- Follow us:
Thursday, October 6th, 2016
FFDM Viniterra Collection offers an interesting fusion of leather and fabric.
Cleaning any leather furniture is a process that asks for a huge deal of expertise and care. This is one of those materials that can be easily damaged when treated improperly. While most homeowners opt to do this task on their own, there are professionals who have been certified to address this kind of maintenance. They are the right people to call who have the right kind of cleaning materials and equipment.
Leather is preserved animal skin so it is wise that it should be treated in that manner. Any substance that can keep it moistened is the kind that could provide longevity to it.
Leather Prepping
Before you or an expert would begin to clean the leather furniture, make sure that the furniture piece has been vacuumed properly. This process may be simple but it can prevent waste materials from damaging the furniture.
Preserved animal skin is very fragile so you wouldn’t want dust or any waste to get stuck to it. Any kind of debris should be removed from it. You may use saddle soap or just about any gentle cleaning solution that can also treat the leather.
Veer away from strong chemicals as these can cause permanent staining on your leather couch, chair, recliner, or ottoman.
Leather Cleaning
As soon as you have vacuumed and prepped the gentle soap that you’ll use, be sure to apply the solution with a damp cloth. Use just a little pressure to apply and reapply the solution. Rinse the soap suds with clean water, again, using the damp cloth.
Dry the material right after it is rinsed. Use a dry cloth this time, using just a little amount of pressure.
Leather + Toothpaste?
There are stains that are deemed permanent which can actually be removed easily using toothpaste. Scrubbing will only damage the leather so it is best to make the tough stain come out using a cloth and toothpaste. If the stain remains, then have a professional take a look at your leather furniture. These experts have the safest equipment and solutions to use to remove the stain.
Hooker Furniture Living Room Aspen Durant Round Cocktail Ottoman: Who says leather furniture always has to be a sofa?
Leather After Stain Removal
After the stains have been removed, leather can be conditioned and treated. This must be done once to twice a year depending on how much exposure under the sunlight the leather furniture receives. Don’t think that simple silicone or oils can be used to clean leather because they have been known to stick and become permanent residues.
There are leather technicians who can expertly handle leather by erasing stains and other problems that are common to this material.
Choosing the Right Leather Caretaker
With a lot of leather cleaning companies to choose from, you might be wondering how you would end up with the best. To properly discern the best, be sure to do some research. Look for personal reviews of past clients, work samples, and their certifications. Among these three, it is important to check the last one. Certifications ensure that the business is competent enough to handle leather concerns. Certificates ascertain that the team has ample fundamental knowledge as well as the latest techniques to handle any leather situation.
So what sort of certificate should you be looking for?
Look for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration Certificate. This is also known as the IICRC which is proof of their continued evaluation. Professionals who hold this certificate know how to repair, deodorize, maintain and even restore leather furniture.
Cleaning technicians also know the various fabric categories so they will be able to identify different fibers, sanitation chemistry, techniques of leather protection, and are even able to forecast a problem before it even happens.
Tags: caring for leather, genuine leather, leather, leather care, leather design, leather furniture, leather maintenance, leather upholstery, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Furniture, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Monday, September 12th, 2016
Hooker Furniture Living Room Chadwick Entertainment Console asks for low maintenance with its sleek and open-shelf concept.
If you belong to the group of people whose school and work schedules leave very little time for mundane tasks, then you probably hate maintenance or house cleaning, too. The great news is that the interior design industry knows all about your dilemma. There are now a lot of easy care design elements that you can invest in. The question now is – are any of these right for you?
Easy-Clean Paint
There are now cans upon cans of paint that can be easily cleaned and washed. They are available for walls and trim. These are also best for families that have small kids and pets.
Low-Maintenance Flooring
In the past ten years or so, tiles, hardwood and natural stone have become quite popular and there’s no surprise there. Carpeting has taken a backseat because these materials have proven to be more durable, easier to maintain, and not difficult to clean.
There are many eco-friendly options for floors nowadays like reclaimed wood and bamboo.
