Seaside DIY lamps

 My summer house is casual, softer edged and more DIY than my town home. Its decor  reflects its location and   our budget  restrictions for a second home.   About 75 % of the furniture  is built or adapted by my seriously skilled hubby or purchased second hand.   It goes without saying that when  I decide I need something to fill a spot, second hand stores are my go to solution.

 I added new art work in the master bedroom last year and I knew I couldn't keep the current lamp arrangement because the art was too commanding and the lamps too mismatched and small.  But I sure did like  my jar of pussy willows.

 I was appalled to realize I had this  small lamp for 13 years and I never did repaint the night tables.
 This is a perfect example  things in a home you are going to address and never do.  

Moving right along,  I moved the pussy willows,  got the night table painted, and mounted the artwork.  You can see the problem with the lamp; it is totally minute and  doesn't connect in any way with the art work.   I wanted something with more substance and felt it needed to overlap the artwork slightly.

I found two of these  frames  at Value Village.  I liked the fact that the base looked a little like a fish and the top was boat shaped. It had strong lines and wasn't fussy.  Of course the price was right.

 But black wasn't going to work in my seriously beachy feeling home.

A little painter's tape and then my trusty  Krylon stainless steel spray paint came to the rescue.    

I made the  lamp shade out of paintable textured wallpaper and adhered it to the metal frame with two sided carpet tape. The paper had lots of heft  and added a bit of texture to the room; it was also cheap because I had some in my art studio. 

And after all that I decided I would put new bedding on the 2016 purchase list, something much lighter, and the dresser will be repainted a lighter  BM Edgecomb gray.  The walls are BM Revere Pewter, and have been the same colour for 13 years.  Long before gray was a trend and it will be gray long after it ceases to be a trend.

Oh yes, the wood assemblages are  temporary because they are going in an exhibition this summer so the lamps might be very lonely, hopefully forever. 

Your Options When Looking for a New Home

So, you’re looking for a new home, but you’re not sure where to start. There are three main paths that you can go down when you are looking for a fresh new start with your home. Here they are.

The Housing Market

This is obviously the most common thing for people to do. The housing market gives you a degree of safety and security. We all know that buying a home is a long and boring process. But you know that at the end of it, you will be able to move into a home that is perfect for you. This is what most people choose to do if they don’t want to do any practical work to the property. It’s something that people love.

There are alternative options if you don’t want to go down the conventional estate agent route though. For example, you could have a look at what properties can be found at housing auctions. Auctions can be great places to pick up bargains if you’re trying to work on a relatively small budget. And you can often find unusual or strange homes at auctions. So, it’s definitely something to consider.

A Custom Build

Custom build homes are great because they put full control in your hands. If you’re the kind of person that wants to get exactly what you want, then this is the best route for you to take. There are no real risks involved because you will be in control of how the home looks and how it is constructed. That’s not something you can say about any other kind of home. You don’t get that control when you buy an existing home.

Building a custom home is something that many people see as unrealistic. But it’s actually something that is becoming more realistic all the time. There are many companies out there that can help you out. A Custom Home Builder will be able to listen to your wants and needs and then design a home that is right for you. They can then build it and, before long, you will be able to move in and enjoy it.

A Renovation Job

If you have found the shell of the property that seems right for you and the location seems good, you could renovate it. This is a very useful idea for anyone who is not convinced by the inside of the property but likes lots of the other thing about it. If you do decide to renovate the property, it could be the best way to get exactly what you’re looking for. You have the basics in place; you just need to get the rest right.

You can do this by completely changing how the home’s interior is set out. It’s not something that has to take too much work, but there probably will need some practical work done to it. For example, some people choose to convert old barns into homes. This is something that is becoming very popular. It completely changes the fundamental function and purpose of a building to fit your needs and wants.

History of Antique Fireplaces Infographic

Homeowners often decide to introduce antique design features into their property. Whether it is to retain a part of the original home design, as is the case in older period properties, or to introduce a new centrepiece in a contemporary property, it is always worth putting a bit of effort into researching the time period that you are aiming to emulate.

Whilst there are a variety of ways that you can introduce antique design to your home, a fireplace is one of the best. The below infographic, provided by Thornhill Galleries, explains the history of antique fireplaces. It explains the kinds of architecture you can expect to see throughout the centuries and can be an instrumental tool in helping you choose the right period piece for your home. Whether you are looking to add a touch of the Renaissance to your home, or prefer the Pompeii inspired Georgian look, this infographic explains these designs and more. Which one will you choose?

You want what? Not in Newfoundland

Rant warning!

Have you ever noticed how your location impacts design because of availability of products?

