Guaranteed Ugly

A homeowner in my subdivision has had this hand-lettered sign planted on her front lawn for over a year now. The sign reads:

"Attention Dog Walkers!!! Please keep dogs off of my grass and flowerbed by mailbox! NO PEEING or #2! It kills my grass and I have worked too hard to have a nice lawn! Thank- You!"

Now, before I say what I'm about to say, let me say (as a dog owner) that no dog owner should relieve his or her dog(s) on someone else's property. It's just a matter of common sense and good manners.That said, I was intrigued by this hand-lettered sign because it illustrates an interesting point. When I saw it, I couldn't help but think to myself, "What's worse: having a discolored lawn some of the time, or having an ugly sign up all of the time?" An ugly sign, I might add, that very explicitly describes IN CAPITAL LETTERS various forms of canine excrement, thereby symbolically installing said excrement (in verbal form) on the lawn...permanently!

The sign is an example of what I would call "guaranteed ugly". Without the sign, the homeowner would risk having dogs discolor her lawn some of the time, but with the sign, she was virtually guaranteeing that her lawn would look ugly 100% of the time.

This got me thinking about ways that we sometimes opt for "guaranteed ugly" inside the house. Here are a few examples:

• Keeping the new couch covered in beach towels and sheets to protect it from spills and stains. What's uglier, an attractive couch with a stain on it, or a couch forever shrouded in towels and sheets?

• Choosing not to make the bed in the morning because it will "just get messed up again" at bedtime. This policy guarantees that the bed will be unmade 100% of the time.

• Not opening the blinds in the morning because "they will just have to be closed again later". This policy guarantees that the house will be dark 100% of the time.

• Covering the carpet with a clear plastic runner to protect it from footprints. Need I elaborate on this one?

So, you may ask, what's the alternative to "guaranteed ugly"? The solution is to make choices that fit your family and your lifestyle.

• If you have kids and/or pets, opt for furniture upholstered in forgiving fabrics such as chenille or microsuede. Patterned fabrics hide stains better than solids; dark colors hide stains better than light colors. Leather tends to be resilient as well. Another option is to purchase furniture with removable, washable slipcovers.
  

• If you hate making the bed, consider simplifying this chore by using a European-style duvet.

• Choose window treatments with easy functionality. Lightweight cellular shades are easier to raise than heavy blinds; curtains on clip rings slide more easily than rod pocket curtains.

• Rather than "laminating" your carpet under a clear plastic runner, consider choosing family-friendly carpets or opting for hard surface flooring.

• Here's another reason to vote plastic carpet protectors off of the island forever: years ago, I had a roommate who placed one of these runners over the wall-to-wall carpeting in our hallway. One day, a spider walked down the hall, and I could actually hear its little feet tip-tapping on the plastic runner. Nothing says "home" like the pitter-patter of...spider feet!

So, what do you think about the concept of "guaranteed ugly"? Did I miss any other examples?

More Steinmart Pillow Fun

Given that Steinmart doesn't offer product photos online as some retailers do, I thought I'd bring the store to you. Join me on a little virtual shopping trip through the pillow department at my local Steinmart. Here are just a few of the unique pillows that I spotted on a recent visit:

This generously-sized soft blue and chocolate embroidered polka dot pillow caught my eye--I liked the trim detail as well. ($19.99)This moth (butterfly?) pillow would be a nice addition to a room with a neutral color palette.

I liked the detail on this pillow--other colors were available as well.
This pillow caught my eye because the frogs added a funky element to an otherwise very traditional fabric. This would work nicely in a room with other fall colors. ($16.99)
This yellow toile lumbar pillow is nice and fresh for spring. ($19.99)
The polka dots on these contemporary pillows are made up of spirals of satin cording. ($16.99)
This sign made me smile. Can ruffles be extreme? I imagine this read aloud by a monster truck announcer with a booming, echoing voice: "Extreme-eme-eme-eme Ruffles-uffles-uffles!!"In truth, the ruffles were extreme.

