Home decorating and design

I had to take down the light I wired in, I didn't really know much about that kind of stuff, so I had explained my project to the guy in the light dept at Ho De (that it was to be a spotlight for a tapestry mounted under a shelf on the wall) and that was what he recommended, so I bought it. But,,,,as it turns out, that light is specifically designed *NOT* to be used near fabric or walls, at great risk of fire, which HELLLOOOOO Home Depot guy, is exactly what I said I needed it for. So I instead unwired that one and re-wired 3 small and low watt under the cabinet type lights. Another thing that ticked me off about this was he had me buy this light that was $20 more, needed extra cord I had to buy and also all the mounting stuff.(RETURN, lol) The under cabinet lights came all inclusive and was $20 less! Well thank Heavens I did not burn down my house with that thing! It did not take me too long to switch all that out. I did some scroll work with the drywall mud in my cake bag across the face of the shelf, this works great if anyone ever thinks about trying it!. I have got to get this done! My house is a disaster! I am staying up late to paint for a while, later~Missy

Good Job Diane! Isn't it rewarding when things start coming together and turn out like you planned ;o) Liz

I have finally come up with a design for my craft/office/meditation room that I call my studio. I plan to do it in a morrocan/arabic theme. This is a small room, only 7 1/2 ft by 9 1/2 ft. On the wall just to the left of the door is the closet which is only 26 X 48 inches. The door was only 24 inches wide so I have decided to use that for a desk top. I plan to put the desk on the wall opposite the door (which has a window) and will have shelves running across the whole wall. The window looks out on our neighbors who don't keep thier yard very neat so I plan to use sheer white gauze for a curtain, sheered at both ends. The desk will take up the whole wall and will give me lots of storage space. For the closet I plan to cut the walls so the bottom part becomes a daybed with a drawer underneath and plan to keep part of the top to make a sort of canopy, with arches and sheer draperies at the corners. I will use big pillows for the back rest when on the daybed. What I need suggestions for is what do I use to finish the inside of the arches (between the sheetrock)? Would using a somewhat thick plastic work that I could staple to the framing and then put "plaster" over it. I need something that will easily bend around the curve. Also on one wall I want to apply a somewhat narrow mural showing an exotic garden. I plan to cut the top of it in an arch shape, put some "plaster" around the edge of the arch and then do trompe o'leil to suggest a physical arch and columns. Does anyone know what degree of angle would work best for use to get the perspective right. I don't plan to paint the garden because I want it to look real. I plan to use jewel tones, red, green and blue with black and gold accents. I would appreciate any and all suggestions! Jean DeSavage timedreamer@...

the light is wired and the 2nd column is in place, I am ready to mud, Rod Stewart is here helping <just in the stereo

In This Issue: 1. Furniture: Sizing it Right 2. Consider Your Architecture 3. Put Accessories In Proportion 4. Patterns Matter 5. Breaking The Rules Scale is a key design principle about the proportions of things and how they relate to each other and to a room. Being attentive to proportion keeps your rooms from looking weird. What looks weird? A huge, overstuffed sofa with a spindly coffee table. Small photos along the mantel of a beefy fireplace. A room filled with tiny knickknacks. 1. Furniture: Sizing It Right [INLINE] Check out this sofa/end table arrangement to see what I mean. Here you have a sofa with different-size tables on each end. By adding accessories, the groupings on each end are in proportion to each other and to the sofa. When creating a seating group, here are some rules of thumb: Vary back heights by no more than 6 inches. Vary arm heights by no more than 6 inches. End tables should be no more than 3 inches taller or shorter than the arms they directly adjoin. [INLINE] Proper proportion refers not only to height and width, but also to visual bulk. A coffee table with wood sides looks bigger than a leggy coffee table, though it occupies the same space. So, it is appropriately positioned with a large-scale sofa and artwork. Things that are dark, bright, patterned, or skirted will seem bigger than items that are light, not patterned, and have exposed legs. 2. Consider Your Architecture [INLINE] Furniture should match the proportions of your room, but your room proportions should also match you. Rooms with vaulted ceilings are in high demand. But all that wall space, coupled with accessories placed too high, put the room out of scale with the human body. The goal is to make the lower part of the wall closer to the size of your body. Use molding and a wallpaper border to create a chair or picture rail. Paint or wallpaper the wainscot so it's more noticeable than the area above. Or, overlap painted rectangles to anchor a seating area. Or, use a screen as a backdrop for furniture; make your own using one of these three screen projects. You can have the opposite problem with a small room, which can seem claustrophobic. To counter low ceilings, position items to draw the eye up. Mount curtain rods right next to the ceiling. Use a tall, dark armoire and top it with plants. Many interior designers I've interviewed favor using fewer, larger items in a small room to make it seem bigger. Sometimes the architecture itself is out of proportion, such as in a dining room with a too-small window. Make the window seem bigger by adding window treatments (valances mounted above the top molding; curtain panels that extend past the window) and incorporating the window into a larger wall arrangement. 3. Put Accessories In Proportion [INLINE] Typically, any accessory by itself will look lonely, so create an accessory grouping. Let's take mantels, for example. You want an arrangement that's about 1/2 to 2/3 the size of the fireplace (use these same proportions for a wall arrangement over a sofa). Here are five examples of mantel arrangements. Notice how the total group balances out the size of the fireplace. To achieve proportion within a mantelscape, check out these specific tips for symmetrical, asymmetrical, and radial displays. 4. Patterns Matter Be sure to relate fabric patterns to the size of the furniture or window. A large sofa would look weird in a tiny floral but just right in a chunky plaid. A short valance couldn't handle a large floral because you wouldn't even see the pattern repeat; a narrow stripe would be better. Pattern rules apply to wallpaper too. A large room with lots of wall space would look dizzying with a tiny paisley print. A bathroom, which has little wall space, can't handle large prints (all the mirrors, windows, and doors get in the way). In an article on splashy baths, one bathroom uses a floral in perfect scale with the room. 5. Breaking The Rules When you know the rules, you can occasionally break them. Designers like to use items that are out of proportion in order to create drama. For example, I have a Mexican punched-tin lantern that is big, round, and dark. In my Iowa house, it hung in the stairwell. It looks huge in my new living/dining room, which is exactly why I've hung it over the dining table from the low ceiling. It is so big I need nothing else to define the dining area. I've also seen people use an 8-foot-high mirror leaned against a dining room wall, 2-story-high curtain panels in a room with a vaulted ceiling, or tall columns in a small entryway.

