What a week we had last month! A 5.9 earthquake, an aftershock and Hurricane Irene within days of each other. It might be expected on some tropical island but not in Virginia, or other areas where these things are rare or non-existent. People were caught off guard and unprepared.

Damage to furnishings and accessories can be devastating, and even more so if they become dangerous projectiles whether broken or intact.

You may not have considered the need for products like Quakehold! Museum Gel that can help secure collectibles and other objects. Though quakes and severe storms may be rare, items on display in your home can "travel" or topple over from vibrations caused by airplanes, appliances, children playing and nearby construction. The peace of mind that can come from knowing that your things are as secure as you can make them when you aren't at home, makes this a decorating supply to check out.

Click below to lean more about the products and their uses and more about ways you can help safeguard your home.

You can easily bring the colors of Fall into your home by using fabric accents such as decorative pillow slipcovers, table runners and place mats. Nearly any room's color palette can be enhanced with seasonally adjusted colors.

Fall colors are too somber, you say? Fall colors and patterns are too trite? Go beyond the expected fall leaf patterns and look at fabrics that mix versions of harvest colors with unexpected hues such as turquoise, cobalt, eggplant, copper or terra cotta.

The fabric shown is a very bright example of a twist on fall colors. It can blend well with a collection of sunflowers, copper and terra cotta containers, slate topped tables, pumpkins, pomegranates, artichokes and more.

Used as a table runner, it would make a table glow. Slipcovering a couple of existing pillows would immediately add punch to a room. For a little less impact, try a cumberbund effect by creating a wrap for the center of a solid colored pillow, secured with Velcro tabs. A little goes a long way with vibrant colors so it can be a very cost effective way to change your room.

The beauty of selecting fabrics that will harmonize with your existing decor, yet give it a different look and feel, is the emotional and visual lift it can give a room.

Need help updating your decor? Read more about your options at the end of the newsletter. For more about the pillow shown, please click below:

Do you have a small laundry room and need a place to fold laundry? This compact desk can fit the need as well as hold supplies for mending, provide a flat surface for pre-treating, drying and even quick ironing touch-ups using a special table top mat.

In a family room or basement it could function as an occasional game or project table. On game days or movie nights it can hold snacks, paper napkins, coasters and more, folding up and out of the way when not in use.

In your home office it can be the place to sort incoming mail and to store less often used stationary, cards, stamps, and other smaller office supplies that can clutter up drawers and desk tops. The desk is a perfect place for temporary projects, sorting and filing.

It might double as a nightstand and desk in a guest or child's bedroom, too. It's available in the white shown as well as walnut and black. Follow the link below for more pictures and information.

When I was in Charleston this summer, I came across the company China Baroque when shopping in the Market. The booth display was intriguing with jewelry designs all created from the broken remains of once cherished china dinnerware. The patterns and colors were so well preserved, and I thought how wonderful that the loss of something special inspired the creation of something so striking. One salvaged piece could be made into several keepsakes for family members, for example. Meaningful repurposing at its very best!

I had planned to share this company with you, and no time is more appropriate than after the quakes and storms we have had. Many people escaped damage to their homes, but china and collectibles were broken. It may be difficult to discard favorite pieces, so this is one way to preserve them that is personal and easier to keep and use.

Of course, the company also sells designs that have been created from reclaimed and vintage china such as the pieces shown. See more examples and learn about having custom pieces created from your china patterns by clicking the link below.

ReDesign With Restore returns to next weekend's 2011 Fall Capital Home Show in Chantilly, Virginia. The popularity of the rooms created by redesigners from the IRIS National Capital Area Chapter last year inspired a national partnership between members of The Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS) and Habitat for Humanity's ReStore thrift stores. I was excited to have been chosen as the lead designer for one of the two rooms last year. The British Colonial inspired room is shown above.

This year, redesigners cross the country will be creating similar designer rooms and displays to showcase the creative and decorative possibilities that can be achieved using the ever-changing inventory at the ReStore outlets.

Many people are unfamiliar with the potential treasures to be found at ReStore and how they can be used to create unique and cost effective decor. The proceeds help to fund the work that Habitat for Humanity has done for communities across the country. Our goal is to bring more awareness of the ReStores and demonstrate how creatively repurposing furnishings and materials can achieve dramatic results that are good for the environment, the community and your decorating budget.

This year's room is a Cape Cod inspired suite, created from the ground up using flooring, furniture, lighting, accessories and materials discovered at the local ReStores within the past 8 weeks.

The show runs from Friday, September 23rd through Sunday, the 25th. I'll be at the display next Saturday from 10am to 2pm and on Sunday from 2pm to 6pm, so please come by and see how and what we have transformed to create this year's room. You may pick up tips and ideas that will be inspiration for your own rooms!

Click on the link below for information on exhibitors, programs and buying discount tickets in advance.

Everyone knows that you save precious time by having all your critical information ready in an emergency, but how many people actually do?

There are many systems and binders available. The one shown is called Life.doc . The advantage of packaged systems is that they have a "fill in the blanks" process to guide you through compiling and organizing your information. Many come with CD's so you can store back-up files as well as print and keep hard copies of your documents.

Shop around to compare what different systems offer. You'll want something that is simple, easy to use and covers the kind of information you need to store and offers flexibility in updating or changing information.

Click on the link below to learn more about Life.doc.