Some of my favorite "pillows" were napkins, AKA "potential pillows". I noticed that many of these cloth napkins were reversible--they were made up of two pieces of fabric sewn back to back--which made them ideal candidates for transforming into pillows. To make a pillow from a reversible napkin, just open one seam, fill the "pocket" with stuffing, and close the seam again. Voila! A fun pillow for $2.50! I may have to pick up a few of these to make some new pillows for my back porch.

And now for something completely different:

My women's singing/songwriting group heard about a video contest sponsored by Harris Teeter, a regional grocery chain, and we decided to write an original song and make a video to enter in the contest. If you want to see a short video featuring a bunch of women singing a blues song about shrimp and hamming it up in 1950's garb, I invite you to stop on over. For those of you whom I haven't met in person, I'm the backup singer with the long brown hair.

Registered Harris Teeter shoppers can comment and vote on videos on the HT website. One voter will win a $500 Harris Teeter gift card. Please feel free to vote for our video if you feel so inclined!

To see our video, please click here.

Copy Cat: Look-Alikes for Less

I don't seek out Pottery Barn Copy Cats; they just find me! This one found me when I was shopping for a pair of sandals. I have no explanation for how I ended up browsing in the pillow department when I was supposed to be looking for shoes. My best guess is alien abduction. In any event, this was a happy discovery.

For awhile now, Pottery Barn has offered their Textured Solid Pillow Cover accented with one or more prominent buttons (pictured in first photo). The Pottery Barn pillow covers (which do not include a pillow insert) are currently priced from $25 to $29. I've had several clients who have owned and enjoyed these Pottery Barn covers.

Imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon a very similar pillow (pictured in second photo) at my local Steinmart for $14.99! The cover on the Steinmart pillow is not removable, but the pillow itself is down-filled! $14.99 for a down-filled pillow that looks like it just stepped out of the Pottery Barn catalog?! Sounds like a deal to me! My local Steinmart carried a square pillow in khaki and red and a lumbar pillow (pictured below) in pale blue. For local readers, I spotted these at the Morrisville, NC Steinmart (9529 Chapel Hill Road).
















Stay tuned for more fun Steinmart pillows!

Simple Spruce-Ups: DIY Dispensers from Glass Bottles

Did you know that the screw-on plastic dispenser tops from store-bought soaps, shampoos, and lotions will often fit on glass bottles? Finding the right bottle may require a bit of experimentation, but once you find a bottle the right size, you can create a unique, eco-friendly DIY soap or lotion dispenser in seconds!

This pump top from a bottle of Trader Joe's hand soap fits perfectly atop a bottle that previously held lime juice. The "straw" inside is even the perfect length.To refill it, I like to use the handwash refill pouch from Method, which purportedly has an 83% smaller carbon footprint than a hard plastic bottle:This sparkling cider bottle pairs perfectly with a top from a bottle of liquid dish soap: The soap needs to be "shaken" out because the bottle can't be squeezed. An alternative option would be to use a spigot top designed for dispensing olive oil.

I can imagine lots of other potential applications for this idea. Classy possibilities would include using frosted glass bottles or antique bottles. If "campy" is more your style, how about making a beer bottle soap dispenser for your favorite beer-swigging hooligan hubby? Any bottle with ridges at the neck is a candidate for this easy DIY project. The only limit is your imagination!

This post has been linked to: DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land, Metamorphosis Monday At Between Naps on The Porch, Finding Fabulous, Thrifty Thursday and The Thrifty Home

A Few Neat Ideas from a Client's Nursery...And the Giveaway Winner!