Stained concrete that has a protective sealer would also be wonderful, maintenance-wise. This comes with the least amount of seams plus a nonporous seal will make mopping and sweeping much easier.
Other probable flooring options include vinyl and laminate tiles.
Furniture with Trimmed Surfaces
The nooks and crannies of many shelves and cabinets are natural homes for dust particles. If you want a low-maintenance type of cabinet or shelf, then find the ones that have little trim. The less drawers and nooks there are, the less dust, the least amount of cleaning.
Simple math there.
Patterned Countertops
The bathroom and kitchen tiles and Formica countertops require added care compared to all other countertop materials. Did you know that countertops that come with patterns are better at hiding rings and crumbs as compared to solid-colored ones?
It’s true, try ‘em.
1586-80110-BLK1 Flirt Rectangle Cocktail Table has a smooth and simple design which is not just easy to clean but also easy on the eye.
Under Mount Sink
Rather than resorting to the usual raised models, try having the under mount sink this time. Its upkeep is a lot easier which means you won’t have to worry about puddles, grout, cracks, mildew, and stains.
Grout-Free Bathrooms
There have been major innovations in bathroom design and fixtures. Most of these are now easier to care for. An example is the wall-mounted toilet as well as motion sensitive faucets. These days, you can mop right beneath the toilet (no more mopping around the fixture); the faucets also help in keeping soapy and dirty hands off (you have the sensors to thank for this). Shower interiors also come in solid materials that are remarkably grout-free.
No wonder that these are now the most popular options in the market these days.
Recessed Lighting
Recessed lighting fixtures are your best choice if you don’t want the usual dust magnets – table lamps. If you really can’t let go of lamps, then consider having them minus the fabric shades. Any other material can be easily wiped clean.
Shutters and Blinds
These are your best choices for window treatments since all you’ll ever need to clean them is a feather duster or a handheld vacuum cleaner. Heavy draperies come with fabrics which can easily hold odors, attract dust and pet hair.
Less Furnishings
Less is more in the case of easy maintenance. Either that or you can invest in pieces that are slimmer and unupholstered. Leather is also a lot easier to clean than fabric, it’s just more prone to cracking so make sure that you invest in a great leather cleaner.
Basket for Slippers
Place this right by the entrance so that you and your visitors could place your dirty shoes outside and should wear the slippers as soon as you reach the entryway.
These are wonderful ideas that you could use in your home if you want to do less maintenance. See how each would cut down your cleaning time by more than half!
Tags: easy-clean home, easy-clean tips, home cleaning, home cleanup, low-maintenance home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Friday, August 26th, 2016
Accessories Uttermost Silvia Silver Wall Shelf 04033 can hold bathroom accessories.
Bathroom cleanliness is quite important to homes and more so to facilities. Unsanitary restrooms could be home to germs that can bring about allergies and a host of other diseases. This is the very reason why the bathroom should be cleaned every single day.
Repeat customers could be the cause of unsanitary bathrooms. Effects of unsanitary bathrooms could extend to employee productivity as it has been proven that unclean bathrooms can cause lower productivity. As a result, various aspects of the business can be affected by something that is as simple as a bathroom cleanup.
Germs can bring about allergies and a whole host of diseases. Begin cleaning from the vents and ceilings. Have them dusted for cobwebs. Make sure the dust from those areas reach the floor.
Next, have the mirrors and other wall pieces dusted, cleaned then polished. Make sure the hand dryers are disinfected, too. Use a disinfectant to clean partition doors. After these, move on to toilet bowl disinfecting. Disinfect the inner and outer parts of the bowl. Don’t forget the base.
Be sure to empty out the trash receptacles of paper towels and sanitary pads. Remove gum and other stuck dirt on the floor. Mop the floor and use a disinfecting solution.
Lastly, wipe hand plates, door handles, and kick plates.
These tips should help you clean the bathroom like a pro or at least know how to check right after a professional commercial cleanup.
Maitland-Smith Bathroom Cast Brass Fish Tissue Holder 1254-350 makes tissue dispensing a lot more exciting.