BRUSH UP YOUR DECOR Take advantage of paint's power. Here are ideas to prime your imagination. -- Doing laundry won't be such a drudge if you have a pleasant place to work and adequate storage. Paint the walls of the laundry room white or sunny yellow. Paint shelving or cabinetry bright white with semigloss or high-gloss paint. (Glossy finishes are more durable than a flat finish.) My friend Sylvia decorated the soffit area of her laundry with freehand paintings of clotheslines strung with sheets and shirts, towels, and trousers, all blowing in the breeze. -- My house came with a rather drab ceiling fan in the master bedroom. When I painted the ceiling, I spiffed up the appearance of the fan by painting the blades white. -- Abracadabra! Paint can make the flaws in a room disappear. If doorways, windows, and various nooks and crannies break up walls, erase the interruptions by painting them the same color as the walls. You even can disguise an unsightly feature such as an old fireplace by painting it to match the walls. -- Freshen wicker furniture with a coat of white or pastel paint. -- Paint an old dining room table or chairs with daring bright colors. Graphic designer Kim Morgan painted basic wooden chairs in four hues -- bold blue, radiant red, sunny yellow, and glorious green. Kim painted the chair frames green, then alternated the other colors on the rungs, rails, and the spindles in the chair back. She didn't stop there. For the seat cushion, Kim prepared plain canvas with white primer. Using a ruler, she drew equal-size squares on the canvas, then painted the checkerboard pattern with the same bright hues. She simply stapled the painted canvas to the chair seat. The chairs make a dynamic, dramatic statement in the kitchen of Kim's new condo. -- Dress up a large corkboard by painting the frame to match the color scheme in a child's room. Custom-match a whimsical wastebasket by painting a bucket with a handle. Paint wooden bins to catch toys, schoolbooks, and other paraphernalia. -- Create take-home gifts for your dinner guests by painting ceramic pots in pretty hues. Decorate the painted pots with dots or squiggles or stripes. Plant an African violet in each pot and insert a place card that resembles a plant marker. RESOURCES To view, just click on the links below (or copy and paste the address into your browser window.) HomePortfolio guest editor Michel Luc Provencher writes about the various paint finishes and color choices in the online article Learn More About Paint. Don't be afraid to experiment with decorative painting techniques on walls or furniture. Check out Decorative Painting Guide on the Better Homes and Gardens® web site. With a little time and practice, you can learn everything from simple sponging to creating a faux granite finish. Following are some of the creative painting projects that you'll find on the Better Homes and Gardens web site. Use the search tool to find more ideas. Paint Your Own Style Create the illusion of an area "rug" on any plain hardwood floor, using a paper doily as a stencil pattern. Paint a Decorating Theme Create a whimsical bath by striping the walls to resemble a circus tent. Here's how to paint those stripes, using low-tack painter's tape. You'll find more idea-starters every month in Better Homes and Gardens. Subscribe here. PRODUCT GUIDE Browse hundreds of paint colors -- and plenty of other home products too -- at HomePortfolio.com. And before you start your project, be sure to check out the in-depth information from Benjamin Moore, Bob Timberlake Paints, Olde Century Colors.

This am I was all pumped and ready to go finish the other column when I had the idea to install a light beneath the shelf to spotlight whatever art work we eventually find to hang between the columns, I can run the wire under the shelf and behind the column on the right, it is not attached yet and has an outlet right at the base.. So went back to Ho De at 6am got the light, now I'm off to try my first electrical project! Missy

Hi, I've been away and must have missed a lot of mail. What are you doing about the columns? Are you filling them or leaving them as is? Sounds wonderful to me--working with the mud must be fun, too. Keep on telling us about your progress. At least it will give you a chance to rest, too. Marion

I have one column up, I textured it with mud, made ribs with my bare hands, and smoothed the ends and did some more scroll work with my cake decorating tips. I think it looks pretty good! I asked my neighbor to look and she can't believe it! It really doesn't look like giant toilet paper roll anymore!!!!! It looks like a column! My son commented that it has a "very Roman-like texture" roflol ( he is 12, the one who dubbed me "Craft Warrior") Back to Ho De for some more mud~Missy

Okay Ladies and Gents, I know I'm talking to myself today, but...the kids are all out of here now and I am about to attempt attaching the columns to the wall, GULP....

Well, we have just gone through the pain and torture of refinancing our home. We did it so we can finally finish it. We started remodeling this home 4 years ago and then ran out of money, so we have waited patiently (or not so patiently in my case) to get some equity and do some of the smaller jobs ourselves. We are now ready to do the big things. The main thing we are doing is flooring. The house is a single story home but the living room, dining room, entry way area is about 4 inches lower than the rest of the house. After the first remodeling job we got 6 inches of rain in about an hour and the entire lower level of the house flooded. I came home to water flowing through my house. No, not really water, more like mud because the water came from the cotton field across the street from me and darn that farmer didn't remove the dirt before it came on over the road. Needless to say, I don't want to ever go through that again. Sooooo, we are looking at laying ceramic tile in that entire area of the house and then using area rugs to soften it up a little. I found a tile I like and I have almost completely decided on it. In the kitchen I was looking at using something I have never seen before. It is a ceramic tile but it is shaped in planks and looks like wood. I think it would be great for the kitchen, but I have never seen it laid before. Has anyone seen it and if so, how did it look? So far the only opinions I am getting is that so and so saw that in McDonalds....I don't think I want to go for the fast food look! I would use wood floors, but there is the water factor again and also I have dogs and I won't leave them outside so I am looking for durability and resistance to damage caused by water and animals. I would put this stuff down in the living room to give it a wood look too, but the cost is prohibitive. The living room area is very big so the most I can go is $2.00 sq ft and this stuff is running $2.60. It could work for the kitchen and hall though because it isn't nearly as big. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. DH and I are about getting on each other's nerves as we look at every tile and carpeting store in town. Why won't he just let me make a decision? I have had the same tile picked out for the living room wherever we go and he insists on dragging me to another place to look at it! I keep telling him that I won't change my mind and I don't care what he says or does, that tile is going in my living room. Surely after 20 years of being married to me he should know that when I make up my mind, it is made up! Of course there is that really cool tile I saw at shop # gazillion! LOL Terri Fallin

hello, everyone-- hope you had a wonderful weekend! may i share some photos recently done of my work - upgraded from 35mm to digital... would LOVE your honest feedback/comments/suggestions and would be honored if you'd sign my guestbook! hope you find it interesting -- www.picturetrail.com/czcreations many thanks! cris

I used Sherwin - Williams brand. Others have used Bin or Kiltz. I know Kiltz has a spray version, but boy does it smell! I haven't sprayed a table. You would need to be careful to put on lots of thin coats to avoid runs. Check to make sure that dust etc. doesn't settle on the finish. You will probably still need to do some intermediate sanding. The table will also need to have some type protective coat over the top to cut down on the wear. so little natural light. Hopefully this will be the start of making it appear lighter. Have you considered putting area rugs over the carpet. They can change the looks pretty quickly. Inexpensive rugs can be obtained at Wal-Mart, Lowe's, etc. That could help a lot. If I remember correctly, this is a rental. Rugs are removable and can go with you to the next place. Judy

No I haven't finished my columns(working at it, helping friend with her kids today, so won't get much done) , haven't done the pub table either (later this week?), but here I go again on something totally different. I have a long plain hallway upstairs, which I wanted to make like a family picture gallery by doing all kinds of moulding boxes and hanging the kids pictures in them. But I was thinking something a little different and interesting (and probably easier) would be long white crown moulding ledges (against the tan walls) running down both sides at eye level with the family pictures resting on the ledges. the only thing is, they'd have to pretty close to walls so you don't feel like you're going to knock stuff off as you walk. Cindy, don't you have a wall like this? I think that's where I got the idea. Think it would work in good sized hallway, it's not especially narrow. ~Missy

Hi, I'm new to this group and hope to learn lots of ways to decorate our rented home. All the carpet in this place is horrid gray - I mean the ugly sculptured 1970's type. Add the style of it to the worn out condition and I've got a bad base to begin with! The large long dining area has a sliding glass door which opens onto a screened porch area. This is the only light in the room and with the shading from the porch, the dining area stays pretty dark. The walls are white with a dark cherry chair rail - I can paint the walls but not the chair rail. To brighten it up, I thought I'd paint my table and chairs a crisp clean white. I've painted the chairs before using spray paint and they turned out pretty good. The table is a oak-colored wood with the top laminated (?? whatever it is they do to tables to make them water-resistant) top. What type of paint would I use to paint it and what type of prep work would it require? Any help at all would be appreciated. Can we upload pictures to this group so I could send in photos? I've never rented a home before and feel really limited by not being able to change carpet or hang wallpaper. My budget is really tight, so money is an issue too. Thanks! Iris But when the right time came, God sent His Son...so that He could adopt us as His very own children. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Galatians 4 vs.4-5 (NLT) 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

That was probably me, I just got it at our local hardware store, Ive seen it in many stores though, cant believe you cant find it! Brenda

