Category: Home Decor

Posted on

In need of outdoor furniture repair

Because of someone, meaning my sons and husband, seem to have had a small party over the weekend, they or their friends went a bit overboard and now I am in need of someone who specializes in outdoor furniture repair. Around here, this is no easy task. I really like the furniture I have and want to keep it, but I know that it might be hard to repair or heaven’s forbid cost more than it would take to replace it. But I’m bound and determined to have my old furniture repair. It matches my deck and all of the other finishing touches I added that also mate the furniture.

To refinish patio furniture, I want someone who knows exactly what they are doing and I believe I have found such people to do this. I’m glad, since my furniture is not antique, but it is vintage and I’m really partial to all of it.

I have one patio chair that is going to need a whole lot of work. It is my favorite and happens to be the chair I always sit in. It looks like it went though a hurricane and was spit back out by the wind and ocean, after being dragged to yonder and back. I indeed will be needing a patio chair repair person who knows exactly what they are  doing. I know for a fact that the next time I go away, there will be no parties or disrespectful people here, but at least I found people who can fix my furniture, at a good price, so I don’t have to go out an buy new things that can’t compare with the good items I have.

 

Posted on

The gift of a spice rack

My oldest daughter called me and asked what kind of spice rack she would need for her kitchen. I sat on the other end of the phone in puzzlement. My  kids have asked me a lot of various questions in their lifetime, some of which were quite strange questions, but never about a thing like this. I think maybe she was hinting that she would like to have one.

Spice racks to me are personal. I don’t really like to cook, but cook I do, and I’m good at it. One can be good at something and still not like to do it. When it comes to my spices, I’m very picky. The order they are in, and the type of spice group they are in is important to me. That is where good spice racks come in. They are awesome for organization of spices and also save space.

I think, judging how my daughter’s kitchen is set up, that she should look into a wall spice rack. She is learning now how to use various spices, and this way they would be right within her reach, organized, and would be a nice decor touch for her kitchen. I’ll be buying my daughter’s her first spice rack. I’ve seen some nice ones that she will be sure to like.

Posted on

Using battery operated lights

Lately I have been seeing a lot of battery operated lights that look exactly like candles, and I think it’s a great idea. In fact, I’ve been thinking about putting these lights along the walkways in my gardens. I really like the look of them, and the great thing is, they don’t melt! I’ve done some research and they last a long time on a little battery and are so handy to have. Not only that, they really are pretty and a great addition to ambiance in the garden or anywhere else a person would like to use them instead of a real candle. If there is a breeze blowing outside, they don’t go out, which is another plus.

I’ve always loved candles, but the average tea light burns for only approximately four hours, at the most. You don’t have that problem with the LED tea lights. It seems like they last for a very long time. The great thing is that you don’t have to worry about fire, but they actually look just like the wax tea lights and give even a bit more light. Generally I end up always checking the tea lights I burn for fear of them getting too hot in the holders. These LED lights don’t get hot and they are much less dangerous than a candle fire burning.

There are a wide variety of battery operated lights to choose from, and some look like candles that are melted, which brings on an almost real candle appearance without the worries of candle wax getting all over the place. I’ve accidentally melted candle wax onto some pieces of furniture and I was never able to get off completely. I’ve also spilled candle wax on the carpet before and it is nearly impossible to get out. All told, I really want to get some of these lights. They would give me peace of mind, without giving up the look of a real candle.

 

 

Posted on

In need of a computer desk and hutch

For me to find just the right computer desk and hutch or my daughters room has taken some time since the space in her room is limited, and her need of organization is growing. She really needs a place for her computer, school papers and also her music. She has a printer that she doesn’t use at the moment because she has no place to put it. With collage starting in the fall, she’ll need a study space.

With a little bit of rearranging and clearing out some childhood items she doesn’t need in her room, I found a great Contemporary Corner Workstation with Maximum Storage that would fit perfectly and give her all kinds of storage space and room to put everything she has as far as school and general computer work.

 

I like the looks of this corner desk and so does my daughter. It’s totally functional and would be a great way to have her room more organized. It really maximizes space and doesn’t take up a whole lot of room, so it would be perfect for her. I’ve even been thinking about getting myself one. Everyone in this house could use a bit more organization, and a room saving way to hold what they need.

Posted on

Shopping for residential address plaques

Since my daughter moved into a new home, I’ve been looking at residential address plaques that I think she may like since there isn’t one on her house. It’s hard to tell which house is hers and even her mail man has been messing up when delivering the mail. It’s been bothering her since she had to change her address and important mail has ended back at the post office for her to have to go into town and get. To me, this is basically the mail carrier’s fault, but people do look for a name and address when trying to find the right house.

