Daily Clean-Up: Eliminate Rodents And Ants With Borax

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning

Rodents and ants posing a problem in your home? Here's an effective way to keep them out. Wherever you've had rodent problems, sprinkle borax in that specific area--they won't go near it. Another good tip? A reader told us that mixing sugar and borax and sprinkling some in ant-infested spots is a surefire way to eliminate them from your home--the ants pick up the borax and carry it back to the nest. Just make sure you keep children and pets away from the borax.


Have a cleaning tip to share? Let us know at Twitter.com/ShelterPop.

Chiot's Run, Flickr

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

7 Centerpiece Ideas Featuring Creative Vases

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Parties & Entertaining

Picture this: You are sitting in your living room waiting for the first guests to arrive to your party. The doorbell chimes, you rush to open it and one of your best friends stands there with a bouquet of tulips. You thank her, thinking of how thoughtful the gift was, until another knock sounds...more flowers. Still excited, you thank your neighbor for his kindness, but then the next guest arrives with still more blooms. Next thing you know, you are running around your home, grabbing every vase is sight, hyperventilating from carnation overload.

But now, you can save yourself the trouble! If you ever have too many flowers and too few vases, here are some quick, and stylish, items you can repurpose to make the perfect centerpiece. Even if you have a vase, these substitutions can enliven a boring table spread or breath more life into your week old plants. Enjoy!

%Gallery-133782%

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Two Ways to Reinvent a Serving Tray

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Parties & Entertaining

Whether you want to dress up an old tray or need to make a second one appear out of thin air, entertaining expert Elaine Griffin has the stylish solutions.






So, to recap: An old serving tray can get a whole new look just by adding a favorite picture. Simply cut the photo to fit the tray and then "laminate" with a piece of clear Contact-brand vinyl shelf liner.

And if you don't have a tray? Then try repurposing a small wall mirror. Not only can the flat surface serve anything from apps to desserts, but the mirrored treatment will beautifully reflect light.

Want more amazing entertaining tips? Check out...

7 Centerpiece Ideas Featuring Creative Vases
3 Surprising New Uses for Glassware
Dress Up Candles with These 7 Household Items

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Design Eye: HGTVRemodels Launches

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

The home network we all know and love has launched a new online hub focusing on home remodeling.

The popular go-to for design inspiration has launched HGTVRemodels, a one-stop spot for renovation how-to's and ideas. The new site features hundreds of photos with everything from gorgeous kitchen renovations to the best tiles for a bathroom floor. The site also offers remodeling advice from the beginning stages of planning all the way through to the finishing touches, complete with cost-friendly, energy-saving tips. We especially love Design Star producer Brian Patrick Flynn's posts about his remodeling tribulations and those of his friends. For more, visit hgtvremodels.com.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Clean-Up: Polish Your Floor With Olive Oil

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning

Here's an all-natural formula to make sure your floors are looking clean and sleek. Start by sweeping any dust off the floor, then mop the surface with vinegar and hot water. When you're done, polish the floor with a touch of olive oil for that extra shine.


Have a cleaning tip to share? Let us know at Twitter.com/ShelterPop.

Chiot's Run, Flickr

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Crazy/Sexy/Cool: Bojaki Inflatable Housewares

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Talk is (literally) blowing up around Bojaki, a new line of inflatable housewares.

Industrial designer Jy Yeon Suh has been making heads turn in the design world recently with his new Bojaki collection of flat-pack, foldable fabric home furnishings that can be inflated for use.

Every bit novel? Certainly so. While the innovative line's trays, vases, stools, and light fixtures look puffy from afar, they're sturdy and firm to the touch up close. So no worries about these pieces collapsing on you (possible punctures aside.) Nonetheless we're highly intrigued for easy-to-transport and out-of-the-box designs for the home.

Scroll through and chime in on the discussion by letting us know what you think: Is the Bojaki collection super crazy, super sexy, or super cool?

