Everything Simple

Top 5 Best Convection Ovens Reviewed for Baking and Roasting

Kitti Vicky — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 18:57:49 +0000

We’ve rounded up and reviewed the best convection ovens for this year 2017 and we’re so excited to share our findings. What we wanted to achieve was to help pick out the most value for your money and to find the oven that has the most features which can really help you with your cooking needs. Before diving into the list though, let’s go through the details.

What is a Convection Oven?

Basically, a convection oven has a built-in fan and exhaust that blows and circulates hot air around the food which helps cook the food more evenly and quickly. Normal conventional ovens or toaster ovens usually does not have this fan and exhaust system and often rely on radiation from the oven walls.

The idea of convection technology distributes the heat evenly around the food by removing the blanket of cool air surrounding the food and thus is able to cook the food more quickly and evenly.

Why Should You Use Convection Ovens?

Faster cooking time: because the convection technology distributes the heat and removes the blanket of cold air surrounding the food, this can help cook the food at least 25% faster compared to conventional ovens.
More balanced cooking: because convection ovens blow hot air and circulate it around the food, this will make your cooking more even and you won’t have those “cold spots” in certain areas of your dish.
Better browning: regular ovens can create humidity in the air because moisture cannot escape thereby steaming the food instead of roasting. While convection creates a dry atmosphere inside your oven thereby making it better for roasting and caramelizing the sugars faster. This can help get your meats and vegetables better browning.
Saves on energy: since you cook your food faster in a convection oven, and generally at a lower temperature than regular ovens, then you can save quite a bit on energy and electricity.

How Did We Choose the Best Convection Oven in the Market? Criteria we used:

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Cooking, Baking & Roasting Quality

To find the best convection oven, we have to look for the best quality of cooking whether it’s for baking, toasting or roasting. We wanted to focus on looking for the best convection toaster oven that can give us that delicious even cooking and roasting. Some ovens might be great for reheating or for it’s toasting, but we wanted the one with the best for all functions.

We wanted to focus on getting good quality cooking for meats, vegetables, wheats and breads. Of course, the quality of the cooking may vary depending on how long you’r cooking or what function you’re using but we want to find the best one overall.

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Design and Aesthetics

We wanted to find the best convection microwave oven that looks amazing aesthetically. All of our selections have a beautiful stainless steel finish which you can be proud of to show off in your kitchen. The designs are very modern and stylish. Most of them are silver chrome with some having a black chrome finish. Most of all, even if the convection toaster oven is affordable, they should look expensive and not cheap.

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Durability

We wanted to look for the best convection oven that not only can last 6 months but can last for years. Of course, the cheaper ones may be a little bit flimsier but overall, we wanted to look for durable steel material. Most commercial convection oven can be considered very durable but those are expensive. What we focused on are traditional convection ovens for your home for just your daily use. Another thing we looked into is warranty. Most, if not all, do offer a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty for your peace of mind.

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Price and Value for Money

Most importantly, we wanted to make sure that the best product that we recommend has the most value for money. We did not just choose the most expensive convection oven in the market and definitely did not just go for the cheapest one. We wanted to look for the most affordable convection oven we could find that looks expensive, very durable and has the best cooking, roasting and baking capabilities that you will be happy about.

Our Pick for the Overall Best Convection Oven!

#1 Breville BOV845BSS Smart Oven Pro Convection Oven

Our Pick for Best Overall Convection Toaster Oven – $250

This Breville smart oven pro convection toaster oven is our main pick. It does an excellent job baking and roasting everything from chicken, beef, bread, cakes, pastries, pork loins, potatoes and roasted sausages. The aluminum roasting pan that comes with the convection oven fits perfectly. Aluminum steel finish looks amazing and very durable.

The convection toaster oven comes with 10 menu functions. Size is 0.8 cubic foot interior which can fit a 6-slice toast and can accommodate most 3.5 quart Dutch oven vessels with the lid and 5 quart vessels with foil lids. Highly recommended.

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#2 Cuisinart TOB-260N1 Chef’s Convection Oven

Our Pick for Large Convection Oven Microwave Combo – $221.99

For those looking for a bigger convection toaster oven, this is the best one for you. It has a large and very spacious interior with a 0.95 cubic-foot capacity which can fit a 13” pizza and 9” x 13” baking pan. It can even fit a 7 lbs turkey breast. It can handle baking potatoes in a convection oven perfectly. The oven toasts and bakes beautifully and the food comes out evenly cooked with delicious and juicy fillings.

