My Writings. My Thoughts.
Top Reasons to Consider New Floor Grates
// August 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Something Different
There is rarely much discussion regarding floor grates, but in the opinion of some there should be a lot of talk. You may not even know off of the top of your head what kind of grates you have. But, for a couple of reasons, you might just want to find out what is going on with the grates you have and the ones you could have.
If you have the standard grates, you may want to switch them to metal register, or wood grille for two good reasons. One is that these upgrades may provide you with better air flow, and creating optimum flow is more efficient. The other reason is that they can enhance the appearance of your floor. The possibility of improved efficiency and appearance are definitely worth looking into.
The Best Way to Define Drawer Space
// July 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // Most Popular
So you were lucky enough to find an armoire, or wardrobe with great big deep drawers. Sure, they will hold tons of stuff, but they are also difficult to keep tidy. One of the most popular things to do is to create dividers to ensure that everything held within remains neat and organized. You can define space for undergarments, socks, books, office supplies, or even toiletries. This also applies to the drawers in your kitchen too. Just imagine pots, lids, utensils and gizmos all happily housed in an orderly manner.
To break the space up you can now buy precut dividers, some even match the wood of your drawers. Rest assured, these do not have to be permanent fixtures if you do not want them to be. While it might not reflect the period of the piece, it sure does come in handy. So, if you use removable slats there should be no concern over retaining the integrity of the original style of the drawer.
Do Not Forget the Importance of Indoor Lighting
// June 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Decorating Tips
Nowadays, due to so much track lighting, and recessed lighting, many homeowners skip investing in additional lighting. So, whereas it used to be that lamps of unlimited heights, designs, colours and strengths were as much a part of a rooms décor as rugs, artwork and coffee tables. And as such, a great way to add in some flare, detail, and structure has been left in the dust. Look around your living area and see if you notice that the space in which you often snuggle up and read at night could benefit from a tabletop lamp. Or, maybe you could use some height in a certain section of your living room. Once you establish where you want to introduce additional lighting, get ready for the grand adventure of selections galore. Really the price range and styles will offer you an endless supply of options, so have fun with it.
Great Tips For Improving Your Little Darlings Wardrobe
// May 6th, 2010 // No Comments » // Must Try
Instituting some creative ways to keep your childs closet in order may help you get through some growing pains. The following are examples originally used for art supplies, but can be adapted for tons of other articles too. Feel free to pass these ideas on to all the moms you know out there, we have to stick together to make it through the terrible twos all the way through the years of teen angst.
One area that is often overlooked in a closet is the back of the door, or the back wall. So, tackle the back wall first by adding a simple paper towel holder. Then insert a roll of drawing paper. You can also do this with spools of yarn, ribbon, or even actual paper towels for clean up time after arts, crafts, or accidents.
As for the back of the door, attach corkboards and chalkboards. The corkboard becomes a fab place to house your childs artwork, and the chalkboard is amazing for writing out chores and wiping them away once completed. And of course, it is a great place for some freestyle drawing too, for your kids or yourself.
Also, it is a good move to buy a couple of medium sized, or what ever is appropriate for the shelf space you have available, baskets with folding handles to house art supplies. This way they are easy to take out, and equally simple to put back. This leaves no room for questions as to where the glue, markers, scissors, paints or clay are meant to go.
An Invaluable Tip On Great Home Decorating
// April 29th, 2010 // No Comments » // Decorating Tips
It is extremely common for people who go away on a grand holiday to return home and seek to replicate something about the vacation accommodation. And yet, while most people bring cameras with them on their trip, the majority do not think to take photos of the delicious place that they stayed. So, once all has been unpacked and some time is freed up to recreate a room, or a style all they have is a faded memory to rely upon.Therefore, it is a great decorating tip to take photos of the things that inspire you while on holiday.
Hence, the next time you fancy the bedding in your hotel room, or become enamoured with the spa atmosphere of the bathroom take half a minute and pull out the camera. Luxury hotels tend to be extremely well furnished and decorated, so it is worth trying to recreate any inspiring looks or themes in your own home. Many of the luxury hotels in the UK are elegantly styled and decorated thus providing an ideal source of inspiration for people that have stayed in the places. In this day and age of digitals you need not ever look at the pictures, much less print them out. On the other hand, having a reminder of what it was that made a place special enough to have around you at home too will prove invaluable.
