Home: no place like it

I was on the road a lot, for a few years, selling books like a salesman sells brushes (except these, of course, are magic brushes), and one of the great pleasures of being a writer on the move is that you can talk to anyone. People tell you things.

Sometimes, at a foreign book festival, it would be my job to talk to the money, which is how I found myself, in the years after the crash, sitting beside one or other jet-lagged Master of the Financial Universe and keeping the conversation going, which is to say talking about him.

These men have their problems too. One guy is living in Hong Kong, the tax rate is 16 per cent but he can’t let his children outdoors because of the smog. Another is based in Singapore, where real-estate prices are through the roof. He has an enthusiastic number of children who have to be educated in three or four countries, with all the attendant expenses, whether Oxbridge, or Ivy League, or some liberal-arts place in Pennsylvania that no no one has ever heard of.

It is clear this man feels guilty about the amount of money he earns, and trapped by the amount of money he needs to earn. He lives in an international space. He wakes up in the middle of the night and does not know which hotel he is in or whether the bathroom is to the left or the right. So I say, “Why don’t you go home?”

“Home?” he says. Home is New Zealand. It is a beautiful place. The schools, he agrees, are mostly free and mostly fine. But no, he cannot go home. His brother is there – an architect. An out-of-work architect. There is nothing for him to do in New Zealand. He cannot go home.

I might have pointed out that it was men like him who put men like his brother out of work, but I am struck by his melancholy, the way he lifts his eyes and sees New Zealand, somewhere on the white tablecloth between the floral display and the bottle of red wine. He looks like Odysseus remembering Ithaca, or Dorothy Kansas: he is pining for a place he is too rich to live in any more.

Of course Penelope is faithfully waiting for Odysseus to return, and Auntie Em could never stop worrying about Dorothy. Home is the place where a woman loves you from. But although it is my all-time favourite thing to do to a man, I do not ask this very rich, slightly disoriented man about his mother. He has problems enough as it is.

You see them at the front of the plane, a global community of money men, tethered to the planet at one or other tax point, effectively stateless. As the money washes over and the money washes back, they move with it, and all of them are going to retire some day to a place they can call their own. As opposed to one of the many places they just own.

At least that is what they say they want to do, but I have my doubts: I don’t think they are ever going to make it back to Kansas.

At another one of these festivals, in Germany, I meet a young woman called Alice, who is studying transnational fiction. This is a very trendy academic area – a friend in the United States says that Irish studies are in decline there, it’s all transnational studies now: migrants, emigrants; it is all about the intercultural experience; exile, alienation, flow.

Alice says this is all very well, but it suits people to say that we are free to move around now. Information moves across borders and money moves across borders and we think that people move too, but if you are, say, a Somali refugee in Dadaab refugee camp (population nearly 400,000) then a border is a very real thing and being “stateless” is very far from being trendy or unfettered.

The Brass Revival in Home Decor

"At some point, people looked at yellowish metals and thought they were too mums-y and traditional," said interior designer Cliff Fong, a co-owner of Galerie Half in Los Angeles. "The '80s was an era of stainless steel and gelled hair. Everything was hard and slick." Homeowners embraced the clean look and easy upkeep of silvery stainless steel appliances and nickel hardware, and they clung tight. Meanwhile, technology was increasingly influencing design trends. As Apple's computers morphed from creamy beige to pale aluminum, silver tones became firmly associated with high performance and revolutionary thinking. Yet, along the way, these icy, futuristic finishes became so ubiquitous that, for some, they began to look cheap and dated. These days, a silver iPhone can seem almost quaint.

Brass, however, evokes the pre-digital era of hand-wrought craftsmanship. "In a traditional setting, nothing authenticates a room like brass," said Atlanta-based designer Stan Topol, who particularly likes brass sabots on the feet of chairs. "It is the hallmark of a quality piece of furniture." In more minimalist design schemes, brass adds romance. "There's a history to brass that can feel unbelievably classic, like an old French hotel," Michael S. Smith, a Los Angeles designer, observed.

Ms. Kirar sees brass as an essential component of what is being called organic modernism, a more textured, luxurious look that is rooted in natural materials such as leather, stone and wood. "It is not as cold and austere as the minimalist aesthetic that emerged in the 1980s," she said. Low-slung white enameled media units need not apply.

Unless it is lacquered, brass tarnishes, and most designers are just fine with that. "The fresh take on brass is to use it un-lacquered," said Mr. Berman. "Let the metal age and turn gorgeous tones of bronze, brown and olive green with a dull luster that is soft and velvety." Mr. Dixon likes to use brass in hardware and pieces that can be touched, which speeds up the tarnishing process. "Boomers are embracing the softer and more mottled qualities of brass," added Mr. Berman, "not polished or lacquered, but aging gracefully like the generation buying it."

