OMG!! I found a really cool gadget website– specifically, a site with some extraordinary Alessi-design gadgets. Totally cool! Look at this floss holder! I think I love it!
Here’s a banana boat Salt & Pepper shaker set! Read more…
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As we Northeasterners have been crawling out of our hibernation, spring slowly arrives. My spring flowers are now blooming. Spring came early this year for Upstate New York– i.e., no snow in April! Usually, we don’t allow those sporadic 70-80 degree days to fool us. We know a snowstorm could (and has) happened. But this year- nothing! What a treat! Still, most of April was chilly, and I balked at doing anything outdoors.
But now it’s May. And we’d better get going on the growing season or else nothing will be ready. Autumn’s frosts are just a few months away.
Lilac buds! At last!
And tulips! Beautiful!
The kids and I have a few projects set up for this year. For one, I have GOT to get my dining room, kitchen, and bathroom electrifed. *sigh* Even if I have to use conduit. I have been waiting until I can gut the walls to run electric wiring… there is NO WAY I’m going to snake wiring through these plaster-and-lathe walls. But right now, I still can’t gut the rooms (not unless I win a million bucks or something!). And I can’t have wires hanging all around us. So I may just grab some conduit and plug things in, until I can renovate. I’m not too pleased about this choice, but we’ve been without electric for almost two years now, and it’s getting kinda old.
We’re also enlarging our vegetable garden beds.
As you can see, we have two large beds surrounded by gravel. We used to have four beds, but it was impossible for me to maintain it. I was gardening more square footage than my house– too much for me! Well anyway, I surrounded the beds with gravel for a few reasons– to keep the zillions of weeds at bay, to help with drainage (our property has an underground stream and it is always soaking wet), and to retain heat (slightly increasing our growing season time). Now that the kids are older and can help with the gardens (plus, they eat a lot more!), we’re widening the beds. This means that they have to dig out a linear foot of gravel all around the beds. I will install new boards to enclose the beds and we will add more soil. Those old boards are 150 years old, having been taken from our attic floor for the garden, lol! Yeah, we sure do know how to recycle.
The extra gravel that we are getting from the garden will go toward our next project- a new drywell system on the other side of the house. Like I said, there’s a lot of water around here and we experience flooding in our basement. It’s gotten better since the my town cleared out a drainage pipe across the street, and since we installed a drywell on the other side of the house. You can read about our project here and here. The kids found a few old coins during their dig. This side of the house we’re going to conquer may reveal even more treasures, as this side of the house was traditionally the well and garbage heap.
So that’s all I have on my plate for this year. I work at home now, leaving me very little time to devote to renovations. I’m still hoping to renovate the whole house, but especially the kitchen, which has fallen apart (literally). More to come!
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Well, despite gloomy news in the housing market, people still have rickety old houses that need renovating (like yours truly). I’ve been keeping my eye on “trends” for renovations and new construction for several years now, trying to stay slightly ahead of the game; so, when it comes my time to gut my kitchen or bathroom, I’ll be modernized and efficient (and therefore won’t have to re-update in 5 to 10 years like so many of my neighbors do). One thing I have learned is– keep it simple. You can’t go wrong with keeping things simple. I try to think beyond design and make systems and functions simple, too.
According to the UK’s House to Home, the bathroom trends for 2009 are:
I like that list (nice and simple!), however it’s missing one thing– a trend toward “universal design.” Universal design is what I am considering to be the ideal standard bathrooms design. With the majority of the populace getting older (Baby Boomers and such), universal design is becoming almost standard in new bathroom design, but it is commonly overlooked in renovation. I am using it in small ways myself now, and intend on going that route entirely when I remodel the bathrooms.
Universal design is kind of like the ergonomics for bathroom accessories. For example, instead of round doorknobs, which are more difficult for older hands to twist and open, use lever door handles. Instead of moulded bathtubs that are integrated into the wall (bathtubs that are very difficult to climb in and out), use kudos showers that have doors, even wider, bi-fold doors,– you can just walk in. Some showers even have stools and should definitely have handles.
Common universal design features:
So while I like natural neutral colors, hotel glamour, and “shower power,” I think a trend that should remain consistent and never become outdated is universal design. Don’t overlook this when renovating or building! You will thank yourself when you are older.
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I don’t get any television reception. I don’t miss TV at all, but there are a few shows I’ve seen (at the dentist’s office– they have small TVs for patients in the chairs!) that I wish I could see regularly. One of them is This Old House and the DIY Network. 