This convection toaster oven is beautiful with a stainless steel finish and interior includes oven light and non stick coating. It also includes additional accessories such as 2 oven racks, backing pan, broiling pans and a 13 inch pizza stone. We highly recommend this convection toaster oven for those looking for a bigger but still manageable convection toaster oven.

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#3 Cuisinart Steam Convection Oven

Our Pick for Best Countertop Microwave Convection Oven – $299.99

This Cuisinart convection oven uses both convection and steam technology. This is not your standard toaster oven and can nearly replace your microwave and stove for day to day use. The steaming technology helps to perfectly heat and cook vegetables, breads and grains without using steamers or rice cookers.

Has 9 unique functions to choose to cook your food. It has toasting, convection baking, steam baking, roasting, steam, broil steam, super steam and breading. The convection toaster oven looks amazing with the all stainless steel finish. Quality of the oven is amazing and accessories are high, durable steel. The LCD is easy to read and looks great. And the setup is very easy.

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#4 Black and Decker CTO6335S 6-Slice Digital Convection Countertop Toaster Oven

Our Pick for Best Midsize Convection Toaster Oven – $63.99

This is more of mid-size convection toaster oven on a budget but it comes with good value for money. Comes with 8 one-touch menu functions from Bake, broil, toast, bagel, pizza, frozen, snacks, potatoes and cookies. The baking and toasting power is pretty good for a mid-size toaster oven.

The interior of the oven can fit a 12” pizza with 6 slices of bread. It’s not the biggest toaster oven but if you’re looking to save space on your countertop, this is definitely a good and reliable convection toaster oven for you.

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#5 Hamilton Beach 31104 Countertop Oven with Convection and Rotisserie

Our Pick for Midsize Convection Countertop Oven – $78

Another mid-size convection toaster oven on our list, Hamilton Beach has been very well known to make good quality microwaves and toaster ovens for a decent price. This is another good option for those looking for a good quality convection oven on a budget.

The interior can fit two 12” pizzas, two 9” x 13” casseroles or two cake pans which is very generous in space for a midsize convection oven. It also comes with a revolving rotisserie option which can fit a 5 lbs chicken. The unit itself has a very nice silver steel finish for the front and a black body. Very nice for those looking for a convection toaster oven that just works as intended.

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The post Top 5 Best Convection Ovens Reviewed for Baking and Roasting first appeared on Everything Simple.

Top 7 Best Toaster Ovens Reviewed for Healthy Cooking

Kitti Vicky — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 21:51:33 +0000

If you’re looking for a toaster oven to bake your pastries or toast your bread, then we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up and reviewed the best toaster ovens for 2017 and we’re so excited to share our reviews. What we wanted to achieve was to help pick out the most value for your money and to find the toaster oven that has the most features which can really help you with your cooking needs. Before diving into the list though, let’s go through the details.

What is a Toaster Oven?

A toaster oven is a small appliance that cooks your food from the outside by surrounding it with heat and hot air. This is a mini version of your large oven. This method cooks the food from the outside making it perfect for toast, crispy bread, pizza or pastry. This method is perfect for causing chemical reactions such as drying the surface of foods and caramelizing the surface sugar thus causing the browning you would usually see on your toast.

In comparison, the more conventional microwave ovens cooks the food from the inside using radio waves to heat the molecules inside your food. On the other hand, convection ovens uses a fan and exhaust system to blow and surround the food with hot air.

What Food is Best Cooked in Toaster Ovens?

Cooking or Reheating Pizza
Toasting bread
Oven toasted eggs
Roasting vegetables such as asparagus and broccoli
Baking sweets and pastries such as cake, cookies, cupcakes
Baking potatoes
Reheating sandwiches such burgers or philly cheesesteaks
Oven toasted french fries
Roasting chicken or meat

How Did We Choose the Best Toaster Oven in the Market? Criteria we used:

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Toasting, Baking & Roasting Quality

To find the best toaster oven, we have to look for the best quality of cooking whether it’s for baking, toasting or roasting. We wanted to focus on looking for the best toaster oven that can give us that delicious even cooking and roasting. Some toasters might not be evenly distributed and some might not be as powerful as the others.

We wanted to focus on getting good quality toasts for breads, pastries, vegetables, wheats and meat. Of course, the quality of toast may vary depending on how long you’r cooking or what function you’re using but we want to find the best one overall.