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Blank Canvas: Paris Versus New York

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Your Home, Living Room

What's more intimidating than a big empty wall? The endless options of photographs, drawings, screenprints and shadowboxes out there. We're making it a little easier by zeroing in on our favorites.

We've been following illustrator Vahram Muratyan's blog Paris Versus New York, a tally of two cities ever since it first launched last fall. The blog is a personal side project for Vahram who is Parisian and a co-founder of the design studio ViiiZ. For his blog, he comes up with charming and witty illustrations that pinpoint the cultural differences between Paris and New York--tiny espresso cups vs. Americanos served in big cups; Amélie Poulain vs. Carrie Bradshaw.

As someone who appreciates art with a little tongue-in-cheek humor, I was thrilled to find out that a dozen of his web-only illustrations have recently become available for purchase as art prints for the home.


I love how all the prints are so colorful and graphic and also especially clever and cheeky. Whether or not you're a fan of the two cities, every print captures an observation of French and American life so well, you'll definitely find yourself grinning and smiling at many of Vahram's references. Each print ranges in price from $29 for a mini size to $59 for an extra-large one.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Sampling: MyHabit's Cozy Acrylic Throw

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Don't have time to browse all the online sample sales everyday? You're in luck: We searched them all and brought back the best.

Editor's Pick: Tan acrylic throw by Robert Comstock, $80, MyHabit Home.


Want to snap this up? Move quickly. Sale ends Thursday, 9am.

Check back tomorrow for the next Daily Sampling!

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

On A Roll: A House Built for Skateboarding

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

After reading about former pro-skater Pierre-André Senizergues's fully-skateable house in the New York Times, we had to take a closer look.

"Skating has a strong relation with architecture," architect Francois Perrin told the Times. "[Skateboarders] adapt themselves to public space and outdoor furniture. A skater, when he goes around the city trying to find the right space and surface, he really looks at architecture with a different eye than someone that's walking around. It's a more fluid approach. So this idea of people skating in a house has been the dream of many generations of skaters."

Dubbed PAS House (after the owner's initials), the residence features a ribbon of continuous surface that integrates much of the furniture, including a sitting area, kitchen and bathroom. Stand-alone objects, such as a dining table, kitchen Island and bed also bear skate-friendly surfaces (and visitors can enter the house via a ramp). A full-scale prototype of the construction was presented at "Public Domaine," an exhibit on skate culture currently on view in Paris; the final version will be built in Malibu, California.

Here, take a gander at some of the house's coolest features ... if you're so inclined (get it?).

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Clean-Up: Clean Tall Glassware With Rice

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning

If you're having trouble cleaning any grime or residue from the bottom of a tall glass or vase, try this simple formula. Pour in a tsp of baking soda and 1/4-cup of vinegar. Let the solution bubble. And when it stops, add in a bit of dry rice and swish the rice around the bottom of the glass. It may come as a surprise, but the rice grains will scrub and take out all the dirt in those hard-to-reach spots!


Have a cleaning tip to share? Let us know at Twitter.com/ShelterPop.

Chiot's Run, Flickr

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Where I Write: Cathy Callahan

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Fun Stuff

Step into craftswoman and author Cathy Callahan's sunny home office, which inspired her to do the one thing she never expected to do: write a book.


The house my boyfriend and I live in was built in 1962 for a fashion designer (rumor has it she designed for Fredrick's of Hollywood) and a painter. It's a smallish house and one of the rooms we understand was the painter's studio. It has big, north-facing windows (light from the north being preferred by painters) and is about the size of a bedroom. My boyfriend (who is a graphic designer) and I share the space as a "home office" and if we are feeling fancy we sometimes refer to it as "the studio."

This is the room where I write. It's also the room where I make things, store my collections and books, keep my art and craft supplies, and hunt for vintage finds on eBay. There's not much space so to avoid clutter I have had to be really efficient in how I store everything (thank goodness for The Container Store!). Over time, I've figured out how to cram a lot of stuff into a not-very-big space.


