Month: May 2018

Weekend Decorating: Playing Blankets, Throws, and Quilts

Atrace

This weekend I challenge you to find alternate uses for the blankets, quilts and throws. Oftentimes we take for granted their own colours, textures and intricate patterns and focus more on their function — particularly during the winter. As you may not need them for heat in the upcoming months, they can definitely serve an alternate function as room decoration.

This ideabook provides a jump-start to finding new ways to decorate with blankets, throws and quilts. A few of the tips from the images below may be recognizable to the others you, eye opening and new. After all, our Houzz readers are a creative bunch. Have a look and see.

Michelle Hinckley

Results that are amazing can be yielded by getting creative with cries. This white wing seat trimmed in black piping is stunning on its own, but when paired with a double dose of cries draped across the back and threaded through the seat cushion, the piece sings a livelier tune.

Economy Interiors

Wrapping your headboard in a throw permits you to introduce a new decor theme. Here, the toss leans toward a bohemian feel. However, if the homeowners are feeling a, they can replace the throw with a toile one.

Mark English Architects, AIA

This resembles a version of the above technique. Tossing what almost resembles a matching blanket over a ceiling-height headboard not only adds a sense of grandeur into the bedroom but also serves as a plush backdrop within this cocoon of cozy.

Craig Denis

Can not get enough of a duvet you bought on your last travel excursion? Display your work of art in a custom frame for year-round enjoyment.

Cozy Little House

For a less costly system of quilt display, hang it onto a drapery rod. There are infinite color palette options. Have fun and experiment with many mixes is that room — there’s no way you can go wrong with this quilt as a guide.

Zimina Inna

Store your blanket in plain sight. When not being used, this sweet comforter covers a sofa and concurrently becomes instant decoration at a quiet small nursery.

Rev up your antique furniture with a jolt of colour that is dramatic and pattern. A blanket complements the accent pillows and creates visual interest.

Choose a peachy cashmere throw for a subtle touch of colour and a bit of indulgence that is everyday. In this photo, the toss helps to soften the appearance of the wooden seat, but in everyday living it may be tossed across your shoulders or cover your lap for extra warmth throughout the thermostat wars.

More ideas for weekend decorating:
Skirted Sinks
Spruce Up the House With 50 Intelligent DIY Ideas
Add an Accent of Ribbon

See related

How to Clean Carpet Yourself

Atrace

Carpets can help to add texture, color and warmth to your home. Due to their constant use, they need to be kept clean all the time. You can vacuum them from time to time, but you will need to give them a deep clean after every 12-18 months, especially if you have a lot of people living in your home. If you have a light colored carpet, then you will have to do your carpet cleaners Birmingham 2-3 times a year. Anytime you clean the carpets, always make sure that you are following the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Test Colorfastness

It’s important that you check whether the color runs. You can test this on an inconspicuous part of the carpet. Then apply the cleaner you intend to use on a small piece of cloth. Use the piece of cloth to cover a part of the carpet and leave it in place for about an hour. Then get a white piece of cloth and dub over the wet carpet area and see if any color remains on the white cloth. Keep testing until you find a carpet cleaner that doesn’t make the color run.

During carpet cleaning Birmingham, make sure to get rid of all the furniture in the room and also protect your floors as well. Then vacuum the carpet before using a cleaner on it. You can rent a cleaner or you can hire a professional carpet cleaner to come and do the job for you.

Buy Your Own Carpet Cleaner

This is a good idea if you have a light colored carpet or you have many kids or pets in your house. Buying this equipment will save you a lot of money over the years that would have been spent hiring one.

Water Extraction Method

Water extraction equipment is also referred to as steam cleaners. They work by spraying the rug with water and then sucking back in the dirty water. To make your work easier, choose a powerful model and one which doesn’t need to be hooked onto a clean water source when you clean.

Dry Extraction Method

In this method, you spray a dry and absorbent powder over the rug. Then you vacuum the rug using the cleaning machine. This is a much better option than wet extraction but it’s also more expensive.

