Author: Josie

3 Basic Components of Vintage Style

Josie

Buying second-hand treasures is the hottest trend in fashion, as well as interior design!

Photos By: Unsplash

However, you can create vintage arrangements even if you lack time to visit antique markets and charity shops. There are two fundamentally different groups of vintage fans. The members of the first are thrilled mostly with the hunt itself – they love to wade through often cluttered shops to find real pearls on some piles or in the corner. The second group consists of people who genuinely love the vintage style – and they do not necessarily put importance to the story of the item or hunting for astonishing bargains. What matters for them is the effect.

However, how to define the vintage style itself? Technically, it consists of second-hand items. Nevertheless, in recent years the term “vintage” has slightly detached from its initial meaning. Nowadays, it is often used to describe an eclectic style composed of furniture and accessories “with history” or ones that…. pretend to have it. No holds barred! Only your imagination – and the assortment of a local shop – limits you.  

Below you will find some elements that will help you in creating a vintage look of the interiors without higher expenses.

Ceramic and Porcelain Handles

Do you love to give the furniture a second life? Adopting abandoned cupboards and chairs is something you cannot resist doing? Well, zero-waste lifestyle is in fashion – however, it’s good to renovate the furniture before putting it your interiors. Treat them with chalk paint – that doesn’t require taking off the old layers of the paint. Moreover,  change the handles. You can find a big choice of this kind of element on the market. Ceramic handles look spectacular and give the interior design a vintage vibe. Especially the porcelain ones will look stunning, especially with bright furniture.

Posters 

Obviously, not blockbuster posters received for free from the local cinema. We mean rather old-style ones that will give your arrangement a nice touch. Don’t be afraid to mix! Putting together Toulouse-Lautrec’s iconic works, 90s rave announcements, modernist designs, and art house cinema posters can give stunning results. The same goes for mixing sizes!

Handmade Accessories

It is hard to imagine a valid vintage style without some handmade products. Buying second-hand allows you to avoid mass-produced items for the chain stores. Because you are not buying something new, the quality doesn’t have to be compromised. That’s why fans of vintage often have handmade, high-quality accessories at their disposal. Macramé wall hangings and flower hangers, crochet accessories, embroidered pillow covers, and so on – this will give your interior design a nice touch.

Enjoy your vintage hunt, and remember – minimalism is already passé!

Spruce Up Your Home’s Décor This Summer with These Easy Ideas!

Josie

Give your home’s décor a little color with these easy summer ideas!

It’s always a great idea to give your home a little color during the warmer months such as spring and summer. It’s time to remove all that heavy drapery and warm textiles in your home and go with something a little lighter. Here are some easy ideas and swaps that you can make at home that are bound to create a huge difference!

Fresh Flowers

There is something about a bouquet of fresh flowers that elevates a home and gives it life. Flowers make magnificent centrepieces are one of the best home décor accessories designers swear by. Petunias, hydrangeas and roses are one of my favorite types of flowers to decorate with. Just remember to change the water daily and never use fake flowers!


Photo: Tom Stringer Design Partners

Sisal Rugs

Rolling out a sisal rug is a great way to tie your home’s decorating in with nature. Sisal rugs are made out of dried grass making this a wonderful choice to give your home a natural summer feel. What’s also wonderful about sisal rugs is that they are popular when layered with cowhide rugs. This is a neat trend you can try out at home without having to break the bank.

Mirrored Furniture

If you are a fan of adding a little glitz and glam into your life, mirrored furniture is a popular way to make sure your home looks designer grade. Here is one of my popular tricks when decorating: mirrored furniture reflects natural light throughout your home making it look bigger and brighter than it actually is.


Light Wall Colors

Give your home a fresh lick of paint to make all the difference this summer. Off-white, dove gray, and pastel hues are popular summer colors that make your home feel fresh, cool and are a great way to add some value to your home. To add color to your home spruce it up with accessories such as throw pillows, rugs, flowers, and colorful candles.

Metallic Hardware

Here is an easy decorating swap that makes a huge difference. All you need to do is remove your old hardware like kitchen drawer pulls and knobs and install new metallic gold or chrome hardware to give your home a modern and updated look. This is an easy and budget friendly way to refresh your home this summer!


Photo: Robin Pelissier Interior Design & Robin’s Nest

Spotlight on Litom – Use Litom’s Solar Wall Lights to Light up the Exterior of Your Home

Josie

Make your outdoor space brighter by using solar lights!

Give your outdoor space some attention by brightening up the exterior of your home using solar wall lights by Litom. These wall lights are perfect for outdoor lighting since they are incredibly bright at 400 lumens, which is more than enough to illuminate any dark corners of your yard. Litom’s solar lights are the perfect solution to help you navigate in the dark around the exterior of your home. If you are like me and have a side entrance to your home, a walkway to your garage, or a path around your backyard, solar wall lights make the perfect lighting option.

