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When Memorabilia, Figurines and Kitschy Decor Take Over

brock — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:34:13 +0000

Have you ever watched a movie where they introduce you to someone’s house or apartment and it’s filled with a specific, overwhelming theme? The boyfriend is mortified when he sees hundreds of glass unicorns or stuffed teddy bears perfectly placed in every nook and cranny.

When we were kids, we all collected something. Girls collected dolls, unicorns, etc. and boys tended to collect baseball cards and memorabilia. Me, I was a nerd. I had pictures of the solar system and a giant Superman 4 poster that I won from a Nickelodeon contest. Do I have these things in my living room today? No. Along with my impeccable sense of style, my wife would never allow it.

Too often, especially when we get out first apartment or home, we just take a lot of the stuff that was in our room at home and transfer it to our new living space. I like to call this “the invasion of the baubles”. Memorabilia and figurines that we’ve been collecting since we were 9 years old entrench themselves into the living space.

Congratulations, your home now looks like a 9-year-old exploded in it. You might as well get out the Chutes and Ladders and see if you can find some other middle schoolers to play with. I’m not saying you can’t have your collection around somewhere, but an entire home filled with unicorn pillows and figurines is enough to creep anyone out. The same goes for the die-hard Red Sox fan. You can have your little shrine in your bedroom, but don’t turn your living room into a ball park. A picture or two is one thing, but nailing up batter’s gloves to your walls like Willie Mays Hays from Major League is obsessive.

Sadly, I’ve seen this a hundred times, especially with my single friends. They tell me that it’s what they care about, and they want to be surrounded by it. Why should they change or put up a facade? It’s an assault on the senses, that’s why. It’s no different than that guy with the 200 piercings and eye liner, brooding over his own dark poetry. Yeah, you’re the decorative version of that guy.

Take heart, there is hope. Place a few of your favorites out in public and put the rest either in your bedroom or the attic. Switch things out every now and then. We all have our little quirks and collections. My Star Trek figurines from Danbury Mint are safely stored in the attic along with my Superman poster. The Man of Steel may not be making an appearance in my living room anytime soon, but I still unroll it every now and then.

This Little House: Moving to a Larger Home

brock — Tue, 24 May 2011 18:01:50 +0000

I grew up in the same house for 18 years and always dreamed of moving to a new place. When I finally made it out on my own, I never stayed anywhere for very long. A couple of years, and I would get tired of the same scenery and want something different.

When we decided to raise a family, I realized the importance of roots and we moved into a home that was big enough for us and a couple of munchkins. I really thought this would be the place in which I would grow to at least middle age. In a desperate attempt to stave off the gypsy in me, I started doing projects to improve the house.

What happened next, I wasn’t prepared for. We had a child…and another…and another. We were kicking out puppies every year and a half to two years. Soon, the spacious home that was to be our comfortable nest was cramped for space and cluttered with stuff. I didn’t realize that not only did we have to deal with the sleeping arrangements for the children, but all the stuff that went with them.

Toys, clothes, the dining room table, cups and plates have all doubled, not to mention the food these little guys eat. They may be small, but they have the metabolism of rabbits. So here we are. A family of five stuck in a house for a family of 3, maybe 4.

My wife and I have talked at length about this problem. Right now, it’s not so much an issue because our kids are small enough that they don’t mind sharing rooms but, as they grow, they are going to want their own rooms and their own space.

I guess its time for us to move on to a new place. A larger home that can accommodate a family of five…maybe 6, while I’m still young-ish. However, it isn’t a prospect to which I am looking forward. Most people move out of necessity such as a new job. There is a rush of adrenaline that goes with it, but when you have no time constraints, it’s just a pain.

We casually look through the newspaper for houses, check out the Internet and make a note of any for sale signs in people’s yards. I don’t know what the future holds – I admit that I have gotten rather attached to this house – but a family’s got to do what a family’s got to do.

Garden Project: Homemade Hummingbird Feeder

brock — Fri, 20 May 2011 17:12:33 +0000

Hummingbirds are beautiful birds and more than a little quirky. When I was a kid, my parents had a hummingbird feeder outside their window and, every once in a while, these fascinating little birds would come and drink from it.

