1. I learned how a blog works. I was never one to spend time doing or even reading blogs, so this let me into a world I was unfamiliar with.
2. I learned how to set up and manage a web site through webs.com, which was very interesting. I'm sure I'll use this later in life.
3. I learned how to create products on Cafepress.com
4. I learned specifics on what a privacy policy should offer.
5. I also learned what a Unique Selling Proposition is and how it is beneficial to company.
6. I learned how to incorporate HTML into my blog.
7. I learned how to promote myself to search engines.
8. And speaking of search engines, I learned what makes them work, Spider, Index, and Query software and what each does.
9. I learned the an ezine article can be beneficial to a company because it helps declare you as an expert and creates content for you and other users.
10. I learned how to use paypal, which I'm sure I'll be using more often.
11. Finally, I learned that most of this stuff is fairly easy if you just do a little research. Blogging and managing a website can be fun.
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Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Don't forget the outside!
Now that the weather is nice, it's common for people to want to spend more time outdoors. People often forget their front porch and that just shouldn't be! It's the first impression your home will have on people so make it a good one! Flank your front door with something. It doesn't have to be plants but it can be! You can make or buy a post with a lantern on it and put your house numbers on it. Potted plants are most popular and look amazing. I make my own every year because I like pots with different plants in them. For potted plants you should always have three things, a Thriller, a spiller, and a filler - which means one main feature plant, some plants that spill over the side of the pot and some that fill in the gaps. Also, The landscaping around the front of your home should be inviting and cleaned up. Weeds are not attractive, fresh mulch is. You should also consider decorating your front porch as well. It's a room just like any other room and it can handle a rug, furniture and accent pieces. If you look at HGTV.com it shows so many great ideas on how to decorate your front porch. Don't fall into the trap that you only need to decorate the inside of your home to make a good impression. Look at it as any other type of space and refresh it!
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Painting Furniture
Over half of the furniture in my house are hand me downs, trash picked, or garage sale items. This is a way of life for myself and most people. Furniture is expense so why not make over the stuff you already have, or that you can get for free or cheap? Painting furniture is such an easy way to give new life to an old staple. First step is to decide what you are going to paint it. Don't think that furniture is only to be brown or white or black. Not the case! A bright colored side table is the ticket in certain rooms! Whatever your accent color is is a good place to start when considering color choices. Also, you don't have to paint it all one color either! You can paint the top a different color, to a 'dip' on the legs (Where it looks like the legs where dipped in another color. This is super fun with gold.) or you can do an ombre which is very popular right now. Now when it comes to painting the furniture, give it a quick sanding. You don't have to be aggressive with it, just a little roughing up on the surface can help the paint adhere much better. Also, make sure you use a good quality roller; a cheap roller will leave little lint pieces everywhere and that is very noticeable on furniture. Once you start painting, you will realize furniture doesn't cover near as well as walls so you will probably have to do 3-4 coats at least. Now get to painting!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
To the window, to the wall
Spring is here and that means getting to open our windows again. Nothing beats letting in some fresh air and looking out at your view. Nothing is worse than framing that view with nothing, or worse, sheets. Do not put sheets on your windows. I'd rather you cover the window with construction paper than put sheets on your window. Please, just...no.
When it comes to real window treatments, the biggest mistake is not given them enough space. Just because your window is small doesn't mean your hang your curtains small. Depending on the wall and room, don't be afraid to hang them by the ceiling and double the width of the window. This will make the room seem more grand and frame the window like the piece of art that it is. Decorative rods are all the rage as well. Don't fall for the plain white curtain rod that take over your grandma's house; find something that is decorative and you! It is and easy pick me up to a room.
When considering tie backs, the options are limitless. These are like throw pillows, small and easy to change so have fun with them! My newest craze is using necklaces. I really like the bling of jewelry so I decided to use some fun short necklaces as my tiebacks rather than actual tie backs. You can use scarves, bracelets, paracord, fishing line, rope, or anything that will match your décor and look you are going for. OR, you can even forget the tie backs all together and tie a knot in your curtain and leave it at that. Have fun with it! Let your window treatment complement your space, not bring it down.
