Attractive Home Design for Less

Day 23: Shelf Liners, How to Clean Cabinets, Glass Fronts and Hardware

2010-02-23T14:07:00.000-05:00

Today, I tackled a few of the kitchen cleaning how tos and I added shelf liners to my cabinets.

After reading Martha's section on shelf liners I decided that parchment paper would work for my cabinet shelves. This was the most economical choice and the easiest choice for me to find near me, since parchment paper is sold in most supermarkets.

The first thing that I did was empty my cabinets, I took this time to get rid of anything that was expired or I did not use anymore. Next I washed the cabinets using Martha's recommendations, warm water mixed with mild dishwashing liquid and a soft sponge.

I washed the hardware using the same solution. This was relatively easy, the solution was strong enough to get rid of the dirt but, weak enough to not damage the cabinets or hardware. I used a glass cleaner for the two glass front cabinets in my kitchen.

After drying the cabinets with a soft cloth I inserted the parchment paper.

The last step was to stock the shelves. The whole process took a little over an hour. The next time that I do this it should take less time because the parchment paper should grab most of the dirt instead of the dirt ending up on the cabinets.

Day 17: Kitchen Organizing

2010-02-17T14:47:00.000-05:00

Kitchen Organizing

Organizing has always been easier for me than cleaning. After reading Martha's recommendations on organizing in the kitchen, I found that I was on the right track. Martha recommends organizing your kitchen for what works for you, there is no wrong way, it is meant to make your life easier.

Here are a couple of Martha's tips that I chose to follow:

Stacking pots and pans so that they take up less space in your drawers/shelves.

Keeping all your like items together in one area of the kitchen. This is a spice rack that my Dad built for us one christmas I have it right next to my range. This allows me easy access to spices while I'm cooking.

Use a drawer organizer for storing your silverware.

I do find that when my home is organized I am less stressed and have more time. Having a place for everything makes it easier to keep everything organized.

Day 16: Kitchen Layout & Kitchen Cleaning Kit

2010-02-16T12:20:00.000-05:00

I'm back, sorry I've been absent for the last few days, I had a few things for Grad School I had to take care of and some of my Husband's family was visiting over the weekend. I was able to keep up with the daily Martha tasks but was unable to get a chance to blog.

Today's topics are the Kitchen Layout and the Kitchen Cleaning Kit.

Kitchen Layout

My Kitchen

As you can see above my kitchen is a combination of a galley and open kitchen plan. This layout effects my kitchen's triangle. In a normal galley kitchen the two of the appliances would be on one wall and the last appliance would be between the other two on the opposite wall. My kitchen triangle is acute, in the future when we redo our kitchen I would love to have a more traditional triangle to work with.

Kitchen Cleaning Kit

Martha's kitchen cleaning kit is similar to the universal cleaning kit that I talked about eariler with a few added tools. Such as: dishwashing liquid, natural cleaners (baking soda, etc), kitchen brushes, and a toothbrush. She also suggests that you store all your cleaning materials in a bucket to make it easier to find and carry everything.

Martha Project: Day 10: Monthly & Seasonal Cleaning

2010-02-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Today, I looked through the monthly and seasonal cleaning lists that Martha recommends. I decided to spread out the tasks over the four weeks in each month and when the seasons change. To speed this along a little, I'll just let you know about when I'll be completing the monthly and seasonal cleaning instead of going through a whole month, like I did with the weekly cleaning. This will allow me to start getting into the nitty gritty.

Here is the cleaning break down.

Monthly

1st Week of the Month

Wash Ventilation Hood Filter in Kitchen
Discard Food that has Expired
Vacuum Fire Place Screen
Launder Mattress Pad

2nd Week of the Month

Wipe Shower Surroundings
Scrub Grout
Wipe Inside Medicine Cabinet
Dust Closet Shelves
Vacuum Closet Floors

3rd Week of the Month

Vacuum Utility Floors
Wipe Inside/Outside of Trash Cans
Vacuum Window Treatments, Moldings and Windowsills
Dust Ceiling Fans
Wipe Doors

4th Week of the Month

Wipe Switch Plates
Wipe Telephones
Flush Drains with Vinegar, Boiling Water and Baking Soda

Seasonal

Replace Baking Soda
Clean Oven
Wipe Kitchen Ceiling
Clean Refrigerator
Clean Inside of Kitchen Cabinets
Organize Pantry
Sweep out Fireplace
Vacuum Mattress and Box Spring
Launder Pillows
Wipe Baseboards and Moldings

Martha Project: Day 9: Weekly Cleaning - Dining Room

2010-02-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, Monday was clean the dining room. Since we had a Super Bowl Party on Sunday we had already vacuumed and cleaned, so there was not much to do.

You will also notice that I primed all the walls in our dining room/living room on Saturday. We are finally moving along with our home renovations. Hopefully, I'll be able to show all of you the full transformation soon.

Here is the before and after.

Before

After

Martha Project: Day 8, Weekly Cleaning - Kitchen

2010-02-08T11:02:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, Sunday was clean the kitchen day. Cleaning the kitchen seems daunting at first but, it is really not that bad, especially when you have a husband that is willing to help. Since yesterday was also Super Bowl Sunday and we were going to host a party, my husband offered to help me clean the kitchen. This did help because we had other things to get done before our guests arrived.

Here are my before and afters.

Before

After

Before

After

Martha Project: Day 6, Weekly Cleaning - Bathroom

2010-02-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, Friday was bathroom day. I have to be honest this was the day of the week that I was dreading. This is the one thing that I have not taken on in awhile. Usually, my husband takes care of cleaning the bathroom, I'm really lucky that way. But, since I'm taking on this project I thought that I would have to tackle the bathroom.

I did not take any before and afters for the bathroom because I did not think that it would look that different in pictures, since there is not a lot of clutter.

This was defiantly the hardest of the weekly cleaning tasks so far. I started by cleaning the sink and mirror and then moved on to the toilet. This was really what I did not want to clean, but I got over my grossed outness and cleaned the toilet. Finally, I cleaned the shower; this took me the longest and was the hardest part of the bathroom to clean.

Hopefully, next week this will not be as hard.

Martha Project: Day 5

2010-02-05T09:00:00.014-05:00

Yesterday, Thursday was clean the bedroom day. The bedroom tends to be a place that we just throw things into when cleaning the rest of the house because no one sees the bedroom when they come over. So, needless to say I had a lot of clutter to tame yesterday.