I live in a terrific city, St. John's,  on a beautiful island, Newfoundland, in the North Atlantic known for its culture and brightly coloured homes.

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 But there is a downside to living on an island; it doesn't always provide ready access to a lot of products especially in interior design.   Judging by the homes for sale on Realtors.ca in my local area,  this is a common problem for more than me or my clients. That being said, every now and then you find the perfect solution to your design quandary at local businesses.  It just shouldn't be a sporadic event.

Yes, I know in this world of technology anything is possible, but if you are super fussy about undertones and/or comfort, it would not be smart to order a big ticket item without setting your eyes on said object.  That leaves custom ordering from fabric samples and hopefully a floor model to test for comfort and waiting 8 to 10 weeks or more. Is my impatience showing?

 What about when you need something in a few weeks or you don't have a grand budget?  Back to roaming the limited selections and hoping something has magically appeared since your last visit.  Sometimes it has!  

I admit trying to find  the simplest things often cause me the most angst.   Now don't get me wrong, I am not looking for odd or far out things. I love more soothing, monochromatic schemes and often describe my own personal style as blah with lots of art and fine craft. Sometimes blah is difficult to achieve! 

 I went to Homesense weekly for six months to find the type of lamp I wanted for my living room.  I was just not willing to spend $200.00 on a lamp.

My lamp and another Homesense gift from a friend

The last month has passed me by as I tried to source a specific wallpaper for my upcoming kitchen reno.  

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 I  finally located  sources for  the mosaic wallpaper in the US and England.  Perfect you might think.  So did I, until I found out the $7.00  US  6 x 6 in. sample would cost me $56.00 by the time it was delivered to my door. That didn't include GST or whatever else Canada Post decides to ding you with at the door.  Not going to happen!  Move on to the next idea.


More than colour and next to texture, I love subtle patterns and in tile the Italians know how to do pattern well.  Again I knew what I wanted,  I could even paint a picture of it if requested. That's  more depressing when you can do that,  and I have seriously considered painting my own  tile if all else fails!

Marazzi 

 Online I found the exact thing I wanted  on a tile site in England.  With hope I tried two local tile suppliers who assured me nobody is looking for patterned tile like that.  I am!  I am all about monochromatic patterns.  It's just not in style in this area I was told.  More reason to choose it in my book.   I have visions of me getting the 15 sq. feet  I need in England this fall and making all 7 of my travel companions each carry some home for me. Don't laugh this might happen, if I can't find a Canadian supplier or a comparable tile .  One last place to check out.  Fingers crossed.

And IKEA's  floating shelves are only available onsite.  That's my latest disappointment.

I am worn out before the kitchen reno even begins.

 Do you have similar frustrations where you live?  How do you get around them?

3 Must-Haves for Your Man Cave

So you've decided to put together a man cave of your own. Why should Bruce Wayne have the coolest man cave around? Well, for starters, he's Batman. Also, he is a lot richer and smarter and cooler than you. Oh, and he isn't real, and so doesn't have to work with real-world constraints.

So forget about Bruce Wayne. You are never going to have a man cave like his. But you can still do pretty well for yourself without the need to become a reclusive billionaire. First, you are going to need a room to renovate. Have you considered the attic? Provided you have the right kind of space, you are going to need to add a few pieces of tech that are essential to every man cave makeover. Here are three:

A Genius Box

They used to call the television an idiot box. In part, because of its idiotic content. Also, a person had to be an idiot to waste so many hours of their life in front of a television. But the real idiot is the person who cannot see and utilize the many benefits of having access to so much information in such a convenient format.

With a few smart choices, you can turn your television into a genius box. If you love football, you can get the 2016 Sunday Ticket at no extra cost on DIRECTV starting as low as $35 per month. For those times when you leave the man cave, you can access most of the channels and shows you love watching right from your smartphone. You would have to be an idiot to ignore smart options like these when setting up your man cave.

Just ask yourself, what would Bruce Wayne do?

Smart Speakers

You don't need giant, room-rattling, 9.1 spherical-surround, IMAX speakers in a small to moderate sized room. Use your head. You don't need bigger, more expensive speakers. You need smarter speakers.

Regardless of what you have connected to the oversized TV, you should consider a portable Bluetooth speaker for casual listening. Techradar offers their take on the 9 best Bluetooth speakers on the market today. There are no bad choices on the list, and several really good ones that didn't make it.

The reason you need this type of speaker is for those times when you are listening to music on your smartphone. You can easily throw the sound from the phone to the far more capable speaker you have tucked away on a bookshelf in your cave. When you leave the room, you can send the sound back to your device and never miss a beat.

