Archive for December, 2009
Home For Z Holidays Freebie Winner!
Reading all of your holiday entertaining plans on this week’s giveaway really got us in the mood for the seasonal festivities. Hope you don’t mind if we decide to crash some of the parties you guys are throwing. We promise we won’t each. Much. Well, I take that back – one of us is eating for two after all. What if we promised to bring you some glimmering holiday goodies from Z Gallerie in return? Then do we officially gain permission to stuff our faces?
Well, as much as we’d love to bribe our way into all of your parties with these sparkly Z Gallerie decor items, we’ve only got one set to give away to one lucky guy or gal. So after hyponotizing random.org with the two ribbed Antique Mercury Votive Cups, silver Antique Mercury Hurricane and Puccini Hiball glasses in this week’s prize pack, it randomly revealed our winner’s name: Brooke (whose party staples are good wine, good treats, a crackling fireplace and Christmas music). Congrats! Now when should we come over? Just kidding. Sort of.
As for next week, we’ve got a prize for one of you (no matter where you live in the world!) that’ll help you spread holiday cheer all year long. Fun, fun, fun…
Get more info about our freebies on our Giveaway FAQs page. Images courtesy of Z Gallerie.
Calm? Cranky? Might Be Your Walls…
Now that my bun in the oven is totally “out” (there’s nothing like announcing it to the world at large) I’m liberated to admit things like “lately I’ve been reading nursery decorating books.” And my favorite one so far is Feathering The Nest by Tracy Hutson. But wait, don’t tune out yet all of you non-baby people…
Because not only is it packed with gorgeous eye candy (much of which is totally green and intentionally geared towards stimulating baby’s brain and keeping children’s safety in mind), it also has lots of interesting researched information, like a detailed write up about the impact of color. And it’s not just baby-skewed. Many of the color studies were performed on grown ups too, so imagine our surprise when we read things like “couples argue most in yellow kitchens.” Here’s an eye-opening rundown of each color and what some studies suggest that it means to the people around them (all according to Feathering The Nest):
Red-
- increases energy and enthusiasm
- generates excitement
- instills confidence
- associated with energizing organs, blood circulation, and the senses of hearing, smell, taste, vision and touch
- recommended as an accent since it’s intense
- might hurt a person’s ability to settle down or concentrate for extended periods
- an occasional bold stroke of it can encourage attention to detail
Orange-
- cheerful, bold, daring, spontaneous
- creates a sense of adventure
- encourages confidence and independence
- takes creativity and enthusiasm to new levels
- stimulates the lungs, respiration, and digestion
- reputed to increase milk production in new mothers and boost the appetite
- may elevate IQ as much as twelve points
Yellow-
- the most visible color
- sparks optimism, enlightenment, energy, creativity
- stimulates mental activity and memory
- said to encourage expression and communication
- believed to heighten mentality and strengthen muscles
- can assist in concentration, memorization, visualization skills, speaking, and writing
- some research showed babies cried more in yellow rooms
- other studies also found that couples argue most in yellow kitchens
Green-
- said to be the most refreshing color and the easiest on the eyes
- brings peace, rest, hope, comfort, balance, and harmony
- creates a sense of safety and security
- good for preemies or infants with gastroesophageal reflux syndrome
- strengthens and preserves eyesight
- alleviates depression, nervousness, and anxiety
Blue-
- perceived as a constant in our lives since it’s the color of the ocean and the sky
- soothing, calming, tranquil, peaceful
- may encourage individuals to be trustworthy, committed and dependable
- is used to help babies with respiratory distress syndrome
- decreases heart rate
Purple-
- a rich uplifting color
- provides a sense of calmness
- promotes inner strength
- inspires creativity and artistic talents
- is associated with respect and spirituality
- may calm a colicky baby and foster peaceful sleep
- provides a soothing effect on the ears, eyes, and nervous system
Pink-
- sweet, calming, innocent
- pink symbolizes youthfulness and softness
- it’s often associated with kindness
- said to heal sadness
- allows individuals to get in touch with their feelings
Brown-
- deep connection to the earth
- has natural and organic components
- is believed to afford a sense of stability and wholeness
- a very grounding color
- provides a feeling of order, reliability, and protection
Black-
- a submissive color
- makes a room appear smaller for a cozy, stabilizing feeling
- promotes a sense of bring grounded
- strengthens the ability to focus and gain a sense of self
White-
- a pure and joyous color
- symbolizes cleanliness and new beginnings
- aids in clear thinking and encourages clarity
- generates a sense of balance and harmony
- is associated with speedy healing
- a common color to treat depression
So what do you guys think? Does it have you rethinking any color choices you’ve made in your home? We’re relieved to hear that blue may encourage people to be trustworthy, committed and dependable since it’s our bedroom choice. Whew. And how about that yellow kitchen bombshell? We’ve seen tons of them and they always seem so cheerful. Let’s talk about color… and how it makes you feel.
