One of my favorite things is seeing rooms come alive on a budget. Thanks to Sabrina Fischer, owner of Peacock Furniture Galleria and The Sassy Peacock, we get a peek at real homes in Erie where folks do it right in today’s issue of House to Home.

The photo at left is a redo of a sunroom that formerly had a lot of smallish furniture and clutter. To read the entire story, click here.

Another suggestion that Fischer makes is on bookcases. All of us are often guilty of packing books into the bookcase. A bookcase should really be a beautiful display case that benefits from a little air. Fewer books, a sculpture or two, a photo, a bowl or vase can open up a room instead of giving it the feel of a library.

Another fave story of mine in today’s House to Home is on lighting trends — read it here. Lighting is one of those things we often forget about. I remember my mom only changed the lamps in the living room once in 26 years. And the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. The bedroom lamps my parents had ever since I could remember now grace the dresser in our master suite. Well, the shades have been replaced a gazillion times.

Enjoy the articles in House to Home today, and check out our 2-minute video tour of Chardonnay Village homes and a visit with Joan MacDowell of John V. Schultz — see it here.