I love to be surrounded by all of the stuff that inspires me. The room may be small, but in some ways that helps me work because everything is in close reach. When I was writing my book Vintage Craft Workshop all I had to do was reach (without even having to get up out of my chair!) over to the book shelf to my left and grab whatever I needed to reference. As you can see in the photo, I have shoved two worktables together so I have a "clean" end of the table for using the computer and a "messy" end of the table for paints, glues, fabrics and the like.

I admit some days it feels a little too cramped. I have rolling carts that hold all of my supplies, tools, and fabrics shoved under my desk and my knees knock against them when I work, which can be really irritating. And, yes, some days I dream about having my own separate office space where I could have more room to spread out. But you know what, it was in this room that I was able to do something that just a few years ago I would never in my wildest dreams have thought that I would do: write a book!

Cathy Callahan is the founder of CathyofCalifornia.com and has been featured on the Early Show, the Martha Stewart Show, and in Sunset Magazine. She lives in Los Angeles.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

White House Luncheon For National Design Awards 2011

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Michelle Obama celebrates innovation and design at her home.


We love this great roundup of favorite winning picks by our friends at CasaSugar!





Just because the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum is closed for renovations through 2013 doesn't mean that the museum isn't throwing its share of events - including the 2011 National Design Awards. Michelle Obama, the honorary patron for the 2011 National Design Awards, is hosting a White House luncheon and ceremony for the awards' finalists and winners today.



To see more standout designs in architecture, interiors, landscaping, and fashion, head over to CasaSugar.


Also check out these great reads!
5 Inspiring Outdoor Spaces
Lighting Designs That Celebrate The Bare Lightbulb
Matt Gagnon's Innovative Home Designs

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

CustomMade Curator: Sewing Machine Table Laptop Desk

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc

CustomMade is a new site filled with fabulous furnishings, accessories and more that you can get, well, custom made. Here, we spotlight our favorite item of the week.


Seems like it's hard to step into a thrift store or flea market without bumping into a vintage sewing machine built into a beautiful wooden sewing cabinet. Sadly no one seems to want to buy these beautiful artifacts and who can blame them given their weight and the space they take up. Artisan Orwa Designs has come up with a brilliant idea to turn this kind of sewing cabinet into a functional laptop desk while showcasing the beautiful features of the original piece.

For more photos and info, visit Orwa Designs.

Want to see more remarkable custom made creations? Check out...
CustomMade Curator: Bicycle Seat Bench
CustomMade Curator: Artichoke Table
CustomMade Curator: Frog Beds

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Sampling: Gilt Home's Colorful Handmade Pillows

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

Don't have time to browse all the online sample sales everyday? You're in luck: We searched them all and brought back the best.

Editor's Pick: Swallows pillows by Counterfeit Studios, $30-$35, Gilt Home.



Want to snap this up? Move quickly. Sale ends Monday at noon.

Check back tomorrow for the next Daily Sampling!

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Country Living's October Issue: First Look

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Fun Stuff, Crafts & Projects, Parties & Entertaining

Country Living's October issue hits newsstands today...and we got the first look!



This wreath has a tendency to follow you wherever you walk in your home. And it's also one of the standout Halloween projects in the new issue of Country Living. I know what you're thinking: It's barely September and already I'm showing you a Halloween project. But think of it less as a reminder of time passing and more like an amusing heads-up. Or rather, eyes-up?

To make the wreath, you'll need a bunch of novelty glow-in-the-dark eyeball toys, a wreath form, pins and black streamers. First, wrap the wreath form in streamers (to create a barely-noticeable backdrop), then poke a hole in each ball using a pin. Next, insert the pin into the ball and then into the wreath form. Repeat until the form is filled out.

We'll be featuring a project every day from the new issue of Country Living. If you want to see the issue in person, here's what cover to look out for...

