SPACE SAVERS

LIFESTYLE EXPERT COLLEEN MULLANEY’S HIGH DESIGN ON A LOW BUDGET

SpaceSavers_Dad CREATE A SPACE FOR DEAR OLD DAD

Dad: He works hard, leaves early every morning and
comes home weary every evening. So why not give him
a space to call his own, a little corner of the earth where
he can relax, unwind and get back to his fun-loving self?
It’s the Father’s Day gift that keeps on giving.

For the Dad Who Loves Tooling Around
Give him the garage of his dreams. Start by taking stock of what you already have and then
put together your budget based on what you need. Rolling cases are not only good-looking, but they hold lots of tools and instantly add order (plus many have built-in worktops). Sears carries Craftsman tool collections and cases, as well as Gladiator garage storage systems. For sports enthusiasts, The Container Store has rack systems to house golf clubs, balls and bikes.

For the Dad Who Just Wants Some Peace and Quiet
Help Dad get Zen. Create a garden respite for him with a garden bench nestled in a corner. Add pizzazz by accessorizing with a few garden animal friends and ornaments for color and whimsy. HomeGoods has a great collection. If you have large trees, try adding a hammock with a soft pillow for those long-lost afternoon naps.

For the Dad Who Lives for the Grill of It All
Get Dad fired up with his very own grill center. You can find outdoor furniture units, grill tools, sprays, flavor chips and an extra platter or two at Lowe’s. A patio oasis is a nice complement to the grill center—and it’s easy to put together. Start with comfortable but inexpensive seating and a few side tables, then add an outdoor rug, an umbrella and flower-filled pots. This will soon become a favorite place for him to read, rest while grilling or take a little afternoon nap.

For the Dad Who’s Got Game
Dads love the big game—and all the other ones. So why not decide to make over that small catchall room with a fresh coat of paint in a warm masculine color, a few easy chairs, a big TV and a coffee table perfect for snacks? It doesn’t have to be fancy; in fact, he probably wouldn’t want it to be, but a game space to call his own will definitely be a home run.

Colleen Mullaney has enjoyed a long and dynamic career devoted to style and entertaining. Whether it be through her many published works or with her friends and family, Colleen has made it her passion to bring style to the world through floral design, home decorating and crafting. Colleen is a former editor in chief of Family Circle Homecrafts, FTD In Bloom and Jo-Ann magazines. Most recently, she partnered with Chris Madden on the launch of her magazine At Home with Chris Madden.

Her books include Shells, Faux Fabulous Florals (Sixth&Spring) and her popular Punch (in its third printing with Chronicle Books; more than 30,000 copies have been sold in such outlets as Williams-Sonoma and Anthropologie). Colleen will celebrate her take on bridal with One-of-a-Kind Weddings (Creative Publishing) as well as the global entertaining landscape with It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere (Sixth&Spring). Colleen has created interiors for residential and commercial spaces, and she’s designed cottage gardens and floral arrangements for clients up and down the East Coast. You can also see her work in full color on HGTV’s Insider’s Garden and soon on the web with a yet-to-be-announced project. Colleen lives in Westchester, N.Y., with her husband and three children, where she is constantly hosting playdates and dinner parties, toiling in the garden, and working on future projects.

For more from Colleen, go to www.colleenmullaney.com.