When it comes to real window treatments, the biggest mistake is not given them enough space. Just because your window is small doesn't mean your hang your curtains small. Depending on the wall and room, don't be afraid to hang them by the ceiling and double the width of the window. This will make the room seem more grand and frame the window like the piece of art that it is. Decorative rods are all the rage as well. Don't fall for the plain white curtain rod that take over your grandma's house; find something that is decorative and you! It is and easy pick me up to a room.
When considering tie backs, the options are limitless. These are like throw pillows, small and easy to change so have fun with them! My newest craze is using necklaces. I really like the bling of jewelry so I decided to use some fun short necklaces as my tiebacks rather than actual tie backs. You can use scarves, bracelets, paracord, fishing line, rope, or anything that will match your décor and look you are going for. OR, you can even forget the tie backs all together and tie a knot in your curtain and leave it at that. Have fun with it! Let your window treatment complement your space, not bring it down.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Color
I'm not afraid of color. I have red accent walls in most of the main living areas, my bathroom is green, bedroom is a slate blue, playroom is multicolored, and I just did an office in deep purple and teal. Anyone who says that rooms need to coordinate is crazy. Often times, they do coordinate because you stick with colors you love, which is fine. Adding pops of color in smaller ways like pillows or curtains is great for people who are still leery of a very bold statement like red or purple walls, and that's okay too. You have to know you love the color before you put the time into painting. My best advice would be to choose some knick-nack type things in the color you love and see if you still love them after a while. Before you paint your walls, test out the color in the space because sunlight makes a huge difference. On sunny days, the air in your space will be orange, and on cloudy days, it will be blue. Yes, the air color. I know it seems silly, but think about pictures you have taken. They are either blue or orange if taken during the day. Trust me on this. This will affect the colors you choose. Another huge word of advice is to stick to a color scheme. Even I don't like a multitude of colors in one room (except for the playroom) because it can be too busy and you lose appreciation of your true loved colors. The best way is to have three main colors. Use one 60% in the room the next 30% and the accent color should be 10%. This will make the room look like it happened on purpose and not all mashed together.
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
Home Refresh's Products
On Cafepress.com, I've created some products that are perfect for avid DIYers! Check them out!
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Clutter is a huge problem in most people's home, here is a book that helps you declutter your home quickly so your home causes you less stress. Check it out!
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Here are some books that have plans on how to build everything tiki! Like a backyard Tiki Bar! plus, it's DIY of course!
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Here are some books that have plans on how to build everything tiki! Like a backyard Tiki Bar! plus, it's DIY of course!
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Being handy
I did my first DIY project when I was 16 with my dad. He and I built and very intricate shelf that had a bunch of different size cubbies that went all different directions. It was super cool and I loved that I made it myself. Nothing surpasses that feeling to me, even still today. I love standing back and knowing that yep, I made that. Plus, it's always fun to show off your projects. However, not everyone has a carpenter dad who taught them everything. As long as you feel comfortable using power tools, which anyone can get used to, you can build anything! Start with a small project, like shelves in a closet or an outdoor table and go to your local home improvement store. I always recommend Lowe's, they have the staffing to actually be able to help customers. Once you decide on something to built or redo, go the store and ask for help from someone who knows how to do it. If you are building shelves, the hardware department associates can give you tips on how to do it. The paint department can help you how much to refinish something. Like I said, not everyone has someone in their family that is naturally handy, so if not, go ask someone! If you want to be a DIYer, you can be, you just have to start. You will soon find that after a half a dozen small project how much knowledge you will have. You will learn so much from talking with professionals and doing things yourself and the end result is the ultimate reward. Just do it yourself.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
What is my style?
