happy living Design

a little design for everyone (in a bag)

A few years back Target did that ad campaign they called 'Design for All" which I loved in concept and I hope in some way I am able to bring that idea to the architecture world (that everyone, not just the rich, should have access to well-designed homes).  The interior design industry I think is bringing it to us in a big way these days.  Yes, you can go hire Bunny Williams for a bazillion dollars per hour (she is that amazing!) or now you can work with a talented designer via phone or email room-by-room for much much much less.  And these designers have all come up with ingenious way to deliver their goods (floor plans, samples, etc.) to your doorstep.

design in a bag is a design service by Rebekah Zaveloff (of HGTV and Chicago's KitchenLab) that "puts professionally coordinated kitchen and bath designs in your hands" for around $100.  It includes cabinet, countertop, tile and paint samples, a shopping list and hand-drawn renderings.

The finish and material options these days for kitchens and baths are endless and overwhelming.  If you don't have time or just don't feel like spending hours going from showroom to showroom, you can pick from dozens of pre-selected palettes either by color (cool, warm or neutral) or collection (modern, classic or vintage).

I am actually considering this one for our kitchen (if we ever get to that project!).  Check out the site.  Find them on Facebook and Twitter too!

burning the candle(s)

Burning the candle(s) at both ends.  That's me lately.  It's the only way to describe it and it has me totally out of sorts, scattered, down and losing sleep (and blogging at 12 midnight).  I do too much.  I have a sneaking suspicion that a lot of you do too much too.  I have to find a way to prioritize, edit, to slow down a little because lately I think life is passing me by while I am running around crazy trying to catch it.  Most times being home is the constant, the calming and centering place in my life where I can disconnect and reconnect.  Lately it has become part of the stress.

The one goal I have had for the house this summer is to redecorate the 'master' bedroom.  You can see some before pics here and here.  But with everything else going on I just don't know how I am going to get it done.  I have contacted one contractor to get a price for the work that needs to be done, but it is really hard for us to pay someone to do work that we know we can do ourselves.  So I either make the time to do it or I hire someone to do it for me.  It's really that simple.

The boy left for work early this morning so I had some quiet time to myself.  I had a peaceful breakfast on the porch.  It seems that location in the house is going to be the good one this summer.  It reminds me not to blame the house (the object) and be thankful that I have a lovely little house to stress over in the first place.  And then I just feel silly for being stressed in the first place.

The photo was taken on Saturday night at my cousin's birthday party in Philly.  His friend has a lovely apartment/condo right on South Street with a view from the balcony to the river.  We had a great time.

canning the housecleaner

I did something crazy a few weeks ago.  I let my housecleaner go.  He was great.  No complaints there.  But I had been thinking about it for awhile and just decided to go ahead and do it.  It was really a bit of luxury for us and great while it lasted.  Originally he came every two weeks and then we went to every three weeks with my supplemental cleaning in between.  I loved coming home on those Thursdays to a clean and refreshed house.  Chris cleaned for us for about a year and before that, at our other house Barb also cleaned for a little over a year.

Why would I do this??  I honestly can't say that I had any inclination that the stock market was going to go below 8500 points and I was taking advance steps towards tightening our budget at home.  A general tightening of the budget was in my mind, and I also wondered if it was really necessary for our tiny family of two to have a housecleaner (the house, except for the bathrooms, never gets that dirty anyway).

But there is another part of me that felt that I lost touch with my own house.  Is that weird?  I think there is a benefit to being engaged with your home and something both meaningful and practical that is lost when everything is left to the hired help.  When I am the one scrubbing the bathroom floor I notice the that caulk along the base of the tub needs to be done and I make a mental note of it.  The housecleaner is not necessarily going to notice and even if he or she does they may not remember to tell you about it.  On a less practical note is not the scrubbing and dusting just as much a part of making a home as say the decorating and cooking?

I am not implying by any means that I am noble or deserve a pat on the back because I am back to cleaning my own house.  I am just glad to be an active particpant in the 'keeping' process again, I guess.

sparkle-ly windows : a facial for your house?

The windows at my day job (two sides of a 3-story Victorian twin) were cleaned today, inside and out, storm windows and sashes.  I could see the classical white columns of the Presbyterian church across the street very clearly now that the film of grime and dirt had been wiped away and I enjoyed the winter light and sky during the workday for the first time. 

I think having windows washed is like a facial for a house.  It is typically not something one has done regularly but when you do it is like uncovering a whole new person.  I think the same feeling applies to a house.  Not only do clean windows add sparkle and curb-appeal, but your view from the inside looking out is so much more enjoyable.