Clean the Stained Bathtub
There are two things that you need to remember when cleaning a stained bathtub in hotels and other such areas – first, you have to know which stain removal technique you would use and; second, find out which products would be right for the tub.
The most common bathtub materials are enameled metal, acrylic and porcelain. If your bathtub looks like plastic, then it is most probably acrylic. If it looks non-plastic, it is porcelain, iron or steel.
To be able to tell the difference between porcelain and enamel, all you have to do is to stick a magnet on the side of the tub. If the magnet sticks, then it is enamel.
If you are removing stain from a porcelain tub, you might want to buy a pumice stick. This can scour the surface and could get rid of stains on porcelain toilet bowls. This scouring stick costs just $2.
Removing the stain from enameled tubs can be a bit more difficult. Pumice stick should not be used in such cases because they can leave permanent scratches. This is also true with anything that is acidic so say no to vinegar and bleach.
Abrasive powders may be used but be sure to test a part of the tub before you go all out on your cleanup. Use such powders sparingly, though. For tougher stains, make a paste with the powder then allow it to sit for half an hour before you rinse away.
If you want to be on the safe side, use the ever reliable hydrogen peroxide. It is cheap and it can make the bathtub look sparkly clean.
‘Out to clean an acrylic tub? Then know that this type is more prone to fading, scratching and cracking. Since this is so, avoid anything that’s abrasive. Use cream cleaners, again, allowing it to sit for half an hour before the actual cleanup.
Mildewy Walls and Flooring
Another serious, dirt problem in the bathroom is mildew. You can work like crazy each day, cleaning and scrubbing, but if it still stinks, then you have to look for the culprit. More often than not, it is mildew.
Find an anti-mildew solution then gently scrub the area. It helps if you let the solution sit for a few minutes before rinsing it off.
Tags: bathroom interiors, bathroom style, cleaning mold and mildew, designing commercial bathrooms, home cleaning, home cleanup, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spa bathroom, spa-like bathroom, tips
Posted in Bathroom Design, Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements | No Comments »
Monday, August 22nd, 2016
FFDM Circa 12602
In our kind of economy, you might be tempted to skip small home repairs. This is also the case with professional cleanups and inspection jobs. Minor repairs may appear, well, minor but if you keep putting off such projects, you could end up with thousands to tens of thousands. The $200 that you save today could easily turn to an expense of $3,000 the following month.
Invest a Little Dough
Consider allotting some money for small home repairs. Again, these seemingly small tasks could easily morph to huge, expensive jobs later. If you want to be ahead of many homeowners and save some money in the process, then you should be ready to take on even the smallest repair jobs. An ugly duckling house could be the next swan if you are willing to roll up your sleeves and do a little maintenance work (or at least be willing to pay for the repairs).
It is a known fact that most homeowners have no idea what to look for when it comes to crucial repairs. Majority cannot see past an unpainted door, thick shrubbery and the like. In their eyes, the best homes are those that are beaming with activity, were pricey when it was offered in the market, and is pleasing to the eye (to begin with).
Necessary Cosmetic Work
When talking about cosmetic repairs or improvement, these are projects that do not require major construction tasks. For instance, installing new carpeting may be categorized as a cosmetic improvement in a home. On the other hand, the repair of a rotten bandboard is a repair project that cannot be handled by a non-professional.
Here are examples of cosmetic improvements that every home needs –
If you are able to do all these kinds of work by yourself, you’ll soon find out that your savings will compound annually. Obviously, you should leave some kinds of repairs to the professionals.
An example is electrical repair. Even if you think that replacing fuse is fairly easy, it is best to leave it to a licensed electrician.
House Repairs for Staged Homes
There are two kinds of pre-loved homes that are being sold in the market – one is the kind that is already painted, with grounds well-kempt, new carpets and such; while the other one is the kind of property that has deferred maintenance.
The second type is a home that is often in need of painting, carpeting, lawn repairs, etc. Examples are homes during the ‘70s with badly-damaged paint, kitchens with rotten cabinets, and rooms that are out of date. It could also be a home that still houses stove, refrigerators, and dishwasher.