I completed a project. It is a china cabinet/display case that SIL didn't want anymore. This piece was originally DH's grandmother's. It is an exceptionally beautiful piece of wood on the outside with a very classic style, but had baby poop green interior and shelves. (The piece was new in the early 60's). SIL had attempted to paint the interior but did not sand and prime before applying the latex. As you can guess, the slightest bump made the paint peel. The interior was actually a very thin laminate. I scraped all the first painting attempt off, sanded, primed (2 coats) and painted 2 coats. The color is a pink undertoned medium light beige. It looks beautiful. DH is even very complementary of the completed project. To fill it's shelves, I snatched pieces from all over the house. A true case of "Use What You Have Decorating". I'm quite proud of the finished project. Pictures will come later-----I don't have a digital camera. This summer I also wrote out and posted my "Top Ten Summer Projects" on the refrigerator door. Project 2 has been the liberation of clutter in this house! Although I am far from a pack rat, I had some serious junk in the sewing and craft cabinets. So Goodwill is the new owner of a giant bag of stuff and the trash men got to haul off some more. I did find some reprints of old Vogue magazine covers that I intended to frame for the sewing room about 15 years ago.............now that's procrastination. Judy

Cover the gaps between the columns and the walls, isn't there like a fabric or paper that I can patch from the column to the wall and make it smooth? Kinda like how you do paper mache? The gaps are a little large for just caulk in some places <oopsie!

How do you all choose your knick knack things for around the house? Do you just buy what you like on impulse, or do you buy with a plan? I have a hodge podge and after seeing my cousins house I can see I'm making huge mistakes by buying this way. Diana

Well, after discussing with my neighbor, I have decided what to do about my problem, I need to re-make the shelf, about another foot long, it will be OK because I can use this 9 foot shelf somewhere in my bedroom, which is yet undecorated. Maybe paint it gold, hang it above the bed and drape fabric down from it and accessorize the shelf. I wanted to do something like this in my room anyway. It won't take long and since it's mdf board and mdf moulding, it is not expensive either. Well back to Ho De~Missy

See, I told you guys the easy part would end up being the hard part, lol! Never fails, I am the worst planner! The couch is 7ft long, the shelf 10 ft above the couch is 9 ft wide, doesn't that leave 24 inches, lol? My columns are 10 inches wide and I thought it would leave a couple inches on either side of the sofa, but it does not! AHHHHHHHH, well, we'll have to see how I figure this one out, I have not attached them to the wall yet....The shelf has turned out really nice, I did some more of my special "Faux Carpentry" with moulding roflol. I now have to figure a way to slim down the columns,,,,Missy

Hey all you fellow procrastinators, did you get your projects done last week? I would like to say, I am done with my dresser. It took all weekend and the first part of the week, but it turned out fabulous. I did a faux marble finish on it in green tones. I am very pleased. Now I have a new problem though. I had originally planned on just replacing the drawer hardware. There are 6 drawers with the bottom 4 having pulls and the top 2 having knobs. I am missing one of the original knobs. Well, the problem now is that I can't find hardware to replace the old with. The pulls are on 4" centers and neither HD or Lowes carries a single 4" center handle. Any suggestions? I looked on the internet and I found a few, but they weren't what I wanted and they were very expensive ($20 each!) If I spent that much on the hardware, they would cost twice what the dresser did to begin with. Now, my next challenge is to keep those handles and paint them somehow and buy new knobs that look similar. The handles are metal, so what can I paint them with and what would look good. I had pictured in mind getting green marble handles, but alas that didn't work out. Any suggestions? Terri Fallin

I am thinking of learning how to sew and buying a sewing machine. So I have a few questions: What are the good brands? What features are good for a beginner? How much should I expect to pay? What are some good projects for a beginner? Thanks. Kimberly

I have been "planning" the household summer projects since Feb. My dd got out of school in Mid-May. Well.....This has been what I am planning to do. Paint living/dining/hall area Finish making dining area my office Strip wallpaper and paint DH's bath Paint mine and dd's bath Paint dd's room Paint the ent. center in living area Recarpet house 2 in' wood blinds for house What I have in planning I lack in get up and start! So this weekend while dd and dh are away I plan to begin to paint ent. center. It was unfinished pine when I purchased it and I have never liked the mahogony stain we put on it (don't ask). So now I am going to paint it white. Any suggestions? After that I am going to prep the wall in the den/dining. I am in a sales position so I have established a weekly sales goal to do each job. Any encouragement will help! Beth

You are right, I should have started pictures with the big ol' tube, that would be cool to see it transform, huh (that is, IF it transforms, lol). Well I can start where I'm at, still just cut and primed, had so many kids under my feet the last couple days I can't get started, I get up on my ladder and someone starts whining, lol. Well for the table I saw a big fat PVC pipe for $3 at Ho De, I think I will go with that so I don't have to go outta my way, lol. Missy

I don't have my photopoint account anymore, (I guess), and I don't quick have access to my pictures on disk (I'd have to hunt around), so this is for those who can kinda maybe remember a little what my formal dining are looks like, it's where I did that tissue wall treatment, tan base, washed it with a brown glaze and highlighted with gold. I am doing the columns across the way in the formal living room, and will need to touch up the paint for sure by the time I'm done. I was contemplating just washing over the flat with the same color in satin,(remember when I made that mistake a while back and thought I was touching up with flat, but it was really satin and looked neat?) it would be subtle, but is it too much to have two kind of wall treatments in the same general area? I don't want it to like I've got too much going on in the same room. Thanks for any input~Missy

The whole neighborhood spots me with the 15 foot quick crete tube and wants to know "what the h*** is she doing now?" lol , ok, no pressure to make it work now that they all know what I'm up to over here. I have the shelf brackets in the studs and they are even (hallelujah!! that alone is 1/2 the battle for me) I primed the tube, cut it down and split it in half, went quite a bit easier than I anticipated and that makes me nervous. That means what parts I thought will be easy will be hard, lol. Today I want to do the face moulding on the shelf and get it place and secured, I need to get some more moulding. and I don't know what else I can get to, updates to come, Missy

Hi all I'm a major fan of Star Trek, and I really like the modern design of thier sets, so does anyone know of some good sites that deal with making your home's interior look like it came from Star Trek. I'm only doing research for now, because I am temporarly with my parents. When I get an apartment again, I would like to make it look as cool as the Star Trek sets do. I like the look that several of the crew's quarters have, so I'll probably take a bit from each. Thanks.

I've been yacking for the longest time about a pub table and barstools for the media/sports loft thing room. Yesterday at McFrugals I spotted 2 barstools, a high back square chair style, with upholstered cushioned seats. Not just a tall round "stool", for only $20 ea. I thought hmmm, I've got enough of a scrap of high quality purple upholstery fabric that perfectly matched the purple sectional in the sports loft. It would take about 2 minutes to re-do the seats and get a custom ordered look for the barstools. Then, I was thinking for the table I could get 2 plywood rounds at Ho De and fasten them together. Since I want to do a faux base ball top, I want to do white faux leather or maybe just get some white vinyl or fake leathe even and paint it like a base ball on the top and just cover the plywood right up. NOW, for the base, I was thinking slightly smaller plywood circles, but what can I use for the "Stem" of the table? I am trying to think of something round, like a quickcrete tube, but paintable and sturdy enough to screw L brackets into to attach the base and table top. Also I was thinking of screwing some baseball bats onto the base for a decorative look, like one right side up and one upside down around the base. What can I use? TIA! Missy

Diane, unfortunately I could not see the mirror picture, because I'm on digest, and digest won't show any attachments or images. Would you mind sending me the attachment/picture in a personal e-mail? Thanks, Melanie

I've lost the instructions for doing the sliced lemons and oranges in a jar. I was thinking the instructions said to use vodka and something else to keep them from turning brown. Does anyone have those instructions? My daughter saw a huge jar of them and they wanted $45. I thought I had saved it but I can't find it now. Help!!! Diana

