Wow! how fun, a blog party!  Should I B.Y.O.B. (bring your own blog)?  Well, here it is. Welcome to HG Openhouse (for those that haven’t visited before…where ya been?). For those of you who haven’t seen the blog party, you should check out The Ultimate Blog Party 2009 at,  5 minutes for mom.

 Let me introduce myself.  I’m Cathy and I’m one of the bloggers for HG (HomeGoods) Openhouse blog. It’s a blog for anyone who loves to decorate or just talk “shop”. My background is in home design and decorating…a passion and professional pursuit for many (and then some) years. I live in southern California with my husband and 2 grown kids (they love us so much, they don’t want to leave…). I love to talk or write about decorating or related subjects, and HomeGoods has put up with,  or let me blog for over 2 years now. Someday I’ll run out of material, but not yet! Anyway, check out HG Openhouse. We have some great contributing bloggers who think home is the happiest place on earth (Disneyland, a close second). Drop in again when you can, our house is always open.

On to the blog topic…. Shop Your Home For A Spring Update…

I’m one of those people that gets tired of the same things, in the same places, for too long. I like a little change once in a while. It’s great to feel like there’s something new and different even if it’s just all your old things rearranged or accessorized in a new way…a fresh perspective. What better time than spring to make a few changes (it will help you get in the mood to do some spring cleaning…or not).

In the first picture, this sitting area is a leftover from the winter/holiday season. It’s OK but it doesn’t say “spring” to me. So I changed a few things and grabbed some stuff from other parts of the house.  A floral theme developed as I switched out the space. It only took about 10 minutes to go from winter to spring.

 Here’s what I changed…(click on pictures to enlarge)

• A red, subtle patterned wool area rug… was changed to a lively needlepoint floral rug.
• The dark antique sideboard… to a lighter, open airy console table.
• The black and white checked, chair back pillows… to a large floral. (they were right there on my sofa).
• A glass base lamp with drum shade… to a celadon ginger jar lamp with an empire  shade.
• Asian candle sticks and a damask plate… to, tall spring blossoming branches, primrose plate, books, and big and small ceramic birds.

That’s about all it took to “springerize” the room. The other things went to other areas of the house to add a little change as well.

So, look around your house to see what easy changes you can make, without having to spend a buck. In  the very top photo, double the size of your spring blossom display by setting them in front of a big mirror. It reflects twice as many flowers for the price of a few.

How ’bout it?  Do any of you pull the old switch-a-roo? Or, are you the, “once-its-in-place,-it- doesn’t-move” kind of person?

Love to hear your thoughts, ideas, or just jump in and say Hi !!!   Happy Spring!

Keep the party going at The Ultimate Blog Party 2009