« November 2006 | Main | January 2007 »
December 28, 2006
Lift Top Coffee Tables for the living room
Add a fashionable accent table to your living room with a dual purpose lift top coffee table. Perfect to bring your meal, laptop, or newspaper closer to you, these flip or lift top tables are also ideal for doing homework on.
For people with bad backs flip top tables are a choice, it helps in not straining their backs trying to bend to far over to reach something on the table.
Lift top coffee tables from traditional to country style and glass tops these tables are ideal for the family room or even the living room.
Visit this online retailer specializing in all types of coffee and end tables
- Select a lift top coffee table from these selections. These lift top and flip top tables are perfect if you need to bring your meals, latop or newspaper closer to you. They are also best for people that have back problems or the elderly that have problems bending.
What is really nice about this type of coffee table is that the storage space underneath the table top can hold your favorite magazines or books.
We have just added a new contemporarty lift top coffee table to our site.
Cocktail coffee table with storage
The lift top measures 17.25"H x 37.75"W x 20.5" Deep and the end table measures 23.68"H x 20"W x 20" Deep.
more details on this cocktail coffee table set It is on sale for $289.98 and can be ordered with free shipping included. The original price was $455.00 which means you sace 165 dollars.
More information about tables is featured on this page about cheap coffee tables.
Posted 05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)December 25, 2006
Decorating ideas for 2007
We just want to wish everyone a happy holiday and a very prosperous new year.
Christmas comes fast and seems to go even quicker. Lets just take this week and enjoy our home and family the way it was meant to be. After that its time to look back on all our decorating projects that we accomplished and the ones that we would like to have done but never seemed to have enough time.
With the 2006 coming to a close its time to think of new decorating ideas that we want to do in 2007. The the trend this year is going to be uncluttered, simple spaces in a well organized home that is furnished with one thing in mind, relaxation.
In the kitchen we are going to empty out some of our cupboards with the things that we never use. Many people are going to add a hanging pot rack to create more space.
Patio furniture is going to be big this year, not just for homes with large outdoor areas but condo's and apartments with smaller decks. Bistro tables and chairs are going to be the focal point for these small spaces.
These are only a few of the ideas and decorating trends for 2007 that we will be taliking about. Colors and fashions in 2007 window treatments and flooring will be discussed later on so be bookmark this site for future ideas.
Posted 10:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)December 21, 2006
Outdoor Decorative Lighting
Choosing the Right Type of Outside Lighting
It can be hard to choose the right outdoor decorative lighting that sets the right tone that you want for your yard and patio areas. Lighting designs can differ just as much as the lawns do. Most people decorate their yards in a manner that suits their general personality or the lifestyle that they want to project. Lighting is a major aspect of that.
There are many different forms of outdoor lighting that is often used differently; depending on the area of the lawn or patio that it's set up on. Some of these types are: lanterns, solar, string lights, security/motion sensing, and standing vanity lighting.
It's a must that you consider the overall look of your outdoor area before choosing your lighting because the lighting is meant to be an accent and not the center of the decor. For example; if your lawn is clean kept and lush green, you will likely want to use subtle lights like the standing lanterns and lamps to accent the area. However, if you are using your decorative lights for security purposes, you will want to use bright lights that sense motion. Security lights are brighter and therefore get heated to a higher degree so the decorative aspect of this lighting will have to be more heat resistant than if you wanted to simply accent the area.
Solar lights are excellent if you are aiming for a casual and elegant appearance on your lawn. These lighting designs come in many designs to suit almost any area, and they do not cost you extras for things such as light bulbs or wired cables. The light given is a bit dim so it is meant more for accenting the area to be lit and not protecting or spotlighting it. You can also get decorative outdoor lighting that helps to keep the insects away during outdoor events as well. These generally involve a citronella around the decorative footing for the light or around the bulb itself. The key point in choosing your decorative lighting is to use the lighting to accentuate the area in general and not to overwhelm it.