As the home-furnishings market gets brassier, designers are finding other applications for the metal. Manhattan architect Matthew Bremer recently upgraded a standard stainless steel elevator to brushed brass for a 160-year-old townhouse. "This is not the shiny polished brass of past decades that appeared showy and fake," he explained. "It's contemporary but has the authentic beauty of an orchestra instrument that shows its wear from hours of practice."

Increasingly, manufacturers of bathroom fixtures are offering warm metal finishes again (see sidebar below), and many designers are specifying shower door frames in brass instead of nickel. Even in the kitchen, where copper pots and sinks are status symbols, brass, which is naturally germicidal and antimicrobial, is making inroads. Los Angeles custom homebuilder John Finton, author of the 2013 book "California Luxury Living" (Images Publishing), recently completed a kitchen inspired by a black-lacquer and brass La Cornue range. And Kelly Wearstler installed a 1/8 -inch-thick brass countertop with an integrated sink basin in the glossy turquoise kitchen of her client Cameron Diaz's Manhattan apartment.

"I can't see brass appliances being very far away," declared Mr. Dixon, who built a brass bar that can seat more than a dozen for chef Jamie Oliver's London steakhouse, Barbecoa. "We've clad existing refrigerators in sheet brass and they look like Donald Judd sculptures."

Christmas Lights Go Pro

At Christmas time, Shirley Pepys often sits across the street from her home in Newport Beach, Calif., and covertly listens to the oooohhs and aaaahhs of delighted passersby.

Ms. Pepys, a retired business owner, has been decking her home with boughs of holly—and much more—for the past 20 years. With each year, the décor has become more elaborate. Her display now features twinkling lights, illuminated snow, a family of faux penguins and a four-minute light show coordinated to "Carol of the Bells." Everything is custom built. But not by Ms. Pepys. For the past two years, she has enlisted Dillon Wells, an audiovisual professional, and his family to put together the full display, paying under $15,000 for the whole shebang.

More Americans are forgoing the difficult and sometimes risky endeavor of installing their own holiday lights, asking professionals to take their place on the ladder. National chain Christmas Decor, which has 40,000 clients across the U.S., says it has seen sales increase 11% every year for the past four years.

This shift means that holiday displays can get even more extravagant and elaborate. Many installers say they have worked on décor that cost as much as $80,000. Prices are typically based on the number of lights and the size of job.

Vance Brand, a Christmas-light specialist in Salt Lake City who works with 1,500 clients in Utah and Colorado, offers his customers 10 shades of white LED Christmas lights. With schematics planned out using computer models, the bulbs dance and twinkle, often to coordinated music. Mr. Brand, who says his business has grown 22% a year since 2008, installs and takes down the lights after the season is over. He says he has even rappelled over a cliff to hang strands on one precariously situated holiday enthusiast's home.



A self-described perfectionist who draws inspiration from nearby Disneyland, Mr. Wells says he was determined to interpret Ms. Pepys's vision into an extraordinary reality, rather than the do-it-yourselfers' version with exposed cords and hardware. It was a challenge, he says, to ensure that her home looked as great during the day, when many visit, as it does at night. But as he watched the lights display run for the first time a few days after Thanksgiving, he says it was his "Walt moment."

Scores of people come to view Ms. Pepys's home on Balboa Island, an area known for all-out decorations. Old and young have their pictures taken in front of her display and many return year after year. One man, standing next to a plush penguin, even asked his girlfriend to marry him, Ms. Pepys says.

For Ms. Pepys, these moments make the effort and the price tag worth it. "The amount of people it brings joy to people," she says, "it's worth the whole thing."

This year, she upped the ante and incorporated a vintage look into the theme to celebrate her home's centennial. There are 17 different floodlights and spotlights. The strings of lights, reminiscent of those along the nearby boardwalks, can be controlled individually and had to be ordered from Hong Kong.

The magic of Christmas lights remains rooted in holiday nostalgia, says Chuck Smith of Light-O-Rama, a South Glens Falls, N.Y.-based company that produces the software that syncs lights and music for displays. "It all boils down to that thing almost everybody remembers from when they were a kid," says Mr. Smith. "Everybody would jump in the car and drive around looking at Christmas lights. There's always one house that's decorated more than anyone else. A lot of people think back and decide they want to be that house."

Building a Sustainable Brand -- One Thoughtful Step at a Time

ere you sell.
It’s hard to say “no” when first starting a company, White admits. But as HAVEN gained more publicity, many flash-sale sites and sample-box subscription companies have approached her about selling HAVEN products through their sites. At first it seemed like a natural way to generate publicity. But White realized that many such sites wanted to heavily discount her products, undercutting prices offered through retailers. Some of these sites also didn’t lead to many sales. White says she’s learned to be more selective about which sites she works with and has found that sites that allow her to showcase her company’s background and mission—such as OneKingsLane.com—provide the best value. “Each one of those experiences can go differently,” she says. “You can make a lot of money, or you can have experiences where you just see nothing and put all this money and energy into it.”