So, let's see how I did.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

Martha Project: Day 4

2010-02-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was Wednesday, so I continued to work through my weekly housekeeping. Yesterday was the hallway and the entry way. The hallway was easy all I had to do was vacuum, so I decided not to take any before and afters because it was really not that interesting.

Here are my before and afters of the entry way. Our entry way is not heated so I had to move quickly as to not freeze.

Before

After

Martha Project: Day 3

2010-02-03T09:00:00.032-05:00

Martha's Weekly Homekeeping

Today I'm setting up my weekly homekeeping schedule. Because I do not have enough time on any one day to accomplish all the things on the weekly checklist I'm going to spread it out throughout the week.

Sunday

Kitchen

Monday

Dining Room

Tuesday

Living Room

Home Office

Wednesday

Library

Entryway and Hallway

Thursday

Bedrooms

Friday

Bathrooms

Saturday

Throughout the House

So, today is Tuesday that means I tackled the Living Room and Home Office. Here is a picture of the before and the after using Martha's advice.

Living Room

Before

After

Before

After

Our house is in a bit of a transition. Hopefully, our living room/dining room will look a little more finished soon.

Home Office

Before

After

Before

After

Martha's steps are pretty simple the whole process took me about 45 minutes. I'll follow this for a week going through each day of the week.

Martha Project: Day 2

2010-02-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Martha's Daily Chore List

Martha states that if you get into a habit of doing these 6 chores on a daily basis you'll be able to stay ahead of the chaos.

1. Make the Bed

I do make the bed every day, but I have to admit that I do not tuck in the corners. When I get to the section on making the bed I'm sure I'll learn the correct way to make the bed.

2. Manage Clutter

I tried to do this today, I did okay but I did not get all the clutter. I think the more you pick up clutter as you enter and exit rooms the better your house looks.

3. Sort the Mail

Every day, after the postman delivers the mail I take it out of the mail box and go through it for anything important. I also get rid of the junk mail. Martha says to put a trash bin near the door that you get the mail from, so I moved a basket near the door and another basket for recycling. She also suggests that you have four boxes; personal correspondence, bills, catalogs, and filing. Right now I only have piles so I will have to get some bins.

4. Clean as You Cook

I did not cook today so I did not get a chance to try this out. But, the next time that I do cook I will let you all know how this works.

5. Wipe up Spills While They're Fresh

This is something that I do already, letting a stain sit makes the clean up worse.

6. Sweep the Kitchen Floor

Since I did not cook today I did not sweep the floor because we cleaned heavily this past weekend. But, I can see how this would be helpful after you have cooked to make sure that no food is left on the floor.

Martha Project: Day 1

2010-02-01T09:00:00.001-05:00

Today I launched into my household Martha project by putting together my cleaning products according to Martha's Universal Clean Kit.

I really had no idea what I had as far as cleaning products went. When I clean I usually just grab what is under the sink and start cleaning. I obviously have a lot to learn.

So, my first step was to take out all the cleaning supplies that I had around the house and compare them to the checklist.

All my cleaning supplies!

Now, the checklist, let's see how I compared.

An all purpose cleaner, Check! I have a couple of those.
A mildly abrasive cleanser, I think comet works. Check!
Glass cleaner, after talking to my husband I found it in the basement. Check!
Rubber gloves, Check!
Lint-free white clothes, I have paper towels and I think I have some rags around the house somewhere. Sort of Check!
Medium-bristled scrub brush, do not have, will have to buy.

So, I just I didn't do half bad against Martha's Checklist. I'm going to CVS today and I will pick up the medium-bristled scrub brush.

I'm ready for the challenges ahead, bring on the dirt!!!

Martha Project

2010-01-29T09:00:00.006-05:00

Next week I'll be starting a personal challenge that I'm going to write about on this blog. I just read "Julie & Julia" by Julie Powell and got inspired. My challenge is based on housekeeping instead of cooking, since my housekeeping skills are less than stellar.

I'll be following Martha Stewart's "Homekeeping Handbook" and tackling over 400 topics (I'm omitting Moving because we will not be moving anytime soon) over the course of this year. My house is not messy, but I always feel as though I have some clutter and can never really get the house to look as clean and organized as I would like. I could not think of a better person to learn about all things housekeeping than Martha. The book is very comprehensive and hopefully by the end I'll have a more organized and cleaner home, as well as a better understanding of how to keep up with my clutter.

Here's hoping Martha can turn this lazy/corner cutting housekeeper into a more detail oriented and methodical tamer of dirt.

And for all my family, friends and anyone else who follows my renovation updates, I will still be posting those as we finish more and more renovations in our new home throughout the year.

Vote for the Ugliest Bathroom

2010-01-27T09:00:00.001-05:00

DIY Network is having a contest to the Ugliest Bathroom. They have selected 10 bathrooms that they think are the Ugliest Bathrooms that they have remodeled over the years.

DIY would like you to look at all the before photos and vote for the one that you think was the Ugliest. They are going to reveal the winner on the DIY Network Feburary 7th at 9pm EST.

Here is the one that I voted for:

Help for Haiti

2010-01-25T09:00:00.002-05:00

With the recent tragedy in Haiti, we find our selves looking for ways to help. The best way people can help is to donate money, even if it is only $5 per person, it will help. Here are some links to places where you can donate to help Haiti.

Red Cross

Clinton Bush Haiti Fund

Itunes

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti and all their family and friends around the world.

Aruba Vacation

2010-01-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

A and I just got back from our first ever trip to Aruba, we had a great time and wish we did not have to return to the cold and snow. I have a few pictures to share with you. We stayed at the Radisson Beach Resort, for 5 nights. A and I played golf, rode ATVs, enjoyed the beach and took a Catamaran snorkeling (really A was the only one who went snorkeling, I was just along for the boat ride, big fear of fish).

This pic was taken during a stop on an ATV tour that we took. We were on top of a giant rock.

Everyday we sat under these grass huts called Palapas.

Our room at the Radisson had a Caribbean/Asian/Relaxing design. We'll be redoing our master bedroom and were inspired by the laid back style of our hotel room.

The room had these amazing floor to ceiling Asian inspirated screens that opened up to a balcony. When closed they still let in light but, allowed for privacy.

All in all, it was a great trip and we can not wait till the next time that we can get back to Aruba.