But let's be real here.  I was lucky to clean my windows at our previous home once a year if even that often.  Ideally I would get myself on a regular window cleaning schedule but I am not.  Before we moved I was lucky enough to have my mom come over and clean most of our windows.  They already need to done again. 

I think there is definitely value in hiring a window cleaner.  The prices that I have heard quoted for a typical residence were very reasonable.  Sure the act and process of window cleaning is something that most people can tackle on their own, but time = money.  I find it difficult enough to get laundry done sometimes let alone set aside at minimum a half day to wash my windows.  Value.  Remember, Time=Money.

If you do it yourself I recommend...

Basic H2 Organic Cleaning Concentrate from Shaklee
1-2 drops mixed with 16 oz. of water, I swear it works!

Super Microfiber Window Cloth also from Shaklee

happy cleaning!

Kitchen and Bath Business :: get info right from the pros

I received a package from the lovely Melissa at Kitchen and Bath Business last week. I have read the K+BB magazine before, but have never been on their website.

Over 6 million kitchens were renovated last year in the US and almost the same amount of bathrooms.  Whether you live in a house or an apartment, chances are you will do some kind of improvement to one of these two rooms in your home at least once in your lifetime, if not several times.  Whether your project entails changing a leaky faucet or a complete kitchen renovation, the choices are endless and sometime overwhelming.

Why not get your info right from the horse's mouth.  K+BB is geared towards those in the design and construction industries, but these types of publications and websites are great places for homeowners to get the best and latest information on products and services.  I think it's a good starting point if you are thinking about a kitchen or bath project.  Check out the buyers guide to search specific products and the projects area for inspiration. 

I have seen some refreshing and unique projects highlighted in K+BB.  This one at left is a bathroom renovation where the designer used a genuine antique medical artifact from Twenty Gauge as the cabinetry.  I love that!

Also check out their newly launched website K+BB Green - the business of building eco-friendly kitchens and baths.

Most of us spend so much time in our kitchens, that it is a great room to start thinking 'green' in.

(images from K+BB)

more *moving* resources

Relative to hiring movers to move you and your stuff, it seems to me that the consensus is to get REFERRALS from friends and family and anyone else that you trust.  I have heard that most of the people dissatisfied with their movers found them online.  Luckily, I know a number of people who have moved in the last couple of years and we are starting there.  I recommend you do the same.  Here's a good checklist from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

So what about preparing for when the movers come to pick up your stuff?  Unless you're lucky enough to have the financial resources to have someone pack your entire house for you, there's quite a bit to do.

Of course Martha has a helpful timetable, a list of essential packing supplies and tips for successful packing.  Also check out the long list of moving articles at Better Homes & Gardens.

('Moving House, Mongol Style' photo by flickr member louise.stringer)

painting & paint colors

We've painted and installed hardwood floors in two of our upstairs rooms, but the rest of the house is in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint.  Finding the time to tackle the projects is difficult enough.  And although I can pick colors for other people in a flash and feel confident about them, choosing colors for my own home takes  f o r e v e r !

When I consider colors I am always intrigued by the way different colors make you feel.  I think I've decided on a light blue for our kitchen (and a more neutral but warm sand or 'blonde' color for our living room to brighten it up a bit).  Orange is known to stimulate appetite while on the other hand blue decreases appetite.  Possibly good for dieting or those who struggle with healthy eating?

Benjamin Moore has a great summary of the feelings and moods that different colors evoke.  I would call these general guidelines, but very helpful.  BM and Sherwin Williams have thousands of colors to choose from and subtle differences in colors that appear to be the same can have very different effects on a room.

When choosing paint colors I highly recommend giving yourself enough time. Don't rush.  Get sample pots or packets (both available from Benjamin Moore retailers) and paint a swatch about 3' x 3' on the wall.  Leave it for a few days so you can see what it looks like in different light and at different times of the day.  Carry a paint swatch around with you and look at it as well.  But don't be afraid to trust yourself and just go with it, because you can always paint over it if it's not exactly what you want.

(both photos from Benjamin Moore)

the after pictures and construction dust

Ceiling is patched, bedroom wall is patched, new vanity and sink are installed, both sets of closet doors are installed and trim around the patio door looks great.  I still have to paint the patches, closet doors and trim and order and install the marble apron for the sink.  We also have to buy a carbide or diamond tipped drill bit to drill a hole in the marble counter to install the drain pull.  Jim was done one day early because "things went much better than they usually do".

