Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Do it yourself
Book helps you see the light on lighting
ONE aspect of home design that all interior designers agree on is the ability of lighting to transform a space. Not sure where to begin? Grab The Home Lighting Effects Bible (Firefly Books Ltd., 256 pages), a new book by lighting specialist Lucy Martin.
Martin walks readers through the principles of good lighting, pointing out that different rooms have different lighting requirements. She explains the difference between task lighting and ambient lighting and, through colour illustrations, shows homeowners the abundance of choices available.
If you get excited shopping for chandeliers, or pondering the merits of pendants versus track lighting, this is the book for you.
How to achieve the perfect paint finish
THE fastest and most cost-effective way to spruce up the interior of your house is to give your house a fresh coat of paint. Choosing a paint colour might be the most fun part of painting, but don't overlook the real work. Here's how to achieve a perfect finish, courtesy of DIY Network Canada's Fresh Coat.
* If you're planning on painting the trim, walls and ceiling, paint the trim first.
* For an ultra-smooth finish, sand the trim between coats.
* Before you start painting the walls, give them a good cleaning. (TSP works especially well.) This will ensure the paint really adheres to the walls.
* To get a seamless finish and avoid lap marks, roll the full height of the wall and keep a wet edge on your roller.
* If you're painting a very large space, consider mixing several cans of paint in a large bucket. This will ensure that you have a consistent colour throughout the room.
* If you're using tape along edges to achieve a straight line, let the paint dry, then cut the tape loose.
-- Postmedia News
Renovation & Design
Here's some sage advice
QUESTION: I have been reading your columns for years and have always thought about asking a question, but I have not until now. I remember you writing a column a few years ago about growing herbs indoors. While you did describe the basic requirements for most herbs, you did not go into the specific needs for individual herbs.
I am planning to grow some herbs indoors I have never grown before. The list includes tarragon, camomile and sage. Can you explain the individual needs of these plants?
ANSWER: Thank you for being such a faithful reader. Your question got me thinking and I looked up the old column. I think I need to address the individual needs for some of the herbs.
Tarragon: This plant likes to be grown in a sunny spot and prefers the soil to be well-drained. It does not need the soil to be high in nutrients, so a regular potting mix with added compost will work well.
Use two parts potting mix to one part compost. Make sure there are drainage holes in the container. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. Add to the soil a small amount of slow-release fertilizer pellets designed for pots.
Look for these in garden centres -- the formula is usually 12-12-12 or 14-14-14. You can expect the tarragon to grow in the same container for one to three years.
Camomile: This herb likes to have as much light as possible. In Canadian winters with low light levels, you may need to supplement the light with an artificial source such as a Gro-Light. Regular potting mix with compost is the soil of choice. Add slow-release pellets at planting time.
This is another herb that prefers soil that's moist, but not wet. German camomile will wilt easily if not kept moist. A word of warning: Camomile will do quite well on the balcony in the summer in containers, but can struggle indoors.
Sage: This herb can be easily grown indoors as long as you can offer it direct sunlight for six hours a day.
With sage, as with any sun-loving herb, it is a good idea to rotate the pot occasionally as the plant will begin to lean toward the light if you do not.
All-purpose potting mix makes a great choice for sage and there is no need to add organic matter for this plant. You can add one part perlite or sharp sand to two parts potting mix to help the drainage. Sage will not tolerate having its feet wet, so allow the top of the soil to dry out. Make sure the pot has drainage holes, as well. Wait for one year, then harvest as needed.
Basil: This plant likes a lot of sunlight -- six to eight hours would be best. It also likes a high organic content in its soil, so use a pure compost and no potting mix. You can find bags of compost in most garden centres. Fertilizing is easy if you use slow-release fertilizer pellets. Harvest the top leaves first. The plant is a pick-and-come-again type. This means it will produce more leaves from where you picked. You can freeze the leaves for later use or dry them. Keep basil moist, but never wet.