Real Estate in Boston under $100,000

2010-01-20T09:00:00.001-05:00

I always get a kick out of looking through the Real Estate listing in my area to see if their are any amazing deals. Now that we have our own home, I thought that I would share my finding with my readers. I hope you all find these properties as interesting as I do.

4 Bedroom, 2 Bath Single Family - Brockton, MA $90,000

Marion, MA $99,000

Vacation Home - Starks, Maine $69,000

Start Getting Organized for National Organization Month

2010-01-18T09:00:00.001-05:00

January is National Organization Month.

Getting your home organized is a great way to start the year. You'll be able to see what you have and be able to see items you may need to repair, replace, sell or acquire new.

Start off by going through your closets. Sort through clothes, toys, shoes, etc... designate an area in your home such as an attic for everything that you'll be getting rid of, either by donating, selling or giving to someone else. Use organizational tools you can buy at home depot, lowes or the container store to start fresh with a more organized closets.

After you have your closets organized, you can move on to other parts of your home, such as additional storage under the bed, kitchen cabinets, bookcases, etc...

After organizing all the areas of your home you will be able to find things easier, spend less money on items that you could not find easily before and maybe even make some money on the items you do not need anymore.

Have fun organizing!

Calming Bedrooms from Polyvore.com

2010-01-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm currently starting to design my master bedroom and am looking for a calming design where I can relax. I started my search by looking through polyvore.com and seeing what others have design, trying to be inspired.

Here are a few of the designs that I found interesting.

Angyal - Black & Cream Bedroom by Angyal - Thanks everyone!! featuring Louis Vuitton bags

Home, Life & Style July 16, 2009 by theoriginalpeapod on Polyvore.com

<<< B e a c h by StopDrop.Shop..♥ on Polyvore.com

Untitled by ~pinkie~ on Polyvore.com

So Sophisticated by ♥xJantreenax♥ featuring See by Chloé blouses

Living Room Design

2010-01-13T09:00:00.002-05:00

Now that it is a new year, A and I will be starting up the home improvement projects again. We started our living room/dining room in the fall and then took a break during the holidays, we are ready to get started. Below is an idea of the design for the rooms, these are not the exact items that we will be using but they are very close. I'll be sharing our progress as it happens.

Living Room by design4less on Polyvore.com

Items in this set:
Chloe Side Table | Pottery Barn, mahogany, $199
Nanti Collection Iron Oxide 14" Wide Ceiling Light | LampsPlus.com, $160
Deco Coffee Table | Overstock.com, $140
Green Table Lamp. 20"H (14"Wx7"Dx9"H shade), $90
Oli - Sunburst Mirror, 80 GBP

HGTV's 2010 Dream Home

2010-01-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

HGTV.com

HGTV has yet another Dream Home for someone in America to win again. This time the home is in New Mexico and they have throw in a 2010 GMC Terrian.

The kitchen has a beautiful tiled wall and large breakfast bar, so that everyone can enjoy breakfast together.

The master bedroom is painted in a calming shade of green with a beautiful view through the floor to almost ceiling windows.

The exterior was not forgotten, the back porch has a spacious seating area to entertain your guests.

If you live in this area or have dreamed of owning a vacation home in New Mexico, enter the contest for your chance to win.

EHow.com for Saving Money on Your Home

2010-01-08T09:00:00.004-05:00

EHow.com is a great resource for saving money when repairing, decoring or renovating your home.

Here are a few articles that I think could really help you save money. I have also written some articles, that you may find helpful. You can also make some money writing articles and spread your knowledge with the world.

Home Repair

Home Decor

Some of My Articles

Hopefully you'll be able to get some answers to your home improvement questions.

One Year of Blogging

2010-01-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it has been an entire year since I started this blog and blogging in general. I thought it might be fun to re-post my very first post. I have learned so much since I posted this Nautical Bedroom post, I cannot wait to see how much I will learn in the next year. Enjoy!

A nautical themed bedroom is a easy way to mix masculine and feminine design into one space.
Bedding: You will want to base most of your design around the comforter or quilt that you choose. Go to www.Overstock.com or www.TheCompanyStore.com to find clearance comforter sets such as the item below. When choosing sheets go with a basic white or off-white stripe, the stripe adds some texture but keeping it white will keep your costs down as they are usually the sheets that go on sale.
Kathy Ireland Home ‘Coral Dreams’ 7-piece Daybed Comforter Set for 59.99 at www.overstock.com
Window Treatments: For a nautical theme you’ll want to have sheers on the windows to bring in light and nature. You can also find sheers for a discount at www.overstock.com and www.thecompanystore.com. If you have patience you’ll be able to find great sheers at stores like Big Lots and Tuesday Mornings for about $5.00 a panel. With this comforter a white or blue sheer will work, if you go with a full length sheer you will create a more romantic feeling and if you go with a sill length sheer you will create a more country/beach house atmosphere.
Tip: To create tie backs for your sheers go to your local craft store and by some decorative sheer ribbon with wire for $3 - $4. The ribbon is flexible but strong enough to keep your curtains in place.
When choosing your window hardware go with a piece that is simple and has either a silver/stainless steel finish or a painted white finish. You can purchase these at places such as Big Lots, Tuesday Mornings, Walmart or Target for less than half the price or Crate and Barrel or Pottery Barn, trust me no one will know the difference.
Wall Color: When choosing paint colors for the room don’t be afraid to bring a pillow or even the whole comforter with you to the hardware store, but be sure to also bring the final selections home to see how the light in your room affects the colors. You’ll want to stay mostly monochromatic using different blues and whites, but you can also bring in blueish-greens, if you feel like the room is lacking color.Remember to keep the trim white no matter what color you paint the rest of the wall.
Furniture: Now for the big pieces the furniture. For the headboard/footboard you will want to keep it pretty simple something with vertical lines. If your handy this project from This Old House about how to create a headboard/footboard from bifold doors would be great for this room with either a light stain or painted white. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20247633,00.html, the cost for this project is around $300.00
If you are not as handy try going to a second hand or unfinished furniture store and looking for a vertical piece that you can stain or paint. When looking for the piece go toward pieces that resemble fences and always remember to measure your doorways before shopping for furniture the worst thing that can happen is to get a piece home that you love and have it not be able to fit through the door.
As far as the other pieces of furniture go if you already have dressers and night stands paint them white and add new knobs in silver/stainless steel finish. If you don’t have dressers and nightstands look for them on www.craigslist.org or www.freecycle.com you can ususally get preused dressers and nightstands that you can refinish for around $20 - $30.
Accent Pieces: When choosing accent pieces for the room, you can pick up a few items along the ocean theme, but too many will make the room look tacky. For lamps go for basic something with a glass base and a white or linen shade will work. Target, Big Lots, Kmart or Walmart are great places to pick up pieces like it for not too much money.
So enjoy your Nautical bedroom, remember if you stay simple with this design you will be very pleased with the outcome.

