Entry #1228, May 28, 2012

The summer is only a few weeks away and cool summer  colors in white inspiration is all around! From your interiors to your outdoor home, white is versatile and can be casual with comfortable cotton or more formal with crisp  linens. Here are some inspiring cool white ideas for your home this summer.

Image via

White outdoor home furniture

When lounging in the sun and enjoying the cool summer breezes who doesn’t enjoy relaxing white and soothing blue combinations? This nautical inspired colored scheme makes you want to go sailing on a beautiful yacht, or envision you’re on one as you close your eyes and daydream!

Image via

Slipcover perfection

Don’t shy away from white because of the upkeep! Modern slipcovers in streamlined form are great solutions to a lifestyle that needs versatility and beautiful furniture. Throw the slipcovers in the clothes washer for those mishaps that commonly happen and still brighten your interiors with summer whites.

Image via

Rustic white bedroom

Add whites to rustic surfaces for a natural and organic appeal to your home interiors. This bedroom is beautiful with its reclaimed wood headboard and natural fabrics. Consider layers of white, tan, beige, gray and neutrals for a bedroom you will want to relax in all day!

Image via

With warmer weather on the way, white is the perfect way to cool off and relax. Whether you are decorating your outdoor home or adding touches to your indoor summer home, create the perfect feeling with the addition of white. Layer your fabrics, textiles in variations of white for an interior that isn’t stark but rather welcoming and warm.

For more color inspiration ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Entry #1227, May 28, 2012

One of the best amenities that you can offer yourself in a home office is the comfort of a comfortable chair. There is more than comfort that home office chairs can give. Designers are now producing a distinctive style of chairs to provide not only comfort but features such as storage, shelf and other useful elements.

Image via

With all these innovative designs, you can be certain of the utmost comfort provided for your clients and guests. Here are some examples:

Image via

Bibliochaise

Aside from being just a chair, this chair is also designed to act as book shelves. It is dual purpose that can absolutely save you space. With its popularity, several designers are making their own version of this two-in-one chair. Your guest will never experience boredom as he or she can indulge with great amounts of reading materials while waiting for your attention. On top of it is the comfort of the high quality cushion of the chair for convenience.

Image via

Backrest design with leatherette cushion rolls office chair

This chair provides seating at its best. With its leatherette cushion rolls at the backrest, you will certainly get pampered with a massage-like experience. The cushion rolls give soothing pressure on your back while you are at rest. It is also ergonomically designed to accommodate a comfortable sitting position even when longer sitting duration is required. This is highly recommended for people who wanted comfort in long hours of sitting.

Swivel Lounge Chair Design

This innovative chair enables you to move around your office easier. True to its name, it swivels easily and comfortably in any direction. You can also adjust its length and angle. The design is so great that by simply looking into its style, you will know the comfort it provides. The high quality cushion also gives utmost convenience.

Image via

Having one of these contemporary chairs will definitely boost the amenities you have in your home office. Whether you are looking for comfort, sleek design, or both, these seating options may help you not dread “coming to work”!

For more home office ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Entry #1226, May 28, 2012

Mirrored cabinets are often associated with bathroom furniture – but not this time. Cutting edge mirrored cabinets are becoming an apple of the eye for many furniture buyers. There are several manufacturers that introduced innovative changes on how mirrored cabinets fit in different areas at home. Mirrored cabinets bring back the Hollywood Regency style of decorating with glitz and glam with a sophisticated look for the home.

Image & Next Image via

From a designer’s perspective, mirrors are often used to create an illusion of an extended space. It makes a certain area seem to exist. Mirrored cabinets also require less maintenance as compared with other materials. Here are some popular mirrored cabinet designs that your bedroom will love:

All Mirror Twin Drawers and Four Door Cabinet

This mirrored cabinet has very sophisticated design. It looks so majestic and brilliant. This type of cabinet is a head turner for guest bedroom or for your master bedroom. With the proper amount of lighting, your home will surely illuminate and show great elegance and style. The wooden frame enhances its style. It also provides emphasis to the curves and edges that is complemented with the brilliance of the mirrors.

Image via (see above image)

Mirrored Tallboy Chest “Joanie”

This is an excellent mirrored cabinet for the family. You can immediately notice its classy design and properly proportioned mirrored chest. You can see the simplicity and sophistication combined in one cabinet design. The gorgeous cabinet pulls and handles match the style and overall appearance of the furniture. You also have smooth sliding runners for convenience of use.

Image via

These are just a few of the stylish mirrored cabinet furniture that offer visual comfort and elegance in your bedroom. Having them will absolutely provide a glamorous appeal to your abode.