Lesson #2: Listen to your customers. White is committed to selling highly sustainable, all-natural products, but discovered that she needs to somewhat balance that goal with ensuring the products are consumer-friendly. For example, the company originally sold its all-purpose cleaner refills in large recycled plastic bottles with enough concentrated solution to refill three spray bottles. But many consumers were confused about how to use the refills. The company has decided to switch smaller glass bottles instead that contain one refill each. “A big part of growing is learning how to make it easy for consumers,” White says. “The most sustainable [model] would be to have the three refills in one bottle,” but that’s not a smart solution if consumers have trouble using it. “As you go through the motions of growth, you start thinking a little differently,” White adds.
Building a Sustainable Brand--One Thoughtful Step at a Time
Refills for HAVEN's all-purpose cleaner came in large bottles that made sense for the environment but not to customers. As the company grows, it is learning how to balance what's environmentally friendly and customer needs.


Goal #1: Don’t lose sight of your core values. As HAVEN grows quickly, White says it can be easy to lose sight of the company’s original mission. For example, one of White’s goals is helping people to see that they only need a few types of cleaning products for their homes. They don’t have to purchase separate products to, say, clean different rooms or amenities. But adhering to that mission also means the company must resist the temptation to offer more cleaning products than consumers really need. Instead, she says, the company plans to grow its product lines by focusing on complementary types of products, such as soap dispensers and home décor items.

She’s begun partnering with other craft-fair makers to offer their unique products through HAVEN’s web site. Moreover, White says she must ensure she’s working with retailers who are a good fit for selling HAVEN products—which probably aren’t big-box stores like Wal-Mart. “I have to stay rooted to the real reason that I did this,” she adds. In the year ahead, she plans to add a few more employees to her staff of three, but wants to make sure they are, as she calls them, “HAVEN mavens”—people as passionate about sustainable cleaning and the brand as she is. She is also looking to move the company’s manufacturing from its current small Brooklyn loft in Williamsburg’s industrial section to one that’s two-and-a-half times bigger.

As she hires people, it will give her more time to focus on being the visionary and ensuring the growth is handled with care.

COUNTY: Holiday decor at six homes featured during Dec. 11 Christmas Walk for charity

Ever wish you could get a close look at the Christmas trees and other decorations you see through your neighbors' windows? There's no longer a need to admire a few Macomb County homes from afar, thanks to an upcoming event.

The Macomb Charitable Foundation's first Christmas Walk will feature six private homes within Shelby, Macomb, Ray and Washington townships on Dec. 11, from 3 to 10 p.m. Tour-goers will have the opportunity to explore the homes and admire their beautifully decorated Christmas decorations.

"At their homes you will experience the grandeur and warmth of Christmas. From the opulent to the quaint, each home offers warmth and charm," said Shelly Penzien, president of the Macomb Charitable Foundation. Penzien's Washington Township home will be featured in the walk.

Tickets cost $50 per person and may be purchased by calling Tracy Kowalski at 586-242-0509.

The goal of the Macomb Charitable Foundation is to alleviate the suffering of Macomb County children and their families by providing financial assistance for items like food, clothing, personal care items, rent and utility bills, vehicle repair, education assistance and more. The foundation also provides spiritual and personal mentoring.

Homeowners agreed to feature their decor for this charity event, with all proceeds going toward foundation. Some have decorated for weeks in preparation for the walk, including Macomb Township resident Sherry Brodowsky, who has put up three trees, each with a different theme.

"There are also a few small trees that are nestled in the decorations. The fireplace mantel and staircase have lots of greenery, twinkling lights and glittery ornaments. This year I have put a few more decorations up because of the Christmas Walk," Brodowsky said, adding that she's excited to offer decorating tips to those who are interested.

"I want people to enjoy the visit and also get a few decorating ideas that they can incorporate in their own home this year. I look forward to sharing my decorating how-to's with others during the walk," she said.

At another home, a Christmas tree is adorned with traditional German decorations, while yet another house features a Victorian theme. Penzien's trees are covered with wind-up toys and reminders of her daughter's September wedding.

Participants drive to each home. The houses are located between 22 Mile and 27 Mile roads, and between Shelby and Broughton roads. The ticket lists each home in proximity to each other. Guests may follow the route that is most convenient for them. Refreshments will be served along the way.

The Brass Revival in Home Decor

In contemporary design, all that glitters is no longer silver. Nor is it nickel, chrome or mirror-polished stainless steel, the similarly cool metal tones that have outsold other finishes on everything from faucets to furniture for decades. Brass, last in vogue in the '70s, has been moving in from the margins, showing up on a pendant light here, a table leg there—exuding a certain cocky, outsider glamour. In recent years, it's started to make silver tones look, all too accurately, commonplace. And now, no metal is shining more compellingly: Brass is conclusively back.

