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Thursday, March 8th, 2018
Featured furniture pieces are from the Biltmore Collection of Fine Furniture Design.
Don’t you just love spring? This is your chance to draw the curtains and eventually open all of your windows. This is your chance to feel the breeze once more and to enjoy the streaming sunlight. So go ahead and let the fresh air in and start prepping for your spring cleaning 2018.
Here are the zones and things that you need to clean in the –
Foyer
It’s time to dust the lighting fixtures. They’ve been hard at work during winter so it’s time to clean them up. This is also the perfect time to wash the trim and walls. Clean also the knobs, doors, as well as the switch plates.
Dust the bench and other furnishings. If your seats come with cushions, then this is also the time to have them laundered.
Go and check the closets. The best way to tackle this is to empty it out. Sort the stuff you are ready to give or throw away.
Bedrooms
Right after opening the windows, it’s time to get down and dust the furniture especially the bed. Have the drawers cleaned out. Remove the items then place them back only once you’ve donated those that you no longer need and use.
Move the bed then sweep and vacuum beneath it. Check also the stuff that you store underneath your bed.
Have the curtains and bedding removed and replaced with fresh ones. Wash the duvet and pillows, too. Air out the mattress so you won’t have to worry about bed bugs.
Living Room
After letting in some breeze into the room, it’s time to vacuum the seats. Spot clean as much as possible. Dust all the shelves, decorative items, and furniture. Clean all the lamps, window sills, windows, and window screens.
Clean the electronic items as well and be sure to tidy up the wires. Spring is also the perfect time to sort your DVDs and music collections. Purge all the items that are no longer needed or wanted. Donate all the books and magazines that no longer suit anyone’s interest.
As for the toys, be sure to wash each of them with warm, soapy water. Rinse then allow to dry. As for the stuffed toys, have them dry cleaned. Again, donate those that your kids no longer play with.
Clean all the floors as well as the walls, trim, knobs, even the vent covers.
Dining Room
As for the dining room, you should take down and wash the curtains. Wipe the tables and chairs then dust every furnishing. If there are cushions or chair pads, be sure to clean those, too.
If you have time, polish the table then create a lovely spring vignette to welcome the upcoming season.
Shine the silverware and glassware.
Bathroom
Just like you did with all the other rooms, open the windows and empty all of the cabinets. Be sure to replace all the items that have been used or are expired. Wipe and clean the cabinets and vanities. Be sure to clean the bathtub and apply some wax if necessary.
Clean the shower drain as well as the drains on the sinks. Check the faucets and see if everything is working. Shine each one just as much as you clean and make the mirror shine.
Dust all the bathroom lighting fixtures. Reseal any grout lines that need a little retouching.
Kitchen
Just after opening the windows, remove and clean the window coverings. Check the drawers and cabinets then remove items that no longer have any use. Place any items back that you would still use.
Be sure to sharpen the knives and to clean and organize the rest of the cutlery. Clean also the stove top and remove any elements that just clutter the fridge and your freezer.
Tags: McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for spring, preparing for spring cleaning, spring, spring cleaning
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Spring Season | Comments Off on The 2018 Spring Cleaning Checklist
Wednesday, March 7th, 2018
This dining room collection from Fine Furniture Design’s Brentwood is the finest that you could go to enjoy the beauty of spring outdoors.
Spring is not officially here until the 20th of March but this does not mean that you cannot get started on your spring activities. There are many house projects that are normally accomplished during spring so don’t make this year any different. It’s time to get started on spring cleaning.
Plan
It is best to make a list of all the projects that you will be tackling this upcoming spring. Whether your home would undergo some deep cleaning and decluttering or some bigger projects such as remodeling the kitchen, you always need to plan.
Have all your ideas plotted on paper and organize it into an idea checklist or guide throughout your spring cleaning and remodeling projects. Always tackle the most difficult ones first so that your task becomes easier as you go along.
Create an Inviting Bedroom
Restful and peaceful sleep only comes with an inviting and relaxing bedroom. So take the time to clear the clutter especially in this part of your home. Put some fresh sheets and give the entire room deep vacuuming. Don’t forget to clean the underside of your bed, too.