Parsley: An easy herb to grow and one that will tolerate some shade, but prefers full sun. The plant is a little fussy about the soil, so pure compost will work just fine. The added benefit of planting in compost is it is excellent at holding moisture. The same cannot be said about potting mixes. Ensure the soil does not dry out between waterings. Again, the rule of thumb is moist, but never wet. Fertilize with slow-release pellets and harvest as needed. This plant does not do well in its second year, so it is best to plant new each year.
Rosemary: Perhaps my favourite herb and another easy one to grow. Plant in all-purpose potting mix. Add coarse gravel to the bottom of the pot when planting to ensure the drainage holes remain open. Rosemary hates having its feet wet, as well. When watering, stick your finger into the soil up to the first knuckle. If the soil feels dry, it is time to water. The plant likes lots of sunlight, but will tolerate some shade. Rosemary does not need a lot of nutrients to be happy -- something like a compost tea applied once a month will do nicely. When harvesting, just snip off a branch as needed.
-- Postmedia News
Gerald Filipski is a member of the Garden Writers Association of America.
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: Get a grip! Stop sliding, protect your floors
QUESTION: I am wondering if you have any suggestions. I have laminate flooring in my living room and leather couches/chair. Every time we sit down they slide a bit. How can I keep them from sliding? Regards. Rachel, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Your problem will soon be a distant memory. Purchase rubber gripper pads; they stop furniture from sliding and protect your floors. The best part is that they are easy to use -- just peel and stick.
QUESTION: I spilt vodka, water and lime juice on an antique oak buffet/hutch (bottom part). The liquid left a white stain behind and I have no idea how to remove it. What can you suggest Reena? Thanks. Michelle, Winnipeg
ANSWER: It sounds as though the alcohol in the vodka may have stripped the finish of your beautiful buffet. Before refinishing the piece, let's try this handy solution. Smear the area with either non-bleach, non-gel toothpaste or mayonnaise. Leave for one hour and wipe. If the stain remains, lay a piece of brown paper or a tea towel on the spot and press with a warm clothing iron. Be careful not to burn the wood. Remove towel and observe the stain; if it remains you will need to strip and refinish the wood.
QUESTION: I look forward to your help, Reena, and plan to purchase your books as Christmas gifts for family and friends.
1. I have an old trunk in my basement storing blankets etc. It is off the floor and we have never had dampness in the basement. This is the first time that I have noticed a musty smell when opened; not mildewed but musty. I have removed everything and the inside looks fine. What can I do to get rid of the smell so that I can continue to use this large special trunk which is now 50 years old?
2. Please guide me with some suggestions as to how I can clean my washer and dryer as well as my dishwasher. All are old but working well but I would like to freshen the inside of them. Thank you for your help -- I do enjoy your column in the Winnipeg Free Press. Helen, Winnipeg
ANSWER: Without knowing what the trunk is made of, it is difficult to recommend a cleaning action. If the trunk is wood, clean it with Murphy's Oil Soap and water. If it is plastic, clean it with dish soap and water. If the trunk is fabric on the interior, clean it with shaving cream. If the trunk is lined with paper or cardboard, dampen a cloth with vinegar and a few drops of essential oil such as lavender or orange. Wipe and dry. Leave the lid of the trunk open until it has aired out and is completely dry. Store a container of cat litter in the trunk to absorb excess moisture.
To freshen up your dishwasher, run a package of Tang orange crystals (or vinegar) through the cycle. To freshen up your washing machine add one cup of white vinegar to each load for the next few weeks. To freshen up the dryer, wipe it well with dish soap and water. Another important step in cleaning your dryer is to remove any lint buildup from the lint trap after every use. Although the lint buildup may not be excessive, this excellent habit will keep you from ever allowing the lint to build up to a dangerous point. In fact, lint is often carried by campers to use as a starter for their campfire. Next clean the lint trap with an old toothbrush dish soap and water. Whoa, I'm out of breath!
Fabulous Winter Tips of the Week:
-- Many people have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed throughout their homes. But do you have a heat detector in your home? Since heat detectors can be used in areas where there is dust or cooking, they work great in kitchens, utility rooms and garages. These are areas where a smoke detector would be giving off nuisance alarms. Since heat detectors are not interlinked, they can pinpoint the location of a fire.