1. Pencil Holder, $75, jaysonhome.com 2. Ilse Brass Box, $275 each, georgjensen.com 3. Auböck Bookend, $585 for two, shop.cooperhewitt.org 4. Candleholder, $248 for set of three, dwellstudio.com 5. 48-ounce Hammer, $60, globalindustrial.com 6. Origami Bowl, $199 for set of three, akmdcollection.com 7. Stelton EM 77 Vacuum Jug, $149, huset-shop.com 8. Whisk, $8, crateandbarrel.com 9. Vase, $495, kellywearstler.com 10. Josef Hoffmann Candle Holder/Vase, $280, neuegalerie.org 11. Brass Gala Box, $198 each, jonathanadler.com 12. Hex and Block Paperweights, $95 each, daniel-emma.com 13. Icosahedron Paperweight, $148, michelevarian.com

Though copper and bronze, its pricier cousins, are also looking newly desirable, brass—a poor-man's-gold alloy of copper and zinc typically relegated to plumbing, tubas and Olde English doorknockers—has gained the strongest following. Leading designers from Jonathan Adler to Michael S. Smith, Kelly Wearstler to Celerie Kemble, all offer products in brass: burnished chairs, glowing desks, honeyed chandeliers, lamps, barware, desk accessories and more. Brass is also entering the mainstream, prominently featured in catalogs from such retailers as Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware. Relatively affordable, this ancient metal is nevertheless speaking to a 21st-century desire for luxury, timelessness and artisanship.

In a sure sign of its ascendance, the warm metal look is also popping up in electronics, where silvery shades generally go unchallenged: The white version of Lady Gaga's Heartbeats ear buds for Beats by Dr. Dre is distinguished by brass-toned studs, and demand for Apple's new gold iPhone 5s, whose plating could pass for brushed brass, has been so relentless that at least one website has emerged to help track its availability. Even car-makers are starting to see past silver (the most popular auto color for years,until it was topped by white in 2011); automotive paint manufacturer BASF has begun to develop several shades of gold for the Chinese market, and industry forecasters are predicting that the brassy and bronzy shades of '70s cars are ripe for revival in America.
Interactive: Top Brass


Metal finishes are signifiers, said Mr. Adler, who currently offers more than 200 brass products, including a 60-pound sculptural peacock table. "Silver tones are cool, high-tech, Calvin Klein simplicity," he said. "Brass equals warmth, English clubbiness, Moroccan craft and Italian mid-century fantasy." In other words, brass has a more colorful past.

The new brass age arguably began nearly a decade ago with designer Tom Dixon. A Brit with fond memories of growing up in North Africa with the region's polished brass cookware, he began to experiment with the metal to enhance lighting designs. "It's human nature to get bored," he explained of his decision to use a warmer material. "Brass felt like a more human alternative to hygienic and cold stainless steel kitchens, chrome cars and aluminum electronics." Launched in 2006, his Beat series, a collection of vessel-shaped pendant lights made in India from blackened brass with polished hammered interiors, has sold in the tens of thousands and become iconic—primitive yet decidedly modern.
Finish Lines

COUNTY: Holiday decor at six homes featured during Dec. 11 Christmas Walk for charity

Ever wish you could get a close look at the Christmas trees and other decorations you see through your neighbors' windows? There's no longer a need to admire a few Macomb County homes from afar, thanks to an upcoming event.

The Macomb Charitable Foundation's first Christmas Walk will feature six private homes within Shelby, Macomb, Ray and Washington townships on Dec. 11, from 3 to 10 p.m. Tour-goers will have the opportunity to explore the homes and admire their beautifully decorated Christmas decorations.

"At their homes you will experience the grandeur and warmth of Christmas. From the opulent to the quaint, each home offers warmth and charm," said Shelly Penzien, president of the Macomb Charitable Foundation. Penzien's Washington Township home will be featured in the walk.

Tickets cost $50 per person and may be purchased by calling Tracy Kowalski at  586-242-0509 .

The goal of the Macomb Charitable Foundation is to alleviate the suffering of Macomb County children and their families by providing financial assistance for items like food, clothing, personal care items, rent and utility bills, vehicle repair, education assistance and more. The foundation also provides spiritual and personal mentoring.

Homeowners agreed to feature their decor for this charity event, with all proceeds going toward foundation. Some have decorated for weeks in preparation for the walk, including Macomb Township resident Sherry Brodowsky, who has put up three trees, each with a different theme.

"There are also a few small trees that are nestled in the decorations. The fireplace mantel and staircase have lots of greenery, twinkling lights and glittery ornaments. This year I have put a few more decorations up because of the Christmas Walk," Brodowsky said, adding that she's excited to offer decorating tips to those who are interested.

"I want people to enjoy the visit and also get a few decorating ideas that they can incorporate in their own home this year. I look forward to sharing my decorating how-to's with others during the walk," she said.

At another home, a Christmas tree is adorned with traditional German decorations, while yet another house features a Victorian theme. Penzien's trees are covered with wind-up toys and reminders of her daughter's September wedding.