They hover above the feeder like an avian helicopter and have the precision flying ability of the Blue Angel Squadron. A great garden project that you can get your kids involved with is creating a homemade hummingbird feeder from common household objects.

You will need:

1 Small plastic butter container
1 Plastic bottle i.e. soda or other drink bottle
1 String or zip tie
1 Exacto knife
Water
Sugar
Red flood coloring
Pencil or pen

Take the lid off the bottle and remove the wrapper so its a perfectly clear bottle. Cut four small pencil-sized holes on the outer area of the butter container lid.

Place the bottle on top of the butter container lid and use the pencil or pen to trace around it. Cut out a hole in the lid just a little smaller than the trace. The bottle needs to fit inside the hole very snugly. Place the mouth of the bottle into the hole.

Cut two small holes on the bottom sides of the bottle and run the string or zip tie through them to create a handle to hang the feeder. Cut a small pencil-size hole in the center of the bottom of the bottle as a place to fill the feeder.

In a separate bowl, mix a heaping helping of sugar and water and add some red food coloring to help attract the birds. I always guesstimate how much sugar to put into the mixture. It has to be really sweet so I just add it until its uber sweet.

Place the container on the lid and voila, you have a hummingbird feeder. Just add the feed mixture to the bottle and place it in your garden or near a window. In no time, the hummingbirds will start flocking to the feeder and you can watch these amazing creatures in action.

It may take a while for them to find the feeder and come, so don’t be discouraged if it takes a few days or even weeks before you see your first hummingbird. They are secretive and elusive creatures that like their privacy. They are like the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of the bird world.

The Doorbell: Yes or No to the Ringing Sensation?

brock — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:33:38 +0000

I grew up in a home that never had a doorbell. Well, let me rephrase that. I grew up in a home that never had a working doorbell. The button was there and the wiring was there, but sometime before I was born, it stopped working.

We lived 10 miles from town, and the dogs alerted us to the presence of visitors long before they got to the door, so fixing it was never much of a priority. I liked doorbells. I liked how the sounded in the movies and always wanted one. But I will go on to say that not a single home I have ever lived in has had one, and I never really missed it.

Do we really use them any more, anyway? Do people actually visit other people’s homes, and does a knock or a sturdy door knocker make doorbell obsolete? I understand there was once a time when people visited each others home regularly for coffee chats and bridge tournaments, but now everyone just uses their iPhone or iPad, sends an email or video chats on Skype. I can play Euchre with a group of people from Ireland and Bangladesh all from my home computer.

Doorbells used to required some pretty extensive wiring, but now you can buy cheap wireless ones that stick on outside your door and send a signal to an electronic receiver that belts out one of many annoying tunes, from “Camptown Races” to “Silent Night.”

I have often thought about buying one of those cheap little systems, but the digital tunes would drive me insane. If I was to get one, it would have to be a real one that is wired to a bell or other analog sound instrument. It would cost some cash and take some time, but I think it would be worth it.

That’s what doorbells have been relegated too. Cute little Christmas tunes on a elevator music digital synthesizer. It may sound like a good idea at the time, but about the 300th time you hear “Jingle Bells,” you’ll probably learn to hate Christmas.

In the meantime, when the occasional political pundit or Jehovah’s Witness stops by for a chat, I’ll let them knock on my door, and there’s a 50 percent chance I’ll hear it. If not, then aww shucks, I missed you.

Home Safety: Security Systems

brock — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:24:31 +0000

When I was younger, I never thought about getting a home security system. I just didn’t think I had anything worth stealing, so I simply locked my doors every night. It wasn’t until I started to have children that I realized I did have something worth protecting.

When it comes to security systems, there are two main routes you can take. First, a professional installation of a large-scale security system may include everything from a standard system plus automatic telephone calling to the security firm. Second, the other more economical route, is to purchase a kit from a store along with a few other goodies that will make your home secure.