I find often times people don't know where to start when redo their home or even just a room. When people say, my style is modern or Victorian, it may be, but very rarely is that they end all be all. My personal style is Tailored Transitional. It means I like a mix of contemporary and traditional, but cleaned up a bit and a little matchy-matchy. I like that. That is me. You know how I came to that? I stored pictures. I used to rip them out of magazines when I saw a picture and I looked at it longer than all the other ones or I let out a gasp of visual delight. THAT is when you know what you like - that little gasp. Now, I have Pinterest. I pin so many ideas of rooms. Most of the time, it's because I really love that table, or rug or whatever. Sometimes it's because I love the color scheme, or is that what I love? I'm not sure why I love this room, but I just do. Save it. Once you do this for a month or more. Go back through them and you will see your style emerge because the pictures will have things in common. Find the commonalities and build on that. Maybe you really like curvy furniture, or a mix match of artwork, or super sleek lines. After looking through pictures that made you gasp, you will see what your style is. When you go shopping, for decorating that is, don't buy things because you need them. ( I know the opposite of shopping for anything else.) You buy them when you LOVE them. I have needed curtains in my office for...forever now, but I haven't found the ones that I just love yet. Wait for them. It will make your space that much better and you will truly feel happy when you step foot into your space. It will make you gasp.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Homerefresh.webs.com
Along with this lovely little blog, I have a website, www.homerefresh.webs.com On the website I offer more personalized advice on home improvement projects rather then generalized know-how like on this blog. The site is very simple. It allows people to upload pictures and then I will give them advice based on their actual space! If you hop over to it, it has step by step instructions on how to do it. The reason I started the site was because I know from experience that a lot of home improvement or decorating advice is inspirational but I can't always figure out how to make it work for me. That is the beauty of homerefresh.webs.com. Instead of me saying good ideas, I can tell you exactly how to make the ideas work for you in your exact space. That way, you will know exactly where to start and why it will work for you. I have also noticed that people wonder how to make things 'feel like me'. By using the site, along with pictures of the space you upload pictures of preferred color palettes or a favorite collection of knick knacks you don't know how to incorporate into a space. The more pictures you upload, the better your advice will be and the better the space will turn out. Not everyone can afford an interior designer, so having someone that can help you out, for cheap and quickly, without having to leave home is quite the service. Try it out at www.homerefresh.webs.com!
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
More on Ana
In my last post, I talked about the blog ana-white.com I wanted to dig in to see what makes it a successful blog. Firstly, I noticed how the blog looks. It looks like a DIY page due to the blueprint background that she has and the 'handwriting' links she has scattered around the page. It looks very casual and down to earth which is appealing to her target reader of DIYers. She focuses on building things like furniture, inside and outside, and storage options. She also posts a new plan every day or every other day, which keeps it fresh. It makes people want to visit her site often. Her plans are also very easy to understand because she puts it into everyday terms and sprinkles in home construction lingo. She makes a cut list for each plan which is nice for the people who don't have their own saw and are getting them cut at the home improvement store for them. Having the cut list makes it doable for people who are beginners, but just seeing the pictures is enough for people who have more carpentry experience like myself. As far as comment from readers, I actually never saw a negative one. I only saw comment praising the plan and how easy it was. I saw a couple that asked for some more direction but those were few and far between. Overall, ana-white.com is a very successful blog because she has gotten in touch with her target readers. Her posts are often pinned on Pinterest which makes for more frequent traffic. She does a great job at her blog!
Monday, March 3, 2014
Other's Ideas
Being an avid DIY-er, I have lots of skills, but sometimes, I can't always think up what I need to do before I bust out the tools. I found this great blog that has a ton of DIY furniture projects that come with complete plans! This helps me a lot because I may know I want to build a table, but need ideas of how to make it. This blog/site is:
www.ana-white.com
She has great plans for building everything from dining tables to dollhouses to bunk beds! Not only does she give you ideas of what to build, but also, how to build it. She has extremely detailed step by step pictures that will comfort any novice. She also isn't afraid to use real construction lingo, but does so in such a way that it will teach you the correct way and not scare you off. Her finished projects look beautiful; like she bought them at a furniture store! And, you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
This just goes to show you that if you scour the internet, you can find real gems to help you refresh your home at a fraction of the cost with twice the empowerment, because you will do it yourself. Nothing feels better than getting a compliment on something in your home and telling them that, "Yes, I built that myself." If you don't have the right tools, get them or rent them. I can't recommend enough having a large, good quality sliding, compound miter saw. It can do almost anything and will replace A LOT of cheap hand tools and make that work half as difficult and time consuming.
