Meet Our Bloggers
Susan
Susan J. Smith is the founder and president of Rooms that Work LLC, an interior decorating company in central Connecticut. Susan works with what homeowners already have and creates something new.
Her company's motto "your home, only better" (also the name of her blog) reflects her belief that every home has potential to be the best it can be.
She has also recently launched an online community forum for home enthusiasts called HOMEdigz.com.
Susan is a big believer that a fresh perspective can bring big improvements to any home and she prides herself on her ability to create big impacts with small budgets. And yes, she's a bit of a geek! ;)
Rooms that Work LLC
Website: www.roomsthatwork.com
Blog Link: www.yourhomeonlybetter.com
Forum: www.HOMEdigz.com
Recent posts by Susan:
Because we’ve moved around quite a bit, we tend to celebrate our holidays without the luxury extended family. I really miss that sense of community. I close my eyes and imagine guests lingering beyond the meal, reminiscing over past holidays, perhaps a little gossip here or there, and lavishing the hostess with compliments about the [...]
Posted by: Susan 11/4/09 at 4:11 pm
As time marches quickly towards Halloween, I realize that Thanksgiving and all the December holidays are storming in right behind it. In our house we also have a couple birthdays in there as well.
So my advice? Take a moment and BREATHE while you can. Find a quiet place in your home where you can relax, [...]
Posted by: Susan 10/21/09 at 2:43 pm
I recently had the unique privilege of decorating a fall harvest center for my daughter’s pre-k classroom. It had to span Halloween and Thanksgiving, and couldn’t be too creepy since it’s for four year olds.
So I looked to nature for inspiration. I gathered a few branches from the woods out back, and picked up some [...]
Posted by: Susan 10/15/09 at 9:10 am
Cool nights make me dream of cozy bedrooms. Speaking of dreams…isn’t this teen girls’ bedroom suite dreamy? By using 2 shades of blue and tying them together with silver star decals, this room is so serene.
Notice that there is not a lot of clutter either. Bedrooms should be left rather simple to minimize distractions – [...]
Posted by: Susan 10/2/09 at 9:22 am
Last year I wrote a post called “boo!” about a clever (read as “inexpensive”) decor idea using flower frogs and cylinder vases.
This year, I upped the ante a little bit. I found some black bat cling-on’s which worked great for the vases and the kitchen window behind them. And of course, black goes with everything, [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/24/09 at 2:21 pm
I was drying my hair in the bathroom this morning wondering what I should write about this week, and low and behold…reflected in the mirror I saw something that made me smile.
No, it wasn’t my hair (that wasn’t going very well). I was looking at the wonderful piece of wall art I’d picked up from [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/17/09 at 6:48 pm
It may seem a small thing, and literally, I guess they are! But merely switching out drawer pulls on an old dresser can really give it new life and better incorporate it into a new design (much cheaper than buying new furniture!).
While paint or new accessories can really change a room, it’s the little details [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/9/09 at 2:45 pm
Welcome to that awkward yet wonderful time of year when we don’t know what to wear or how to outfit our homes during the transitioning season.
As to what to wear…I go with thin layers than can be shucked like ears of corn as the sun gets rocking. But for the home? Wow, that’s a different [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/3/09 at 3:35 pm
One reason I love what I do is I get to visit homes with so many different styles.
Here’s a lovely den that I came across this summer (click to enlarge). It’s not a large room, but the half-window treatments open it up nicely and the built in bookcase is beautiful.
It’s European flair has such charm, [...]
Posted by: Susan 8/20/09 at 2:14 pm
It’s still warm outside, but I’ve caught the back-to-school bug and am itchin’ to organize. ;) I like to start by clearing out storage areas and closets FIRST, so when I fly through the house like a crazy woman, I actually have someplace to put things rather than just scooting them around the house in a chaotic fashion.
I [...]
