Last week I penned an article about 5 inappropriate uses for appliance pulls, which really gave me a chuckle (and I hope it had the same result for my readers). Inspired by the goofiness as well as the suggestion that some of my favorite home accessories can be recycled for other uses, I decided to share with you my ideas for alternate uses for towel rings. Unlike other things I’ve suggested on this blog, these suggestions are made in jest, but the ideas could theoretically be done- if you’re adventurous!
1- Towel rings as exercise rings. My kids love climbing on the rings on their monkey bars. Imagine how classy they’d feel swinging on their own oil rubbed bronze towel rings! Sturdier than plastic, bronze towel rings can truly create a classier and safer swinging experience.
2- Towel rings as door knockers. If you’re tired of those hideous lion faces that hold a door knocker, maybe it’s time to consider using towel rings instead. Simply screw them into your door and have them knock against the door instead of forcing your guests to bruise their knuckles in search of entrance to your palace.
3- Towel rings as the base for crib mobiles. I don’t know about you, but the mobiles that I’ve attached to my kids’ cribs have fallen, shifted, and come precariously close to crashing down on my little angels. It would be better if crib mobiles could be suspended from the ceiling so that they were more secure and wouldn’t fall when grabbed by children. Imagine screwing a towel ring into your ceiling and then tying strings with toys or bells down to your desired height above the crib. Not only would the added height create a dramatic centerpiece for any room, but it would provide the extra security that every parent wants for their new baby.
If you’re feeling as frisky as I am right now, I’d love to hear your ideas about how you’d use towel rings to enhance your home in creative ways.
People Who Live in Glass Houses…
Posted on: October 13, 2009
I love my house. Really love it. The problem is, we live on a mountain, and we have such a tremendous wind exposure that when someone opens the front door, if there is ANY other window open in the house, it creates a cross-breeze reminiscent of the tornado in the Wizard of Oz. You can see in the picture below that a floor-to-ceiling height closet door literally got ripped off of its hinges last week when I opened the front door for barely a second. So what’s a girl (with 4 little kids) to do?
Our Damaged Coat Closet
After consulting with various contractors, engineers, decorators, and just generally smart people, the solution that we came up with would be to install an external glass door that will buffer the wind so that it won’t be as damaging inside our house. With the help of a very talented neighbor, Marc Gottlieb, I designed a fantastic stained glass door, which I thought would really make a statement when guests arrived. Unfortunately, such a masterpiece was WAY above my budget (if you want to see the design though, you can email me!). So I took a stencil design offered by my contractor for a fraction of the price. Does that sound like a cop out? Or a decent way to save money while still springing for something relatively decorative, instead of just plain glass? Curious to hear your opinions.
Do You Have an Ugly House?
Posted on: October 5, 2009
If you have an ugly house, you’re probably not alone. And I’m not going to pussy-foot around the issue- sometimes someone has an ugly house because that’s how they bought it (and maybe they paid less for the privilege of living in a hideous home), and sometimes a house is unsightly because the homeowner has bad taste. And if that’s you, you may not even be aware that others don’t appreciate your design choices. So, how can we fix this situation so that your house is beautiful both to you and to your family members and guests? Here are some quick ways to evaluate whether you have an ugly home and make instant changes.
The first thing to do is to listen to what others are telling you. If you spouse and/or children are constantly mentioning your revolting couch, your dreadful armchair or your nasty dining room table, TAKE THE HINT. And make sure to listen even if they’re not as blunt as I am.
Next, approach your house objectively. What are the things that bother you the most? Can a coat of paint help the situation? Can removing the unattractive items fix your space? Your home doesn’t need to transform from the ugly duckling to a swan overnight. Changing one thing at a time will enable you to enjoy the novelty of each new addition, to moderate your budget accordingly, and to make well-thought-out decisions that will truly help.
If it’s your friend or relative who has an ugly house, be gentle. Make suggestions of ways that you think your friend can improve their space without sidestepping the issue entirely. Also, consider whether your friend will heed your advice. While he or she may not be willing to part with a hideous African sculpture, you may be able to separate him from a tattered La-Z-Boy.
And, of course, another way to inform your friend that his house is ugly is to kindly suggest some helpful design articles or blogs that you’ve come across recently (including yours truly, of course!). Even one useful suggestion can go a long way.
Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @decorexpert and Facebook at Sari Holtz, and tell your friends- my daily tips may provide just the inspiration that your friend needs to overcome his ugly house!