www.ana-white.com
She has great plans for building everything from dining tables to dollhouses to bunk beds! Not only does she give you ideas of what to build, but also, how to build it. She has extremely detailed step by step pictures that will comfort any novice. She also isn't afraid to use real construction lingo, but does so in such a way that it will teach you the correct way and not scare you off. Her finished projects look beautiful; like she bought them at a furniture store! And, you get the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
This just goes to show you that if you scour the internet, you can find real gems to help you refresh your home at a fraction of the cost with twice the empowerment, because you will do it yourself. Nothing feels better than getting a compliment on something in your home and telling them that, "Yes, I built that myself." If you don't have the right tools, get them or rent them. I can't recommend enough having a large, good quality sliding, compound miter saw. It can do almost anything and will replace A LOT of cheap hand tools and make that work half as difficult and time consuming.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
15 Cheap and Fresh Ideas For Your Home
1. Paint...something. Paint all the walls or just one. Paint an accent table, spray paint wicker baskets to match your color scheme. Paint artwork or paint the floor! Paint is cheap and is instant gratification.
2. Get new window treatments. You can find cheap curtains or drapes at regular retailers like Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Target, or even Walmart. New curtains can really change a space.
3. Rearrange your knick knacks. Refer to post 1. It works.
4. Try out a new rug!
5. Redo the entry. Not the inside but the outside. Paint the front door, make or buy a wreath (not all wreaths are Christmas-y, there are some for every month!) put up some house numbers and place some potted plants around. A welcoming entry is a great first page to a home.
6. Make EVERYTHING have a place. Cliché, but a must. Things like remotes, keys, phone, laptops, Kleenex's, papers, etc. are often strewn about. Look at every single thing and say "Where does this go?" If there is no answer, find it a home.
7. Clean your closets and reorganize them. Separate things by season and frequency of use.
8. Shelving. You can never have enough of it. If you have a weird corner or nook and it doesn't get much use, put shelving there. With storage, more is always more.
9. Bring out those photos. At the risk of you making your home into a virtual scrapbook, display the pictures you love! Even if they are goofy. Make cubes, collages or cover the coffee table with them. They are great conversation pieces!
10. Dust. Yes I know, this isn't a house cleaning blog, but you would be surprised how new things can look after some cleaning. When is the last time you clean your bathroom vanity light? Your baseboards? The legs of chairs? Get ready for a real refresh.
11. Change out the throw pillows. Cheap, easy, quick, cute!
12. Change up the book shelf. Chances are, your books are all standing vertically with the possibility of a book end? No!! Stand some up, lay some down and go back and forth on each shelf. Then add in accessories to fill in spaces. It looks so much better. Trust me.
13. Rearrange the furniture. Keep traffic flow in mind, but sometimes bring furniture away from the wall can make a room seem bigger!
14. Don't be afraid of tools, they are the best! Have things that need fixed around the house? Do it yourself. You will be surprise by how easy most things are. The gratification is amazing.
15. Collect ideas. Either from magazines or Pinterest or wherever. Knowing what style you love and what sticks out to you will help when you are redoing things in your home and shopping for items.
2. Get new window treatments. You can find cheap curtains or drapes at regular retailers like Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Target, or even Walmart. New curtains can really change a space.
3. Rearrange your knick knacks. Refer to post 1. It works.
4. Try out a new rug!
5. Redo the entry. Not the inside but the outside. Paint the front door, make or buy a wreath (not all wreaths are Christmas-y, there are some for every month!) put up some house numbers and place some potted plants around. A welcoming entry is a great first page to a home.