New Years Resolutions

2010-01-05T09:00:00.001-05:00

I've been thinking alot about what my goals should be for the new year and I have finally come up with a few goals that I think will work for me.

Personal

Workout more
Read 100 books
Have more fun!

Blog

Reach 200 followers
Make at least $1 a day
Try to post at least 3 times a week (if not more)

Other

Continue with Grad School
Travel more
etc...

I hope that I will reach these goals, while entertaining and inspiring all my readers.

Year in Review

2009-12-30T09:00:00.001-05:00

My Year in Review

January to April

Started this blog on January 7th

My first blog post was "Nautical Bedroom", it is hard to believe that it has been a whole year since I started this blog. I have learned so much since January.

February

Took a great trip to New Orleans during Mardi Gras with A, lots of fun!!

March and April

For St. Patrick's Day and Easter I created beaded wreaths out of the beads from the Mardi Gras parades.

May to August

May was a bittersweet month, my great-aunt Louise passed away at 89 years old, we still miss her.

At the end of the month we learned that she had left her house to my parents. We decided to buy the house from my parents, our first house.

June

The big move! It took about a month to get completely moved into the house. By the end of the month we were thoroughly exhausted.

July

Not much happened in July; I worked on the blog, planned out our home improvement projects, and had fun in the sun.
We also started updating our bathroom

August

The month when we started many reno projects!

We finished the bathroom (to this date the only room that is officially finished in our house)

Before

After

We knocked down the wall between the dining room and living room.

Before

During

After

September to December

September

More home improvement!
Took out the old picture window and replaced it with two double hung energy star windows.

Before

After

October

October was another sad month for us at the end of the month our great dog Jax died suddenly from either a heart or brain problem. This put a hold on the reno projects. We still miss him, he was taken young at the age of 6, but he will live forever in our hearts.

November

Thanksgiving and family and friends, we learned how to live without Jax and started to have things get back to normal.

December

More fun with family and friends, Christmas and now New Years!!

2010

More reno projects to come!! Can't wait to see what 2010 will bring!

The Homies 2009

2009-12-23T16:57:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Hope your having a great holiday!

Don't forget to nominate your favorite Home Blogs for The 2009 Homies such as Attractive Home Design for Less.

Thanks for reading!!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

I'll be taking a break this week, see everyone after Christmas.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Share plenty of love, presents, food and joy!!

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Z

2009-12-18T09:00:00.002-05:00

Z is for Zzzz...

Many people during the holiday have family and friends that stay with them so, you'll want to have a nice place for them to stay and sleep. Making your guests feel comfortable and welcome starts with the guest room.

Have a guest basket with towels, soap, a good book, etc...

Dress the bed with festive sheets.

Add a nice bouquet of flowers.

Inspiration!

Myhomeideas

HGTV

HGTV

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Yule Log

2009-12-16T09:00:00.002-05:00

Y is for Yule Log

The all famous yule log, it is something you think about during the holiday and featured in countless holiday songs.

Inspiration!

GlobalGophers

HoodHomeDelivery

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Xmas

2009-12-14T09:00:00.007-05:00

X is for Xmas

For me Christmas is my favorite time of year to decorate. Decorating my home for the holidays always gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I love the lights, wreaths, bows, ornaments and everything else that makes the holiday time special.

Inspiration!

BHG

BHG

BHG

BHG

Mailbox and Beyond

2009-12-11T15:04:00.007-05:00

This time of year, many of us will have family and friends coming over for the holiday. Whether it be for holiday parties, small get togethers, or family staying for Christmas, your guests will have to be able to find your house. This is a great time to evaluate your house and see if it is easy to find the house numbers.

Mailbox and Beyond is a great place to find different styles of numbers. Their address plagues are not dirt cheap, but if you are willing to spend some where between $50 and $100 you'll be able to get something pretty nice looking.

Here are a few examples:

Standard Size $85

$47

Standard Size $100

Mailbox and Beyond also has mailboxes, welcome mats, home and garden decor, birdbaths, doorbells, etc... Go check it out for yourself and see what you think and let me know what you think of this online outlet.

brought to you by your friends at www.mailboxandbeyond.com

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Wreaths

2009-12-11T09:00:00.006-05:00

W is for Wreaths

I love a great wreath, they make you feel at home before you even open the door. No holiday decor would be complete without a beautiful wreath welcoming in family and friends.

Inspiration!

Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

BHG

BHG

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Vases

2009-12-10T09:00:00.008-05:00

V is for Vases

During the holiday time bringing in flowers to your home is a great way to add color and round out your holiday decor. But, flowers are nothing without a beautiful vase to hold them.

Here are a few ways to get vases for free or cheap:

Save them when someone sends you an arrangement in the mail.
By them at a yard sale.
Buy them at a crafts store on sale.
Use items found around your house, such as glasses.

Inspiration!

BHG

BHG

BHG

GH

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Under the Mistletoe

2009-12-09T09:00:00.005-05:00

U is for Under the Mistletoe

Hang some mistletoe in your home to bring holiday cheer and lots of kisses and hugs.

Inspiration!

BHG

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Trees

2009-12-08T09:00:00.002-05:00

T is for Trees

T is for trees, Christmas trees to be exact. What is more festive than a well decorated Christmas tree. You really know that Christmas is around the corner when the Christmas tree is all lit up.

Inspiration!

BHG

BHG

BHG

Country Living

Country Living

Elements of Home Decor A to Z Series: Stockings

2009-12-07T09:00:00.001-05:00

S is for Stockings

Since we are getting closer to Christmas, I thought that I would try to highlight some holiday decor during this series.

Stockings are a very festive way to bring holiday cheer to a mantel, banister or door way.

Inspiration!