Construction dust side note: When you are doing projects or having work done in, near or around your home, expect all horizontal surfaces to be covered in dust or dirt.  Just for the work done around the patio doors, our entire kitchen was covered.  There are ways to minimize it, but some dust is unavoidable so cover everything you can.

hiring a contractor

Yesterday, today and tomorrow our contractor is at our house doing various small projects.  Most of the work we've hired him to do consists of finishing projects that we've started but never got around to completing.  And as we contemplate putting our house up for sale, the need for project completion becomes even more important.  Clockwise from top left: replace old vanity/sink with new vanity/sink, patch ceiling where I almost put my foot through, patch hold in bedroom wall, add piece of ductwork and louver in basement ceiling, add insulation and trim around new patio doors.

Up until now, our mantra has always been "Why hire someone to do something we can do ourselves?".  The work to be done is not complicated.  We could handle it, but it is a matter of putting aside the time to do it, which neither of us has right now.  And the hole in our wall has been there for a couple of years now and isn't getting any smaller.  One thing I learned in Construction Management class in school is "Time = Money".  And when deciding whether or not to do a project(s) yourself, you have to consider how much your own time is worth.  Like I said, we could probably do the work ourselves, but Jim will get it done faster, it will look WAY better and we won't have spent two weekends doing it.

I realize not everyone has the luxury of hiring help even for small projects.  But don't rule it out right away.  There are retired carpenters, electricians, etc. in every town and city that do handy-work or small projects for a reasonable amount of money.  Ask around to neighbors, friends and family first to see if they can give you recommendations.   That's how we found Jim and he has been a God-send.   He's not a retired carpenter but a full-time contractor that does additions and renovations as well as small projects.  You'll find those types out there as well.

We've done quite a bit of work in and around our house (building a shed, installing wood floors) and we do get a sense of accomplishment when we finish a project and it comes out pretty good.  But it can be just as satisfying when you spend an entire day at work and come home to a project that someone else finished for you.

See also: keeping home improvement costs under control

keeping home improvement costs under control

Planning and research.  Planning and research.  Way before you start ripping out a piece of your existing home, do your homework.  I will use a bathroom renovation as an example.

First make a list of all the work that you would like to do.  Don't forget the little things.  For example:

• replace fixtures (toilet, shower/tub and vanity/sink)
• new faucets at shower/tub and sink
• new floor
• new tile surround at shower/tub
• new lights and exhaust fan
• paint
• new accessories (towel bars & hooks, tp holder, mirror/medicine cabinet, etc...)
• window coverings

Make a binder.  Pull images from books and magazines of bathrooms that you like.  Browse your home improvement superstore.  Use the internet.  Go directly to manufacturer's websites to find anything from toilets to towel bars.  It will give you a better idea of the range of prices and you'll be better prepared to establish a realistic budget and also compare contractors' material prices if necessary.

Ask trusted family and friends who have done similar renovations.  They can be your best resource since they've been through it before.  They can tell you what was successful for them and what they would do differently from hiring help to picking paint colors.

Although every renovation project is different, chances are if you are just doing cosmetic work you won't need a design professional unless you want help with the decorating aspect.   If you decide to hire a contractor get at least three (3) bids or prices on the work you want.  If you can get names of recommended contractors from family or friends start there.  If those contractors are busy, ask them who else they could recommend to you.  The construction industry, especially for smaller residential work is typically a "small world".  Most contractors know who's 'good' and who isn't.  There are online sites where you can search for local contractors such as Angie's List where you pay a sign up fee and then monthly or yearly to use the service.  All the 'home service contractors' on Angie's List are reviewed and rated by actual homeowners who have used them.  The site lists the contractors by city.

Don't automatically hire the contractor with the lowest price.   They may need babysitting which takes away from your time.  And the most expensive contractor may put a lot of supervision time into his price which may not be needed for your project.  Ask lots of questions.  If they don't want to answer them then you probably don't want them working in your house.

A good reason to hire a design and/or construction professional instead of doing the work yourself is their experience with materials, budget and schedule just to name a few. (when to DIY and when not to DIY is  another discussion for another post!)  They can add to the initial cost of your renovation but can also save you money over the long term.  They should be able to foresee more of the snafoos that you can run into and know how to deal with them so that your schedule and budget don't go out of control.

Use standard or off-the-shelf products.  Anything you have to custom order can be twice what the standard is.  If you are handy, installing faucets, painting and touch-up are things you can do after the major work is done and can in some cases save you labor costs.  Talk to your contractor about this before he starts.  Some are more willing to negotiate prices than others.

Stick to your plan.  One renovation project can turn into another and another.  You will get a much bigger sense of accomplishment and relief if you finish one project before you begin another.  Trust me!

This process can apply to kitchens, basement finishing and any other room renovation.  Adding on can be a more involved process and I will talk about that soon.