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Sun catchers add sparkle and beauty to any room in your home. Far beyond the paint-n-bake sun catchers of childhood, sun catchers come in a huge variety of styles that dazzle the eye.

The most common window-hanging style bring charm and flair to any room. Choose a color and pattern that complements your decor. Window-hanging sun catchers can be the focal point of a room, or a finishing detail. Whichever you choose, you’ll be delighted with the beauty sun catchers add to your decor. Continue Reading »

Thinking of building a new home or complex? Will you use an architect or a building designer?

Both are involved in the design of buildings, their appearance, layout, structure, and so on. But what’s the difference?

The simplest difference is a legal one. To be called an “architect” in NSW, you have to be registered with the Board of Architects of NSW. The title “building designer” can be used by anyone designing buildings.

But that’s hardly even scratching the surface. Brian Basford is a building designer and treasurer of the Building Designers Association of NSW. He suggests that building designers are generally less expensive, and mostly involved in less flamboyant buildings. “It’s horses for courses. Most architects probably wouldn’t want to design a single bedroom extension for a pensioner, whereas I’ve done a lot of that.” Continue Reading »

A sofa slip cover may be just what you need to add some life to that old, tired looking couch of your. There are many advantages to owning a sofa slip cover. One is that you can easily change the cover of your sofa without the expenses of a re-upholsterer. Sectional sofa slip covers come in many different attractive designs and can be changed in a matter of seconds. Another advantage is the fact that it is very simple to replace a sofa slip cover. If you have children, pets, or any other potential cause of mess in your house, you can keep your sofa clean for guests by keeping a stock of sofa slip covers on hand, ready to interchange.

Besides protecting your furniture, sofa slip covers have another important use: They can make your old furniture seem new again, for a very low price. Many people would like to get new furniture, but are turned away by the high prices. However, if you want to make your furniture look like new, try using a sofa slip cover. While some are more expensive than others, there are many high quality cheap sofa slip covers available. Simply be on the look out for discount sofa slip covers.

You may worry that you won’t be able to find a sofa slip cover that would match the rest of your house. However, there is no need to worry. Slip covers come in all sizes for your futon chair, futon sofa, throw pillow, bolster pillow, or whatever piece of furniture you need to add a slip to. However, it is important to make sure that you are purchasing the right sofa slip cover. Since not all furniture is made alike, companies offer a variety of styles to fit all furniture models. You may also be able to purchase extra fabric to cover items in your living room to match your furniture.

Tags: Furniture

What’s a perennial garden plant that blooms in the winter? A hellebore! It is an outdoor plant that is shocking to see blooming sometimes in the snow. There are many varieties. They are perennial which means they come back year after year. These are best planted in shady areas, but where they will get sun in the winter, for instance under leafed trees or something of that nature. What is so unusual about hellebores is that they bloom somewhere between Dec. and March. There are very few plants that do that! One variety is called a Christmas Rose. These plants usually must be puchased at a nursery. Check out your local nursery for this wonderful family of plants.

Another plant you’ll surely want to try is called Sweet Annie. This is actually an annual herb, in the worm wood family. The seed is very fine and you sow it in direct sunlight in the spring after all danger of frost is gone. Sweet Annie can get up to 6 feet tall. It’s fragrance is wonderful! My favorite use for Sweet Annie is in the fall to cut it to the ground and dry it. It can be used as wonderful, fragrant filler for dried flower arrangements, and it can also be bound with fine wire to form a wreath base of its own. Simply tuck in other dried flowers here and there around it and you’ve got a beautiful dried floral wreath with a fragrance to die for!

Another unusual one is called Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate. Yes, this really is the name of a plant! It’s official name is Polygonum orientale. It’s an old-fashioned annual knotweed used for bold effect. It has large heart shaped leaves and pendulous clusters of small pink flowers. In rich, moist soil and full sun it can go to six feet tall. Best to sow the seed in fall or early spring where it is to grow.

Lastly another unusual plant to try is the Balloon Flower. These are perennial, meaning they will return year after year. The latin name for these are: platycodon grandiflorus. They are very hardy, durable plants and very beautiful. Balloon flowers are about the size of a ping pong ball and look like little “balloons”. Once they fully open up they split and you can see the center portion and the bloom then resembles a star. They usually come in shades of purple, pink and white. Very cute, the plants only get about 2 feet tall. Try one!

