Eclectic Homes

Guest Picks: Create a Fun, Brand New Theaters

A workspace can easily become sterile and sterile the most creative person. Obviously, function comes first, but there is no reason your desk area can’t be beautiful and inspiring too. Bright and refreshing colours, luminous metallics, in addition to fun and funky graphics and shapes are on the top of my list for creating a fresh and fun workspace. — Lauren from A Lovely Life

Poketo

Pie Graph Sticky Notes – $7.50

All these adorably fresh and well-designed sticky notes will keep you organized and serve as eye candy for your area.

The Land of Nod

Between a Rock Lamp Base, Gold – $79

This gold lamp is intended for the small ones, but I want one for my desk! It’s the perfect pop of geometry and gold.

Thrive Home Furnishings

Moore Desk – $2,199

The Moore desk is the best mixture of midcentury style and functional storage. So many desks seem to have another, but this really is the whole package.

Anthropologie

Flowers For Bobbsie – $950

These flowers by Lulie Wallace are as full of energy as they are beautiful. Plus they come from the lightest colour palette too!

Theo

Primary Clock, Half Light Blue – GBP 75

Simple and simply stunning, this clock is a piece of functional art.

Folklore

Dip Seat – GBP 395

I really like this chair has a vintage look but is created totally fresh with the dipped paint.

Etsy

Calling Cards by Honey & Bloom – $12

I really don’t know if I could choose just one of those beautiful calling cards. I believe I would always need to have them on my desk in all their glory.

Muhs Home

SyuRo Rectangular Tin Cans – $56

These copper and brass boxes add immediate glamour to your stored items.

Madewell

O-Check for Best Hat Medium Pattern Notebook, Black Dot – $10

I am so into polka dots at the moment, so I would definitely love to keep my notes in this dotty journal. Plus, its neutral colour palette goes with whatever.

upon a fold

Thread Lid Box, Antiprism – AUD 12

This is fun and funky multipurpose storage that you can fold yourself for complete statement pieces.

Brown Paper

Candy Pink Notebook – GBP 11.50

This candy pink and metallic gold notebook is just the bee’s knees. Even after writing on the final page, I would keep it around simply to look pretty.

Anthropologie

Sleepy Hollow Pencil Cup – $16

I will always have a soft spot in my heart for owls. This little man keeps your pens ready and awaiting all those fantastic ideas.

Etsy

Zigzag Tray Up in the Air Somewhere

Use this stunning and glitzy handmade tray to corral papers and clutter.

Etsy

Craspedia Cluster, White by Flores del Sol – $55

You don’t need to worry about forgetting to water this pretty plant — it’s dried! Add a small happy and sunshiny yellow into your area with this cute craspedia.

Secret Holiday & Co..

‘YES’ Affirmation Banner – $45

Hang this near your desk to guide you toward joy.

Etsy

White Modern Succulent Sculpture by Waterstone Succulents – $18

Following is a succulent you really can’t kill — it’s a solid sculpture. Along with the gold vase takes the cake.

Etsy

Glitter Marquee Letter LED Night Light by Whirlwind by RAB – $48.50

This small light is sure to provide you bright ideas and lift your spirits on those rainy days.

Etsy

Party Totem Balloon Tassel, Pink and Orange by The Flair Exchange – $27

Hang this balloon tassel (minus the balloon) in an empty corner for a little glitz and glamour.

Anthropologie

Squirreled Away Tape Dispenser – $24

Every desk needs a furry buddy. This little man looks cute and retains your tape for you. What more could you need?

Etsy

Leather Storage Tote by Gildem – $160

I really like this handmade leather bag for keeping magazines and books or for hiding clutter away.

More: Tour a Shed-Turned-Office in a London Garden

Jess LC

Wells “Be Brave” Printing – $40

See related

Eclectic Homes

Guest Picks: Creating a Cozy Breakfast Nook

One thing that I’ve always wanted is a comfy, casual area to have breakfast. There’s something about having a nook that appears so magical. Here are a couple of of my favorite bits for creating the perfect space. — Lauren from With Two Mothers

Stylo Furniture and Design

Round Walnut Dining Table – $2,632

This round dining table gives a casual yet classy spot to sit down for a meal.

