Tag Archives: walls

Bats in Your Belfry?

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Bats can be a welcome addition to your yard — but you probably don’t want them in your house! If you have bats in your walls or attic, here’s a good way to get them out. Try to plan your bat eviction for early spring or late summer — these are times when there will be no young, flightless bats in the roost. Watch the house at dusk to find the place where the bats emerge. Get a piece of heavy plastic or bird netting that is slightly bigger than the hole. Secure it at the top but allow it … Continue reading →

More Paint Tips

Yesterday, I posted a couple of blogs regarding painting your home’s interior and exterior. I also listed a few popular color choices. Today my sister-in-law (our resident interior designer) called to tell me she read the blogs and had a few more ideas. I often defer to her suggestions so this phone call was not at all unusual. According to my lovely sister-in-law, “Eco-Luxe” is another hot color palette this year. As its name suggests the colors reflect all that is natural. The colors include Wildwood Stables, Giant Sequoia, Spruce Hollow, Water Fowl, Timbermine, Woonsocket Bronze and Bulldog. The colors … Continue reading →

Home Decorating Tips: Walls

In a previous blog I wrote about my tour of our local Builders Association’s Parade of Homes. I walked away with a several decorating ideas—some that I would seriously consider applying to my own home—others, well; let’s just say I would have a hard time duplicating. The following are some trends and ideas I learned and thought I would pass along to you. If you decide to apply any to your own home, please feel free to let me know how it turned out. In my last blog I wrote that the Home Builders Association’s spokesperson I spoke to insisted … Continue reading →

Decorating Tips From Our Parade Of Homes Tour

I love trying to duplicate other homeowners decorating successes in my own house. Unfortunately some don’t go over as well as others, but I haven’t let it deter me—yet. To feed my decorating appetite (and my obsession to “snoop” in other people’s homes) my friend and I recently bought tickets to our local builders association’s Parade of Homes Tour. (Click here to read what I considered was perhaps the most “exotic” home on the tour.) We’ve done this for a number of years and it rarely disappoints—this year was no exception. The following are decorating trends–some are new, while others … Continue reading →

Reclaiming Unused Spaces: Treating Walls II

The ceiling is done, but you’re still not sure what you want to do with the walls in your basement or attic. Here are a few more ideas: Fabric You can cover the walls with canvas drop cloths or other fabric, as was described in the article addressing ceilings. One simple method is to staple the fabric directly to the walls. Staple the top first, pull taut, and then staple the bottom (you can add a little hot glue or fabric glue between vertical seams; use small amounts so it doesn’t bleed through). Be sure to measure carefully when dealing … Continue reading →

Reclaiming Unused Spaces: Treating Walls I

Getting your unfinished basement shaped up is going to be great. You’re going to have a lot more useable space, and you’ll feel good about transforming the area yourself. Now, that you have addressed the ceiling, it’s time to move on to the walls. Paneling Okay, before you object, at least consider it. Paneling is very cheap and it’s generally pretty simple to install. It doesn’t have to be dark, ugly paneling either, since there are many more choices available today than there were in the past. Some styles look just like wallpaper. Using paneling is a far simpler, more … Continue reading →

How to Paint Paneling

Let’s face it, most paneling is so yesterday. Fortunately, you can freshen up your walls, lighten up your space, and update your decor, by painting. You may have heard that you can’t paint paneling. It’s simply not true. The fact is you can paint paneling; it just has to be done properly. If you don’t properly prep and prime the surface first, your paint will begin to chip away almost as soon as it dries. Many people have had bad experiences with painting paneling, but it is because they didn’t take the proper measures before applying paint. I have some … Continue reading →

Using Wall Space Instead of Floor Space

A unique way to store items that take up a lot of space is to hang them on the wall. You have probably seen bicycles and other sporting gear hung on the wall, and you have seen implements like pot racks that conveniently keep pots and pans within reach while freeing up cabinet and counter space. Another option is to install pegboard against one wall in the kitchen. Small clasps are available that easily slip into the holes and can be used to hang everything from cooking utensils to kitchen towels. This method is often used in garages, workshops, and … Continue reading →

Teens, Tweens and Home Decor

Is your child outgrowing his or her room? Your son or daughter is not a little kid anymore and not quite an adult either, but the current decor just isn’t cutting it. It happens all too soon, but don’t worry, you can easily give your teen or tween a fun room. Letting your child help design the space will ensure that it is something both of you can live with. Be prepared for some wild ideas, and be prepared to compromise. For example, if your angel says she wants a black bedroom, don’t automatically cringe and say no. You do … Continue reading →