Posted 09:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)December 19, 2006
Faux wood window blinds
When you’re ready to redecorate your home you may want to think about buying faux wood window blinds so that you get an entirely new window treatment effect for your home. There are many different styles and manufactures of faux wood blinds that you can buy when you’re decorating any room in your home, including the exterior of your house.
Window fashions are changing each year as treatments and designs become more bold and daring. You can buy a faux wood window blind in most stores that sell curtains, shades, valances, or any other window coverings.
It’s important when buying new effects for windows that you take the correct measurements so that you order the right size. Many times you’ll have to place a custom order so that you get exactly what you want for your faux blinds. You’ll be able to buy blinds that come in a variety of styles and colors, such as wood and vinyl. Your window treatments shouldn’t overwhelm the rest of the room since this can take away from the rest of the décor in the room and leave behind a feeling of mismatched styling.
Plantation blinds are very popular and give any room the look and feel of the Deep South
There are many ways that you can find new decorating tips for any room in your home, including the kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom. Magazines, books, and the internet are great resources for finding blinds that are a little bit different and that are going to make your rooms look unique. In fact, the internet is a great source of information that will give you a multitude of creative ideas to try in your home on all kinds of decorating ideas such as window effects.
With so many different ideas for your windows you’ll soon have your home looking like a show piece. If you don’t have the time to design your own décor for your home you can hire a decorator to do the job for you. This way you can still get the window blinds that you want without having to do the work yourself.
December 17, 2006
Hallway furniture and accents
Umbrella stands for your front entrance
How many times has someone come into your home during a rainy day and placed their wet umbrella in a corner if your hallway. Now you have to mop up the water that has dripped down onto your entranceway floor.
Nornally it's my kids and I can tell you I am getting tired of cleaning up the floor. There is one solution to this and that is adding a very useful umbrella stand that comes in a antique black or brass finish.
I bought the black umbrella stand because I have light colored flooring and it looks very nice as part of my hallway furniture. It looks more like an accessory or accent that I have chosen as part of my decorating theme.
- Ordering details and full descriptions can be found on this page Hallway furniture - umbrella stands
- Ordering details and full descriptions can be found on this page Hallway furniture - umbrella stands
December 14, 2006
Choosing a washing machine
Lets start by saying that if you choose an expensive washer over one thats around 500 dollars thinking that because its more effiecient, you will probably never get your money back in the long run. They are by far better in performance and quiter, which is normally why you buy the more costly machines.
Front loading machines are quieter and easier on your clothes than top loading washing mackines but are harder to load. This is something to be concerned with if you have a bad back. One detail that you won't be able to check if you buy online is the vibration of the spin cycle of the front loading machines, they can cause the floor to vibrate. The best thing to do is find a friend that has one and ask them, keep in mind what type of flooring they have underneath.
If your laundry room is near a family room or down the hallway near a bedroom, the noise level will be a priority when you buy. The upper end machines will be quieter than a cheap model, Maytag and Whirlpool washing machines are a good choice for sound levels.
The controls you want are also a very important feature. Temperature controls for the hot and cold water need to be automatic so that it controls the temperature of the incoming feed.
If you buy a new front loading machine and this would include the new models of top loaders, you will also have to change your detergent becuase they need a higher quality soap.
When you buy a new machine and use it for the first time you may feel disappointed in that it seemed to take longer to wash your clothes. Well guess what it did! The newer machines especially the end of 2006 and the 2007 models are better at cleaning and are gentler in the process so it does take a few minutes longer in each cycle.
Posted 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)December 13, 2006
Hanging pot rack for kitchen
Tip for getting your husband to agree with you that you need new kitchen accessories and utensils
I have old and ugly pots and pans that I don't want to have people see these hanging in my kitchen. The solution here is to buy new ones that will also help you become a better cook.
Every time my husband buys a new tool and I ask him why he always has the same answer. "You can't do a very good job without the proper tools". A true statement that you can't really argue with and he knows it. I have now made his very own words work for me.
