Yesterday, Zoe shared a great site with me. Lucky magazine's daily bloggers work very hard to update their site with daily tips and finds. The best might just be their deal of the day. Where you have 24 hours to purchase a particular item at up to 50% off. Today's deal is a jade John Robshaw Ikat pillow.usually selling for $50, today it is only $25 if you use the Lucky promo code "luckydaily2". Hurry you have until 7:59 a.m. EST tomorrow morning!

Volkswagen is coming up with a list of 10 designs in 5 categories: design, food, music, TV, and fashion for the ultimate list of the 50 Most Timeless. The hip carmaker has teamed up with the modern British home magazine LivingEtc to compile the top 10 timeless designs for the home. You go to the website and vote for your top 10 -- www.livingetc.co.uk/timeless50. Keep their guidelines for timeless design in mind when you cast your vote: "Great designs transcend the passing of the years and are impervious to fashion -- they offer simplicity and style and are the perfect marriage of form and function. By looking as fresh and modern today as they did when they were conceived, they have a timeless quality."

My Votes -- in no particular order:

I recently read an article in the New York Times on design time capsules. Specifically, it talks about homes built and furnished in the 1950's, 1960's and 1980's that remain untouched. If you've house-hunted in established neighborhoods, you've likely encountered one or more these such homes. It got me wondering what about this decade will be "the early 21st-century equivalents of the conversation pit and the avocado refrigerator" (writer Steven Kurutz suggests garage-size family rooms and stainless steel appliances) and whether or not they should be avoided altogether.

Here's a look at some styles we're seeing over and over again, weigh in and let us know what you feel is "so over" and what you think is here to stay.

A quick look around blog-land reveals that many of the design-obsessed are smitten with white kitchens. This one, published in Sunsetmagazine, perfectly illustrates the kind of kitchen that has so many -- myself included -- swooning: white, Shaker-style cabinets, marble counter tops, stainless-steel appliances (restaurant-grade, at that), open-shelving, and vintage-style plumbing. Add white subway tile and it is the stuff kitchen dreams are made of. In this case, the "trends" are all well-established -- even classic -- so what do you think? Will we one day look at this kitchen and think it is "so 2009," or can it stand the test of time?

The other end of the spectrum is a kitchen outfitted with wood-toned cabinets and, you guessed it, granite. This kitchen might be sleek (like this one, featured in Southern Living) or have a more traditional feel. Personally, I think this kitchen will more likely look dated, but maybe you disagree. Perhaps the sheer practicality of granite counters will keep them around.

As spa experiences become more and more accessible, more and more people seem to want to bring the spa home. Thus, the "spa bathroom" is born (this one is from Coastal Living). Features might include vessel-style sinks, mosaic tiles, generously-sized bathtubs and shower stalls, color schemes reminiscent of the sea, and multi-head showers. I can definitely see the appeal, but is this the pink bathroom of this decade?

Another trend in the bath is the use of vintage-style fixtures. Pedestal sinks, claw-foot-tubs, beaded board, exposed plumbing, and polished nickel finishes all lend a cottage-feel to a bath and are popular in both historic homes and newer construction. Again, many of these elements are not new, but their resurgence could garner them the label of being purely a trend, thus the possibility of finding them on the "out" list. (This bathroom was published in Cottage Living).

Open floor plans (like this one from Southern Living) are definitely new, and from my experience, you either love them or hate them. What used to be a purely utilitarian space -- the kitchen -- is now flaunted in the heartof a home and is often attached to the main living space. This is certainly a product of a more casual way of living where meals are eaten from stove to table (or sofa!) and the dining room is often only used on "special" occasions, or even eliminated completely. While I love the cozy rooms of a classic four-square Colonial, I don't see this "trend" heading out any time soon. Though it certainly presents some decorating challenges, it just seems to fit the way most people live today.

What do you think? Will any (or all) of these design elements make us cringe in 15 years? And if you love them now, do you even care?

By Caroline Inge

Good Morning! As you may have heard on the news last week, the official Obama family portrait was unveiled on Friday. The shot was taken on September 1, 2009 by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz. I personally think it's a beautiful family portrait, and it got me thinking: do you have a favorite family portrait? Not everyone can have a family photo taken by Annie Leibovitz, but do you have one taken by a professional or do you prefer photos taken by friends or family in a celebratory moment? Is it a photograph or a painting? Is it a casual, spontaneous shot? Or is it posed and formal?

If you're looking to put the final touches on your Halloween party or even if you're just getting started, there are so many fantastic decorations you can pick up or easily make to ensure your party is a smash. I've done some internet browsing and wanted to share...

Doctor up your wine/soda bottles with these haunted labels from Martha Stewart for Granin Road.

The potter turned designer who mixes equal and opposite parts irreverence, WASP, humor, and glamor to shape his designs is now allowing you to ride the coattails of his well-tested, trademark style. Jonathan Adler has launched a "Design Your Own" section of his website.

He provides six basic products (pillows, rugs, etc), some signature patterns, an assortment of colors; and a few sizes to choose from and then -- Wham! Your designs come to life in the hands of Peruvian artisans and then arrive at your door fresh from the hands of the UPS man. 

I've noticed a few comments on our site from readers who think a room is too "cluttered" for their taste. While, everyone is entitled to their own decorating opinion -- it has made me wonder is one mans clutter another man's clever display?

But what does that really mean?

By Caroline Inge

Who doesn't like mirrors? They can be elegant, classic, or eclectic, as well as a cheap way to add some personality to a room. I love traditional mirrors hung on an empty wall, mirrored furniture, and even mirrored coasters for a coffee table or side table! They bring big impact with a small price -- try using some of these ideas in your home.

Even Louis XIV knew good style when he saw it -- this is the breathtaking Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, the legendary home of three French kings. The Hall of Mirrors was built in the 1670s as proof of the economic and political power of France. Three hundred and fifty-seven mirrors are arranged in the shape of seventeen arches in this hallway. Each mirrored arch is paired with a window on the opposite side of the hall, which creates the illusion of thirty-four windows in all!

Try out Louis XIV's style for yourself with these arched mirrors from Pottery Barn

Do you remember any of your childhood birthday parties? If so, do you have a favorite? I honestly don't remember much about mine, but I do have a new favorite. A friend passed along this blog post from BirdDogPress and what Allison did for her son's 3rd birthday party puts those little paper hats from the drug store to shame. With the theme of yellow (his favorite color), she created an entire backyard party with classics and kid favorites like pin-the-tail-on -the-donkey, bubbles, and cupcakes.

It's chilly and rainy here in Alabama and the sun is starting to slip away much more quickly which means I'm entering my cold-weather hibernation state. I dug out my trusted winter staples this weekend -- hot chocolate, SmartWool socks, my 6th grade Navajo print LL Bean fleece pullover (with snaps and a banded bottom) and parked myself on the couch and couldn't help but think "A fireplace would make me pretty happy right now." For me a fireplace is a hopeless possiblity at the moment, but still, I researched them anyways and found some favorites. A first floor renter can dream right?