The real estate market is a competitive one. If you are actively looking for a property at the moment but don’t have ample budget for a brand new home, then you have to know which repairs you need to address later on.
Caution
When buying a whole house that needs repairs, make sure that you hold an inspection. Allow a competent professional to do the assessments for you. For example, you may ask different experts such as a plumber, electrician and an engineer to look at specific areas in the house.
There are a couple of reasons why thorough inspections must be done before you begin further construction or interior design projects. First, cosmetic repairs may just be indications of more serious problems deep within the house. A wall that needs painting, for instance, could be the façade of a water-damaged inner wall.
The next time you encounter a minor house repair, you already know why you shouldn’t delay.
Tags: crucial home repairs, home remodeling, home repair, home repairs, important home repairs, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, remodel, remodeling a home, renovation, renovation and remodeling, renovation budget, renovation guidelines, renovation project, renovation tips, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Remodeling | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 10th, 2016
This Hooker Furniture Living Room Imperial Regal 3-Piece Stationary Sectional will look great in any old home.
There are two ways that you can be saddled with an old home issue; first, if you inherited one or if you bought one and are about to remodel it. Whichever scenario brought you this dilemma, you have to know that old home issues are sure to come up sooner or later so you might as well know what you’re about to face.
But what can be considered an old home?
This is going to be a subjective definition. Some would say that it is any house that’s been standing for 30 years or longer. This is why it is common for old house problems to materialize. Yet homes are supposed to age slowly and the problems that homeowners encounter often accrue gradually.
Religious maintenance can make a huge difference as can the quality of construction. Do accept, though, that the older the home gets, the likelier that you are going to encounter issues that would impact its livability as well as its safety.
Foundation Problems
You would require an inspection by a competent structural engineer if the floor that you’re walking on feels uneven. There are also less obvious signs that could manifest inside your home such as windows and doors that no longer latch properly. Such issues could also be spurred by foundation issues. Drywall cracks that are seen over windows and doors are also signs of a weakening foundation. Hairline cracks may appear harmless but a certified structural engineer would say otherwise.
A quick exterior inspection must be done right away. Check for any bulges inside foundation walls or any part of your home that no longer appears vertical. See also if there are chipping and flaking and if you do see any get a screwdriver to check the concrete’s hardness.
The cost for foundation repair could be as low as $1,000 or it could go a lot higher depending on the damage.
The Leaky Roof
The intrusion of water in your home is a sure death to the structure. The soundness of your roofing system is crucial to the overall health of every structure therein.
So how do you spot if you have a leaky roof?
If you spot staining on the ceiling, then this could be a sign of roof leaks. There could also be other issues that could cause this such as plumbing or window leaks, no matter, some repairs need to be done.
Water spots on the exterior walls can also be a sign of flashing issues. If you see these, you need to inspect the roof tiles or shingles to see if there are any problems like cracks, unsecured flashing, missing parts or cupping. Taking a quick look at the attic insulation should also reveal signs of moisture. Looking for daylight underneath the roof boards is also an effective way of seeing if the roof is still in perfect shape.
Roof repair costs vary so it is best to get an estimate from a contractor or a local roofer.
Old Features
Popcorn ceilings are removable though it could cost anywhere from $2,000 and up. The job becomes more hazardous if the ceiling contains asbestos (which is a probability). Allow a contractor to do the testing and the ceiling removal.
Old countertops and cabinets should also be replaced eventually. Painting jobs are relatively easy as would the replacement of fixtures but outdated furnishings need to be addressed right away. That heirloom cabinet might be housing not just your great grandma’s antique pieces but also some termites so watch out.
Waterproofing Issues
If there is a musty smell in your home then, chances are, you have waterproofing problems. It could be mold or mildew that has built up in the walls, the attic or even your under floor framing. Once you smell this, be sure to ask for a professional inspection. This is a potential major issue as it could require a new drainage or waterproofing.
Tags: designing an old home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, old home, old home design, old home remodeling, old house care, old house problems, redesigning old homes, remodeling an old home, taking care of an old house
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Tuesday, August 9th, 2016
The 1586-80110D-MULTI4 Serendipity Rectangle Cocktail Table is the kind of furniture that can withstand an upped level of moisture in your home.
