We're kicking off a 10-week countdown of the top accessories that will tranform any room in your home. Every weekend on HomesPlus, we'll reveal a new, unique accessory and tell you why it's such a great piece. Be sure to check out the show - and check back here - to find out how to transform your home with just a few key pieces!

The Obama administration announced details of the $75 billion plan to stabilize the housing market. While it likely won't help everybody who needs it, the Obama administration says it will help as many as 9 million homeowners refinance or modify their mortgages.

You can read more about the plan at chicagotribune.com and you can get complete eligibility requirements on the government's economic recovery website: www.financialstability.gov.

Our ten-week countdown of room-transforming accessories continues this week with #8...find out what it is by watching HomesPlus this weekend or watching it in the video player, above. Here's a hint - it's simple and it's all about adding a touch of whimsy to any room!

If you haven't seen the first two week's featured room transformers, check them out below!

I recently visited the IKEA in Bolingbrook and their resident design pro showed me how today's kitchen should not only be beautiful, but functional as well. Everything they're doing there, from top-lift cabinets to pull-out shelves serves the purpose of keeping you organized so that you don't have to call for take-out instead of pulling out the pots and pans! And since we're all looking to save a buck - they do it at a very affordable price!

Take a look...

With everyone talking about low home prices, low interest rates and a wide selection of homes on the market, it can be hard to resist the "it's a great time to buy!" pressure. And while it's true that pricing, selection and interest rates are making it a good time to be on the buying side of the equation - it's only a good time to buy if it's a good time for you. Meaning, if your credit isn't great, you don't have a down payment or you're just not comfortable with the idea of keeping up a home, right now might not be the time for you to buy your first home.

But how do you know?

Animal lover? Then this week's accessory is for you! Not keen on the clean-up and care that goes along with having a pet? No worries - this week's room transformer is still perfect for your home. It's a great conversation piece, works in a variety of different settings and adds a touch of elegance to any room!

Celebrities...they live just like us. Well... at least some of them do. We love it when local celebs give us the scoop on their on-the-market digs - and we love it even more when we get a tour! Take a look at this multi-million dollar Hinsdale home and you'll see that aside from the wine collection - probably worth about as much as the house itself - this local celebrity pretty much does live like the rest of us! Just with a bit more space and a few more toys!

Between HGTV's umpteenth Dream Home giveaway and the increasing number of home design mags and tv shows, chances are you've dreamt up your own version of heaven-on-earth. In the Dream Home gallery, below, you're sure to find a design that suits your taste. The fun part is comparing your favorites to your friends' favorites - you'll probably find that one homeowner's dream is another's nightmare...to each his own!

This week's room transformer (#7) is a little bit practical, a little bit artistic and according to Chicago designer, Michelle Williams, will make a HUGE impact in your home. It's the Modern Man table...and for the feminist side of you, there's a Modern Woman version too! If you're not into the human form as art, try any home goods store to find a side table that suits your style. As with most home accessories, side tables come in a wide variety of styles - and prices!

All it took was one morning of glorious above-50-degree temperatures and sunshine to make me forget all about the last 4 months. I opened all of the windows for the first time since the fall and the cross breeze was wonderful! But within minutes that delightfully warm breeze began to remind me that it might be time for that other thing that comes with spring - spring cleaning. You see, that breeze blew about three good sized dust bunnies and tumbleweeds of dog hair out from under the couch and chairs - places I'd like to think I get to every time I clean the house, but...don't. So, it got me thinking - what else have I missed all winter? (I promise, my house really does LOOK quite clean!) I suspect I'm not the only one making my spring cleaning list for the weeks ahead, so take a look at this checklist and make sure you don't miss anything!

Your home has sold (phew!) and you're packing up to get your move on. Now, the real stress begins. Moving from one home to your next is always a test in patience - items get lost, broken, or in the case of a friend of mine during her move from Chicago to Baltimore, moldy. (long story, but in the end the movers replaced the ruined furniture.) The point is, it's not easy. And no move is ever without its stress points. But there are some things you can do ahead of time to make it a little more bearable.

If you're finding yourself avoiding the evening news to keep from hearing words like "recession," "housing crisis," "AIG," and that nasty f-word - "foreclosure" then this post is for you. Foreclosure has hit one of the most popular families in the country - and it's hilarious.

If you've been sitting by, waiting for mortgage rates to get nice and low before going for that refinance - this could be the time! After the Fed's announcement that it would buy another $750 billion worth of debt this year we could be seeing the cheapest mortgages most of us will probably ever see.

This week's room transformer does more than just allow you to take a load off! The Francis Leather Weave Chair makes a stylish statement in any room, but you can find an accent chair to match your taste at any home store, antique store or discount store! Take a closer look at this week's pick...

If you're looking for a few extra bucks every month and you have some space to spare, it might be worthwhile to consider renting a room in your home. But before you proceed, do your homework. Becoming a landlord requires a little prep work beforehand to make the best of the situation whether it's short-term or permanent.

One of the Windy City's finest has put his River North townhome on the rental market, according to luxist.com. Vince Vaughn's furnished 4 bedroom, 3 1/2 bath is being offered at the low, low price of $9,500/month. The place is a spacious 4,000 square feet with a rooftop terrace, three garage spots and a 7-seat home theatre where the lucky renter can spend rainy days memorizing lines from the wedding crasher's long list of comedies.

So, if you're in the market for a River North rental, it's time to "grab that net and catch that beautiful butterfly, pal..."

According to the London Daily Mail, the American Idol judge we love to hate has taken measures to make sure that no matter how rainy the day, he'll be able to maintain that bronze glow that brings out his chest hair so well. Simon Cowell's $22 million dollar Beverly Hills home is welcoming a new addition - a solarium with a full length tanning machine plus a "booster" facial tanner (you know, for those days when tanning your whole body is just too much to deal with). Ahhh, the life of the celebrity.

If you look back on the 90's as your finest decade, then surely this little nugget of information will be of interest. Aaron Spelling's LA mansion has been put on the market for the bargain price of $150 million, making it the most expensive home on the market in America right now. The man who gave us a decade of Beverly HIlls, 90210 (and plenty of other hit series before that...if you don't know who he is, then I can't help you at this point) left the home to his wife Candy who has purchased a $47 million dollar high-rise condo to "start a new chapter" in her life. And not even she knows how many bathrooms this compound has.

And since I don't imagine Mrs. Spelling is planning an open house, here's what deep-pocked buyers can expect to see...

#5 on our list of room transforming accessories: beautiful birdseye maple breadboards! Functional and stylish! Chicago designer, Michelle Williams, says that used as a backsplash or in a grouping on the wall, these babies are eye-catching...and fully-functional!

The weather is warming up (kind of) and before you know it, your life will move outdoors once again. So instead of a couple folding lawn chairs with ripped nylon seats, how about filling your outdoor space with something you'll actually enjoy this spring and summer? Making your home a place you'll enjoy is especially important if you're one of many cutting back on travel this year. So instead of going on a vacation - enjoy a STAYcation right at home! Here are some ideas...

In 100 episodes of HomesPlus, I'm not proud to say that there were PLENTY of goof-ups, prop malfunctions and just plain bad behavior caught on camera. But since we only have so much time, we had to pick some of our favorites to show you. Take a look at what 100 episodes of HomesPlus does to a host...or three.