Book Shelf Decorating Idea & Tip by Kathy Burns-Millyard

Book Shelf Decorating Idea & Tip by Kathy Burns-Millyard

If you have book shelves in your home, and lots of books, you've probably discovered that bookends don't always keep everything in order. Sometimes your collection of books on the shelf are just too much for the bookend to hold.

Here's a great tip that also doubles as a wonderful decorating idea: Use curtain rod finials as your bookends! A finial is a carved or shaped decorative detail used as ornaments to spruce up all sorts of items in a room. Curtain rod finials are used to make curtain rods more decorative, and also to keep curtains from sliding off the ends of the rods. Regular architectural finials are often used as enhancements to a room's decoration and style. Sometimes you'll see them for instance, at the top of a staircase post or on the tops of bedposts.

Curtain rod finials usually come with a screw set inside. All you have to do is drill a starter hole in your bookshelf, then screw the finial into place. You can also use standard wood glue on the bottom of the finial, to be sure it stays in place at all times... by doing so of course though, you won't be able to change the finials to a different style later.

If your curtain finial doesn't match the shelf, or you bought it unfinished, simply paint, stain or varnish it to fit your room and shelf decor.

Take this decorating tip even further by buying finials of different sizes, shapes and colors. Then change them with the seasons, each time you want a fresher, different look to the room, or each time you re-decorate completely.

Alternatively of course, you can simply buy a plain architectural finial without the screw already in place - then just glue that into place on your book shelf.

Start shopping around for decorative and unusual finials today, and get your bookshelves all spruced up for spring!

About the Author

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard, The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - A large and growing portal of home decorating and decor articles, tips, advice and excellent home decor shopping sections. This article may be republished on any website, as long as it remains unchanged, carries this copyright and reprint notice, and has a live link to our site.

Tuscan Style Decorating Ideas by Jill Kane

Tuscan Style Decorating Ideas by Jill Kane

Earthy colors and natural materials are two basics for the old world style of decorating. To get an idea of the colors were talking about, go for a walk outside and take notice of the beautiful colors around you, the blue sky, the golden sun, even the chocolate brown of mud in the springtime. Ok, so you dont have a view of the blue/green Mediterranean Sea but youve seen pictures of it havent you? On that walk, stroll through the produce department of your local grocery store and note the dark purple eggplants, the red peppers, yellow lemons, green olives. These are some of the colors youll want to consider for your Tuscany decorating. Natural materials will include wood (think rustic, sturdy type furniture), tile (colorful ceramic for wall accents) natural stone for flooring and unpolished metals such as copper, tin, or pewter for accents.

You probably already have some Tuscan influences in your home. Iron scrollwork brackets, terra cotta planters (more about these later), fruit themed artwork, colorful pottery, copper, tin, pewter items, tapestry wall hangingswhat was old is new again! Check your garage, attic or flea markets for some of these items.

What could be simpler than lining a sunny windowsill with some pretty little terra cotta pots with Italian herbs (oregano, basil, sage, etc.)? Do you have a section of old wrought iron railing that once graced your front porch? Bring it in, clean it up and get creative. Maybe you could use it for a pot hanger in the kitchen or hang it on the wall for a decorative accent in the family room. How about that old leather trimmed trunk? It may make a great coffee table or storage area. Since colorful tile work is essential for the Tuscan style, how about making your own mosaic masterpiece? Just break up a few pieces of old china, (use safety goggles), apply it with tile adhesive to a terra cotta planter, old vase or whatever you choose, let it dry for 24 hours, grout it and wipe down with a damp sponge.

If youre redoing your walls, a simple way of getting that time-burnished stucco look is to use Venetian plaster, which is simply drywall compound mixed with latex paint. First, paint the walls a Tuscany color such as gold, cream or even a terra cotta red. Then spread the plaster over the wall in varying thicknesseslet some of the painted wall show through. Then, you can seal it with a latex sealer if you wish. Or, you may want to check out wallpapers that imitate this look.

