Karen Warren

Image above by @ OliviaRichards from @ PartyCrushStudio Oh, what a year it's been ! 2018 has flown by and our team is looking forward to our annual break and a chance to regroup, celebrate with family and get ready for the next year. This year we started a new print magazine , launched a new podcast , traveled around the country to celebrate both, and put a new project onto the stove that will hopefully (fingers crossed) be starting early in the new year. We have some very BIG news  coming up after the break, too, so I hope you'll join us on Monday, January 7th when we're back from the holidays with our regular weekly content. Until then, all of us here at Design*Sponge are wishing you a safe and happy holiday, safe travels if you're heading anywhere and best wishes for a happy new year. I know this year has been filled with ups and downs for so many in our community and we just to send all of our love and our gratitude for your continued support, feedback and friend...

Our group Whole30s are an annual tradition, and our seasoned Whole30'ers know the drill. But if you're new to our community (welcome!) we want to make it easy for you to join in on the life-changing fun. Here's your step-by-step guide to joining the #JanuaryWhole30 in 2019. Starting 2019 with a #JanuaryWhole30? Here's your step-by-step guide. Click To Tweet Step One: Make Your Plan Pick your start date and make a commitment The Whole30 was designed so that you can successfully start the program on any day that works best for you. If you'd like to track with the daily social media support we offer on Instagram , Facebook and Twitter , then start with us on 1/1/2019, the official #JanuaryWhole30 start date. Once you've decided on a start date, make your commitment publicly. Post about it on social media; invite your family and friends to join you; or simply tell someone you trust that you've committed to the Whole30. Review the rules and learn the program Get...

Discover a few landscape design trends that will take over 2019. We are in the middle of December , which means the new year will be here before you know it.  Right now is the perfect time to plan any landscape renovations you would like to make in 2019.  It can be as simple as adding another garden , or you can go more intricate by installing a fire pit on your property.  Discover a few landscape design trends to give you some inspiration for the new year. Bring The Inside Out A major trend in landscape design is homeowners wanting to create an extension of the interior of their home going right into their backyard.  Homeowners want to feel comfortable and relaxed in any area on their property. So, you should look into adding lighting, steps, and other features to create a functional outdoor living space.  Right now is the perfect time to add a fire pit or fireplace to the outside of your home so that you can have some well-need warmth during the winter months. Warm It Up As mentione...

We're in the final countdown to Christmas! If you're wanting to take your holiday decor up a notch or two, today's post will show you how to give your garlands and wreaths a quick makeover. Not only are these greenery upgrades affordable, they're perfect for transitioning your Christmas decorations into New Year's Eve decor . By starting with basic holiday greenery (from the green to the frosted), you can have a designer look in no time. Feel free to choose faux greenery so you can reuse your decor next year! Keep reading for all of the hassle-free DIY details… *Photos and styling by Kate Simmons Gold Star Garland This first holiday greenery upgrade gives a nod to Scandinavian style. There's something so whimsical about gold stars. When they're wooden, the result is an earthy, modern look that beautifully complements the greenery of your choice! Start with wooden craft stars. I ordered these from JOANN for a mere $4.99 a bag: Paint your stars gold , or le...

We get asked a lot of questions about exterior painting preparation tips. There's nothing like a vibrant, fresh coat of paint to enhance the appearance of your home. A clean, new coat of paint looks great, even if you're simply replacing the old color or style with the same type. In many cases, repainting begins with stripping off the old layer in preparation. That smooth, newly repainted look depends on having a smooth, prepared surface to start from. Here are some situations in which old paint needs to be stripped off: Peeling Paint If it has been a very long time since the structure was painted, it's likely that some of the old paint will be peeling. In some cases, peeling may be severe, but even minor peeling should be thoroughly stripped and smoothed before repainting begins. As any painting contractor will tell you, the uneven and unstable surface of peeling paint will undermine the quality and integrity of the fresh coat you put down. Too Many Layers Sometimes it...

All-natural DIY hair spray that works amazingly, tames frizz, and holds well. You will love this easy, homemade hair spray. Follow my tips below to style your hair naturally. What you will need: water, sugar, and essential oils (optional). This post was updated in December 2018 My hair has a mind of its own. Not only is it curly and frizzy, but since having my sweet children, I have these little horns on the side of my head that drive me nuts. I tried using the flat iron to curl them down, but I finally had enough, and made some more of this awesome DIY hair spray. Originally, this post was published in 2012. Holy cow, that is a long time ago. And I used this recipe for years and years… until my second child came, and I just gave up on keeping perfect locks. But finally, I said enough with this hair horn on the side of my head and whipped up a batch of hairspray. What was I thinking waiting so long? I totally forgot how easy this recipe is to make, and how darn well it works. Guess who...

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. It's about family and being thankful. And food. You might be surprised, too, when you find that gratitude helps finances. I love Thanksgiving. Instead of exchanging gifts, family and friends come together to share a meal, make memories, and be joyful. (At least, that's the theory.) To me, it's always been the final day before we plunge into the crass commercialism that often marks the holiday season. Gratitude in your life isn't just nice for one day, though. The act of being thankful and practicing gratitude can actually help your finances. I actually wrote about it for The Balance , and here some of the takeaways from that article. Contentment = Less Desire for More Things First of all, gratitude tends to come with feelings of contentment. When you're content, the desire for more things is lower. I know that when I am content with my life, retail therapy isn't needed. Gratitude helps us recognize what we already have, and i...

Even though interest rates have been rising, so has home equity. And if you've been holding onto your mortgage for a while, you might be considering refinancing your home. There are two main reasons why you might want to refinance: Cash Out Refinance:  If you have a lot of equity in your home, you might want to tap that for various reasons, from home improvements and repairs, to eliminated or consolidating other debts.  Lower Interest Rate Refinance:  If you have a higher interest rate mortgage, you can save money each month by refinancing your loan to a lower interest rate.  Shortcut:  If you just want to know if refinancing is right for you, check out Credible Mortgage . They are the kayak for loans, and you can quickly compare top lenders in minutes.  See your rates at Credible Mortgage here. Best Places To Refinance Your Mortgage 1. Caliber Home Loans 2. Guaranteed Rate 3. JMAC Lending 4. Lenda 5. Lending Tree 6. Loan Depot 7. Quicken Loans 8. Stearns 9. SoFi 10. UWM 1. Calibe...

With the holiday season winding down, it's time to start thinking about your post-holiday season pack-up. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can be draining, which makes it easier to take a few shortcuts by packing things away quickly and storing them anywhere. Sure, that gets the job done quicker now, but it only makes the task of finding and unpacking all of your disorganized holiday decorations more time-consuming later. Have a smart holiday decoration storage plan By putting a little extra thought into how and where your holiday decorations will be stored, you can save yourself from some future headaches. Garages are ideal for a lot of your holiday decoration storage needs, whether you're storing decorations for Christmas, Halloween, birthday parties, or holidays like the Fourth of July or Canada Day. The garage has to be used the right way when storing your holiday decorations, however, in order the maintain the functionality of the space. Use overhead racks for y...