BHG

BHG

Country Living

Deals

Stocking Silverware Holders $7.99 Current Catalog

Stockings $89.99 Smartbargins.com

Red Stocking, $8 Current Catalog

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Home Decor Deals

2009-11-27T09:00:00.006-05:00

Here are some of the Black Friday/Cyber Monday Home Decor Deals

10% Off Orders with Code: CYBER10 at Bellacor - Valid 11/27-11-30

Amazon Deals

Save 25% Store-wide At The Shelving Store

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2009-11-26T09:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Eat plenty of turkey, cranberry sauce and pie!

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Rugs

2009-11-25T09:00:00.003-05:00

R is for Rugs

Rugs can warm up a house and add comfort under your feet. But, they can be one of the more expensive items in your house to buy. Here are a few tips for saving money when buying rugs.

Go to a rug and carpet store and ask them if they have remnants available for sale. These are pieces cut off of large orders that stores sell for at least 1/2 the cost.
If you are looking for a standard size rug such as 4x6 or 5x8 go to stores like Big Lots, Home Depot, Target, Walmart or Lowes. These stores usually have sales on these size rugs averaging $40 per rug.

Here are some deals from around the web.
Anji Mountain AMB0082-0046 Daisies - Rectangle - 4 Ft. x 6 Ft. Daisies Silk-Screen Bamboo Asian Rug with built in non-slip backing, $40

Chandra India 4 x 6 ind-6 Area Rugs, $84

The Great Indoors

3 Day Savings Event. All towels, rugs & storage on sale + an extra 15% off, 12/11 – 12/13

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboard
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens
L is for Lamps
M is for Mirrors
N is for Neutrals
O is for Ottomans
P is for Porches
Q is for Quilts

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcments
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony
D is for Dances
E is for Engagement
F is for Flowers

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Quilting

2009-11-24T09:00:00.005-05:00

Q is for Quilts

BHG, Free Pattern

Quilts can be a great way to bring color and fun into a living room or bedroom. Quilts are relatively easy to make even for the someone at the beginning level of sewing .

Search the internet for free patterns or create one of your own. Quilts can also make great inexpensive gifts.

Inspiration!!

BHG, Free Pattern

BHG, Free Pattern

Country Living, Patchwork Quilt

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboard
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens
L is for Lamps
M is for Mirrors
N is for Neutrals
O is for Ottomans
P is for Porches

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony
D is for Dances
E is for Engagement

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Porch/Patio

2009-11-23T09:00:00.001-05:00

P is for Porch

Country Living

Now that the holidays are here it is time to spruce up those porches. Its the first thing that your visitors will see and adding some festive decor will get you in the holiday mood.

You do not need to add a lot of decoration to make your porch inviting. Simply add a nice wreath to your door, some garland around the railings and lights in the windows. Look for deals on all your decorating needs after Thanksgiving.

Inspiration!

BHG

Country Living

Country Living

Country Living

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Ottoman

2009-11-20T09:00:00.005-05:00

O is for Ottoman

BGH

Ottomans can be used to bring in a fun pattern or bold color in to a living room or reading nook. If you have one already, pick up some fun discount fabric and recover it or find a cheap ottoman at a yard sale and buy some foam and fabric and give it a new look.

When buying stuffed furniture from a yard sale you'll always want to inspect the piece for odd smells, rips and bugs. If you do end up buying a piece you might want to have the stuffing replaced just in case.

Inspiration
Start creating!!

UrbanOutfitters, $89

Country Living

BHG

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Neutrals

2009-11-19T09:26:00.000-05:00

N is for Neutrals

When in doubt use neutrals to design a room, you can not go wrong. Colors like browns, grays, tans, whites will blend with almost any other color. Use these colors on your walls, trim and floors and add more bold color in fabrics, furniture and accent pieces.

Here is some inspiration.

Better Homes and Gardens

HGTV

BHG

BHG

A is for Armoires
B is for Beddings
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboards
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens
L is for Lamps
M is for Mirrors

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony
D is for Dances

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Mirrors

2009-11-17T09:00:00.004-05:00

M is for Mirrors

Better Homes and Gardens

Mirrors can bring light into an otherwise dark room, they can make a space seem larger and they can even pretend to be a window. Mirrors are a very useful design tool and you can acquire them rather cheaply.

Look for mirrors at yard sales and flea markets.

Do not worry to much about what the frame looks like, focus more on the quality, shape and size of the mirror itself.

Ways to revamp a frame for a mirror.

Create a tile mosaic out of old colorful plates.
Spray paint the frame a metallic color.
Upholster the frame with a decorative fabric.
etc...

The possibilities are endless, have fun!

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboards
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens
L is for Lamps

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony
D is for Dances

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Lamps

2009-11-16T09:00:00.002-05:00

L is for Lamps

Better Homes and Gardens

Lamps can either accent your overall design or distract from it, here are a few tips on how to create or buy lamps that will blend with your design.

When purchasing a new lamp...

Look for lamps with a simple color scheme on the base, it is easier to change the shade than the base when you want to change colors in your room.
Find an interesting shade that has an accent color that you are using somewhere else in the room.
Think scale when using a lamp, even though you love a certain large lamp, if your room is small the lamp will look very out of place.

Create ways to change a lamp you have or bought at a yard sale...

Change the shade on the lamp by recovering it in inexpensive fabric, just remember to make sure that the fabric is flame retardant.
Spray paint the base of the lamp with metallic spray paint.
Add mosaic tile to the base of the lamp to give it a Venetian look.
If you have a clear glass base, add sea glass, stones, or shells inside for a nautical look.

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboards
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Kitchens

2009-11-13T09:00:00.003-05:00

K is for Kitchens

Better Homes and Gardens

The kitchen is the center or every home, it is where we gather and share our days. They can also be one of the most expensive areas of the house to make over. But, there are ways to create a beautiful kitchen without busting your budget.

Refinish your cabinets yourself. Here is a link to a article I wrote on eHow about refinishing kitchen cabinets.

Add a decorative pendant over the sink for a burst of color, such as this one from Gregory's Lighting.

110-1FR - Elk Lighting 1 Light Pendant in Satin Nickel and Frosted Martini Glass $52.50

Make sure your cabinets are maximizing their storage potential by using space saving essentials from the container store. After organizing your cabinets you may find that you do not need to expand your kitchen.

Change the paint color. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to change any room.

Add a tile backsplash, go your local tile store and ask if they carry remnants (left over tile from orders), these are usually marked down from their original price.

Better Homes and Gardens

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Junk

2009-11-11T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm back with...

