Every Saturday, from October to May, the Farmers Market in Missoula, MT is the place to be.  You can find a wide variety of fresh, colorful produce grown by local farmers, many from the large Asian community in Missoula.  This delicious organic produce is just as good as anything you’ll purchase in your neighborhood supermarket, yet this produce supports local small businesses and gives you the satisfaction and feeling of community that results from a trip to the Farmers Market.

This local farmer, a man named Jerry, grows a type of green beans that you wouldn’t normally see in a grocery store.  With their just harvested taste, all you have to do is slice on the diagonal, add a drizzle of olive oil and a few spices, and stir-fry.   What an easy, fresh, delicious meal!

The Missoula Farmer’s Market also provided props to be used in Ciao Interiors’ upcoming September Parade of Homes house.  This is the house that we have featured several times over the summer, detailing its construction and use of local materials.  Natural props are a wonderful touch that give an organic, lived in quality to the home.  The dried poppies and stalks of wheat will make a fabulous centerpiece for the dining table, and the various vegetables will look great displayed in the kitchen.

If you are ever in the Missoula, MT area, be sure to check out the Missoula Farmers Market.  However, if your travels don’t bring you to the area, there is sure to be a farmers market in your own town with a stunning array of home grown vegetables from local farmers.

Extravagant Closets are one of those interior spaces that we can never get enough of. Endless space for expensive shoes, shiny marble floors, and flattering lighting.  If only we could all live like movie stars.

Photo: The Nanny Diaries

Photo: Sex and the City The Movie

Though we may not all be so lucky as to have closets the size of a bedroom or enough shoes to fill an entire wall full, there are ways to make your closet so organized and pretty, that getting dressed will be simple indulgence every single day.

Photo: Real Simple

Take advantage of all of the organizational tools that are available at discount stores like Target.  Matching plastic hangers, clear shoe boxes, and hanging sweater organizers are all useful and attractive ways to give your closet a dose of organization.

Photo: Real Simple

Use pegboards to organize everything from belts to jewelry to scarves to any accessory that can hang.

Photo: Real Simple

Though shoe racks are functional and a great option for closet organization, a graduated shoe rack such as this gives a look of luxury and display to your prettiest shoes.

Photo: Real Simple

Adding a mirror and a place to sit can take a simple walk in closet from a normal space to a lovely dressing area.

Photo: Coastal Living

A chandelier adds a touch of whimsy and character to your walk in closet.  Even if your closet is small, a beautiful piece like this can make a huge impact.

Is your new years resolution to get your house in order? Are you trying to stay a little more organized this year?  Use the ideas below to incorporate creative and stylish organizational ideas into your own home.

Under the bed is a great place to store things as long as you keep it in order.  Rolling bins such as these are attractive and also functional.  They are easily accessible for reaching items in storage and can be moved for cleaning under the bed dust.

Install cubes on the wall in the bathroom for storage.  Towels and other bathroom supplies are within reach and take on a contemporary look.

For extra bathroom supplies that are not needed on a daily basis, install a hanging shelf above the door.  This creates an architectural look while adding several feet of extra storage.

A bench that opens is a spacious place for storing sports equipment, pet supplies, or toys.  When closed, no one would ever know how much is hiding beneath the seating.

Photos: Martha Stewart Living

It’s that time of year when many of us are starting to fill our house with decorations, many of which include greenery.  Winter air can be extremely dry and unfriendly to cut greenery, so there are tips and tricks that you can follow to extend the life of your holiday decor and create a magical winter home.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

1.  Seal the cut greenery with anti-desiccant spray.  This seals the pores and helps it retain moisture so that it lasts longer.

2.  Keep greenery away from heat and direct light.  These will dry out your decor and decrease its indoor life span. 

3. Spray your greenery with water daily.  This helps to moisturze the greenery as well as keep the wintery scent going.  On that note, mix many different types of greenery for a wonderful Christmas smell.  Try juniper, pine, cedar, and other evergreens.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

This article on Flattering Lighting has great tips on how to make sure the lighting sets the intended mood and creates ambiance.

This mirrored lamp will reflect light around the room at eye level.

Some of the tips include:

1. Avoid harsh shadows and use soft light whenever possible  Harsh lighting and areas of high contrast are not friendly to faces.

2. Use the lowest wattage bulb possible, ideally with a blush tint.  The pale pink color is flattering for all skin tones.

3. Avoid bright white shades. Opt for opaque shades that will cast a softer glow or dark shades that will filter and cut down light.

4. Aim for several points of light around the room at eye level.  Above or below will create awkward and unflattering shadows.

Candlelight is the most flattering; this lamp creates the illusion of candlelight.

With kids back in school and fall activities starting up, this is a great time to take a look at your mudroom.  Is it working for you?  Is it efficient and organized?  Does it help you get out the door in the morning or is it holding you back?

Photo: RemodelingCenter.com

When organized properly and used effectively, a mudroom can be a great place to organize all those things that would otherwise end up on the kitchen table or the living room floor.  However, you have to be careful that it does not turn in to a messy catch all room.

Do not overcrowd your mudroom with furniture.  A bench, a simple armoire, and a small table are all you need to outfit an extremely functional mudroom.  Built in cabinets, drawers, lockers, hooks, and shelves are lifesavers.  Each  member of the family can have an assigned area where their stuff is kept.  This prevents mix ups over binders, baseball gloves, and lunch bags.  Labeled shelves can also hold important paperwork that cannot be forgotten on the way out the door.  Hooks will keep coats, bags, umbrellas, and other accessories off the floor.  Make sure some hooks are low enough for children to reach.

Photo: PointClickHome.com

Flooring should be hard and durable.  Slate or ceramic tile can withstand the daily wear and tear that a mudroom sees.  Lighting should be accessible the minute you walk in the door so that you are not fumbling to put things away while reaching for a light.  A sink is a wonderful addition and can be used for clean up after gardening or sports so that you avoid tracking dirt into the house.  Also, if it is possible to add windows, go for it.  The more natural light the better.  A mudroom should be a place where you feel happy entering and leaving.

The most important thing to remember when setting up your mudroom is make it work for you.  If your household is centered around sports, then big bins will be more functional than wooden shelves.  If you have curious children and pets, then open storage may not be the way to go. If your needs are less utilitarian, then don’t be afraid to create a mudroom that is decorated for style like the room below.  Consider your household and make your mudroom work for your family and home.

Photo: Southern Living