Posted by: Susan 8/12/09 at 2:26 pm
Looking for a fun end of summer party idea? How about a Décor Exchange Party, where each guest brings an unused accessory to auction (to each other) for charity? Not only will you have fun, but you’ll clean out your basement, find new (to you) decorating accessories, and you’ll help others in need. Here are some ideas to make it a fabulous party…
Posted by: Susan 8/6/09 at 10:20 am
Because of HomeGood’s unique approach to selling things, they can’t have a traditional eCommerce store (although it’s often requested). But hey, that’s why they can offer such unique items at great prices nationwide! So to make it up to their shoppers, they have spent a lot of time and effort bringing inspirational content to this website for you. From the new Stylefinder, to the HG Openhouse Blog, Thought Starters, Customer Finds and more! And now there’s a new Facebook Fan page!
Posted by: Susan 7/29/09 at 2:56 pm
I love a great quiz, and Deborah Needleman really nailed it with her style quiz!
Now when I first took this quiz, I was ELEGANT CLASSIC – which probably best describes my current home.
But wait a minute…I don’t live alone! Is this truly my style or the compromised style built on biases and onions of my [...]
Posted by: Susan 7/21/09 at 2:05 pm
Ever wonder how HomeGoods shoppers make their homes look fabulous without spending a lot? Here are some of their secrets!
Posted by: Susan 7/8/09 at 4:26 pm
Hello HG Openhouse readers! Sorry I missed you all last week. I unexpectedly spent four days last week at our local children’s hospital with my youngest daughter. She’s fine now, and we’re very thankful to the many folks that helped her to a quick recovery.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to [...]
Posted by: Susan 7/1/09 at 5:09 pm
Maybe it’s the rain, but lately I’ve been thinking about adding color to my kitchen. I don’t have the style kitchen to support the bold (and beautiful) retro large appliances, but why not add a few unexpected accessories?
How about a blue toaster? Orange simmer pot? Red mixer? You get the idea.
Posted by: Susan 6/18/09 at 2:30 pm
Too busy to remodel your kitchen? I hear ya! Here’s a quick and easy (read as inexpensive) way to jazz up your kitchen if you don’t have a backsplash (and no, not everyone has one!).
First, add a stainless steel panel behind the stove (click pic to enlarge), then add coordiating frames underneath the cabinets. Voilla! [...]
Posted by: Susan 6/11/09 at 12:17 pm
Hey there! I know I just talked to you last week about how to make some simple artwork for windows (read about it here), but I’m back today to show you how I quickly and cheaply added a personalized art project to a little girls room last week. Seriously, this cost nothing!
As I was [...]
Posted by: Susan 6/3/09 at 2:23 pm
Here’s an easy way to dress up otherwise plain curtains. We cut flowers out of acid-free printed paper, added a foam flower and button in the center, and a ribbon to the back as the stem, and sewed them all together.
Each flower is different, and all cut by hand so they are not all matchy-matchy. [...]
Posted by: Susan 5/27/09 at 10:16 am
I’ve walked through a lot of homes! Some as a home buyer, and many as a professional home stager (yes, I love my job!).
It’s so easy for a look to get outdated, but here are a 7 quick tips to spruce up your style without spending a lot of money (whether you’re moving or not!):
Posted by: Susan 5/20/09 at 6:05 pm
Why entertain inside when you can party outside! Nature takes care of most of the decorations for you. Just add some ambiance with candlelight and party past sundown!
Here’s a simple (and inexpensive) candleholder I made with terracotta pots for our Easter dinner last month. I painted the inside of small pots silver and put tea [...]
Posted by: Susan 4/30/09 at 9:24 am
It reached 70 degrees yesterday which means two things: 1) time for a pedi, and 2) time to update my bedding! While I enjoyed the cozy duvet cover and chocolate brown quilt over the winter, it’s was time up brighten things up again!
And just think…by September or October when the first chill is in [...]
Posted by: Susan 4/18/09 at 11:43 am
I’m a practical mom. Not sure if that’s good or bad, but I’ve decided to tweak a few elements in my kids’ Easter baskets this year (I sure hope they’re not reading this!).
Rather than plastic grass which leaves quite a mess, I found some super inexpensive fleece baby blankets. They love wrapping stuffed animals in [...]
