- Follow us:
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.
Check These Also
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
Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016
Hooker Furniture’s Skyline Collection: Don’t miss on cleaning the mattress and its cover during spring.
This is the season to clean your pruners and take the gardening gloves out of the storage cabinet. Spring is once again here, bringing with it longer days, the freshest flowers and green leaves and, of course, garden chores. Your spring itinerary waits –
It’s Gardening Time
This is that time when the early bulbs come out and wildflowers show up in the Pacific Southwest and Northwest. It is best to plant vegetables and herbs in Texas, not forgetting the companion plants as you do so. Try something that you have not done before – plant something exotic – and keep a garden of the local wildlife. Get more herbs and veggies into the ground such as collards, chard, eggplant, summer squash, cucumbers, tomatillos, tomatoes, and endive. Plant more of rosemary, sage, mint, lemongrass, chives, thyme, santolina, sorrel and artemesia.
Century Furniture Living Room Adira Sectional 11-Sectional: Include the throws and cushions during spring cleaning.
In the Northwest, be sure to prune the apple trees so that they will be able to produce more fruit. March is the last month that you can prune the fruit trees so better get to it.
When you are from California, March is the month to plant bougainvilleas in pots. You should be able to enjoy an amazing display of this flower plant by midsummer. Look for the compact varieties like Singapore Pink, Purple Queen or the Temple Fire. When you plant, though, make sure that you do not break the root ball since plants don’t want that.
Citrus plants are best planted in the Southwest regions. March is also the time of the year when you can add a lovely citrus tree in your garden. Pruning this tree is also best done during this month.
Those from the Rocky Mountains should plant more tomatoes, parsley, carrots, onions, marigolds, and nasturtiums.
Century Furniture Living Room Adira Sectional 11-Sectional: Include the throws and cushions during spring cleaning.
Sprucing Up the Indoors
Is there also a way that you can prepare your home for the spring season? Cleaning is not just limited to your garden. March is also the month to best clean windows, carpets, mattresses, and upholstery.
Begin with the rugs and carpets. High traffic zones should be prioritized as these have the tendency to bug you more when the time comes. Clean up the play spaces, entryways, and other high traffic zones. Vacuum these areas for no less than 30 seconds. Do the top of the area rugs first then go to the underside to clean them up, too.
Apply some degreaser on stains then use a hair dryer on the wet spots. Open the windows once you’re done vacuuming.
The windows are your next priority. Dust builds up here so take that whisk broom, a hose, window cleaner, and a bucket.
Close the screens and windows before you begin cleaning. Brush away the debris on the screens and the tracks. Hose down the windows from about five feet away. The hose’s power should be able to easily reach your second floor windows without the use of a ladder.
You can either hose down or use a bucket of soapy water to do this window cleaning project.
Next, there’s the curtain. As you have hosed down the windows and are waiting for them to dry, you should also get to the curtains. Use a steamer to clean it up. Once you’ve cleaned per section, open the windows to dry the curtains.
This task should take no more than 10 minutes for every panel.
Lastly, there’s your mattress. All you’ll need is a carton of baking soda, a sieve, stain remover, and some dryer sheets complete with essential oils.
The mattress cover can be laundered in a regular manner. As for the mattress, just pour baking soda to the sieve. Dust all parts of the mattress with soda. You will soon notice dirt and moisture clinging to the powder. This should eliminate any bad odors.
Remake the bed and make sure to vacuum the soda once you change the sheets the next time. Tuck the dryer sheets with essential oils under your mattress cover so you’ll smell the fresh scent as you sleep.
Ain’t spring cleaning great? This may just be an annual task but it’s one that you shouldn’t miss if you want to have a clean, fresh-smelling home once more.
Tags: gardening, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, plant art, spring, spring interior design, spring interiors, spring season
Posted in Interior Design 101, Outdoors Style, Spring Season | No Comments »
Friday, March 18th, 2016
Hide the Easter eggs under the comforter, behind the lamp, or even inside the bedside table. Featured furniture pieces are from Fine Furniture Design’s Hyde Park Collection.
Easter eggs are becoming quite popular again with the advent of Easter being celebrated by Christians throughout the world. These eggs are painted or decorated then given away during Easter or springtime. The influence of traditional spring rites is what makes Easter eggs special. Mankind’s relationship with these special eggs is deep-seated especially since the tradition has been handed from one generation to the next.