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Design and Aesthetics

We wanted to find the best toaster oven that simply looks gorgeous. All of our selections have a beautiful stainless steel finish which would look great in your kitchen. The designs are very modern and stylish. Most of them are silver chrome with some having a black chrome finish. Most of all, even if the toaster oven is affordable, they should still look expensive and not cheap.

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Durability

We wanted to look for the best and durable toaster oven that can last you for years. The cheaper ones might not be as durable as the others but there are affordable toaster ovens that are still good quality materials and can be durable. What we tried to focus on are good toaster ovens that are both powerful but also safe. Another thing we looked into is warranty. Most, if not all, do offer a 1 year manufacturer’s warranty which can at least give you some peace of mind.

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Price and Value for Money

Overall, we wanted to make sure that the best product that we recommend has the most value for money. We did not just choose the most expensive toaster oven in the market and definitely did not just go for the cheapest one. We wanted to look for the most affordable toaster oven we could find that looks stylish, is made of very durable and high quality materials and has great cooking and toasting capabilities. In the end, we want to find the product with the most value for it’s price.

Our Pick for the Overall Best Toaster Oven!

#1 Breville BOV450XL Mini Smart Toaster Oven with Element IQ

Our Pick for Best Overall Toaster Oven – $125.95

This Breville toaster oven is the best one with a good mid size 4 slice capacity 0.45 cubic feet interior that comes with 3 rack positions, you can cook, toast and roast most food with this size. The interior has non-stick cavity coating and very durable framing.

This unit comes with 8 pre-set cooking functions that make it easy to toast food very quickly. The outside of the oven does tend to get really hot so you have to be careful not to put the toaster oven under a wooden cabinet. But overall, for the price that you’re paying, the cooking and heating quality, durability and design, this Breville toaster oven is the best one you can get.

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#2 Cuisinart TOB-195 Exact Heat Toaster Broiler Oven

Our Pick for Toaster Broiler combo – $179

This is a slightly bigger toaster oven from Cuisinart that has a 6 slice 0.6 cubic feet capacity. It has electronic touchpad controls with an easy to clean interior. The toasting and roasting is pretty consistent and even over the life of the unit.

Aesthetically, this toaster looks gorgeous with it’s stainless steel chrome finish. It has a very professional and sophisticated style which you can be happy about. It has a large interior and can fit most foods. The digital LCD display is a nice touch and control pad is labeled well.

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#3 Oster Large Capacity Countertop 6-Slice Digital Convection Toaster Oven

Our Pick for Large Capacity Toaster Oven – $79

This extra large capacity toaster oven is perfect for those looking for more room which can hold a 13” x 9” pan, 12” pizza, whole chicken and roasted ham. The temperature range is about 150-450° and is great for high heat broiling of meats and toasting pastries.

The design looks very stylish with a black exterior and stainless steel silver finish in the front. This unit also has a very modern and sleek look as with the digital LCD and digital control panel. It has built in one touch controls and cooking functions including bake, broil, toast, pizza, defrost and warm. This is a good value for the price.

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#4 Black and Decker 4-Slice Countertop Toaster Oven

Our Pick for Small Toaster Oven – $31.48

This is a slightly smaller countertop toaster oven from Black and Decker which houses a 4 slice capacity and can fit a 9” pizza. The toasting feature is very good and the bread comes out nice and evenly toasted.

This toaster doesn’t come with as much cooking features as the other toaster ovens in this list but it does come with 4 acceptable functions including baking, broiling, toasting and keeping food warm. The toaster oven itself has a nice stainless steel sleek design and it’s a good value considering the affordable price.

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#5 Cuisinart TOB-40N Custom Classic Toaster Oven Broiler

Our Pick for Classic Countertop Toaster Oven – $73.70

This full size toaster oven broiler from Cuisinart is perfect for those looking for a smaller frame with a larger interior toaster. It uses 1800 Watts to toast and can accommodate 6 slices of toast and holds a 11” pizza. The food cooks and toasts well and has a nice easy clean non-stick interior.

This toaster has a nice modern and sleek design with a stainless steel chrome finish that would look great in any kitchen. The front also houses a nice rubberized easy grip dial so it’s very comfortable to use. This is a good value toaster for the price.

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#6 Panasonic NB-G110P Flash Xpress Toaster Oven

Good Pick for Classic Toaster Ovens – $149.95

Panasonic has been one of the leading brands for appliances and that includes toaster ovens. This toaster oven has great cooking capabilities and is very energy efficient with a 1300 Watt usage. It has six preprogramed features including Toast, Waffle, Roll, Pizza, Quick Reheat, Frozen Hash-brown.