Posted by: Susan 4/8/09 at 10:29 am
My neighbor just got a new, well…make that old…kitchen table. So of course, I had to go see it! It’s a huge, 65″ round antique table with 8 chairs. With three boys, visiting relatives and lots of play date friends, this table has plenty of room for all. While it’s a big table, [...]
Posted by: Susan 4/4/09 at 7:58 pm
I love a party, especially a blog party! Welcome new readers from Ultimate Blog Party ‘09! In case I haven’t met you yet, my name is Susan and I’m an interior decorator and home stager. I specialize in making big impacts with small budgets.
I’m also a bit of an eGeek – I blog (a lot!) [...]
Posted by: Susan 3/25/09 at 9:16 am
One of the advantages of having daughters is you can (somehow) rationalize redesigning their bedrooms more frequently. Let’s face it…it’s fun!
Here’s the latest in a series of 3 redesigns of my 2nd grader’s room from pink to beach vacation to french modern. (To see before pics, check out a previous blog post about it).
The beach theme [...]
Posted by: Susan 3/18/09 at 4:20 pm
Try this with me - stand in your kitchen, and count how many different rooms you can see from there. (Go ahead, I’ll wait!)
How is the flow between the rooms? Now it would be boring to decorate all the rooms exactly the same, but they do need to play well together. While there are many [...]
Posted by: Susan 3/4/09 at 8:46 am
You may not associate a white bedroom with romance, but if done the right way…ooh la la! For some reason, I keep coming back to this particular bedroom (click to enlarge). Here’s why I think it’s so romantic:
The white walls are subtly softened with a framed architectural element.
The silver head board with tufted white fabric is [...]
Posted by: Susan 2/26/09 at 1:58 pm
Your hallway is the journey, not the destination (which is a nice way of saying it’s often a forgotten room).
Granted, we don’t all have nice wide hallways with architectural details and natural lighting to work with, but that doesn’t mean you can’t express yourself!
For a little eye candy, I’ve included one of my favorite hallway [...]
Posted by: Susan 2/18/09 at 10:58 am
Decorating your bedroom is indeed an art form. But so is sleeping! I’m always envious of those who fall asleep easily, stay asleep all night, and wake up perky in the morning (5 minutes BEFORE their alarm clock goes off). Aren’t they annoying? LOL
For the rest of us “sleep-challenged” folks, there may be simple reasons [...]
Posted by: Susan 2/11/09 at 10:38 am
Last November I blogged about a lovely “girls” weekend with my friends in NC. While visiting a spa, I was very taken with a meditation “nest” created at the end of a hall for clients to relax in between treatments. It was full of pillows and inspirational books to peruse. (click here to see more [...]
Posted by: Susan 2/4/09 at 10:41 am
There is a lot of visual chatter in my home (hey, what do you expect from a blogging decorator?). When decorating a room, I first decide what I want the room to “say” (so to speak) on first impact. So I figure why not spell it out as well…literally? Reinforcing ambiance with literary impact is a [...]
Posted by: Susan 1/28/09 at 9:21 am
With Valentines Day on the horizon, our thoughts naturally turn to love. {sigh}
But let’s be practical for just a moment. Did you know you can go green, save money and improve your life simultaneously?
As part of my 2009 new year’s resolutions, I’m going green(er). To kick it off, I’ve started a list of super easy [...]
Posted by: Susan 1/21/09 at 8:42 am
Raise your hand if you enjoy doing laundry! Hmmm, just as I suspected! Looks like I’m in good company. Might as well make the most of it – how about adding a littler flair?
We have upstairs laundry. Not a laundry ROOM, but a laundry CLOSET that I get to walk by many times per day.
First, [...]
Posted by: Susan 1/14/09 at 10:15 am
Let’s keep the discussion about arranging a room going with yet another case study. Here are three iterations of a little girl’s bedroom.
This first option makes good use of open area for play. However, there are areas of clutter, such as the bookcase and shelves between the windows and the bed and desk area being [...]
Posted by: Susan 1/10/09 at 10:41 am
Do you have a room that desperately needs a makeover? While you’re making New Years resolutions for yourself, why not throw in a few for your home?
