Country Living: Decorating Your Log Home
Bored With Traditional Home Remodels? Use Non-Traditional Floors For A New Look
If your house looks like every other house on the block, you may be feeling the need to change things up a bit with a remodel. While things like kitchen hardware and new furniture can give your home a new accent, a new and unique floor can change the complete look of your home. Read on to find out how you can use the install of a new floor to give your home a unique feel. Industrial Look The industrial look is all about mimicking a warehouse, foundry, or other unfinished, unrefined industrial complex. Often seen in city lofts, this look utilizes materials like metal, cinder block, brick, and chain to give the home a raw feeling that really sets it apart from the crowd. To set an industrial tone in your home, look to install concrete floors in your remodel. Beyond the great industrial look of concrete, it also offers the following benefits: Concrete floors are versatile and can be done with various finishes and mixed with colors, stains, and dyes to give your home a truly unique look. Finishes include polished, smooth, and troweled, and the concrete can even be stamped to make it look like tile or planks, while still maintaining a raw, unfinished feeling. Concrete floors can easily be mopped and scrubbed with water and cleaners, making them a great choice for rooms that require frequent cleaning like bathrooms, kitchens, and mud rooms. This also makes concrete a good option for pet owners. Concrete uses renewable materials, is recyclable, and retains heat and cold which will help cut down on utility costs and energy consumption. To add to the look, you can also install concrete or metal countertops, stainless steel appliances (both large and small), furniture with exposed metal legs and tubing, and exposed brick walls and duct work. Modern/Bauhaus Look The modern, or Bauhaus, look revolves around clean lines, symmetry, and function over form. This look is associated with the 1920’s and 1930’s and uses distinct contrast of colors like black and white, and classic red, yellow, and blue. A great base for your modern-look remodel is rubber flooring. While it may seem a little odd, rubber flooring fits in perfectly with the function-over-form feel of a modern home and offers unique upsides: Rubber floors are usually installed as tiles, meaning that you can use clean lines, colors, and symmetry to create a Bauhaus feel. Rubber is a slip-resistant material and you can purchase tiles with extra texturing for specific spots in your home. This means that you can create a virtually slip-free environment in areas near entryways, bathtubs, showers, and sinks seamlessly. Rubber also naturally absorbs shock, meaning it will take more of the impact if there is an accidental fall and is more comfortable to be on your feet for a long time over other, harder flooring materials. To complete your modern remodel, install white or black appliances (or both), add furniture with straight lines and hard corners, and use fabrics with symmetrical, clean patterns. Twist on a Traditional Look If the above-mentioned are a little too extreme for your tastes, you can still make your home stand out by changing up your floors with an otherwise traditional look. Consider using cork flooring to preserve warm wood tones while still giving your traditional-looking...
read moreHow To Make Moving Less Stressful For Your Toddler
As the parent of a toddler, you are keenly aware of the necessity of routines in your young child’s life. A typical toddler might fall to the floor in a tantrum if bath time is cut short or if you read only one bedtime story instead of the usual two. If you are getting ready to move soon, you might wonder how you and your little one are going to get through the experience with minimal meltdowns. Here are some tips on doing just that. Make the New House Familiar If you are moving to another house in town, make it a point to visit the new neighborhood and, if possible, the new house several times before you actually move in. Your toddler will be less frightened of a new place if he or she already knows where the kitchen is, what color the bedroom walls are and that there is a flower garden in the backyard. In some cases, of course, this isn’t possible; if you will be moving in after the previous tenants or owners move out, you can’t exactly go knock on the door and ask to give your toddler a tour. You can, however, look at photos of the house and talk about the features about the new house that might be different. If your current living room has beige carpet and the new living room will have green, for example, this is something to talk to your little one about. Move Your Toddler’s Room Last If you are using movers to handle the packing, consider having them skip your toddler’s room. It might be helpful to your child to have you do the packing up of the treasures. Save this task until the morning of the move, if possible. This way, your little one can sleep in the room without it looking different or scary. Another option is to have someone else care for your child (a daycare center or a relative or close friend) while the move is taking place. Be sure to give him or her a chance to say goodbye to the room, and make it clear that everything will be in the new house when you come to pick him or her up. When you do get to the new house, make sure that the toddler’s room is unpacked and put together first. Keep As Much the Same As Possible There are some things that you cannot control when you move; the layout of the new home is likely to be different from the current layout, and there will be different types of noises that your child will need to get used to. Some things, however, are in your control, and you should do your best to keep them as consistent as possible. For example, if your child’s bed was to the right of his or her dresser in the old house, try to replicate the arrangement in the new house. If you are planning to buy new furniture for the new home, do this several weeks before or several weeks after the move; your toddler will feel more secure if the furniture and bedding is familiar. Also, stick to your normal routine, if you can. Keep the bedtime routine the same and try to stick to the same times...
read moreWhat In The World Is A Vole? How To Identify This Pest And Get Them Out Of Your Lawn And Garden
You’ve heard of moles and have seen your fair share of mice, but have you ever heard of a vole? These small rodents resemble mice, but in some cases, they can be far more destructive, especially to your lawn and garden. Even though they are a lesser known member of the rodent species, voles are still very common throughout the United States and Canada. Here is some valuable information about voles – including how to identify them and if you suspect you are suffering from an infestation, a few tips to help you get rid of them: Is It a Vole? According to the Cornell University Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management, there are over 23 different species of voles that reside throughout the United States and Canada. There are subtle differences between the species, but in general, if you see a rodent with the following characteristics, it is a vole: A short, stocky frame According to the Pennsylvania State Extension, mature voles are generally anywhere between five and seven inches in length A short tail and short nose Brown or gray in color Unfortunately, you might notice the damage caused by a vole before you ever lay eyes on this destructive rodent. One of the most distinctive signs of a vole infestation can be found in your yard. Unlike moles, which create raised tunnels throughout your lawn and garden and consume insects, voles enjoy a diet of leaves, grass and the vegetables. If you’ve noticed several small holes throughout your lawn and garden and an animal has been feasting on your grass and root vegetables, chances are a vole is the culprit. According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, the best way to determine if your vegetables are being consumed by a vole is to take a look at the bite marks. Voles will leave behind bite marks that are approximately one-eighth inch deep, which are much smaller than a rabbit. Getting Rid of Voles If you suspect voles are wreaking havoc in your lawn and garden, there are several ways to get rid of these destructive rodents. Here are a few tips to help you get rid of the voles that have made a home in your lawn and garden: Bait mouse traps with peanut butter, soft cheese or wet pet food and scatter them around areas in your lawn and garden that the voles frequent. For example, if the voles seem to favor your beets, concentrate the traps there. Check the traps daily and dispose of the deceased voles in your outdoor trash can. Make your garden and lawn less attractive by keeping the grass short and eliminating any mulch. Capsaicin and thiram are two repellents often used to control vole infestations. Capsaicin is found in chili peppers and thiram is a main ingredient in several fungicides. Spread either of these repellents around the perimeter of your lawn and garden to help keep voles at bay. Contact an exterminator before using any pesticides. According to the Penn State Extension, the main two types of pesticides that are effective in controlling voles are: anticoagulant baits and zinc phosphide. These are both potentially-dangerous and should only be handled and applied by a professional. The use of pesticides is a great option if the vole infestation is extensive or you...
read more5 Ways Your Drapes Can Help Regulate Your Depression
If you regularly suffer light or moderate depression, then you most likely have developed several coping mechanisms to help manage your mood. Diet, exercise, and a well-planned social life can all help combat depression. However, one area you may have overlooked that can also be used to regulate your mood is your home decor. The color and feeling of each room in your home can exacerbate mood disorders or help you achieve stability. Below are five ways you can utilize your drapery treatments to help combat depression. Get More Control Over Your Lighting You may be aware that exposure to sunlight can help boost your mood and decrease depression symptoms. However, you should keep in mind that many people who suffer from depression have insomnia or trouble falling and staying asleep at night. Light coming into the room, especially artificial light from street lamps, can make it even more difficult for you to fall asleep. When purchasing drapes, you need to consider a system that will give you full control over the amount of light in your room. Extending the drapes past the edge of your window will allow the maximum amount of sunlight into your room when the drapes are open. Blackout backing can make your drapes more effective at helping you sleep when they are closed at night. Making sure there is no furniture in front of your drapes to allow for easy opening and closing will give you more control over the amount of light in your room, and if you do not think you will remember to open your drapes in the morning, an automated system can ensure that you wake up to sunlight streaming in on you. Stabilize Your Mood With Color Color can affect your mood, and drapes are a good way to add splashes of color to an otherwise plain room, especially if you are renting and do not want to permanently change the color of your walls or furniture. Warm colors such as red, orange, and yellow tend to be invigorating while cool colors such as blue and violet tend to be relaxing. You may think adding a vibrant orange or red may be the best solution to your depression, but these colors can be irritating if they cover too much wall space. Instead consider colors that will gently stabilize your mood, such as a light green. Invigorate Yourself With Prints One symptom of depression is boredom. You may have trouble engaging with ideas or activities. An interesting pattern on your curtains can help engage your brain, lifting you out of boredom and making you smile. This is especially helpful if you tend to stare off into the distance when you are depressed. Lift Your Mood With Light Fabrics When selecting drapes, you should avoid heavy fabrics such as velvet or velour. While these can give a rich appearance to a room, they can also feel oppressive. Instead opt for cotton and twill to give a light texture to your room that will not feel overly heavy when your drapes are closed. Entice Yourself to Go Outside Usually drapes are designed to accent the room they are in. However, if you have trouble getting outside when you are depressed, you may want to select drapes that complement the view from your window....
read moreHow To Lower Heat Bills & Keep Your Home Warm All Winter
It’s painful to watch your heat bill skyrocket during the winter months. In some states it gets so cold, it seems like it would take an act of God for your heater to keep up with the frigid temperatures. If you find that your heat is running all day long and you’re still not feeling warm enough, here are some ways to keep your home warm in the wintertime. Use thick curtains In the wintertime, you lose heat through your windows no matter how sealed the windows are. Putting thick, heavy curtains over your windows will keep the warm air trapped inside of your home. The cold air from outside also makes your windows cold, which in turn, radiates cold air on both sides and cools off your home. The curtains will keep the cold air blocked from coming inside too much as well. Run fans in reverse In the wintertime, running your ceiling fans can actually warm up your house. Ceiling fans usually have a small reverse switch on them. When you run a fan on low, in reverse, it will push the air down. Since heat rises, the fan will keep the heat pushed down, and your house warmer. Area rugs About 15% of heat you lose in your home is lost through uninsulated and uncarpeted flooring. If you have wood floors throughout your home, lay down as many thick area rugs as you can. The thick area rugs will keep the heat from escaping through your floor while keeping your feet warm on the floor. Use exhaust fans sparingly Only use the exhaust fan in your kitchen and your bathroom when you have to. The exhaust fans pull the rising heat out of your home. If you have no other choice but to use them, turn them off as soon as possible. Keep doors closed It may seem better to keep doors open so the heat can travel around and warm up your home, but it’s better to keep the doors closed. You don’t want your heater turning on throughout the day to heat up bedrooms that no one is using during the day. Keeping the doors closed will keep the heat trapped in the main areas of your home and keep your heater from running constantly. Use a fireplace If you don’t have a wood fireplace, buy an electric one. Using an electric fireplace will use less electricity than your heater while keeping your home warm. If you have a gas heater, and has prices are high, you won’t have to worry about the high cost of gas heat. Put foil behind radiators & vents It might sound silly and unattractive, but putting foil behind your radiators and heaters will reflect the heat into your home. Otherwise, the you lose a lot of your heat through your walls. You can buy foil that is specially made for reflecting heat in your home. If you don’t want to buy any special foil, regular kitchen foil will work too. Caulk and weather-strip Gaps in your doors and windows will bring cold air in and let your hot air out. Make sure you have proper weather-stripping around your door so the gaps between the door and the frame are covered. Put fresh caulking around your windows to keep...
read moreWhat Every Indoor Riding Arena Owner Needs to Know About Pigeons
Indoor riding arenas provide a comfortable place for training your horses and keeping them fit. However, indoor riding arenas also provide pigeons with shelter and food. If you have an indoor riding arena, you’ll want to keep pigeons out. While not necessarily dangerous to horses, they can be dangerous to humans and your business. Here’s what you need to know. Pigeon habits and habitat Pigeons like large indoor places like riding arenas and barns because these large structures provide the birds with shelter, food and enough space to fly around. Pigeons eat grains, which may be plentiful in your riding arena if you feed your horses in it. They tend to stay in a general area, which is why you may see pigeon droppings in a centralized location. Look above the droppings and you may see a nest above. Females can lay one or two eggs, with squabs (baby pigeons) hatching within 18 days. Squabs can start taking care of themselves at the tender age of four weeks. At that point, mom and dad are already working on producing their next set of babies. Therefore, when you start noticing pigeons in your riding arena, it’s important to take care of them as quickly as possible with pest control. Important information: Some people raise pigeons and put a band on their feet. If you notice banded pigeons, try to get the numbers from the bands so you can find the owners through the American Pigeon Racing Union. Health risks of pigeons You may be concerned about pigeon fever. However, pigeon fever is believed to be caused by flies, not by pigeons. It is given this name for the way the disease makes a horse’s chest protrude. Pigeons do, however, carry ticks, mites, fleas and lice that may irritate your horses. Pigeon droppings in your horse’s water and feed may cause them intestinal distress because the droppings may contain diseases like toxoplasmosis and salmonella, which are also dangerous to humans. The droppings can contain a fungus that can cause histoplasmosis in humans, which can cause flu-like symptoms. Pigeon droppings can be slippery and cause you and others to slip and fall, which could cause injuries or spook your horses. For these reasons, it’s important to eliminate pigeons from your indoor riding arena. Pest control for pigeons Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to get rid of the pigeons and keep them out. You’ll need to deter them from being able to make your indoor arena their home. This can be done by installing spiked strips on the rafters of your riding arena. This will prevent the pigeons from being able to land on the rafters. You can place an owl decoy near each entrance to the arena. Some owl decoys are programmed to hoot occasionally to give a more realistic effect. There are also snake decoys available. These items can be purchased through a pest control company. You can also get a noise deterrent device from a pest control company. These are devices that are specifically designed to deter pigeons and other birds by emitting a high-pitched noise. Your horses should not be affected by this type of device. However, it may bother small animals you may want in your barn, particularly dogs and cats. If you’d like...
read moreDoes Your Business Seem Stale? Three Ways To Add New Excitement Without Breaking Your Budget!
Brick and mortar businesses are under pressure. Large chain stores and online competitors are taking advantage of lower overhead costs to move prices below the comfort level of the smaller independent shop. Even worse, the stagnant economy in many areas of the nation are forcing local consumers to delay making the large purchases that store owners have relied on in the past. These problems can be especially difficult for aging businesses to overcome, as consumers are lured away by newer, fresher options. If you a struggling small business owner looking for a way to broaden your customer base and add real excitement to your store, here are three affordable options that can help. Join Forces for an Instant Increase in Customer Traffic A great way to instantly breathe new life into your business is to partner up with another business that complements your product line. For instance, a frame shop might bring in a popular photographer or interior designer to attract new clients in to their shop. Additional examples of complementary pairings include: a pet store that teams with dog trainers, pet nutritionists, veterinarians, or groomers a furniture store that teams with painters, designers or a great residential cleaning crew a jewelry store that teams with a bridal shop or a wedding or event planner a greeting card store that teams with a calligrapher or specialty paper shop a restaurant that teams with a specialty dessert maker, a bakery, or a wine shop These pairings can be especially helpful if you own your own location or have a long-term lease agreement that will allow you to work out favorable sub-lease terms for a portion of your space. In addition, you should have a mutual agreement that divides up some of the standard expenses of doing business, such as joint marketing fees, utilities, cleaning and other fixed costs. Both businesses will benefit from the traffic generated by their partner’s customer base, yet enjoy a reduced cost of doing business, making it a win-win for both owners. Maximize Social Media Older businesses that were already well-established may not understand the impact that social media has on their customer base. For instance, your business may have created a web site and a basic social media page that you rarely update. When you have this type of stale web presence, even your loyal customers will hesitate to share your page. To alleviate this problem and get your customers excited about sharing information about your store, you will need to make several changes, including: freshening your web page and adding a blog that is updated frequently with fresh, informative content learning how to implement all types of social media, especially those that allow you to share photos of items for sale in your store or content designed to create a buzz, such as a cute video or a contest with popular prizes adding your social media handles and addresses to all your marketing materials, including signage, flyers, print and radio or television ads If you are unsure of how to maximize your social media presence, consider hiring a marketing company or volunteering to let a local high school or college marketing class use your business as their class project. This cost-saving strategy will give you a creative social media image and will...
