Adding the Unexpected to your Bathroom October 26, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Bathroom Blogfest 2010 , 1 comment so far
As part of our participation in the 2010 annual Bathroom Blogfest, today’s post is about how to add the unexpected to your bathroom.
Because of the amount of hard-surfaced material required to make a functional bathroom, it’s important to look at opportunities to warm up the space with softer elements. One way to do this is by adding a piece of furniture. In this photo, a shelving unit and upholstered easy chair turn this bathroom into an inviting space.
The upholstered chair, with its old-fashioned floral fabric, provides an unexpected touch to the room. Take the chair out, and the rest of the space is not particularly remarkable. However, this addition creates a sense of comfort.
The pedestal sink and remade version of a classic tub echo the era the chair brings to mind. The colors are feminine and inviting, creating a space that begs for long baths with bubbles.
The one off note comes from the curtains. Imagine a soft stripe or check that draws color from the darker shades in the chair fabric, and the room would become that much more integrated and inviting.
Do you have any softer or non-bath elements in your bathrooms? Consider adding an upholstered bench or small chest or table. Pile it with soft towels to warm up the room. With just a few simple touches, you can turn your standard bath into something that warrants another look.
To learn more about the Bathroom Blogfest, please visit the Bathroom Blogfest Facebook page or on Twitter @Bathroomblogfes.
Bathroom Blogfest Announcement October 21, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Bathroom Blogfest 2010, Uncategorized , add a comment
It’s that time of year again! We are so pumped about being a part of this year’s Bathroom Blogfest!
The 2010 Bathroom Blogfest, now in its fifth year, brings together 33 bloggers from the U.S., Canada, the UK and India to address the 2010 Mad Men inspired theme “Stuck in the 60s?” A blogfest brings together writers who direct their blog posts around a single subject while making the subject relevant to their readers during a specific timeframe. Between October 25 and 29, these experts in marketing, customer experience and service, public relations, library sciences, museums, home & interior design, life, retail, flooring and healthcare IT/RTLS will call attention to improving the overall bathroom experience for end users via their 40 blogs during Bathroom Blogfest 2010.
Stay tuned next week for the actual event and check out the list below of fellow participants! It’s going to be even bigger this year!
| Blogger | Blog Name | Blog URL |
|---|---|---|
| Susan Abbott | Customer Experience Crossroads | http://www.customercrossroads.com/customercrossroads/ |
| Paul Anater | Kitchen and Residential Design | http://www.KitchenAndResidentialDesign.com |
| Shannon Bilby | Big Bob’s Outlet | http://blog.bigbobsoutlet.com/ |
| Shannon Bilby | Carpets N More Blog | http://blog.carpetsnmore.com/ |
| Shannon Bilby | Dolphin Carpet Blog | http://blog.dolphincarpet.com/ |
| Shannon Bilby | From The Floors Up | http://fromthefloorsup.com/ |
| Shannon Bilby | My Big Bob’s Blog | http://blog.mybigbobs.com/ |
| Toby Bloomberg | Diva Marketing | http://bloombergmarketing.blogs.com/bloomberg_marketing/ |
| Laurence Borel | Blog Till You Drop | http://www.laurenceborel.com/ |
| Bill Buyok | Avente Tile Talk Blog | http://tiletalk.blogspot.com/ |
| Jeanne Byington | The Importance of Earnest Service | http://blog.jmbyington.com/ |
| Becky Carroll | Customers Rock! | http://customersrock.net/ |
| Marianna Chapman | Results Revolution | http://www.resultsrevolution.com |
| Katie Clark | Practial Katie | http://practicalkatie.blogspot.com/ |
| Nora DePalma | American Standard’s Professor Toilet | http://www.professortoilet.com/ |
| Nora DePalma | O’Reilly DePalma: The Blog | http://www.oreilly-depalma.com/blog/ |
| Leigh Durst | LivePath Experience Architect Weblog | http://livepath.blogspot.com/ |
| Valerie Fritz | The AwarepointBlog | http://www.awarepointblog.com/ |
| Iris Garrott | Checking In and Checking Out | http://circulating.wordpress.com/ |
| Tish Grier | The Constant Observer | http://spap-oop.blogspot.com |
| Renee LeCroy | Your Fifth Wall | http://yourfifthwall.com/ |
| Joseph Michelli | Dr. Joseph Michelli’s Blog | www.josephmichelli.com/blog |
| Veronika Miller | Modenus Blog | http://www.modenus.com/blog |
| Arpi Nalbandian | TILE Magazine Editor Blog | http://www.tilemagonline.com/Articles/Blog_Nalbandian |
| Maria Palma | People 2 People Service | http://www.people2peopleservice.com/ |
| Reshma Bachwani Paritosh | The Qualitative Research Blog | http://www.onqualitativeresearch.blogspot.com/ |
| David Polinchock | Polinchock’s Ponderings | http://blog.polinchock.com/ |
| Victoria Redshaw & Shelley Pond | Scarlet Opus Trends Blog | http://trendsblog.co.uk/ |
| David Reich | My 2 Cents | http://reichcomm.typepad.com/my_weblog/ |