Painting a room, rearranging furniture and updating accessories can make a huge impact in a room with a very little budget. Don’t be afraid to switch furniture and accessories [...]
Posted by: Susan 1/2/09 at 11:10 am
As 2008 winds down, it’s natural for our thoughts to drift to 2009, and yes…New Years Resolutions! But before you map out your path to a better you, make sure you have a comfortable “command station” space just for you.
It’s your favorite corner of the world to drink your morning coffee, reflect, make lists, catch [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/27/08 at 10:32 am
Make Reindeer Dust to sprinkle on their lawn on Christmas Eve. Just mix oats and glitter (or colored sugar) and voila…you’re ready to attract Santa’s reindeer to your house!
We had my daughters birthday party this past weekend, and included the magic dust in the goodie bags. To help explain what it is, I printed [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/23/08 at 9:16 am
I like simple holiday displays. But I also like bling! So….to get some “simple bling” for the holidays, I added a bit of silver to my family room.
First, I took advantage of a naturally sunlit corner of my family room, and replaced the faux pears with glitzy elements of nature. They really do sparkle in the [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/17/08 at 11:34 am
I actually like to keep holiday decor simple. Here is this year’s mantle display – do you recognize the clear vases with branches? I used those vases in the kitchen with flower frogs for Halloween (to spell out “BOO”) and in the dining room at Thanksgiving (as a “Tree of Thanks”). Now they’ve been promoted [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/15/08 at 1:55 pm
We’ve all been there…someone gives you an unexpected gift, and you have nothing to give in return. Yes, it is better to give than to receive, which is why it’s all the more frustrating!
Why not keep some creative, inexpensive gifts on hand, just in case? The key is to find items that you wouldn’t mind keeping if you end up not [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/5/08 at 10:27 am
Is a drive over the river and through the woods in your future this week?
Before you buckle up, prepare a car caddy (stored within reach of passengers) with essentials. Here are some essentials that I keep in my car caddy (keep in mind I have a couple small kids…adjust your list as needed!):
Wet Ones and/or [...]
Posted by: Susan 11/25/08 at 4:02 pm
We had lots of fun with our Halloween décor last month – writing the word “BOO” using cylinder vases and flower frogs. So, I decided to build on the idea for Thanksgiving.
I took a walk through the woods behind our home, and found several branches to serve as trees. I arranged them in the three [...]
Posted by: Susan 11/19/08 at 3:47 pm
Backpacks, lunch boxes, purses, briefcases, dog leash, umbrellas, sports equipment, dance bag, mail, papers, etc. is enough. But adding coats, gloves, hats, scarves, boots, OH MY! You get the picture. It can put you over the edge!
Where do you keep it all? Check out this Pottery Barn entryway arrangement. I love it! But let’s face it…its [...]
Posted by: Susan 11/12/08 at 11:04 am
Thrill those trick-or-treaters with a little style!
With just a few supplies, you can make a safe, charming and illuminating jack-o-lantern! All you need is a pot, paint, stencil, and tea lights. To keep little fingers out, just cover the candle with a standard glass globe.
Click here for step by step instructions from myhomeideas.com.
Here’s another idea… [...]
Posted by: Susan 10/29/08 at 7:48 pm
I have to admit it…I’m a little intimidated this month here on the HomeGoods Openhouse blog. There are some wonderful posts by my fellow Openhouse bloggers, and guest blogger Susan Serra containing great ideas for preparing for the holiday entertainment marathon.
But, if you’re like me, sometimes the thought of throwing a formal dinner party for [...]
Posted by: Susan 10/22/08 at 4:54 pm
While I enjoy my copper pumpkins on my mantel this time of year, it’s the nighttime that makes them truly spooktacular (sorry, couldn’t resist).
Think about it…with the days getting shorter, you see your mantel at night more often than in the light.
Posted by: Susan 10/9/08 at 9:13 am
I came across this idea in a magazine last fall, and decided to give it a go this year. I took 3 glass vases (apothecary jars, or any clear glass would work just fine), and put a flower frog in the bottom of each. Then I simply printed out 3 letters on my computer, and [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/29/08 at 9:34 am
I think so. I don’t have any quantitative support to that claim, but I know I do better work when I’m in an organized, functional and in an expressive setting. The way I see it, it sure can’t hurt!