All images courtesy of Benjamin Moore.
Tackling The Basement: Chapter Seven
We’re back with our weekly basement update and since we’re edging closer towards the best word ever (finished!) this week’s project is quick and easy. It actually has to do with that built-in cabinet (to the right of the Ikea workstation) that we painted white last week. Remember it was bare but we promised we had a storage idea in the queue for you guys? Well, here it is…
Yup, those are matching paint cans. And yes, we’re ok with you calling us nerds. We’ve actually been meaning to move our paint from the garage to the basement for a while. It’s a lot more temperate thanks to its underground location (it stays cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter) and because paint can freeze, dry out, and otherwise “spoil” when it gets too hot or cold, the basement is definitely a smarter place for it. Before moving it to the garage, we used to store our paint in the house until we read an article about how paint cans can off-gas and pollute your indoor air (so a lesser used basement or garage is a better choice).
And although we could easily have brought all of our old mismatched and gunked-up cans straight into the basement and called it a day, we just love the organized look of our “new” basement so much that we suddenly even hold paint storage to a higher standard and yearned for a more cohesive and effective solution. Not only do new cans look good, they create a tighter seal on our paint to help it last longer (which is always better than “casualty cans” sadly lost each year due to dried out paint- what a waste!). And for a few bucks a pop, new cans would be great “insurance” to keep all of our $25+ paint in ready-to-use condition.
Lucky for us, True Value sells these awesome empty paint cans (in both gallon and quart sizes) that we decided would be prefect for unifying everything for that newly spruced open shelf in the basement and keeping our paint nice and fresh for years to come. Remember how awesome True Value has been to us by giving us a spot on their DIY Blog Squad and offering us a generous gift card? Yeah, we kind of love them.
But seriously, how cool are those empty paint cans? Industrial-chic at it’s finest, no? Plus the act of transferring our paint allowed us to go through all of our old gallons and quarts to eliminate colors that we no longer need (like the old green color that we first used in the living room or the yellow paint that was on our front door) and you know we love to pare down, organize, and donate things that we’re no longer using (giving paint a second life is like two makeovers for the price of one!). Note: never toss old paint out with your regular garbage, either bring it to your local recycling center and drop it in the paint section or donate it to places like The Habitat For Humanity ReStore.
Of course before we grabbed our empty gallons and quarts we counted how many of each we’d need (and snagged a few extras for future additions). Then John’s inner “account guy” came out and he suggested that we head over to Office Max and buy some printable labels so we could transfer the name, brand, finish, and paint formula to each of the new cans (so we’d never have to worry about getting more whipped up if our supply ever dwindles). Sure it seemed a little obsessive (ok, a lot obsessive) but printing the labels only took about 15 minutes and they seriously make my little organization-loving heart skip a beat whenever I see them. Even John’s man heart swells with pride over his paint label making skillz.
Plus John even took a cue from the paint pros and left a little thumb print of each color on each label (you can never be too careful when it comes to guarding those paint formulas). The result: mouth-wateringly delicious open storage that keeps up with the rest of our basement while keeping our paint fresher thanks to a tighter seal that isn’t all gunked up with years of paint between the lip of the can and the lid. Gotta love a little “paint maintenance” to keep from having to trek out and rebuy paint all the time (nothing’s more annoying than needing a tiny bit of paint for a touch up and finding the entire can dried out which calls for the purchase of an entirely new one).
So what’s next on the basement agenda? Well, we still have to obscure our no-privacy windows and build a DIY screen to cover that eyesore of a water heater. Stay tuned for those details next week (in what will be the final chapter of our basement makeover!). Then it’s on to a big bathroom reno that has us laying awake in bed talking about tile options (and subsequently dreaming about said tile options). Do any of you have a big project that you’ll be taking on before the holidays? Maybe because people will be coming over and you want to spruce up the place or even because you know you’ll be traveling so leaving refinished floors to dry or going kitchenless for a bit while your new cabinets are ordered won’t be so bad? Do tell.