I cooked, lets just say not a very good dinner one night. Said I was sorry but my pots and pans where getting kind of old now and are not cooking food the way they should or fast enough (dinner was also late) (I fed the kids before he got home from work with something they liked). This where I mentioned I wanted to update the kitchen with new pots and pans and then hang them from a pot rack above the kitchen island so I could have more cupboard space. He started to argue about the cost so I let him have it with "You can't do a very good job without the proper tools". He got the message and I am out looking for new kitchen stuff. I already got my Kitchen island stool after he had no place to sit one morning in the kitchen to have his coffee.
If you would like to no more about hanging pot racks or other kitchen accessories go here.
If you know what you want and are ready to buy
On a Personal Note
I know some of you gals will be thinking I make my own money so I should just go out and buy it myself. We decided to discuss spending money on the home or the kids together when we first got married. we have been married for 27 years and still discuss spending money together. Its just that I am better at it than him.
December 12, 2006
Deciding on a christmas tree
Should I buy a pre-cut christmas tree this year or an artificial christmas tree?
To some some people it is a tradition to have real tree in their home at christmas time and they would not have it any other way. It is almost an insult to mention any other kind. For some an artificial tree is the only kind they are allowed to have because of fire bylaws in apartments.
Trees cut from a tree farm have been cut and shipped for over a month now and that is why they dry out so fast,. The alternative to this is to buy a live tree and then plant it outside after. My brother is a fireman and he was telling me how many fires they have on pre-cut trees because of faulty christmas lights. A dry tree goes up in flames in approx. 30 seconds and that is almost the amount of time you have to get out of the house. Not much time is it. The heat generated from this is astounding. This has always worried me and it seems every year it was a bigger worrry. I wasn't going to buy a live tree because my yard doesn't have anymore room for growing trees.
I'll tell you why I finally went with a pre-lit artificial christmas tree this year. the number one reason was the fire hazard. So this year I bought the pre-lit 7 foot artificial tree that has 800 lights on it. I have to say upfront that after it is decorated it is very hard to tell if it is real or not. If you like the pine smell you can always buy a spray and put it on the tree. Pre-lit trees are not tacky even if you live in a rural area that has tree farms just down the road. The first thing I noticed was the convienence of having a tree with the lights on it already. The other was no more needles falling off all over the house ( I do enough vaccuming thanyou ). It took about a half an hour to staighten out all the branches to where I liked the shape after I took it out of the box. This really wasn't very hard to do, It was less stressful than what I normally did. That was: go out every year and buy a christmas tree stand becuase I broke the &#!# thing everyyear. This was getting to be a frustrating tradition in my home, fitting the trunk onto the stand, I broke it everytime and then spilt water all over trying to fill it up. Anyway the lights on it where placed far better than I would ever do and when the decorations where finished it looked like it was professionally decorated.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all and a Happy New Year
December 07, 2006
Why a hand towel
Why do you need to have a hand towel in the bathroom instead of just a great big bath towel. Well let me tell you why I wish I had one in my bathroom yesterday.
It was the morning time - not the best of times - but hey I have 4 teenage daughters. I was in the bathroom shaving or at least trying to shave. I kept getting kicked out as everyone migrated towards this room to fix hair or put on makeup. Anyway back to my life, my cell phone rang so I answered it because the call displayed came up and it was a buddy of mine. He didn't want anything so we chatted for a minute and hung up. I placed my cell phone on the edge of the counter and finished up shaving, not giving it another thought.
Just at that time my wife walks by the bathroom and politely reminds me to clean up after myself and make sure the sink and counter are clean like she had it. Ok i'll be honest it was exacvtly polite (we've been married for 26 years)what she really said was "don't leave a mess like you always do" - "do you think you can handle that after all this time" Well I was going to show her.
Not seeing a small towel nearby I picked the large bath towel off the floor where I was going to fold it nicely, (later) I then proceeded to show my wife I cared, I wiped out the sink with it and then started wiping off all the drips on the counter. Just about then I took a large fast swipe along the counter top and didn't notice my cell phone sitting close to the edge because the towel was kind of too big to use.