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Clean-Up: Banish Sink Odor With Citrus Peel

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning

A good kitchen cleaning habit to get into is to avoid dumping large chunks of food from unfinished meals into the sink...even if you have a garbage disposal. If you do, make sure to clean it out immediately before residue and grime develop in the sink, which leads to unsightly mold and pungent smells. A natural (and fragrant) way to get rid of the smell in your sink is to crush orange or grapefruit peel in the garborator.


Have a cleaning tip to share? Let us know at Twitter.com/ShelterPop.

Chiot's Run, Flickr

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

How to Get Rid of Pet Hair: Testing 7 Odd Ways

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Your Home, Cleaning

If you have pets, you most likely will run into a problem with pet hair. Especially in the first few weeks of fall, when all animals seem to shed their summer coat for their warmer autumnal models. Mine are already in the midst of this wardrobe transition, as one glance at my sofa can tell you. And do I need to tell you that they are terrified of all brushes?

So in an effort to get the hair issue under control, I tested a few common "homemade" methods for getting rid of pet hair. If I admit defeat, then I'll go out and get a pet hair-removal gadget.

Here's how I fared with these DIY removal methods:

- A balloon. An enchanting solution: Rub a balloon over the offending spot. The static electricity does grab fine hair, but left the more stubborn fur behind. Bottom line: Not effective, unless your pet is made of cashmere.

- Tennis ball. The nubby felt texture has fine "teeth" that help grab fur. Just rub the ball against the hair and watch clumps of it come with it. Bottom line: If you tend to have a tennis ball anyway, great. If not, you might as well buy a lint roller.

- Velcro curlers. This works on small areas, but why waste a good volumizer? Bottom line: Only if desperate and in possession of an overstock of Velcro curlers.

- Fabric softener sheet. It pulled at the hair, leaving wads of it on the sofa. It also left an alarming sheen on my slipcover from the fabric softener residue. Bottom line: Not effective.

- Packing tape. Thankfully, I had a few rolls left of this from a move. There are two schools of thinking on packing tape as pet hair remover: Loop it around your hand and run it over the fur-strewn area, or wad it up in a ball and roll. I tried both. Yeah, it works in a pinch. But you need to replace the tape after a few passes. Bottom line: Effective, but not efficient. The ball method works better, since you have more surface area to pick up hair.

- Rubber gloves. Moisten a rubber glove with water, then run it over furniture. This method swiftly picked up fur and gave me a little more control. Just don't use too much water. Bottom line: Effective.

- Vacuuming your pets. The thinking? If you get the fur now, then you won't find it on your furniture later. Perhaps one day the scratches will fade from my arms. A terrible ideas. Bottom line: If animals could see therapists, mine would certainly need to now.

For me, the winner was the rubber glove method, because it was quick, efficient and of course, effective. Have any other tips for removing pet hair? Let us know in the comments!

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Color Combinations For Your Home

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Color, Design, etc

Go bold with color in your home using these paint options and great accessories.

Check out this inspiring color story by our friends over at Real Simple!





The fastest way to jump-start any makeover? Introduce colors that suit your rooms, your style, and your life. Here are exciting, foolproof paint picks (plus gorgeous accessories) to get you going.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Sampling: The Foundary's Cushy Pet Bed

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Design, etc, News & Trends

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Daily Clean-Up: Use A Homemade Window Cleaner

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:15:34 -0500

Filed under: Storage & Cleaning

Next time you're wiping down your windows, opt for this natural, homemade recipe. Mix together 1 gallon of water, 1/4 cup vinegar, 2 tbs lemon juice, and 1 tbs liquid dish detergent. Keep the solution in a container so that you can refill when you need more. Grease doesn't stand a chance against the lemon juice and dish detergent in the solution, so simply spray the windows down and wipe them with a microfiber cloth, newspaper, or squeegee.


Have a cleaning tip to share? Let us know at Twitter.com/ShelterPop.

Chiot's Run, Flickr

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments