The sun has come out, and with it, our annual lusting for light and bright things to sprinkle around the house, reflecting the new season and our hopefully tasteful aesthetic. It’s a challenge, what with the recession and all, but we still love to look.

You’re going to hate us for what we’re about to do, because once you see the picture of Artful Home’s Pixie Vases, you’re going to want them, and you’re going to want them all. (Evil, evil Web site to show (more…)

You already know what’s going to happen. He’s going to give you roses. A dozen, probably. Maybe two dozen. Hopefully they’re good ones that don’t wilt and fade in a couple of days. And, of course, that’s very, very nice of him.

But, could it be that thrill of Valentine’s roses is gone?

We’ve found nearly a dozen ways to make those roses thrill you, fill you with love and make your heart race. That’s because we’ve shopped around for beautiful vases in which to put them. And the best part? After the roses are gone, these fabulous pieces of tabletop art will last forever.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

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We are imagining smiles on Christmas morning. Not just ordinary smiles, but smiles of surprise, smiles that say, “It’s perfect!” and, every once in a while, an “OMG!”

You too? Then come shopping with us. We’ve got a handful of cool presents that aren’t a dime a dozen.

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The lights are twinkling outside, the tree is sparkling in the window. You love decorating for Christmas, and so do we. So let’s not stop simply because we’ve taken care of the basics.

Imagine these three angel musicians gracing your mantelpiece, or working their way up the stairs with Christmas beauty. Each handcrafted, handpainted angel stands nearly 20″ tall, wears an exquisite fabric robe in berry, green or gold, and holds a musical instrument. Halos and wings float behind, looking very much like the real thing. At Horchow ($200, above).

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Life would be so much easier if we just had bad taste. Everything we liked would be in good supply, and it would cost less. We would throw away all the shimmery, expensive catalogs in our mailbox, turning our noses up at the baubles within, dismissing them as fancy or pretentious.

But no such luck. We continually find ourselves drawn to high-end products and their damnable high-end price tags. We just don’t have a fancy income to match, and so must fall back, constantly, on our BFF: the internet sale rack. Shop with us for the some of our favorite clearance finds this week:

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If you’re sick of your summer surroundings, make a stylish seasonal shift by tossing on a new slipcover; one of heavy, rich fabric in deep, warm fall colors.

No, these are not your grandmother’s flowery slipcovers. Today’s stylish sheaths hug your furniture for a sleek custom-fit look.

For a solid, try the soft microfiber faux suede in deep reddish-brown cordovan ($99; $22 for box cushion cover) or the waffle-textured pique covers in garnet (on sale from $80 to $130). The Home Trends coffee satin striped cover (above) is elegant without breaking the bank: $50 for a loveseat; $60 for a sofa.

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Having a football party necessitates having some big bowls. It doesn’t matter what charming crudités and finger food you’ve got on the table, everybody on the couch wants stuff from a big bowl, on the coffee table, between them and the HDTV. Thus, they can keep their eyes glued to the tube and still stuff their mouths.

Now that you see the error of your bowl-less ways, here are some ideas to prepare you for next weekend’s game day. Crate & Barrel’s mahogany serving bowl is pretty and sturdy, and $33 (top). Another of their wooden bowls that looks like it could stand up to heavy use is the Borneo low bowl of sustainable mango wood, on sale for $70. If you stay with a wood theme, Crate & Barrel has a whole page of possibilities. William Sonoma has a nice wooden bowl with inset ceramic dip holder, and Pottery Barn’s Springwood chip and dip bowl is pretty (also made of mango wood) for $50.

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