For more bedroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

 Entry #1225, May 27, 2012

Your outdoor home should feel as lively as your interiors, with bold and inspiring colors. Now that summer is fast approaching homeowners are looking for more ways to spend time outside and enjoy themselves. Here are a few ways to creatively bring color to your outdoor home. Whether its your patio, front porch, or pool area, couldn’t it use more color?!

Image via

Easy color tips for your outdoor home

Textiles are a beautiful way to bring in color. Curtains, throw pillows, all-weather outdoor rugs and colorful fabric hung from the ceiling on this outdoor porch make a gorgeous celebration to color!

Image via

Outdoor dining can bring colorful additions with floral centerpieces, place cards, and seat cushions. The garden foliage acts as a natural way to add color without adding anything, Mother Nature is colorful on her own!

Image via

Who would of thought pink could be so beautiful in your outdoor home? Cushioned outdoor furniture and curtains blend beautifully with the surroundings.

Image via

Mimic the colors found naturally in your outdoor home. I love the muted tones of color in this southwestern outdoor area.

Image via

For more outdoor home ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Entry #1224, May 26, 2012

Happy DIY Saturday! Memorial Day weekend is here for my United States readers and most of you are probably getting ready for a barbecue.. am I right? Whether you need to learn how to prepare your barbecue grill or you need help with how to clean if afterwards, today’s DIY Saturday is for you.

Image via

Today’s DIY Saturday also has a bonus! From the archives from last Memorial Day, see handy BBQ iPhone & iPad apps to help you find great grilling recipes and watch the Weber video that is sure to put a smile on your face…again!  Happy Memorial Day Weekend… enjoy!

Tips to  Prepare your Barbecue Grill

• Keeping grill surfaces lightly coated with cooking oil or spray will make clean up much easier.
• If the gas jets are clogged, consider replacing the burner or carefully clean them with a soft wire brush.
• Regular cleaning makes the job much easier.

Image via

How to Clean a Barbecue Grill

• Remove cooking grates and set them in warm soapy water to soak.
• Fill a small bucket or pan with warm soapy water.
• If it’s a charcoal grill then remove the coal grate and brush out the insides.
• If it’s a gas grill, remove briquettes, lava rocks or metal flame shield to expose burner.
• Clean out ash and residue from around burner, careful to make sure the burner is in place when you are done.
• Use a stiff wire brush and a little soapy water to gently scrub the inside surfaces of the grill.
• Remove any particles from grill and reassemble.
• If gas, brush off briquettes or lava rocks or wash metal flame shield in warm soapy water.
• Remove cooking grates from water and brush clean with the wire brush.
• Coat inside surfaces and cooking grates with cooking oil or spray.
• Put grates back on grill
• Allow the whole grill to air dry.
• Allow an extra five minutes of heating time the next time you grill to make sure any cleaning residue has burner off.

Courtesy of About.com

Image via

Original Entry #537, May 28, 2011

Today’s DIY Saturday is more inspiration than do it yourself tips. The Memorial Day weekend is finally upon us, and grilling and barbecuing is on everyone’s mind! Weber Grill has come out with a great iPhone & iPad app that is perfect for the novice griller to the expert. Macworld has a great write up below, and you can purchase the Weber app from iTunes, here for $4.99 US.

Also see the Weber – “Have Fun With it” Video…. so good!

__________________________

Weber YouTube Video – “Have Fun With it”

Summer may have given way to autumn here in the U.S., but that’s no reason to put the grill away just yet. And whether you’re a seasoned grill master or just barely able to stack charcoal, Weber’s on the Grill from Weber-Stephen Products is sure to have something for you. From the very basics of grilling to more advanced recipes, there’s a little something for everyone.

There’s two separate versions of the app, both of which cost $5—Weber’s on the Grill for the iPhone and iPod touch and Weber’s on the Grill for iPad. They’re both essentially the same with only a few differences.

Let’s focus on the iPad version. It has a great interface that makes navigating and using the app a pleasure. The app offers around 250 recipes organized into different categories like starters, red meat, seafood, pork, veggies, and desserts; you also can access recipes on rubs, marinades, and sauces. Tapping any of these categories brings up all the relevant recipes, complete with mouth-watering photographs. Each recipe offers detailed instructions, so even a novice cook can follow along. There are often links to in-app videos as well within the directions.

The app allows you to add notes to any recipe, so if you need to tweak something with the recipe, you can jot it down. You can also mark a recipe as a favorite or e-mail it. And you’ve got the ability to instantly create a shopping list for any ingredients you need.

Another great feature in the iPad version of On The Grill is its embedded timer. You can tap on cook times to automatically bring up a timer preset to that particular amount of time.