Bring in Houseplants
This is spring 2018 so it’s time to prep some greeneries that you can display all around your home. Pay the local nursery a visit and browse through their decorative plant collections. Pick up some potted plants and their plant foods then take them home, prepped and ready to be displayed this coming spring.
Check the Roof
It’s going to be okay to go out to check on the roof shingles soon. Be sure to examine those that were damaged or even lost during winter. If your home happens to have an older covering, then you might want to plan and create a budget for the replacement.
Remember that the summer sun is also a culprit for roof shingle damages so before you even reach the next season, check on any cracks or buckling. Even loose granules should be already be replaced. Find a qualified roofer to do the job.
Check the Gutters
The winter season brings with it many damages to properties. You might want to check on the drainage system and see if there are leaky or loose gutters. Prepare to do some repairs before the rains come and do more damage to your home.
See also if the downspouts have drained properly and that they are clear from any type of debris.
Find the Low Areas
See if there are some low areas right in your yard. These are those areas that are sometimes found right next to the foundation which can lead to flooding and damage. These tend to create water pools and in the summer, these could easily become the breeding ground for many kinds of insects.
Check the Chimney
There are ways to check whether your chimney was damaged during winter. Don’t underestimate leaks. Instead, think of these as signs that your chimney might need a repair specialist soon.
Water leaks are the absolute worst enemy of any chimney and the coldest winters can bring about freezing temperatures that can ultimately produce these problems.
Other telltale signs of chimney damage are missing bricks or mortar, discolored bricks, rust-colored stains on bricks, and damp odors.
The chimney parts that are more difficult to check are the chimney cap and the damper. These are situated at the topmost part of the chimney. Have them checked by an expert so that you won’t run the risk of wasting energy in the next months.
Move the Firewood
It’s going to be a lot warmer soon so it’s time to move the firewood that are stored near your home. Have them placed in a shed that is at least 18 inches off the ground.
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Tags: checklist for spring cleaning, getting ready for spring, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for spring, spring, spring cleaning, spring cleaning checklist, spring preparation, spring projects
Posted in 2018 Trends, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Spring Season | Comments Off on Prepping for Spring 2018
Friday, March 31st, 2017
Adding greens inside this bedroom provided the visual pop. Featured is the Harrison Upholstered Queen Bed from the Portfolio Collection of FFDM.
The winter season was bleak in some regions this year. It is, therefore, with great pleasure that these regions, along with many other places greet spring with such great pleasure. If you’re done with spring cleaning, you might want to consider some makeover ideas that will change the look of your home for this season –
Spring Color Makeover
It’s time to say goodbye to the deeper hues of winter and to begin embracing the lighter and more fun palette of spring. Take down those heavy window coverings and replace them with blinds or sheer curtains.
This is also the perfect moment to consider painting the walls with the hottest colors for the year – choose from pale aqua, crisp white, emerald green or invest in pastels for the season.
Let Spring Air In
After you’ve spent months being shut indoors, it’s time to turn the heater off and to bring some fresh air inside. You are sure to feel the difference of the stale air and the one that will be flowing through your home soon.
To add to the freshness of the indoor air, you can plant a few fresh herbs in pots. You can then display these small pots right by the kitchen window where you can catch a whiff of the herbs when you’re cooking.
If the kitchen window sills aren’t wide enough, consider installing rail with S hooks that can eventually hold small pots.
Clean the Windows
Another way to let more freshness in is to let in more light. Clean the windows (inside and out). Begin by spraying multi-purpose cleaner to the frames, hardware and the sill. Wipe the areas clean using microfiber cloth.
If there are existing decals, be sure to use mayonnaise to remove them, then use a regular credit or debit card to scrape them off.
As for the inside part of the window, be sure to spray with glass cleaner from top to bottom. If you want a homemade cleaner, then mix equal parts of vinegar with water.
Be sure to clean your windows during cloudy days so that you won’t create glass streaks.
A fusion of natural and ambient lighting made this room more chic. Featured is the Hooker Furniture Dining Room Auberose 52in Round Pedestal Table.
Clean Up Kitchen Counters
Cooking becomes a lot easier when you free up ample counter space for you to work on. It might have escaped your attention but stuff might have accumulated on the counter over the winter months. Now that it’s spring, it’s time to store the bags of coffee, the uneaten bananas, even the small appliances that have not been used for the longest time.