This toaster oven also features a double infrared heating and it does tend to cook the food a bit faster than conventional toaster ovens. The design is not as stylish as the other toaster ovens in this list but it still looks great for more traditional kitchens.

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#7 Waring Pro WTO450 Professional Toaster Oven

Good Alternative for Countertop Toaster Oven – $79.99

This Waring Pro toaster oven is a little bit smaller than the other options here with a 4 slice, 0.45 cubic feet capacity. It has 1500 Watts of power and reach a peak of 450F temperature. The food comes out really evenly toasted and very crispy.

This toaster oven is great for baking as it’s true to temperature and holds the heat inside well. Performs as expected and the dials were easy to use. The exterior is also very stylish with a stainless steel finish. The unit does not get super hot that you would tend to be afraid to touch it. With it’s small footprint and price, it is a very good toaster oven for everyday use.

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The post Top 7 Best Toaster Ovens Reviewed for Healthy Cooking first appeared on Everything Simple.

7 Best Lighted Makeup Mirrors for Flawless Illumination

Kitti Vicky — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 00:54:17 +0000

We’ve rounded up and reviewed this year’s best makeup mirrors with lights so that not only will your bedroom look good with these mirrors, but you yourself can look gorgeous taking advantage of the lights built-in into these vanity mirrors. There are quite a number of different factors that we looked into in choosing the best makeup mirror with lights which we’ve listed below.

Our review in choosing the best lighted vanity mirrors boiled down to several factors but it is completely unbiased. Basically, we’ve compared some of the most popular mirrors and looked into the quality of the mirror itself, the durability of the product, the overall style and decorativeness of the mirror, the power of the lights and features of the light. Some of them are dimmer while some are more powerful. Some mirrors have wifi capabilities which you can connect to your smartphone to control the light temperature of the light bulbs which can give you more control when you’re putting on makeup.

Ultimately, I think the most important decision when making a purchase is value for your money which we put a very heavy weight on choosing our recommended products.

Criteria We Used to Find the Best Lighted Makeup Vanity Mirror

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Lighting Features and Usage

Because this review and roundup of products is specific for makeup mirrors that actually has lights then we wanted to focus on finding the mirrors that has good quality lighting. There are a couple of things to look for with regards to lighting, one is buying mirrors that are corded (plugged to an outlet). These mirrors are more powerful lights but they are less portable. The other type are the battery operated makeup mirrors and these are more portable but carry lesser powerful lights.

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Design and Aesthetics

We wanted to find the best lighted mirror that is aesthetically pleasing and more towards the modern design. The stainless steel look definitely makes for a better looking mirror compared to the plastic ones. The size also plays a good part since some mirrors can be a bit too small for usage but also some can be too huge to be aesthetically pleasing as an interior home decoration.

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Durability

We wanted to look for the makeup mirror that is durable for constant usage. A lot of cheap mirrors in the market look good but can be quite flimsy to use. The cheaper flimsier ones can also be a bit harder to use since they can be unstable when adjusting the angle of the mirror. We also wanted to look for mirrors that can withstand a good amount of usage from the time of purchase. This makeup mirror should just not serve as another bedroom decoration but it should be for personal use.

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Price and Value for Money

Most importantly, we wanted to make sure that the best product that we choose has the best value for money. We did not just choose the most expensive mirror in the market and definitely did not just go for the cheapest one. We wanted to look for the cheapest lighted makeup mirror we could find that looks expensive, very durable and has the best lighting features for efficient usage.

Our Pick for the Overall Best Lighted Makeup Vanity Mirror!

#1 Pick for Best Lighted Makeup Mirror

LED NANAMI Vanity Lighted Makeup Mirror – $99.99

Beautiful and elegant white minimalist design. High quality glass mirror. Uses powerful quality LED lights with 2 modes (high or low) and can be adjusted by a touch sensor button. It has automatic shut off feature to conserve energy and battery life is excellent which can last 4-5 days.

The actual mirror dimension is 16.7” x 16.7” x 1.6” and weighs 4.4 lbs. It’s pretty straightforward to install and the product is sturdy and durable.

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#2 Pick – Best for Small Lighted Makeup Mirror on a Budget

Conair Double Sided Lighted Makeup Mirror – $29.99

Elegant and very stylish chrome finish. This double sided lighted makeup mirror is for people that is looking for excellent value for money. The mirror is high quality while the light is not as powerful as other light up makeup mirror but it’s usable for your everyday make-up and foundation.

