Daniel ShenSmith

How to Keep Pets Away from Holiday Decor & Other Hazards

November 14, 2018 by admin

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The holidays are a time to gather with your family members, and that includes those with fur and four legs. This is a sweet season to enjoy with everyone you love – including your pets. But it’s also a particularly risky time of year for our animal friends. To ensure that everyone has a holly, jolly, vet-visit free season, it’s important to keep pets away from holiday decor and other seasonal safety risks.

This isn’t rocket science, but it does require a little forethought. Thinking through the potential hazards for your pet now, before the season really picks up, can make it easy to avoid disasters and expensive vet bills (the last thing you need after gift shopping). Here are a few tips and trick to keep pets away from holiday decor and keep your season merry and bright.

Putting your tree in a basket with weights in the bottom can help keep pets away from holiday decor and prevent a spillover this season. Image: 30s Magazine

Support your tree

You’ve probably seen plenty of cute pics of cats and dogs poking out from between the branches of a toppled tree. While that’s good for a giggle online, it’s definitely not a scenario to which you want to come home. Avoid this by giving your tree some extra support. Putting it in a weighted pot or elevating it on a pedestal can help it stay upright. For extra safety, move your most fragile ornaments to the highest branches.

Also, avoid edible tree decorations. While they might look cute, they can attract your pet to the tree. And don’t add anything to your tree water to preserve it because your pets could lap it up. A tree skirt can help deter a particularly curious pet from drinking the tree’s water.

If you’ve got a cat who loves to climb, you can also consider an alternative to the traditional evergreen tree. We’ve rounded up some unconventional Christmas trees for you.

Tuck away their presents

If you wrapped up a bone for Fido or some catnip for Fiona, don’t put it under the tree with the rest of the presents. Your furry friend can smell those tasty treats inside, and the temptation might become too much to bear. And once your pet has unwrapped one present, it’s harder to protect the rest. Instead, keep pets’ gifts in a secure, inaccessible location until it’s time for them to be opened.

Battery-operated lights or ones that come built into the tree minimize cord-related risks. Image: Dirt, Stains and Paint

Tie up cords

Stringing up holiday lights can be a lot of fun. Worrying about the electrical safety of those cords is decidedly less so. However, it’s also key, especially if you’ve got a pet who loves to chew. You’ve got a few options. You can mount the cords higher up the wall and out of your pets’ way. You can cover them with a heavy-duty cover. Or you can swap out your plug-in lights for battery operated ones. It’s easy to tuck the battery packs away from pets by stuffing them into tree branches, stockings or other protected areas.

Mind your holiday plants

A lot of the holiday classics are potentially harmful to pets, including poinsettias, holly and mistletoe. Before you bring something living into your home for the holiday season, do a quick Google search to check if it’s safe for your pets. You might be surprised by the results – but you’ll be glad you learned the potential risks now, rather than via a trip to the vet. It’s easier to skip these toxic items altogether than to have to worry about ways to keep pets away from holiday decor all season long.

Flameless candles can prevent a Christmastime catastrophe. Image: Falken Reynolds Interiors

Go flameless

Candles are a holiday tradition – and hazard. An open flame is pretty risky if you’ve got pets roaming around, especially when you have guests over, overstimulating your furry friends and distracting you from their activity. Avoid this potential catastrophe by swapping out real candles for battery-operated ones. The newest options look shockingly like real flames and can even be scented. Changing out your candles gives you one less thing to worry about during the hectic holiday season.

Create a drop-off zone

While you’re cognizant of the hazards the holidays pose to your pets, your guests might not be. And during the holiday season, it’s not uncommon to have chocolate in a coat pocket or purse, or tempting tinsel topping a gift. When you’re hosting, designate a room where everyone can put their jackets, bags and gifts. Add a sign to the door (you can decorate it with holiday flair!) that reminds everyone to keep the door shut. That way, you protect your four-legged family members from risks you can’t control.

Move your trash out of the kitchen to an area your pet can’t access if he or she likes to hunt for food scraps. Image: Bell Cabinetry & Design

Secure your trash

With all the holiday baking and cooking you’ve got ahead of you, your trash is probably going to fill up with some pretty tempting scraps. If you have a pet who loves to paw through the trash, this is a time of year worth taking extra precautions to avoid that. Bones are especially interesting to pets, but when chewed, can break up and pose a serious threat during digestion. Move your trash to an inaccessible area, put something heavy on top of it or invest in a trash can with a secure lid to protect your pets.

What do you do to keep pets away from holiday decor and other seasonal risks? We’d love to learn your tips and tricks so we can all protect our furry family members this season!

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Here Are The Latest Non-Chocolate 2018 Advent Calendars For Home Decorating And Gifting

November 13, 2018 by admin

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Advent calendars are a traditional European way for parents to help children keep track of how many days are left before Christmas. They often hide a small daily chocolate treat behind a door or drawer. But adults can get in on the fun, too! More and more of the stores and brands we love are creating their own unique, non-chocolate versions of 2018 Advent calendars.

Treat yourself (or someone special) in the 24 days before Christmas with a 2018 Advent calendar. Some have become cult favorites that sell out the day they’re released. Some are quite the splurge. Here are the best 2018 Advent calendars for home:

Decor-Related 2018 Advent Calendars

This whimsical, Nordic Advent calendar from Cost Plus World Market, $20, reveals a small woodland ornament each day for a Christmas wonderland theme.