My client Dana contacted me to help with her daughter's nursery when she was pregnant. When we met, she had already selected her nursery furniture and her crib bedding, which was "Garden Blossom" by Dwell Studio:She wanted help selecting a wall paint color that would work with the bedding, and she also wanted some ideas for a paint treatment to add a little interest to the walls. The bedding included shades of beige, chocolate, pink, and white:She wasn't wild about the idea of brown walls, and she knew that she didn't want pink walls, so we selected a warm-yet-neutral green for the walls--Valspar's "Martinique Dawn".

Next, we brainstormed ideas for a fun paint treatment. Our inspiration came from an unlikely source: a photo in a ten year old decorating book! The rocking-horse themed room in the photo was nothing like the nursery that Dana envisioned for her daughter, but it incorporated a unique feature: a wallpaper border at chair rail height framed by strips of molding (Photo credit: Southern Living Ideas For Great Kids' Rooms). Knowing that Dana and her husband, Steve, were very handy with do-it-yourself projects, I suggested that they paint a chocolate stripe at chair-rail height, frame it with white molding, and sprinkle it with stenciled flowers to match the flowers in the crib bedding. And by golly, that's exactly what they did! Here's a photo that Dana sent to me when the room was in progress:
And here's a close-up of the stencils. Dana shared that the stenciling was really time-consuming, but she also said that her daughter's love for the flowers has made it worth the time investment!
Dwell Studio didn't offer a window treatment that coordinated with the crib bedding, so Dana made this pleated window valance from a crib bed skirt! She reported that the valance was easy to make because the pleats were already built right in. What a great idea! This would be a neat way to repurpose crib bedding when it's time to transform a nursery into a "big kid" room.Dana and Steve also made these unique wall hooks by combining wooden circles with pegs. They were the perfect size for the stencils, and they're a great place to hang hats, sweaters, and those adorable hooded baby towels.Thanks, Dana and Steve, for letting me share these photos to inspire others!

On another note, the winner of the CSN Stores giveaway is commenter #60, KottageKara of Kara's Kottage. Congratulations! Thanks to all who entered for your enthusiastic participation in this giveaway. I wish that I had a prize for everyone!

CSN Stores Giveaway!

CSN Stores recently contacted me to see if I would be interested in offering a giveaway to one of my Red Chair Blog readers. After browsing just a fraction of their 200+ online stores (!) which offer everything from TV stands to faucets to lighting, my answer was a resounding, "Yes!" One lucky Red Chair Blog reader will win one item of his or her choice up to a $35.00 value from any CSN store! Here are just a few possibilities to spark your imagination:Kikkerland LED Light Imperial Chandelier With Optional Adaptor ($35.00)

Trend Lab Vintage Two Picture Frame Set ($22.73)Dwell Studio Owls Boudoir Pillow ($34.00)
Laura Ashley 6 Piece Towel Set in White ($32.99)
Skip Hop Mod Dot Nursery Lamp ($27.00)

JoJoDesigns Sophia Throw Pillow ($17.99)Bai Design Too Cool For School Retro Modern Wall Clock ($32.99)
Artland Kingston Jar (16" high) ($20.99)

One lucky winner will receive one single item of his or her choice (up to a $35.00 value) from any of CSN's 200+ stores. You have an opportunity to earn up to five entries! Here’s how to enter:

1. For one chance to win, just leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post. Easy enough, no?

2. If you’d like a second chance to win, blog about this giveaway and come back and post a link to your blog post in a comment.

3. Want a third chance to win? Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, then come back here and include your link in a comment.

4. If you’d like a fourth chance to win, link to this giveaway on Facebook, then come back and include your link in a comment.

5. For a fifth chance to win, become a Follower of The Red Chair Blog and indicate that you're a Follower in a comment. If you are already a Follower, please indicate this in a comment.

Giveaway ends Wednesday, April 7^th, 2010 at 11 pm EST. Winner will be selected using Random.org. This giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada only, please.

A note for email subscribers: If you are reading The Red Chair Blog via email, please click here to be taken to my blog site in order to leave your comment(s) to enter the contest.

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!