The size can be quite small as the mirror is oval in shape. This size is ideal for your bedroom or small dresser.

It’s very lightweight and portable but still quite sturdy for everyday use. It’s double sided with one side having 7x magnification to focus on your facial details while the other side having a 1x magnification for your overall look.

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#3 Pick – Best for Tabletop Lighted Makeup Vanity Mirror

Chende Hollywood Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror – $229.99

White and elegant minimalistic design. This illuminated makeup mirror is bigger than the other choices we’ve listed here for those that are looking for a larger real estate for your use. It comes with 12 dimmable LED bulbs and a table top design. This is an excellent vanity makeup mirror with light bulbs.

This makeup vanity mirror with lights sticks about 6 inches to the front and back and will not be able to be hang to the wall. This is strictly a table top mirror. The design is very traditional and comes with the frame and base. Highly recommended for those needing a contemporary makeup vanity table with lighted mirror.

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#4 Pick – Best for Lighted Makeup Mirror

Leju Touchscreen LED Three Panel Lighted Makeup Mirror – $39.99

This lighted makeup mirror provides a wide angle view with it’s 3 panels and comes with 180 degree swivel rotation capabilities. The mirrors come in 3x, 2x and 1x magnification.

The lighting is pretty powerful for the size and it comes both with a cable power plug and batteries so it can be pretty flexible. Comes in built in 21 pcs LED lighting and brightness is adjustable with a touch sensor switch.

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#5 Pick – Best for Wall Mounted Lighted Makeup Mirror

Simplehuman Wall Mounted Sensor Lighted Makeup Mirror – $199.99

This wall mounted makeup mirror with lights from Simplehuman is very modern and stylish with a chrome finish. The lighting system simulates natural sunlight that can help you when applying makeup indoors.

You have the option to get the rechargeable wall mounted makeup mirror or the hard-wired lighted mirror version. It has automatic sensor that knows if you’re face is near and in front of the mirror so the lights will automatically turn on or off. The mirror comes in 5x magnification.

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#6 Pick – Best for Luxury Lighted Vanity Makeup Mirror

Simplehuman Sensor Pro Wifi Enabled Lighted Makeup Mirror – $399.99

Very stylish and elegant wide view lighted vanity mirror. This is wifi enabled so you can connect to an app to adjust color temperature settings and recreate your outside lighting in the mirror. Very high quality mirror that has sensors that automatically turn on or off as your face approaches.

Excellent battery life with one charge lasting up to 3 weeks! The light system simulates natural sunlight. The wide angle view mirror has 3 panels with side panels that fold in so you can adjust to see yourself in different angles.

For those looking for a professional makeup mirror with lights, this is the right product for you. It’s a bit more on the luxury side because of the price but the design is very modern with excellent quality LED lights and wifi capabilities. This is a very smart lighted makeup mirror.

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#7 Pick – Best for Small Lighted Makeup Mirror on a Budget

Flymei 20 LED Lighted Makeup Mirror with removable 10x Magnifier – $32.99

Sleek look and classic design. This lighted makeup mirror is very portable and carries a rectangular shape which provides a wider viewing area compared to round oval shapes. Comes with 20 pcs of LED lighting with pretty powerful lighting.

It’s battery operated and comes with an actual switch button at the back of the mirror apart from the touch screen button on the front. It also comes with a smaller round magnifying mirror that you can adjust and stick to the lighted makeup mirror. The mirror has 180 degree swivel rotation and can turn any direction both horizontal or vertical.

This is a good value for money for those looking for smaller lighted makeup mirrors but don’t want the oval shaped mirrors and looking for a more traditional rectangular shaped makeup mirror.

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The post 7 Best Lighted Makeup Mirrors for Flawless Illumination first appeared on Everything Simple.

Ideas to Maximize and Fill Odd Spaces

Kitti Vicky — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 17:07:33 +0000

Furnishing a home can be a fun experience, but it can also be stressful. How do you know which furniture to buy? Which style or theme to go for? How will everything fit into your allotted space? This last question can be difficult to answer especially for when you live in an apartment with very limited space.

Being able to maximize space and fit your furniture is already complicated even when you have normal square or rectangular shaped rooms, but what if you have a house that is full of odd spaces, tricky dimensions, and rooms with more than four corners? If you don’t think carefully before you start buying your furniture, it can turn into a bit of a nightmare.