-- Keep your car doors from freezing shut; spray the rubber seals of your doors with cooking spray.
-- Make slippery steps easier to walk on by sprinkling non-clumping kitty litter onto iced areas.
-- Keep your attic well ventilated. The colder the attic, the less melting and refreezing on the roof.
Quote by Martin from Winnipeg: "Count your blessings each day that you are on this side of the grass."
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., R0A 0C0.
Renovation & Design
Monochromatic not a black-and-white issue
Dear Leanne: I really like the look of monochromatic colour schemes in homes and I was wondering if there are any rules to follow to make this work. It looks simple in the magazines, but now that I am starting on my living room, I am not so sure.
I have committed to a cream sofa, but the other fabrics I have tried to introduce seem to have a green or pink undertone. What do you suggest?
A: The term monochromatic refers to varying tones or shades of a single colour or hue. In the design world, we bend this rule a bit and include a few neighbouring colours of similar value, rather than sticking to just one.
As you have noticed, there is not just one cream, nor is there just one white, beige, yellow, taupe, grey, blue, etc. In simple terms, the colours we use in our homes come from the basics of red, blue or yellow. Every other colour we know comes from a combination of these building blocks. Then we can brighten the tone by adding white or intensify the shade by adding black.
Colours are more interactive than most people appreciate, as they react differently when they change environments. For instance, when you view a piece of fabric or furniture in a store -- independent of other decor -- it will look different than when you introduce it to your home environment.
At home, the colours of the existing surroundings (walls, flooring, ceiling, lighting and other furniture) will bring out the underlying hues -- red, yellow or blue. Often this is subtle.
Take a look at magazine photos of rooms to see how designers put these spaces together. You will note there are varying tones (some with pink, yellow, green or grey undertones) used in a single room.
If we didn't have these subtle contrasts, we would be looking into a snowstorm, where there would be no distinguishable features to define the space. Everything would blend together into one blasé existence. So accept that your monochromatic room will be comprised of varying hues of similar value.
One mistake novice designers make is judging a space before it is completed. Do not panic if you have committed to a chair to go with your sofa and you see hints of pink or green.
The room is not finished yet and other elements, not in the space, will affect the unity and balance of your room.
Professional designers and those with the instinctive ability to balance rooms will create monochromatic schemes with ease. Those who have never attempted this style before may find the following guidelines helpful:
-- Refer to magazines to see the end results of monochromatic designs. (Monochrome can be any colour, not just cream.)
-- Start with your inspiration point or limiting factor such as a work of art or a fantastic view. Limiting factors include design elements or furnishings you intend to keep, such as flooring or a fireplace. These are elements you will not be altering.
-- Look carefully at their hues as they will provide a hint toward the colour family your room innately exudes. For example, is your hardwood flooring a golden tone or red? This colour element will impact the other items you introduce to this space.
-- If your sofa is one of the inspirational items, keep a colour swatch with you when you shop for additional items. If you don't have a fabric sample, get a paint chip that is close to the colour.
-- The design concept of threes is a recipe that can help you get started. Take the colour of your sofa; add two more items in the room in that same hue.
-- Copy the colour in the room, but introduce it in varying sizes in a sofa, chair or accent pillow.
-- Add another hue -- such as taupe -- in an ottoman, accent throw and wall colour. Place the taupe throw on the side of one arm of the cream sofa and place the cream accent pillow on top of the throw nestled into the corner.
-- Add a third hue to the room in a tonal value in between that of the first two. Consider this for the window treatment, an additional chair and a piece of art.
You will begin to see how the hues are balanced with the replication of colour offered in varying size. Now you have a substantial design base to which you can add additional pieces in varying cream or off-white tones.
Leanne Brownoff is an Edmonton interior design consultant who welcomes your questions at www.leannebrownoff.com. Answers will be featured in her column as high volumes prevent individual email responses.
-- Postmedia News