Thursday, April 16, 2009

Guest post and Giveaway!

Hey! Come hang out with me over at Misti’s place and read my post on Porches, Patios, and Decks. Misti at Studio M Designs has asked me to be a guest blogger and we are going to join the Hooked on Friday blog party hosted by Julia at Hooked on Houses.

I am giving away a copy of my book Designing Your Dream Home! To be eligible, all you have to do is leave a comment telling me which post in my archives has been the most beneficial to you. That’s all it takes. I will post the winner on Monday around noon EST. Please check back to see if you won and make sure I can get in touch with you to get your address. If I am unable to reach the winner, another winner will be named.

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It’s that time of year when porches, patios, and decks become another “room” we live in. My post is filled with photos to give you ideas as well as a number of questions to help you with the functional design. Feel free to email me if you have any particular questions at floorplandetails@aol.com

To get you in the mood, check out a couple of glorious patio and porch photos below. Don’t forget to come back in a day or two and read my post on Mistakes to Avoid related to porches, patios, and decks. Also to see if you are the winner of my book. Enjoy!IMG_0019 IMG_0020

(Source of tear sheet photos used in this post is unknown. If you will contact me I will include the source or removed the photo.)

39 comments:

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

Whew! We did it Susan! Thanks so much for indulging me on my guest post. You went above and beyond the call of duty!

~Misti

JoAnne said...

Hi Susan, It is a pleasure to meet you. I just wandered over from Misti's place (one of my favorite places to visit). Congratulations on your book - that is an accomplishment. I will definitely be back to visit. Take care, JoAnne

Unknown said...

Hi Susan
I have been meaning to tell you that I got a copy of your incredible book last week and I sit down and read it whenever I get a free minute. You have put an amazing amount of valuable information in it and what a great resource book it is. Well done!!!!!!
Kindest Regards
Patricia

Anonymous said...

My favorite and most useful post was the Shower Shelves posts! I am in the process of redoing the bathroom and this is very helpful!

CindyDDD said...

Well, since I just found your blog through Misti's blog, I don't have a favorite--YET!

But since I am decoratingly challenged, I will probably find a few favs soon!

Julia @ Hooked on Houses said...

How fun to see your guest post over at Misti's! I'm so glad the two of you participated in my blog party today. And what a great giveaway!

As you know, I think your book is great. And I like the yellow color on the spine so much that it sits out on my side table in my study all the time. :-)

solsticehome said...

Hi Susan..I'm just over from Julia's (hooked on Houses)..happy to have found you!After snooping around your blog..
What post is most beneficial to me..hard one..but if pushed I'd have to say (backing) which is something I never think of and after 3 remodels know I need!
sue

Kristen said...

Oh no!!! I have a feeling I'm going to be reading every single back article you've ever written!! We are just starting to finish our basement and I've been pouring over your electrical posts. Bookcase lighting - ahhhhh!!! I just found you today but I have a feeling I'll come back again and again to get more tips! What a GREAT site and congratulations on the book!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for stopping by. I've never heard of the book "The Shack" I'll look it up and check it out. I love all the beautiful pictures of homes in your posts!

Shannon said...

I really need this book! We are currently designing our dream home. It is so exciting and scary at the same time.

Shannon said...

oops! i forgot to mention that your post about considering noise in your design was absolutely ingenious!

Pam Gray said...

I am benefiting from all of your blogs, but I am preparing to redo a small cottage and am paying particular attention to "bookcases" since I need to make great use of the small spaces! Would love your book!
Pam

Julie said...

Oh My - I just happened upon your blog today and pray it is my lucky day because I would LOVE to own this book! Please enter my name!

DesignTies said...

Your patio post at Studio M is very informative and helpful :-) Thanks!!

And thanks for visiting our blog and leaving the comment for Ron. When I was growing up, we were hooked on the name Tanya for our dogs :-)

I really like your cookie dough post :-) Because really, you can't go wrong with chocolate chip cookies!! And because it reminds us that there's a lot more to design than how things look -- design should involve and appeal to all our senses.

Kelly @ DesignTies

Laura Casey Interiors said...

Love the post on storage of glasses and plates. Also the one on shower shelving- very helpful and good ideas! So glad to know about your blog.

Rhoda @ Southern Hospitality said...

Awww, thanks Susan! I'm glad you liked the decoupage post. I'm so sorry you lost your mom so young, I can't even imagine what I'd do without mine. I've been so blessed to have her in my life always. Thanks for stopping by.

Congrats on your feature with Misti. That's great! I hope your book does well.

Anonymous said...

Oh heck. I wish I had found you before we started our Reno. I am still going to get your book, and I am honored that you took the time to visit my blog.