Decorating to Suit Your Environment
// March 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // Decorating Tips
When trying to bring a bit of the outdoors into your home remember to look at the tones in your surrounding environment. While you may automatically think of brown and green, you might not realize that yellow, orange, red and other tones lie right outside the window, begging to be replicated inside.
I proposed this to a client a few months ago, and initially did not receive a strong response. She gravitated naturally toward blues and purples, and did not think much of yellow and green, what she deemed as seventies colours. She seemed to associate the colours with the kind of place where her grandma would have been wearing a jump suit of the same sort of colours.
This I found a bit curious due to the fact that she is an avid gardener and loves to surround herself with sunflowers and greenery. Her husband on the other hand really took to the challenge, and convinced her to try and visualize what could be superb.
Long story short, they selected kitchen tiles, which led out to their garden area, in green, yellow and orange. My goodness what persuasive skills that man must have called upon I can only imagine. Anyway, the tile beautifully reflected the terrain right outside their French doors. Seamless is the word they came to rely upon when describing the colour scheme.
So, keep all your options open, and derive inspiration from what is nearby, and what you love. This approach can bring great things to your world.
A Super Second and Third Use for a Kitchen Staple
// February 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Must Try
I use olive oil for cooking, salad dressings, face moisturizer, and now to shine my families shoes. When I come across a product I already use that has many additional purposes, I celebrate. It is like finding free money to me, and olive oil is like liquid gold in this way.
A while back I read that Sofia Loren has been an avid user of extra virgin olive oil her whole life as a moisturizer, I ran to my kitchen without hesitation. I have been using my oil religiously and have become a believer of its nourishing power.
Then when I read that my oil could be used to shine leather shoes too, I was elated. Simply wipe off any dirt with a damp towel. Then put a small amount of oil on an old rag and wipe it onto the leather. Upon further rubbing scuff marks should fade away, and a shiny shoe left as a result.
I cannot wait to see what it is next that I learn what else this beloved oil can be used for on a regular basis. But, rest assured, once I find the answer, I will be boasting about it all over again.
The Way to Prepare for a Wine Tasting Evening at Home
// January 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Something Different
Hosting your own wine tasting evening is a great way to mix things up on an otherwise ordinary weekend. To keep things simple, first select at specific region from which all of your samples come from. The only other supply you will need are Bordeaux glasses, which are appropriate for both your white wine selections and your red.
If you are serving both red and white wines, pop your reds into the fridge half an hour before your guests arrive. As for the whites, remove them from the refrigerator a couple of minutes prior to pouring. If you are not a wine connoisseur, or even a regular fan, you should brush up on the proper steps involved in a tasting so you can smoothly aid your guests through the process.
You may wish to provide appetizers, such as fruit and cheese platters, but consume them before, or after the actual tasting process instead of during. Also, if you choose to rinse the glasses out in between different offerings be sure to dry them extra well. If you do not, you may end up with diluted wine.
The Trendy Decorating Colour for 2010
// December 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // Most Popular
Turquoise is forecast to be the new it colour for 2010. Since there is little knowledge of how long the trendy colour will remain a popular colour, we recommend that you use turquoise as an accent colour. This way you are on trend, but can replace it upon a whim if you tire of it in time. Easy pieces in which to incorporate this colour are throw rugs, towels, pillows, candles and decorative blankets. If you are feeling this colour strongly enough, then opt for a duvet cover, shower curtain and plant pots.
Decorating Ideas for Small Kids Rooms
// November 19th, 2009 // No Comments » // Decorating Tips
If you are preparing to paint your childs room, you might want to put some real thought into the paint colour, or type of paint choice. Even more so than when you paint your own bedroom, the shade you pick might have a bigger influence than you think. Thus, you may not want to jump in blindly, considering a kid has multiple uses for their room.
For example, a pastel colour can create a calm felling that will be critical at bedtime. So, if you want little Lulu or Brian to doze off without too much fuss, lilac and butter could be just the right thing.
Or, if you are working with a room that is short on space, you could paint one wall with chalkboard paint. This will eliminate the need for a drawing table, or an easel for your kid to draw on. Thus, you are promoting creativity by using your own creative tactic.
There are plenty of interesting ideas to be implemented when you paint the walls. Plus, there are beaucoup sources to help you learn more about colours and their impact on small minds. Check out the plethora of info, and you might be thrilled you did in the long run.