6. Make EVERYTHING have a place. Cliché, but a must. Things like remotes, keys, phone, laptops, Kleenex's, papers, etc. are often strewn about. Look at every single thing and say "Where does this go?" If there is no answer, find it a home.
7. Clean your closets and reorganize them. Separate things by season and frequency of use.
8. Shelving. You can never have enough of it. If you have a weird corner or nook and it doesn't get much use, put shelving there. With storage, more is always more.
9. Bring out those photos. At the risk of you making your home into a virtual scrapbook, display the pictures you love! Even if they are goofy. Make cubes, collages or cover the coffee table with them. They are great conversation pieces!
10. Dust. Yes I know, this isn't a house cleaning blog, but you would be surprised how new things can look after some cleaning. When is the last time you clean your bathroom vanity light? Your baseboards? The legs of chairs? Get ready for a real refresh.
11. Change out the throw pillows. Cheap, easy, quick, cute!
12. Change up the book shelf. Chances are, your books are all standing vertically with the possibility of a book end? No!! Stand some up, lay some down and go back and forth on each shelf. Then add in accessories to fill in spaces. It looks so much better. Trust me.
13. Rearrange the furniture. Keep traffic flow in mind, but sometimes bring furniture away from the wall can make a room seem bigger!
14. Don't be afraid of tools, they are the best! Have things that need fixed around the house? Do it yourself. You will be surprise by how easy most things are. The gratification is amazing.
15. Collect ideas. Either from magazines or Pinterest or wherever. Knowing what style you love and what sticks out to you will help when you are redoing things in your home and shopping for items.
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
The love of trash
Keeping in lines with my last post, money does not grow on trees. So in order to refresh your home, you need to spend as little as possible. My last idea was free, this one could be as well. I feel that I'm a pretty respectable person, but I'm not above diving into a dumpster for a rug. (True story, the rug is in my dining room.) It comes back to vision. It's easy to visualize something beautiful when it already is. Rooms in magazines look amazing, furniture in a showrooms look amazing. I want my house to look amazing too, it just might take a little more work.
Most towns have 'bulk days' or days when you can throw away big stuff you can't normally with your current garbage company. These days are golden - they get marked on my calendar! I have all the schedules for the towns around me and what areas at which times, etc. Put your ego aside, grab your flashlight and go curb shopping. You wouldn't believe what you will find. Yes, A LOT of it is true trash, like carpet and really sketchy looking couches... BUT there are treasures out there. If you are not afraid of some elbow grease, paint, screws whatever, you can take a broken down piece of furniture, art work, (or rugs) from trash to treasure soon enough. Here's a good story for you:
I was driving to my sisters to pick up my kids when on the curb I saw a big base kitchen cabinet staring at me. It was 30 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Perfect. The door was off and it looked like it was a cat's scratching post, but what did I see? A kitchen island. So I stop, loading that beast into the back of my van and continued on. I spend 30 dollars and I know have an amazing kitchen island. I painted it red (leftover from my accent wall color in my kitchen.) I put two shelves on the side of it with some scrap wood I had and some cute shelf brackets from Lowe's. I keep my cook books on there. And I bought a piece of plywood, backer board and tile to match my counter-top. I cut the ply wood a 36 inch square and left one foot hanging off the back and six inches hanging off over my two cook book shelves. Next was the backer board, and then the tile. After the finishing touches, I had a new kitchen island that everyone loves! I have room for two bar stools under the part that hangs over a foot and now my kids can eat breakfast there in the morning. All for 30 dollars and because I wasn't ashamed to trash pick.
So go driving around and look for weird shaped little tables that could be painted a vibrant color or old lamps that would look great with some cleaner and a new shade, or anything really. Don't be afraid to love trash, it will love you back.