The Ultimate Gaming Rig You Built Yourself

You cannot call yourself a spiritual successor of Bruce Wayne if you don't have at least one piece of tech that you MacGuyvered together with your own two hands. There is no reason that piece of tech shouldn't be the ultimate gaming machine.

Not knowing what you're doing is no excuse for this project. There are more video and step-by-step guides to building the ultimate gaming PC than you can shake a joystick at. These guides detail the parts you need, and how little you can get away with paying. Most of the guesswork has been removed. You don't have to try to figure out which parts will work best together. Some system integrators have already done that. All you have to do is put the pieces together like an overgrown Lego set.

There is more to the modern man cave than a few pieces of technology. It also has to have personality, and a fridge. But after the fridge, don't forget the genius box, the smart speaker, and the ultimate gaming PC you built with your own hands and iron will. Hey, it's your man cave. Make it an adventure worth sharing.

10 Facts About Solar Power

Our modern society is increasingly consuming oil, gas, and coal at an alarming rate, which is harming the environment. Renewable sources of energy like solar power are becoming alternatives to get our energy needs met. Solar power, which refers to energy that comes from the sun, is an energy source that is made naturally on a daily basis. The sun has been producing energy for billions of years. It is the building block of sustaining life on Earth. It is renewable, unlike fossil fuels, and is much better for the environment. New developments in technology have focused on harnessing the sun’s energy for use in the home since it doesn’t produce any pollutants.

There are limitations, however, since sunlight received by Earth is dependent on several factors. It can depend on the location, as well the time of day, the time of year, and, of course, the weather. Here are some more interesting facts about solar power.

1.) Energy from the sun is free and everywhere! Even though the sun is millions of miles from Earth, light travels from the Sun to Earth in about 10 minutes. Compare that to the time it takes to drill for and distribute oil!

2.) The Earth gets about 1,366 watts of direct solar radiation per square meter. Optimizing the process of collecting this radiation means converting the sun's rays to power.

3.) You can cook, dry, or pasteurize food with solar energy. Third-world countries with hunger problems can utilize free and available energy.

4.) The modern world is so dependent on non-renewable fossil fuels for energy that shortages or rising prices can be catastrophic. Renewable forms of energy reduce the likelihood of these occurrences.

5.) Solar power is a clean and sustainable way to cut down on harmful emissions that have contributed to climate change.

6.) Domestically, ways of capturing solar energy are usually solar panels. These absorb solar rays and convert them into usable energy.

7.) There is no pollution from solar power. There are no adverse environmental effects from solar power at all, making it an excellent alternative to the use of fossil fuels.

8.) Renewable energy is a hot topic for research in the scientific community. From wind turbines in Africa to solar power in Tucson, there are alternative energy sources being studied every day.

9.) Space ships used in space missions by various countries use solar power.

10.) Solar power is an excellent temporary power source and is used in places from local fairs to mining sites, and even the Olympics. Each year the sun beams to Earth enough energy to sustain the global needs of its inhabitants. Right now only one tenth of energy needs are met by solar power, but we have the power to overcome our need for fossil fuels. On a personal level, you may want to consider getting solar panels to do your part to live a greener, more efficient lifestyle by using solar power. There are savings involved as well, making it a win for you and a win for the planet.

Does burlap work in contemporary decor?

Ideas for using burlap in crafty, country decor have taken over my Pinterest feed lately.  My own decor is a mix of contemporary and mid-century modern with a generous application of contemporary art.  Burlap just doesn't seem to fit with that mix.  But wait...  just tell me something doesn't work, and I am on a journey to prove otherwise.

 Currently in my art practice I am questioning public expectations for certain materials.   Perhaps that's why I am thinking about burlap.   All those country/homey pins for burlap  got me thinking about raising the ante, by taking burlap  out of its country comfort level.

So let's explore the question.

I like burlap because it ...

• has texture;
• is a natural fibre from the jute plant;
• is a renewable product because of its source;
• is  available in several  neutral colours and can be dyed; 
• is relatively inexpensive;
• can be used without sewing;
• accepts paint well;
• comes in a variety of widths and qualities;
• has an open weave for introducing  different materials into design. 

On the other side are several drawbacks...

• it is smelly; 
• cheaper varieties are very coarse; 
• it is usually stiff and doesn't gather well; 
• the weave is uneven

Here's a collection of commercially produced products using burlap.  Obviously, this isn't the burlap you wrap your trees with in fall!

There are also lots of options for DIYers or to purchase from sites like ETSY. 

Pillows 

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Window Treatments 

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Runner 

Bedskirt 

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Art 

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Now it's your turn....

Do these decor trends need a rest in 2016?

When does a trend become overused and tired?