J is for Junk

Whether we will admit it or not we all have junk in our homes. Some of us have a whole drawer or closet full of it. Junk can seem overwhelming at times and you may wonder how it even gets into your house.

Here are some ideas on how to get rid out all that junk:

Throw it out
Sell it on Ebay or Craigslist
Reinvent it into something else. For example, broken plates can be used to create a mosaic table top.

When you have less junk in your house; your house will be more clean and organized and you will spend less time looking for things and more time enjoying your life.

Jax

2009-11-02T12:21:00.000-05:00

We miss you Jax. Here is a video of Jax. May he rest in peace.

And the Winner is...

2009-11-02T10:00:00.002-05:00

The winner of the $25 Gift Card to Lowes is...

Tiffani!

I have emailed the winner.

I Miss You So Much, Jax

2009-11-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

I want to let all my readers why I have not been posting recently.

On Thursday morning my great dog Jax pass away suddenly from what we now believe may have been a brain tumor. He was only 6 years old and full of life. Aaron and I miss him so much it hurts, as do all the people who knew him well.

He loved playing catch me if you can, so agile that none of us people could catch him. He loved chasing squirrels along the fence in our back yard, even if he never catch them. He had a big bark but, would never hurt a fly. He was always the center of attention and always willing to break dance on the floor to entertain everyone. There are too many things that Jax loved about life and that we loved about him to list.

All I have to say is that we will always love him and miss him forever.

Giveaway Reminder

2009-10-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

My 1st giveaway is ending soon. So I thought I would post a reminder for anyone would hasn't entered yet.

Click here to enter to win a $25 gift card to Lowes.

Today is the last day to enter.

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Ivory

2009-10-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

I is for Ivory

Recently there has been a trend toward using for whites and off-whites in designs. Whether it is in a kitchen, bath, living room or bedroom. If you are able to keep whites clean than these designs will save you money.

White building materials and home decor items tend to be less expensive than their color counterparts. Choosing a design without color is chic now.

Here are some examples to inspire you:

{all images from House Beautiful}

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway (ends 10/29)
H is for Headboards

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Headboards

2009-10-26T09:00:00.005-04:00

H is for Headboards

Headboards are very similar to dressers in that they are very versatile. There are many DIY projects for creating headboards in different styles; upholstered, stained, painted, etc... You can also create the illusion of a head board by using photos, fabric, paint, etc...

An inexpensive way to achieve a nice headboard is to find one at a yard sale or flea market and refinish the piece.

Here are some ways to refinish a headboard.

Wallpaper (BHG)

Upholstered (BHG)

Alternatives to the traditional headboard:

Photos as Headboard (BHG)

Build a Headboard/Footboard from BiFolding Doors (This Old House)

Check out the other posts:
A is for Armoire
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway

Check out the same series on Attractive Weddings for Less:
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids

{Images from Better Homes and Gardens and This Old House}

1st Giveaway

2009-10-24T09:00:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I posted my first giveaway to celebrate 100 followers!!

If you haven't yet, head over and enter to win a $25 gift card to Lowes Home Improvement.

Thanks again for reading!!

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Giveaway

2009-10-23T09:00:00.014-04:00

G is for Gift Card Giveaway

I thought I would include a giveaway into this series because I reached 100 followers recently and I wanted to thank all the my great followers and there awesome comments.

I'll be giving away a $25 Gift Card to Lowes for your home improvement projects to one of my followers.

To Enter the Giveaway:

1. Enter by leaving a comment on this post letting me know what project in your home you would put the gift card toward. 1 Entry. Please remember to leave a email so that I can contact the winner.

Extra Entries:
1. Blog about this contest and leave the link in a comment on this post. 1 entry
2. Be a follower of Attractive Home Design for Less through Google or RSS feed. Leave me a comment letting me know that you follow me. 1 entry

This giveaway will close on Thursday, October 29th and I will announce the winner on Friday, October 30th. The winner will have 48hrs to send me their contact info.

Have fun and remember to visit the other posts:
A is for Armoire
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy.com
F is for Flowers

And at Weddings for Less:
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids

{image from Lowes}

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: F

2009-10-22T09:00:00.005-04:00

F is for Flowers

BHG

Flowers are a very inexpensive way to bring nature and color into your home.

When trying to find inexpensive ways to incorporate flowers into your home look in your garden first, it's free. In the fall you can use branches and berries if you do not have any flowers blooming.

You can also get some inexpensive flowers at the supermarket.

Uses for flowers:

Centerpieces
Wreaths
Mantle Decor
To Create a Warm Home
Etc...

BHG

BHG

Check out the other posts:
A is for Armoire
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy.com

Check out the same series at Weddings for Less:
A is for Announcements

{images from Better Homes and Gardens}

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: E

2009-10-21T09:00:00.007-04:00

E is for Etsy.com

Etsy.com is a great place to find inexpensive one-of-a-kind pieces for your home. All the products are either handmade or vintage and you are buying directly from the artisans you create these beautiful creations.

Here are a few items that are currently for sale at Etsy.

Bird Silhouette Light Switch, $10 from Peace of Pi

Record Clock, $10 from Enchantments by MK

Vintage Postage Stamp Picture Frame, $10 from Blue Sky Studios

Check out the other posts:
A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers

I'm running this series on my wedding blog as well:
A is for Announcements

{images from etsy.com}

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: D

2009-10-20T09:00:00.007-04:00

D is for Dressers

BHG

I love dresser projects because you can get so creative without it costing you tons of money. Dressers are one of the few pieces of furniture that you can buy at a yard sale or flea market and refinish to create a beautiful new piece of furniture for your home.

When looking for a dresser at a yard sale or flea market look for these few key elements to ensure that you are getting a piece that can be rehabbed.

Look at how the drawers are assembled, if the front of the drawers are stapled on walk away, look for wood joints connecting the pieces (dove tail, tongue and groove, etc...) these will last longer because of the quality of craftsmanship.
Look for any large dents or scratches, these will be very hard to sand out later.
Look to see how many layers of paint are on the piece, if it looks like more than two your finish will not look right when applied and it will take a very long time to strip the piece.

After you have your dresser look for a fun way to breath new live into the old piece.

Wallpaper and Paint, BHG

Create a Bar, BHG

Check out the other posts from this series:

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets

Images from Better Homes and Gardens

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: C

2009-10-19T09:00:00.001-04:00

C is for Closets

Having an organized closet will save you time and money, creating a peaceful and less stressful environment in your home.