So what can you do to ensure you make the most of your space? If you have open plan living areas, it can be difficult to know how to break them up into separate spaces, but this can be done quite easily if you have the right furniture. Armchairs, for instance, are great for creating special little areas on their own; team one up with a floor lamp, table, and a little bookcase, and you’ve got your very own reading area. If you’re sharing your space with someone else, and want to keep things separate, think about getting a room divider screen to make things more official (it will look better than drawing a line along the floor in chalk).

If you have awkward-shaped rooms (such as a wall pillar or nook area that creates more corners or walls than normal), you’ll need to think about furniture that you can change, if needed. In a lounge or living area, a modular sofa would be perfect. Not only do they look modern and fashionable, but you can pick and choose which pieces to use and where, making the most of your odd-shaped space.

Whatever the dimensions of your rooms, with a little bit of imagination and creativity, you’ll be able to furnish your home to fit both your personality and your needs.

The post Ideas to Maximize and Fill Odd Spaces first appeared on Everything Simple.

Guidelines to Consider When Choosing Your Indoor Rugs

Angela — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 16:45:36 +0000

The style, shape and size of a rug can change a room’s whole appearance, so you’ll need to choose the color and design carefully. Your final decision may be based on personal taste; however, there are some important points to consider.

Continuity

Using one style in different rooms creates a flow between them. It’s also worth noting that a rug will look different during the day than at night so it is important to also consider the adjacent and surrounding decor before purchasing certain designs of rugs.

Natural light can make your rugs look lighter while artificial light can make it look darker. You can check out modern fabrics online to get a visual feel of the style you have in mind and to see how it fits your decor.

Patterned versus Plain

Plain rugs are typically more flexible to use than patterned as they’ll co-ordinate with a wider range of furniture and wall coverings. However, plain rugs can also make large rooms look uninteresting. Generally it’s advisable to opt for plain rugs if your furniture is colorful and bold. With that being said patterned rugs are making a comeback.

For more detailed information you can go through Terry’s fabrics or other online fabrics stores to see the wide range of patterns to choose from, including classic patterns, contemporary designs or geometric patterns. There are also some beautiful Indian and Chinese rugs available in a range of colors and designs.

Patterned rugs can act as the focal point of a room if you have plain furniture and neutral colored walls. A patterned rug can also hide signs wear or accidental spills and are far cheaper to replace than fitted carpets.

Texture

Including a variety of different textures in a room is hot on this year’s interior design trends. Using a texture such as a faux sheepskin rug can add interest to a plain floor. Deep pile rugs are ideal for all living areas, adding a touch of luxury to bare feet when used either side of a bed or to wriggle your toes into when relaxing in the living room.

Color

Neutral colors are the most popular choices. It’s much easier to create a color scheme around neutrals than other bolder colors. On the other hand, bold and strong colors add a more dramatic effect on your interior presentation.

Size and Shape

Make sure that you choose a rug which is the correct size for your room. Too small and they’ll look disproportionate, too large and they swap the room.

The shape is also important, typically rugs are chosen to be placed under an item of furniture; for example a coffee table in a living room or dining room table, using the same shape as the furniture piece brings a peaceful and cohesive look.

Additional Advantages of including Rugs

– It’s also advisable to avoid using large patterns in small rooms as they can make the room feel claustrophobic and cramped.

– Light colored rugs can make rooms appear larger, but they will show up dirt more than darker rugs, so using darker colors in high traffic areas is a wise move.

– As north facing rooms don’t get as much sunlight as south facing rooms they can look cold and dark. Use pale colors to help lighten the room or warm it up by using warm colors such as reds, oranges or yellows.

– Patterned rugs are ideal for bringing variety into a room; they also hide dirt better than plain rugs.

Finally, think about where you going to place you rugs and then consider the several factors to help you get the very best options and choices. There’s no one best rug to get, it all depends on your specific circumstances.

The post Guidelines to Consider When Choosing Your Indoor Rugs first appeared on Everything Simple.

Easy Quick Fixes in the Bathroom

Kitti Vicky — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:25:20 +0000

A lot of people would say that the most relaxing place in a house is their bathroom; a place of refuge, to be alone, and just take a breather.

But it would be very difficult to relax in a bathroom wherein all the cleaning supplies are cluttered everywhere. It’s always best to keep them all organized. Spend several minutes to check on all the shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles; check if they are empty or expired and put them in the recycling bin.