Wipe down and clear off the kitchen counters. Place only the items there that you use regularly.
Roll Away the Rugs
If you used a lot of area rugs during winter, then it’s time to roll them up and consider having bare floors during spring. Treat your toes to a cooler flooring this spring by removing your thick socks and storing away those woolen carpets for now.
Bring Nature In
Spring blossoms are a wonderful addition to your home. Get a cylindrical glass vase and display those colorful branches. Using really tall branches allows you to have the decorative element sit on the floor.
For another natural look, you can also snip some greenery and have them brought indoors. Spot some green foliage, snip it, put it in a mason jar, add tree leaves, then display your fresh arrangement in your hallway, living room or the dining room.
More on blossoms, you can also put in a pot, the most colorful bulbs of the season – daffodils, tulips and other blooming bulbs are great decorative elements to add this spring. Add some fountain to these colorful flowers and you have the most enviable space in your neighborhood this season.
Tags: decorating for spring, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for spring, spring cleaning, spring decorating, spring interiors
Posted in Home Maintenance, Interior Design 101, Interior Design Themes, Spring Season | Comments Off on Heralding Spring 2017
Monday, March 6th, 2017
Cozy up in the plush yet simple beauty of this English Sofa from the Biltmore Collection of FFDM.
Dark nights, the coldest days, even the flu, bring even the most positive people down. This is a great time to soothe away the winter blues. Here are some ways to make your home more exciting till spring finally arrives –
Schedule a Family Movie Night
Many homeowners dream of being able to travel once every year. But if this is not possible on your itinerary, then you can still take a vicarious trip through movie nights.
Have you seen The Tourist starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie? You can bask under the Italian sun without actually going there as you see the scenic beauty of the Venice canal. Another movie that features a popular vacation spot is Diane Lane’s Under the Tuscan Sun.
Take your culture trip farther by viewing Julie and Julia starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams. In that movie, you can enjoy the beauty of Paris along with some of the most scrumptious French meals.
Force Open Branches
Who says you have to wait for spring before you can see lovely blossoms? There is a way of opening up blossoms coming from your yard to be used bouquets in your home. The flowering branches can be taken from trees and woody shrubs, be cut and forced open.
To do this, look for nice, big flower buds then use your pruners to have the branches cut.
Hammer the branch bottoms or slit an inch for each one then place them in a bucket of lukewarm water complete with floral preservative.
Place the bucket in a cool, dark area in your home then change the water each day. You should be able to see a change within the week. These can then be arranged as colorful branches in ceramic or glass vases.
Visit the Farmers’ Market
If you have been postponing your visit to the local farmers market, then this is the perfect time to do so. Be sure to pull out a spring recipe that you have been keeping before you go. You’ll find out that you will soon be inspired to keep the kitchen warm and to entice everyone’s senses with your home cooked meals.
Prep for Daylight Saving Time
Spring ahead means getting ready by slowly adjusting your bedtime and nightly rituals back a few minutes every evening. You can also choose to get up earlier a few minutes each morning.
This may sound like work to most people but you are already making adjustments which will give you an extra hour to spend on a bike ride or even an evening stroll with a loved one. You can even spend the nights in front of a fire pit with your friends.
Open Your Windows
It is sometimes easy to feel depressed when your work schedule does not allow you to get as much sun. if you happen to have a workspace right by the window, then open those shades and be sure to angle your work desk towards the sun. Be sure to bask in it for a few minutes at least.
If you’re not blessed to have this office space by the window, then be sure to eat your lunch as you sit on a bench soaking under the warm sun. If this is still not possible, then ask your boss to have a faux LED skylight installed. This is known to make employees’ moods more pleasant and also helps in improving productivity by up to 15-percent.
Go Out and Shop
And what better way is there to beat the winter blues than to go out and shop? Check out our latest inventory close out sale here.
Tags: getting rid of winter blues, goodbye winter blues, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, preparing for spring, prepping for spring
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Spring Season | Comments Off on Chasing the Winter Blues Away: 6 Cozifying Tips to Follow
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