomplish a lot! Don't enjoy the benefit of an outdoor space? Open the windows and position a chair in front and let the air flow over you.

Why do professionals fight over the corner offices? Why do the 'big-wigs' always have the corner office? Well, simply because it is the best! The view, the natural light is a priviledge and something to be earned. People FEEL better when they can see the sun! We are all a little like Superman, who has to recharge his powers by absorbing energy from the Sun. That Vitamin D is good for us to!

So take that computer and go outside! Your productivity will increase ten-fold!

So driving from my place to my parents, I pass by a house that has bothered me for a long while. It's summer, the season to go outside and enjoy nature. It's the season to plant flowers and gardens and watch them grow. But this house, skipped that growing process and has fake plants outside! It blows my mind. I thought it was an isolated incident, but saw another, and another, and spoke with friends who have these fake flower gardens in their neighborhoods as well. Which makes it even worse because now we are talking about a phenomenon.

Real plants aren't cheap, I understand that. And fake flowers can be purchased at the dollar store, but that still doesn't make it right. Fake flowers positioned around the yard is fundamentally wrong. Believe me, you are not fooling anyone, even driving down the street going 35 miles an hour the fakeness is identifiable.

Home Improvement stores and nurseries (the floral kind) have flowers on sale, with great deals starting at four for $1. Look for plants that will return each year, called perenials. If you are concerned with watering them stick to native plantings that are designed to grow in our midwest climate by having a long root system which taps into the ground water table in times of drought. If you want color, look for perenials that flower or have a natural color other than green.

Do anything, other than put fake flowers outside. Summer is about being outside, in nature. It's not nice to fool Mother Nature!

A few months ago I went out on a Friday and a Saturday. Friday I went to one side of Chicago; on Saturday, another side of town. This is how I felt that Sunday:

Well, for the past six weeks, you cannot watch the news without hearing about the oil spill - the worse in our country's history.  The news I saw today, forecasted that the damage would be with us for years, if not decades!  The poor birds need volunteers to give them Dawn liquid baths, in an effort to save their lives!  I don't care what kind of person you are, seeing those animals suffer, has to hit you somewhere.

So as billions of dollars will be spent cleaning up the mess, taking care of our own neighborhoods should be a priority!  So what is with all the garbage?  Why do children and teenagers just throw trash on the ground?  Why do the wineo's who drink that bad liquor they drink while walking down the street, throw the bottle at wherever it ran out?  I used to wonder why people would leave plastic bags hanging on their fences, and I now know, in the sheer hopes that the disrespectful perpetrators will place the bottles and wrappers in the bag.

But, no.  we don't care about keeping our neighborhoods clean.

So this morning, I was reading through the headlines on Yahoo News, and came across the story about The New Rules of Remodeling. According to the article, home improvement is receiving a new surge of takers as the housing market stays at a standstill. With housing values less than what the actual selling price was, causing many people to be upside down in their mortgage (owing more than it is worth), homeowners have decided to sit tight. And actually, do any of us have a choice? We have to make what we have work and actually enjoy our homes.

Secondly, we can't pass repairs off on the next buyer, so the smart and right idea is to upgrade and improve our homes for the long haul. I see this on both ends - as a Realtor, there are first time buyers still getting into the market, but there is a lot to choose from. Sellers can no longer leave unfinished projects and expect a buyer to offer full price. The foreclosure crisis left many new places available, and these were completed with high end finishes. So you have to compete. So the remodeling you do, is not just so you are comfortable, but will also put you miles ahead of the pack when the housing market recovers, and it will.

As a designer I know what people want and there are great, easy fixes that are inexpensive which will make your home feel like new!  Below are my favorite five mini-improvements that give maximum transformation!

So, I am of course an avid HGTV watcher....as a designer, I love to see what other designers are doing, what is trending right now, and out-of-the-box ideas for room makeovers. What I find facinating, is the shows on cleaning up, decluttering and hoarding. If  you need inspiration for keeping your home clean and clutter free, just turn on the TV, and clean while you do it!

First there was TLC's Clean Sweep (syndicated).  Then came Style Network's Clean House, which is one of my favorite shows...and while this started as a help for small problem with clutter the show, over the past 5 years has avalanched into homes with serious clutter and hoarding. Hoading is a big problem, often requiring the need of a therapist to help victims, no, rescue people from the dependency of 'stuff' that has literally halted there lives.

I don't know about you, but Chicago being quoted as the murder capital are words that worry me. I'm a Chicago native, born and raised and I love living here! It's such a beautiful city, so much to do, but now, its almost too scary to even leave the house. And for those who fall victim to home invasion, even home isn't safe. I lost a very dear member of my extended family in the first confirmed murder of 2010, and I wrote the following as part of the healing process:

I haven't been sleeping well this week.  Family & friends discovered the body of a neighbor, friend, a chosen family member on January 2, 2010.  Friends and family of Joyce Fulgium, had been looking for her since Tuesday, but thought she had gone to have some 'pamper' days at a hotel.  But no one was used to not hearing from her, and everyone became more concerned each day.  It was odd that Joyce had not called to say she was going away, yet  none of us ever suspected that Joyce was dead in her home. 

Joyce was a great person and had taken exceptional care of her elderly parents; her mother passed in 1999, and her father just in October 2009, at the age of 104.  She was always there for them, and for anyone else who needed her.  Joyce bought me my first piece of good jewelry, other than my folks.  If Joyce liked you, she loved you, and would do anything for you.  Joyce loved to tell everyone a story about me; she walked over the house when I was about 18 months old and before she could sit down good, I ran and jumped in her lap.  I was wearing a new pair of pink fuzzy slippers and put them in her face, while on my feet and exclaimed, "Look at my new fuzzies!"  It was a special moment between us and was spoken of often.

Today is Earth Day! I have already taken a trip to Walgreens for my $1 ink refill! I believe very much in the environment and doing what I can to reduce my use! Chicago's Blue Recycle Trucks are out in force today, only fitting to recycle what you can.

There are serious Earth Day deals so check them out!

But there are things you can do to make everyday an Earth Day!

The anticipated first time homebuyer's $8000 tax credit has encouraged many to enter the market. Hey, who doesn't want $8,000 from the government, that doesn't have to be repaid? Unfortunately, the credit has spawned some fraud, of course it did right?

Tax returns are being delayed, sometimes as long as five or six months!  Yeah, it does suck! That new living room or bedroom furniture or 50" flat screen TV is going to have to wait a little while longer!  But you can thank those that try to cheat the system.

Filing electronically can cause a longer delay, because the gov'ment wants that HUD1 - the documentation sent to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development that has all the setttlement charges associated with your new home purchase. So they will contact you by mail, requesting one be sent to them.

But be patient, it will be worth it right? With interest rates at great lows, and home prices even lower, a few extra months is cool, Right?

If you still want to get in on the home buying frenzy, you have a few days. In order to qualify, you have to have a fully executed contract, real estate-eeze (one signed by all parties - for non-real estate speaking individuals) by April 30. Then you have to close by June 30. So talk to a mortgage broker, call your realtor, and find a house quick!!

Happy Hunting!