Okay...I've said it before, I'm computer impaired...now it's printer impaired. I'm trying to print some notices on fairly heavy, nice paper. I have a HP DeskJet 720C printer. It keeps saying paper empty. It's not. It seems not to want to pick up this paper....any suggestions? Appreciate any help. Brenda Oh! The freezer works nicely to get the candles out of their holders...I've done 2, only 98 to go! Now, I just have to break the frozen pieces in half before they will come out....guess I better be careful with the knife, right, Brenda? LOL Off to Bellingham, WA (4-8 hours north of Vancouver, WA depending on Seattle area traffic) tomorrow a.m. for youngest son's graduation from Western Washington University on Saturday. A nice, long week-end for us. Be back Mon. eve. You all have a great week-end.....and those that need to, keep dodging the weather and stay safe!! Brenda

Deidre, What part of Jersey do u live in. I grew up there I lived in Keansburg, Bricktown and Bayville. My Dad is from Nutley. I haven't been back in 20 years. I'm hoping to go this summer and let my 3 kids see the ocean I want to take them to Seaside Park. Take care, marianne

Well, I made it to the wedding in Kansas City, left there Monday morning at 9 a.m. Actually made it all the way home by 11:00, stuck a few more pairs of jeans in my suitcase, turned around and drove to my sisters at 1:00 a.m. Left for Virginia at about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, - what day is it today? Drove straight through from Texas to Virginia - about 20 hours - got in a couple of hours ago. The weather was fine, hope everyone is doing great and not treading water. I haven't had time to check much of my mail - will catch up with you guys later - Great idea to have the project from "existing" materials - can't wait to see what everyone does! Liz

LOL.... The day I almost gutted myself, my daughter was watching me, when the knife slipped outta the candle holder and hit me in the stomach, she went " MOM!!!!!!!"....thinking quickly, I said "See thats why you should never play with knives Let this be a lesson to you" LOL.....duhh! Brenda

Okay....another question for all of you. How can I get old, burned down voltive candles out of rounded, crackled, clear holders (like you need to know all of that!). Have borrowed 100 from a friend who's daughter used them at her wedding reception in December, but they still have the burned down candles in them.....duh, I think I said that already. And......GUESS WHAT? Same friend introduced me to a place I've never even heard of. It's called Shibata's. It's a wholesale floral and floral supply house. Because we have a resale license I was able to get a pass into there. And, they have the most wonderful bowls, by the case, for centerpieces. I knew something great would turn up!! Hope all is well with everyone in the South. Heard there was a huge thunder/lightening storm in NYC that came in over NJ.....Deirdre, did you survive? Or, are you hiding in a closet? haha. Got your note...and have passed on the message, Deirdre. Have a great day. Brenda

I did a lot of "puttering" in the house this afternoon. I rearranged part of the living room wall unit (the books) and the bookcase in the kitchen, where I store all my cookbooks. I read a decorating idea to use a pedestal cake stand for a centerpiece. This person said she was showing off a trio of different crystal candleholders; each carried a white candle. The cake stand was also draped with a white silk handkerchief. While I like that idea, I don't have some of these things right now, so I came up with a different idea. I put the cake stand in the middle of the kitchen table, and put a small white bowl full of green grapes and strawberries in the middle of the cake stand. Then I surrounded the white bowl with green apples and oranges. Pretty - and edible! ~Melanie

In a message dated 01-06-12 06:40:32 EDT, Diane writes: << (Feng Shui says that the mirror doubles the number of burners on your stove (if only by illusion) and therefore increases your prosperity, since the burners represent wealth.) OK, I have the typical 4 burners on my stove - I use them all the time, as I love to cook....but I certainly ain't wealthy! LOL Melanie

Diane ~ congrats on finishing a project - your mirror! You said you painted it "feng shui" colours - what colours would those be? I know a bit about feng shui, but haven't heard about colours. Also, in regard to the mirrored backsplash behind the stove (I know about this feng shui technique) - how would you keep the mirrors clean? That is, if you cook?! Thanks, Melanie

Thanks their so beautiful! I wonder how well they would do in my sunroom? ~Deirdre~

In a message dated 6/11/01 7:00:40 PM, dianeks@... writes: << Ok, so now I have only two dozen more started projects to complete, and enough fabric to make window treatments for all the windows in my house.....but I feel good about FINISHING something, and I wanted a place where I could come and brag on it. LOL, Diane re: fabric for window treatments! You and me both! But congrats on your project. I know the wonderful feeling from finally FINISHING something. :::sigh::: I'd love to see pictures! Debby

Where is Liz? And Kimi? and the others?

<<Please share with us (IM group) the directions on how to achieve this finish....Dita Actually, that finish is featured in my book, Centerpieces through the Year, with color photographs and illustrated directions. The book is currently only available on my website, www.kurtcyr.com Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

I saw the episode where you did the faux mahogany finish, that was neat! You were great! Missy

Hope you are all safe! Been seeing all the flooding on TV, the quietness of the lists doesn't help, if you're around check in so we know you are ok! Missy

Sue, The Web site looks great! I did have some problems getting subsequent pages to "click". The hand icon would show, but unless I was in just the right place, the click wouldn't work. Congratulation on the site and best wishes for the service. Judy

LINK FROM BETTER HOMES & GARDENS: let's talk about planning water gardens. I'm in Kansas City at my step-son's wedding. Had the rehearsal dinner last night & met the wicked ex-wife <grin byeee Liz

Diana ~ yes, go for the red ceiling. It sounds like it'd be gorgeous in your kitchen. (Not like I'm a good example or anything - all my ceilings are white.) Lee ~ I noticed your signature line included "3 orandas". What is an oranda? (Is my ignorance showing?!) Book recommendation for you all - I just finished reading and looking through "Interior Designing for All Five Senses" by Catherine Bailly Dunne. According to the author, a truly integrated home engages every sense: sight, smell, touch, hearing and taste - and the book goes through each sense. Gives photos, too. Get the book from your library - if they don't have it, request it on inter-library loan. ~Melanie

I have a shelf that is a light colored wood maybe pine. It has a light coat of varnish on it. I want to darken it to match an American Flag display case. Can I just stain over the present finish or do I need to prime or sand it first. Thanks for your help, Val

Can I get some help too? Pretty please. I have white ceilings through out. (Yes shame on me) They are low ceilings and I don't want to paint them and feel like the sky is falling so to speak. Not that I am counting out painting them. I am not a pastel kind of girl. Does anyone have some suggestions? [INLINE] Lee xxx Dh = Trevor 4 x children 4 x dogs 2 x budgies 3 x orandas Above = Craziness!!!!! Love them all and couldn't live with out them.

I agree with Brenda, I think white ceilings are boring, so what do I have? LOL White ceilings. My cousin is a decorator and he has a red ceiling. Its not a shocking red in fact it looks very good. I'm thinking about it in my kitchen but don't have the nerve to try it just yet. I hate painting ceilings, don't you? Get that awful crook in my neck, ouch!! Anyway what do you all think. I have dark green cabinets, cherry wood floor, green and cream check with a thin burgundy line going through the check wallpaper half way up. Floral curtains in tones of cream, soft yellow, soft denim blue, soft red, soft green, kind of muted. So I'm trying to get the nerve to paint my ceiling. What do you think? Its a large kitchen with island in the center. Help!! Diana

The attic is posing quite a problem. A lot of wall space but it is all eaves! I can't hang a picture anywhere. Andie - The attic sounds like it would have some adventuresome possibilities! One idea is to set art, framed or not, on easels - A free-standing mirror would add a feeling of space, too. Patricia / Washington state www.riverbendgraphics.com

The quote translation can be done at altavista.com ...there is a listing for "Babelfish" It's a picture of a little yellow fish...let's you translate into many different languages. Sherry

