New and notable
Sometimes I come across great services, products and ideas that don't warrant an entire column on their own but are noteworthy all the same. I've now collected enough of these helpful tidbits to be able to put them into a collection of new and notable items. I hope you'll find some or all of them helpful.
Father's day gift idea
Your DIY dad might appreciate this for Father's Day. When it comes to adhesives, there's a new product line on the market that nails it. Liquid Nails, a complete line of adhesives for every home repair or construction project, is simple to use for both professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike.
The benefits of using adhesive over a hammer and nails are many. Not only is an adhesive easier to apply -- even for the most inexperienced user -- but there are times when nails simply aren't the most suitable option, such as when installing a tub surround in a bathroom or mounting a flat-panel mirror to a wall.
The Liquid Nails line includes adhesives for construction, indoor/outdoor carpeting, panelling and moulding, insulation panel and drywall, mirrors, tub surrounds, ceramic tiles, concrete, parquet and wood flooring, as well as squeezable all-purpose adhesives for leather, rubber, wood, foam, cardboard and more.
All Liquid Nails products meet Canadian VOC standards, with many meeting the stringent environmental standards put forward by the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Say no to a disposable world!
Reusing and recycling, especially when it pertains to decorating, is a favourite subject of mine. It is a great way to help the earth and to be creative. Upcycling is a growing trend and consumers are finding ways to use what they have instead of buying new items in order to be ecologically responsible.
Author and DIY expert Linda Bodo has written a book on the subject. The Art of Upcycle: Repurpose, Reclaim & Redefine Leisure Time, wants to remind people that it's critical that consumers understand the ecological impact of purchasing new goods. Her book is providing people with ideas and inspiration for changing consumer habits when it comes to buying new. Bodo is hoping that these practices will help reform buying practices for the better of the environment. www.absolutebodo.com
Cool new slipcovers for IKEA lovers
As Winnipeggers anxiously await the proposed opening of an IKEA store we might want to take notice of the latest in slipcovers available for IKEA furniture.
One colourful slipcover with a design of coffee beans, candy, nails or strawberries can redecorate all of your IKEA furniture and restyle your entire living room. Recently Dutch fashion label Villa Venga has presented this worldwide premiere in the digital photo printing of fabric.
Instead of buying new furniture, the online ordering of a self chosen exclusive slipcover with an exceptional photo can update your décor in minutes. The covers are made by young designers who could knock themselves out with fresh, bright and eccentric 'out-of-the-box' patterns. On web shop www.villavenga.com people can redecorate all of their IKEA chairs or sofa's with new vivid colours or images, which differ from pebbles to bread, from amaryllis to old timers and from plush animals to candy.
According to Villa Venga, slipcovers are just the first step. In the near future the new brand will extend its collection with new product lines and new designs, for example for curtains, T-shirts or cushions.
Even if you don't need furniture slipcovers, you could purchase, say, an ottoman slipcover and use it in other ways. Frame the fabric, stretch it over a canvas, recover a lampshade or make cushions from it. The prints are vibrant and youthful. www.villavenga.com
Million dollar paint giveaway
Communities across Canada will be infused with a little more colour, thanks to a $1-million investment in paint announced recently by industry leader Dulux Paints.
The Dulux paint -- to be used to bring colour to people's lives from coast to coast -- will beautify public structures as well as the buildings of community, charity and non-profit organizations, as selected by each local region.
Called the Dulux Adding Colour to People's Lives program, the initiative coincides with the launch of 230 new Dulux Paints banner stores across Canada, each of which will receive a share of the $1 million paint investment for use in their communities. The stores, previously operated as ICI Paints, Glidden and Color Your World outlets, will now rebrand under one common banner and take on the Dulux Paints name.
Each new Dulux banner store will make use of the paint investment by independently selecting a public structure or local organization to support, and -- with the help of the community, including local designers and dignitaries -- will hold neighbourhood painting events to transform grey and tired spaces.
For more information about painting events in your community, and how you can get involved, visit: www.addingcolour.ca or call 1-800-387-3663.
connieliver@shaw.ca