Overstock.com

Country Lifestyle Spindle Back White Dining Chair Place – $124.99

This pair of chairs is the best mixture of clean contemporary lines and traditional form. They are a great transitional pick that will fit right into any fashion area.

Kim Parker Interiors

India Garden Designer Candles – $200

I really like the bright colours and movement on this little pillow. It’s sure to put in a great deal of life to any area.

Ballard Designs

Coventry Three-Piece Corner Upholstered Sectional – $799

Create an instant cozy nook with this upholstered bench from Ballard Designs.

Old Faithful Shop

Dodecahedron Terrarium – $160

Bring the outdoors in with this particular geometric terrarium — an instant conversation piece.

Etsy

A Collection Of Six Colorful Succulent Plants By Succulents Galore – $18.95

And start your terrarium off with a collection of colorful succulent plants.

HORNE

Kahler – Mano Storage Jar Small in Green – $59.95

Store your glucose tea or just about anything in this adorable little jar.

Etsy

Salt And Pepper Shakers Black And White By Romi Ceramics – $48

These salt and pepper shakers are anything but ordinary (in the best way possible).

Etsy

Reclaimed Rustic Barn Wood Picture Frame by 3 Sisters Nation Shop – $18

Add a rustic touch to your area with these handmade reclaimed wood frames.

Etsy

Oh Darling Let’s Be Adventurers Screenprinted Poster, Black By FIFIDUVIE – $25

Remind yourself to become more adventurous with this simple little print.

Etsy

Wren Linocut Hand-Pulled Art Print By Anna See’s Shop – $32

Anna See creates the most beautiful hand-printed birds. I really like the textures and colours of her job.

Etsy

Lunch Napkin Linen Black Stripe By Little Batch Generation – $11

Simple and traditional striped linen napkins are the perfect match for any dining table.

Etsy

Square Handle Basket Made To Order By Pigeon Toe Ceramics – $108

This beautiful little bowl is just right for holding your fresh fruit.

Schoolhouse Electric

Blackline Stoneware Teapot – $58

This beautiful teapot has a traditional shape, but the bold stripes add a contemporary twist.

Terrain

Spare Stripe Mug – $24

I’ve got a serious matter for anything , including this beautiful little mug.

Schoolhouse Electric

Glass Milk Bottle – $20

This glass milk bottle harkens back to a simpler time.

Of Cabbages & Kings

My Egg And Soldiers Set By Takae Mizutani – GBP 23.50

This is the best breakfast set for your little one.

Calla Dinnerware – $3.95

The natural form and simplicity of the dish collection had me at hello.

Eden Pendant Lamp – $49.95

The timeless necklace lamp goes great in any area.

Etsy

Wooden Mini Bowl Set Of 2 Light Pink And White By Wind & Willow Home – $16

Dipped bowls in quite colours — need I say more?

Next: Breakast Nooks, Sunny Side Up

See related

Wine Cellars

Full Sun Potted Plants

Windows or outdoor areas getting a lot of sun easily welcome some crops and can kill or stunt others. Only plants that tolerate — even love — glowing light can thrive in a full-sun area. Pick wisely when dressing your glowing spots and the crops will reward you with their health and energy.

Sun Tolerance

A sunny window or window might seem like a perfect place to show a favorite potted plant, however when that plant cannot tolerate full sun, you’ll fight a losing struggle. Plants that need full sun grow fuller with more robust foliage if put in bright light. Windows or outdoor spots receiving southern exposure offer the most intense light for these plants. Garden centers can offer advice, and lots of plants come labeled with directions, including mild tolerance.