Personalized address plaques are a nice gift. It has both the name and address on the plaque and it gives it sort of a homey touch, I think. I haven’t asked my daughter which kind she wants though, so I’m holding off on buying one. I don’t know if she and her husband want their last name on the plaque for privacy reasons. Which us understandable to me.

I personally like the bronze address plaques and think that one would look really nice on my daughter’s house. There are so many various plaques to choose from, I might just wait and let my daughter look at them and choose the one she wants. That way, since it’s her choice, I’ll know I got her exactly what she wants.

 

Posted on

Organization with enclosed cork bulletin boards

My daughter and son wanted to have a place for all their school accomplishments and had been just hanging things on thier bedroom wall, but to me it looked very cluttered and unorganized, so when I have been looking into getting them enclosed cork bulletin boards somewhat like the ones that they have in school, to keep all their medals and achievements organized.

My son didn’t mind the plain bulletin boards, but my daughter preferred something a bit more fancy. I showed her some enclosed fabric bulletin boards and she liked them a lot. They are bigger than what I had really wanted, but then after I thought about it, and looked at all of just the things they have from high school, I think that they are going to work really well for what they want to put in them.

I had at first told them that they both should just put a years worth of special awards, photos, and medals in the enclosed bulletin boards, but then it’s their room and clutter, so it will be up to them to organize the items and  put them in the way they want to. I can always give them the bulletin boards of they decide to “leave the nest” on down the line.

Posted on

New bathroom vanity

Getting a new vanity in the bathroom had to be put on hold for awhile because we had developed problems with the pipes that came up from the under the floor and though I had kept telling my husband that I thought we had a leak, he had been too busy with work and other things he had on his plate, to even check it out. Something that of course upsets me to no end, as I don’t really know anything about pipes and plumbing. I didn’t even know how to begin to fix the leak or who to call that wouldn’t’ charge me a small fortune.

After talking to a good guy friend of mine, he came out and looked at it and thank goodness it was a fairly easy fix. I ended up using the barter system and promised him three loaves of homemade bread for him to fix my leaky pipe.

Shopping for the vanity was easy. There were only three that I had looked at and really loved, but only two that would fit the space. Since I couldn’t decide on which I wanted, I let my oldest son pick. I like his style and he knows mine, so we came home with a really nice looking and functional vanity. I’m happy with it and it does give me more storage space.

 

 

Posted on

Closet cleaning

Despite of the high temperatures we are having, I decided to clean my bedroom closet. I can not believe how many pair of shoes I have and also tops I have that I don’t wear. Unreal. I bagged up darn near everything and am going to take it to one of the homeless shelters in town. Someone may be able to use some of it.

While I was at it, I went to the store and got some really great extension type organizers and after I installed it, it gave my closet so much room and storage space that I was amazed. Needless to say, I’m on a closet cleaning roll, so to speak now.

While I was shopping, I picked up some nice mirrors to install on the closet doors also. And of course, I had to get new towels, since while going through the linen closet, I noticed that for some reason our towel supply is dwindling. I looked out by the pool, on the clothes line and in the washer and dryer. No towels. I got each of the kids their own beach towel (again) and this time, if they misplace theirs, too bad. They will go without. (mean mommie…)

Posted on

Attic renovation and organization

After spending the day upstairs in the attic yesterday, I’ve decided it is in dire need of some organization and in general a major overhaul. I’m seriously thinking about putting better flooring in and also drywall. I need a dumpster first to throw out junk I’ve sort of hoarded over the years, that I really don’t have any use for. I went shopping and got storage containers for clothes but I know that the boxes that are in the attic need replaced by something plastic, since the air despite of the vents in the attic, was a bit humid.

There are basically two rooms up in the attic, and I took measurements of the one side we don’t use. It could be made into another room, and I want to contact a contractor or even a few of my guy friends that know how to renovate rooms or “transform” attics to see what it would cost to make a useable room out of this room that is basically gutted.

I found a bunch of wall hangings and items I forgot I had and am switching the decor in my living room. Sort of swapping things. This will save money on redecorating also, since no one has seen this stuff. We’ll see what the professionals say about fixing the extra room up there and I’ll have another winter project!

Posted on

A new kitchen faucet

Usually when I get home from some place, I notice if something new has been added to my house, or if something is in disarray, missing, or just “not right.” Except today, and then into the evening. Now I feel like jerk in a way.

I hadn’t really been in the kitchen since I had gotten home from running errands today, so when I went in tonight to get a glass of water, I turned on the light and nearly was blinded by a new kitchen faucet and fixtures that had been installed by my husband. I felt terrible that I hadn’t noticed it before, and wondered why he looked at me funny, after I had come out of the kitchen a few times earlier.

Yes, I fawned all over them and made a big deal of them, partly for my husband’s ego and partly because the set up is really one of the best brands made, and also look awesome in my kitchen. Besides, I was tired of getting wet by the hand sprayer ever time I turned on my faucet.