My neighbor has allocated a corner of her living room to a kids study center. [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/24/08 at 9:19 am
Ok, probably not, but can you at least find what you’re looking for most of the time? Some of the time? Ok, you get my point.
I was trying to shove the “family size” pack of individual chip bags onto the shared “snacks/breakfast foods” shelf of my panty, and I had a “moment”. They just weren’t [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/19/08 at 2:11 pm
I’m so excited about the many different decorating styles are represented on this blog! Through our lives, we often adjust (or even completely change) our style either to better suite where we are in life, or as trends change, or perhaps just because the winds changed.
Posted by: Susan 9/16/08 at 9:56 am
Inspiration can be carefully calculated, or it can simply come out of nowhere! When you want to (re)decorate a room, how do you decide on color, style, and key design elements?
Here’s another way to look at it…is did you redecorate a room because you intended to, or did you get inspired by something that made [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/5/08 at 5:09 pm
We’re not all morning people. I’m not sure I even know what a “morning person” is – since I’m not one of them. Nonetheless, we all need to get up and out in the mornings, often with just precious seconds to spare.
Do you ever envy Superman’s ability to spin around in a phone booth and [...]
Posted by: Susan 9/4/08 at 9:34 am
I grew up with a mom who was constantly rearranging furniture and accessories. She went so far as to switch the dining and living room, and I recall each of the bedrooms at one time being mine (even the master bedroom). Sometimes it coincided with the change of seasons, other times for no [...]
Posted by: Susan 8/23/08 at 7:49 am
I love visiting places very different from my home, and St. Augustine, Florida is probably as different from Connecticut as you can get!
Besides the warmth, I love the beautiful detail in the Spanish architecture, the unique foliage, and the warm and vibrant colors.
(note: click images to enlarge)
Posted by: Susan 8/11/08 at 4:23 pm
We don’t all have the luxuries of all single-purpose rooms in our homes. Many homes come with a “bonus” room over the garage (I’ve never understand why they call it a “bonus” – seems to me I paid for it!).
Anyway, our “bonus” room is my favorite room in the house because it works as a [...]
Posted by: Susan 8/5/08 at 3:21 pm
Summer is my favorite season by far. Sadly, it’s only a couple months long here in the Northeast. After running inside one too many times for frequently used “stuff” I finally got practical. I keep frequently-used summer items in a colorful bucket on the kitchen counter near the door to the deck. [...]
Posted by: Susan 7/28/08 at 2:40 pm
Greetings fellow home enthusiasts! I can’t tell you how many wonderful folks I’ve met while browsing the aisles at HomeGoods – it’s a friendly group! It’s easy to spot a true home enthusiast – they are excited to chat with you while shopping about their latest project or cherished find. As part of the Openhouse [...]
Posted by: Susan 7/24/08 at 1:21 pm
Sure, kids love presents at Christmastime. But its family traditions they’ll remember most long into their adulthood.
I remember our fondue Christmas Eve dinner, Santa/Dad’s surprise visit at the door (we never caught on), Danish Pancakes Christmas morning, and my Dad making us sing three carols before we could open gifts (even when we rolled our [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/20/07 at 12:42 pm
Help! I’m putting together a top 10 list of last-minute gifts, but can only think of 9! What should #10 be?
Top 10 (ish) last-minute gifts:
1. Gift Certificate framed in a pretty frame
2. Bottle of wine, favorite spirits or case of beer
3. Forced bulb plant kit
4. Scented Candles
5. Soup mix kit
6. Oversized Tea or coffee mug [...]
Posted by: Susan at 12:41 pm
Are little kids cramping your grownup entertaining style? You could just hope they’ll stay engrossed in a DVD, or incorporate them into your party! Extend your invitation to include guests’ children and hire a couple babysitters to entertain them with crafts, snowmen sundaes, karaoke, or whatever!
With the money guests save on babysitting expenses, ask them [...]
Posted by: Susan 12/11/07 at 4:36 pm