There are but a few things that can wreak havoc when it comes to indoor air quality than moisture. The non-removal of water vapor could result in the formation of mold, an increase in the population of dust mites and condensation. You all know what would happen should these start to invade your home so it’s time to fix your moisture problem once and for all.
Knowing how to get rid of moisture issues begins with being able to tell if it has gotten into your home. So where does it all begin?
People Are the Culprit
You may or may not be surprised to learn that people are the leading culprits when it comes to the occurrence of water vapor inside homes. Did you know that even in the hottest and most humid months, moisture can get in? Yet the environmental factors pale in comparison to the moisture produced by cooking, showering, even your breathing.
A family consisting of four members can produce up to three gallons of water vapor daily. If you’re thinking that merely opening windows would solve your problems, well, think again. Rather than doing this because it could bring in more moisture into your home, it would be better to dehumidify the area.
Shading is yet another strategy that you could look into.
Spot the Moisture Buildup
So how do you know when moisture is already starting to build up? First, you might notice some water drops along the edges of your glass windows.
Look up and you might also be able to see some mold or mildew forming right where the ceiling and the wall meet. The damp smell that is associated with mildew is also a common telltale sign that moisture is trying to destroy your home.
Seeing these things only means that what you have is either a very old home or a poorly-designed new building. There could be thermal bridges where insulation is quite weak as it allows heat to escape at a quicker rate.
A home renovation or remodel should include a consultation with a building science expert. Ventilation and envelope should be properly-designed so that moisture issues can be avoided.
Beware of Unseen Moisture
There could also be widespread condensation happening inside the roofs, walls or slabs where the human eye won’t penetrate. Yet there are also telltale signs that would tell you something is happening in those hidden areas. Called interstitial condensation, the moisture is escaping towards a cooler environment right on the other side of the warmer wall. When this happens, you would observe that the wall would start to degrade. Also, the efficiency of the insulation would start to be reduced.
FFDM Antebellum Collection: Take care of furniture pieces made of hardwood if you suspect that there is an increased level of moisture in your home.
Concentrated Condensation
Spot this right at that point where the roof, wall and slab are assembled. These are often visibly wet so you don’t need a pair of glasses to see where the plumbing issues are ensuing. This type of moisture intrusion is caused by an air leak that is localized, meaning, in just a single spot, there is a hole or crack where air escapes to the outside.
Should you know where to find the actual leak, then it is pretty easy to fix by simply checking the airtightness layer. At times, a simple blue tape could fortify punched areas.
Measure the Humidity
You might not see any of the above problems yet you know, somehow, that moisture is beginning to affect the indoor air quality in your home. If all you have is a gut feel, then it would be wise to invest in a hygrometer so you’ll know the levels of humidity in your home. The ideal measurement should be anywhere between 30 to 50 relative humidity.
Tags: controlling moisture buildup, controlling moisture in home, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, moisture buildup, mold and mildew buildup, tips
Posted in Home Maintenance | No Comments »
Monday, May 9th, 2016
The American Leather Living Room Meyer-Sectional invokes clean living with its clean lines and simplicity.
Starting anew whether your family is moving or remodeling is a huge undertaking. Expect mess everywhere but once you’ve settled, you should make minimal to zero waste as your home’s new goal. Of course, an endeavor of such magnitude does sound too good to be true, indeed, it is an ambitious take on life. Through persistence, though, your entire home can have a low-consumption kind of living.
Here are some tips that can help you reduce waste in your home –
Bulk Buying
Carryout containers and packaged foods are a huge source of non-recyclable plastic garbage. Just think about those wrappers, chip bags, cartons, and trays – every little one of such packages are made or mixed with plastics which are disposed in landfills.
Cooking at home is a great solution as is eating fresh produce. Purchase vegetables and fruits, and buying other stuff in bulk will help you veer away from those small plastic containers and packages. Buying fresh helps you cut your salt, preservative and artificial dye consumption.