Flowering Plants

Bright and cheery with many varieties and colors, geraniums (Pelargonium x hortorum) develop easily in pots or containers, requiring full sun for the best vitality. Most frequently an annual, they live well to Zone 10, however they’ll grow inside over winter in a sunny place. Opt for a less clear flowering plant to fill your sunny place with a white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai), which thrives in full sun. The plants likely will not produce flowers indoors, but they’ll grow tall and compact near a sunny window.

Foliage Plants

A bright, sunny place cries out for a nutritious leaf plant, and sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas) fits the bill with its glowing, yellow-green leaves. Complete sun brings out the deepest color within this annual plant, which will trail out of a container for a stunning look. Other varieties come with dark purple or pale green and pink foliage. Try a ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata), an impressive foliage container plant that thrives in complete or indirect sun. In case you’ve got the room for this particular plant that can grow six to 18 feet tall, it can make an impression in a sunny room or outdoor terrace. Ponytails originated in Mexico, so they thrive in sunny, arid conditions.

Herbs

Spice up both your glowing place and your cooking by growing herbs in pots. As long as temperatures remain below 90 degrees F. in summer, many herbs thrive in full sun. Follow directions that come with seeds or bedding plants for proper preparation and pot size to ensure your potted herbs grow well. A few to try at a sunny place include chamomile, thyme, tarragon, chives, dill and parsley.

See related

Saving Water

What's the Largest Bar I Will Put to a Stihl 026?

Stihl manufactures a vast selection of chainsaws for home, agricultural and forestry use, and also the 026 is a lightweight, gasoline-powered version. If you possess a Stihl 026 chainsaw, you’re able to raise its performance by installing a more guide bar, but exceeding the manufacturer’s recommendations for maximum bar length can void the warranty. The longest bar advocated for your own 026 is 20 inches, even whether or not it’s a bar created for low kickback.

Bar Length and Kickback

One of the dangers of operating a chainsaw is kickback, which happens when the chain binds in the wood being cut and throws the saw back toward the operator. Putting a more bar on your own chainsaw can raise the potential for kickback since the extra string in contact with wood raises the chances of binding or contacting a foreign object in the wood, and also the bar is harder to control. Employing a bar that is too short for the wood being cut is equally harmful — if the trick doesn’t clear the other side of this log, the saw could kick back.

Stihl 026 Standard Bar

The minimum bar length to get a chainsaw is 2 inches more than the object being cut. A 14- to 16-inch bar is usually all that is necessary for projects like cutting firewood, trimming tree branches and cutting edge construction timber. The Stihl 026 comes with a 16-inch bar, but a more one could be required to fell a tree or cut a log into smaller, splittable rounds. If the only saw you’ve got around the home is the Stihl 026, you can adapt it to get occasional heavy-duty log work by retrofitting the bar, however there is a limit to the bar length you can use.

Pros and Cons of a Longer Bar

Putting a more bar on your own chainsaw makes it harder to operate, since the extra period increases the force you need to apply on the saw to maintain the string steady. Additionally, it raises the total amount of power the engine has to generate to drive the string, and the engine can burn out prematurely if the bar is too long. The 49 cubic-centimeter, two-stroke engine on the Stihl 026 isn’t designed for a lengthy bar or heavy-duty cutting. Compare it with all the MS 880 Magnum, which will be Stihl’s largest chainsaw. The engine displacement of this Magnum is 121.6 cc, more than twice that of those 026, and it can handle a 59-inch bar.

Stihl 026 Bar Specifications

In order to comply with security standards set by the American National Standards Institute, Stihl advocates using just 16-, 18- and 20-inch bars together with all the 026 chainsaw. The company further advocates utilizing bars with green labels, which identify them as low kickback bars. A green-labeled bar ought to be used with just a harmonious low-kickback series, which can be characterized by a green label. Employing a normal chain using a low-kickback bar actually can raise the potential for kickback. If you select a bar with a yellow label, then the same length restrictions apply.

See related

Saving Water

What Kind of Oil Is Used in a Garden Tractor?