Looking to do some remodeling in your kitchen sink area or maybe the whole kitchen? There are many options out there for any idea you may have. Kitchen appliances on down to kitchen tables, and kitchen sinks are available at your finger tips online. So, whether you are repairing or remodeling, take a minute to notice all of your options.

Kitchen sinks and kitchen faucets are among the many things you can find online. Sinks ranging from stainless steal to tiled in every size and shape can be found. Faucets with many features like spraying hoses and tilting heads are available. Check out the designs and shapes! Another item every kitchen needs are Kitchen Exhaust Hoods. These, sucking up steam as well as smoke from cooking can help to prevent a fire. If your kitchen stove is small or oddly shaped, you may have a rough time finding the right size or style hood if you look in retail stores. But, online your options are numerous.

For larger items like Kitchen appliances and kitchen tables, the shipping charges of a product online to your home may not be worth it. But, browsing online at the many different online retailers and taking your time to choose what you like, will tell you where to go once you able to. For instance, if I am looking to replace my Kitchen Island, I can take my time, in my pajamas if I choose, and browse the dealers online until I find one or even a few that I like. Then, having this in mind, I can go to my local store and know what I am looking for. Or, perhaps, with something like kitchen islands, I will need to order it and have it delivered due to specific size requirements. Having an understanding of what I need and want, I can do this easier.

So, even our kitchen needs can be satisfied by searching online. You will benefit by taking the time to do the research or even, just browsing until you know what you want. Let’s face it, the average salesmen isn’t concerned about our needs, but making the sale. So, he may rush or push us along without us even realizing we have other options. Knowing the approximate cost of items will also help with these salesmen. Whatever the kitchen item is, even the kitchen sink, information is available to you online to help. A simple search can save you time and energy and even money.

Can’t get away for a southern vacation this year? Don’t despair plan a sunny Mexican style refresher for your patio décor and enjoy the festive atmosphere of a hacienda at home this summer.

As with every other decorating style, Mexican décor has its own basic elements.

Color

• The predominant color in the sunny Mexican look is yellow — bright, cheery and warm. If you’re lucky enough to be working with an outdoor space that abuts a stucco house exterior, consider painting the stucco yellow or soft terracotta. Otherwise, fashion walls for your space from a fence, a screen or a trellis painted an uplifting sunny hue.
• Accent the yellow with bright blue or vivid turquoise. Shades of terracotta, red, orange and bright pink are also popular.

Furniture

• Furniture made of heavy wood looks most authentic in Mexican style decorating. Small rough-hewn side tables are suitable. If you can’t get heavy wooden furnishing, paint simple wooden folding chairs bright yellow and blue.
• Alternatively, use wrought iron or hammered metal furniture. The Mexican influence of these materials can be also be used in gate hinges or accessories such as candlesticks.

Tiles

• Mexico is justly famous for its beautiful tiles — either unfinished terracotta or those with bold glazed patterns of flowers or other objects in shades of yellow, blue and red.
• Consider clay floor tiles to give a concrete slab patio a fresh new look. If tiling is not in your budget, get creative with paint as we did on this city balcony. http://www.paradiseporch.com/before_after.php
• If you’re serious about the Mexican look, tile the roof of your outdoor space with red clay tiles.
• Use brightly colored tiles on a table or a tray. Carry the terracotta theme with clay plant pots.

Fabric

• Roughly woven natural fibers, such a cotton tablecloths or woven rope chair seats, work best in this decorating scheme.
• Use a brightly colored wool serape as a scatter mat, throw, or “wall” hanging.
• This is the perfect setting for a rope hammock for that afternoon siesta.
• Use striped fabric in primary colors for cushion covers.

Accessories

• Accessorize your Mexican-styled space with wrought iron candlesticks or grille work.
• Fish and bird motifs (such as roosters or parrots) are good, especially if made of clay or tile.
• Carry the bright colors into the plantings in your space. Nasturtiums are ideal for hanging baskets or the lattice you’ve installed. If you’re growing zucchini or other squash, consider planting them near the patio, so that the blossoms add to your atmosphere.
• If you want to get away from the yellow in your flowers, use bougainvillaea, pastel poppies or broadleaf greenery such as yucca plants.
• Heap a rope basket with apricots, guavas or pears. Alternatively, you can make oversized paper mâché replicas or paint wooden yard-sale fruits.

Try a few of these ideas and before you know it, you’ll be sipping margueritas and crunching tortillas in your very own Mexican courtyard.