You should definitely consider installing solar lights if you are looking to amp up the security around your home. Litom’s solar wall lights not only light up when the sun goes down, but they also have a PIR motion sensor that can sense even a cat. For the safety of your family and your kids, Litom’s 122 led solar lights can sense anything within 33ft and have no blind area like other known solar light brands. They also are super bright, up to 3-4 times more than other brands and have a 270 degree wide lighting angle that provides excellent illumination and larger coverage.

If you are new to solar wall lights, do not hesitate to purchase them. These lights are the perfect way to invest in lighting that will eventually pay for itself. Since the sun’s rays power them, your only cost for these lights is to purchase them. No more operating costs required! Even on a cloudy day, all your solar lights need is 3.5 hours of light to provide all night lighting. Now that’s what I call a great deal! They are also very lasting (can last more than 3 years) because they are waterproof, heat-resistance, frost-resistance, and can withstand all kinds of extreme weather conditions.

To install, all you need is a drill and 2 minutes of your time. Litom’s solar lights are much easier to install that standard lights, since there is no wiring required, just drill two holes onto the exterior wall of your home and screw them on, and you’re good to go!

Solar lights are perfect for lighting outdoor areas, they are super affordable, and can make a huge difference in the safety of your home. Whether you are looking to amp up the security around your home, or would love some easy to install solar lights for an elderly family member, Litom’s solar lights make the perfect buy. So what are you waiting for? Visit Litom for solar wall lights and outdoor lighting! We would love to hear your thoughts and experiences below!

Cost-effective Home Improvement Must-Haves

Josie

This might be your perfect chance to start home improvement this summer!

Featured image by: Mary Hannah Interiors

 Whether you’ve been dreaming of a newly remodeled patio, painting your front door, or renovating your bathroom for a more relaxed coastal look, you can get all this done by making good use of the time indoors.

However, as much as you are itching to remodel your home, it’s important to note that home improvement projects can easily become bank busters. But the good news is, there are a lot of cost-effective ideas you can explore to get the most out of your remodeling budget. Here are some:

An interior Paint Job

A coat of new fresh paint can dramatically make everything look brand new. Unlike wallpaper, there are a lot of ways to cut corners and get your desired look for less.

While painting, consider doing it yourself. Contrary to what most people think, painting is not difficult at all. Almost everyone can do it independently and successfully without hiring painting experts.

Here are a few tips to help you DIY:

– Start off by making a plan for your desired look. Measure the size of your walls and ceilings and also note down all the necessary tools you require.
– Ensure you protect all interior elements such as sockets, lamps, and light switches using a drop cloth
– Start by painting your ceiling then your walls (not the other way round)
– Avoid taking long breaks in between your painting sessions

A Bathroom Remodel


Photo: via

Bathrooms have always landed a top spot in many home improvement lists. To avoid spending megabucks, consider the following cost-saving tips.

1. Limit the amount of tile in your bathroom

Laying out tile gets expensive when you have a large area to cover. You can limit your tile coverage by only laying it on the floor only instead of the floor and the walls.

2. Avoid spending much on your countertops

Granite countertops, which are a popular trend now, can easily wreck your remodeling budget. Since your bathroom countertop is small, consider spending on a fairly low priced countertop to save some money. You can do this by shopping for secondhand countertops or by choosing less popular colors which are a bit cheaper.

3. Clean the caulk and grout

Though often overlooked, the caulk and grout can easily get unsightly when left for long. By simply cleaning caulk and grout you can freshen up your bathroom inexpensively.

Revamp your Old Floor

Replacing your scratched and worn out floor can easily change the look of your interior. When it comes to flooring the most sought after material is wood. Even though it’s beautiful, wood is quite expensive. Unlike in the past where wooden floors were the only option, there are a lot of beautiful and inexpensive flooring materials now available in the market at a much lower cost. Here are some:

  • Bamboo flooring – bamboo is almost similar to hardwood but a lot cheaper and durable.
  • Laminate flooring- Laminate flooring is a cheap alternative to wood flooring and has so many different varieties to choose from. It is also a smart choice if you have children or pets.
  • Porcelain tiles – Porcelain tiles are less expensive than wood. You can minimize the cost even further by laying the tiles yourself.
  • Cork flooring – Cork flooring is a natural and eco-friendly product that’s easy to install. It is also attractive and easy to clean up.

A Minor Kitchen Remodel


Photo By: Crown Point Cabinetry

Being one of the most utilized spaces, an improved kitchen can add beauty and functionality to your home. Here are some of the ways you can improve your kitchen without spending a lot of money;

1. Avoid replacing your kitchen cabinets – update them

While almost all the focus is always on the kitchen cabinets, you don’t have to spend thousands on new cabinets if the current set in your kitchen is in good shape.

You can do a few simple upgrades such as sanding, re-staining, and repainting to make them look better and up-to-date.

2. Go for budget countertops

You can easily save up on countertops by simply shopping around. Instead of getting your countertops from designers, you can shop at discount granite shops or from home improvement stores to save even more.

3. Work on your lighting

Brighten up your kitchen with new warmer lights. Avoiding overly dim lighting will make your kitchen feel more bright, warmer, and welcoming.

Give your HVAC a Tune-up

HVAC systems are often taken for granted – until they fail. They can cost thousands to repair or replace. It is, therefore, a wise idea to give your HVAC system a tune-up as we head for the summer.

Here are HVAC maintenance ideas to help you keep your HVAC systems working for longer:

1. Change the air filters regularly – most disposable air filters should be replaced every 60-90 days.

2. Keep the AC units clear of any dirt, branches, and debris. A buildup of materials in your AC’s will cause problems in their performance.

3. Get Maintenance from HVAC companies (like Eastern Shore Heating & Air Conditioning). The little repairs can save you the much higher cost of replacing your entire HVAC system in case it breaks down.

You Don’t Have to Break the Bank

Home improvement doesn’t have to cost you thousands. Try out these affordable improvement ideas to spruce up your home’s curb appeal during this lockdown period.

Easy DIY Backyard Projects to Keep You Sane During Quarantine

Josie

Make the most of quarantine with these DIY backyard projects!

Photo By: Better Homes and Gardens

Up until now, our lives have been pretty routine. We’d wake up, go to work or school, socialize with friends, and visit family. We’d host family barbeques, have date night and even go away on vacation. But, now? COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in our day-to-day routines and many of us are stuck at home in quarantine until this passes — or at least is contained.

It’s understandable to get frustrated. It’s understandable if you’re feeling like you need to do something or you’d go crazy. So why not take all of that pent up energy and do something to make your backyard into a relaxing oasis with these DIY projects?

Flex Your Green Thumb

Plants are a fantastic way to add some life to any space, be it inside or out. Now’s the perfect time to transplant your favorite flowers into larger pots so they have more room to grow. Use this time to prune back bushes that have become unruly. You can weed the flower beds, care for the lawn, or start a garden!

Refinish the Deck/Patio

Weather has a nasty way of turning a once beautiful patio or deck into a dingy shadow of what it once was. With summer just a few short weeks away and there’s no clear date when the quarantine will end, why not refinish your outdoor living space? Break out a power washer and revitalize your patio furniture. Restain your deck so it looks brand new. Add some fresh paint to flower pots. You’d be amazed how a little bit of elbow grease can make a huge difference!

Make Easy Repairs

Have you been putting off minor repairs outside? You know, repairs like fixing (or cleaning) the gutters, replacing outdoor light fixtures, or taking down Christmas lights. If you’re thinking about selling your home any time soon, these repairs will be one less reason buyers would have for submitting a offer below asking price. 

Build Something Useful

If you’re pretty handy with power tools, why not build something practical like a new picnic table, put together a swing set for the kids. You could make a fire pit out of cinderblocks if your neighborhood allows it. Of course, if you’re not keen on making anything big, start off small by making a birdhouse or make window planters for flowers. You can even make a raised garden plot!

Start a Compost Pile

Now, this idea may not be for everyone and it will take some time before you can actually use the compost, but a compost pile is a fantastic way to reduce the amount of waste you throw away. It’ll provide you with nutrient dense soil that you can use for potted plants, flower beds, and that raised garden we mentioned. Keep in mind that maintaining your compost pile is going to require getting your hands dirty, but it’ll be worth it in the long run!


Photo By: Edible Columbus

Clean the Plool

Before opening the pool for the summer, take this time to thoroughly clean the pool. You can use the vacuum to clean any debris that may have settled at the bottom of the pool while it was closed for the winter. You can change the filter and run several backwashing cycles. You can scrub the deck, clean the liner or scrub the tiles, depending on what kind of pool you own. By taking the time to thoroughly clean your pool, your weekly maintenance will be that much easier.

A lot of people are feeling the stress of being stuck at home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be productive and make your little corner of the world your own little oasis. Whether you’re repairing creaky doors or re-staining the deck, these little improvements will add little value to your home, but it’ll make you feel like you accomplished something. Plus, once social distancing regulations have been relaxed, you’ll be ready to invite family and friends over and not be ashamed of your unkempt yard.