Participants drive to each home. The houses are located between 22 Mile and 27 Mile roads, and between Shelby and Broughton roads. The ticket lists each home in proximity to each other. Guests may follow the route that is most convenient for them. Refreshments will be served along the way. Continued...

House to home: Artifacts from around the world can accent home decor

If you love to travel, as I do, you are sure to come across items of special beauty and interest that you’d love to take home. Fabulous finds that will fit into luggage present no problem. A few yards of Moroccan textiles, or a collection of beaded napkin rings are easily transported.

But what about that 17th-century, hand-carved Spanish trunk that you can picture in your family room, or an intricately wrought Indonesian entry door you would give pride of place, repurposed as a handsome headboard, in the master bedroom?

Once home, how would these items mix and mingle with your existing furnishings?

These are challenges that designer and author Sandra Espinet has met and solved over and over again. Espinet brings the exotic home to North America and creates stunning interiors that champion the blend of traditional style with prized pieces from other cultures. In her book The Well-Traveled Home, with photography by Hector Velazco and published by Gibbs Smith, Espinet shares her passion for seeking out the rare and exquisite in places less travelled. Then, small or large, each piece is integrated into home and family life thousands of miles away.
Photos View photos

Exotic tabletop items intersperse with the homeowners'f fine plates and cutlery to create a charming setting as seen in the book The Well-Traveled Home by Sandra Espinet. zoom

If you are more of an armchair traveller, but long to have art and artifacts from other lands in your life, the rooms on these pages will inspire you to find a resource close to home that imports these gems.

The author has showcased each room to illustrate the versatility and repurposing of objects that are both practical and works of art. The hallway marks the entrance to the house and delivers a welcome message to family and guests. It is an exciting place to showcase unique cabinetry, a console with curved supports, a framed mirror, and works of art and sculpture that bring stories of different cultures together.

In the dining room shown here, hand-painted dishes from a street vendor in Hanoi and iridescent mother-of-pearl napkin rings set a casually elegant scene on a travertine tabletop. On other pages in her book, light fixtures set the style and tone, from delicate glass sconces to oversized iron chandeliers. Chairs are upholstered in a mix of fabrics new and old — leather seats with tapestry backs.


“Every great living room should have a dramatic moment, a stellar piece or something unexpected,” says Espinet. This can be an imposing fireplace with a carved fireplace hood, a large iron-and-glass coffee table or an Italianate console. Scale plays an important part, so the seating will have a balancing weight, but plain lines allow the eye to rest.

A bathroom can be as uniquely fitted out as you please. Espinet shows a rustic antique Afghan cabinet fitted with a bowl from Thailand and repurposed as a vessel sink. Wall-mounted faucets and the drop front of the cabinet keep the plumbing pipes hidden.

Bedrooms lend themselves to an eclectic array of dramatic and romantic elements that relate to your ideal of a restful space that welcomes dreams and repose. Shown here, simple bedding in bright blue is enlivened by vibrant pillows made from vintage textiles — Guatemalan stripes and Mexican florals. The headboards are antique Guatemalan screens. The wall colour glows with the same tone of dark honey gold found in the woven chair and footstool.

Death Star wall tiles show home decor's dark side

Created for an uber-luxe home theatre project, these custom Death Star-themed wall tiles are the decor we've been looking for.

Why would you ever want to clad your kitchen or bathroom in anything else if you could have the Death Star available? Unfortunately, they aren't — but we can still imagine.

These wall tiles were actually created for one of those jaw-dropping themed cinema projects. This one, of course (in case you hadn't guessed) was themed after a space ship, and features red LED wall panels, suitably evil-long chairs — and relief tiles created by Tom Spina Designs, a company that specialises in custom themed sculpture, furniture and props.

The company proposed the tiles as a means of subtly introducing a fan element into the wainscot. "These would give a sense of 'tech' to the decor and, while recognisable to the avid fan, they would not be an over the top, obvious themed element," the company wrote. "The end result blends wonderfully, with our pieces being a subtle accent, just one part of a large and awe-inspiring themed home theatre."

The team created 14 master tiles at 12 inches square (30.48 centimetres) and with a depth ranging between three to four inches (7.62 to 10.16 centimetres). These tiles were cast in tinted resin, and details were painted in to add a sense of variation. In total, 120 tiles were made. Tom Spina Designs made no mention of how much the client spent, but we're willing to bet it was a pretty penny.

Tom Spina Designs also created some custom mannequins for Star Wars replica costumes belonging to the client, but alas, we could find no further details about the project.

We feel, however, that the tiles are little lost in the darkness of a home cinema. They'd look much better decorating our kitchens. Dibs on not cleaning them, though.

Upcycle Your Home Décor

There is a lot of buzz in the air about upcycling. Upcycling lends a jazzy new twist to the “reuse” part of reuse, reduce, and recycle. From turning old maps into wallpaper or window shades to creating funky furniture from shipping pallets, I’ve found plenty of creative and resourceful upcycling ideas on the Web. It seems that no matter the “junk” material I have on hand, there is a craft that can make use of the refuse to create a functional, fabulous addition to my home. Here are some of my favorite upcycling projects that nearly anyone can attempt. Try them out, and make your home all the greener with some eclectic flair.