If you take the professional route, then you don’t have to worry about having anything being wired wrong, and everything will be tied in through a single control panel. However, this will also cost you an arm and a leg. If you want something good but for a lower cost, then the DIY route will do the trick.

Security Kits: Most home security system kits include sensors that are connected to a device that makes a large piercing noise and a control panel. You go to the doors and windows and place a magnet set that are connected to wires. The wires are connected to the control panel and the sound device. When the security system is turned on, the magnets complete the circuit and everything is fine. If an intruder opens the door or window, the circuit is broken and the alarm goes off. This does require a little bit of electrical knowledge, but it should be simple enough for most people.

Motion Sensors: Another good investment might be motion sensor lights that turn on when there is movement in the room or outside. This is a simple system of lights connected to a motion sensor that is mounted in the area of the lights. When an intruder or even a neighborly raccoon walks by, the lights turn on.

Security Camera: These were once considered for only the elite, but the prices of home security have dropped drastically with the invent of digital recording. You don’t need several monitors and VCR or DVD players like they have in the movies. You just need a few small cameras, a hard drive with enough space and a computer program to keep your house under surveillance.

Your family is worth protecting, so think about purchasing a home security system to keep them safe.

Home on the Rage: Country Versus City Living

brock — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:05:42 +0000

I grew up in the sticks. I don’t mean the hillbilly mountains where I ran moonshine for Mom and Dad, but out in the country away from the cities, towns and anything else that resembled human life. Once I left for college, I vowed never to live in such a small community, but now that I am older, I am craving the solitude and wholesomeness that it provided.

When you are starting out or thinking about a family, where you live becomes as important as the kind of home or apartment you live in. There are basically three types of areas to choose from: country, city and what I like to call in-between. Each ones has advantages and disadvantages, and you must decide what is most important to you.

City

By city, I am talking about major metropolitan areas and the suburbs surrounding them. The places where people own apartments and the suburbs are so close together that you can go from one to the other and back again without ever even knowing it.

City life has excitement and is fast paced. It provides opportunities that the other sites can’t even begin to dream about. This is why many young people start off by going to the big city to make their fortune. You have private schools, specialized schools, nightlife, culture and so much more that you will not find anywhere else.

It’s also expensive as can be. You will make more money in the city, but you will also pay more for food, rent, taxes and everything else. I remember going to Chicago as a kid and standing at the train station, mesmerized by the idea of paying $1 for a can of Pepsi. The city also has increased crime, and if you aren’t making the big bucks, then you could end up in a less than desirable place.

Country

Ahh, the boonies. The land of forests and cornfields for as far as the eye can see. You can look out your window and see deer frolicking in your back yard and wave to Farmer John when he goes to the fields early in the morning. It’s the simple life.

County living gives you peace, solitude and precious space. Where the city has building butting up against each other and lawns the size of matchbooks, you can go miles without seeing anyone in the country. The life is slow paced and perfect for people that like to stop and smell the roses.

Then it snows, and suddenly you are 10 miles from the nearest person and can’t leave your home for a week. A trip to the grocery store takes 15 minutes, and God forbid you have a heart attack, because it’s going to take the paramedics about 15 minutes or more to get to you. Schools are small and children get more attention, but they also lack the opportunities of larger metropolitan schools.

In-Between

This is were I currently live. It’s about 1.5 to 2 hours from the big city, but there are still plenty of cornfields to be seen. You can order pizza for delivery and head out to a restaurant at 3 a.m. after the bars close.

Town living is a mix of city and country. You are close enough to the city for weekend outings and special trips, but you don’t have to worry about the crowdedness and crime… too much. There are still drugs and the occasional break-in, but people aren’t getting shanked in your backyard.

You have to real identity here. City folk consider you country bumpkins, and county folk consider you city slickers. It lacks the extremes of the other two, and hovers in a happy medium.

Mental Perception: How a Home Changes With Your Mood

brock — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:25:02 +0000

I will admit that I am having a rough morning today. It’s one of those days where the world seems stacked against you and you’re firmly planted behind the 8-ball. As I sit here and think about what to write concerning the vast field of home and garden, my thoughts turn to perception.