It may just have two cylinders, a fuel tank which holds 4 gallons and horsepower measured in dozens instead of hundreds, however your lawn and garden tractor needs the same attention to routine upkeep as your family car. Although individual manufacturers may have specific recommendations for their lawn and garden tractors and generators, the machines that you depend on to maintain your lawn neat typically use generally available motor oil.

Lawn Tractor History

Following the World War II, new American suburbs created a massive market for lawn mowers — and bigger lawns encouraged the growth of riding mowers for homeowners. From the early 1960s, agricultural machinery firms were building smaller versions of the tractors. Called variously lawn, lawn and garden, utility or garden tractors, in accordance with their size and operate, they have been snapped up by homeowners having more than half an acre of lawn and garden. Many homeowners locate these machines simple to maintain independently although lots of lawn mower repair centers exist.

Tractor Basics

Although a title is on the hood of your lawn and garden tractor, the little motor inside is probably made by one of a few manufacturers of engines. Engines are usually one- or – two-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled internal combustion engines. Some bigger utility tractors feature water-cooled or diesel engines, but these engines are finicky when it comes to dust and dirt and are more commonly used for commercial purposes. Gas-driven engines use regular unleaded gas, but the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute cautions against using gas containing more than 10 percent ethanol to prevent damage to the little engine.

Oil Viscosity

Equipment and motor manufacturers promote oil for their products, but also advocate regular motor oil. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) rates viscosity or thickness of oil — and which oil is utilized depends on air temperature. For most of the year at a Mediterranean-type climate, SAE 30 petroleum motor oil is sufficient to maintain modest engines running smoothly. In areas where temperatures dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, a multi-viscosity oil using a thinner winter mix, 10W-30 or 5W-30, depending upon owner’s manual recommendations, is utilized.

Other Considerations

Little engines may be sensitive to impurities, so choose reputable brands of motor oil. The American Petroleum Institute classifies oil grade, and one big manufacturer recommends using API service classification SG or better, a premium grade suited to engines which burn off or low-lead gas. Many lawn and garden tractor engines may also use synthetic oil, which extends the temperature range in the ends for 10W-30 oil — provided that the motor has been broken in. Oil change intervals are often as short as after every 25 hours of use in small engines, so check the manual for specific recommendations for yours.

See related

Furnishings

Sanding a Plywood Subfloor

Before you lay any type of flooring, the subfloor should be flat, and when it is plywood, 1 approach to flatten it is to sand it. That is best done using a flooring sander. If you need to remove adhesive from old carpet or shingles, use a floor buffer first.

Flattening the Floor

Prior to installing laminate or hardwood planks, the subfloor should be flattened to a tolerance of 1/4 inch in 10 feet. Going over the floor using a drum sander is the quickest way to try it, and as you do not have to be worried about scratches, you can use tough paper and do the job fast. Before you sand, do not forget to set all the screws and nails and fill depressions and gaps using floor leveling compound.

Removing Adhesive

Adhesives and heavy paint often gum up the paper onto a drum sander, so it is best to remove these using a floor buffer. You can find quite a few of buffer attachments that will do the job fast, including scrapers and specialty adhesive removers. After a treatment using a buffer, a thorough vacuuming and a pass with a drum sander should find the subfloor prepared for a floor covering.

See related

Home Cleaning

How to Keep a Clean and Fresh-Smelling Home

Your home’s odor is an integral part of the overall impression it leaves visitors. A new fragrance suggests cleanliness whilst providing an inviting environment for guests and family members. Musty, spoiled or burnt odors, on the other hand, suggest an unkempt, dirty environment. Treat odors where bad smells lurk to generate a fresh, clean scent impression.

A Fresh Foyer

Entering and leaving guests receive their first and last impression of your house when passing through your foyer. Begin their experience off right by encouraging a new, natural odor in entryways and leaves. Using your favorite fragrances, blend up an aromatic blend of potpourri comprising green chips, dried flower petals and essential oils. Positioned into a decorative bowl, potpourri doubles as an attractive design element. Your foyer is going to be flooded with a aroma that sends and welcomes guests off in scented style. At a pinch, air freshener spray also delivers a burst of scent.