The Latin proverb omne vivum ex ovo (all life comes from egg) explains why it is a symbol that was eventually linked to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Eggs are recognized all over the world from India, to Iran, all of Asia, Europe, they are practically everywhere. There are myths from these nations about the universe being created from an egg. There is also the concept of eggs being the emblem of life so many cultures have a deep reverence for them.
Hooker Furniture Home Office Wendover Drawer Unit L.R can hold many Easter eggs. Delight the little ones by them finding them here.
Eggs + Easter
It is highly believed that Easter eggs are pagan symbols. The German version of Eostre – Ostara – was the goddess that Jakob Grimm created in his stories. Another tradition of Easter egg is the Passover Seder where a hardboiled egg is dipped in saltwater is symbolic of brand new life as well as the Passover sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem.
By the time that the Christians caught up with the tradition, the egg was yet another symbol of life just as a chick could hatch anytime from an egg. The Easter egg hunt ends the season of Lent with children hunting for the painted hardboiled eggs.
If you are tired of going outdoors to play the Easter egg hunt, then it’s time to hide the special eggs to places in your home. Just look all around you – there are artistic pieces and sculptures in your home that can be a sneaky hiding place for the Easter eggs. A stack of toilet paper rolls can easily conceal some Easter eggs. A small chocolate egg would also be nice to hide behind some framed photos.
A place that is visually enticing could result in a lot of overlooked spots, hence, a most effective way to hide Easter eggs. It requires sleuthing skills to look inside holders, for instance.
Surprise the young ones by hiding a piece of unbreakable egg inside the hat’s rim. Put a lot of them in sofas and beds so that the kids could easily reach them. These are also foamed furniture so you won’t have to worry about any safety concerns.
That tissue box inside the bathroom could also conceal some eggs inside. Or you can just slip them inside a few rolled up towels.
Easter egg hunting becomes doubly exciting once you stick the eggs inside coats and boots. This is fine with chocolate eggs but make sure you search for every hardboiled egg as rotten eggs are not great to have inside coat pockets.
As you go to the kitchen, be sure to take advantage of the pantry. Place an egg between the canned goods. Be sure to assist the kids as they search for these hard-to-find eggs so that you won’t have a mishap in your home.
Would you want a more fun surprise? Hide one of the chocolate eggs inside your kid’s box of morning cereal. Can you just imagine the surprised look on his face and his smile as he pours out the cereal and discovers the treasure inside?
Hanging mugs are also great hiding places for Easter eggs as is the refrigerator. Whoever thought of hunting for eggs where they were first stored, right? That’s the beauty of hiding them in the most obvious places.
Get crafty. You can paint the eggs then group them. Relive the tradition as the kids consume the hardboiled or chocolate eggs while you tell the origin of the said tradition.
Tags: Easter egg, Easter egg design, Easter interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spring
Posted in Interior Design 101, Interior Design Elements, Spring Season | No Comments »
Friday, March 18th, 2016
The Maitland-Smith Accessories Red Dyed Penshell Inlaid Egg Shaped Box 1100-566 isn’t just an Easter but an all-year-round decor.
If you are looking for a character in the Bible that explains how a furry creature came to give away Easter eggs, then you’re search is going to be futile one. The Easter bunny is the most famous creature come the season of Lent and it would be a waste if you let this creature come and go.
Traditions are linked with the resurrection of Jesus Christ but, in essence, they are in no way connected.
The Easter bunny, eggs, Easter gifts and yellow chicks come from pagan roots but were eventually incorporated to Christian Easter celebration in honor of the resurrection of the Lord.
The University of Florida’s Center for Children’s Literature and Culture, the Easter bunny’s origin can be traced all the way back to the 13th century. This was a time when pre-Christians Germans worshipped various gods and goddesses.
The rabbit is a representation or symbol of the Teutonic deity Eostra because of its quick reproductive rate. And Eostra is no less than the goddess of fertility and the eggs, a symbol of productiveness or being highly fertile.
The first documentation of the Easter Bunny was in the 1500s. It was in 1680, the first story of a rabbit-laying egg that hides its eggs in a garden, was published. German immigrants soon carried this tradition to the U.S. in 1700s.
So while you are prepping chocolate bunnies and chicks during Easter Sunday, recall the holiday’s origins and tell your friends about them.
