If you’re a makeover show aficionado, you know there are two things you can expect designers to do: ditch the ceiling fan (or at least upgrade to a nicer one) and re-skin an outdated fireplace (the horrors of brass!).

Well, with temps dipping into the teens and snow falling outside here in the Northeast, a ceiling fan isn’t on my mind today, but fireplaces definitely are. My rental doesn’t have a cozy hearth (sigh), but to battle my mid-winter doldrums, I decided to scope out some heartwarming inspirations here on the HGTV site and Rate My Space (click on the images to see the gallery/articles):

And one outdoor idea for our (lucky) pals in warmer climes:

Of course, the greenie in me wants to remind you that a fireplace isn’t always very eco-friendly. But if you like the luxury, be mindful of your fuel. Whenever I hijack a pal’s hearth, I use Duraflame, a pressed log made with renewable, non-toxic wax and wood scraps (sawdust and shavings), or Java-Logs, the coffee firelog. Both burn longer than traditional wood, too.

And here are some ideas from our sister site, Ecologue.com, about greening up your fireplace. Plus, a chic-and-simple homemade fire pit, perfect for when the temperatures start rising again.

February 14th may have visions of Cupid’s arrows, hearts and an overload of red and pink dancing in most of the population’s head. However, if you’re one of the many who are in a difficult-to-define relationship, our friends at Marketplace have put together some fun lists for picking the perfect gift. Secret love affair, confusing friendship, courtship reaching its end? They have them covered and all those in between.

Does your love affair resemble that of our favorite star-crossed lovers? Then, take a peek at their Secret Lover gift ideas.

Is your relationship winding down? Check out their Our Days are Numbered gift list.

If your friend wants something more, but your feelings haven’t change, take a tip from the Just Not That Into You list.

Don’t worry, they also have some great picks for those of you are in healthy, loving relationships. Check out all their gift ideas here.

Last year my grandmother called me and told me that she was throwing a Superbowl party at her home. About 10 minutes into the conversation I realized that she had no clue what the Superbowl was. She was preparing a 4 course, sit-down meal for 12 people! So I staged a Superbowl party intervention.

The most important part of throwing a party is to understand what you are celebrating. In the case of a Superbowl party, you need to plan your event around the television screen. First, clear your knick-knacks off of every table that surrounds the television area. Those tables should be for food and drinks, because no one wants to walk too far away from the big game.

Designate one table for the main dish, in this case I ordered sub sandwiches. I like to figure 2 feet for every 5 people when ordering a Sub. On that same table you can put a nice big salad and some big plates, heavy duty napkins and cutlery. A few years ago I bought 2 dozen cafeteria trays, and every Superbowl I put a piece of construction paper (usually in my home team’s colors) on each one and stack them next to the sandwiches. This way, people know its okay to take their food back to the couch with them, and they have a tray to eat over.

It gives your party a fun and casual vibe. Cafeteria trays cost about $2 each at a restaurant supply store and they are sold online for about the same price. (Fun tip: use them for spontaneous backyard sledding when winter comes!)  Scatter salty snacks on side tables close to couches, so people can reach-n-eat.

Craque is a new snack sold on Etsty (HERE). It’s my Superbowl Snack Pick. They sell Craque Corn (popcorn dunked in chocolate and peanut butter, covered in powdered sugar) and Original Craque (chocolate and peanut butter in a thin crunchy shell, covered in powdered sugar). Put bowls of this delicious snack out on the table and it will be gone before half time. Added bonus, Craque is handmade, and supporting the Handmade Movement gives you big-time bonus points!

On the coffee table place a veggie platter with dipping sauce and hot wngs with dipping sauce. Because hot wings leave a mess, I put metal buckets on the ground under the coffee table to hold discarded wing scraps and napkins.

The buckets, like the cafeteria trays reinforce the fun, casual vibe of the party. Last, I keep coolers filled with beer and soda next to the couches to make it feel more like a parking lot tailgate party.

For game watching fun I hand out Bad Call bricks. They are really just pieces of foam painted in red. Whenever someone thinks the ref made a bad call, they can throw the brick at the television. A Superbowl Point Spread Pool is also a fun activity for the party. This pool calls for no skill or knowledge of the game of football, so it’s fun for everyone. Making one is super easy; all you need is a big piece of paper and a big marker. Learn to make one HERE.  Last but certainly not least, remember to have fun! If the host is having fun then the guests will follow!

Happy Chinese New Year today! This ancient culture has influenced the design world in many diverse and colorful ways, and there is so much to learn from its history and people. In honor of the Chinese New Year, I compiled 15 facts – one for each day of the festival. 15 days! That’s my kind of celebration.

1. The color red is good luck in Chinese culture and often is used in Chinese decor, especially during Chinese New Year.

Bedroom design by Andreas Charalambous

2. Also prevalent is the color gold which represents wealth and good fortune.

Dining room design by Ammie Kim

3. Explorer Marco Polo is credited with introducing the West to China – a once mysterious land also known as the Middle Kingdom.
4. In the late 13th century, Chinese exports such as silk and lacquered furniture and porcelain began trickling into Europe. The fascination with these exotic objects led Europeans to create their own interpretations. The French dubbed the style Chinoiserie or Chinese-esque. If you like the look of traditional Chinoiserie but don’t want to shell out the bucks for the real deal, consider a stencil and create a one-of-a-kind wall treatment.

Create Chinoiserie-inspired art with a stencil.