Everyone loves things that look new, smell new, and feel new. I mean, there are even ways to purchase a ‘new car smell’ in a can and cleaning products that restore that ‘brand new’ feel to almost everything. For this reason, I find it wildly amusing that oil rubbed bronze hardware has become wildly popular. Because after all, one of the most obvious goals of oil rubbed bronze hardware is to create a somewhat antique or weathered look- which is, of course, in stark contrast to the feeling of ‘new’ that is so coveted. Nevertheless, I can’t help but jump on the oil rubbed bronze bandwagon. I mean, its deep color is so luxurious, its texture so unique that the same finish can feel entirely smooth in some designs and downright grainy in other pieces.
After scouring the market (which, I must admit, was more of a scavenger hunt than a chore), I’ve identified my top 10 favorite pieces of oil rubbed bronze hardware. Rated on price, color tone and style, here are my recommendations for oil rubbed bronze hardware:
1- 3″ Pull by Top Knobs, Item M1215. I love this piece because it is fairly priced, remarkably smooth and has a rather modern design despite its old world finish.
2- 3 ¾” Pull by Top Knobs, Item M1197. This pull is slightly larger than the standard 3″ pull and is shockingly contemporary for something made from oil rubbed bronze. I love, love, love it.
3- 3″ Blackrock Pull by Amerock, Item #55275-ORB. The height on this solid pull sets it apart from similar designs.
4- Blackrock Pendant Pull by Amerock, Item #55274-ORB. This pull is a great complement to the Backrock pull or a fabulous addition to any bedroom furniture all on its own!
5- 3″ Cup Pull by Belwith, Item #K343-10B. I appreciate the design of this cup pull because it will match both modern and traditional rooms.
6- 64mm Cup Pull by Liberty Hardware, Item #PN0601-OB-C. This cup pull has a dainty edge and a ruggedly weathered look that gets better with age.
7- 19mm Milk Bottle Knob by Liberty Hardware, Item #PN0248-OB-C. The cute style of this knob and a price under $5 a piece makes this Milk Bottle cabinet knob extremely delicious.
8- 3″ Pull by Top Knobs, Item #M964. The wide bases of this pull remind me of an old-fashioned telephone and are great for covering scratches if using this cabinet pull as a replacement on existing cabinetry.
9- 18″ Appliance Pull by Top Knobs, Item #M797-18. The shape of this oil rubbed bronze appliance pull is both sleek and chic- it may cost a bit more than other appliance pulls, but it’s probably worth it!
10- Round-Off knob by Anne at Home in Rubbed Bronze finish, Item #1092. While this item isn’t technically made of oil rubbed bronze, the rubbed bronze finished and the textured design of the knob provide a genuine look and feel.
Let’s be honest for a moment- have you ever used the public handicapped bathroom to avoid the discomfort of using a cramped bathroom stall? I know that I have- or, more often than not, I’m secretly relieved to have a child in a stroller with me which can only fit into the larger bathroom stall. The sad truth is that small bathrooms in both public areas and private homes are often the least preferred when other options are available. Maybe it’s because there’s something luxurious about a large bathroom, or because small bathrooms often seem more like a cramped closet than a space to be used and enjoyed. Still, as anyone who has ever lived in a small apartment can tell you, small bathrooms are still a critical part of most homes- and they deserved to be decorated with love and care. That’s why I felt it necessary to take a moment to offer some small bathroom decorating ideas that can tranform this neglected space from a functional area to a fashionable one.
The first thing to consider undertaking a small bathroom decorating project is what functions your bathroom needs to fulfill. Do you need a shower stall or bathtub in there? Do you need storage space? Does a window provide light but take away valuable wall space?
One of the most obvious small bathroom decorating ideas is to consider replacing a full bathtub with a shower stall (even one that is larger than standard size). This will create more space instantly and make your small bathroom feel significantly larger. Next, remove anything from your bathroom that is not absolutely critical. Do you have a footstool taking up valuable floor space, but a child who seldom uses the small bathroom? Do you have a large piece of art taking up valuable wall space? The key to successful small bathroom decorating is to choose every item in the room with a minimalist eye, so that each piece has an impact without overwhelming the space. Choose small pieces of artwork (maybe 1-3 photographs or prints of your choosing) instead of a large portrait. Consider an over-the-toilet storage rack instead of a freestanding cabinet which may close in the space.
Of course, picking the right color scheme is also a fundamental part of small bathroom decorating. While dark colors may make the space feel smaller, light colors and warm colors will reflect the light well and create a more spacious feel. If you do feel strongly about having a dark color, add it on only one wall instead of painting the entire room. Or, consider a patterned or sponge-painted design that blends your favorite color with a lighter one. A final (and easy!) small bathroom decorating idea is to replace your dingy or dark shower curtain with a lighter style or with transparent shower doors. Getting rid of a dark shower curtain will instantly add depth to the space (inexpensively).