Light Switch Labels

My alternative title for this post was: "Let the Mocking Begin". Yes, I have endured lots of affectionate-yet-ruthless ribbing from friends and family members for my organizing systems over the years. The labeled freezer sections. The pre-printed grocery lists. The meal planning magnets. But I'll gladly endure a little more teasing if this tip can create a little more peace and order in one person's life!

The concept of labeling is nothing new in the world of organizing, but most folks don't think to use their label making machines to label...their light switches! In truth, I didn't think of it either! I was introduced to this idea when I had the pleasure of helping Linda Roggli transform an ordinary suburban home into the restful retreat center that is Garden Spirit Garden Retreat and Guest House. Linda, a life coach, ADHD coach, retreat facilitator, and founder of the ADDiva Network for women with ADD /ADHD, thought of every detail to make her guests more comfortable, including labeling light switches so that guests would know which switch worked which fixture. (Here's a quick ADD/ADHD self-test: Are you no longer reading this post because you clicked on the ADDiva Network link above?)

Labeling the switches next to your kitchen sink can save you and your house guests from grinding up innocent spoons in the garbage disposal in your attempt to turn on the light. Other good candidates for labeling:

• Triple and quadruple switches
• Switches connected to electrical outlets (For example, that one switch that you should never, ever turn off because it's connected to the outlet that powers your alarm clock.)
• Switches in guest bedrooms and guest bathrooms
  
• Indoor switches that work outdoor--and out of sight--lights

Label makers can produce water-resistant laminated labels (good for switches near sinks). You can also print your labels on a computer in a pretty font and cover them with transparent tape to make them more resilient.

And since light switches aren't exactly eye candy, here's a gratuitous photo of my daffodils for you. Happy spring!


This post has been linked to Works for Me Wednesday.

Dollar Tree...Literally!

If you've got a dollar and some basic craft supplies, you can "grow" a sweet little tree to celebrate spring...or "pre-spring" as the case may be!

Materials:

Small tree branch
Large, empty oatmeal container
Floral foam (or a chunk of Styrofoam)
Floral moss (or shredded paper in earth tones)
Book pages, magazine text, or sheet music
Raffia
Silk flower
1 packet of 12 small glitter egg ornaments (currently sold for $1 at Dollar Tree stores)
Hot glue
Scissors

Instructions:

1. Remove the lid and the label from the oatmeal container.

2. Following the illustration below, cut a strip off of the top of the oatmeal container. Set that strip aside for later.
3. Cut "petals" and then fold them down. (The deeper the cuts are, the more easily the petals will fold down.)4. Cut a piece of floral foam (or Styrofoam) so that it fits snugly inside of the oatmeal container. (Tip: a serrated bread knife is helpful for cutting foam.) Depending on how snugly the foam fits, you may or may not need to anchor it with a blob of glue.

5. Anchor the branch in the foam and top it with floral moss or shredded paper.

6. Tuck the cardboard strip (the one that you cut in step 2 above) along the inside rim of the oatmeal container.
7. Tie raffia around container and use hot glue to attach a silk flower. I used a gardenia.

8. Decorate your "tree" with egg ornaments and butterflies cut from book pages or sheet music.
This project was tough to capture on film--it's much more charming in person!

With some modifications, you can use this little tree to decorate when you entertain for a number of different occasions. Replace the eggs with baby booties and you'd have a sweet decoration for a baby shower. Add a few more butterflies to decorate for a bridal shower or even a casual wedding reception.

Looking for more branch-based projects? Martha Stewart offers instructions for these pretty paper cherry blossoms here.
This post was inspired by the 5 Dollar Challenge at Living With Lindsay and has been linked to Sew Dang Cute, Tatertots and Jello, The Shabby Chic Cottage, Fireflies and Jellybeans, Reinvented, It's So Very Creative, Today's Creative Blog, The Thrifty Home, and A Soft Place to Land.