read more5 Ways To Stop Your Fireplace From Leaking Smoke Into Your House
You probably already know that if you close the damper in your fireplace while a fire is burning in the grate, your home will soon be filled with smoke. If you’ve been keeping the damper properly opened and are still experiencing smoke problems, you are probably confused about the cause. Following are five strategies that can help ensure that your indoor living space doesn’t fill up with smoke when you try to enjoy a fire in your fireplace. Eliminate Creosote Buildup Creosote is smoke that has condensed on the interior walls of the chimney to form a tar-like substance. Too much creosote buildup can narrow the passageway to the extent that the smoke can’t freely escape, causing it to flow back down into the house. You should have your chimney inspected and cleaned at least once per year by a qualified chimney sweep in order to keep creosote buildup and other possible chimney problems at bay. Creosote is also a highly flammable substance that is the cause of many chimney fires. Burn Seasoned Firewood Seasoned firewood is wood that has been allowed to dry out for a period of time. Different types of wood require different seasoning lengths, but in general, softwoods such as conifers take less time to season because their wood isn’t as dense as that of hardwoods like oak, ash, and maple. Ideally, the wood that you burn in your fireplace should have a moisture content of less than 20 percent. Wood that is too wet will create an abundance of smoke, some of which will drift back into your home interior, and an abundance of smoke will also contribute to creosote buildup on the inside of your chimney. If you don’t have space on your property to provide a well-ventilated, covered area that is off the ground to use to season your firewood, purchase seasoned wood from a trusted local source. Don’t Operate Fans While a Fire is Burning Many modern homeowners erroneously believe that turning on fans will help to circulate the heat generated by the fireplace through the rest of the house. However, this practice mainly distributes the smoke produced by the fire rather than the heat — it creates a draft that moves the smoke right out of the fireplace before it’s got a chance to go up the chimney. To get the most out of the fire burning in your fireplace, pull some chairs up close with friends and family on a chilly winter night and enjoy the fire’s warmth and glow. Have a Specialty Chimney Cap Installed You should have a chimney cap on your chimney anyway to prevent leaks; debris; and birds, animals, and insects from accessing your chimney. However, if you’re experiencing interior smoke as a result of downdrafts coming down your chimney, you should speak with a chimney sweep service about the possibility of installing a specialty chimney cap that has been created to prevent downdrafts from going down your chimney. This is ideal for homes in windy locations that are not protected by natural windbreaks such as trees and tall buildings. Have a Smoke Guard Installed Smoke guards are good solutions for older homes in cold climate areas where drafts are inevitable, but they shouldn’t take the place of other precautions, such as making certain that the...
read moreApril Showers Brings Sump Pump Problems—Make Sure Yours Is Working Before The Rain Hits
April is right around the corner and you know what they say—”April showers bring May flowers.” After spending the winter hiding from the cold weather, it’s time to be proactive and make sure your home is prepared for the change in seasons. You need to make sure your sump pump is running properly so your basement or crawl space doesn’t become flooded. That’s not something you want to deal with in the middle of a downpour. Here is how to check your sump pump and troubleshoot any problems. Make sure your pump turns on Obviously, the most important thing you need to do is make sure your sump pump will turn on when it’s supposed to. You can check your pump simply by unplugging it and plugging it back in. It should turn on as you plug it in whether there is water to pump or not. If it doesn’t turn on, push up on the float if you have a submersible pump. Most sump pumps have a float below the water level that looks like a large rubber ball. When the water rises, it causes the float to rise, and it turns on the sump pump exactly when needed. If it turns on when you push up on the ball, you are good to go. If not, there is an issue with it somewhere. If you don’t have a submersible pump, your pump will have settings on it to turn on when the water gets to a certain level. Set the settings to the lowest possible. Take a five gallon bucket, and dump the water under your house in the best place to trigger your pump to turn on. If it doesn’t, try it a couple more times, then call a plumber to fix or replace your sump pump. Check the discharge pipe Your sump pump is attached to a pipe that drains the water. It will run from your pump and away from your house. Get a flashlight and look into the pipe to make sure that it isn’t clogged with any dirt, rocks, or other debris. Check the end that’s outside to make sure that the opening isn’t buried with the rest of the pipe. The water doesn’t always run quickly, and you don’t want it backing up under your home. If your pump isn’t working… If your pump isn’t working, there are a few things you can try before calling in the big guns. Check your circuit breaker Sometimes the issue with your sump pump is as simple as your circuit breaker. It may have tripped during a particularly bad storm. If your power went out during a winter storm, it may have caused one or more of your circuits to trip. Check to make sure none of them are in the off position. Replace your outlet Another common problem that can happen from time to time is an outlet going bad. Your pump may simply not be receiving any power. First, plug another household item into the outlet that your sump pump is plugged into. If it doesn’t receive any power, replace the outlet to see if that remedies the problem. All you have to do is unscrew it from the wall, and screw a new one back into place. If you can’t seem...