A lot of cosmetic brands also sell their products in bulk in many health stores. Seek such discounts to eliminate the use of plastic in your home. Simplify also the use of cleaning supplies so that you will have a significant reduction of plastic spray bottle garbage.
Be a Neat Freak
Okay, that’s going a tad overboard but reducing the amount of surface where garbage may accumulate could also minimize the amount of garbage and clutter in your home. To effectively implement this, make sure that you have cabinets and other storage units where you will place only the needful stuff.
Don’t collect things that you don’t need. Keeping stuff for sentimental reasons is modified hoarding. Take a picture of that thing which you hold dear then let go. You can also donate unused stuff on a regular basis. Have a giveaway box set up in the attic or basement. Collecting stuff that you don’t use everyday ends up as a pile of garbage inside drawers and closets.
If giving your stuff away is not your style, then find ways that you can sell some of your things. You can even make more money this way.
Shop for Need
Don’t shop. Period.
More often than not, people shop even when they don’t have a need to. If you will be fully honest with yourself, most of your purchases are unnecessary, right?
Shopping for leisure presents the danger of accumulating stuff that you don’t really need. So, yeah, there’s no need to buy that cute outfit just because it matches your Prada bag. Have your house thank you for owning less stuff.
Look for furniture that can maximize the use of space in your home. This Hooker Furniture Living Room Lift Top Floral Cocktail Trunk doubles as decorative furniture at the foot of your bed while storing some of your stuff.
Clean Up
Hold a general cleaning activity on weekends. Make it a fun activity where family members chat and laugh during the cleanup. Have some lemonade and brownies to pep everyone up.
Let go also of the just in case attitude where you keep things, well, just in case you’d need them. If you truly assess all the stuff that you are currently keeping, you would be surprised how many have just been stored for many years.
If you are unsure about giving away or selling some of your stuff, then place them inside a plastic container. Should months pass and that plastic still remains intact, then you’d know by then that it’s time to let go.
Another way of cleaning up your home is to acquire a new perspective in life. Try visiting a homeless shelter and spend some time with someone who has been deprived of the blessings that you take for granted. Doing this will make you realize that having less is actually more; you will then be ready to let go of things that don’t really matter.
Tags: clutter removal, decluttering, decluttering advice, decluttering project, decluttering system, decluttering techniques, decluttering tips, home decluttering, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, removing clutter, zero garbage, zero garbage home
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Sunday, April 17th, 2016
FFDM Protege Collection: Air quality improves greatly when you open the doors and windows, let sunlight in, and add potted plants indoors.
Did you know that you should also let your house breathe? Homes that are sealed tightly are likely to cause problems. To cite an example, there are homeowners who attempt to conserve energy or reduce heating costs but wind up making their dwelling places airtight. There is a need for the house to breathe if you want it to be healthy.
So what do you need to achieve open-air living? All you need is more air.
Your home needs to expel moisture and different forms of gases. It can achieve this by having a constant supply of fresh air from the outside.
The fireplace could continuously burn fuel and not emit harmful fumes properly. When this happens, your home could become a storage area for carbon monoxide, a highly poisonous gas that has been proven to kill.
To correct this, begin by checking the ventilation in your home. Has it been cleaned lately? Is it damaged or even blocked?
See that the kitchen is provided with a powerful fan. Do this also in your bathroom and the open hearth fireplace right in the middle of your living room. Exhaust fans are affordable solutions that can keep carbon monoxide poisoning to zero.
But remember that the air drawn out by the exhaust fans must also be replaced. The most powerful exhaust fans inside the kitchen and bathrooms could also create problems if negative pressure builds inside. This is what happens when backdraft draws exhaust fumes from the hot water heater, furnace and other appliances are brought back into the house.
Home Office Collection by Hooker Furniture: The open-air concept was beautifully captured in this urban home office. Minimized lines and greeneries made the scene more fresh-looking.
When Is Air Too Tight?
You can say that your home is airtight if the feeling of the air is stuffy or stale. You could also see condensation dripping down on your windows. This could also mean that the humidifier could be set too high.