There are many organizing tools you can buy in stores and online that are helpful but, you could end up spending more money than you might like. Instead of buying an organizing system become creative and build and reuse items to organize your closets.

Here are a few tips to save money:

Install a large wooden dowel strong enough to support your clothes from Home Depot instead of buying a pre-made one.

Install a built-in bookcase inside your closet, setting the shelves apart enough to fit baskets in for storage. Find baskets at yard sales, thrift stores and flea markets, line them with fabric and use them for storing everything from sweaters to bathroom accessories.

Make sure you label all your baskets and shelving so that you can find everything at a moments notice, this will save you so much time and energy.

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: B

2009-10-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

B is for Bedding

Shopping for bedding can be a challenging task, what thread count to buy, is your bedding going to be the focal point of your design or fade into the background and do you really need a dust ruffle.

Here are a few things to look for when buying bedding.

Thread Count
This is one of the more important factors in what creates good bedding. The higher the thread count the softer and higher quality the sheet will be. When buying bedding for myself I look for a thread count of 300 or above, I find that these thread counts feel luxurious and wear well.

300 Thread Count, Overstock.com $29.99

Key Pieces
The key pieces that you can not do without are a comforter, a couple pairs of sheets and a couple of pairs of good quality pillow cases, if your on a budget leave the rest off your shopping list.

Design
There are two ways to decide on a design for your comforter. One, you find a graphic or bold comforter that will be the focal point of the room and design the room around the piece or two, you design other elements of the bedroom and find a comforter that fits the design and blends into the background.

Overstock.com $68.99

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: A

2009-10-14T09:00:00.008-04:00

I thought I would create an A to Z series featuring elements of decor and how to achieve them inexpensively.

Today, I kick off the series with:

A is for Armoire

Armoires are used to hold clothes or can be altered to work as an elegant entertainment center. If you have a large enough vehicle you could probably score a good deal on a used armoire on Craig's List or Ebay.

New Cherry Armoire Overstock.com $271.99

Prepac WDC-3359 White Sonoma / Monterey Furniture 2-Door 2-Drawer Armoire $256.83 from Improvement Direct

Add new life into an old old armoires with projects like the one above from Diynetwork.

When choosing an armoire remember to measure your space, you do not want to get the piece home and have it not fit through the door.

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Accessories as Design

2009-10-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

To acheive a new look in your house for little or no money by using your wardrobe accessories.

Use scarves as small table runners, Good Housekeeping

Hang mittens on your door instead of a wreath, Country Living

Create a wreath out of buttons, Better Homes and Gardens

Upholstered Wall

2009-10-09T09:00:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens has a great DIY upholstered wall project that would work wonderful for family room or a place to get away and read a good book.

You do need a few tools for this project:
Sewing machine
Staple Gun
Drill/Electric Screwdriver

Image from BHG.com

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-08T09:00:00.002-04:00

I thought since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month I thought I would go back through my posts and find all the beautiful pink decor that I have featured.

Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Etsy.com

Etsy.com

If you are looking for a way to donate money for Breast Cancer Research or to get more information on breast cancer go to either the Susan G. Komen website or the National Cancer Institute website.

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Mums the Word

2009-10-07T09:00:00.004-04:00

Mums are a wonderful fall flower to use in decorating your home. Bring some color and life to your fall decorating.

October is Breast Cancer awareness month, use pink mums to show your support.

Create a beautiful arrangement with a gourd and mums, BHG.com

Create a fun centerpiece with fruit and mums, BHG.com

Mums come in many different colors and sizes, so experiment and bring some colorful fun to your home.

Solar Decathlon: Washington D.C.

2009-10-06T09:00:00.004-04:00

If you live in the Washington D. C. area or are planning to visit between October 9th and October 18th, head over to the National Mall to see the Solar Decathlon.

The U.S. Department of Energy is hosting the Solar Decathlon, which is a 20 team competition of college students from around the country design, build and operate solar run houses.

These houses are open to the public during:

October 9th - 13th
October 15th - 18th

They are now accepting proposals for the solar decathlon in 2011.

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Cutest Dog Competiton

2009-10-05T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is a little off topic but, I thought I would let you all know that I entered my dog Jax in the Cutest Dog Competition hosted by Dog.com.

This is Jax, he is a 6 year old mixed breed lovable dog.

If you agree head over and vote for Jax to be the Cutest Dog.

Halloween Decor Under $15

2009-10-02T09:00:00.000-04:00

I have been surfing the web looking for fun, inexpensive Halloween decor items to share with my readers. Because not everyone has the time to hand make every item for the holidays, I thought I would share my finds with you.

WOWindow Holiday Posters, $4.95 each and Spooky Halloween Pillars for $14.95
from

Black Cat for $14.95 from Plow and Hearth

New Window Update/Living Room & Dining Room Project

2009-10-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

Last weekend, we got a little bit further with the living room/dining room project we have been working on since the beginning of August.

On Saturday, we worked on the outside, putting up new shingles, trim and window sill. We got pretty far before the end of the day. Unfortunately, on Sunday it rained so we had to post pone finishing the outside shingle and painting.

On Sunday, while it rained we installed the insulation and drywall on for the entire window wall. The credit for this really has to go to my husband Aaron would accomplished this in one day by himself, while I went out and did the grocery shopping, errands, etc... to get us caught up.

This weekend we will be working on taping the drywall and patching other walls that need some work. As well as coming up with a final design concept for the all the finish materials.

Book Review: 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget

2009-09-29T09:00:00.001-04:00

"10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget"
by the writers of wise bread

This is a great resource for saving money. I took this out from the library a few weeks ago and found some very helpful tips about saving money. Usually when I take books like these out, I do not really learn anything because they are filled with the same old tips; create a budget, brown bag your lunch, etc... This book is different because it breaks everything down by specific categories and tips that you can follow to really save some money that you probably have not seen before.

Here are some of the categories they cover related to Home Design:

Ways to create a gourmet kitchen for less
Frugal party ideas
Free gift wrapping ideas
Great inexpensive gifts
Going green inexpensively
Lower heating costs
etc...

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Pumpkin Carving Contest

2009-09-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

This Old House is now hosting their 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving Contest.

This contest runs until October 21st, you can enter as many times as you want.
On October 22nd through October 29th go back to the site and vote for your faves.