Hire a Cleaning Professional

You can rent a powerful cleaning machine from a grocery store or rental store near you. This is a good carpet cleaning Birmingham AL option if your carpet doesn’t get dirty fast and needs regular cleaning. You will have to buy a cleaning shampoo, spot remover, odor remover and defoamer too in addition to the cleaning machine.

When you hire a professional, you will have to decide whether you want dry extraction or water extraction method. Whichever method you go for, the professional should be able to get your carpets clean.

Great Tips for Girls’ Nurseries

Atrace

One of the greatest things about decorating a woman’s nursery is you’ll have a blast creating a room that’s pretty, stylish and absolutely girly. However, among the biggest challenges can be keeping each of the fanciness in check so you’ll ultimately have a room that’s functional. This involves careful planning and maybe even some editing, but you don’t have to sacrifice fashion. Here are some woman’s nurseries that are great examples of how prettiness is evenly matched with practicality.

Distinctive Decor, Janice Peters

Most likely, your baby girl is going to be showered with beautifully patterned and colorful clothing, so don’t hide them in the closet. Outfits will be much easier to select if they’re in complete view. Hang them on pretty hooks and make an original art piece that’s practical and fun to modify.

Hi Octane Design

I believe this modern glam nursery is simply too adorable for words! You can not overlook the flair, however I also see function: The wallpapered accent wall serves as a point of interest for the infant; fitted window colors will block outside light at rest time; brightly fixtures deliver balanced lighting; plus a comfy chair is ideal for feeding time.

Kim Metheny

An armoire provides storage. From a decor perspective, I also like the vertical striped walls. Pink is a very anticipated color to get a woman’s nursery, but by utilizing a striped treatment this chamber has a bit of a exceptional twist.

Little Crown Interiors

Shirred cloth creates a very lavish “tented” ceiling inside this nursery. This design element is also a great way to insulate a room. Furthermore, if you live on the lower floor of an apartment or condominium the cloth can help muffle undesirable noises from above that may wake your little one.

Mixing pretty patterns is a great way to add color and visual stimulation for your baby to enjoy. If you’re working with a small room, look for an area rug with a super-sized motif or a fun wallpaper; they’ll serve as artful accessories without taking up space.

Denica Smith

Lighting is often the final thing people think about when designing any room. However, it was given special consideration in this modern nursery. Fantastic lighting makes colors, furniture and even people look and feel better — even in a kid’s room.

Nicole Lanteri Design

A canary yellow Moroccan pouf strengthens this nursery’s yellow, black and gray color scheme. It also produces a spot to put your feet up.

Adeeni Design Group

In this vintage-chic nursery, there is plenty of color and pattern for the baby to enjoy from the ceiling to the ground. In addition, a pair of lime green shelves makes an eye-catching screen area.

Wall decor could be challenging in a space with walls that are angled. Here, a massive mural is the best solution.

More inspiration for kids’ rooms:
15 Suggestions for Your Baby’s Nursery
Kids’ Baths: I am a Big Boy Now
Get This Look: Colorful, Classy Nursery

See related

Trend Alert: Ampersands

Atrace

Apparently, “and” is indeed out, “etc.” is so five minutes ago, and “&” has never been hotter. In researching the origins of this emblem, I fell down the rabbit hole of typography terms such as “ligature,” “grapheme” and “glyph,” and acquired a headache. Let’s go with the simple description of its roots: a shorthand way of writing et, which suggests “and” in Latin, as in “Et tu, Brute?”

Large or little, bronze or nickel, stenciled or lit up like Broadway, the ampersand is getting its moment. Here are the ways designers are incorporating them into home decor, and several of our favourite picks in the event that you want to purchase some for your house.

Urban Outfitters

Ampersand Marquee Light – $209
This electric signal celebrates the ampersand vegas style. Talking of typography and Vegas, I keep noticing The Neon Museum’s Boneyard in TV shows, films, and editorial style spreads, and dream of taking pictures there.

greige/Fluegge Interior Design, Inc..