If your family shares a bathroom, collect all those which are not yours and ask your relatives if they still need them; if they don’t, place them in the recycling bin too. And if the bottles still have some product left or have residue on them, it would be best to wash them off.

Another big problem which is always ignored is the handful of toothbrushes. Check with the family members and throw out the unused ones. The cluttered toothbrushes are a morning eye sore.

Throw out empty rolled up toothpaste tubes and remind the family that the best way to bring out the toothpaste from the tube is to roll it up from the bottom, and not to squish the tube at the middle.

Clean up the soap dishes and either dispose of all the unused small soap bars or group them together and dissolve in a clean bottle with water to use as your liquid hand soap.

Make sure all the towel racks are screwed on properly, paper towels and tissues are in the right places, rugs are in order, and you’re all good.

And just a side note, it would also do wonders to your bathroom to hang a painting or two on the bathroom wall. You can also opt for a good photo in a frame, preferably with a soothing and relaxing scenic view.

The post Easy Quick Fixes in the Bathroom first appeared on Everything Simple.

Easy Quick Fixes in the House

Kitti Vicky — Fri, 24 May 2013 17:14:39 +0000

Have you ever felt bothered coming into your house? Or maybe even right before entering, you feel a slight anxiety? Have you experienced feeling that your home was so dirty and cluttered, even after cleaning and tidying up?

One of the reasons could be the doors. Not just the main door, but all the doors going to each room of your humble abode. And let us not forget that these are not the only doors around the house. We should be aware of the different cabinets and drawers around our home. I am not implying that you change the doors themselves. I am but pertaining to the doors knobs and handles.

The knobs and handles of these doors experience a lot of wear and tear because of the continuous daily use of all the members of the household and even guests. The paint gets scraped off, the screws and hinges loosen up.

It may seem very little, but changing the knobs and handles can really make your house look better! And it’s a very easy fix up. It would only take minutes to do. And if you can’t spare more time, you can just work on it one room at a time!

Just check out all the knobs and handles of the doors in your house. Make a list of all the knobs and handles which need to be change or whose screws need to be tightened. You can even take photos of them so that it would be easier to buy replacements when you drop by a local hardware store. Changing them is an easy step by step process. And to make it even easier, you can also purchase an electric screwdriver if you don’t have one already. Then voila: a not-so-difficult job, but very rewarding when it comes to the positive aura it gives.

image reference: Reimanpub.com

consumer.schlage.com/

The post Easy Quick Fixes in the House first appeared on Everything Simple.

The Ultimate Japanese Inspired Coastal Home by Yamamori Architect & Associates

Kitti Vicky — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:31:03 +0000

If you don’t love the beach, then you must have been born on the moon. I love the beach. Love everything about it. There are countless ways to enjoy the sand and sea whether you are the ultimate nature-lover or just someone whose idea of fun is spring break all over again.

The beauty if the beach is unlike any other. From sunrise to sunset, to the birds and the boats the ocean’s horizon never runs out of snapshots of natural beauty. This must have been the reason behind this modern coastal home by Yamamori Architect & Associates. The home takes on a Japanese inspired theme and the focal point is of course the sea itself.

I would definitely agree that Japanese house architecture would fit perfectly for coastal homes. Because the Japanese theme really is about being very minimal and more importantly, one with nature the house feels more like it was built to fit into the shores rather than have the shores fit into the home.

The interiors portray nothing but the basic fixtures for basic functions. No more fancy furnishings. Sitting areas on the extended outdoor space sit on the beach front face of the house. As a result, the home feels very modern to a point of looking futuristic, but at the same time very functional.

On the contrary, the exterior structure of the home is something that didn’t really go very traditional. From the outside the house appears to float. The irregular shape of the structure itself kind of contributes to the natural attraction of the environment. The facade kept the natural color of the concrete.

From the way this coastal home was built I could say that the Japanese architects were saying to themselves “it’s difficult to fill a cup (well, in this case a house) that is already full”. Because the house is somewhat empty, it allowed the beauty of the sea to fill it. Now that’s something you definitely can’t buy.

The post The Ultimate Japanese Inspired Coastal Home by Yamamori Architect & Associates first appeared on Everything Simple.

5 Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces for Spring 2013

Kitti Vicky — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:19:50 +0000

Spring is a great excuse to inject some fresh colour and new design trends into your home. If you’re working with limited space, there are still plenty of inspiring ideas to brighten up a small room and make it ready for the new season.

