These are a few of my favorite things

I'm often asked, what are some of my favorite items to use or do when remodeling, redecorating or just updating a few things in a home. So I thought I'd share my top seven favorites.

1. I love wall words for an unexpected and whimsical additional to a room. You can create any saying using multiple fonts, colors and size of letters. I recently did one that was 9 feet long by 8 inches high for only $140.

2. Stacked stone is one of my absolute favorite things to update a fireplace and use on the front of a breakfast bar. The one I use the most is Golden Gate stacked stone from Arizona Tile.

3. Crown molding throughout a house is great, but can get pricey. So if you have to pick just one or two rooms, I like powder and guest baths and the master bedroom. It's amazing what a difference it makes, especially in the baths. The bigger the crown the better. Don't be afraid to use a 6-inch profile.

4. If you want to give your kitchen a little update, I'd suggest a full tile backsplash. If you already have a 4-6-inch splash, you can just tile from it to underneath your cabinets. Many times when you look to see how much you actually have it doesn't cost as much as you may think. Glass is great but my favorite is tumbled stone. It comes in a variety of colors and sizes and runs as little as $4 a square foot.

5. Want to dress up your hall bath? Mount a fabric shower treatment from the ceiling. If you can't afford to have the whole treatment custom made, use store panels and just customize the valance. We rarely have guests, so I keep the plastic liner in a drawer until I need to use it. If you use it on a regular basis look for a waterproof fabric liner.

6. I've mentioned this one many times, but it's worth repeating. Frame your plate glass mirror in your bathroom. MirrorMate is my go-to source. You can frame a 48-inch-by-36-inch mirror for less than $150. They're easy to install; I've even done one myself.

7. If you're going to buy new furniture, look for something that can be multifunctional. My favorites are nesting tables, storage ottomans and table beds. The table bed is an investment but an amazing piece. It was created by Inova in New York for people in one-room apartments. I recently put one in an open room off an entry. It's a sophisticated home office and then transforms into an additional sleeping area when my client has guests.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by email to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.