Better Homes and Gardens

Better Homes and Gardens

Tip Junkie

I’m still on the lookout for a yellow and gray rug.

This is also Liza’s room, so don’t mind that she wanted to be in my pictures!

Because laundry is a necessary part of housework means the room we do it in should be inviting and as pretty as possible.  Make it enjoyable to be in there!  What could you do to add a little element of creativity – even beauty to your laundry room?  Freshen it up…you might even want to do a load of laundry just so you can look at your lovely space!

I’m going to skip the encouragement challenge today because this post has been so long.  See you on Monday!

Be refreshed,

I showed you my entryway on Wednesday’s Peek from my Porch, but at night, it takes on a whole new look.

Here’s what it looks like in the daytime…

What kind of lights do you have outside? Freshen up your entryway by adding some battery operated ones. Gracious Designs has a battery operated candle that looks like a real flame. You can even put it on a timer! There are tons of these battery operated branches at places like Big lots, Michael’s and TJ Maxx. Why not add some sparkle and ambiance to your front door this fall? It will welcome your family and friends with a touch that says, “We were expecting you! Reminds me of that motel ad – “We’ll leave the light on for you!” It’s welcoming and inviting to see a light at the door. Pull yours out, or be on the lookout for one this weekend and come up with a clever way to add it to your decor.

Pastor’s Encouragement: Pray that your pastor will focus on the Word of God and walk in the fear of the Lord, rather than the fear of man as he prepares his messages. Pray that he will seek to please God rather than men, and pursue holiness rather than the praise of men.

Husband Encouragement: Is your spouse a man of integrity? Is he fair in his dealings with people? Does he understand the meaning of justice? Is he honest in business? Genuine in his faith? Consider all the ways a man can live in integrity, and praise your husband for one of them.

See you in church!

Be refreshed,

Having fresh herbs growing in the yard or on the kitchen counter is such a blessing!  The picture above is the thyme I planted in the little tube pan around my umbrella table.  It’s my favorite thing in my yard! It adds a centerpiece to the table without me having to do a thing when we go out there to eat.  It gives off a wonderful fragrance, and it’s so handy when I need a sprig of it to add to whatever I’m cooking.  All I do is step out to the deck and cut off what I need. 

If you don’t have an herb garden, why not buy a small pot in your produce department so you can enjoy the beauty, fragrance and flavor of fresh herbs?  They sure give a lot of pleasure for a small cost! 

I found pots of fresh Basil on sale at my Ingles store yesterday.  Look!  They’re less than $2.  Can’t beat that.  I bet even Whitney would think that’s a thrifty purchase!  =) 

Be refreshed,

Isn’t it amazing how you can overlook something in your house that is looking a little worn, outdated, or even dirty?  We go about our daily routine without paying much attention.  Recently when I was on my hands and knees washing the kitchen floor (don’t be impressed, I use a mop most of the time!), I looked over at the cabinet inches from my face and said, “oh my goodness!”  I hadn’t noticed how worn the paint was on the edges, or the little splashes on the cabinet front caused by cooking and washing dishes!  So now, I have a project I’d love to tackle this spring – refreshing my kitchen cabinets.

My cabinets are painted white, and I changed out the hardware for knobs a few years back, but the cabinets themselves are showing their age.  I’d love to spiff  them up somehow, without spending much money.  How about you?  Do your kitchen (or bathroom) cabinets need a touch up?

I went looking on the Internet and found some beautiful Pictures, which are all from Better Homes and Gardens web site.  What great ideas are here!  I had a friend tell me recently that looking at beautiful magazine pictures discouraged them and made them want what they saw.  In my case, it inspires me to make what I have a little better.  We can all improve things without coveting or being extreme.  Just do what you can afford and what makes your home a place that you love!  So, take a look and be inspired!



Crown molding added to these cabinets made them extra special!





Love the frosted glass.  Keeping the cabinets “perfect” wouldn’t be as crucial as clear glass. I also love the black paint!

 


Can I just say I love this?!  Chalkboard paint on one cabinet adds a pop of something different and makes you feel at home!  I think a can of this paint is in my future!




Chicken wire fronts show off pretty glassware.  I’m sure this is more cost-effective than glass!  My rooster dishes would be adorable behind this!




A glaze over paint gives this a softer appearance.




Distressing the cabinets after painting softens the look of the stainless appliances.



Maybe all you need to do is change the hardware.  these pulls add a lovely touch!

Could you picture the room described above?  What is it that really makes a home inviting?  Is it the color of paint on the wall?  No.  Is it the beautiful pictures carefully hung? No.  Is it the furniture? No.  What makes a home draw us in is the lighting.  In the descriptive paragraph above, it’s the small lights, the twinkles, the lamps that give the effect of a warm welcome.  If only an overhead light is on, a room would have the appeal of a doctor’s examining room! If the lighting isn’t right, none of those other factors would be as beautiful. 

To refresh your Friday, I thought I’d share some of the designers great tips about lighting that I learned just yesterday at Gracious Designs.  Are you ready?  These are so practical and do-able!

There are three types of light:

1.  General lighting – Overhead lights.  This should be the least used, except in the kitchen and bathroom.

2.  Task lighting – Reading lamps, sconces, floor lamps, under cabinet lights
3.  Ambiance lighting – Candles, lanterns, light sticks, tea lights, little lamps

You should have at least five sources of light in each room (with exception of the entryway and bathroom).  These need to be layered at different heights and levels. Create layers of light at different times of the day.  Rainy winter days can be gray and dark.  Lighten your home by layering lights from soft lights under a buffet table, to small lamps on a bookshelf or mantle, and increasing to table or floor lamps for tasks.  Place candles in an unused fireplace to darken up that space. 

The last thing the designer shared was Five Rules to Break:

1. Lamps have to match – They don’t!  Break up a matched set and put them in two different rooms and watch how it will change the whole room!  The styles and heights on either side of the bed, for instance, should be similar, but don’t need to match.

2.  Chandeliers are only for the entryway or dining room.  No!  They are lovely in a master bedroom.  Placing one over a chair where you read would be beautiful!  By the way, our instructor said that the base of a chandelier over a table should be 34″-36″ from the surface of the table.  Most people hang them too high.  Drop it down and let it create something really special!

I’ve shared this before, but I think this is so elegant!

3.  One set of light sticks is all I need.  Some of these light sticks are battery operated and are so useful in high places where there are no outlets, so they are really useful!

4.  It doesn’t matter what type of bulb I use.  The newer bulbs are hard to figure out, but can really give off bad color if you don’t know what to look for.  Here was her suggestion:

• 5,000 Gives a clean daylight look, blue light
• 4,0000-3,500 Cool, general lighting
• 3,000 or below are warmer lights

5.  Five is the limit on lights.  Wrong!  Add as many lights (of course layered) as needed to add warmth to your room. 

We need to help these gray winter days not be so gloomy by making sure we’re adding the right kind of lighting to our homes.  We also need to be looking for those in darkness that need the Light of the Gospel!  Add some light to your home and be a light in the world!

Be refreshed,