Earthquake Preparedness ~ Two Simple Things You Can Do TODAY

Did you feel the earthquake this morning? Each time we have one, most people can’t help but wonder “Is this the big one?”, and if it is, how bad will it be? Though earthquakes are not the only disaster that can strike, there are several things we can do to prepare for the complete loss of resources we may encounter. There are the obvious, such as food and water supplies for you and your family, but also other ways to prepare which you may not have considered.

When disaster strikes, it’s likely you’ll be in one of two places; asleep during the night or away from home during the day. Implementing these two ideas can make a large difference in how well you’re able to survive the situation.

Under-the-Bed Bag ~ If it’s a major earthquake, there will be debris and broken glass to contend with, and being caught in your PJs and bare feet is going to make it tough to get safely through the house. Fill a duffel bag, backpack, etc. with the following items: sturdy shoes that are easily put on, heavy pants, a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and a flashlight. These are the minimum items you should have, but you could also add items such as a dust mask, or a whistle for locating each other in the dark. Prepare a bag for every member of your household and tie the bag to a leg of the bed frame with a length of rope or cord. You will easily be able to retrieve the bag and pull it up onto the bed without letting your feet touch the floor.

Car Kit ~ If you’re away from home, chances are you may not be able to get back for a while, so consider what items you may need to keep you sustained. Have both a plastic storage bin and an empty backpack in your car. The bin should contain: sturdy clothes, a sweatshirt or jacket, a light-weight waterproof poncho, comfortable walking shoes, several bottled waters, energy bars, a flashlight, gloves, a first aid kit, and a few hundred dollars in cash (most bills smaller than $20). You could also consider adding other personal needs, such as feminine hygiene products, hand sanitizer, and a supply of any necessary medications. A battery-powered radio would also be beneficial for news updates. The backpack is on hand in case the car needs to be vacated and you’re forced to pack up some supplies and walk to your destination.

My husband and I have many other ways in which we’ve implemented disaster preparedness in our home, and I’d be happy to share them if you’re interested in learning more. Just send me an email, because you can never be too prepared!

Check back weekly for more home improvement and decorating tips. If I can give you any assistance with your design and decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your project together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Deck the Halls, AND the Front Porch

This is it! One of the first impressions you give your guests when they approach your home is the front porch. A festive and inviting porch will make them want to come in for more! If you’re a regular reader of my blogs, you know I’m big on maximizing impact with simple ideas that don’t break the bank.

Invest & Reuse ~ Of course, we all have our holiday décor that we store and bring out from year to year, but if storage space is at a premium in your house, try and have just one focal piece, then use fresh floral and other accessories to compliment them. I just loved these bronze, sparkly trees for my own front porch, but that’s the only accessory I reuse from year to year. They nest inside each other, so I (actually, my husband), only needs to find a spot in the attic for the largest one. I buy the fresh poinsettias and cedar garland every year, throw in a few candles, and I’m set!

Or, Don’t Reuse! ~ Don’t want to store anything besides a few strings of lights? Then visit your local garden center for fresh greens and plants. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with the beauty of nature, and when you add in some lighting, you have a beautiful display. Cyclamen plants are readily available this time of year, and the contrast of blending red and white plants creates simple elegance. Or, blend white cyclamen with red poinsettias for a truly holiday look!

Less is More ~ I’ve said this many times, but simplicity goes a long way toward elegance. Too many accessories on the porch (or anywhere for that matter), can give a cluttered, overdone appearance. A few well-chosen decorations, simply displayed is all you need. This photo is a good example of what not to do. The more you display, the busier it gets, and then it becomes just a bunch of clutter. Check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips! If I can give you any assistance with your design, decorating or party needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your project together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Weatherproof Your Home for Winter!

Baby, it’s COLD outside! This week we’ve jumped from fall straight into winter, and though I do love the colder weather, I want to keep it OUTside. If you feel the effects of Jack Frost creeping into your home, try these tips for keeping him out!

Glass is a Conductor ~ If you live in a home that doesn’t have dual-paned windows, the glass in your windows is offering you little protection from the cold. In fact, it’s actually bringing the cold into your home! Though PG&E no longer offers rebates for replacing your windows with energy efficient models, here's an informational link from their website (http://www.pge.com/myhome/saveenergymoney/rebates/remodeling/windows/index.shtml). If window replacement isn’t in your budget, window coverings are your next best bet. There are a myriad of options for window blinds that have insulating properties, as well as lined drapery panels. If you need assistance in this area, I’d be happy to share ideas!