Homemade Paper

You need plenty of pulp to make your own recycled paper at home, but look no farther than your paper waste bin. Recycled paper pulp can be made from tissues, computer paper, photocopier paper, wrapping paper, brown paper, note paper or envelopes — all used on their own or in combination. First, you’ll make a mold for your paper based on the dimensions you want your finished product to be. The mold requires a metal mesh screen, so you can use an old window screen for this (even more upcycling!), secured by a wooden frame. See paper-maker Marianne Saddington’s mold design here.

Tear the paper into pieces measuring approximately 1 inch square and soak in water overnight. Paper-maker Marianne Saddington offers an example:  ”Tissues can be torn into quite large pieces and soaked for only 30 minutes, while watercolor paper needs to be torn into pieces less than 1 inch square and soaked for two or three days. If you’re in a hurry, pour boiling water over the torn paper and allow it to stand for an hour or two.”

During the soaking period, you can dye your pulp various colors. (Natural dyes are safe and easy to make.) When your paper is soaked, pour the mixture in a blender and blend for about 30 seconds, or just long enough for the fibers to separate. Figure that one load in the blender will make one thin sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ paper. Add a little water if necessary to reach a workable consistency that allows you to spread a layer of the pulp over your screen mold. Allow the water to drain and then you are ready to start drying in the sun or wind. On a sunny day with strong wind, your paper will dry in around 2 hours.

Make handmade envelopes out of your paper and you’ll really wow your friends.

Recycled Window Coffee Table

If I had dozens of old windows to make use of, I’d build a recycled window greenhouse. But more often, I fall in love with a single window in a frame that I find at a thrift or reuse store. In this case, I still have several options for upcycling. One of the easiest is to make a coffee table. All you’ll need to add are legs and you are good to go. Either use the legs from an existing table that is on its way out anyway, or you can try this oh-so-easy design that uses legs cut from cardboard boxes. They may not last as long as the wooden legs, but you’ll have your table ready in time to impress a date.

Option 2: Make wall art! If you collect sea glass, glass gems, clear beads or other artifacts that are opaque or transparent, you can glue these bobbles to your window in order to produce a faux stained glass effect. Experiment with colors and sizes of your materials. These window “mosaics” make great gifts that can be completed in little time.

Shopping Cart Furniture

It sounds unbelievable — or at least uncomfortable — to make furniture out of an old shopping cart, but it can be done in a modern, tasteful fashion with a little elbow grease. First, find a shopping cart. Many grocery and big-box stores retire shopping carts long before their useful life is complete. Inquire with their customer service to find out when they will cull old shopping carts that may be rusty or have bad wheels (you can paint your cart and you’ll be removing the wheels anyway). Here’s a plan for an outdoor lounge chair.

First, you’ll use a Dremel or hacksaw (or any tool strong enough to cut through steel) to cut your cart into shape. Remove the front wheels and rear wheel brackets. Bend the side panels into place in order to make armrests. You will bend these side pieces around PVC pipe to give it an armrest shape. Take off the handlebars, sand down the rough edges, and voila! You have a wire chair. But is it comfortable? It will be after you throw your handmade pillows on it!

You’ve already got your steel-cutting tools out. Why not make some oil drum furniture? Yes, it can be done.

Satellite Dish Gazebo


Every now and then, I see an old 1980s-style satellite dish hanging out in someone’s yard. It is clear the thing hasn’t been used for years. Are you one of these people? If so, you can upcycle that dish into a lovely grape-arbor gazebo. Flip the dish so that its convex-side-up. This will form the roof of your gazebo. Lance Larson’s gazebo uses warehouse storage-rack legs for the gazebo legs, lifting it about 10 feet off the ground. Larson used three-quarter-inch conduit as braces, cattle panel fencing for the railing, and 1-inch plastic pipe to top off the railing. He painted the whole gazebo black to give it a unified appearance.

Guidelines for External House Design

The external aspect of your house is as important as the internal. When people first look at your house, it is the external aspect that they will observe first. Most homeowners are more involved about what's going on in the within while they pay little interest to the outside. It's quite a frustration, because actually there are lots of factors that you can do to create the external of your house look more beautiful and wonderful.

If you plan on having a new house, you might want to consider having a good external house design. You can design the scenery and the terrace smartly, and you can also choose the appropriate shades for the ceiling, windows, surfaces, and gates. However, if you are not preparing to develop a new house, there are still some factors you can do to help your house be look wonderful from the outside. Below are some tips for developing your house external that you can use:

1. The first thing that you need to take into account is landscape designs. If you have a big lawn, you can do many factors with it. You can have a lawn where you can place all your preferred blossoms and trees. On the other hand, if the space outside is not that big, you can have small, reduce place shrubs around your house. There is only one concept for developing a landscape: you should design it to match the concept of your design. If you have a simple house, never consider on having a Victorian design sculpture in your front side lawn.