Einstein’s theories state that a person’s perception governs the reality around them and time itself. You can stare in the mirror on a day you are feeling good and think there is one sexy beast staring back at you, and on a bad day, the person staring back at you isn’t so great.

It’s the same way with a home. The perception you have of your home will dictate the mood and look of it, not only for you, but also to others. It’s why renters tend to not take as good care of property they rent versus someone who has a vested interest in the home. A rental property is a place to live, but a house is your home.

That’s why, when the time comes to redecorate or paint a room, it is important that you perceive your home in the best light. Imagine going to a paint store when you are depressed and have to pick out colors for your living room. Do you think the bright and shiny yellows and pastels will pop out at you when the only thing you want to do is go back to bed?

No. You are going to gravitate to darker colors that block out and absorb the light rather than reflect it. I am not saying that dark colors are all bad; quite the contrary, but the decision should be based on what puts the home in the best light. Curtains will darken the same way.

The same goes for the general feeling and tone of your home. I have three small children, and my house is always a mess. There are toys spread everywhere and there is always a mystery stain to decipher. When I look at my house and see it a mess, it brings me down. I need to clean, but the house in its state depresses me, and I find it hard to motivate myself.

I now perceive the house as messy and depressing, and the entire mood of the house darkens with it. That’s why, when I feel that way, I look past it and get done what needs to be done. When the house is clean, my mood lifts, and so does the feeling in the home.

Your home is your safe haven. It’s the one place in the world that you should be able to feel good when there is nowhere else to go. The winter is here and the cold weather will keep you inside more and more, so it’s best to perceive your home in the best light, because you will spend a lot of time there.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/gotjenna/5132343476

Blow-Up Decorations: Shame on You

brock — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 17:00:11 +0000

Remember when Halloween decorations for the outside consisted of a witch or two nailed to a tree and a few jack-o’-lanterns on your porch?

Believe it or not, I have always believed that less is more then it comes to outside decorations, regardless of the holiday. But, for the last five years or so, a new decorating phenomenon has chilled me to the bone: blow-up decorations.

It started with Christmas. A snowman here, an 8-foot-tall Santa there, and in moderation, these unique outdoor decorations can be kind of cute. Of course, like every fad, they just couldn’t leave it alone. Pretty soon you had elves and reindeer cavorting in a carousel and giant snow globes with blowing “snow.”

People began packing these things on their lawn like it was a Christmas carnival from Hades and you couldn’t see the house anymore because of the army of snowmen and Santas in statuesque salute. But still, I held my tongue. (OK, there was this one guy I went off on, but he deserved it.)

Then, they hit Halloween. I can let this slide for Christmas, because those decorations have always been a little on the gaudy side — I remember taping cardboard snowmen by the dozens as a child. But Halloween has always been a more reserved holiday.

It’s about ghosts and what lurks in the shadows. There are no 8-foot-tall snowmen coming to steal your candy or egg your car. It’s about tricks and treats and getting a bellyache from eating too much candy.

Now, there are giant black cats and orange pumpkins that remind me of the classic cult film “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.” Witches stir their blow-up cauldrons, and I’ve even seen a blow-up graveyard. Thankfully, no blow-up zombies, or there would have been a fight.

At night, they mar the landscape, and during the day, they sit like lifeless lumps of saggy skin waiting for their malicious owners to turn on the power and give them their limited semblance of life. I really hate those things.

I do have one confession. It’s not something I am proud of, but I need to say it. A few years ago, my wife won one of the giant blow-up snow globes and I placed it in our front lawn. It was the only outside decoration, and I only did it that one year. I feel so ashamed.

After that experience, I vowed never to own another blow-up decoration again, and I plead with you all to do the same.

Photo Source: flickr.com/photos/slgc/4061718542

Cool Chairs from the Wilsonart Design Competition

brendan — Wed, 26 May 2010 17:53:54 +0000

Wilsonart, a decorative laminate manufacturer, sponsors a design competition every year. This year, they told contestants at the Pratt Institute, one of the leading design schools in the world, to design chairs that featured their product. The finalists and winning entries are below, along with my commentary.