Needless to say the cell phone went flying off the bathroom counter into the toilet with one big splash. Yes it was turned on and yes I had to reach down to my elbow to fish it out. After rasising it from the deep, I noticed that it was fryed and I spent the rest of the morning looking for a new cell phone to buy.
Who do I blame: well my wife of course because if we had proper bathroom hand towels I could have used one of them instead of a great big bath towel. My stroy is that I would have seen it if the towel wa smaller. And just in case you are wondering what I did with the towel after I dryed my arm off from being in the toilet. I hung it up in my wifes bathroom (Just kidding) but I did think of it.
I have to go now because my wife bev will be coming into her office in a minute to work and I am not really allowed to post thing in her blog unless I ask. So much for 24 or maybe its 27 years of very happy years of marriage, honey
Posted 06:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)December 05, 2006
Lighting for the kitchen
Use your kitchen lighting to create an atmosphere in this room that people are drawn to.
Since there are many tasks performed in our kitchens, it makes sense that our kitchen lighting should be functional first, and then decorative. However, besides being used for food preparation, kitchens also serve as a social center in many homes.
A wide choice of kitchen light fixtures include incandescent and compact fluorescent recessed downlights for effectively illuminating counter and island areas with a higher level of light; surface mounted fluorescent fixtures for general lighting; and track lighting for additional light and highlighting of kitchen displays from table arrangements to art objects, utensils and cookware.
Bright, well-diffused, evenly spaced lighting fixtures from the ceiling are a dependable way to make sure all open spaces are free of annoying shadows or glare. The ceiling light should also illuminate the inside of the kitchen cabinets and drawers and allow you to perform most of your daily tasks in the kitchen. This type of lighting is also needed over a kitchen island where you want to use kitchen island bar stools for extra seating.
Without proper lighting in the kitchen, cooking and other kitchen activities can become a chore rather than a pleasure. You'll discover that the best illumination in the kitchen is not only functional but also adds a decorative and visual interest to the room - factors that combine to make your kitchen both an easy and pleasant place to work and relax in.
December 02, 2006
home lighting fixtures and design
Proper home lighting is an essential part of the living room and if you are lucky enough to have a large picture window, it can become the main focal point of the room and your main light source. However, many living rooms are used in the evenings when artificial lighting is necessary so you'll want general and ambient lighting, along with task and spot lighting. A low-voltage lighting system offers the most flexibility or you can install a central ceiling light fixture or chandelier with a dimmer switch and then add lamps for ambient and task lighting. When choosing living room lighting you need to consider the variety of activities that occur in the room such as general lighting for entertaining and watching television, task lighting for reading or sewing, and accent lighting for artwork, plants, and interesting architectural features.
Today, more and more homeowners are turning this room into a more family oriented area of the home with the addition of televisions, video games, and computers. These items require low-level ambient lighting that does not wash out the screen's image nor reflect into the viewer's eyes. Depending on which living room fixtures you choose, this room can be transformed into one that provides function, elegance and coziness all at the same time.
Reading requires task lighting that comes from behind the reader's shoulder and this can be accomplished by placing a floor lamp either at the right or the left of the reading chair. The bottom of the shade should be located at eye level to avoid glare.
If you have glass shelves, glassware or collectibles in the room, accent them by installing recessed light fixtures or track lighting that will provide both general and accent lighting. The use of low-voltage fixtures with tungsten-halogen bulbs will emit a bright white light that will make glassware sparkle, while providing added illumination for serving and cleanup.
But it all doesn't stop there, decorative home lighting has the ability to shape and form how any room in your home feels. These articles about different lighting ideas can help you choose the proper fixture that will give you the desitred effect that you are going for.
- Contemporary lamps
- Light Bulbs
- Kitchen Lighting
- Hanging Pendants
- Bathroom Lighting
- Outdoor Lights
- Lamp Shades
- Track Lights
- Task Lighting
- Ceiling Fixtures
- Recessed Lighting
- Interior home lighting