As a designer who has viewed over 300 of my client's bedrooms in the last decade, I know many of you remain a bit stymied over how to "make your bed". I've seen my share of ornate; scratchy; motel-style bedspreads pulled right up over the pillows in a bumpy mess. Rather than go to therapy for my messy bed nightmares, I thought I would show you how to present your bed when potential buyers might be strolling through your master bedroom or when your designer comes to call. No matter what style of decorating you prefer, I have some simple rules for you to follow:

Winter is upon us. It's that time of year for cocooning at home with a movie and a family size bowl of popcorn. It's also a perfect opportunity to inject a little colour and style into your space with comfy blankets and throws. Is your family room in the cool basement? Don't worry, I've test driven four of my favorite blankets of the season in frigid conditioning to help you make the perfect choice.

Trends come and go. Feature walls, blackboard paint and wall to wall surface treatments have been popular for so long now that you might want to consider something a bit more individual. Why not try a wallpaper mural to brighten your space?

One of my frequent requests from clients is to design a "kid-proof" home. I must tell you, If I am completely honest about this, it's impossible. I don't have children, but daily life (and the occasional party) have provided plenty of visible damage in my home – like the time someone danced in stilettos on my beautiful hardwood floors, or the red wine I spilled on the day my new white carpet was installed. Or that time I knocked over my brand new custom credenza because I opened all the drawers at once and damaged four of the drawer fronts. Spills and scratches are going to happen. I like to remind my clients of the five-foot rule. If you can't see damage from a standing position, it doesn't exist.

We all want to do our part for a healthier earth. Recycling, considering energy efficiency and cutting back on wasteful practices comes naturally to Calgarians. Have you ever considered decorating greener? For most of us building a LEED certified, solar powered home filled with eco specific products will never be in the budget. Luckily there are decorating options that will enable you as a homeowner to make wise environmental and ethical choices. Those quick thrill decorating shows and design magazines are fun to look at but for most of us, decorating a home is a much longer process. Read further for tips on planning and decorating your home with thought to budget, quality and longevity.

Lori Andrews is one busy lady. In addition to being a regular contributor to CREB®Now, the "insanely happy interior designer and photographer" can be found snapping photos and designing striking spaces all over the city, including the Fratello Analog Café in southwest Calgary. Andrews took time out of her busy schedule to talk a little bit about herself, her city and what it takes to turn a home from tired to timeless.