5. The Qin Dynasty Terracotta Army has been called the 8th Wonder of the World. Reproductions of the estimated 7,000 statues found buried in a mausoleum are cast from metal, imported from China and can be found in many Chinese homes and businesses.
6. Feng-shui originated in China around 4,000 BC. This ancient system of aesthetics has evolved to include the proper arrangement of objects encouraging good energy and resulting in happiness and prosperity.
7. Ceremonial dances featuring drums and cymbals are common during Chinese New Year. It’s believed that the beats of the drum and the sounds of the cymbals along with the face of the dragon or lion can evict evil spirits.
8. The Koi fish is a symbol often seen during the New Year. These colorful fish are a popular choice for outdoor and indoor ponds, perhaps because they are said to symbolize love and affection.
9. Popular New Year floral decorations often include flowers and plants which symbolize good luck, prosperity and longevity such as the peach blossom, the kumquat and the chrysanthemum. Some families will decorate with a plum tree, a tradition likened to that of the Christmas tree.
10. Examples of Chinese architecture date back 2,000 years. Details are often specific to region, but emphasis on width is universal, such as the massive halls of the Forbidden City.

Bejing's Forbidden Palace served as home to emporers for nearly 5,000 years.

11. Symmetry is important in China except in the design of gardens where people are encouraged to wander.
12. Chinese art (such as fine art, folk art, painting, performance art, porcelain, calligraphy, music and poetry) often was influenced by philosophers, teachers and religious and political figures. The invention of paper gave rise to papercutting as an artform.
13. The phoenix or fenghuang bird is sometimes depicted during Chinese New Year. The bird was a symbol of the imperial house representing fire, the sun, justice, obedience and fidelity. It appears rarely in the Chinese tradition, usually to mark the beginning of a new era.
14. If you like Asian style (and there is a lot to like) you can easily incorporate elements into your current decor. Incorporate punches of the color red. Add a soothing water feature to a living space or work area. Clear the clutter. When it comes to art and accessories, think about the elements of feng-shui: water, wood, earth, fire and metal.
15. If you’d like to celebrate the Chinese New Year, what better way than with a traditional feast! Foods eaten during the celebration include yue or whole fish, egg rolls and jiaozi or dumplings.

Photo from Food Network Magazine

Find recipes and learn more about Chinese tradition including how to use chopsticks at FoodNetwork.com.

Will you be celebrating the Chinese New Year? If so, what are some of your family’s traditions?
Does your home incorporate elements of Asian style? How so?

Calling all Facebook fans! HGTV has its very own page on Facebook, and we want you to join the fun. Just log into your account, search for “HGTV” and click “Become a Fan.”

Check out the latest scoop on upcoming projects, see what new shows are about to hit the air and get fun widgets for your profile. Plus, don’t forget to share with all your friends.

The first Broadway play I ever saw was Proof by David Auburn (it was later turned into a movie starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Gyllenhaal). Admittedly I loved the stage play more than the movie not just because of the way the play unfolded but because all the action took place on a back porch.

Don’t you just love the idea of a porch – sitting outside watching the world go by with the perfect snack and beverage on hand? Waving to those who pass by while swaying on a swing or a rocking chair? Okay maybe my imagination is getting away from me since this is the time of year when I forget what it’s like to be warm and start wondering if summer will ever return (happily it always does).

When that happens I think of porches and one of my favorite places to start is the book On the Porch: Creating Your Place to Watch the World Go By written by James M. Crisp and Sandra L. Mahoney. The photos are gorgeous, the descriptions interesting and the idea divine. I really do love a porch.

There are some amazing examples of porches straight from my dreams on Rate My Space.

My porch essentials include a comfy chair (perfect for naps), a rocking chair or a swing and a table big enough to hold snacks and drinks. What are your porch essentials?

Whether you need an artistic piece of furniture or just a place to sit, the modern lounge chair is the perfect fit for all your seating needs.

The Rocio Lounge Chair is a classic, Italian-inspired design that’ll add a splash of sunny yellow to your favorite room.

Though modern and streamlined, the Royce Lounge Chair is the perfect shape for relaxing.

Talk about a conversation piece. The Gordon Lounge Chair is inspired by Gordon Guillaumier’s classic Minotti design.

Check out the rest of our favorite lounge chairs on Marketplace.

One of my top eco-friendly, online shopping destinations is The Nest Store. I browse it every few weeks to see what new home accessories and products are in stock. One perennial favorite is this cool tealight candle holder from eco-designer Robin Wilson.

Wilson reuses leftover building materials and waste products to create her unique furniture and accessories. These contemporary candle holders are made from an eco-friendly concrete that’s created with the fly ash from industrial smokestacks; leftover concrete gets redirected to local recycling centers. Thanks to the sturdy material, these candle holders would work well indoors or out (added bonus: they’re on sale now).

If you have time, browse around the site for other modern design pieces, all made from unusual or sustainable materials.

Kim Myles' concept: The Lincoln Bedroom - Back to Basics

Taniya Nayak  is one of HGTV’s Designed to Sell‘s talented designers who knows how to stretch a buck. By the look of this sketch, however, it is obvious that Taniya had a little fun and went beyond her usual $2000 budget for the show. This Green Room is opulent but also environmentally-friendly.

Taniya Nayak's concept: The Green Room - Literally

Frank Fontana‘s interpretation of The Red Room is red hot! Every President needs a little zebra print in his life.

Frank Fontana's concept: The Red Room - Colonial Funk

How do you think Frank, Taniya and Kim did with their Presidential concepts? Any decorating advice you’d offer to the Obamas?

We’ve got what you’ve been looking for: the best of the best from the 2009 HGTV Dream Home! Tons of great photos from every room all in one place.

I love the color scheme of the office. Orange and gray is a trendy color combination, but add in white trims and streamlined furnishings and the space retains a classic feel.

A traditionalist at heart, I’m drawn to the cool blue, classic furniture and elegant draperies in the living room.

What’s your favorite room? Plus, don’t miss any of the other spaces or the chance to enter the sweepstakes.