What’s Your Beef: The iPhone version of Weber’s on the Grill offers the same recipes you’ll find in the iPad edition, though things are shrunken to fit the iPhone’s screen.

I’ve talked up the recipes, but Weber’s on the Grill offers more than just that. It also features lots of good info and how-tos with everything from descriptions of proper grilling tools to tips on meat prep. The charcoal and gas grill basics sections provide some nice tips to get anyone up and ready to grill in no time. As mentioned earlier, several videos cover the basic recipes and techniques for burgers, steaks, whole chicken, and more.

 

The iPhone version of Weber’s on the Grill provides the same recipes and information as the iPad version but on a more confined screen. The one real difference I noticed was the fact that the iPhone version featured a different kind of embedded timer. The timer was still there; you just had to set the time manually, which is no big deal.

On the iPhone or iPad, Weber’s on the Grill is a really nice app for elevating your grilling game. It’s well designed, easy to use and chock full of great information and recipes.

For more DIY Saturday ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

For more DIY Saturday’s on Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel, click here.

 Entry #1223, May 25, 2012

When organizing your kitchen, make the most of the efficiency in order to maximize the customization of counter-top, shelves and cupboards. Instead of using merely decorative objects in your kitchen, make your cookware as one of the decorations in your kitchen displays.  This is an excellent way to save on cabinet space and keep cookware handy.

Here are effective ways to beautifully display cookware.

Image via

•  Hanging Pot Rack

This method displays your cookware to its best advantage. While cookwares are hanged accordingly, the rack is designed to be accessible and easy to get whenever you need it. This is a convenient way to store frequently used pots and pans while freeing up precious cabinet space and a place to display your high-end culinary tools.   Hanging pot racks come in a variety of sizes and mounting capabilities. The dual pot rack design acts as a chandelier and a kitchen organizer as well. It fits practicality with sophistication to a sole kitchen.  The high-ceiling hanging pot rack design is perfect for kitchen with high floor to ceiling length. For stainless-steel cookwares, the wired pot rack design fits exactly in your kitchen. Place lighting in the center of the hanging pots and pans to allow lighting to illuminate in your kitchen.

Image via

•  Hooks

Screw a decent number of hooks on a pegboard across one wall of the kitchen. Hang the cookwares by color or size along with other cooking utensils. This will provide an easy and visible location for frequently used utensils in meal preparations.

•  Wall Racks

Wall racks are generally stylish and well-designed. This is because wall racks are set up on your kitchen wall. Installation procedure of this rack is very simple. Ensure that it is mounted high enough that your children cannot reach but still comfortable for you to pick up.

Image via

•  Open Shelves

If you opt for open shelves, you may group similar cookware or utensils together. Arranged your cookwares with heavy ones on top and the lighter cookwares should be placed at the bottom of the shelves.  It is important to organize your collection in this manner for safety. This looks great but only works if you use the cookwares regularly. If not, you have to spend time to perform regular cleaning schedule before dust and dirt pile up in your shelves.

Getting a new look in your kitchen does not necessarily need total renovations. Organizing things in your kitchen can do the trick!

For more kitchen ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

 

 

Guest Blogger #543, Entry #1222, May 25, 2012

A home automation system can create a living situation that is convenient, safe and that potentially saves energy when used correctly. Home automation involves mounting electronic sensors, controls and other devices throughout many different areas inside and outside of a house. There are a few steps that can be taken to help better integrate these devices into the style and design of a home so they become part of the decor instead of simply resting on top of it:

Image via

Sleek Design

One way to integrate a home automation system into the design of a home is to create a stylized environment where the multiple sensors, cameras and control panels blend into the surrounding decor naturally. This can be accomplished by creating walls and other surfaces that have texture and depth. Deep wall hangings, built-in shelving and architectural elements that break up long, flat surfaces can help to make the parts of a home automation system seem natural in a room. The changes in texture and depth of the walls of a room creates a visual effect that makes minor changes like a protruding sensor or mounted camera seem part of the natural structure of the room.

Image via

Get Creative

Homes that have a very distinct type of interior style such as ultra modern or rustic country might want to minimize the appearance of some home automation systems in certain rooms. This can be easily done through the strategic placement of plants, artwork or other decorative elements that can disguise sensors. Companies like Vivint provide equipment that operates wirelessly so pieces like a thermostat, control panel or security camera can be placed into a custom cut recess in the wall that minimizes the appearance of the devices while still allowing them to remain functional. The same effect can be achieved through clever placement such as mounting devices inside of a bookshelf, beneath a shelf or behind a curtain.

Lighting

No matter how a home automation system has been integrated into the environment of a home the lighting in each room can help to complete the process. Homes that have extensive systems can benefit from using large amounts of ambient light in a room and avoiding direct lights and spotlights. Lights that provide illumination through shades or by bouncing off of walls tend to create softer shadows that can allow sensors to blend into the room. Multiple ambient light sources can actually eliminate hard shadows across a very broad area.

Image via

Certain home decorating styles can easily accommodate the gear that is necessary for a functioning home automation system. There are also some styles and floor plans that can make designing around the devices a more involved task. There are some Vivint reviews that show just how easy it can be to integrate a home automation system when all of the devices communicate wirelessly. This wireless technology gives homeowners much more flexibility when arranging a room that contains home automation technology.

For more home automation ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Guest Blogger #542, Entry #1221, May 25, 2012

The summer is fast approaching and it’s the time of year again when we take time out from work to enjoy some time off to relax and explore the world. It’s inevitable that at some point in the summer you’re going to dive in to your pool to relax or have some fun with the family. You can have some of the best days of your life kicking back in your garden with family and friends in the pool or hot tub, it’s often getting out the water that can be unbearable.

If you don’t have an outdoor heated pool you may feel the effects of the weather a lot more than the lucky folk with heated ones. Even on the hottest days getting out the water can be a gigantic pain and it can often be cold and send chills all over your body very quickly. Having an electric heater close by can be very handy when you are fighting away those summer chills it’s nice to embrace the warmth. When you want to stay warm, even after getting out of the water, you can use an electric heater and place it near the area where you get out of the pool or hot tub to help you get warmer quicker.

Image via

Electric heaters have almost become a necessity in the home and garden, so it’s important to understand how to use them properly and be able to control and use them to your advantage. Take a look at a few tips on how to get the most from your electric heaters this summer:

Placement

When looking to install or place a heater into your home or garden its often best to consider the  possible locations of the heater to ensure you get the most out of your purchase and to make sure you can use it safely and properly.  First take a look around your home or garden and find appropriate spaces where the heater could be positioned, it’s often best to keep it away from potentially flammable materials.

Remember the place you decide to place the heater will also affect the amount of heat you will receive, it’s best to avoid open spaces as wind can often draw heat away quickly rendering it useless. Placing an electric heater under cover, in a porch or a shelter can prevent the weather from taking away the heat.

Warm weather

You may find that you end up using a heater when it’s a warm day, when the clouds are blocking out the sun rays. When using your heater in hot weather it’s advisable to not have it on full capacity, this is as the extra heat can cause the heater to overheat and stop working, damage the components and be an extreme hazard in the garden if touched. If you need to use the heater consider selecting a low heat and gradually turning it up. This will give the heater a chance to warm up and ensure you don’t waste money on wasted energy.

When not in use a heater should be stored or covered to protect it against this sun, this will increase its longevity and ensure the colour does not fade. After use consider cleaning your heater with a damp cloth to wipe away any dirt or dust attached when it was in use, this way you won’t get blockages and heat restrictions.

Types

Remember that electric heating systems will be used for more than one thing/occasion so it’s important to buy the best heater to suit your needs. Heaters can come in all shapes and sizes so choosing one to reflect your house or gardens theme can be important, but it could also reduce your choices.

It’s worthwhile keeping in mind that for any electrical heater you will need a convenient electrical connection. This is not always ideal as if you plan on having it far out in the garden you may have to use extension cables to utilise it. This can be dangerous as water and electricity do not mix and unnecessary cables can provide a tripping hazard for any family member or friend unaware of the connection. If you have or decide to use a portable electric heater this summer ensure the circuit breakers can handle the draw on power.

For more pool ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Guest Blogger #542, Entry #1221, May 25, 2012

If you take out your keychain and look at it right at this very moment, there’s a good chance that there’s at least one key on there that you have no clue about in relationship to what door it belongs to. Indeed, if there’s one thing that all of us use on a daily basis that we totally take for granted, it would be our keys and the locks that they fit into.

So, if someone asked you “How do you know when it’s time to replace a lock?”, you might just sit there for a moment and then reply with, “Unless someone breaks it, I didn’t know it was ever supposed to be replaced.”

Image via

The response to that contemplative thought has a little bit of both and “yes” and a “no” attached to it. And since safety is key (no pun intended), let’s explore a few scenarios when it might be time to replace a lock.

When you can’t find the key.

This one should be a no-brainer, but it’s still worth mentioning. There are times when we may lose a particular key, but there’s actually a greater chance that we’ll give a copy of it to another individual who may have misplaced it. In either case, if you don’t know where the key to a particular lock is, there’s a slim chance that someone else—someone that you don’t want to have access to it—does. It’s usually best in this kind of situation to simply have the locks changed.

