“Tired and uninspiring,” is how FOF Marcia Robinson described her living room when she entered our room makeover contest in January. Marcia has lived in her one-bedroom, Manhattan apartment for 25-years. Ten years ago she attempted to furnish it in one-fell-swoop with pieces she loved. "Everything went wrong," says Marcia. "The glass came cracked on the coffee table, the wall unit was too small. It was a big hassle." Frustrated, Marcia took to decorating the apartment piecemeal over the years. However, her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, and a forced-retirement from her job at a management consulting firm, has put a hold on any recent updates to Marcia's living room.

And as for the actual "living" that goes on in this room...there's not much. "I spend most of my time in my bedroom where my computer is," says Marcia. Lauri says the room's "visual chaos," is why Marcia might not find it relaxing. "When I look around, there's no blank space to rest my eye," says Lauri. "The good news," she tells Marcia, "is that by correcting a few common design mistakes that most people make, you can update your living room without buying all new furniture. Your home should look as up-to-date as you do."

Read on and discover the mistakes and quick fixes Lauri found for Marcia's living room.

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"The couches were set up in an L configuration with two chairs in the corner. This is probably the worst setup there is for comfortable conversation," says Lauri. "Plus, the chairs were too far from the coffee table."

"We took away one couch, and set up the furniture in a U-shape. Now, everyone can sit and face each other. You can put out hors d'oeurves on the coffee table and everyone can comfortably reach."

"You collect so much stuff over a lifetime," says Lauri. "It's nice to have all these things, but you need to edit what you own and accessorize effectively."

Mission accomplished! The result? A living room that Marcia can live in! "Now, you can sit in here and read," says Lauri. "You'll finally be comfortable." What does Marcia think? "It's quite a change!... I like it."

IKEA shopping list: Two "Dagny" cushions ($14.99 each), Vejen rug ($89.99), Hosto flower box ($14.99), Felicia throw ($9.99), Vilshult picture ($59.99), Two Jonsbo Barby table lamps ($59.99 each)

Grand Total: $324.92

“Tired and uninspiring,” is how FOF Marcia Robinson described her living room when she entered our room makeover contest in January. Marcia has lived in her one-bedroom, Manhattan apartment for 25-years. Ten years ago she attempted to furnish it in one-fell-swoop with pieces she loved. "Everything went wrong," says Marcia. "The glass came cracked on the coffee table, the wall unit was too small. It was a big hassle." Frustrated, Marcia took to decorating the apartment piecemeal over the years. However, her mother's Alzheimer's diagnosis, and a forced-retirement from her job at a management consulting firm, has put a hold on any recent updates to Marcia's living room.

And as for the actual "living" that goes on in this room...there's not much. "I spend most of my time in my bedroom where my computer is," says Marcia. Lauri says the room's "visual chaos," is why Marcia might not find it relaxing. "When I look around, there's no blank space to rest my eye," says Lauri. "The good news," she tells Marcia, "is that by correcting a few common design mistakes that most people make, you can update your living room without buying all new furniture. Your home should look as up-to-date as you do."

Read on and discover the mistakes and quick fixes Lauri found for Marcia's living room.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"The couches were set up in an L configuration with two chairs in the corner. This is probably the worst setup there is for comfortable conversation," says Lauri. "Plus, the chairs were too far from the coffee table."

"We took away one couch, and set up the furniture in a U-shape. Now, everyone can sit and face each other. You can put out hors d'oeurves on the coffee table and everyone can comfortably reach."

"You collect so much stuff over a lifetime," says Lauri. "It's nice to have all these things, but you need to edit what you own and accessorize effectively."

Mission accomplished! The result? A living room that Marcia can live in! "Now, you can sit in here and read," says Lauri. "You'll finally be comfortable." What does Marcia think? "It's quite a change!... I like it."

IKEA shopping list: Two "Dagny" cushions ($14.99 each), Vejen rug ($89.99), Hosto flower box ($14.99), Felicia throw ($9.99), Vilshult picture ($59.99), Two Jonsbo Barby table lamps ($59.99 each)

Grand Total: $324.92

(See all our past winners. See official rules. One winner is chosen at random from all those who ask a question. Contest closes June 30, 2011.)

(See all our past winners. See official rules. One winner is chosen at random from all those who ask a question. Contest closes June 30, 2011.)