Sometimes certain trends are grabbed by many homeowners,  and before you know it they are everywhere and you may begin to feel like you have reached your viewing saturation point.  I get this feeling a lot on Pinterest. It might be a pattern, a wall treatment or specific fabrics.  I find myself thinking... please no more.

Does it really matter to the average homeowner?

Only you can answer that question. I'm not censoring  what a homeowner chooses to use to decorate a home. Rather I am  just commenting that certain  design decisions seem to be very overused, and as a result  if you want to have a home that is a little unique or individual, these design decisions are probably not the way to go.

Chevrons

I have always been a lover of geometric prints.  There was a time when I loved chevron designs, but that affair has ended!  Too bad I have to say good-bye;  perhaps in ten years we will have a reunion.

Animal prints

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I have to work hard to warm up to animal prints, but  I agree that their  organic spots and stripes are very interesting when you want to include  patterns in a room.  Maybe one or two  animal prints might be good, but more than that becomes overdone.  I like to  introduce them using small items like a  box or a pillow because they are easier to replace when you get tired of them.

Blackboard walls

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Having been a teacher, I left blackboard walls behind years ago.   I think they work well in  a child's playroom or bedroom because they serve  a functional purpose, but they are dusty. Think about allergies too.  There is something messy and not quite right about them in main rooms of a  home.

Gallery/salon  walls

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I love  smaller gallery walls that are very organized.  Too many items and you end up looking at the organization (or lack thereof)  and not the individual  pieces of art.

Baskets everywhere

I have  baskets in my home here and there because they are functional, but I am always careful  not to overdo it.  I don't want someone to walk in and think ... the house of baskets.

 Text as art

  Yes, I like quotes, I even collect them and I love text.  Their use as art  just seems to be way overdone in the last few years.

Faux taxidermy

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 Here's another design  motif  that when  used in the right setting  added an individual note to a space in the past, but not anymore because faux taxidermy is  everywhere and I am still trying to figure out why.  Are you a lover?

Starbursts

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Another beautiful motif that has reached the boredom point from overuse.  As a lover of circles and rays I would have to think  long and hard before using a starburst in a design right now.  Too predictable!  Another element on my revisit after 5 years list.

Large horizontal stripes

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When this image first popped up on Pinterest I was attracted to the strong graphic nature of the stripes.   Very quickly bold, equally sized and spaced stripes were popping up everywhere especially black and white ones.  Nothing was sacred as they appeared  on walls, rugs, pillows, tables etc.


And how about you?  Do you have design elements or objects that you think need a rest?  Perhaps you love some of my "tired" choices and want to argue for their continued use.

Safety Tips for DIY Jobs That Include Welding

Welding projects can be challenging, but they can also be a lot of fun. If you like hands-on projects that allow you to create new things, welding could be just the thing for you. And with the right setup and preparation, you can even enjoy welding right in the comfort of your own garage.

Despite how great welding projects can be, though, they can also pose several dangers to your health and wellbeing. To ensure your safety, continue reading for a few tips that will keep you safe during any DIY welding job.

Wear a Helmet

The right helmet that is specifically made for welding and that fits your head perfectly will protect your entire face from any flying particles, as well as all of the sparks that you will end up creating. Plus, because you will be creating radiation as you weld, you need a welding helmet that is designed to protect your delicate eyes from this damaging radiation.

Cover All Exposed Skin

Any skin that is exposed during a welding project will be susceptible to the damaging and painful effects of the UV radiation and infrared rays that are created. Sparks can also catch in your open pockets, as well as your pant cuffs or even down your shirt, so you have to button everything and make sure that there aren’t any areas of your clothing where sparks could cause damage and injuries. And never keep any lighters or matches in your pockets.

Set Up an Uncluttered Work Area

It is a good idea to set up your welding station on wheels, and the station itself should be made of heavy-duty metal. But in addition to all of that, you should avoid having any clutter in the area as well. There should be a specific place for all of your tools and your project pieces as you work on them. The welding area itself should only have the equipment and tools that you need, such as Mathey Dearman clamps, to use during a project, and nothing else.

Prevent Stress Injuries Caused by Repetitive Motions

When you are working on a welding project, you will be performing the same repetitive motions for quite some time. This repetition could take its toll on your body and result in painful stress injuries that could take a long time to heal completely. But there are steps you can take to prevent these injuries.

For example, to reduce neck fatigue, you can use an auto-darkening welding helmet rather than the typical fixed shade option. These types of helmets can even save you time between welds, which means you will be working on a project for less time and reducing the chance of a stress injury.

With the above safety tips in mind, you can pursue any DIY welding project that you desire, and you can complete the project in your garage if you want. Just make sure that you have enough space and that you purchase all of the appropriate safety gear and tools to remain safe and unharmed at all times.