Hi all, I have a handmade rectangular wire basket that sits in our familyroom, for the fall I had mini pumpkins in it, for the winter I had pinecones. I just deepcleaned the family room and want to make it more summery in there....what can I put in there that is lowcost and lowmaintenance (no live plants etc)??? Brenda

Hey there group. I posted this same message to another decorating group, but I wanted to get your opinions here because you seem to have more of them. I have been "fixing up" my house for about 4 years now. I have a living room, dining room, entry way area combined. It is about 800 sq feet total in a sort of L shape. The walls are paneled and I have painted the paneling a dark gold color. It took awhile for us, but we all love it now. Even my mom who called the color baby puke gold learned to like it. The walls are about 8'6" so needless to say an 8' piece of paneling didn't cover it. What they did was attach a small piece of flat paneling above the regular paneling lengthwise. It basically created a border at the top of the wall. I painted it all the same color. In the living room, I then stenciled hunter green diamonds around that border. It turned out fabulous. In the dining room I was wanting to stencil a quotation or saying or something around the room. I have 4 border walls to work with (the dining room is separated off a little by an arch way of sorts with a top beam about 10 inches coming down from the ceiling...my guess is that is where the major support beam for that section is). Each wall is anywhere from 10' 6' to 12' 0'. Obviously, it is square so 2 walls are 10'6 and 2 are 12'0". I have searched til I am blue in the face for an appropriate quotation. I am leaning towards the following: May you never lie, cheat, or drink. But if you must lie, lie in each other's arms. If you must cheat, cheat death. And if you must drink, drink with all of us because we love you. But I thought I would ask you guys if you have anything better. It is for the dining room, and we are family of 4. I really like the above quote except for the ending. I was thinking more on the line of drink with us because we are more fun or drink with us because we have the good stuff! Something humorous. Anyway, I am open to suggestions if anyone has anything better. Also I was thinking of stenciling using upper and lower case letters. Has anyone used either one and have any feelings one way or the other about it. Terri

Im sorry Brenda....but you are NOT allowed to do any more work without sending us pictures! LOL....I want to see the tissue paper walls especially.... Brenda

Has anyone actually purchased slipcovers from SureFit? How's the fit and fabric quality? Do they stay in place? Brenda

OOOOOHHHHH....is it Rue de Provence???? I get their catologue....and drool till I get to the prices! LOL Brenda (we're 2 hours north of Windsor)

Paint can be painted over with paint anytime......your hubby would have a heart attack at our house, the office Im sitting in has a dark green ceiling! LOL....I think ceilings should be any color BUT white...especially if a lot of thought and work has gone into the rest of the room, I think white ceilings then look like they were "forgotten"....kind of like people who spend thousands building a house then paint it all "builders beige".....<shudder Brenda Braun

In a message dated 01-06-05 06:47:29 EDT, you write: << I just saw at Hobby Lobby a product called Wallkins. It's wall paper but cut out like decopauge pictures. They had flowers, turtles, frogs, all kinds of neat stuff. They were 9.99, a little pricey, but cool. Deby Are you talking about "Wallies"? They also have a web site where you can order directly. www.wallies.com ~Melanie

Hi all, Thank you for the big welcome! I am 33 and single living in NY with my mother. The house is about 60 years old, I think. My mother has just recently finished paying for the house and is now really excited about fixing it up. Unfortunately for her, she is not handy or crafty. That is where I come in. I redid one room last summer; she loved it and has now put me in charge of the rest of the house. Currently, I am working on my attic apartment and her master suite. The attic is posing quite a problem. Alot of wall space but it is all eaves! I can't hang a picture anywhere. In addition, the man who did the conversion used sub-standard material. The wallboard will not hold a thing ie no closet rods or shelving. The room is a yellow-green with a brown parqet vinyl tile. Gross! My new color palette is a soft lilac and leaf green. The furniture is all black including the canopy bed. The floor space is 16' by 15'. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. More on the other rooms later! ~andie

In a message dated 01-06-04 06:00:35 EDT, you write: << Does anyone on this list have a problem reading my posts? I'm finding that people on AOL (no one else has mentioned it) on another list get them zipped (heck if I know what that is) and either can't open them or they are garbled. Brenda, I'm on AOL and your posts come out just fine on my computer. However, I'm on the digest version of this list, not individual e-mails. Don't know if that makes a difference. ~Melanie

Does anyone on this list have a problem reading my posts? I'm finding that people on AOL (no one else has mentioned it) on another list get them zipped (heck if I know what that is) and either can't open them or they are garbled. Think I've figured out how to send them so they can be read. Just wondering if anyone here is having the same problem? Brenda

One last bit about Dulux--I believe ICI purchased Sinclair paints a few years ago. All the Sinclair paint shops here in LA turned into ICI-Dulux shops. There are a couple here in the San Fernando Valley. Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

One reason everyone loves outdoor dining is that it's more relaxed than a sit-down dinner. It's also a chance to stretch your creativity, says Good Housekeeping magazine. Here are some of their ideas: ~ Plant an old wooden tool caddy with potted herbs for a centerpiece. ~ Fill antique bottles with field flowers - arrange 5 in the middle of the table, or put a botle at each place setting. ~ Make a colourful, edible centerpiece: peaches, nectarines, and plums, with a sprinkle of berries, arranged in a footed glass bowl. ~ Chill water, soda, wine, and beer in old galvanized-steel tubs filled with ice. ~ Arrange long flat-bread crackers in an enamel pail or child's beach pail. ~ Serve homemade whole wheat bread or muffins in vintage tin boxes from yard sales (line the boxes with waxed paper). ~ Offer bread and cheese on a tray covered with pretty leaves. Make sure they aren't poisonous (mint and basil are good). ~ For dessert, fill a rustic wooden box with four kinds of cookies, and serve with vanilla ice cream. Or tuck a homemade pound cake with sliced fruit in the box. ~ Use colourful cotton dish towels for napkins. Slide cookie cutters (such as butterflies or flowers) over the rolled towels for napkin rings. ~ Place forks, knives, and spoons in small, clean terra-cotta flowerpots. ~ Pour lemonade into old mason jars or retro soda-fountain glasses. To frost glasses, pop them in the freezer for a few hours. ~ Serve dips in a hollowed-out cabbage or radicchio head, or a scooped-out crusty bread round. Cut top off to make level, then spoon out the insides, leaving a 3/4" border all around so the dip doesn't soak through. (Don't fill bread more than 1 hour ahead of time.) ~Melanie

HI aunty B, Welcome to the group. Everyone here has such good ideas I'm sure someone will help you come up with an idea or two or three lol. I saw on hgtv this room they made look like the ocean and it was so simple they even had the kids help. They cut out shapes of sharks, whale, crab etc. than they taped the stencil to the wall and let the kids paint them then they went back and put eyes and what ever else they needed. They also made pretty plants on the bottom of the ocean floor made up of all cool colors. Maybe some coral reef. The question is your daughter is 11 she proably will out grow that room quick but if you just use paint you can just paint a solid color later on. Your older daughter likes crazy, wild things does she like dark colors or light ones. Being a basement you might want to use bright light colors to lighten it up if not you could do like stars, moon, and planets she could use glitter over the silver paint for the stars and could use fabric paint to paint some stars and moon on some light weight fabric. Good luck let us know when you decide. Marianne

Liz - All your paintings are looking really wonderful! Love your use of color. No doubt you are influenced by all that Texas sunshine! You are going to do it all! And with a wedding in the middle,too. Why is it that deadlines have a way of coming all at once? You asked me about any new murals. For my "day job", I am now working in the Home Decor section of a new Lowe's & just received the store manager's approval on some sketches for a 3' x 16' foot mural to go over the wall paper book-viewing area. Still working on a room divider screen here at home, too. Paint on - You are doing great! Pat - www.riverbendgraphics.com

In a message dated 6/1/01 8:28:50 PM Pacific Daylight Time, mischief267@... writes: << Subject: [Interior_Motives] OT - ok, I can't stand it - I have to show you Liz, what a wonderful painting--you are so talented! Marion