A petite gray ampersand adds a typographical touch for this tablescape. The colour and size is only right with this grayscale artwork and varying sizes of prints.

Target

Ampersand Wall Decor – $79.99
A bold red ampersand fills this modern canvas. Three of these in a row would be good on a wall.

Mustard Seed Interiors

A dash of brass adds visual balance to this holiday decor arrangement.

Bockman + Forbes Design

A contemporary and glamorous table gets component of its form from the ampersand.

The Country Porch

Galvanized & Symbol Single Hook – $7.95
That is such a clever symbol to work with on a hook; it’s like it’s saying “and do not overlook your scarf/purse/windbreaker!”

Kasey Buick

Lola B.’s makeup of eyeglasses and photos comprises the curves of the ampersand for an additional graphic punch.

It is possible to find similar ampersands similar to this one on Etsy.

Kasey Buick

Even when she loses the photographs, the ampersand remains. I would say this classic emblem deserves a nice white frame, would not you?

Etsy

Ampersand Wall Mirror by Fluxglass – $46
If you are seeking to glam up your typography a bit, try a mirrored version of the emblem.

House Industries

House Industries – Things – Iron Ampersand – $250
This heavy cast-iron ampersand can serve as a doorstop, bookend, or enjoyable sculpture on a desk or tablescape.

Amazon

Type Pillow – Ampersand 18″ x 18″ – $55
I really like the idea of “and” repeated and replicated. This pillow turns the ampersand to a contemporary print.

More typography in actions:
Houzz Tour: Designs for Every Space from Atypical Type A
The Details: Utilizing Typography in Design
Esty Designers at Home: VisuaLingual

See related

Trim Carpentry Tips and Tricks

Atrace

Want to improve your trim carpentry skills? Look no further than our handy guide which contains trim handyman Little Rock tips from the pros. These tips will help you to get the job right the first time, and some of them will even save you time and money.

Use a Jack Miter

You must be asking yourself, what on earth is a jack miter? Well, a jack miter is created by combining a miter joint with a butt joint. The resulting tool will give you the needed strength to keep the wood in place while you’re working, which actually helps to minimize the creation of gaps. Using a jack miter also means that you’ll have a much thinner and less perceptible glue line, so it’s a really versatile tool!

Build a Large Assembly Table

Any handyman Little Rock AR job that you do will probably require that you start by assembling things like a large casing or a jamb. Having a large assembly table will make it much easier for you, because then you’ll have a nice flat surface to work on, enabling you to finish jobs faster.

Mark Casing Reveal

One of the best ways to get consistent reveals is to mark the casings right on the edge. All you need to do is mark it on both ends and in the middle so that you won’t have to guess. We recommend using a combo square for this purpose.

Record it on a Pitch Block

Use your pitch block to record the angle of the stairs you’ll be working on, including the rise and run. The pitch block can then be used as a template for your handrails and skirts, or you can use it to modify a miter saw. Just make sure to ‘back up’ what you’ve recorded by taking a snapshot of the pitch block with your phone, just in case you lose it by accident.  

Trim Clamps

It’s important to ensure that your miter fits tightly and accurately before the glue dries, which is why you need to apply pressure to it before it gets fastened. One of the best ways to do this is to cut 45-degree notches, and then screw them onto the trim. Alternatively, you can keep them in place using two extra clamps, get the clamp hooked onto the notches, and then tighten.

Weave Instead of Miter

Woven intersections on the ceiling can really add interest to a space. While popular, standard miters look pretty plain when compared to a woven intersection, and the latter typically withstands moisture and temperature changes much better than the miter.

Pocket Screws

Pocket screws are a versatile way to fasten things, and you can use them for a variety of Little Rock handyman applications. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the holes because you can cover them up with base molding afterward.

Measure from the 1-inch Mark

Oftentimes, getting your tape hooked up onto a piece of trim can be quite difficult. One way to simplify the process is to line the edge of the trim with the 1-inch mark. Then, subtract the extra inch once your tape has been hooked on to avoid itching it onto your saw.