read more3 Things To Watch Out For During Your Interstate Move
Perhaps the only thing more exhausting than moving to another neighborhood is moving to a whole other state. If you’ve never managed an interstate move before, you should know about some additional complications that can accompany this endeavor. Here are three potential issues you want to nip in the bud if at all possible. 1. Shakedowns by Scam Artists For anyone planning a major cross-country move, the number one nightmare is never receiving your beloved possessions at your destination. Imagine the frustration of an airline losing your luggage, only on a house-wide scale — everything you own has vanished into limbo. To make matters worse, the moving company is now holding your stuff more or less for ransom, demanding substantial extra payments if you ever hope to see those items again. Scam artists can and do practice this ploy, which is especially prevalent during interstate moves. That’s partly because the federal regulatory agency that formerly protected consumers in these situations, the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), was replaced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), encouraging scammers to try their luck with the newer agency. Since you’re largely looking out for yourself, it’s critical that you: Do your homework on the residential moving van lines in your area by checking with the Better Business Bureau and getting referrals from trusted associates. Ask to see proof of the mover’s FMCSA license — a legal requirement for any legitimate interstate household moving company. Insist on an in-person estimate instead of a vague quote over the Internet or phone. This not only helps prevent extra charges from getting tacked onto your bill, but it also lets you get a feel for the integrity and professionalism of the company’s employees. 2. Insufficient Insurance If your household moving company informs you that it offers basic insurance protection against damage to your belongings, your first response may be, “Great!” — when in fact it should be, “How much?” Such basic policies may only reimburse you to the tune of 60 cents per pound for each item, meaning that any moderately expensive piece will only be covered for a fraction of its actual value. This issue becomes even more urgent during an interstate move, since the longer your belongings are on the road, the higher the risk of damage at some point along the way. The answer to this challenge is to purchase Extra Care Protection coverage. ECP coverage is a type of insurance available exclusively for interstate moves. It allows you to insure your possessions for anywhere from $5 per pound all the way up to their full replacement value. 3. Getting What You Paid For (When You Didn’t Pay Enough) “You get what you pay for” is an old saying, and it definitely applies to moving companies. If you’ve scrupulously asked around for the best moving companies with the most sterling reputations, don’t be upset or disappointed if their estimates come with a higher price tag than the stereotypical bunch of guys with a truck. A top-quality moving can justify the extra price by: Explaining every line item on the quote in detail, and allowing you to select from various options to help control the actual price Packing your items for you with professional skill and expertise, vastly improving the odds of their arriving...
read moreCountry Living: Decorating Your Log Home
Hi! My name is Lois Hawkins, and I live in a beautiful log
home in the country. My friends and family are always telling me I should be an interior decorator because of my home decor. This has prompted me to write this blog and share some decorating ideas.
I don’t have any formal decorating experience. What I have is a love for my home, and a desire for it to feel warm and comfortable. Decorating isn't that difficult when you have a concept in mind. I never jump into decorating a room. I spend a good deal of time planning how I want it to look and then shopping for exactly the right furniture and other decor.
I am going to share some of the techniques I use for coming up with decorating ideas and hope you find them of value!
