You see a lot of different decorating styles when you're a babysitter. Sometimes you make mental notes for your own home. Other times you wonder what on earth the owners could have been thinking of. Did they lose a bet?

The reason I mention this is because I was sitting one night for George and Barbra Dobbs, and there approach to decorating is what they call minimalist. I can think of other words to describe it. Words like frugal, cheap, cheeseparing, thrifty, prudent, parsimonious. I think you get the ideas as to what my opinion was.

Actually, to be honest, I have to admit that their décor wasn't cheap. There...