I have wallpaper in my livingroom and dining room which i don't like I want to paint walls. After taking wallpaper off kitchen walls and putting new paper up I don't want to go through the hassle of taking all that wallpaper down. I saw on decorating cents that they primed the wallpaper and than painted over it. Has anyone here done that or knows someone who has? Please let me know I want to get rid of this wallpaper. Thanks, marianne

Liz, What did you use for the "old world" look? I have found that Ready Patch works the best on old plaster walls. I'm not really sure you will be able to "spray it with water and soften it up and then scrape/sand/wipe". Can you add more to the walls instead of removing it? Do you have a photo? Deirdre

Congratulations! You sure work on a short deadline. Marion

Dita, If I am not mistaken, emulsion is the British term for latex paint. Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

From Marie Ohhh, sorry. Where are you? We are running mid eighties to nineties everyday now. It won't be long until the 100's are here. Our gardens are more likely to die from heat. Judy

Lee.....is this a Ralph Lauren paint? Very nice. Brenda

What is this Behr paint everyone is talking about? I've never heard of it. Where can I get it? Thanks, Melanie

If you don't want a drastic change, but wish to add depth to a wall, mix 10 parts of glaze to 1 part any color latex or acrylic paint or universal tint. Just paint wall, or sponge, wash, or drag a design through it (comb, brush, sponge, etc). Maureen

Brenda, re. the cats on your property....have you talked to your neighbours about this problem first? If so, and they haven't done anything, then what about calling your local city hall? There probably is some kind of law about keeping pets (even cats) leashed. And yes, I'm an animal lover, especially a sucker for kitties. :-) ~Melanie

I have an old lamp (not too old really....about 5 years) that is the wrong color for our living room now. It is a floor lamp.....I really need to use it as my mood lighting is not very good in this room. I was thinking I could just spray paint the lamp to match the colors scheme, but the problem is with the shade. It is the same color as the lamp. It is pleated also. I need some ideas to re-do it or to make a whole new one using some old wallpaper border that i have (used that in the living room too). Please any ideas? Leasa

Hi...I don't know what to believe any more....use your own judgement....thanks...Ladd

1) How do I get a pair of very dark jeans to stop bleeding? I'm tired of my hands being blue at the end of the day and my tank tops have "blue boobs" (actually this is a pair of denim overalls) 2) Does anyone have a clue as to how to keep the neighbor's cats out of my yard (and house and car and off the patio furniture and off my cedar railing they use as a scratch post) without doing them bodily harm? I'm coming close to the bodily harm idea. It becomes more tempting daily. Especially last night when it was beautiful out, I left the front door open until we went upstairs to bed, and one of them scared the _______ out of me clawing it's way across the entryway and out the door. Jeez, I really screamed. Don't know what I thought it was, but wasn't expecting anything. DH got a good laugh. That's all for now! Brenda

From: "Liz Armon" <ArtsyLiz@... My honest answer: my favorite painting technique is called SIGNING THE CHECK. If I could afford it, I would pick what I wanted and then place a work order - I would never paint again. Since I usually can't afford to do that, I paint, but I don't do techniques. I like color, but I also like the serenity of monochromatic themes, so I usually do walls one colr and trim a lighter or darker shade (or shades) of the same color. JMO, Jean

Hi all...I was wondering if any of you are interior designers or professional faux painters? My question to you is, how did you get started and getting your name out there? I would love to do it, but not sure where to start. BTW..I do have a degree in I.D., just never used it, except for personal. Maureen

Marie, Can you paint the rocker white and put it on the front porch? You could even put some kind of flowers in the seat to dress it up. It's still "there", but out of the way. Judy

In a message dated 01-05-29 06:45:56 EDT, Jean writes: << I am seriously considering adopting a couple of older boys - maybe 12 - 14. I look at the basketball court, the tetherball, the pile of bikes - even with the flowers and lace. this house is screaming for a pack of boys again. I will gladly send you my almost-13 year old son -- and his little group of friends! The noise drives me insane, and their testosterone levels are on "tilt". Where do you live?! ~Melanie (in northern IL)

But,,,, I have lately come across a lot of friends who homemakers and working women like my sisters who are always mentioning how depressed they are about this and that, and ask me how do I always get all this stuff done. And I *think* the reason is that I feel very satisfied by accomplishing things and making the house look better, it gives me energy to get more done. It's hard to feel depressed when you're accomplishing something. Also, I got my neighbor who used to *mock* <G

I have a very strange question. My house is stucco on the outside, but it is a patterned stucco. I think it is called the worm effect of stucco. Anyway, I bought these stepping stones that are made of a polyresin type material, but very heavy, I want to hang them on my patio outside. They are 4 scenes depicting the four seasons. My husband says we can't put nails in the stucco and that we will need to "glue" them on. We asked some tile experts and they say we have to use a thinset mortar with latex added to withstand mildew. We were hoping we could find some really good mastik that would stick. Does anyone know what we should do? My hubby has already said that I have to be very sure of this because it won't come off again....I am sure! (at least this week I am! Hee Hee) Terri

I trust everyone is relaxing or picnicing or even--dare I say it--remodeling this weekend. It is amazing what can be accomplished in a three day weekend. For those of you in Northern California, I will be making some morning show appearances over the next few days. Tuesday I'll be in Sacramento on KMAX Channel 31 sometime after 9:00am. Wednesday it's San Jose on KNTV-TV Channel 11 sometime after 8:00am, and Thursday San Francisco to tape a segment for Bay TV. That segment will run June 4 at 4:30pm and will repeat June 5 at 10:30am and 12:30pm. It will also air on KRON-TV June 3 at 9:30am. I hope everyone is having a great holiday. Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

I don't know what's happening--but goes again. Lownice, You can use a variety of materials to make mosaics. Obviously they need to be weather proof--and you don't want them any more slippery than they need to be. Instead of using ceramics you could use stones. Black Japanese stones or river stone. These can be had a home centers or garden supply stores. Use silicone to attach the stones to the surface and let cure. Then grout with your desired color. I've done this method on terra cotta pots and it works fabulously. There are also porcelain, glass tiles or ceramic tiles. Use the 1"x1" if you don't want the broken tile look. You can also use colored glass. But besure to carefully and fully grout around all exposed edges to prevent cuts. Secure these material with silicone or liquid nails for really weather tight adhesion. Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

I want to turn my plain old cement stepping stones into some mosiac pieces of art! I know the basic instructions, but don't know what materials to use (except the broken tile pieces). Can anyone tell me what I need or direct me to a site that gives the instructions? Thanks! Lownice

For those of you who get Style Network, I will be appearing on "Homes with Style" on June 3rd at 7:30pm Eastern and Pacific. These are the two segments that I did transforming a white/off-white apartment with color and furniture from IKEA. Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

Hi everyone - What books on decorating are your favorites? Christopher Lowell, Chris Caasen? I can use all of the help I can get! Beth in SC

Our little guy is 2 yrs already. He was just a newborn when I first signed on! His nursery is a Noah's Ark theme, but it's not a cartoony version. I used Navy, Burgundy and Tan. Soon he'll be getting out of his crib and what he loves the most are wild animals ( and the crazy crocodile hunter, lol). I'm going to be able to change his room fairly easily to a Jungle Safari look! I saw just the right fabric at Wal-Mart, we already have a tiger rug, leopard pillows and leopard lamp for accents in his room. I'm going to change the border and repaint the lower section with a deeper khaki, re-cover his cornice box, make curtains and make a comforter with the coordinating jungle fabrics. But the funnest idea I've had so far, (and very practical too,) will be making his big boy bed look like a safari jeep!! I'm going to use my rotozip to make simple jeep shapes out of plywood to surround the bed (padded inside) so he won't fall out. I'm thinking of making a little swinging car door on the side, with a step side, so it'll be easy to get in and out and close at night so he won't fall. I may even check out a junk yard and see if I can get some real parts, like a grill or steering wheel, lol. If I can figure out how, I'd also like to project and paint some big animals (lion, elephant and croc) on the wall.. This is going to be so fun, I'm just in the planning stage, so if any ideas are floating around,. let me know!! I probably will start on this toward the end of the summer....Missy

