Archive for August, 2009 Page 4 of 7



Lingerie bags used for what???

Every is always looking for new uses for old things, so today I’ve got a bright new idea to share with those of you who have small children in your home.

During the warm summer months, many people use small fans in various rooms to keep the air moving.  However, this creates a problem when the fan must be placed at a child’s level; you wouldn’t want a curious little finger to be poked into the fan.  So we came up with this smart new use for a lingerie bag…

If your fan is small enough, place it inside a lingerie laundry bag with the cord sticking out the end, and then zip it up.  Be sure to use a rubber band, piece of ribbon, or string to tie off any excess material.  You want the bag to fit snugly around the fan.  Now your fan will still be able to circulate the air, but a child’s fingers won’t be able to poke between the slats of the fan and make their way to the blades.

Fan

Fan

Fan

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Curb Appeal Tip #5 - Accessorize!

Today is the last post in our week’s worth of Curb Appeal Tips.  In case you missed any of our previous posts, those were clean it, trim it, add dimension with color, and add some bling.  Today’s 5th and final curb appeal tip of the week is to accessorize.  This can easily be done with just a few well chosen and well placed items such as decorative pots, garden art, trellises, or arbors.

Planter Box with flowers

Before making any accessory choices, you should carefully consider how you want your home to look when you’re all done.  It can be easy to go out and purchase a lot of decorative items, and then once they’re all in place, your home looks way too “busy.”  Remember, when it comes to decorative accessories, more isn’t always better, sometimes it is just more.  So choose wisely and don’t be afraid to try several options before you make your final decision.

Large decorative pots or planters filled with flowers has a very positive impact the overall curb appeal of your home.  Consider purchasing a pair of large pots to flank the entrance to your driveway or walkway up to your front door.  Finish the entry area off with a welcoming rug by the front door or a decorative wreath in a seasonal theme.

Rosedale Arbor with Accessory Planter Boxes

If these touches aren’t enough, or aren’t quite the look you want, consider adding a garden trellis with a climbing vine for a showy display of flowers and greenery.  Good flowering climbers include morning glory, moonflower, clematis, and trumpet vine.  For an even more impressive display and a real focal point in your landscape, an arbor or pergola may be just what you need.  Garden arbors and pergolas come in an array of sizes, styles, and colors to suit any landscape and compliment almost any style of home.

Well, that wraps up our week of Curb Appeal Tips!  We hope that these economical ideas will inspire you to change or update the look of your home without breaking the bank, and give you the satisfaction of a beautiful end product that you will enjoy for years to come.

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Curb Appeal Tip #4 - Add Some Bling!

Well, so far you’ve cleaned your home’s exterior, trimmed up bushes and trees, and painted some trim.  Now, for day four of our week of curb appeal tips, we’re recommending you add some “bling” to your home’s exterior in the form of light fixtures, house numbers, mailbox, or door hardware.  All these items are usually metal, and over time they can become tarnished, rusted, or chipped (if painted).  When it’s time to upgrade your home’s curb appeal, it’s a good idea to replace these items at the same time and try to coordinate finishes and styles so everything matches and compliments your home’s exterior.

Address Plaque

When picking a metal finish or color, consider your home’s paint colors and style.  For example, if you have a Mediterranean or Tuscan style home, oil rubbed bronze or antiqued bronze are very nice metal finishes.  to coordinate with colors, try to choose something that will stand out against your home.  If your house is painted white, look for a dark color.  Conversely, if your home is painted black, choose white or light colored hardware.

Most importantly, look for products that feature good finish warranties.  Many types of storm door hardware now feature lifetime finishes, which are well worth the additional money.

Storm door hardware

Storm door hardware

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