I could watch them for hours and reap such great information! Well, this morning I was surfing a site called Hulu, and guess what?! I found some DIYNetwork shows there! For free! To watch!
I really enjoyed the show “Desperate Landscapes.” That’s kind of what I feel about my property, lol. It’s pretty… overgrown… and it’s taking me a long time to restore it. I have scads of gardening and landscaping textbooks, but sometimes you need to watch someone else show you how, you know what I mean? Anyway, I’m thrilled that I can watch the DIY Network’s Desperate Landscapes and other home and garden shows online, and for free! Woooo! Check it out, I’m sure you’ll find some great ideas. Go to Hulu.com, choose “channels” and then “Home and Garden.” Or, click here for the direct page.
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HGTV is having their annual Dream Home sweepstakes again. This time, the luxury home location is Sonoma, California. Gosh, it looks so beautiful there. In the past, they’ve had some pretty funky-looking houses, but this one looks like a traditional, middle-American house. It’s gorgeous!
I’ve entered so many times in the past that I’ve lost count! Obviously, I’ve never won. lol. But a girl can dream. It’s free to enter (you subscribe by entering your information including email). The nice thing is the interactive tour of the home on the website. I love this feature. And the videos of the construction of the home are great; I like learning the new techniques that are beng used in home building. I may not win, but at least I get to see what the place looks like on the inside!
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It is SO hard to live in a house while it is being renovated, especially if you are gutting the place. We are not *there* yet, but we have toyed around with the idea of temporary daytime/office space when we finally do gut this old house. But temporary space can a problem in of itself– where do you find it?! Do you find an apartment to live in for a few months?! That could be pretty expensive, and the moving from one place to another can be rough. Well, do you buy a trailer or small mobile home?! THAT is expensive, not to mention that some towns have codes against installing a trailer home. And in a renovation, you can still have the bathroom and sink operating– what you really need is just a place to park your stuff (papers, TV, computers, etc) and a place to organize everything.
Well, how about renting a small office trailer while the renovations are going on during the day? This seems to me to be the best of both worlds if you are going to be your own contractor. With a mobile office, you are always on site, and you have the psychological comfort of still being “home” while everything is being gutted around you. And it’s much less expensive than buying a mobile home or renting. Construction workers rent small mobile office trailers all the time. It’s a good place to store your papers, still get work done, and is neat and clean. Some mobile trailers have small bathrooms and many are equipped with air conditioning.
If you live in the south, midwest, or lower northeastern states and are going to do some contracting work, check out Acton. Acton has been known for providing construction trailers Jacksonville Florida. They have a variety of office-type mobile home trailers to rent, in all styles and shapes. The company is based in Baltimore, Maryland, right in the center of the eastern seaboard. This enables them to serve customers to their north and south.
Acton trailers can offer some real solutions to those storage and temporary office areas– they specialize in providing comfortable and affordable temporary office space for home builders and contractors. Check them out.
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Now that real estate seems to be the hot topic these days (what with the mortgage bust and the major shift in the real estate market), more people are thinking about selling their homes. Now everyone knows that you can’t put your house on the market, fling the doors open, and expect interested buyers to come streaming in and handing you cash. It requires a little more effort than that. The market is a little shaky right now, and the competition is pretty fierce. You want your property to shine above the others. So everyone knows that much. The real question is HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
Have you ever heard of the book, Dress Your House for Success? 
It was written 20 years ago, a groundbreaking book, way before its time. It’s a book about the art of “home staging,” which is preparing your home to look, smell, and feel attractive to prospective buyers. It was written by Martha Webb, author and home staging expert. I got the chance to ask Ms. Webb a few questions about home staging, especially for the renovator who has an older home. Her answers are very insightful; some surprised me. Here’s the interview:
Mrs. Mecomber: What are the worst things you’ve seen some homeowners do when trying to sell their house?
Martha Webb: Do nothing, or believe that lived in is good enough for selling. Fail to pay attention to the basics – clean, clutter and odor free, in good repair.
Mrs. Mecomber: When I was looking for a house, over decade ago, it seemed that people were not averse to buying a “fixer-upper.” Does this hold true today?
Martha Webb: No, there are so many properties on the market that are phenomenal deals, there isn’t the reason to buy a fixer upper to get sweat equity. Also, today’s buyers (average age 39) have less time and money to fix up a property. With all the competition for buyers, they need only look around the corner for a house that won’t require time, work or money.