| Sandy Renshaw | Around Des Moines | http://www.arounddesmoines.com/ |
| Sandy Renshaw | Purple Wren | http://www.purplewren.com/ |
| Bethany Richmond | Carpet and Rug Institute Blog | http://www.carpet-and-rug-institute-blog.com/ |
| Bruce Sanders | RIMtailing Blog | http://rimtailing.blogspot.com/ |
| Steve Tokar | Please Be Seated | http://stevetokar.wordpress.com/ |
| Carolyn Townes | Becoming a Woman of Purpose | http://spiritwomen.blogspot.com/ |
| Stephanie Weaver | Experienceology | http://experienceology.blogspot.com/ |
| Christine B. Whittemore | Flooring The Consumer | http://flooringtheconsumer.blogspot.com/ |
| Christine B. Whittemore | Simple Marketing Blog | http://www.simplemarketingblog.com/ |
| Christine & Ted Whittemore | Smoke Rise & Kinnelon Blog | http://smokerise-nj.blogspot.com/ |
| Christine B. Whittemore | The Carpetology Blog | http://carpetology.blogspot.com/ |
| Linda Wright | LindaLoo Build Business With Better Bathrooms | http://lindaloo.com/ |
Protecting Carpeting and Furniture from Pets October 15, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance, Carpet , 1 comment so far
We’ve all met the animal lovers who have turned their homes over to their pets. Furniture is ruined, carpeting damaged, and pet hair is everywhere. And sometimes even the best home fragrances can’t hide the pet odors.
Having one or more pets doesn’t preclude having a lovely home. With just a few steps added to your housekeeping chores, a home can have one or more animals and still be inviting to people.
To start, keep your animals clean. Dogs need regular baths, and litter boxes need frequent changing. Immediately clean up any accidents, and use vinegar or a commercial pet scent remover to clear up anything that may attract your animal to use that spot as a bathroom again. For your best protection, adopt an older dog or cat that already knows how to behave.
If your pet is a shedder, brush them every day. With an animal that resists brushing, work into it with only a few strokes and lots of treats and praise. It will soon become the highlight of your animal’s day.
Provide scratching opportunities for cats, and toys for both cats and dogs. Cats need to scratch to keep their claws under control, and will soon prefer their own scratching area if you train them to use it. A little catnip can get them started in the right direction. Dog toys keep them amused and away from your property. Have a location with a basket or box that allows them to reach their own toys, and train them to understand what is yours and what is theirs.
Vacuuming regularly helps keep pet hair and dirt under control. It’s also generally good for your carpet – keeping it more like new. Vacuum at least once a week, more if your animal sheds a lot.
Cover your animal’s favorite furniture with large towels or sheets. With regular laundering, you can keep your furniture clean and protected. The covers are easy to remove when you have guests.
There’s no reason why you can’t have both the pets you love and a home to love. These ideas will help you make that possible.
How to Remove Pumpkin Stains from Carpet October 7, 2010
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Care and Maintenance , add a comment
It’s getting close to that time of year! Pumpkin carving time!! This year, before you get started – take a few moments to bookmark or print this page so that in the event that you have a pumpkin mess during your carving, you won’t have to worry.
Below are some easy to follow instructions for removal of pumpkin stains from carpet.
Detergent Solution – Mix one fourth (1/4) teaspoon of a liquid dishwashing detergent per one (1) cup of lukewarm water. NEVER USE A STRONGER CONCENTRATION! Thorough rinsing is necessary to remove detergent residues that may cause rapid soiling. It may be necessary to rinse with warm water several times to completely remove residues. (See Residue Precautions.) Care should be used in selecting a detergent. Never use a laundry detergent of any type, because laundry detergents may contain optical brighteners (flourescent dyes) that dye the fiber. Do not select an automatic dishwashing detergent because many contain bleaching agents that destroy dyes and some fibers.
Vinegar Solution – Mix one (1) cup of white vinegar per two (2) cups of water. White vinegar is a 5% acetic acid solution. It is used most often to lower the alkalinity caused by detergent solutions or alkaline spills.
Warm Water – Lukewarm tap water should be used in most cases to rinse the cleaning solutions from the fiber. Failure to completely rinse the solutions from the fiber may cause accelerated soiling.
Ammonia Solution – Mix one (1) tablespoon of household ammonia per cup of water. Please note: Be aware that ammonia, if used improperly, can cause a color change. Be sure to test a hidden area.
When in doubt , Call a Professional – Professional cleaners have the ability and the equipment to use more aggressive cleaning solutions to remove stubborn spills. Always consider consulting a professional cleaner regarding any spot removal question.
