Decorating a room doesn’t have to cost much. With talent and imagination, Charlie Kratzer turned his basement from blah to bam! using $10 worth of black Sharpie markers.
Charlie drew both historical figures and fictional characters on the walls of his basement. He featured his dad, R2D2, Winston Churchill, Joan Crawford, Sherlock Holmes, and others. Here’s a screenshot of a corner of the basement:

Although the entire basement is covered with the drawings, it doesn’t look crowded or overwhelming, due to the simple lines of black over a cream background. There isn’t a spot of color on the walls, which makes …read more

decor8 is a to-the-point name for this blog I’m featuring today. It’s a blog for finding decorating inspiration, eye candy, tips, stores, and products for adding just the perfect touch to the home.
decor8 is written by Holly Becker, who describes her blog as:
decor8 is a quick fix for design addicts who love decorating their homes but find it challenging to shop online. Your time is important, so that’s why I (founder/editor Holly Becker) scour dozens of resources for the latest tips and trends so you don’t have to. Then, I sift through it all extracting only what I …read more

Where can you find unique decor and furniture for your home? There are a number of sites out there that go beyond the usual predictable pieces. One of these is Zwello, a “virtual store of modern design”.
Zwello carries pieces by established designers, but also seeks out up-and-coming talent to add to its collections. Here are some examples of what you can find there:
 
This Super Charger corrals chargers and cords for various electronics, providing a neat central location for them.

To round off the 3rd anniversary celebrations and officially usher in Keeping the Castle’s 4th year, I have a number of giveaways for lucky readers. Yes, there are more than one!

This first giveaway is for one copy of the book “The Peaceful Nursery: Preparing a Home for Your Baby with Feng Shui” by home and lifestyle experts Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes.