My Latest Great Find!

I'm always on the lookout for great looking storage pieces - either for myself or to recommend to clients. I'm in the process of doing some renovations to a partially finished laundry and storage room which I'd also like to use eventually as a workroom for some of my art, craft, and sewing projects. 

I've been trying to find suitable storage solutions for my huge inventory of art & craft supplies, fabrics, trims, paper, ribbons, and all the materials I collect for my mixed media collages. I happened to get a newsletter from Somerset Studio, a long time favorite magazine which specializes in the art of paper and mixed media, and saw a link to The Original Scrap Box, a scrapbooking storage system with fold out table and cabinets for the home. The scrap book organizing armoire converts into a storage craft table for the home. It also offers shelving, racks, carry totes, ribbon boxes, and a variety of other storage components for sewing, crafts, art projects, and more. They have several different styles to choose from, and the pieces come in either stained or painted finishes, and they also offer a few wood options as well - maple, oak, and cherry.

The website also has several videos which show the various storage systems in action, which is very helpful because you can see how they all work and how all the parts and pieces fit together. Once I saw that, I was able to make a decision pretty quickly about which one would work best for me. Now, all I have to decide on is the color or stained finish! Oh, and finish the room so that I can start using it as a bona fide workroom!

Special offer to my readers  - if you use "100ship" you'll get $100 off the total shipping price of any purchase from The Original Scrap Box!

50 Hassle-Free Steps to a Healthier Home

Courtesy of This Old House

I'm always on the lookout for tips, ideas, advice, and guidelines to keep my home healthier and hazard-free. I don't have kids, but I do have pets (and that can be a whole other topic to cover in the future) and keeping the house clean, fresh, and healthy can sometimes be a challenge with three dogs and a cat. 

Most of my clients have children or grandchildren, sometimes multiple pets, and are environmentally conscious, too. So, I'm always looking for ways to help my clients have homes that are not only beautiful to look at and live in, but are also healthy, safe, and family and pet friendly, too. I recently came across an article on one of my favorite websites, This Old House, and wanted to share these tips with you.

50 Hassle-Free Steps to a Healthier Home 

Our homes should be our havens, but too often our homes are harboring hazards we're not even aware of. Here are a few tips and ideas to help keep your home healthier, safer, and more wholesome for yourself, your family, and your pets.

Entryways

1.      Keep pollen out. Shake or brush items outside; keep wet wipes handy to clean pets' fur and feet; don't hang laundry outside during prime pollen season.

2.      Add mats to both sides of the door. This will help to keep out dirt, as well as allergens, bacteria, lawn chemicals, etc. Use washable mats whenever possible and clean regularly.

3.      Air out dry cleaning. Try to take off plastic bags before you put the clothes away. Dry cleaning solvents are often potent chemicals. If your clothing has a strong chemical odor, air them out before putting them away. Better yet, try to find a dry cleaner that uses organic products.

4.      Establish a no shoes indoors policy. Keep a basket of slippers or "indoors only" shoes in a basket by the main entry.

5.      Install vent fans in crawl spaces. Keeping the humidity level low prevents condensation and the spread of  musty odors, mold, and helps to curtail allergies and asthma. Find a fan that is designed for crawl spaces.

6.      Create a pet checkpoint. Treat dogs and cats with a monthly flea and tick repellant and check them for ticks and fleas before they come back into the house (if possible). Try to avoid flea and tick collars which contain pesticides, can be irritating to your pet's skin, and can rub off on kids and furnishings.

Kitchen and Pantry

7.      Caulk holes and crevices so that disease-carrying mice, bugs, and other critters stay outside.

8.      Filter your drinking water. Carbon filters - whether a pitcher, tap mounted, or under sink model - can cut levels of lead, chlorine, and other chemicals in your drinking water.

9.      Change refrigerator filters before their expiration date. If your fridge comes with a water dispenser, change the filter every six months.

10.  Toss cracked cutting boards. Opt for a cutting board made from hard maple or hard plastic so germs and bacteria don't have a place to hide.

11.  Clean prep surfaces regularly. Scrub those cutting boards with hot, soapy water after each use.

12.  Use your range hood when you cook. It'll reduce cooking related air pollutants, including carbon monoxide. Clean range hoods and filters regularly.

13.  Seal stone countertops with a product low in VOC's

Living Room

14.  Ban smoking indoors.

15.  Open a window and let in some fresh air (unless you are battling pollen).

16.  Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter. High efficiency particulate air filters are best for sucking up dust, dust mites, pet dander, and fleas. Use a crevice tool and upholstery brush on chairs and sofas, and brush attachments are great for getting rid of dust on lampshades and drapes.

17.  Add some live houseplants. Plants can help to neutralize formaldehyde (sometimes found in furnishings and paints). Good choices include spider plants, peace lilies, philodendrons, English ivy, Boston ferns, and bamboo palms.

18.  Clean hardwood floors often using a mild vinegar and water or lemon oil and water solution. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners.

19.  Sanitize hand held devices. Cordless phones, TV remotes, computer keyboards, etc. all harbor bacteria, germs, and viruses.

20.  Hire a chimney sweep. Regular maintenance on your fireplace and chimney helps lower airborne particulates and reduces the risk of carbon monoxide building up.

21.  Loosen grime with steam. Steam appliances rely on water alone for cleaning.

22.  Shop for furnishings and finishes that have low or no VOC's.

Bathroom

23.  Replace failing or cracked tiles to discourage mold and bacteria buildup.

24.  Dehumidify. Run the vent fan after every shower to prevent mold and mildew.

25.  Avoid using cleaners with ammonia and chlorine. And remember never to mix the two!

26.  Sanitize faucets where germs and viruses collect. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution or use wipes that kill viruses.

27.  Swap out vinyl shower curtains for washable nylon or cotton.

28.  Avoid chemical grout cleaners.

Playrooms/Kids' Rooms

29.  Vacuum, dust, and damp mop regularly.

30.  Test suspect paint surfaces for lead.

31.  Sanitize doorknobs and toys which can harbor germs and viruses.

32.  Install linoleum, cork, tile, or stone instead of vinyl or carpeting. Unlike vinyl, natural materials contain no phthalates and will collect lest dust than carpeting.

33.  Look for chemical free furnishings.

34.  Avoid furnishings and clothing with stain-resistant coatings if possible.

Laundry/Pet Area

35.  Decant kibble into sealed containers to keep vermin at bay.

36.  Opt for paper or plant-based kitty litter.

37.  Nip fleas naturally and launder your pet's bedding regularly.

38.  Make sure that your clothes dryer vents outside and clean the vents regularly to reduce lint build up and a potential fire hazard.

39.  Wash sheets, duvet covers, and mattress pads weekly to keep dust mites under control.

40.  Upgrade to a steam washer.

Bedrooms

41.  Let your bed air out before you make it each day.

42.  Screen out pollen. If you have a window air conditioner, clean the filter often.

43.  Stop using moth balls which contain possible carcinogens. Instead, opt for cedar chips.

44.  Use dust-proof covers on pillows and mattresses to keep dust mites out.

45.  Swap out wall-to-wall carpeting for hardwood and washable area rugs. This will help to reduce the build up of dust, dander, and other allergens.

Basement

46.  Check for radon. This odorless natural gas can go undetected for years. Use a radon test kit every few years and after any work is done in your basement.

47.  Schedule an HVAC checkup to make sure furnaces, boilers, and air conditioning units are in good working order, preventing carbon monoxide build up.

48.  Clean or replace your furnace or forced air system filters regularly.

Garage

49.  Take inventory and safely dispose of any half empty containers of paint, anti-freeze, motor oil, pesticides, etc. that are no longer usable.

50.  Set up to work outside and wear a mask as needed if working with any chemically treated lumber or products that contain formaldehyde or other chemicals.

You can have a well kept home and take care of your health, too. For more tips and information about keeping a healthier home, visit www.thisoldhouse.com

Ceil Petrucelli is an interior designer, decorator, and home organizing consultant based in Bennington, VT. She owns Ceil Petrucelli Interiors and The House Therapist and can be reached at ceilpetrucelli@comcast.net or her website www.CeilPetrucelliInteriors.com

Things Usually Look Worse Before They Look Better

Courtesy of My Home Ideas.com

I have a confession to make. When it comes to my own "major" home improvement projects - whether it be redecorating, reorganizing, or remodeling -- I have a tendency to put things off. 

I usually have a good reason -- lack of time or lack of extra money. But it sometimes comes down to lack of motivation, lack of energy or just being too complacent - for lack of a better word. After doing various types of home improvement projects for clients, the last thing I want to do when I get home at night is work on my own home improvement projects. I'd much rather spend time doing other things.

Then there is always the "mess" factor to deal with when starting a project. You know - moving stuff around, emptying the closets, going through drawers, ripping up carpet, prepping the walls and/or ceiling before actually painting. 

I'm not talking about the smaller projects which can get accomplished in a few hours -- I'm talking about the major projects --like repainting a room (or several rooms), replacing old carpeting with new flooring, completely reorganizing a walk-in closet, updating a room with new and/or different furniture and accessories, remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. But even some of the smaller projects take some time, effort, and planning as well as some psychology. 

My major stumbling blocks (aside from the financial one) seem to be dealing with the "mess factor" while the project is underway and the "start-stop" nature of most of my DIY projects because who has hours or days of uninterrupted time to work on this stuff? (Oh, and the three dogs and a cat underfoot).

To be honest, some of these projects will eventually require the services of a pro - and thankfully, I've worked with many good tradespeople over the years. But in the meantime, I'm doing a lot of the prep work myself to save a few bucks.

 

I decided to take some of my own advice to deal with my own personal "home improvement" stumbling blocks. And you know what? It actually helped me to refocus, take things one step at a time, and not make myself feel bad because I didn't get everything done according to my original schedule. Life happens -- when all is said and done, if I take time to think things through, develop a plan, then work at it one step at a time, things will eventually get done. 

And if things look a bit messy in the meantime, I keep visualizing what it will look like after the new flooring goes in, the rooms are repainted, and I'm cooking a fabulous Italian meal in my new kitchen. It may take awhile, but it'll get done!