The article on the book shelf lighting was dead on spot for me. We converted an ugly sliding door kitchen pantry into a french door cabinet for all of my tableware.Of course the halogen lighting is great for the top shelf. I am about to resort to battery puck lights. Not too great, and pretty inefficient.

Yes Jeffery Bilhuber did a fabulous job on that Nantucket Cottage.

Cheers
Sue.

Pearl Maple said...

Follwed your link from the beach cottage blog, how cool your book does seem to cover all the questions in make a dream come true.

Anonymous said...

Dear Susan , this sounds like the kind of help I have been praying for! We have just started talks with our architects about our dream small house, and I have been staying up nights pondering how to be equipped to talk to them about what we need as opposed to what would be 'nice'. Thank You from of us apprehensive dreamers! may your book become a classic!
Valentina from Cyprus

Sue said...

Susan, what a wealth of information you are providing!
I immediately went to the "what mistakes to avoid" tab- cuz I always seem to make at LEAST one...LOL-
I found a suggestion for the bedroom outlets. It makes SO much more sense to put in a quad vs a double. I always have to use unsightly extension cords on either side of the beds! I'm so glad I found you this morning via Hooked on Houses. I will be back again because I am subscribing. ~Sue
Almost forgot- thanks for hosting the giveaway!

City and Seaside said...

I just found your blog and love it! I've bookmarked almost every entry you've written. The most helpful for me was the one identifying the information to give to your architect. Using your guidelines have really helped to clarify our planning! Thanks.

Hazel Martin Designs said...

HI Susan, I'm hoping over from hooked on houses! I would love to win the copy of your book! My husband and I just purchased a QUIRKY old house out in the country and I really need help with it! I found your post on plate storage to be the most relevant to me at the moment, My new kitchen is really layed out in an odd way! Thanks for offering the giveaway and I'll be subscribing to your blog!

janice said...

Hi, What a great blog! I found you thru Hooked on Houses. I think the most helpful blog was the one on interviewing architects. My family is planning a second story addition in the near future. Thanks, Janice

Susan Lang @ Designing Your Dream Home said...

I have just read the comments received since I last night and I must confess I am doing a little dance around my computer! Anonymous, Sue, City and Seaside, Hazel, and Janice...all of you are exactly the people for whom I wrote my book and now my blog. I am absolutely thrilled to read that it is helping you. Thank you for the comment!

Mabry's Gamma said...

Hi there,

I just wondered over from Hooked on Houses and now I will definitely be checking out your blog. You have some great ideas to show and soon I hope we will be remodeling a home. Presently I am trying to find pictures of inspiration and I would love to win a copy of your book to help me out.

Alpaca Farmgirl said...

Loved the post about leaving cookies in the oven on warm while you're out. Great idea! I'd love to win this book because I'm about to try to sell my house and build another.

The P*dunc's said...

I have two little ones in diapers, so I am always worried that when we do move and have to sell our house, it will smell like "dirty diaper". I love your tip to bake cookies! What a great idea.
Kristen

Joslyn said...

Hi -
It is hard to pick just one post... stumbled here from Hooked on Houses - I have to say though I like the post on the tub decks...always dreaming about, in my dream home if I should go free standing or if not - what to do with the tub deck...most I see in houses are not that great - but your post has some good ideas...
~Joslyn

MommaJen said...

came here from Hooked and I enjoyed the post on bookcase lighting - that is always a challenge!

Anna Ferguson said...

Wonderful, and I love baths #3!

Farmgirl Paints said...

Visiting from Hooked, love the photos. Congrats on the book.

Unknown said...

Hi! This is such a great blog! I really enjoyed the article about blocking (the first one). I don't think I would have ever thought of it! I need your book! BTW, I've added your blog to my links.

bondgirl said...

Love the blog, as we are just beginning a MAJOR renovation. Believe it or not, I am especially grateful for the minute details, such as remembering where to place electrical outlets. I do NOT want to undo the work we did, or pay for contractors to come back out!!

I've also been motivated to start a blog to track the progress. It is more of a before, during, & after of each area, but it is a fun way to share and watch what is going on.

Came here from Hooked on Houses.

Paula said...

I just found your blog this morning and plan to read every word! We just inherited a house that we are trying to update/change to fit our tastes/needs. I have (a) no experience and (b) no confidence. I think I've found you just in time!

valerie2350 said...

love your bathtub series

Rebecca Cox said...

Susan, I would love to win this book and since I just found your site, I guess the contest would be my favorite.

Carolyn said...

The Mud Rooms article was helpful, because I never quite know how to utilize that room fully!

Kathy P said...

i liked the Sunday, April 19, 2009
Porches, Patios, and Decks: Mistakes to Avoid because we are thinking about building a patio and it is very overwhelming :(

Anonymous said...

Hi all. How are you?