Keep in mind, the whole idea is to create a warm, comfortable lived in look and youll get it using these ideas and some of your own.

Visit www.1st-Home-Decorating-Ideas.com
for more information.
About the Author
Jill Kane is the owner of www.1st-Home-Decorating-Ideas.com.
A site with tips and resources related to home decorating.

Spring Chores at the Cabin by Elly Kendall

Spring Chores at the Cabin by Elly Kendall

Whether you live in your cabin year round or it's been closed up for the winter, it's time for spring cleaning. It's hard to get motivated. We'd all rather be out playing in the sun and enjoying the spring after the long cold winter. I thought I would share my "to do" list and some helpful tips to get you started so we can both get the chores done.

I like to start with my fireplace. Hiring a local chimney sweep is not always possible in very rural areas such as we live. I have a heavy 25' chain that works very well. From the roof I remove the spark arrester then slowly drop one end of the chain down the chimney, holding onto the other end. Slowly rotate the chain so it rubs firmly against the inside of the chimney. Keep swirling the chain for several minutes, pull out the chain, clean the spark arrester with a soft brush and replace the arrester. Keep in mind 2 things: 1. make sure the pitch of your roof is safe to stand on and 2. Your chimney must be straight with no elbows for this technique to work. If the pipe has an elbow use the chain technique then disconnect the pipe at the elbow to clean it with a wire brush and remove the ash and pitch. Reattach the pipe. All that's left is to clean the inside of the fireplace or wood stove, remove all the ash and pitch residue that has dropped from the chimney cleaning. I use oven cleaner, a Teflon scrubby then window cleaner on the heat tempered glass when the pitch has built up that awful amber film. My wood stove gets a new coat of black stove polish too.

Now that the fireplace and wood stove are clean and all the ash has settled I dust and vacuum the entire cabin thoroughly. I use lemon oil on my log walls and a small pan of water stays on my wood stove to put some moisture back into the dry air from wood heat. Next I tackle the windows.

Okay, so everyone knows how to clean the windows but don't forget the window runners, check for any leaking that may have occurred during the winter and clean all the window treatments. Drapes, curtains, louvered blinds, cornices, screens and sunscreens all get a thorough cleaning. It's a good days work just on windows but it's worth it as I love to open my blinds and enjoy the beautiful spring sunshine and blooming flowers.

Something I always do as part of my spring cleaning is bug control. Our local feed store sells a battery operated fly spray dispenser. Every spring and fall I change batteries and replace the canister as needed. We still have open range in parts of Arizona and when the cattle come in they bring flies right along with them. I have found the fly spray dispenser helps a great deal and it has a fresh scent as well. I have one by my front door and one by the back door which helps keep them out of my cabin. Spraying pest spray inside and out is a must. Hire a pest control company or do it yourself but do spray.

A very important part of my spring chores is outside! All dry material is hauled to the dump. Keeping weeds, leaves, pine needles and grasses under control is very important to help keep your cabin safer against forest fires and helps keep snakes and small varmints away from the cabin too. We also keep trees away from the cabin for the same reason. This is also a good time to check all the fire extinguishers and have them recharged if necessary. Make sure your garden hose is in good shape and attached to the outside spigot. Yes, I am forest fire paranoid! I have a log home with all wood heat in the middle of the forest; fire safety is always on my mind.

My husband doesn't get out of spring chores either. Tuning up the chain saw, boat and quads are on his list as well as outside furniture cleaning and the grill but I keep finding him admiring his fishing poles. "Don't let spring fever sidetrack your chores, get the work out of the way!" As I throw out my dusting cloth and bait up my hook ready for friends and family to enjoy spring at our cabin.

About the Author
Elly Kendall resides in Arizona and is editor of Log Cabin Fever Gifts & Decor (http://cabinfevergifts.com). Any inquiries or questions about this article should be e-mailed to info@cabinfevergifts.com.
Copyright2005 Log Cabin Fever Gifts
All Rights Reserved.