The Avian Holiday Pop-Up Advent Calendar at The Met Store, $20, is based on the 1953 watercolor “Avian Holiday” by Adolf Dehn. Every day reveals a new bird to hang on the included tree.

Chocolate-Alternative Gourmet Advent Calendars

The DAVIDsTEA 24 Days of Tea 2018 Advent Calendar, $49, features holiday brews like Gingerbread, Candy Cane Crush and Caramel Shortbread.

Amitea Organics at Etsy features an Advent Tea Calendar, $47, with daily organic teas in eco-friendly packaging, complete with wooden clothesline pins for hanging on your garland.

French tea company Palais Des Thes created a Countdown to Christmas 2018 Advent calendar, available at Nordstrom for $30. Each door reveals a tea bag so you can sample a new tea every day until Christmas.

12 Nights of Wine from Vinebox, $129, features wines from around the world. The unique gift idea sold out in less than a month last year.

Create-Your-Own Countdown

If you’d rather skip the chocolates and daily indulgences, this vintage-inspired Hallmark Days ‘Til Christmas wooden block set, $25, counts down as many as 99 days until Christmas.

Pottery Barn’s Glitter Houses decorative Advent calendar, $129, lights up and reveals something special behind each daily door.

Add your own gifts and treats in each tin bucket of this large Advent Calendar Ladder at Wayfair, $145.

The Embellished Advent Calendar Pillow by Kirklands, $35, comes with a small gingerbread man that can be placed in each numbered pocket to mark how many days ’til Christmas.

Here’s an updated Nordic version of the traditional Advent calendar at Nordstrom, $70, featuring drawers where small goodies can be placed. The village scene above lights up.

2018 Advent Calendars For Indulging and Gifting

The Body Shop’s 24 Days of the Enchanted Advent Calendar, $70, has favorites from their body, skincare, makeup, hair care and accessories collections.

Lush’s Advent calendars have become a cult favorite for bath lovers. This year, they’ve designed their Wonderful Christmas Time gift box, $199, to feature a treat per day and include their best-selling bath bombs, soaps and shower products.

The Discovery Advent Calendar by Atelier Cologne at Sephora, $59, is a great gift for a man or woman. The pure perfumes and nourishing bath and body treatments feature exotic spice and citrus scents that can be worn or used by anyone.

What a great way to dress up your small home office. Kikki.K Lovers Advent Calendar, $130, hides notepads, pens, affirmation cards, a key ring and pin, gift tags, page markers and much more behind each navy and gold door.

The Ultimate Holiday Candle Advent Calendars

For candle fanatics, Diptyque Paris is the ultimate candle. Their 2018 Advent Calendar is $425 and still manages to be nearly impossible to find by Thanksgiving. It’s loaded with candles, fragrance and body care products in a gorgeous gold box.

Jo Malone’s exclusive perfume and candle scents can now be sampled in this high-end 2018 Advent Calendar, $450.

The post Here Are The Latest Non-Chocolate 2018 Advent Calendars For Home Decorating And Gifting appeared first on Freshome.com.

8 Holiday Decorating Secrets You Need This Year

November 13, 2018 by admin

Holiday decorating with colorful greenery adds curb appeal. Image: FrontGate

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Every year we tell ourselves that this will be the year we throw ourselves into holiday decorating by creating a Pinterest-worthy home for the holidays. It can happen this year, with a plan and these easy tips for seasonal decorating.

Your idea of decorating for the season could be an every-room-decorated extravaganza or simply adding a few holiday accessories. Whether you go big or keep it simple, you can make decorating easier with a little bit of planning and organization. Here’s how:

1. Find Your Inspiration

Setting the perfect holiday table starts with inspiration. Image: West Elm

You can start your seasonal decorating any time during the year by scouting out decorating inspiration. Every beautifully-decorated home starts with a vision or idea. Something you see in a catalog or on Pinterest can be the inspiration for your decorating plan.

If you aren’t using Pinterest yet, you might want to create an account to save your inspiration online. If you’re an experienced “pinner,” then you’ll want to create a holiday board for saving images in one spot. Once you look at what you’ve saved, you can see a pattern in the colors or the styles that you like.

If you prefer a more hands-on style of gathering inspiration, clipping images from catalogs and magazines works just as well as saving images on the internet. Combining the two styles of collecting ideas could be the perfect choice for you. Whatever your style of gathering inspiration, you’ll use the images the same way — as a visual kickstart to create a seasonal decorating plan. But first, it’s time to gather your team and create a simple budget.

2. Enlist Help and Ideas

Holiday decorating can be a team effort. Image: Grandin Road

We love everything about planning and finding inspiration for seasonal decorating, but not all of the work that goes into making it a reality. Once you have a vision in mind, enlist the help of friends and family to bring it to life. Working on decorating as a team not only lightens the workload for you, but can also give those close to you a feeling of ownership and connection to the results.

3. Set Your Decorating Budget

Beautiful seasonal decor becomes a stunning table setting. Image: Pottery Barn

Yes, even simple seasonal decorating is made easier with a budget. Knowing what you plan to spend on new decorations and accessories gives you a framework for what’s possible for each area of your home. A simple budget is also helpful when you’re shopping so you won’t be susceptible to too many impulse purchases.

Your budget doesn’t have to be complicated. You can simply have a total spending limit written out for each room. With a per-room budget in mind, you can deduct money from one room if you want to go a little overboard in another.

4. Create a Plan for Your Seasonal Decorating

Plan for beautiful holiday entertaining with a stylish buffet. Image: FrontGate

We promise that seasonal decorating will still be fun and creative, even if you take time to make a plan first. Your holiday decorating plan might be as simple as deciding where you’d like to add seasonal accessories or following a mood board you’ve created for each room. To get the most out of planning your seasonal decor, your plan should include your ideas for each space in your home. Your living room plan will be more elaborate than a guest bedroom, but you’ll want to have a list of what you’ll need for each room — this makes shopping a breeze.

5. Choose a Color Palette

Celebrate with beautiful holiday colors. Image: Pottery Barn

Every holiday season has its traditional colors, so it’s easy to find decor if you stay with that palette. If you’re feeling more creative with your color scheme, you can add unexpected accents to the traditional colors. Metallics are a glamorous and simple way to elevate your holiday color scheme. Look for metallics in unexpected colors like copper, blue and pink for an on-trend decorating palette.

6. Repurpose and Shop for a Fresh Look

Decorate your home with a mix of old and new. Image: Pottery Barn

Before you shop for new decorations and accessories this year, you’ll want to go through your stash from previous years to see what you can reuse or repurpose. Once you know what you already own and have a plan in your hands, shopping is more fun and more focused. A popular way to create a fresh look without buying new decor every year is by having two or three sets of accessories to rotate throughout the year.

Your accessory rotation could include throw pillows, blanket throws, guest towels and candles in seasonal colors. When decor is rotated in and out a few times a year, it won’t become stale. Purchasing a few new items to supplement your seasonal accessories gives your home that put-together look for each season or holiday.

7. Plan to Decorate Inside and Out

Create a magical entertaining space for the holiday season. Image: Overstock

The outside of your home can also shine during the holiday season. Your seasonal color palette can be used outdoors through planters, flowering plants and a door wreath. Your goal for decorating outside is to create a seamless visual transition as guests walk into your home. Patios, porches and other outdoor spaces can be decorated as an extra entertaining area for holiday gatherings.

8. Create Holiday Decorating Magic

Blend your existing interior decor with your seasonal decorations for a comfortable style. Image: Pottery Barn

All of your hard work gathering inspiration, creating a plan and shopping comes together when you implement your seasonal design. We aren’t striving for the perfection of a professionally-designed department store window, but the happiness of being surrounded by decor and colors that are beautiful and meaningful to you.

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Should You Decorate for the Holidays If Your Home is on the Market?

November 14, 2018November 12, 2018 by admin

‘Tis the season to be jolly, but should your home reflect the joy of the season if you’re also trying to sell it? If you love to decorate for the holidays, missing out on this once-a-year opportunity might sound like torture. On the other hand, you don’t want to miss the chance to sell your home because of your decorations. So, should you decorate for the holidays if your home is on the market? We’ve got some “nays,” “yeas,” and “other considerations.”

No, Don’t Decorate

Houston home

An elaborately-decorated home in Houston. Image: Regina Gust Designs

Our first two realtors are against decorating for the holidays if you’re trying to sell your home. According to Anita Springate-Renaud, licensed partner and broker at Engel & Völkers Toronto Central, your festive decor can distract buyers from looking at the home’s raw design.

“Elaborate decorations can distract and shift a prospective buyer’s focus away from what they should be looking at when shopping for a property.” So what should they be looking at? Springate-Renaud says potential buyers should be focused on such factors as square footage, wall space, the quality of home finishes and other amenities – all of which can get lost under your holiday decor.

And she offers another reason why you should not decorate when your home is on the market. “Holidays are not universal, and different cultures have different traditions and ways of celebrating the holiday season,” she says. “Decorating for one holiday may alienate potential buyers who may celebrate the season differently.”

Silver

A stunning silver holiday design. Image: Houseology Design Group

For example, while some potential buyers celebrate Christmas, others celebrate Hanukkah. “In an effort to keep the home looking relatable and consistent to each buyer, it is encouraged to have homebuyers keep their home neutral – without the use of any holiday decor.” She says that buyers need to see themselves in a home, and it’s hard to do that when the property is decorated for someone else’s traditions and beliefs.

Christmas tree

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree. Image: Robeson Design

John Manning, managing broker at RE/MAX On Market in Seattle, WA, puts it another way. “To deck the halls – or not? At the risk of sounding like a Grinch, we vote not.” Manning says buyers can hail from a variety of cultures and religious views, and if you want your home to appeal to the widest audience, you need to create a neutral environment. “Buyers are walking through prospective homes envisioning their own life in the home, literally thinking, ‘Will this home suit me and my family through the year?’”

Manning says the home should be the focal point, not the holiday. “Nuanced decorations (e.g. fall leaves/gourds, a tasteful wreath on the front door) are fine in moderation but we would caution against full-throttle holiday decor.”

Yes, Decorate

mantle

A beautifully-decorated mantel in Gulfport, MS. Image: RJ Elder Design

Our next two experts are in favor of decking the halls – and the rest of the walls. “Humans are emotional people and the holiday season seems to bring out the best in us,” says Angela Williams, a Birmingham, AL-based realtor at Extreme Agent Realty. “You should absolutely decorate your home for the holiday season – in fact, you would be surprised how a beautifully-decorated mantle can sell a home.” However, Williams says it’s important that your decorations be tasteful. “It might be a good idea to hire a professional or ask that friend or family member who always seems to know what to do for some help.

