May 16, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 25 (ARA) Gone are the days when a stylish home and a busy family were mutually exclusive. Home decorating is hotter than ever and everyone is getting in on the trend. With an ever-increasing focus on DIY design projects, resources such as shelter magazines, design blogs, TV shows, and home décor retailers are making high design accessible to any homeowner. If your budget doesn’t include hiring an interior decorator to update your décor, a few tips from the experts will go a long way. Design duo Robert and Cortney Novogratz are the stars of HGTV’s “Home by Novogratz” and parents to seven children. Known for using vintage and eclectic items to create fun and stylish interiors that are also family-friendly, they point out that selecting unique pieces for a home is an easy way to make your style stand out. Home decor evolution: Trends anyone can try “Having vintage pieces in your home is very important,” Robert Novogratz said. “Our world is becoming more and more homogenized and a vintage piece really sets your space apart from anywhere else. Vintage pieces add a sense of history, tell a story, and make your space unique. It could be a family heirloom or something from a flea market.” To help you get in on the vintage trend, Cortney and Robert Novogratz are sharing their secrets for creating unique and family-friendly spaces that fuse style with purpose: Embrace the possibilities. When you’re shopping for vintage pieces, consider how they can be repurposed for your home. You can use an antique chest as a coffee table that doubles as stylish storage for blankets, pillows, and toys. You will find new ways to incorporate pieces you’re drawn to by keeping an open mind. Add history to your home. Vintage items, from coffee table books to maps and globes, can be incorporated into lively gathering spaces or even children’s bedrooms. Parents with an eye for style shouldn’t be concerned about adding unique items to their home. While you do not want to put the most expensive pieces in your kids’ bedrooms, collectables like classic books and vintage maps make perfect decorative learning tools. Mix it up. A mix-and-match approach can give a home an eclectic yet comfortable style, adding a touch of livability to ultramodern spaces and pops of personality to more traditional decor. This works well for a dining room (continued on page 27)