Now to set about doing the faux columns and shelf in my formal LR. I'm actually pretty nervous now! lol. I have to go pick up my tube. Some thought from those who have any suggestions would be appreciated...... Should I adhere the tubes to the wall, then plaster them or should I plaster them laying down and then stick them to the wall? I am thinking prime them on the ground, then caulk them in place and plaster over them, but my concern is the plaster oozing down, or should I use a different medium? Like spackle? What do you think would be thick enough and have a decent working time? Also, the columns are definately for looks only, should I anchor the shelf into the studs where I want it first, and then fit the columns in place or place the columns and then run the shelf, probably the shelf first huh? I will be drilling to get it in, and that could upset the columns? I was just going to caulk them in place which would not create much of a disturbance, *I think* I'm starting to feel chickeny!!!....Missy

Brenda, Did you check Michael's or Jo-Anns for the little fish bowls? I'm finding that they are more expensive as a pet supply than a craft supply. They are about .97cents each, at Michael's, how much were you looking to spend and how many do you need? If you don't need hundreds of them it might be worth it to just get them retail for a buck, save some time and get to work on whatever you are doing with them, what are you doing with them btw?, lol. Missy

I am in shock! I was looking for some flowers that would survive here in the summer heat, (fat chance huh?) I saw on the Burpee website, garden.com, some very pretty flowers called lisianthus that are actually supposed to be native here in the Southwest, even though I have never actually seen them around!! I can't believe that Ho De, Loews and the other stores aren't carrying them. Anyway, to order from the website they are charging $14.95 per 6 pack, PLUS shipping and who knows what shape they'd be in when they get here. I called around to some smaller nurseries and found some for only $2.79 per 6 pack. I can't believe that they would charge THAT much more on the internet! What a rip! Missy

That is cute, you could make a mini one to hold tealights by just contact cementing the teacups to a chandelier.... Brenda

Hello all! My neighbor and I were discussing her kitchen table, which she would like to replace because she is tired of the look. It is one of those cute farm styles, rectangle butcher block look top and white legs, she's had it a while and ready for a new look.. But, you know, with 3 small kids you hate to spend a lot especially because they do so much at the kitchen table, crafts, eating, homework, etc., it gets a lot of use or "abuse", lol. We thought of distressing the white legs and colorwashing navy over it . Her family room has a navy couch near the table. Then, tiling the table top. Do you think those sheets of the tiles hooked on mesh would be the easiest way to go? Where you just cut to fit, or bigger floor tiles, what do they need to do to prepare the table top for the tiles? Wonder board or something? Do you think the bathroom water proof type of grout would be best too? These are just some things I was thinking, but I don't really know for sure how to do it right, thought maybe someone might have some advice. I have always wanted to tile something lol!!! I want to tile a little concrete bench to put under my orchid tree in the back yard. Someday!, Missy

Anyone have a source for wholesale, or like wholesale, fish bowls? You know regular old kid fish bowl shape, but larger....maybe 12-14" diameter? 18-24 of them. Any help appreciated. Brenda.working.on.wedding

Liz.....where does the road lead to in Texas Spring......are you going to paint a "before" of your home for the show, it would certainly fit in to the mix you have going so far....Just wondering, and thinking about a show name. Brenda

In a message dated 01-05-22 21:14:52 EDT, Jean writes: << Hmmm. Could you mount a couple of skateboard tops (decks? I've forgotten what they are called - the part they stand on) onto a 2x2 and put them end to end as a valance? Or, maybe a collage of BMX rims? Ooooh - how about mounting the skateboards rightside up (leave the 'trucks' on, that would look interesting), and they could do double-duty as a shelf, too? Now THOSE are awesome ideas - thanks, Jean! I can't wait to show this to Phil in the morning. (He's in bed now.) ~Melanie

I saw a really neat idea in the June 2001 issue of Good Housekeeping, for a kitchen island. The woman took a bedroom dresser, painted it a cream colour, attached a yard-sale map board (I'm not sure what that is - and hard to tell by the picture) to the top, and glued on the Spanish-inspired tiles on top of the board. Gorgeous and innovative! ~Melanie

hi, missy! hey, you too! hope all is well - feel free to EM me off list to catch up more, ok? cris

The finishing touches were just completed on a new project for my website. The newest addition is called "Convertible Space". I just returned from my first taping for DIY Crafts. I demonstrated gold leafing techniques on terra cotta pots. It went well, and quite quickly. Tomorrow I tape another segment based on a project in my book--wreaths as mobiles. Kurt www.kurtcyr.com

hi, liz-- i'm not sure you all will be able to open this attached document, but it is an article i wrote for crafting today on using the silica gel - hope you can and find it informative. btw, it took me 3 solid years to get the natural, FRESH looking results i'm getting now -- there's a bit of an art to it but it's fun to try! i appreciate liz's comment about keeping me in mind for preserving your special flowers - professional preservationists who use this natural technique are in the minority (i'm 1 of 2 here in denver metro area - LOTS of "freeze dried specialists") locally and nationwide. to show the difference between these two techniques, i'm also attaching a comparison photo (the four roses on the left were preserved by us - the four on the right were purchased from a wholesale floral supplier and are freeze dried. we strive for our flowers to look and smell (we scent them) fresh, not faded, shriveled and flat on one side. hope you find this helpful -- another floral tip a florist taught me - to force open roses that are rather tight, cup your hand under the bottom of the bloom, supporting it and hold it 4-12" below a gentle stream of lukewarm water from a faucet, aiming it at the center of the bloom. the weight of the water filling the petal layers will coax it open to the stage where it would be in 1-2 days if left alone. make sure it's completely dry before putting into silica gel, otherwise the gel particles will cling to it. a word of warning about working with silica gel -- breathing the dust over an extended period can lead to silicosis -- make sure you work in a VERY well ventilated area and wear a mask that has been rated to capture this particular material. for more info on this, do a web search - key words, "silicosis" -- i'm in the process of outfitting my studio/showroom with a rather elaborate ventilation system and am researching better quality masks. i am a bit claustrophobic and have trouble wearing them, but they ARE necessary! ok, i've bent your ears long enough -- back to my "play room" to process more flowers!! take care, cris ps--also took liberty of attaching (you should see below) a couple of rather large photos of recent work -- an arrangement done with wedding bouquet flowers and a close-up (still learning my new camera) of a hydrangea we preserved. i use it for my wallpaper. pss--note to liz - thanks for your suggestion of the web site -- my site at www.czcreations.com is not done but i sure will do that when it is (needs professional help!) - ;-)

Liz, Thanks for all the great sites! OMG this is just what I needed. Deirdre

<< you are correct about cutting the flowers UNDER water, especially roses -- you want their first "gulp" to be of water, not air! Hey, this is interesting. I went to college for horticulture and work for a florist and I've never heard of this..... Leasa

Thats a color I want to use somewhere too....eggplant! The walls were already stuccoed when we bought it, not my choice but the taupe is much better than the white it was. If you're talking about the square table, I got that from our dump....LOL....it was an ugly dark brown and I painted it cream, taupe and gold accents ( gold marking pens), I have to get some castors to put on it so I can move it better. Mike has a ceramic chest set that just sits perfectly on the top. The floor is painted in large diamond pattern, and stenciled with faux tiles around the perimeter, it was brown and orange shag when we moved in... The doors hide one of our fuse boxes for the house, there is a small one in our bathroom as well. Im thinking of a large long print hung over the fireplace..... Brenda