Shawn Breyer, owner of Breyer Home Buyers in Atlanta, GA, also believes that potential sellers should decorate for the holidays. “While realtors often advise homeowners to be neutral to appeal to the masses, home buyers expect the houses they are touring to be decorated.” However, he warns against going overboard with your decorations.

glasgow city

This Glasgow City home doesn’t overdo the decorations. Image: Houseology Design Group

As a general rule, Breyer says that less is better. “You don’t want to fill every crevice of your home with your Nutcracker collection, your Lemax Christmas Village collection, and put 30 inflatables in the yard.” And the less-is-better rule isn’t limited to decorations. “If you are adding a large Christmas tree in your family room, consider moving out a side table or recliner to add floor space.” That’s because floor space helps to sell your home and Breyer says you don’t want your decorations to make the house feel cramped.

glasgow city

These decorations highlight the home’s massive entrance. Image: Dawn Hearn Interior Design

“Use decorations as a way to accentuate the features of your home that you think are selling points,” he recommends. “If you have a big backyard and a nice deck, place lighting and garland around your deck railing to outline the perimeter and light up the deck.” If you have a nice entryway, Breyer recommends placing a small tree with presents in this space so potential buyers will focus on the entryway.

Other Considerations

dining room

Holiday decorating perfection. Image: Vale Garden Homes

Bill Golden, an independent real estate agent with RE/MAX Metro Atlanta Cityside, believes that decorating for the holidays should be kept to a tasteful minimum. However, he says that homeowners should also consider a few other factors when selling during the holiday season.

“Since it’s more likely to be dark and cold during this time of the year, it’s essential that lights are turned on, window blinds and curtains are open and the temperature is at a comfortable level in a home that is being shown,” Golden says. “Buyers don’t like coming into dark spaces and tend to have a much more positive reaction when homes are light and bright.”

Also, if the home is too cold or too hot, Golden says buyers will rush through so they can get out as soon as possible. “And this is not what you want from a showing. Give them ‘cozy’ – just don’t overdo it.”

exterior lights

The decorations help light the way to this Chicago home. Image: James Martin Associates

Also, since there may be snow or rain, he advises having a place for potential buyers and realtors to leave their umbrellas or kick the snow off their shoes. “Make it easy for them, which also keeps things neater for you and helps demonstrate that the home will function well in winter weather.”

In addition, Golden says you don’t get a pass on curb appeal because it’s winter. “In fact, you should probably up your game and keep the landscaping fresh, despite the weather.” This includes fresh mulch in the beds, keeping leaves raked and adding some cold-tolerant potted plants.

living room

The decorations are tasteful in this Edmonton space. Image: AMR Interior Design and Drafting

The interior of your home should also make a great first impression and, according to Breyer, the same rules apply during the holidays as during the rest of the year. “Before you start decorating, make sure you perform a deep clean and declutter of your house.”

Breyer recommends renting a storage unit to move out everything you can live without for a month or so. Also, take the time to throw away the accumulated stuff you aren’t keeping, organize your closets, have your carpets cleaned, and hire a professional cleaner to do a deep clean.

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How To Sell Your Home During The Holidays (We Promise It Can Be Done)

November 12, 2018 by admin

Unfortunately, the real estate market has a tendency to slow down during the winter months. However, that doesn’t mean you should lose hope if you need to sell your home during the holidays. There are ways to make your home attractive enough to buyers that they’re willing to brave the cold. We’ve listed our best tips below. If you implement the right ones you could have a holiday buyer in no time.

Do your best to keep holiday decorations to a minimum. Image: Louise de Miranda – 30’s Magazine

Minimize holiday decorations

Yes, decorating is an essential part of the holidays. Your decorating style, however, is bound to cater to your personal tastes. When trying to sell your home, it’s important to keep personalization to a minimum. Ideally, your home will be as neutral as possible in order to appeal to a majority of buyers.

Buyers are easily distracted. Sometimes they have trouble looking past things like dated wallpaper or carpeting. Overly-personalized holiday decor will stick out like a sore thumb and buyers may have trouble putting it aside in order to see how great your home truly is.

Keep in mind, we’re not telling you to have no decorations. We’re simply suggesting that you keep things simple. Try to keep overtly-religious decorations to a minimum, as well as anything that feels a little over-the-top. For the period of time that you’re trying to sell your home, opt for a classic, minimalist approach to decorating.

Use textiles to keep your home feeling cozy. Image: Jennifer Pacca Interiors

Keep it cozy

If there’s one thing that everyone can relate to in winter, it’s wanting to escape those colder temperatures. One way to help sell your home to buyers is to make your home feel like a cozy and welcoming space.

There are a few different ways you can go about it. Here are some suggestions:

Keep it warm: Despite what it may do to your heating bills, there’s no better feeling than coming into a warm house after being out in the cold. If you know there’s going to be a showing on your home, turn the heat up to a reasonable level. You want buyers to be able to focus on how great your home is, rather than how chilly they feel.
Display plenty of textiles: Textiles like blankets and pillows are synonymous with warmth and coziness. Make sure to display plenty throughout your home. Doing so will help buyers subconsciously associate your home with cozy nights in.
Get scented: Everyone loves a home that smells great. Before showings, try infusing your home with warm, inviting scents like cinnamon or fresh-baked cookies. You can do this by burning a scented candle or by cooking up the real thing.

Be sure to price it to sell. Image: Introspecs LLC

Price it right

Like it or not, pricing is a huge factor in how interested potential buyers are in your home. While you’ll obviously want to get the highest possible sale price, the best way to entice buyers to brave the cold and come to see your property is to price it right. We’re not saying to give it away, but you should be open to negotiating.

As to how to go about pricing it fairly, the first thing to do is look at comparables, or comps. These are similar properties that have sold in your area recently. Your real estate agent can provide them for you. They give you an idea of a realistic price range to list your home and help you figure out your bottom line. You can do this by looking at how much you owe on the property and how much you’ll need if you’re buying a new home. Any offer at or above your bottom line is worth entertaining.

Work hard to accommodate any showing requests. Image: Abby Hetherington Interiors

Be flexible with showings

For most of us, the holidays are one of the busiest times of the year. Every day, it seems like there’s a celebration to prepare for or an event to attend. Odds are, the buyers who are interested in seeing your house are going to be busy, too. Since they likely have a limited time to schedule showings, you should remain especially flexible in order to accommodate them.

While this may seem tough, considering that you’ll have holiday obligations of your own, it’s non-negotiable. Selling in the winter often means having a limited pool of buyers to choose from. Therefore, it’s especially crucial to work with the ones that are available. Accommodating showing times, even when they’re inconvenient to you, is part of that. After all, no one wants to submit an offer on a house without seeing it first.

With that in mind, there are a few things you can do to make showings easier. The first is to have a showing plan in place so that everyone in the family knows what their responsibilities are before walking out the door. Additionally, try to keep your home as neat and show-ready as possible. The less picking up you have to do, the easier it will be to accommodate those last-minute requests.

Do you have any other tips for selling a home during the holidays? Let us know in the comments.

The post How To Sell Your Home During The Holidays (We Promise It Can Be Done) appeared first on Freshome.com.

Fire Pits and Outdoor Fireplaces to Keep You Warm and Toasty in the Fall

November 11, 2018 by admin

Just because the temperatures are cooler doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy being outdoors. While you may not be able to use that outdoor shower for a while, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are a great way to enjoy the beauty of this season. They make it easy to enjoy the perfect balance between the sweltering heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. Whether entertaining family and friends or just enjoying the peace and solitude of your own backyard, these fire pits and outdoor fireplaces can keep you warm and toasty.

Fire Pits

This fire bowl provides warmth and beauty. Image: Power Concrete Construction & Design Center

According to Katie Flaxman, director and co-founder of Studio 31 Landscape Architecture and Garden Design, “Fire pits can be invaluable during the cooler months because they not only provide a source of heat but can also offer a core social and entertaining space.”

A sunken patio creates a cozy atmosphere. Image: SHED Architecture & Design

Sunken pits are also popular. “A sunken terrace area with a fire pit offers shelter and protection from the elements – and also creates a unique and cozy space to huddle up,” Flaxman says. This sunken patio with a fire pit has acid etching to create a nonslip surface.

DIY Fire Pit

A DIY fire pit can save you money. Image: Austin Alvarez

According to Austin Alvarez, who, along with his wife, blogs about his DIY projects at Building Our Rez, you can also build your own DIY fire pit from scratch for less than $75. “Simply clear the ground cover or grass, spread paver base, lay your concrete blocks and fill the center with pea pebbles,” Alvarez says. The photo above is the fire pit he built himself.

If you need detailed instructions, Michael Provenzano, marketing manager of adhesives and sealants at PPG (makers of LIQUID NAILS® adhesives), offers more.

Step 1.

Choose an area at least 25 feet from your home. This should be an area with no trees nearby and no overhanging branches. Provenzano says it’s also a good idea to research the fire regulations in your area.

Step 2.

Measure the area you want to use for the fire pit. Depending on the condition of the area, it may be necessary to create a sand bed or remove the soil’s top level. If the latter, be sure to contact your local utility company before you start digging. That way, you won’t unintentionally hit any underground utility lines.

Step 3.

Lay blocks in your desired style, placing a 1/4-inch continuous line (bead) of LIQUID NAILS FUZE*IT® All Surface Construction Adhesive roughly 1.5 inches from the front and back edges of the blocks. Install a metal insert to ensure the adhesive does not come into contact with the open flame.

Step 4.

Wait at least 24 hours for the adhesive to cure before using any new fire pits.

A wood-burning, stacked-stone fireplace. Image: PlyGem

Fireplaces

If you want a larger, more permanent source of outdoor heat, consider building a fireplace to create warmth and beauty. Whereas fire pits have a low profile, fireplaces can be built to any height. As a result, they can provide privacy and add architectural detail to the exterior of your home.

A complete outdoor entertaining area. Image: Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design

“Along with a fireplace, well-placed and subtle lighting can make your backyard a welcoming one all year round,” says Flaxman. “Of course, for those on a larger budget, there is also the option of a pergola, which adds additional protection from the elements.”

Ventless Fireplace

A ventless fireplace is perfect for rooftop entertaining. Image: HearthCabinet Ventless Fireplaces

Some consumers opt for a ventless fireplace. According to Arthur Lasky, president of HearthCabinet Ventless Fireplaces and principal at Silberstang Lasky Architects, ventless fireplaces use alcohol-based cartridges composed of a clean-burning mixture of alcohol and water. “They are safe and easy to use and create lively, beautiful, real golden flames that also crackle.”

No gas or electricity is needed. Lasky says the cartridges last anywhere from 2 hours to 2.5 hours, similar to a real log, but without the smoke.

Fire Safety

While enjoying the beauty of a fire pit or fireplace, don’t forget to exercise caution. Caitlin Hoff, health and safety investigator at ConsumerSafety.org, offers the following tips:

An Oriflamme Hammered Copper gas fire pit. Image: Patterson Custom Homes

Keep your children and pets away from the fire. “This is a good rule of thumb for any open flame or heating source in your home to protect your children and pets from burns or greater accidents caused by a fire,” Hoff says. “Three feet is a generally safe distance to keep between the fire and all family members.”

To avoid excess smoke inhalation while sitting around a fire, burn only dry material and use vents to direct the smoke upwards, not outwards. “Logs or sticks that are damp will increase the amount of smoke when burned.” Hoff explains that excess smoke inhalation can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. Some people may also experience breathing issues or nausea.

This is a three-season porch. Image: Marshall Morgan Erb Design Inc

Never leave a fire unattended in your outdoor fireplace. “Even models that include a screen can allow small embers to drift out, starting a home fire,” Hoff says. “Supervision is imperative!”

Do not use an outdoor fireplace or fire pit that has seen significant rust or damage. “If the structure were to collapse while a fire is burning within, it could start a fire or injure those nearby.”

A remote fireplace. Image: Kikucki + Kankel Design Group

Keep several buckets of water or sand or a fire extinguisher nearby in case of an emergency. “If you prefer a fire extinguisher, be sure to the read the directions for your specific model and understand how to properly use it should an emergency occur,” Hoff says.

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Freshome’s Tips on How to Entertain at Home

November 10, 2018 by admin

You’ve got the cake and champagne. But what else do you need to entertain at home? Image: Danenberg Design

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Whether you’ve lived in your house for years or are just moving into your first apartment, planning to entertain at home can be a big undertaking. You want your house or apartment to look its best and your guests to feel comfortable. You can cook and clean and still be left feeling like your space isn’t ready. But don’t panic! We’ve got you covered.

Our Freshome team has a very wide range of experience when it comes to entertaining at home. We all love home design and enjoy freshening up our spaces for guests, but we also know that breaking our backs to get ready for a party just isn’t worth it. So without further ado, here are our absolute essentials for when we entertain at home.

The right pans, knives and lighting set your kitchen – and you – up for success. Image: Twelve Chairs

In the kitchen

Although guests won’t spend much time in the kitchen, most parties start there. Setting yourself up to cook without any issues makes hosting much easier. Here are a few kitchen items that our Freshome team leans on when we get ready to entertain at home.

Good knives

Any chef worth their salt will tell you that their #1 must-have item is good knives. And we agree. When you entertain at home, the last thing you want is to end up with a tomato mush or behind-schedule bake because your knives weren’t up to the task. If you’re ready to upgrade your current set, this 3-piece one from Williams Sonoma is a favorite of ours.

Good pans

Whether you’re roasting something in the oven all day or just frying up a quick appetizer, the right pans make all the difference. A good pan distributes heat evenly and helps your cooking along. The wrong pan can ruin a dish – and make cleanup a total headache. At Freshome, we agree that every kitchen needs a non-stick frying pan and a cast iron skillet. If you’re hunting for some for your own kitchen, Williams Sonoma has a Calpahlon Elite Nonstick Essential Pan that cooks like a dream and makes cleanup a breeze.

Good lighting

When designing your home, you probably think carefully about the type of lighting you’re going to install in the main rooms where you’ll entertain. But don’t skip your kitchen just because it might have less foot traffic during parties. Ample, comfortable lighting makes spending time in the kitchen prepping for a major luncheon or dinner party much less tiring.

Make sure you have ample – and visually interesting – seating. Image: Allen Construction

In the living room

Unless you’re hosting a dinner party and plan to gather everyone around the dining table, the living room will probably be at the heart of your event. What makes the ideal living room for entertaining? At Freshome, we love all the design details like a gorgeous rug and an interesting coffee table, but we all agree that nothing is more important than seating. Here are a few key pieces of furniture we recommend.

A giant couch

What’s the one thing a living room absolutely has to have? A couch! And if you host people regularly, the bigger, the better. Sectionals are a favorite among our team. You can’t beat that versatility! Plus, they add structure to your space, helping you define it so your guests can understand the flow of the room at a glance. When measuring for a couch, remember that length isn’t the only thing that matters. Don’t forget depth for the comfort it adds. A deep couch, like the Lounge II from Crate & Barrel, invites everyone to kick back and relax.

An inviting chair

Not everyone wants to be squished together on the couch. Providing alternate seating helps all of your guests feel comfortable – and can make your space more welcoming. This oversized Newton Grand Armchair is a great example. It gives guests the chance to establish their own space and, when you’re not entertaining, is an ideal place to cozy up. Or, if you’re pressed for space but need additional seating, something more compact that still packs a style punch, like this Fabrizzi Mid-Century Modern Chair from Target, is a great option.

An accent loveseat or sofa

Are you sensing a trend? When you want to entertain at home, prepping your living room comes down to creating enough seating to host everyone comfortably. But don’t forget the design, either. That’s what makes accent furniture a slam dunk. It adds a pop to your room and creates a place for guests to plop down. We love velvet sofas and chairs, especially in rich jewel tones. You can grab a gorgeous one from West Elm; their Drake Sofa can be made-to-order in forest green velvet.

Creating a comfortable space makes it so much easier to welcome guests. Image: Rikki Snyder

In general

While prepping your kitchen and living room gets you off on the right foot, you certainly shouldn’t stop there when you plan to entertain. Here are a few more of our Freshome recommendations.