Mrs. Mecomber: Do perennial gardens add much to the emotional value of a home? In your opinion, about how much emotional value would a garden (or gardens) have, overall?
Martha Webb: A garden (perennial or well-landscaped) tells buyers that the house has been well cared for. The garden can add to the “homey” feel of a property and may be an added benefit to some; to others, they may not want the work to maintain it. If the gardens exist, sellers should make sure they are well-manicured to add to the charm of the house, not elicit the response of work. If there are not gardens, I would not recommend spending money to install them.
Mrs. Mecomber: What are most prospective buyers looking for the most when walking through a prospective home?
Martha Webb: Research has shown that buyers’ first impression have to do with the basics of cleanliness, clutter and repair, which translate to “well cared for,” “spacious,” and “no work.” They also want the “homey” feel, but are less likely to be able to describe that; they recognize it when they feel it – and that where staging comes in.
Mrs. Mecomber: What are some inexpensive “props” or techniques for staging a home?
Martha Webb: Entry: make sure that you show some elegance or style – possible a half-round table, artwork, a mirror, flowers
Kitchen: show more than an organized space, include a hint of entertaining or family gathering: a cookbook, serving dish, fruit arrangement
Bath: counter the cold of tile with a fabric shower curtain and matching rug, stacked or rolled towels and a packaged spa-like soap or bath product
Bedrooms: add comfort and relation with pillows and throws, a book on a nightstand
I really appreciate Martha Webb taking the time to answer my questions. Someday I hope to sell my own house, and I’ll come back to these tips and the ones in her books.
I’ve been through a lot of homes, and the one thing that strikes me just as much as the appearance of the home is the smell. I have a very sensitive nose (more women than men do, too). If I smell stale cigarettes or mildew or dog, that’s a REAL turn off. You can count on me turning down the house. So I recommend eradicating the sourest smells from the home before showing the home. For other smells, like cooking oil (another smell that makes me wretch), burning toast, or an oddball stinky sneaker that one of the kids left in the front entry, I recommend the new Febreze candle. I have used the Apple & Spice and I am nuts about it. I have four kids, a cat, and a bird in the house. I NEED these candles. They have a special core that freshens the air while the colored section fills the house with frangrance. The Apple & Spice is sooo good, and I love to burn them during the winter months. It just makes the house feel warmer. 
I hope these tips help you! And really, even if you aren’t selling your home, you can always do yourself a favor by staging your home for yourself! The holidays are coming up, so this is actually a terrific time to pamper the family and spruce up the place for them.
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Well I wish I’d seen this last year, when we were hunting for an electrician: ServiceSpider.com. It’s an online registry of contractors and handymen for your local area. It’s still growing, but it looks great!
Last year, the main reason I decided to do the electrical wiring myself was because we couldn’t find an electrician. It seems like more and more businesses are catering to commercial work, and very few were willing to wire up my living room and bedroom. So, I studied books and did it myself. It was a learning experience, to be sure, but I really would have preferred (and my nerves would have preferred) to hire out the jobs. It was just so difficult finding someone! I called everyone in our phonebook yellow pages, to no avail. The same thing with a plumber and appliance repairman. I have put my foot down– I won’t do the plumbing! But I have no idea where to find a plumber! So I am very, very happy to see a site like ServiceSpider.com.
ServiceSpider.com is a marketplace that connects service buyers and service sellers. Handymen and specialized contractors are available and searchable throughout the United States. What is unique is that you post your service request (it’s free to do so). This request with all its information is displayed in an open marketplace (like an auction) for service providers to see and make bids. It’s helpful to make your request as detailed as possible, to ensure accurate bids. You can post pictures of your mess service request for the providers to see. After you’ve gone through the listing process, ServiceSpider.com sends you a confirmation email and will send updates on the condition of your auction. Interesting! You can also log on to ServiceSpider.com to check for updates. It’s ingenious.
There’s also the opportunity to list yourself and your own business, if you want to be on ServiceSpider.com’s list. I really recommend that, because I can’t find you if you are not there! So check it out. I am thrilled to see stuff like ServiceSpider.com. Like I said, they are growing, so be sure to join if you are interested. They have a terrific Fall promotion going on, too: the first 100 people to post a project on the site will win a $25 gas card; and the first 100 people who complete their home improvement projects will get a $100 home improvement gift card. Nice!
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