Stay tuned for more small bathroom decorating ideas- coming soon. Or, feel free to share your favorite tips with us!
New Uses for Home Accessories
Posted on: September 8, 2009
I bet you thought that cabinet knobs were only good for opening cabinets, right? Or that soap dishes can be used only in the bathroom. But what if you discovered that you could use some of your favorite cabinet hardware and home accessories for alternate uses that can improve both the look and efficiency of your space? I happen to love reading Real Simple magazine, and they have a section called New Uses for Old Things. In there, they offer incredibly creative ideas about how to use things that you’d find in your house for new purposes. In tribute to Real Simple, I’d like to offer a few ways you can use kitchen cabinet hardware to improve the way your home functions (beautifully, of course).
1- Cabinet knobs.
Old Use: opening cabinet doors and drawers.
New Use: hanging kitchen linens.
There’s no question that cabinet knobs are generally used for opening cabinetry. But homeowners can also use cabinet knobs as towel hooks, or places to hang potholders. Of course, I wouldn’t advocate hanging something off of every cabinet knob that you own, but there’s definitely no harm in using one or two to get some of your kitchen linens off of the countertop. Why have a cluttered counter or risk dirtying your linens with spills, when you can keep your things easily within reach and safely away from your workspace?
2- Appliance Pulls
Old Use: opening refrigerators or dishwashers with heavy doors.
New Use: as a convenient towel rack.
The goal of a towel rack is to keep your towels close at hand. And while many homeowners prefer to store their kitchen towels tucked inside a cabinet, towels that are hidden away may be difficult to reach when hands are dirty or wet. Instead, homeowners use appliance pulls as external towel racks in the kitchen. Choose an appliance pull or appliance handle that matches your existing cabinet hardware, and mount it on the side of your kitchen island to create an instantly accessible (and classy) kitchen towel rack.
3- Wall mounted soap dish
Old Use: holding your soap in the shower.
New Use: housing your sponge in the kitchen.
Homeowners who have kitchen sinks that are against a backsplash (as opposed to on an island, for example) can find a permanent home for their sponge on a soap dish mounted directly into the backsplash. This solution is ideal for those who don’t have drawers for their sponges and those who are tired of constantly finding their sponge floating in a pool of dirty water. No need for suction cup sponge holders that constantly lose their grip or sponge holders that create clutter on the counter. Bathroom soap dishes are available in endless finishes and styles- find one that matches your kitchen décor and enjoy a more organized sink area immediately.
4- Pull out laundry hampers
Old Use: keeping laundry off the bathroom floor.
New Use: keeping kitchen linens out of sight.
Although many people complain that they don’t have enough cabinet space in their kitchen, many also complain that the look of their kitchen is constantly sullied with wet or dirty rags, towels and aprons. Installing pull out laundry hampers in a kitchen cabinet is a great way to keep your kitchen clean without having wet rags piled up in every corner. Clean out a cabinet by getting rid of items you don’t need and moving some items from lower cabinets into higher ones. Then, install a pull out laundry hamper in a bottom cabinet. Choose a model with air vents to prevent your kitchen towels from getting moldy in the event that you forget to empty the wet linens. This creative system will prevent you from having to run constantly to the laundry room- and will make it easier to stash used linen napkins and tablecloths too!
I just heard about a great new contest that can be great for homeowners looking for kitchen design ideas and those who have just redone their kitchens. Kitchen Cabinet Hardware is offering a $100 to their website (and other home décor sites parented by the same company) as a prize in their new kitchen design contest. Applicants should sent in a 2 pictures of their kitchen- one from “before”, and one from “after”, to show the world how their new kitchen cabinet hardware impacted their space. Submissions should include a list of all new cabinet hardware used in the kitchen design, and any other relevant information.
Good news for homeowners is that the contest is open to both homeowners and professional contractors, so consumers looking for free kitchen design ideas can hopefully get an eyeful from the submissions. Even better news is that the contest has no purchase necessary- you can enter the contest even if you didn’t purchase your supplies from Kitchen Cabinet Hardware. I know that I’ll be monitoring the contest to see all the great ideas out there- I can’t wait to see yours! For a full set of rules or to enter, go to: http://www.kitchen-cabinet-hardware.com/kitchen-design-contest.php. To hear about more online contests, check out Grandma Jam, a great source for online contests. You can also check out Super Blog Directory for some other blogs that may discuss contests. It’s kinda like the lotto- hey, you never know!