If it’s not a bunny, then it’s an Easter egg. Featured artwork is the Uttermost Accessories Study Of Eggs Framed Art, S4 51082
Creative Use of Easter Bunnies
There are just so many ways that you can hide the Easter eggs so the kids can have more fun looking for them. But there are also ways that you can incorporate an Easter decor in your home and get to celebrate this joyous holiday with your family.
The Easter bunny can do a lot more than look cute. Imagine having a bunny light casting a soft glow to an artwork on your living room wall. Switched on or not, such as specialized lamp will make you want to spend more time inside your living room.
How about hanging a detailed artwork of a rabbit? Perhaps a hare?
Hares are a different breed but the European types are just as lovely as the rabbits. Their acts of leaping have been painted and drawn a million times by many different artists. You might want to take home a little something that reminds you of your little, furry friend.
If it’s not a bunny, then it’s an Easter egg. Featured artwork is the Uttermost Accessories Study Of Eggs Framed Art, S4 51082
You can also use cushions that are in the shape of a seated rabbit. Add a bit of pizzazz in your living room this holiday by placing a rabbit cushion. If square throws are your perennial type, then you can always settle for throw pillowcases with rabbit prints.
Have you also thought of hanging mirrors right across a huge image of a rabbit? This should give your Easter bunny a bold new look. You can also transform a small space by putting up wallpaper with rabbits as design. This can be the cartoon type or the more artistic, brush-stroke filled depiction of a bunny. Abstract representations of rabbits are also a great addition to any home. A hare sculpture will also look nice in its designated corner inside your living room.
Art representation of rabbits does not end in sculptures, wallpapers, wall hangings, or a painting. You can go the extra mile by creating an artwork featuring a colony of rabbits. This should give your visitors a nice topic to talk about!
Setting up a nursery is also more fun if you install wall hangings. The fabric has to be soft which will make it a more appealing material for the bunny images that are on them.
Now wasn’t that fun? Who knew that the Easter bunny interior design could create such excitement?
Tags: Easter bunny, Easter bunny decor, Easter bunny design, Easter design, Easter egg, Easter egg design, Easter interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spring
Posted in Decorative Elements, Interior Design Elements, Interior Design Themes, Spring Season | No Comments »
Saturday, March 5th, 2016
Punches of yellow, red and green can be seen in a neutral backdrop. Featured items are from Hooker Furniture’s Archivist Collection.
Going eco-friendly is the way to go this season of spring. This green design is one that is sure to stay as more and more people are getting involved in making earth a much cleaner place to live in. Nowadays, the paint to use if you consider yourself responsible is a toxic-free paint; green furniture pieces are also the latest craze; and practically every interior design shop is geared towards going green. If you want to begin this revolutionary green movement right inside your home, then consider these spring decorating tips –
Scan and Go
Have a pen and a notepad in hand as you go through every room in your home. Look quickly inside every room and spot the objects that appear to clutter the room. Remove anything that is no longer needed then work your way from there.
Learn to prioritize. You may be tempted to create a long, cumbersome list of things to do, but don’t. Just remove whatever you consider useless then redecorate.
Make a Statement
Your lighting fixtures and cabinetry should be able to help you make a statement during this season. Brushed metal hardware and chandeliers can evoke romantic feelings inside any home. The distressed look in furniture can be carried all throughout your home as a unique theme.
Sunshiny colors are in and are considered as the fashionable color palette for the spring season; however, do not overdo these colors. Just add bright and colorful accent pieces, add a dash or so of wall color, and have it seen in some of your furniture.
Playing with punches of yellow is as easy as adding a glass vase filled with lemons or pots of yellow daffodils. The yellow succulents can be placed in the kitchen where they can serve a double purpose – first as a decor, then as an ingredient in one of ‘em pasta dishes!
Spring’s most popular colors include bright yellow, violet, coral and turquoise.
White accents can also brighten up any room so go ahead and use a white wall as your canvas.
Let the Outdoors Inspire
Just think of mountains, spring beaches and the bluest coastlines and you should be filled with inspiration to dress up your home this spring. Moss green, ocean blue and, yes, just to reiterate, turquoise – are the colors of the year that you should incorporate in your home.
Mixing these bold colors with neutrals is also a surefire way to set up your spring indoors. This is the way to go if you are a tad worried about painting a whole room with bright colors. Paint the walls with pink champagne or violet gray. Have some colorful accent pieces brought in if you chose a neutral backdrop.