FOFs Janet Prensky and Anne-Marie Aigner have been best friends since Anne-Marie was Janet’s voice teacher at Emerson College. Over the years they've shared a radio talk show in Boston and a flourishing marketing agency, Aigner/Prensky Group.

In 2009 they launched “The Boomer Broads,” a hilarious web-based talk show "for and about grown-up women!"

To help them get camera-ready, FOF teamed up with Soft Surroundings and gave the sassy, brassy, hilarious duo... a serious beauty do-over.

**All products listed are from the Sue Devitt Cosmetics line available online at Soft Surroundings or Soft Surroundings retail stores. Call 1-800-240-7076 for more information about products not available online.

FOFs Janet Prensky and Anne-Marie Aigner have been best friends since Anne-Marie was Janet’s voice teacher at Emerson College. Over the years they've shared a radio talk show in Boston and a flourishing marketing agency, Aigner/Prensky Group.

In 2009 they launched “The Boomer Broads,” a hilarious web-based talk show "for and about grown-up women!"

To help them get camera-ready, FOF teamed up with Soft Surroundings and gave the sassy, brassy, hilarious duo... a serious beauty do-over.

**All products listed are from the Sue Devitt Cosmetics line available online at Soft Surroundings or Soft Surroundings retail stores. Call 1-800-240-7076 for more information about products not available online.

Since her color consultation with Jill, Geri takes her treasured swatch book everywhere. "She even takes it to Starbucks," says her sister, Shelley.

Since her color consultation with Jill, Geri takes her treasured swatch book everywhere. "She even takes it to Starbucks," says her sister, Shelley.

She missed. "The warm champagne tone of the dress that Helen wore to the Golden Globes takes away from her silver hair and drags her down. Icy blue would have been a better choice for her. It lifts the attention up to her face and makes her look more vibrant."

She hit...sort of. "Black is great, it's basic and we all love it," says Jill. "The black dress Melissa Leo wore to the Golden Globes works. But, eggplant should really be her new black. The eggplant dress brings out the warmth of her face and auburn hair."

She hit. "Catherine Zeta Jones nailed it with the forest green dress she wore to the Golden Globes," says Jill. "Since she's a deep brunette, she really pops in forest green. If the dress were a different shade, such as olive, she would fade right into it."

She hit. The marigold that Kyra Sedgwick picked for the Golden Globes was a great choice for her warm blond hair coloring. She looks vibrant and alive," says Jill. A taupe would have grayed her out and made her look older."

[Enter to win one of Jill's complete color kits, here.]

Images via American Superstar Mag

She missed. "The warm champagne tone of the dress that Helen wore to the Golden Globes takes away from her silver hair and drags her down. Icy blue would have been a better choice for her. It lifts the attention up to her face and makes her look more vibrant."

She hit...sort of. "Black is great, it's basic and we all love it," says Jill. "The black dress Melissa Leo wore to the Golden Globes works. But, eggplant should really be her new black. The eggplant dress brings out the warmth of her face and auburn hair."

She hit. "Catherine Zeta Jones nailed it with the forest green dress she wore to the Golden Globes," says Jill. "Since she's a deep brunette, she really pops in forest green. If the dress were a different shade, such as olive, she would fade right into it."

She hit. The marigold that Kyra Sedgwick picked for the Golden Globes was a great choice for her warm blond hair coloring. She looks vibrant and alive," says Jill. A taupe would have grayed her out and made her look older."

[Enter to win one of Jill's complete color kits, here.]

Images via American Superstar Mag

Alli and Myra conquered her closet with this 5-step plan that Alli says will work for even the most persevering pack-rat.

*To find an organizer in your area, visit the National Association of Professional Organizers' (NAPO) website.

Take a look at a few of the sweaters Myra and Alli sorted through. Tell us, would you keep, donate or re-purpose each? Then see what Alli and Myra decided.

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Alli and Myra conquered her closet with this 5-step plan that Alli says will work for even the most persevering pack-rat.

*To find an organizer in your area, visit the National Association of Professional Organizers' (NAPO) website.

Take a look at a few of the sweaters Myra and Alli sorted through. Tell us, would you keep, donate or re-purpose each? Then see what Alli and Myra decided.

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