2. You can do a little something to create your terrace look more exciting. Considering that you are going to invest some time there with your family, you absolutely want to create the weather as comfortable as possible. You can add some components such as furnishings to create the terrace relaxed. And always make sure to coordinate them with the concept of your house.

3. Last but not least, you need to consider the shades for the external of your house. You should color the external to match the scenery design. You can do some online investigation and discover motivation there. You will discover many shade mixture illustrations and concepts that you can use for your house. And if that's not enough, you can seek advice from a redecorating professional. They will be beneficial in providing more house design and enhancement guidelines.

3 House Style Guidelines to Use Today

Regardless of what size price range you're working with, anyone can have a wonderful house. It's all a issue of taking some of the best house style guidelines and implementing them to your scenario. If you have been looking for choices that will help your house be pop with a certain style surface, than you have to look into the following guidelines that will help you make and set up any type of feelings in your house. You'll be amazed at what you can do with a little bit of internal miracle. Whether you're an knowledgeable designer or not, the following guidelines are worldwide.

Kitchen -Let's first project into your kitchen place, a place where food preparation expertise is the standard. It's here where you will discover significant amounts of traffic and possibilities to implement several different style impacts. If you're looking to update the place, modify out the units first and increase the place that you have. You'll observe that many conventional styles don't allow for highest possible place in the sides and other locations. Change this out and choose your timber, style, and shade smartly. Once you've achieved this update your equipment to coordinate, and feature with new counter tops. You'll discover that these 3 quick components will help dull kitchen place into anywhere where the whole family will want to collect in.

Bathrooms -One of the most ignored locations in the property is the bathing room. This is one of the best locations to get innovative with house style guidelines. Colour the surfaces anything but white-colored, and focus on the furniture that you have. Modify the furniture to something more contemporary, and modify light style so that you have several choices. Add a simple fan and accessories that tie everything together and you'll be the jealousy of all your friends when they visit and observe that the bathing room style has surface.

Living Space -When working with the residing room place, try to make the surfaces a different shade than the conventional "white". White is a good shade for surfaces but you want to go with a new option. Take enough time to look at your furniture, place of your tv, and several other items to tie the place together effectively with a new shade. You'll discover that the paint can really make an element if done right.

The above concepts are just some of the many house style guidelines that you can implement these days. You'll discover that they will allow you to put together a wide range of different concepts in your house without splitting the price range completely. Take small actions and tie things together for a contemporary update to your house's décor.

Simple Internal Design Guidelines for Your Home

The style in which your house seems to be declares a lot about your individualities, that's why the way in which you set up your house decorations are really important in how you carry on. We are available in a fast operating world where we are pelted with what we should put on, eat and set up our houses simply rarely do we have enough a chance to spend thought to the facts that perhaps how we set up our bedrooms only may have an impact on our emotions, creativity, energy and who knows what more. Perhaps, this is enough a chance to hindsight on both - our house and our options for internal design.

There are a couple of straightforward techniques in which you will be able to smarten up your house lifestyle and our house internal design by working on several guidelines that are really crucial:

Concord - each of the bedrooms in our house require retaining a strong experience of balance.

Focusing Factors - Rooms that have a primary centerpiece that draws your attention will flow better. Issues like your excellent art demonstrations, an structural walls item or even statuettes are effective recommendations.

Poise - This is efficiently managed by controlling the rooms' noticeable pressure and slightly scattering it out to the staying segments of the space.

Color - using positive shades may mix efforts around and make a lot of distinction. A candlestick may be used for a amazing result.

Symmetry and Range - Furnishings and knick knacks should be in balance of the size of space. Nothing too big or too small.

Rhythm - Develop the fraud of noticeable activation by movement through agreement of the space in such a way that the looker's eye goes on journeying from factor to factor. This shouldn't be messy with growing out things completely.

Home internal design and developing is an extremely sensitive area of interest as a lot of people think that they actually know what they are performing only the result is rather reverse. Specifics that you already have like candlestick lights and statuettes may be easily re-arranged and put on platforms and sides to make amazing amazing results and as well better mild in places that are regularly ignored due to challenges or whatever.

The right use of mild in the property has the prospective to almost convert any old lounge or research into a energetic and interesting space, only try it and consider.

Experimentation is the keystone and you will not recognize if you do not try out.

If you would like to try out and mime common styles then turn over considering a few non-traditional concepts for house decorations motivation. A few of the most stylish house internal design styles include; asian, arty internal, ancient, traditional, Mediterranean sea, exotic and of course modern internal design.