A comfortable space

This might seem broad, but it’s really key. In the throes of designing an entire home, it’s easy to get carried away with the way everything looks and forget about what it will be like to actually live in it. Creating comfy spaces isn’t just a plus for you and your family, either. It helps your guests relax when you have them over. A soft sofa, a cozy throw and inviting colors all help to create a room where you’ll want to entertain at home.

Plants and flowers

Plants are are a great addition to any room. Not only do they add texture and vibrancy to the room, they also clean the air. If you want to add some extra wow when getting ready to entertain at home, turn to potted plants and/or fresh flowers. Anywhere you feel needs an extra pop – whether that’s the center of your dining table or a small corner of the bathroom – plants can deliver.

How do you entertain at home?

All of us are still learning. We refine our party prep after every event we throw, so we’d love to hear about your entertaining essentials. What items do you stock to get yourself and your home or apartment ready for guests? Let us know in the comments!

The post Freshome’s Tips on How to Entertain at Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

Ways to Make This Thanksgiving One Your Family Will Cherish Forever

November 9, 2018 by admin

Looking for ideas to make this Thanksgiving special? Edward Perotti is an event designer who has worked with artists like Ariana Grande and Nick Jonas. From intimate settings to spectacular events at the Louvre, the Palace of Versailles, the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul and the Great Wall of China, he knows a thing or two about producing extraordinary experiences. We asked him for some ideas to make this the best Thanksgiving ever.

Incorporate natural colors in your design. Image: Anita Diaz for Far Above Rubies

“What comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving?” Perotti asks. “Do you imagine a time of gratitude with your family, all the while counting your blessings? Or is it merely a day of eating, partying or watching sports on TV and showing your team spirit?”

Perotti grew up in San Francisco in a very traditional Italian-American home. Thanksgiving was a day for family and a celebration of togetherness.

“Over the years, I have seen and done many things to make this day special for my family and friends,” Perotti says. “Here are a couple of decor and tabletop ideas to make this year’s event one that your family will look back on with fond memories.”

Pumpkins add a decorative touch to your table. Image: Kitchen Magic

Thankful Table

Perotti recommends creating a Thankful Table by first focusing on your dining table centerpiece:

Take a potted Manzanita tree, wrap it in something simple like ivory or cream linen fabric and place it in the center of your table.
Add various mason jars and glass milk bottles around the table, spray painted in a color to match your decor.
Fill all but three jars with a single type of flower, like dahlias or hydrangeas.
Label the three empty jars with FAMILY, HEALTH and GOOD FORTUNE. Mix the three labeled jars with the others jars, all building out from either side of the tree.
As your guests arrive and get comfortable, have them take a slip of paper or index card to write down one or two things they are thankful for or consider a blessing this season.
Before your meal, take the cards and tie them to the tree branches with ribbon. This has now become your family blessing tree and the centerpiece to your table decor.
When you are ready for everyone to join the table, go around the table and have each person take a card off the tree and read it aloud.
Once they read the card, they can place it in the appropriate blessing jar.
When you’re done, you will have a fairly good view of your family’s strongest blessings. You’ll be amazed (and moved) when you hear how people truly feel.

A beautiful table makes food taste even better. Image: Sandra Bunn Designs

Thankful Table

“People who know me personally know how much I love to mix china patterns,” Perotti says. “Since Thanksgiving is about bringing together people of all backgrounds, it’s a time to embrace this concept. You can start by designing a table inspired by and honoring the women in your family.”

Start with a minimum of 40 mini orange and white pumpkins. Mix the colors to create a one-foot wide ‘table runner’ of the mini pumpkins. Strategically place 4 single candles within the pumpkin runner.
Add florals in small and subtle varieties, like mini ivory hydrangeas. Disperse the flowers randomly within and on top of your pumpkin runner.
For the actual place settings, ask your grandmother, mother, sister, aunt, mother-in-law, etc. if you can borrow some of their fine china and stemware. You will only need a handful of pieces from each.
Set your table by using the salad plate from one set, the dinner plate from another set and so on with additional plates and glassware.
Don’t worry about matching. This table is all about your family and the blending of different styles to create one overall experience.
For dessert, gather a bunch of digital pictures from all your family members and create a photo collage of the pictures. Print enough 5×7 prints of the collage so that you have one for each guest, and insert the prints into frameless glass picture frames. These frames are your dessert plates.

Candles provide a soft, warm glow. Image: Sandra Bunn Designs

Family stories

“When everyone gathers around the table, have each person who donated china tell a favorite family memory, perhaps about why they chose the china that was used that evening,” Perotti says. “A story I loved hearing is about how my grandfather proposed to my grandmother.”

If you want to save this Thanksgiving memory, he recommends recording everyone sharing their memories with your phone so you can save it for future generations. “This is a great way to always remember your family story and journey.”

Be grateful for time with family and friends. Image: Chalk It Up Décor

Happy Thanksgiving from the Freshome team!

The post Ways to Make This Thanksgiving One Your Family Will Cherish Forever appeared first on Freshome.com.

5 Top Tips for Arranging Your Home for Entertaining

November 9, 2018 by admin

With guests coming over for the holidays, you may be wondering how to accommodate them all. This can be especially true if you have multiple people coming over from different sides of the family or other separate social areas of your life. Without proper organization in your home, you could end up with crowded clusters of people milling about awkwardly. Luckily, it’s actually pretty easy to accommodate all kinds of different people. Some of these ideas just involve changing the furniture around. Others might have you planning for your next remodel. Below, you’ll find multiple tips for arranging your home for entertaining.

