Faux painting adds grace and sophistication to any room. Color washes create a softly patterned handmade effect that cannot be matched by any wallpaper patterns.

Nails are classified both by their length in inches and by their "penny" size, written with "D" on the package. Here's how to determine the penny size of a nail. Take the length of the nail you need, subtract a half inch, and then multiply by four. For example, if you need a two and a half inch nail, subtract a half inch which leaves two, then multiply by four. This means you need an eight-penny nail.

When painting a room, start with the ceiling. Next, cut in around windows, doors, corners and trim. Roll out the walls, starting from the an upper corner, applying one small section at a time and blending. Save the windows and trim for last.

With proper planning, a garden should get better every year; the key is to organize your design ideas in advance. Make a sketch of your lot, using different colors for sunny and shady areas. Then think about one section at a time: the view from your windows... your soil and weather conditions... a coherent color scheme. And keep track of this years plan in a garden diary, to use next year.