It's rare that I make a full breakfast, but if I had a nice nook to eat in, you better believe I would be busting out the stack of flapjacks every day. Just looking at these happy nooks will have you hankering for a cozy spot and a glass of orange juice.













1. Booth
This is a great example of making a breakfast nook modern, instead of country. That light fixture is killer, too.



2. Sunny + White
This nook looks like it's in a traditional home, but the wire chairs and light fixture give it a touch of modern edge.

Related: Hollywood Blvd - Home decor inspired by our favorite movies


3. Pops of Color
The mix of the chairs, table, and light fixture in this nook is very mid-century modern. The cheerful colors liven it up.



4. Glam
This nook definitely looks like it was put together by a glam girl, with its playful bits of pink and the chic chevron chairs.



5. Family-Friendly
This nook right off of the kitchen is a great spot for a bowl of cereal and some fr

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Having kids is messy work! I don't need to tell you that because surely if you are a parent, you have had your child break, tear or shred up something of yours. If not yet, it will happen - I'm sure of it.

Last month, I shared some hilariously bad photos from Sh*t My Kids Ruined.com that highlighted just how much trouble kids can get into. It happens to the best of kids and to the best of parents - frustrating none the less.

My kids have this motto that they've learned from me, since I am terribly klutzy: Accidents always happen. Not sometimes, but always. It's inevitable. With one pair of adult eyes, three curious brains and six quick-acting hands, we can have our back turned for a minute and all heck can break loose. Our stuff just isn't always safe with young and curious kids around.

Not all hope is lost though! There are some situations that are fixable - with a simple fix, at that! Read on for 7 easy fixes for stuff kids commonly break.

Related: 21 clever ways to decorate

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Jump-start your decorating ideas with budget-friendly options for accent walls and accessories.

Showcase a feature
A brick-red island is the star of this kitchen. For a sophisticated look, pair one colorful object with neutral tones. Here, dark-wood surfaces and stainless steel appliances do the trick.
Related: 20 reasons to decorate with red

Personalize a nook with a bright color

Personalize a nook with a bright color
Hot pink walls and a stenciled motto punch up this tiny eating area. Painting the woodwork a bright white keeps the look crisp, not cloying.

Define a display space

Define a display space
Paint shelves and the wall behind them an eye-catching color to showcase books and accessories.
Here, a warm pumpkin shade (Kelly-Moore's Deep Spice wall paint, KM3608-5) complements an eclectic collection of books and objects.
Related: How to decorate with the color orange

"Resize" a space
Painting this patio overhang a sunny yellow not only draws attention to the architectural feature, it also makes the space feel more in

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By Lynn Andriani

Dirty Linoleum Floors

Getting a '50s-era kitchen floor that's taken on a jaundiced hue back to its original, sparkling glory requires strong cleaners and elbow grease. You want to avoid hot water and alkaline-based cleaners, since they'll eventually turn the surface yellow (and they're probably the reason your floor looks the way it does). Instead, mix chlorine bleach with water (follow the instructions on the bottle of bleach for the correct ratio) and apply it with a wet mop, letting it sit for 30 to 45 minutes. Then, get down on your hands on knees and start scrubbing. Donna Smallin, author of The One-Minute Cleaner, says that "nothing beats a bucket of cleaning solution and a brush" to brighten a dingy floor. Rinse with cool water and then mop with a mixture of one cup of white vinegar per gallon of water to neutralize the bleach.

RELATED: Clean Your Messy House in 6 Months

Photo: Thinkstock

Sticky Kitchen Cabinets

If it seems like no amount of kitchen

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Are you making mistakes when it comes to scrubbing, vacuuming, and disinfecting? Here's how to right your wrongs-quick as a (dust) bunny.
By Sarah Stebbins

In the Kitchen

Bad Habit: Using a Funky, Smelly Sponge
You've heard this before, but it bears repeating: You could be spreading mold and illness-causing bacteria around the kitchen.

Good practice: Replace your sponge every couple of weeks, and take care of it while it's active. After each use, rinse the sponge in hot water and wring it out. At the end of the day, and after every raw-meat encounter, sterilize a wet sponge: Pop it in the microwave for one minute (the sponge must be wet-a dry one could catch fire), or run it through the dishwasher. For storage, use a soap dish with holes for drainage, or go with a homemade solution: Set the sponge on a saucer full of small rocks.


Bad Habit: Letting Drips and Drops Harden on the Stove
These splotches are a bummer to look at and can discolor stainless-steel and porcelain surf

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