Recognize Quality Bed room Furnishings Tips

One can't resist yet appreciate all the pieces put forth in physical and online furniture stores. The way it has been dressed by the store is so alluring that you are promptly beguiled by the presentation. The greater part of these stockpiles up a complete pad showcase where the cot has excellent and appealing cloths, lavish cushions and agreeable bedding. The presentation appeals the purchaser to buy the room set and consequently neglecting to scout its quality. Accordingly, it dependably happens that the furniture purchased founders on this perspective prompting the disillusionment of the shopper. This likewise prompts the purchaser to boycott the shop in his record.

Check the accompanying tips to recognize quality chambers furniture.

Build the material utilized as a part of making the furniture. The item depiction may not be sufficient to check its quality. The best thing to do is to see the sleeping room furniture pieces. Shake it, lie on the mattress, check its legs and feel the sleeping pad. Give unique look out for the bunk posts, which must be even on the floor.

It might be great to pick one that wills final you more drawn out. Present day sleeping room sets are made of hardwood, wood covers or polish.

In the event that you decide to have furniture made of robust wood, be ready to use additional dollars. Furniture pieces made of strong wood are unmanageable and could be purchased from elevated class and luxurious stores and obsolescent shops. Those who have a constrained plan can settle on polishes. This is a slender sort of wood that are affixed together onto a molecule board. In spite of the fact that it is not of magnificent quality, polish is tough, solid and eye-getting. Generally standard sorts of furniture pieces use finish.

Chambers furniture pieces made of hardwood is more expense productive contrasted with strong wood. Oak and maple are the wellsprings of hardwood.

You can likewise discover some sleeping room pieces produced out of a mixture of lacquers and hardwood. These things can guarantee you of its solidness and strength. They in like manner fit anyone's plan.

A couple of furniture stores show the sort of wood utilized for their items, which is a huge assistance for purchasers. You can discover a collection of woods like cherry or pine solids.

To check bureaus, nightstands and bureau, you need to draw open its drawers. Analyze the insides of the drawers and also its drawing components. Great quality drawers must have wood folios as a substitute for rollers. Drawers must be of equivalent size and presentation.

Wiretap the completion of the furniture. Furniture that has a great finalize is sanded and stained before at last giving it the completion. It must be velvety without any coarse surface. You need to feel the furniture's surface and must do the same when it is conveyed to your spot. Check the completion, the edges, feet and drawers. The completion must be uniformly connected the same way you saw it in the showroom. Recollect that the completion is utilized to enhance the wood quality. No dull or light patches must be seen on the fitment.

Bear in mind to check the mirror of the dresser. It must be legitimately affixed and should not have any sharp edges that may mischief anybody.

Reviewing the furniture preceding submitting a request must be watched. If you are getting present day furniture or the accepted ones, you need to prioritize quality to evade thwarted expectation and future harms. Inadequately constructed furniture can carry mischances and this is the minimum that you need to happen. The cost of value furniture is nothing regarding the matter of wellbeing and strength.

House Style Guidelines and Ideas

If you're outlining your dream home, or augmenting the space you as of now have-you can dependably utilize a couple of extraordinary home outline tips. Boosting the characteristics inside your home can make style meet capacity and perfect fusion for any mortgage holder!

Homecoming

The carport is vital for various explanations, not just is it added space, a workspace, however it likewise hold the sum of the valuable load like your vehicle. Make a wide carport this will safeguard you from future migraines. The standard spec carports are not wide sufficient. The point when confirming what number of autos you'll be fitting into your carport, determine that you space the way to the inside of the home no less than 5-feet far from where you will be stopping your auto there is not at all like creeping your path inside with an arm full of foodstuffs.

Self space

Verify your home has more than enough space. You can make additional loft space by requesting space trusses that won't just safeguard you cash, however furnish space for everything you're not utilizing every day. Inside space is negative to staying composed, and making your home looks excellent. Inside your kitchen, verify you have separate between your bureaus and your island-this should be at least 42 inches so you can move around (it is additionally basic for amusing in this space). An additional greatest utilization of space is that of wine space, especially in the event that you propose to stimulate in your home. A manufacture in wine space bureau not just augments the character of your wine, however can turn into an incredible exchange piece. The point when diving into home plan verifies you're joining vogue and capacity to verifiably boost your plan.

Sensible showers

To suit numerous sorts of visitors determine your showers are at least 36 inches wide. This will guarantee an agreeable entrance and also retreat. The more extensive the spaces, the more agreeable your space will be for all who stay here. Afterward, determine you've got extraordinary shower heads. A few masters prescribe instituting two fixtures rather than obtaining the more exorbitant forms. This will permit the heads to hit you from diverse sides. On that note, verify you've got incredible heated water storage, for these purposes and hinging on what number of you move toward obliging verify it is additional imposing. This keeps it advancing regardless not at all like getting a sprinkle of icy water when somebody is making a container of tea first floor!

These are only a couple of home outline tips to assist starting the point of view. There are such a large number of home plan plans and counseling with an expert will permit these to surface. As innovation developments, we're finding more use for docking stations and spaces for electrical units and minimizing old routes of establishment that we no longer need. Counsel with an expert to get more indications, tips and traps!