Caring for Ceramic Tile Flooring December 26, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Ceramic/Porcelain , add a comment
You installed ceramic tile because you thought it was easy to maintain, right? It is – but all floors do require maintenance to keep them looking their best. Here is a quick list of how to keep your ceramic floors looking beautiful.
Sweep regularly as this causes most of the dirt to be loosened and removed. Remember you can use the brush attachment of your vacuum cleaner to do your sweeping.
Place mats or rugs at each entryway. This will help remove dirt that may be tracked across your home. Shake these rugs out often.
Ceramic tile should be damp mopped often. The manufacturer of your floor will have a list of what products are ok to use. Rinse well and wipe dry to create more shine. Textured floors may require a bit more elbow grease.
Avoid using steel wool or any other abrasive cleaners on your floor. They can scratch and dull the tiles. Do not use bleach or ammonia based cleaners as they can discolor the grout.
Clean up spills as quickly as possibly to prevent staining.
Even though ceramic tile is durable it can still crack and chip. Be sure you lift, not slide, heavy furniture over your tile. Use table leg and furniture protectors just like you would if you had hardwood floors.
Sealing grout and tile is another way to prolong the beauty of your floors.
Attic Room with Natural Charm December 20, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating, Hints and Tips , add a comment
Some attics are naturally dark and gloomy. Others, such as the one here, have a natural charm that encourages creating a special personal space.
This room was fairly easy to update for current use. The window provides much needed light and the soft sheers allow privacy while maximizing the amount of light provided.
In contrast with the window and soft white walls, the flooring’s dark wood tone helps you visualize the way this room once looked. Most of the older and antique furniture carries that theme farther. This feels more real than most “shabby chic” choices. It’s easy to imagine it as a haven, perhaps for a brother and sister away from the rest of the family.
The ultra-fluffy cream rugs feel almost like clouds against a dark wood sky. The simple furniture is not new but works well together. To the left a comfy chair and ottoman invite a reader to get cozy. On the right, one sibling might write a letter while another practices on the trombone. This just may be that quiet place they were looking for.
As a design strategy to deal with the sloping ceiling/wall, a choice was made to bring all the furniture in and ignore the shadowed corners on two sides of the room. In this case, the choice adds interest. With the French doors opening on the scene, it almost seems more like a painting than a room.
Holiday Treats December 12, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Holidays , add a commentDecorating for the holidays involves more than putting up a tree and hanging a wreath on your door. For example, do you enjoy entertaining for the holidays but don’t feel particularly good at making desserts that look special?
Many people don’t have the time or the skills to decorate cakes and cookies for the holidays, but there are simple choices you can make to create treats that look as festive as your home.
Take a look at this cake. It’s a simple layer cake that can be made from a mix or purchased, yet it really shows off the season. The decorations are easy – a couple of small trees, some silver star twist and three holiday cookies. With a few minutes of time and effort, this cake is ready to serve.
Another option is decorating the plate rather than the treats. These are just frosted sugar cookies and some shortbread, easily made or purchased. By adding a sprig of holly with berries, the plate immediately looks ready for the holidays.
If you want to get a bit fancier, take a look at this cake. A chocolate bundt cake gets festive with the addition of fresh raspberries and mint, reflecting the look of holly in an edible form. Even better, the raspberries and mint are a nice flavor addition to the chocolate. Notice the gold trim on the plate itself. This adds even more of a holiday feeling.
Spend some time selecting the right decorative touches for your holiday food choices. Add some special table linens and candles and you’re ready to entertain.
Out-of-Control Boy’s Room December 6, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Hints and Tips, Kids, Uncategorized , add a comment
The robot on the top is not the winner; he is merely surveying the destruction left by a boy with way too many toys to his name.
Holidays, birthday parties and grandparents may all have contributed to this pile. And don’t deny it – that red underwater-looking guy was your purchase!
And by the way, equal time to your little girls. Chances are the color and type of toy will be different, but the pile could easily be just as high!
Rescue is at hand. If this situation is reducing your ability to reach his drawers and replace clean clothes and you notice that certain elements are drifting down the hall to the rest of your home, now is the time to handle the situation.
How are you fixed for storage bins? You may want to get a few sizes and colors to help with your sorting. Also pick up a label-maker or at least some stickers and a sharpie.
Now, sit down with your child and start a combination of sorting and negotiating. Even though most children hate to get rid of their possessions, it’s time to use a little strategy. Offer a bounty for every toy given away – say 2 dollars for a big toy and go down to 10 cents for those plastic toy soldiers that are all one color. Let your child know that they can spend that money on whatever they want (as long as it’s already on your approved list).
When you’re finished, chances are that pile will be noticeably reduced. Even the biggest pack-rat child won’t be able to resist the lure of new stuff to pile up in his or her room. Now, don’t delay. Remove the choice objects from sight immediately and donate so that children who are not as privileged as yours can have a pile of their own. And then rejoice – you have a room under control at last. But realize that this is not a one-time project. Prepare to continue until he or she grows up and leaves home permanently.
Set up your own Supply Closet December 5, 2011
Posted by creatingyourspace in : Design and Decorating, Hints and Tips, Installation , add a comment
If you want to make sure your home office has all the comforts of an actual commercial office, provide yourself with a closet or cabinet for storing your office supplies.
With just a little planning, you can keep everything you need to run your business in one place and thoroughly organized.
Look for a closet or nook that isn’t really in use. Add shelves if needed. Or buy a cabinet such as this one. For a reasonable price you can find a full-size two-door cabinet in a melamine or laminate finish. Choose one that complements your décor.
Place the cabinet in a spot with hard smooth flooring such as the vinyl shown in the photo. Laminate or wood floors will also work well. Using a level and some shims, make sure the cabinet is set evenly on the floor. This will allow you to safely store heavier supplies.
You probably already have many of the supplies you need already, but perhaps not all in one place. Make a plan for you new supply cabinet. If you want, label the locations of each item on the shelves. Add a notepad on the door to keep track of low inventory and outages. That’s your list for your next trip to the store.
Look for boxes to hold small supplies such as pens or paper clips to keep them tidy. Include extra printing paper and a set of ink jet cartridges along with anything else you use on an almost daily basis.
With a day of planning, you will save yourself hours of unnecessary trips to the office supply store, and like those old in-the-office days, you will have your own supply closet for grabbing essentials quickly.