Update: One of our lovely readers chimed in with a solution to keep our new cans looking new and sealing securely for years to come. We plan to pick up a “latch on pour spout” which attaches to the lip of a gallon or quart and helps you pour paint without getting any around the lip of the can for a pristine look and a tight seal every time. Amazing!
Psst- Want to look back on our big basement makeover from start to almost-finished? Here’s the first post, the second post, the third post, the forth post, the fifth post and the sixth post. Ah memories.
Reader Redesign: Patio Perfection
Even though spring is a ways off, Sara’s before and after pictures had us feeling all sunny and cheerful. Here’s her letter:
I’m a longtime reader of your blog, and I have a big Reader Redesign for you. My fiancé and I bought our house last summer and have slowly been fixing it up. I’m so excited to share our biggest project to date: a DIY paver patio. We got a quote from a contractor that wanted around $8200 for the job! We decided to do the work ourselves, and also add a wall for extra seating. With no experience. And only two weeks to get it done before our big summer party. Yikes! We spent all of our nights and weekends (and a couple of vacation days) digging, compacting, leveling, shoveling, and moving (literally) tons of gravel, pavers and sand. It was backbreaking, but we are so pleased with the end result! With some clearance patio furniture and pillows from Home Depot, clearance seat cushions from TJ Maxx and a new fire pit from Menards, we ended up with a 300 square foot outdoor room that was nothing but weeds before! We still have some things to do out there, but for this season we are done. Oh and you can see more details and photos over on our blog. Here’s our budget breakdown for you:
- Belgard Dublin Cobble pavers, Weston Universal wall stones, edgers, stakes, 11 tons of crushed limestone, two tons of sand, three bags of polymeric sand, concrete adhesive for wall - $2054
- Compactor rental – $200
- Patio table – $140
- Six patio chairs – $300
- End table – $40
- Six throw pillows – $40
- Six seat cushions – $60
- Umbrella – FREE gift from neighbor (thanks, Margo!)
- 50 pound umbrella stand – $85 and worth every penny
- Fire pit – $100
- Total: $3019 – over 5k less than the contractor wanted for just the patio (not including the seat wall!)
Thanks so much for your great blog and for taking the time to check out our big patio project! -Sara
Here’s the bare before photo:
And here’s the amazing after:
Didn’t Sara’s DIY determination pay off big-time? What a fantastic place to entertain and enjoy three seasons out of the year! Plus we can only imagine the added resale value that it brings to their home. Don’t forget to head over to her blog to see more. Amazing job Sara! Now if only spring would hurry up and get here so you can enjoy all that hard work…
Psst- Speaking of hard work, Burger has narrowed his dog version of The Bachelor competition down to two lucky four-legged ladies. Check out the finalists (and the general absurdity) over on Hamburger’s House.
‘Tis The Season
It’s December 1st, which means the calendar has given us full permission to get our Merry Christmas on- or at least get things started. So we kicked things off last Sunday by putting up our artificial (reusable?) Christmas tree. It has yet to be fully decorated with ornaments, but if you wanna dive head first into the holidays with us, here’s a quick little video that captures the process (broken strand of lights and all) and hopefully drums up a little taste of seasonal spirit in the process. Watch it below on Vimeo or here on YouTube:
And while we do our best to give all of you sneak-a-peek-at-work readers a non-video version to enjoy, there’s not much to say or show this time by the way of a photo rundown. Basically we put up our tree (after a couple failed attempts at figuring out which part was the bottom), threw down two sheepskin rugs as a tree skirt and plugged the tree in only to discover a section of lights was out. Sigh. But it’s all in fast motion with a bit of holiday music so it’s somehow still cheerful and fun. Oh and Sherry’s baby belly is clearly visible so that might be exciting for some of you bump watchers out there.
In the good news department: we’ve since fixed our little tree-lighting issue. The better news: we’ll have more pictures (and a sequel video) to share once it gets all ornamentified. Just gotta hunt down (or create) a few more in a certain hard-to-find color first (Sherry’s all about a punchy new scheme this year so stay tuned for that).
But what about you guys. Has anyone else started their holiday decorating yet? We were amazed to see tons of homes that were already fully decked out with lights along the roof and around the porch and a giant tree glowing in the window just the day after Thanksgiving. We’re starting a bit more slowly- but fear not, we’ll pick up steam in the coming weeks and share all the fun along the way. After all, ’tis the season…