Prizes:
1st: $200 to Home Depot
2nd: Zombie Pumpkins Pro Pumpkin Carving Tool Set and a "Monster Harvest" membership for Zombiepumpkins.com
3rd: Me On A Pumpkin v2.0 Stencil Software

100 Days

2009-09-25T09:00:00.001-04:00

Better Homes and Gardens is starting their 100 Days of Holidays soon. Go to BHG.com/100days and sign up for their email list and they will send you an email a day with a craft, recipe, gift idea, etc... starting with Halloween and ending with New Years Day.

Crate and Barrel Halloween

2009-09-24T09:00:00.002-04:00

Crate and Barrel is one of my favorite stores, I looked through their new Halloween selections and found some fun pieces all under $30 to share with all of you.

$27$10 - $20

$30

$3 - $6

Creative Bed Sheet Ideas

2009-09-23T09:00:00.001-04:00

Bed sheets are items that you will be able to find on sale quite often, if you think outside the box you'll be able to decorate many other areas of your house with them for not alot of money.

Here are just some ideas:

Painted Table Runner, Better Homes and Gardens

Image via Wikipedia

Create curtains out of your old sheets or new ones that you found on sale.

Create an outer layer for a shower curtain.

Create slipcover for a small chair or sofa.

Let me know if you have made any fun projects out of sheets?

New Window

2009-09-21T09:00:00.001-04:00

This weekend Aaron, his dad and my dad replaced an old picture window from the fifties with two new energy efficient double hung windows.

Here is what the old picture window looked like on Friday night.

There was a large amount of wood rotting around the window. It was becoming a safety hazard.

After removing the window they had to rebuild the frame because the new window was slightly bigger than the old one.
Ready for the window.

It fits!!

And this is how we left it on Saturday, when we removed the wall board to take the old window out we found that there is no insulation in the walls of the house. So, before we put new wall board up we will insulate the wall and later blow insulation into the rest of the walls of the house.

Get Ready for Football Season

2009-09-18T09:00:00.001-04:00

This Old House has some projects to get your family set for football season. I know that my husband is looking forward to the fall football season and the post season in baseball, Go Pats and Sox!

They show you how to hang a flat screen TV in the perfect location for viewing.

If you do not have a flat screen they show you how to build your own custom entertainment center, this should take about 8 to 10 hours and is easy to moderately difficult. The cost on this project is up to you it depends on how large the piece will be and what type of wood you choose.

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Fall Wreaths from BHG

2009-09-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

Here are some beautiful wreaths from Better Homes and Gardens that you can create for your own home this fall. A wreath is a great way to create a welcoming environment outside your home.

Leafy Splendor

Pleasantly Surprising

Go Wild with Twigs

Berry Leafy

Cornucopia

Collection of Fall & Halloween Crafts

2009-09-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

I thought I would share with you some of the fun and beautiful Halloween home decor crafts and ideas I have found from around the web.

Faux Candy Corn - Rose Petals and Rust

Autumn Leaves Wind catcher - Centsational Girl

Metallic Pumpkins - U Create

Fun Gilding Projects - The Inspired Room
Image from Country Living

Have fun creating!!

My Original Art

2009-09-14T09:00:00.003-04:00

Since, I started taking classes a couple of weeks ago to get my Master of Teaching in the Fine Arts, I thought I would share with you a few pieces of my original artwork.

Surfers, Acrylic on Canvas

Rockwell, Acrylic on Canvas

Gossip, Oil on Canvas

Jax, Acrylic on Canvas

Baseball, Acrylic on Canvas

Fun Fall Decor from Pier 1 Imports

2009-09-11T09:00:00.002-04:00

Here are some fun inexpensive fall decor options from Pier 1 Imports.

$35

$40

$10 - $26

$25.60

2nd Wedding Anniversary

2009-09-08T09:00:00.003-04:00

Two years ago today I said "I Do" to the man of my dreams.

We have already made so many memories and are going to make so many more in the years to come.

Happy Labor Day!

2009-09-07T09:00:00.008-04:00

Happy Labor Day!!

Go out and enjoy the unofficial last day of summer!

Today's Sales

2009-09-04T09:00:00.005-04:00

Dorm Room Decor

2009-09-03T09:00:00.005-04:00

Making a dorm room stylish without a lot of money can be challenging. You can not paint the walls or make any permanent changes to the room, here are some ideas to liven up your room.

Base your design around your comforter, since this will be your most expensive item and the item that will give you the most color for the room. Here are a couple of inexpensive bedding options:

Overstock.com $73.00

Overstock.com $55.00

Since you can not nail into the walls use hooks that you can remove later, they come in all different styles and sizes. To hang photos and posters use tape so that you do not damage the walls.

To maximize your space make sure you have plenty of bins for under bed storage and closet organization tools, since will ensure that your room stays organized and clean.

Add fun colors with accent lamps, pillows, alarm clock and other accessories.

Lastly, have fun with your decor.

How to Throw an Inexpensive Halloween Party

2009-09-02T09:00:00.012-04:00

Here are some fun ideas for throwing an inexpensive Halloween party.

Black Halloween Punch

This should cost you under $10.
Freeze plastic spiders in the ice cubes to add another fun surprise.

{image and recipe from allrecipes.com}

Food

Little Ghost Sandwiches from Woman's Day

Bloody Soup Shots from Woman's Day

Candy Apple Cupcakes from Woman's Day

Costumes

Create costumes from items you have around the house. For example, dress like you are in the 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s. Or if you play sports you could dress up like a tennis or golf pro.

Setting the Table

Use a Black Table Cloth
Orange, White or Silver Napkins
Carve Pumpkins for a Centerpiece
Use a Orange, Silver or White Dishes
Add plastic spiders on the table

Decorative Accents

Staircase Silhouette from Martha Stewart

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Inexpensive Halloween Decor from Etsy.com

2009-09-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

Halloween Sign, $11, FoxyMama21

Bats, $10, VerdigrisDye

Primitive Orange Pumpkin Basket, $9.98, thebrokenhouse

Start thinking about Halloween

2009-08-31T09:00:00.002-04:00

I just received the October issue of Better Homes and Gardens which, focuses on getting ready for Halloween so I thought I would share some of their decor projects with you.

All images are from Better Homes and Gardens

Today's Sales

2009-08-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

What's Your Design Personality?

2009-08-27T09:00:00.002-04:00

I found another fun design quiz to share with all of you. This time it is from Fine Living.

My design personality is Victorian.

Images from Fine Living.