Is Decorating Place being used? What about something like blog my room? Or Blog By Room?

Can you connect it with your name or the name of the town in some way? Is there going to be a central focus, or level of what you will be talking about? In other words, is it just about finishing touches, or will you talk about painting, wallpapering, re-finishing, etc?

How exciting for you, by the way! You will have to post a link or copies (if you can legally) so we can read along!

I've got no title ideas, but just want to say that I'm excited for you and hope you have a wonderful time with this new adventure! So exciting!

Is this newspaper accessible online? If so, you want to use a name that has a lot of hits - it's more popular, so it's more likely to show up in a search, read and passed on.

That said, of your three names I like House Proud, as it tells me what the column is about more than the others. Nesting Instincts could be about birds or preparing a new baby.

I like House Proud also, it says it all and quickly and you want to capture your readers immediately so you'll gain a loyal following ; it's not like you have to be cutting edge or anything of the sort.

As for the head shot, look at other head shots on designer's websites, see what you like for yourself.

Wow, how exciting for you!!!!

How about:
Making a House a Home
House & Home
Housewise

I would find a way to get my name into the title. If it were a sewing column, for example, "Sewing with Sue."

Congrats Sue! Yes, please post the columns so we can enjoy and learn from them too.

I agree with others about getting your name in there. That way as you springboard to new ventures, your following will easily recognize you.

A friend suggested
Superior Interiors or
Domestic Designs

Still thinking about House Proud... I like Housewise too! Though at first glance will people think "Housewives"?

Sue Says Decor

No suggestions, but a big congrats, Sue!

Something that combines decor with the economical slant attached to it . The "on the cheap" sites always get my attention.

Style for a Steal
Sues Savvy Style
Half-priced Homestead
High Style on the Down Low

You get the direction I'm going here.......

Brainstorming here:

- Breath of Design
- Design Requisite
- Decorative Dwelling
- Resourceful Interiors
- Room For Invention

We used to have a section called "Real Living" and it focused on all things home & garden, with a lot being related to how people in our community really lived-not some way they'd live in NYC or LA. But then our paper combined with Gannett Publishing and everything came out of the AP, so no more local decorating info.

Anyway, I like that you're able to keep it local, so you might want to use something like that in the title? Sorry, my brain is too fried to come up with something clever, but congratulations on this fun adventure!

I forgot to add congratulations, this is exciting !

How about "Department of the Interior"?

Terriks, that's a good one!!

The issue I'm having with some suggestions (both here and from a couple of "real life" friends) is that I don't want this title to sound like it's the name of my business... if you know what I mean. For example, Resourceful Interiors sounds like a great name for a business.

Kinda wish the editor had assigned a name. This is a lot of responsibility! (Although maybe not -- for all I know, this column will get cut after the first issue!)

Right now I seem to be focusing on:

House Proud
Feathering Your Nest
Department of the Interior

If it helps, here's my rough draft of the beginning of the first column. And can I just say it is very difficult to write only 300-500 words on a topic! Okay, so here's the beginning. If you have editorial comments, please be kind, but basically I'm just including this in case it helps you to "vote" on a column title (just to clarify -- the title I'm looking for is for every column, not specific to the topic of this first one).

January is a time of renewal and resolutions. By now, the tree, the menorah, the boxes and gift wrap have been cleared out, and you may be looking around your home and feeling like something is missing. No, not the shedding Christmas tree or the balls of crumpled wrapping paper. But maybe a few things around the house are not...quite... right. Everything looks okay, but you're not excited about your living room. Your kitchen's a mess. Your bathroom is blah.

Perhaps as you peer around your spaces, you'll find that you've committed some basic decorating sins. Care to redeem yourself? It's not very difficult. Sometimes it's even fun. Following are just a few of the sins you may be unintentionally guilty of.

I agree with pesky's ideas about it being a local article and making the name reflect that. I keep thinking you need to use your town's name in the title. That way it won't sound so business-like. I think the "nest" wording is way overused, but that's my opinion. Congrats on your column. It would be fun to blog the articles at the same time.

Being limited in word count can work in your favor. It will make your writing more to the point, and fit a newspaper style.

I think you have a great start for the first column. One thing this column should do is establish what the column is intended to focus on, what the purpose will be week-to-week.

So,this is to be a decorating column - but about DIY, or will you focus on decorative accents and tweaks, or tackle bigger issues? What does the column bring to the reader?

Here is your first column, edited just a bit. I think the first paragraph is good, but the second takes you off in a different direction. Are you about spiffing things up or fixing decorating 'sins'(a term which may be very offputting to folks already feeling badly about their absence of a decorating gene).

"January is a time of resolutions and renewal. The holiday decor has been cleared out, and you may be looking around your home and feeling like something is missing. The house seems to be telling you that a few things are not...quite... right. You're not excited about your living room. Your kitchen's a mess. Your bathroom is blah. But where to begin?

Start here! Together we will explore ideas that can help you make changes and choices to create your dream home. So grab a favorite beverage, find a comfy chair, and let's get decorating!"

As for a title, perhaps "Next-Door Decor" or "Dishing Decor" or "Susie's Cues"

That's great, Les, thanks. I was trying to figure out how to incorporate some kind of "intro" so I am going to use some of your edits!

Next-Door Decor is cute, too.

Still toying with "House Proud in Boston" -- Boston is not my town but it's the same number of syllables. Not giving you people my town. You might stalk me once I become a celebrity columnist.

I like the "decorating sins" theme. It gives you a chance to talk about decorating concepts not just the usual, "give it some pop with a red accent pillow" suggestion.