I must admit that I’m a bit of an environmentalist. I don’t use paper goods (except the rare paper napkins or paper towels on occasion when the kids spill things) or other disposable food items (plastic wrap, disposable tin pans, etc.). I turn off the water when I’m washing dishes so that no drops go to waste unnecessarily. And I try to purchase energy efficient appliances whenever possible. That’s why I’m so excited to learn that soon the government will be providing incentives to consumers who want to exchange their old, non-energy efficient home appliances for more efficient models. Not only will a rise in the use of energy efficient appliances have a great impact on the environment, but they provide a great way to improve the look of your kitchen without breaking the bank.
According to the US Department of Energy, lighting, refrigeration and cooking appliances consume 41.5% of a home’s energy consumption. For this reason alone, I encourage you to take advantage of this new ‘cash for clunkers appliances’ deal to improve the look and efficiency of your kitchen. (The deal will likely go into effect around November 2009). Please note that at this time there is no such thing as an Energy-Star approved oven or stove. Still, there are many ways to improve the energy efficiency of your kitchen. Here are my top picks for energy efficient appliance upgrades:
1- Energy Star Refrigerators with Top Mount Freezers. Not only do top mount freezers offer maximum storage space for frozen foods, but they also use 10-25% less energy than side-by-side or bottom freezer models. Although this model may not be considered the most aesthetically popular design, you can easily enhance the look of your new appliance with new appliance pulls that match your existing cabinet hardware.
2- Energy Star Dishwashers. I love energy efficient dishwashers because not only do they save money on your electric bills, but they also use less water than less efficient models, which is better for the world and easier on your water bill. Consumers should be aware that Energy Star guidelines for dishwashers were amended on August 11, 2009, though some models that are still being sold only conform to the outdated standards. I highly recommend purchasing models that conform to the latest standards to ensure that your appliances are as energy efficient as possible.
3- Energy Star Freezers. A spare freezer is a great place to store extra food- but many times extra freezers are left running when they aren’t completely full, which means that you are spending money to run your spare freezer. To get the most bang for your buck on a spare freezer, upgrade to an Energy Star model which will save nearly $50 a year on your electricity bill.
What energy efficient appliance would you like to buy with your government rebate?
People with small kitchens often wish that they could have a larger workspace, more cabinet space, or simply just a more luxurious kitchen. Unfortunately, this is not always possible due to space constraints, permit problems or budgetary restrictions. Still, there are many ways through which we can maximize the efficiency and beauty of any small kitchen. The following small kitchen ideas will yield big results- and will enable you to love your small kitchen instead of cursing it.
– Install cabinetry up to the ceiling. If you are lacking storage space, a great way to take full advantage of even the smallest kitchen is to put double cabinetry on top, so that you utilize every inch of available space for storage. What’s more, double cabinetry is not only useful, but it’s also beautiful. Of course, my favorite benefit of having cabinets up to the ceiling is that you eliminate the need for dusting above your cabinets…
– Optimize your corner cabinetry. If your corner cabinets are a mess, implementing a more efficient system will improve the entire look and feel of your small kitchen. Ideas for making this happen include installing blind corner cabinets or a large lazy Susan that can make it easy to find what you’re looking for without rummaging through the entire corner cabinet. While lazy Susans are definitely a more affordable option, there’s no question that blind corner cabinets offer optimal efficiency and can completely revolutionize any corner cabinet.
Rev-A-Shelf Blind Corner Cabinet
– Paint your kitchen with a light color. Small kitchens often feel even smaller because they are painted with dark colors which will make the space feel closed. Choosing a light and warm color such as cream, warm yellow or beige can make a big difference in the way the room feels, and can make the room feel instantly larger.
– Take things off the countertops. If you find that your kitchen countertops are cluttered with accessories, get rid of them. Instead of having a counter-mounted paper towel holder, install a hanging paper towel holder under your cabinetry. Instead of keeping your bread box on the counter, hide your bread in a bread drawer organizer. Instead of keeping your mixer on the counter, stash it in your cabinet on an appliance lift, which will prevent the mixer from ever taking up space on your countertop again.
– Use long cabinet pulls to create an elongated look. Oversized cabinet pulls are a great way to trick the eye into thinking that a space is larger and longer than it is. Replace your old cabinet hardware with cabinet handles that are at least 8 inches in length. Place the handles horizontally on drawers and vertically on cabinet doors to make the most of the look.
Sati Nickel Bar Pull by Top Knobs
Whether you try just one of these small kitchen ideas or implement them all, you won’t believe how a few small touches can really change the feel of your kitchen.
Interior Design on Your Own Time 