Arranging your Home for Entertaining Seating Area

Your guests will appreciate intimate seating areas. Image: Scott Weston Architecture Design PL

Think Intimacy for Sitting Areas

A hallmark of a well-organized home during a party is having multiple intimate seating areas. The photo above shows an example of such an area. Multiple individual seats face each other. They’re not too far apart, but not too close. An ottoman in the middle helps give some visual balance and organization to the area. The space itself is also set off to the side by a window, making it a cozy area to sit and enjoy some catching up with friends or family.

And as far as the color scheme goes, this space has a good visual cohesion to it. The blue chairs stand out slightly from the blue wall and curtains behind it due to the slightly different shades of blue. It’s a good example of monochrome layering. The teal chairs in the foreground don’t clash with the blue, but they still stand out for an additional layered feel. Paying attention to color can make a sitting area look like its own design element in the room.

Arranging your Home for Entertaining Foyer Space

Set a welcoming and well-styled tone for your home right in the entryway. Image: James Traynor Custom Homes

Have a Welcoming Foyer

You’ll also want to pay attention to the foyer area when you’re arranging your home for entertaining. Make sure it’s welcoming and stylish to set the tone as guests enter. The photo above shows a good example.

Small accents like plants can give a touch of warmth and life. Having personalized items like art or family photos in the foyer can make the space feel like a natural part of the house. Matching rugs, like in the photo above, give a sense of well-planned cohesion and can help set the design tone that guests can expect in the rest of the home. Seating areas by the door are good for guests to take off shoes or have a rest. And remember, foyer color is important. Little additions like these can help the foyer feel less cold and forgotten, as can often be the case with such a space.

Arranging your Home for Entertaining Pool Table

Guests will like multiple activity options. Image: Synergy Design and Construction

Have Multiple Spaces for Different Guest Interests

It can be tempting to have a pattern where the furniture is organized surrounding the TV when you’re arranging your home for entertaining. After all, that’s how we tend to live the rest of the time when we don’t have guests over. However, you might want to pay special attention to how your space is organized so different interests can be accommodated. Not everyone likes to sit around and watch football.

For instance, the photo above shows a pool table for people who like to be more active at parties. You might also try having tables and chairs set out with games on them or poker tables set up. Also, think about individual seating areas set away from the TV for people who like intimate conversations.

Arranging your Home for Entertaining Sectional Sofa

Try a sectional sofa for seating in smaller areas. Image: Brad Ramsey Interiors

Sectionals Can Be Good Visiting Spaces

The seating ideas above tend to work well if you have a larger space. But for smaller spaces, a larger sectional sofa can work well for seating guests. It’s counterintuitive, but larger one-piece furniture sets like this work well in smaller rooms since the spacing between chairs can actually take up more floor space.

The photo above shows how a larger sectional can work in a narrower room. People can either sit next to each other and talk or watch TV. The four-piece ottoman set can also be a good place to put serving trays for snacks, as long as there isn’t a grabby pet around.

Arranging your Home for Entertaining Seating Space

Multiple large-scale seating areas can accommodate different groups of people. Image: BUILD

Try Multiple Sitting Areas When You’re Arranging Your Home for Entertaining

You might also want to consider multiple sitting areas while you’re arranging your home for entertaining. The photo above shows a large-scale example of multiple sitting areas. This can work well for parties where people from different parts of your life gather, like work friends and family. That way, different groups can have enough space to talk to each other.

If you don’t have such a large space, you can also make the idea work by placing small groupings of chairs around your home. You might face two smaller sofas away from each other and surround each in chairs or loveseats. You can also place additional chairs around natural eating areas, like adding chairs to a breakfast nook.

The post 5 Top Tips for Arranging Your Home for Entertaining appeared first on Freshome.com.

Jonathan Adler And Amazon Partner Up To Bring You Happy Chic at Amazing Prices

November 9, 2018 by admin

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Believe it or not, Amazon is just now rolling out their first exclusive home collection. And who better to collab with than designer Jonathan Adler, Mr. Happy Chic? The line, called Now House, features luxe furniture, rugs and home decor – all at amazing prices when compared to Adler’s signature collection.

Here are our favorite items from the new Jonathan Adler Now House Line, exclusively at Amazon:

Breakfast In Blue

This tall bar set featuring a mirrored top is perfect for small dining spaces or your terrace. All images: Amazon

Shop the look:

Pretty In Pink

Every object in this living room setting features a fresh, new color, from Millennial pink to powder blue to teal.

Shop the look:

A High-Contrast Entryway

jonathan adler now house black and white furnishings

Graphic black and white patterns – down to the rug – make a bold statement in any small or large entryway.

Shop the look:

A Modern Mint Home Office

The small mint desk has a mirrored glass surface that matches the colorful mirrored wall art.

Shop the look:

Blue Modern Living Room

A fashionable blue and white living room setting is fresh, fun and modern. The patterned area rug pulls together all the living room’s tones.

Shop the look:

Now House Graphic Bedding

amazon bedding from new jonathan adler now house

Layers of black and white grids and checks are accentuated by a blush pink tone.

Get the look:

Jonathan Adler and Amazon’s collaboration is bright, graphic and features a nod to the 60s, 70s and 80s. There are hundreds of pieces in the collection (and more to come). What’s your favorite color from the series?

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