Most towns have 'bulk days' or days when you can throw away big stuff you can't normally with your current garbage company. These days are golden - they get marked on my calendar! I have all the schedules for the towns around me and what areas at which times, etc. Put your ego aside, grab your flashlight and go curb shopping. You wouldn't believe what you will find. Yes, A LOT of it is true trash, like carpet and really sketchy looking couches... BUT there are treasures out there. If you are not afraid of some elbow grease, paint, screws whatever, you can take a broken down piece of furniture, art work, (or rugs) from trash to treasure soon enough. Here's a good story for you:
I was driving to my sisters to pick up my kids when on the curb I saw a big base kitchen cabinet staring at me. It was 30 inches wide and 24 inches deep. Perfect. The door was off and it looked like it was a cat's scratching post, but what did I see? A kitchen island. So I stop, loading that beast into the back of my van and continued on. I spend 30 dollars and I know have an amazing kitchen island. I painted it red (leftover from my accent wall color in my kitchen.) I put two shelves on the side of it with some scrap wood I had and some cute shelf brackets from Lowe's. I keep my cook books on there. And I bought a piece of plywood, backer board and tile to match my counter-top. I cut the ply wood a 36 inch square and left one foot hanging off the back and six inches hanging off over my two cook book shelves. Next was the backer board, and then the tile. After the finishing touches, I had a new kitchen island that everyone loves! I have room for two bar stools under the part that hangs over a foot and now my kids can eat breakfast there in the morning. All for 30 dollars and because I wasn't ashamed to trash pick.
So go driving around and look for weird shaped little tables that could be painted a vibrant color or old lamps that would look great with some cleaner and a new shade, or anything really. Don't be afraid to love trash, it will love you back.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Less Money=More Vision
Everyone has seen beautiful homes on TV or in magazine and has wish to have that space, but know you couldn't afford a 3,000 dollar couch. I can't either. I have found comfort in knowing that I don't have a lot of money to spend on redoing things around my house, yet, I constantly have a project going. I try not to limit myself to only spending money. Sounds crazy, right? Do not be afraid to not spend money. Crazy again, but it works! When you are dedicated to improving your space on a small or non existent budget, the vision will come.
Here is a trick I use from time to time. Take anything decorative from around your house and put it all together on a table or on the floor somewhere. I'm talking curtains, pillows, nick knacks, lamps, art, side tables...basically anything that is not absolutely essential to the room (For example, the couch will probably stay in the living room, the dresser - in the bedroom) So now that you put it all down in one area, mix it all up because you probably set the stuff down from one room together. Mix it up, and do it again. Now...Just look at it all. What stands out? What pieces do you love? What things are only there because someone gave it to you? Are there pieces you have no idea where there came from? Are there things you have because you needed to just fill up space? (Most common one being art hanging on the wall because grandma got them for you at a garage sale and you had blank walls.) Now, make piles of things you LOVE, things you like, and things you are not sure about (This includes gifts you are keeping out of obligation), and things you are getting rid of. (Yes, this is a necessary pile.) Now you are ready to redecorate your house.
Keep in mind that less is more, most of the time. You cannot appreciate the things you love if you have a bunch of things just filling up space. One loved piece sitting alone will look better than 3 so-so pieces. Now you are ready to put things back. You DO NOT have to put them back where they came from, that is the point of this. Maybe your living room lamp would look great in the bedroom. Your dining table centerpiece may love the coffee table. Maybe that family picture that's on your nightstand should be in the living room so you will see it more often. Mix it up. Start with things you love. Showcase them. Put them where you and others will see them and spread them out between rooms. Then fill in with things you like.
How does your rooms look now? Cleaner? More organized? More you? Refreshed? I thought so. Reevaluate the last two piles - not sure and getting rid of. Actually get rid of the getting rid of pile. Just. Do. It. Now for the not sure pile. If you truly feel you need an item out on display, put it out. Everything else put away for a while and live with it. In two months, open it again and realize how much you didn't miss certain things and get rid of them too. Anything that you were thinking about during those two months. Keep.
That is an easy way to not only refresh your house, but also reorganize and cleanse.