When you get a new tenant/roommate.

If you’ve been renting out a room in your house (or on your property) and the lease is up on one tenant and you are about to rent the space out to another, it’s smart to replace the locks. There are more than enough individuals who have experienced a robbery that was tied into someone they knew coming back to their place. Even if your previous tenant turned in their key, there’s still no way of knowing if they made a duplicate or not. This isn’t to make you paranoid, but it is to provide you with a way to get additional peace of mind.

Image via

When they’re old and worn.

This is one that gets the least amount of consideration. The truth of the matter is that like just about everything in life, overtime, locks become old and worn. If you notice that there is a lot of tarnish and rust on your locks or that your keys are getting harder to use within the lock, this is another time when you may want to call some local locksmith services for a few quotes. It doesn’t happen all of the time, but especially in cold weather, a worn lock can “lock up” and if it’s connected to your car or house, understandably, that can be extremely inconvenient.

These are three examples that are oftentimes overlooked when one thinks about when they should have their locks replaced, but don’t forget about the top two: If your keys or stolen or if a stranger breaks into your home.

If you’re low on cash, there are inexpensive options. A re-key kit will reset the cylinders on a lock for about $8-15. You can get those at basically any hardware store. Just make sure to call a locksmith first to explain the situation so that you can be sure that you’re going with an option that is not just cost-efficient, but smart in relationship to your safety as well. A few more bucks for a good lock that may ultimately keep you safe is definitely an invaluable investment.

For more outdoor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

 

Guest Blogger #541, Entry #1220, May 25, 2012

There are some things that we don’t think about updating or replacing nearly as much as we should. Take our windows, for example. Unless we want to renovate a room in our home, most of us don’t even give it a second thought. Maybe we would if we knew how much money we could save by opting for energy saving window treatments.

For instance, did you know that by simply replacing one single-pane window with an energy-efficient one, you can save as much as $150 per year? Plus, by installing energy-efficient windows, doors or skylights, you can also earn a tax deduction (within the same year of the installment) of up to 10% of the total cost of any particular product.

Image via

These two reasons alone should serve as enough motivation to do a bit of quick research on the variety of energy-saving window treatments that are available.

Here are five of them.

Awnings.

Did you know that window awnings can reduce solar heat (depending upon where you live) by as much as 65-77%? Plus, they come in a lot more variety to shade your windows than they once did. (Almost) gone are the days of the metal and canvas kinds that need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Now you can get ones made from synthetic fibers that are both water-repellent and resistant to mold and fading. Awnings-USA.com and SunSetterAwnings.com are two websites that can provide you with some good estimates.

Storm panels.

One of the best things that you can do for both you and your windows during the winter months is to install some storm panels. Matter of fact, by adding one to a single-pane window, you can the loss of winter heat by as much as 50%. For exterior panels, you can either purchase the single or combination kind. For interiors, you can choose from flexible or rigid plastic. Do keep in mind that exterior panels need a custom fit, while interior ones do not. For more info on these, go to your local hardware store.

Image via

Drapes.

Drapes are the “oldie but goodie” window treatment solution. Based on the kind of fabric and color, when closed, drapes can save as much as 10-30% on energy costs. To get the maximum results, hang them close to the windows, allow them to fall on the windowsill or door, and use magnetic tape to attach the sides to the walls. By following these three tips, you can reduce heat loss by up to an amazing 25%.

Blinds.

If you’re someone who wants to cool your home down, blinds (whether interior or exterior) are a great way to go. Although they aren’t the best solution when it comes to trapping in winter heat, they are pretty effective at keeping your home at a comfortable temperature during the summer months. So much in fact that there are reports that indicate that reflective blinds can reduce summer heat gain within the home by as much as 45%. Roller window blinds are also a wise choice for the same reason. SelectBlinds.com, HunterDouglas.com and even Wal-Mart and JC Penny have a wide selection of blinds that are both cost-effective and energy-efficient.

Image via

Mesh window screens.

Something that is catching more and more people’s attention are window mesh screens. If you’re not familiar with them, they are basically screens that are placed on the exterior part of a frame while covering the entire window for the purpose of reducing heat gain in the summer months. They’re relatively inexpensive on Amazon.com or the Home Depot. DIY.com even has a feature that shows you how to make them by hand. They’re a favorite, especially, in baby rooms because they can be easily mounted and removed, which is far less taxing than any of the other window treatments mentioned. So, if you’re short on cash, this is one that you definitely have no excuse for not using. Test them out. Your electricity bill will show just how much this little change made.

For more energy saving ideas on Stagetecture, click here.