The finalists’ entries were all very strong. Note that what Wilsonart was looking for in their competition (primarily inventive use of their product) is different from what I will be critiquing – use in a home setting. This is not to suggest that this is what the contestants had in mind – some of them definitely didn’t have home use in mind- but this is a homes and gardens blog, afterall.

The first up is Esin Arsan’s One-For-Two chair. It’s actually a loveseat, and if you look carefully at the image, you can see that it has two “arms” that seem to be reaching towards you. The loveseat is supposed to actually hug the people who are sitting on it. This is a gorgeously designed piece, with the vibrant optimism of a Jeff Koons sculpture. The takeaway lesson here is that a centerpiece for your living room – or really any room – doesn’t have to be elaborate or ornate. A dash of bright color or an unusual form – or both, in this case – can make a piece a show stopper.

The next up is the Nabolis chair by Mike Jozewicz. This chair is even simpler and more sculptural than Esin Arsan’s piece. I think it is actually way prettier. It looks like something I would like to sit on. The actual pattern is overcomplicated: on a chair sculpted this well, it is gilding the lilly – the visual busyness detracts from the elegantly simple sculpture. The impact of the chair would be greatly improved if Jozewicz stuck to simpler colors or effects. The takeaway – don’t try to make something amazing too complicated. Simplicity is better.

Next we have the Lunch Bag Chair by Alexandra Pulver. Her chair was not intended for the home – it was imagined as part of her popuplunch.com series on urban street design. Still, her devotion to simplicity, clean lines, and bold color are great confines for anyone designing a modern living space.

Anyway, I hope you liked talking about some more strictly design stuff than we normally do. Let me know what you thought! Until next time!

–

Image Source: Clint Blowers

Spring Design Tips: Flower and Vase Combinations

brendan — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:12:49 +0000

So it’s spring. Birds are in the air, the first green leaves are popping out, pollen is giving you lots of allergies, but your house/apartment/dorm is decidedly… boring.

Make your house feel like spring with a rustically romantic makeover. Flowers are an easy and timeless way to freshen up a room. The flowers that you use are going to be a function of which vase you use.

If you have a dark vase, try having bright flowers. (An amber colored bottle and baby’s breath flowers make an arresting combination.) If you have a light vase, try having deeper colored flowers. (A creamy vase with purple orchids or roses make a good combo.) Keep the colors clean, contrasting, and uncomplicated. Clear vases go with any flower you might buy. You can always buy a flower and vase combination.
Old bottles are great for using as vases. Try glass coke bottles, beer bottles, wine bottles—reusing old things can give your room a bit of country chic or kitschy charm. Anything antique or ceramic is an automatic winner. If you want a more standard vase, you can always look here.
Or you could go for the flowers in a basket look. Baskets should be woven and seem handcrafted. Again, the look we’re going for is rustic. In the basket, you could put dried flowers, wheat, or a branch from a blooming tree. Anything that is small enough to fit in your basket.

In general, bringing outside things inside will make your space feel more alive. Bring in things that will tie your room to the elements – Potted plants are a good call, as are seashells. Arrange these with your vases to make table centerpieces.

If you are really into having a rustic space, consider going without a tablecloth, or going with a really simple one, with a rustic pattern or white lace. Simply painting wood furniture can go a long way to making the space feel open, clean, and fresh.

To emphasize the romanticism of your space, try having foodstuffs as kitchen decorations. Having a good looking bottle of wine and some candles next to each other can be very appealing. If you went with the basket of wheat and flowers earlier, put a bottle of wine in the basket and put it on your dining room table.

So, to summarize what you can do to easily introduce some springtime country charm to your living spaces, do the following:

Reuse some things you otherwise would have thrown away (bottles, baskets, etc)
Go to the thrift store. Simply made antiques fit in very well with a clean, bright rural aesthetic
Bring live plants into your house! Flowers and plants liven up any space.
Take away old decorations. Emphasize the materials your furniture is made out of.

Let me know how your rooms turn out! happy designing!

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/19619770@N00/4356485415