A Clean-Smelling Kitchen

During the process that is cooking or baking, food smells are usually appetizing, however, odors that linger into the next day lose their appeal. Leftover smells with natural deodorizers. Baking soda and white vinegar — both of which can be found in the normal household pantry — do not just cover up odors but stop them from occurring through absorptive properties. Sprinkle baking soda on floors and countertops then vacuum up. Tuck a open container of baking soda from the fridge to catch bad odors; bowls of baking soda placed around the kitchen eliminate any residual smells. Vinegar is a natural cleaner, soap and deodorizer. Mix a solution of one part water and 1 part vinegar, place into a spray bottle and spritz appliances and countertops. Add a couple drops of lemon to the solution to get a odor.

Bedroom Blooms

Musty smelling bedding, furniture, linens and upholstery transform a retreat . Fill cloth bags with potpourri smells with odor. Tucking these herbal sachets infuses cloths . Fabric softener sheets provide odor when potpourri is not available. Launder sheets weekly for fresh, clean bedding, and open drapes to air out and foster the flow of air in bedrooms that are stuffy. Vacuum drapes to get rid of debris and odor-causing dust.

Beautiful-Smelling stinks

They’re a factor of lifestyle while no one likes to discuss toilet scents. Meet the issue head on by cleaning sinks toilets, bathtubs and tiles. Begin using solutions — such as the same homemade vinegar and baking soda goods utilized in the kitchen. Proceed onto store-bought multipurpose cleansers that are stronger if these do not do the trick. Open windows and ventilation fans foster the flow of clean air.

See related

Furnishings

Wood Repair With Epoxy Putty

Epoxy putty is a modern improvement in wood restoration. It’s used mainly — but not exclusively — to get exterior wood repair when rot appears on casings, trim, decking or anywhere else where water has penetrated into the wood. Epoxy resin comes in two parts: a resin and hardener. A third part, the bonding agent, is employed as a precursor to this program of the resin after it’s combined. Epoxy resin is relatively permanent and, after program, can be shaped to match the profile of the existing wood. The repair is nearly impossible to detect after it’s painted.

Scrape off old paint around the broken or damaged area by means of a wire brush. Scrape and chip out any large debris and balls from the rotted area working with a screwdriver.

Install a grinding piece to a rotary tool. Grind out any remaining soft wood working with the rotary tool. When the bit strikes hard wood and the rot or delicate wood is gone, then the pit is ready for the bonding agent. The cavity can be irregular with differing levels or seams.

Use the liquid bonding agent to the cavity by means of a paintbrush. Apply it generously to soak the inside of the cavity completely.

Mix the two-part resin with a putty knife in line with the manufacturer’s directions. It might be tagged as part one and part two, or resin and hardener, depending on manufacturer. Mix the two parts with a flat piece of plywood or scrap wood.

Use the mixed resin to the cavity with the putty knife. Use it just like a trowel to push the resin into the recesses, pits and shapes of the cavity. Complete the program by smoothing and shaping the resin flush with the profile of the current wood working with the putty knife. It’s fine if the puttylike resin is raised up slightly higher than the surface of the wood. Permit the resin to dry overnight.

Shape and mold the hardened resin to match the profile of the existing wood working with a medium-grit file. Fold a sheet of 100-grit sandpaper into thirds and use the sharp edge just like a knife to sand inside tight corners. Roll the seams around a dowel to sand within curved profile lines. Sand the resin smooth utilizing 120-grit sandpaper. Apply paint as needed.

See related

Home Painting

What Kind of Paint Can You Use to Cover Wallpaper?

It is only a matter of time before wallpaper patterns look dated and the newspaper discolors and peels. The ideal solution would be to tear it down, but that’s a challenging job that risks damaging your manicure. The alternative is to paint over wallpaper. However, it is imperative you carefully prepare the surface. Oil-based primer or priming shellac covers the pattern and seals the newspaper against moisture to keep the paper from the glue from loosening underneath fresh paint. You may use either latex or wax paint above the primer or shellac.