Have you noticed that the pilot light for your gas appliance seems to be going out a lot lately? When your burner produces yellow and not the usual blue flame also spells something disastrous that’s cooking up.
The smell of exhaust gases could also be present in your home. Carbon monoxide can’t be smelt but other types of exhaust gases come with odors so be wary of those.
Freshen Up
The best solutions include an air exchange system, direct feed, or merely opening your windows. The air exchange system can be professionally installed. This will exchange the air inside for fresher air outside without heat wastage.
You might also want to consider installing heating appliances and systems that can directly feed of outside air during combustion.
If the situation calls for an immediate answer, then you can look into the most obvious solutions – open your windows! Improving the indoor air quality is sometimes as obvious as just opening the windows that have been shut for the longest time. Plus it is a good habit to open the windows from time to time (if not on a daily basis). You don’t have to wait for the indoor air to become polluted just so you would open the windows. Do it for around 5-10 minutes daily.
You should also open the windows if someone in your home engaged in an activity that would potentially deteriorate the quality of air indoors.
Here are some more tips to create open-air living in your home –
The Archivist Collection by Hooker Furniture features an open-air bedroom with curtains drawn and windows opened to let in sunlight and fresh air.
Tags: brightening up rooms, brightening up your home, McCreery's Furnishings, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, open floor layout, open floor plan, open space, open space design, open space theme, open-air interior design, open-air layout, open-air lifestyle, open-air living
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes | No Comments »
Sunday, March 20th, 2016
A home office such as this is a neat freak’s haven. Furniture set comes from the Brookhaven Collection of Hooker Furniture.
Has someone ever noticed that you arrange your books by color inside your shelves? They laugh at how organized you are but you have a deeper secret – they’re also arranged according to genre. You belong to the type of people who want to run their homes as they would a military – everything has to be in order or your day just wouldn’t be the same. Yet there is just so much clutter that can make even the tidiest homes, well, untidy. If you want to make a sense out of the messy world that the rest of the population lives in, here are some storage tips for all you neat freaks –
Every Little Thing Can Be Cleaned Up
To have a sense of fulfillment at the beginning of your day, you can start by making your bed. This simple act of plumping the pillows, putting them back near the headboard and carefully folding the blanket and bed sheet, can make a huge difference in jump starting your day.
Now take a look at the bottles and jars inside the cupboard and see if some of them have long been empty.
While for some it is true that out of sight is out of mind, in your case, it may not necessarily be true. A true blue neat freak knows that there is always something to clean up. This philosophy simply won’t apply to you at all. Even that cupboard door that keeps the clutter from spilling over is simply not tidy till it’s been emptied.
Imagine all the stuff that you can store in this wooden drawer. Featured furniture is from FFDM’s Vintage Classics.
Organizing Your Stuff
If some people are happy collecting stamps, the neat freak is happiest when she sees that her home neat and well-organized. Check the drawers in her home and you would immediately notice how stuff are color-coded and folded neatly.
A tidy wardrobe is also a stress reducer for neat freaks but this can also be a positive thing that others should follow. You can decrease the amount of time that you dress up if you have a well-organized closet to begin with. You get to save time because you also know where to look for a specific outfit.
The neat freak does not automatically classify stuff as clutter. In fact, she can also share her collections by displaying them. What matters to her is that they are all organized.
A Neat Freak’s Best Friend
If there are girls that collect bottles of different perfumes and you see them arranged on their vanity tables, then the neat freak also has her own products to stack. While she also knows the value of beauty, to her, it is a lot more than looking and smelling great. Cleaning products are a lot more important – especially disinfectants – as they can make homes free from dirt.
Another best friend?
Any storage unit such as a shelf, closet or drawer.
The Neat Freak’s Enemy
That family member who is a perennial bringer of chaos need not become your enemy. These minds, though they have wallowed in mess for so many years can still be educated. Tidying can be instilled especially among youngsters. Tell them that you will feel most comfortable in a place that is organized.
Be open; try to make every family member understand.
What If They Don’t Understand?
