So, your mother’s redone every room in the house and your sister’s found cool new ways to rearrange her tiny apartment since she moved in, but somehow the creative design gene seems to have skipped you.  Not to worry — there are people who do this stuff for a living.  And even if you’re not a complete decorating disaster, having someone who is familiar with home design and merchandise can be a big help.
In Pittsburgh, some stores offer in-house design services, in addition to selling furniture, home décor and accessories.  …

Chic, sleek and stylish, modern décor always makes a statement. Ethnic and multi-cultural designs add a hint of mystery and otherworldliness, and antiques have time-honored appeal. Sustainable living is becoming more popular by the minute, and local crafts have their own set of perks. So what’s your décor persona?

Summer is a season of casual celebration. From backyard BBQ’s to big graduations, long-awaited family reunions to long weekends at friends’ houses, there are numerous occasions where a personalized gift is more appropriate, and appreciated, than a grand one.
Striking a balance between unusual and useful is key in the realm of hot weather giving so banish thoughts of yawn-worthy gift cards or the overtly quirky — his-and-her bowling shirts or cereal-of the-month club memberships — and think classically unconventional.  If your pre-vacation to-do list is a mile long and lunch …