Here is a pic of the giant nest.....thats still in the wall! LOL...Mike spent yesterday afternoon breaking out the chimney so I didnt have the heart to ask him to do the nest too....LOL....he tried taking the chimney out a few bricks at a time, he stood on the rafters in the attic and used a sledge hammer but a big chunk fell and broke a floorboard (we had cleared the room downstairs of kids and pets just in case! )...so we have to add that to our fixit list. Amazingly, behind the chimney was........another chimney! LOL...No I am NOT kidding! Apparently, the original chimney was built into the actual outside wall of the house, I attached a pic showing the bricks mortered in with the stone and the hole leading into the wall chimney....I had never heard of this before....have any of you??....and then in later years one was added inside the wall (the one we just tore out)......this was piped into a stove in our daughters room which is next door. This is quite the adventure..... Brenda Braun

Yippeee! the livingroom shelves are DONE!!! My life sentence is over (ok a little melodramatic but Ive been breathing paint fume for weeks, what do you expect?)....so what do you think??? huh? huh???.... I LOVE them! I dont know what we did without them and they just "finish" that wall off....two empty spaces before. Now Im thinkin some breezy white sheers, tab tops hung from black metal rods on the windows...what do you think???? The mantle was still wet so the buckets with the eucalyptus in them sitting on the hearth are now on the mantle....LOL Brenda Braun

Hello, new to the list here. I just joined today but I love decorating and redecorating and redecorating again (much to the chagrin of my husband!) I would love to have an old medicine cabinet to play with. Have you thought of doing a tin punch design in the hole? I saw that on Decorating Cents once and it was very cool. You could do some sort of leaves and such and it could be used as a spice rack in the kitchen. Just another idea. Terri

Busy...busy. Son and daughter-in-law to be showed up out of the blue Sat. Left Sunday eve. DH and I pressure washed big deck, driveway, terrace (okay, so what do I call big area made out of pavers? Patio? Terrace? Front yard?), lawn furniture, fence, etc. If it got in our way, it got pressure washed. Looks so good this morning with the sun out. So much brighter than before. All the winter dirt and slime (remember this is the NW) gone. However.....for we also made a trip to the hospital Saturday.. For years we have used a 50/50 bleach&water solution to mob on the wood decks.....killing slimey stuff, moss, etc.....then pressure washed. On Sat. dh was opening a bottle of bleach and as he removed the foil seal on the top, it exploded in his face! He came stumbling around to the front of the house....saying water...water... had no idea what had gone on. And, couldn't figure out what he meant for a couple seconds. Got him under a faucet real quick, probably 20 seconds after it got him....flooded his face, eyes, head with water. Started water hooked up to a hose and added more water to the situation. Finally got him where he could open eyes, etc. He went to the shower, I called hospital, they hooked me up with poison control. To make a long story short, he ended up at the hospital where they washed his eyes first with what looks like a garden sprayer (you know the type on long handle that gently waters your hanging baskets, etc) for 15 minutes....then put "contact lenses" in his eyes that were made out of a soft rubbery material and had drip tubes hooked to the middle of them and rang a liter of saline solution thru each eye. Though they "deadened" his eyes with drops of some sort, this was miserable for him and very painful. Nurse wanted to do both at once. He said no way. He couldn't take that. In the end, all is fine. No eye damage. No burns. Dr. said household bleach rarely causes any problems as long as it is flooded with water right away...even if you drink it!! (don't suggest that either). Add a new one to the books. Sorry for being so long. Brenda p.s. We did all that work Sunday. Saturday was a bust.

Im still waffling on getting a dishwasher....probably wont decide till I absolutely have to! LOL....I just dont like the thought of losing any cabinet space at all! And we had a dishwasher and I made Mike sell it cause I found I needed to practically wash the dishes before I put them in there.... I think I will end up getting one since we decided to build an island (not a built in tho I dont like them) so I can use it for storage as well. Brenda

Unless you entertain frequently and truly need the labor savings, gain some cabinet space by exchanging a dishwasher for a dish drainer. OH GET REAL!! Oh yeah, where do they expect you to hide your dirty dishes!!?? I know you aren't supposed to have any! In the days before everyone had dishwashers my mother used to hide them in the oven! It would seem easier to just wash them but in that moment when there is a know on the door you really can stach them quicker than you can wash them and put them away. Later, Jayne

Liz, Your procrastination reminds me of the students that I teach. I have several that are in an AP art class at school. Their AP projects were due this week. It was amazing how many things got knocked out at the last minute this week. My favorite was a 3-d piece that one girl did. She created a wire form of a man, modge podged magazine cut outs all over him, then threw him in a box with wadded up newspapaer. Title of the piece was "man consumed by media". Judy

In a message dated 01-05-20 06:24:17 EDT, Leasa writes: << Some places the white still shows thru. This looks great everywhere except in the corners and along the ceiling...... should I take a small paint brush and fill in these white spots in these areas? Help please Leasa ~ did you try a very small piece of sponge to get in these tight areas? ~Melanie (Remember me from CHL??! Neat to see you're on this list - I recently joined.)

Hi all, I have sponge painted my kitchen and my breakfast room. It looks good and dh actually said he liked it LOL. I have a question tho about the corners and along the ceiling. The room was white and i sponged summer rye, then olive leaf over it. Some places the white still shows thru. This looks great everywhere except in the corners and along the ceiling...... should I take a small paint brush and fill in these white spots in these areas? Help please

I think everyone has an eccentric great aunt in their family. Mine is my Aunt Gertrude. One Christmas while eating her famous fudge she was asked for the recipe. She said - first you wait until night and then go to the cemetary and grab a headstone. You can imagine that we all tuned her out about then! It was later we understood about the mable surface you need for fudge and we encouraged her to buy a store bought piece however, she was stuck in her ways. She also put an old toilet on the front lawn for a planter. Her home was the old home place filled to the gills with antiques. She walks around town with polyester pantsuits and a stocking cap. Gotta love 'em. Beth

nice being back in with you all! what are you all up to so far this year? would love to hear details! i'm getting quite hectic with the wedding business, but it's a lot of fun -- have 4 bouquets to pick up today and they're spread at the furthest corners of the denver metro area, so will be logging lots of miles... mom's living with us and doing much better than she was this time last year, my husband's happy with his work, going on 30 years with the phone company next month - considering taking early retirement and hiring back on as a contract lab engineer, as for decorating and home improvements, i'm wanting to paint my office in a martha stewart type shade of teal with white trim -- thinking of going with a technique i saw on decorating cents or room by room where you just tape off an area, or areas and perhaps go with different shades of the same color - i like that idea and to not do the whole room would allow me to get the color i'm looking for without moving my huge and heavy desk - kinda lazy these days! -- my husband is beginning his deck project today and we're waiting for a quote for a huge courtyard with landscaping and fountain in the front - also a greenhouse across the front of the house - we have an L-shaped ranch style - vintage mid 70's and are wanting to spice it up to suit us for the next 3-5 years we'll live here. our basement refinish isn't complete - shower not done and laundry area that connects the "guest suite" side with my showroom/studio but i've made my side most cozy with large oriental rugs, fountain, stereo/tv, large oak table and chairs. i host breakfast meetings for my potential sponsors (mostly florists and bridal consultants) and individual appointments with brides to show them my work. got a new digital camera - 3.3 megapixel/olympus and am learning how to use it, mostly how to size them down to a manageable image. since photopoint.com is starting to charge on june 1st, am planning on setting up my albums at picturetrail.com with better quality ones, do a brochure and improve my web site. all in all, we're smiling here in denver - and you? do tell! hugs, cris

Brenda - With old houses a frequent problem is that newer styles of furniture may not fit through doorways, stairs or hallways. If that is a problem for anyone you know, you might refer them to Simply Together, a manufacturer selling direct to consumers at www.simplytogether.com. Jeff