Untidy minds can be a bit difficult to educate and, sometimes, even your best efforts might not pay off. What you can do so far is just to lead by example. It could get upsetting if your tidy world is suddenly turned upside down by both human and animal activity. When this happens, just shrug it off, chant your little mantra, and just show everyone that you are tidying up.
Even the most committed neat freaks can become weak at some point. Let these inconsistencies remind you that it’s okay to break the rules of tidiness at times. After all, little Ms. Neat Freak, you’re still human.
Tags: decluttering, decluttering advice, decluttering system, decluttering techniques, drawers, home organization, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spring cleaning, spring duties, storage, storage advice, storage planning, storage systems, storage techniques
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Spring Season | No Comments »
Wednesday, March 16th, 2016
The best decluttering solution is to have ample storage space for your stuff. This Belvedere piece from Fine Furniture Design is a thing of beauty and function.
Every homeowner knows that there are accessories that can complete a home and there is also clutter. There are pieces that can attract just the wrong kind of attention. These are your visual clutters which can detract instead of add to a home’s magnificence.
You might not have known it but there are accessories in your home that you actually can do without –
Multiple Framed Photos
Have you ever given the walls of your home a second look lately? More often than not, there are mismatched frames that are hung on many walls or are seated on tables. These are those little, cheaply-made photo frames that are so distracting.
Of course, no one’s saying that your family pictures are not important. For most reasons, you are framing them because of sentimental reasons. But instead of cramming all of your family’s vacation photographs, choose the ones that are most memorable, put them in frames that are a lot nicer then display them with a purpose this time.
Create a gallery on one wall or follow what’s already been done in many stylish homes – lining up your staircase with them. It would also be nice to see a console table that is topped with just two or three tastefully chosen framed photographs.
You might ask what you could do with the rest of the frames…well, put them in a donation box (it’s all for a good cause).
Accessories Uttermost Spirula Photo Frames S/2 18566 : If you have to display photos, then do it in a classy way.
Used-to-be-Stylish-Curtains
Did you know that not all rooms need curtains and drapes? There are also so many reasons why you can do without them.
First, it would be tragic to cover beautiful windows of any home. Original woodwork, French windows, and other such beauties would be wrong to cover with thick curtains. Also, if you live in an area right by the woods, then there are definitely rooms in your home that offer a good view of the greenery outside. See those rooms that do not require privacy so you can say goodbye to unnecessary curtains.
Another thing is, have you checked the colors of your curtains recently? Have they been faded by the sun? Are the prints already old fashioned? Or could it be because the curtains are too short for your tall windows?
If any of these rings true, then you might want to experiment with a zero curtain look for awhile. Who knows, you might even enjoy the view more than those times when the windows were all covered up. Should you ever decide to cover the windows up again, try some shutters or bamboo shades for a change.
Plastic Flower Arrangements
There can never be a thing in the world that could replace the beauty of fresh flowers in tasteful vases. Those huge, artificial flowers in your home simply don’t belong there. Plus, there’s that downside of those fake flowers gathering dust in the long run so they can make a place look ugly.
Decluttering is not just applicable to fake flowers but to fake trees as well. Find, instead, those easy-to-grow indoor plants, place a bowl of colorful fruits on the table, or just display a vase of freshly-bought or picked flowers.
Faux flowers just won’t make your home look classy.
Apart from those fake stuff, you can also declutter by removing those stored, cheap glass vases inside your cupboard. Don’t hold on to them. Having three to four elegant vases would be better than keeping ten ugly vases.
‘Nough said.
Those Useless Knickknacks
Sure, accessories can add beauty and personality to your home but having a lot of knickknacks is not interior decorating – it’s hoarding. If you happen to have large collections of which you simply cannot bear to part with, then at least decide to rotate the pieces every now and then.
There is no rule that says you have to display all of your collections at once.
Again, don’t hold on to clutter. There are so many things that you can get rid of now which you think you might need but actually do not so go ahead and make that resolution now.
Tags: clutter removal, decluttering, decluttering advice, decluttering project, decluttering reasons, decluttering system, decluttering techniques, decluttering tips, DIY decluttering, DIY decluttering tips, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, removing clutter
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101 | No Comments »
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