Prepare the Wallpaper Surface

Ventilate the work area. Apply wallpaper paste to the underside of peeled-up corners and seams using a foam paintbrush. Smooth the paper back into position to adhere it firmly to the wall.

Examine the entire surface of the wallpaper for bubbles. Cut away bubbled wallpaper working with a utility knife. Adhere the edges with wallpaper paste.

Allow the paste to dry for the moment the manufacturer recommends, then sand seams and edges using a fine-grit seams to make them level with the remainder of the wallpaper surface.

Spackle cut-away sections of newspaper and remaining raised seams with drywall compound and a putty knife.

Sand the vaccine chemical with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth it and make it level with the wallpaper surface.

Wipe the wallpaper with a damp cloth to remove sanding dust.

Wash the wallpaper with a degreasing cleaner and damp cloth. Follow the degreaser package directions.

Caulk the wallpaper edges at the floor and ceiling with silicone to create a moisture barrier.

Let the wallpaper dry thoroughly.

Prime the Wallpaper

Apply a thin coat of primer or shellac into the wallpaper’s surface by means of a paintbrush or roller. Work in a small area at one time. Blend overlapping strokes to get an even finish.

Evaluate the primer or shellac coverage after the first coat dries. Apply another coat if the wallpaper pattern reveals through the first coat.

Allow the primer to dry for 24 hours.

Paint the Wallpaper

Paint the wallpaper using a roller or paintbrush. Work in small sections of wall. Blend overlapping strokes to get even coverage. Enable the paint to dry.

Apply another coat of paint to your walls. Enable the paint to dry.

Evaluate the paint plan to find out whether you need a third coat.

See related

Home Painting

Alternative to Replacing Deck Boards

The rising cost of timber makes replacing decking boards a significant expense, and it’s one which you may be able to avoid. By so doing, then you’ll also preserve the appearance of your deck. Most decking lumber is rot-resistant cedar or redwood, and though it is now warped, cracked or discolored, the wood may still be usable. In many cases, giving your deck some TLC and a brand new seal coat is a cost-effective alternate to board replacing.

Straightening Warped Boards

Decking boards that have been in the sun and rain can’t help being impacted, and a number of them inevitably warp. This becomes an issue if a board pulls out the fasteners holding it into the joists. Replacing the fasteners isn’t difficult — you simply pull out the old ones and drive new ones — but straightening the boards can be difficult. A solution is to work with a bar clamp. Work among the stops into the gap between 2 straight boards and set the other stop on the edge of the warped board, then tighten the clamp to pull the warped board into place. Use extra fasteners to hold it before removing the clamp.

Managing Cracks

Bar clamps are useful for correcting cracks that show up on the ends of decking boards. After spreading two-part epoxy adhesive at a split, you can close it with a bar clamp. The glue is strong enough to maintain most cracks closed after it places, but it’s almost always a fantastic idea to drive a fastener on each side of the crack as a precaution. Epoxy filler is the best material for filling cracks that are too wide to close. Prior to using it, it’s important to dig out any rot that you see in the crack, and also so the rot may continue to spread.

Washing and Sanding

Maintaining the deck a comprehensive cleaning may make a surprising difference to the way it looks. In many cases, sweeping it and then giving it a once-over with a power washer may be all that’s necessary to restore its natural colour and mix the repairs. If you made extensive repairs, however, you may have to sand the deck to mix them adequately. As soon as it’s feasible to sand a smaller deck with a hand sander, you can save yourself stress on your knees and back, and do a better job on any dimension deck, by renting a floor orbital sander.

Sealing

Among the reasons your deck needed repair may have been that the finish had worn away, and a brand new finish coat may be all it needs. If the deck is in full sunlight, a pigmented stain or seal coat provides better protection than a clear one. You might even think about painting the wood if it had been essential to repair extensive damage. Clear waterproofing sealers offer the least ultraviolet protection, so in the event that you’d like to be able to see the wood, you should choose a heavy exterior varnish, such as spar varnish.

See related