Nature will always be a popular theme for spring so go ahead and bring in those natural fabrics. Let them be seen on your area rugs, throw pillows, sofa upholstery, curtains, even your bedding. Sea grass, jute, and wool are just the right kinds of materials that can bring a natural appearance without being too green.
Create Contrast
Creating contrast is as easy as bringing in some metallic accent pieces. Add a framed mirror, some photos in metallic frames, metallic artworks, or metallic lighting fixtures. The master bedroom or living room would surely come to life with these metallic accents added.
Contrast is not solely provided by metallic interior design pieces. Mix colors that come from the same shade, for instance, fuse dark blue with powder blue. Use one color on three walls and the darker one as a statement wall. The darker color could also be used on the accessories that will dot your entire home.
Keep Everything Light and Airy
Lastly, spring decorating is all about the removal of heavy drapes and using sheer instead. Update your home soon, after all, spring is the best season to reinvent the look of your dwelling place.
Tags: bold statement, contrast, contrast in design, contrast in interior design, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spring, spring cleaning, spring decorating, spring design, spring design tips, spring interior design, spring interiors, statement piece
Posted in 2016 Trends, Decorative Elements, Interior Design 101, Spring Season | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 1st, 2016
Consider livening up the color of your living room by adding colors from nature. Here, touches of orange and yellow give life to the neutral backdrop. (Featured set is from the Belaire Living Room Collection of Jonathan Louis)
So it’s spring once more! We’re pretty certain that you’re ready to freshen up your crib and update your furniture. Spring cleaning does not have to spell a sore body or burnt skin. This may be the case for some but you can make a difference by knowing which chemicals contain questionable ingredients. Just a brief warning, here are some of such cleaning agents –
Danger: Corrosive
To begin with, ammonium chloride is often found in deodorizers and toilet bowl cleaners. These can cause permanent damage to your skin when not handled correctly. It is also highly corrosive to the eyes.
Aliphatic petroleum solvent which is an ingredient in most carpet cleaners can damage the nervous system while crystalline silica (also a popular ingredient in many cleaners) is also filled with carcinogen which can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.
Lastly, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether which is found in waxes, floor cleaners and polishes are known to have caused kidney failure and narcosis in some people.
Spring Cleaning Must-Haves
Instead of resorting to those chemical cleaners mentioned above, it is best to have these safe and natural household cleaners.
Spring Cleaning Can Be FUN
Who says spring cleaning has to be a drag? Fun begins when you play some upbeat music. This will keep you energized as you do all those scrubbing and sweeping and wiping. You can also engage the kids to clean up by having pizza after everyone finishes his or her chore.
If the weather is nice, go ahead and open your doors and windows to let in that fresh air. This, of course, will also increase your positive energy.
It is also important to pace yourself as you clean up your home. Most home will not be cleaned up in just one go (at least this is the case if you want some deep cleaning to happen).
Create a checklist to break down the different rooms into sections during the week. You should also break down sections of the room per person along with an estimation of the time it would take to finish each task.
Sort and declutter in major rooms first. Sort out those items that you would like to say goodbye to and those that you can still donate or sell.
Be sure to cover upholstered, especially white furniture, when dusting off surfaces. Featured here is the Huntington House Dining Room Banquette 2403-41.
Spring Cleaning from the Top Down
This is one of the most important tips in spring cleaning. The last thing that you would like to do is to keep sweeping the floor all because you have not properly segregated the cleanup. For instance, it is advisable to clean the air conditioning units and the ceiling first before you even begin to dust the furniture.
Working from the top down will save you a lot of time, resources, and energy.
To this rule there is, of course, an exception. In the case of walls, it is best to have it cleaned from the bottom up and then back down again. Those grimy soap suds would be a lot harder to clean when found on clean walls. The only way to remove them is to work your way up again to remove prior drips.
Another important rule is to dry clean everything before you even begin to wet clean. Remove the dirt so that it won’t result into a muddy mess. This means you must sweep before you mop, dusting all fan blades before you wash them, and vacuuming windows before you wipe them with wet rags.
Spring cleaning also means checking those overlooked surfaces such as door frames and baseboards; search the dirtiest places in your home, and freshen everything up even your furniture.
Tags: home maintenance, McCreerys, McCreerys Home Furnishings, spring, spring cleaning, spring furniture shopping, spring season, spring shopping
Posted in Spring Season | No Comments »
Follow us on our social media
© McCreery's Home Furnishings | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