And, so is the floor! ~ If you have hard surface flooring, such as hardwood, stone or tile, your floors are also conducting cold air into your home. Homes with a crawl space beneath them often have no insulation between you and the cold, damp ground beneath your home. Most likely, you have some type of underlayment (such as plywood) under your interior flooring, and that’s attached to a sub-floor, which are the structural beams of your home’s flooring. That’s all you’ve got, and it offers little insulation properties, so adding fiberglass insulation to the underside of your sub-floor will greatly aid in warming things up. Wall-to-wall carpeting is another obvious option, but even large area rugs will help to cut the cold.

Seal it Up ~ One of the most common ways that outside air enters your home is around your exterior doors. If your doors don’t close tightly, add foam or rubber weather stripping around the inside of the door jamb to get an air tight closure. Another area to check on doors is at the bottom. If it doesn’t close tightly against the threshold, install a door sweep such as the one shown here.

Check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips! If I can give you any assistance with your design and decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your project together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Simple Ideas to Bring the Holidays to Your Home!

‘Tis the season for holiday decorating! I love this time of year, when we have full license to transform our homes for the ordinary to the extraordinary, and it’s amazing how even the simplest touches can have big impact!

Lighten Up! ~ Nothing says “holidays” like lights. We all have our favorites, but my preference is all clear lighting, and plenty of it! Though lighting can definitely be over-done (especially on the exterior), there’s an elegance to a landscape of all clear lights. Wrap them around the trunk and branches of trees, weave them through a garland around your front door, or wrap the topiary on your front porch. Even if this is the only decoration you use, it will give a festive welcome to you and your guests, so be creative, and have fun with it!

Play With Color ~ Though rich reds and greens are the traditional colors for Christmas decorating, it can be fun to break away from the expected a bit! Think of brighter greens for a little more glitz, or softer shades for elegance. I love this all white tree from Better Homes & Gardens, and the soft sage green and butter yellows compliment it perfectly.

It’s Not Just Gift Wrap! ~ You put time and thought into choosing your gifts, so why not let the presentation show it? Beautiful gift wrap is a simple way to make the season even more festive and special. Even dime store paper can take on a whole new look by using fabric ribbon to tie it up!

Use Fresh Floral ~ I too have storage bins full of holiday décor, but I always make a point of bringing fresh floral into my designs. I love mixing the beauty of nature with a little holiday bling! I like how this display from used fresh greens with the lighted sphere ball. I have these same copper planters on my front porch, and pop a poinsettia in each one, then drape fresh cedar garland wrapped with lights around my doorway. Quick, simple, and beautiful!

Check back weekly for more home improvement and decorating tips! If I can give you any assistance with your design and decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your project together!
Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!

Children’s Toys Taking Over Your House? Storage Solutions to Clear the Clutter

It’s a common dilemma among parents. They want their children to have the freedom to play with their toys in the common areas of the home, such as the living or family rooms, yet they are driven half-crazy by the constant clutter! I was recently hired by a young mother to work on several areas of her home, and this is one of them. She’s frustrated that her living room doesn’t look enough like an adult space, yet still wants to have her son’s toys accessible for him. Here are a couple of ideas I’ll be giving her …

Attractive, Accessible & Affordable ~ My client has a nice sized corner window, so I’m going to suggest these great cases from West Elm. These are assemble-yourself units, so the rolling casters can be omitted if desired, and the smaller unit will fit perfectly under the windows. We’ll add attractive square baskets in the openings, and because these are tucked in the corner, we can arrange other furnishings to obscure them a bit from open view. Using baskets in open shelving makes it very easy for her son to access his toys, but also very easy for him to put them away!

Just Make it Go Away! ~ If you’re not big on the idea of open shelving, try using a sideboard for storage, such as this one from Crate & Barrel. My client’s decorating theme is an Asian/Hawaiian/Zen feeling, so this sideboard would fit beautifully. Its combination of shelving and drawers makes it very useful for toy storage, yet easy access for her son. Baskets can still be used on the interior shelves, making clean-up time a snap!

Check back weekly for more decorating and home improvement tips. If I can give you any assistance with your design or decorating needs, please don’t hesitate to call or email me. Many times a single consultation is all that’s needed to pull your ideas together!

Everyone deserves a home they love ~ Inside and Out!