Here is a trick I use from time to time. Take anything decorative from around your house and put it all together on a table or on the floor somewhere. I'm talking curtains, pillows, nick knacks, lamps, art, side tables...basically anything that is not absolutely essential to the room (For example, the couch will probably stay in the living room, the dresser - in the bedroom) So now that you put it all down in one area, mix it all up because you probably set the stuff down from one room together. Mix it up, and do it again. Now...Just look at it all. What stands out? What pieces do you love? What things are only there because someone gave it to you? Are there pieces you have no idea where there came from? Are there things you have because you needed to just fill up space? (Most common one being art hanging on the wall because grandma got them for you at a garage sale and you had blank walls.) Now, make piles of things you LOVE, things you like, and things you are not sure about (This includes gifts you are keeping out of obligation), and things you are getting rid of. (Yes, this is a necessary pile.) Now you are ready to redecorate your house.
Keep in mind that less is more, most of the time. You cannot appreciate the things you love if you have a bunch of things just filling up space. One loved piece sitting alone will look better than 3 so-so pieces. Now you are ready to put things back. You DO NOT have to put them back where they came from, that is the point of this. Maybe your living room lamp would look great in the bedroom. Your dining table centerpiece may love the coffee table. Maybe that family picture that's on your nightstand should be in the living room so you will see it more often. Mix it up. Start with things you love. Showcase them. Put them where you and others will see them and spread them out between rooms. Then fill in with things you like.
How does your rooms look now? Cleaner? More organized? More you? Refreshed? I thought so. Reevaluate the last two piles - not sure and getting rid of. Actually get rid of the getting rid of pile. Just. Do. It. Now for the not sure pile. If you truly feel you need an item out on display, put it out. Everything else put away for a while and live with it. In two months, open it again and realize how much you didn't miss certain things and get rid of them too. Anything that you were thinking about during those two months. Keep.
That is an easy way to not only refresh your house, but also reorganize and cleanse.
Monday, February 3, 2014
Introduction to vision
Hello there! My name is Brandi and I'm a DIYer with vision. I love my home; It's truly my passion, my hobby, my love. No space is safe from my ideas. It is said that the average person changes their space every 7 years. 7 years?! I want to change mine every 2 years! I love new ideas, new trends even, if I feel they will last. I'm a carpenter at heart but took some schooling for interior decorating. I'm the person who sees a palace while standing in a dump. I can FEEL the equity. I hear so often of people saying, "I just don't know what to do with it!" Speaking of their living room, patio, or a color scheme or anything really. Ideas are hard, execution is easier. So here I am! I'm going to share my ideas of how I've turned my house into a home with everything from trash picking, to shopping at stores I couldn't afford to walk through (for ideas, of course).
TMI on me:
I'm in my twenties, have been married for 7 years, have two beautiful children, and two large dogs, even a picket fence! The stereotype stops there. I'm the carpenter in the house, the fixer, the decorator, the visionary, and the list of mommy titles that could go on forever. My husband...not so much a fixer. (He is helpful, but when I had to explain why you predrill things before screwing them, I knew it was a lost cause.) He deals with the fact that when he comes home, our house my have new curtains, new flooring, or a new layout! I'm constantly project-ing.(Yes, that is my verb.) My life is truly fulfilled by my projects around the house and with all the compliments I get, I knew I had to share! Ideas are all around you, you just have to have vision.
TMI on me:
I'm in my twenties, have been married for 7 years, have two beautiful children, and two large dogs, even a picket fence! The stereotype stops there. I'm the carpenter in the house, the fixer, the decorator, the visionary, and the list of mommy titles that could go on forever. My husband...not so much a fixer. (He is helpful, but when I had to explain why you predrill things before screwing them, I knew it was a lost cause.) He deals with the fact that when he comes home, our house my have new curtains, new flooring, or a new layout! I'm constantly project-ing.(Yes, that is my verb.) My life is truly fulfilled by my projects around the house and with all the compliments I get, I knew I had to share! Ideas are all around you, you just have to have vision.
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