Just a simple addition of a new colourful peacock print cushion or floral wallpaper can create the illusion of bringing nature inside and transform a small space. This is the time to banish heavy drapes and drab colours, and embrace bright shades and light fabrics. Let’s look at some key areas that can help get your small room spruced up for spring.

Colours

The most visible change you can make to a small space is by transforming its colour. Paint a wall in the latest spring colours for 2013 such as emerald green (chosen by Pantone as colour of the year), bright tangerine or ocean blue, and you’ve already introduced a new theme without cluttering up the small space.

With a basic background colour established, you can add more colourful yet space-saving elements such as a vase of fresh flowers or a new piece of framed artwork that can complement the wall colours.

Accessories

A few well chosen accessories can make a bold statement in any room, regardless of its size. When space is at a premium, a simple side table with a vintage finish or a geometric pattern rug from The Range, can be enough to give you the update you’re looking for. The Range provides these home accessories to suit most budgets and room sizes.

The beauty of a good accessory is that it can add an exciting element to the most tired parts of a room. Take your inspiration from the spring trend for tie and dye inspired ikat curtains and liven up that old window frame, or do up an old wall with lush new floral wall paper and create a new feature in a small room.

New materials

Embrace the idea of rejuvenation in spring and don’t be afraid to introduce new materials in your home decor. Many designers are talking about brass this year. And while you may not be able to invest in a spiral staircase with a brass handrail, you can definitely include the popular metal in smaller ways. Why not use a brass vase or bookend to liven up your bookshelf?

Lace is another material that is expected to have a resurgence this spring and throughout the year. This diaphanous fabric doesn’t have to conjure up images of Victorian boudoirs. You can bring lace into the 21st century by choosing some modern twists to the fabric. For example, use cushions embellished with lace or try it as a paint stencil on a wall for a luxurious look.

Furniture

Updating traditional furniture pieces such as a sofa or a dining table is a good way to start the redecoration process. If you enjoy DIY, why not try reupholstering sofas in floral or animal prints – a big trend this spring – or sanding down old wooden chairs and painting them in a primary colour such as bright yellow or red. It’s a practical and fun way to redecorate without adding more pieces to a small space.

Just adding a simple mirror to a living room can also make it ready for spring by increasing the light in a small room. If you’re looking to acquire a few statement items, make one of them an antique piece of furniture. The antiques trend is definitely on the rise and mixing a few period pieces such as a vintage chest of drawers with more modern designs will give your room a sophisticated style.

Lighting

Lighting trends for spring are incredibly varied this year; and there’s a host of styles to choose from, including pendant lights inspired by modern industrial design, vintage style lights with exposed filament bulbs and even flamboyant, extra large frames that are replacing conventional pendants. Installing just a single show-stopping ceiling light can give a much needed lift to a small room.

The post 5 Decorating Ideas for Small Spaces for Spring 2013 first appeared on Everything Simple.

Recycled Belgian Barn House by Architect Rita Huys

Kitti Vicky — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:34:18 +0000

Traditional barns are very rustic, rugged and earthy. When it comes to the space and function, it carries on a minimalist theme–very open, very practical. No doors for the interior areas, just divisions to make certain spaces distinct. In short, traditional barns are very simple structures and modern designers have found a way to give birth to the stylish concept of home people can live in and enjoy today.

Another important aspect of the barn is that it is very nature friendly. All these important elements; minimalist concept, practicality added with a modern twist combining style and comfort was the exact formula architect Rita Huys used for her modern barn house project.

A reclaimed Belgian barn house by itself is already a recycled structure. However, the architect made it even more eco-friendly by using recycled shutter structure for the exterior surface of the entire house. From a distance the structure will give the barn structure however, the prim landscaping glass doors will surely make you think twice as to what the structure really is.

The interiors are very modern and open just like a traditional barn, however the fixtures and furnishings are very modern. The color palette chosen was also very monochrome all through out the house which makes it all come together and look chic. It’s effect for me would be a more futuristic, design-forward look which balances the idea of using a traditional barn as the foundation of the house.

The outer spaces are also very inviting and functional. Families who like to spend time outside for barbeques or simply backyard fun will surely appreciate how the architect has designed certain areas of the house to open towards the outer areas of the house.

Barn houses such as this one surely reminds us that our ideas today is simply a compilation of ideas that have come before us we simply have to add a bit of modern creativity to make them work and this house has definitely changed the old concept of a rustic barn. Now people will surely expect to see more from barns other than hay.

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