Fancying for some pieces of fabulous artwork but don’t have the money to buy it just yet? Check your linen drawers and you might just find something there that can be made into some simple yet quite attractive highlights for your table, without the hefty price.

Materials:

• 18” x 18” (or larger) cloth table napkin/s
• 14” x 14” wood frame (used for canvas paintings)
• Large wire stapler

How to make it:

• Make sure that linen napkin is free of wrinkles and creases. Iron out first if possible.
• Position the napkin with the wrong side up on a flat surface.
• Place the wood frame on top, right at the center of the napkin.
• Fold one corner up into a “hospital corner” (one end tucked in to create a 45-degree fold); staple fold onto the frame to secure.
• Repeat the same procedure on the opposite diagonal side. Make sure that napkin is tightly stretched.
• Repeat procedure for the remaining sides.
• Secure the fabric wrapped on all four sides of the frame by stapling it (again, make sure the napkin is properly stretched!).

Tip:
You can also do this to other fabrics that you find lying idly around your house. Make sure to cut them into sizes that will fit standard wood frames.

(Taken from Real Living magazine, Volume 5, Number 6)

Small spaces can gain benefit from container-based water gardens that have plants and other wildlife that are usually associated with bigger habitats. Container-based gardens can be found at home and garden centers which also sell accessories such as small waterfalls, fountains and even illumination appliances that can make it more attractive and functional.

Patios that have at least five hours of sunlight are the ideal places, but anywhere the sun rays touch would be nice. Shade in the hot afternoons is also needed for plants also suffer from sunburn. Be sure to locate your water garden that is within easy reach of water source in order to lessen the effort of topping it up during hot days where evaporation tends to take toll. Maintain the water quality with regular cleaning, making sure the water is free from pests such as insects and other nasty bugs.

Water treatment solutions can be found in pet stores to lessen, if not halt, algae growth which becomes unsightly in such a small space.

5. Consider using reclaimed wood for things like benches, decks and fences. Buying new ones will cost bigger while the quality is almost the same. Also do some research on what kind of wood you will be using, for example: Cedar wood ages gracefully and it naturally has an insect repelling property, by doing so you can choose the right kind of wood for the job.

6. Another man’s trash may be another man’s treasure, check out garage sales for items that may come in handy. But never buy things that you do no think would have a purpose so that they wont end up sitting in your trash bin.

To be continued…

3. Replace fluorescent lights with more energy-efficient bulbs. If possible, get solar powered ones. It may be a bit costly but it will prove its worth in the long run. Imagine this: by getting solar powered lights you can save a lot on your electric bill, and contribute in energy conservation as well.

4. Make your home a better place for you and your family. Have a space for potted plants, they would act as C02 absorbers and give out 02 in return. Choose plants that do not require much watering so that they would not be hard to maintain.

To be continued…

Everybody has the right to grill their own meals being one of the most favorite outdoors’s activities the world over. There are however exceptions for certain areas or subdivisions that may prohibit such activities, allowing them only in designated parks or picnic areas so do check with your homeowner’s association. You should have verified this so you don’t get in trouble with neighbors sending the police over or security as your favorite steak nears perfection. If allowed, have a grill specially built if you expect to do a lot of grilling but space limitations may have you using a gas or coal fired portable unit you can stow away when not in use.
You can however use indoor grills as long as you have the proper exhaust and filtration system that goes with it to maintain proper venting of the smokey air to the outside without causing too much fuss with the neighbors. The lure of the grill can be called primal due to the fact it simply tastes good, damn’ good!

Planning well a renovation is the best investment you may have before you undertake the task at hand. There should be at least some percentage of your budget allotted for emergencies that arise for they will. Hiring a general contractor is the easiest way to get on with a home renovation but it isn’t always a good idea if the scope of work would have you moving out of the house that would leave the contractor free to do his willing. In this recession, count on some cut corners so do visit unannounced so you get to see what really is going on. Establishing a good and well founded relationship that has respect over everything else, knowing each others limits allowing a smooth and well-oiled communication (never forget you are the boss and that you are paying him to do a job, as long as what you’re asking for is within your discussed contract). Some people are swayed or convinced by the smooth talk of most who tend to know when to push to get their way. There’s nice and there’s too nice, so set the limits to which amount you would allow yourself to bend into modifications he recommends but not too much, get it!

Ever wonder why they recommend vertical striped shirts for people of size and horizontally stripped ones for leaner people, optical illusion. The same can be applied to spaces in the home you would wish to take on the same effect. Small rooms with horizontal lines and rooms that look too large with horizontal stripes. You’re afraid it won;t work for your walls? Try it out on a small space like your walk-in closet and you don’t really have to go for too many stripes, there are a lot of ways by which an optical illusion would get your space in check to make it look just right in your eyes. Read more »

The wonderfully stenciled wall designs are quite easy to achieve and many more effects once you get the hang of it. Stencils can be bought from many home depots as well as the supplies you will need such as the brushes and other effects you can add to your paint should you require it. From pearl effects to shimmering colors, they can all be done and easily provided by the paint store, just make sure you get a store with a mixing machine so in case you need more paint, you can get an exact match. Estimating paint for effects can be quite tricky but once you go through a liter or so of paint, estimating would be easier. Whether you decide to do the stencil on a border or on the whole wall, you decide on the limit. Read more »

There are many wood products that showcase the latest development sin sustainable wood technology such as laminated bamboo tiles that are durable and cheaper than traditional hardwoods. They are made by laminating several layers of wood from the bamboo plant (which is actually the world’s biggest grass) that grows quite fast and is readily available. These innovations are just some of the new technologies that are coming out of materials research laboratories who are constantly introducing products that impacts the earth less, providing us with better and cheaper building materials. Paper products have also been Read more »

If you want to cut costs and decided to paint your walls yourself, here are some steps you’ll need to take after you’ve purchased the paint and before you actually apply it on your walls.

1.Buy the right tools. Choosing the right brushes and rollers, and making sure there are enough for everybody, will make the job faster.
2.Make sure the room is well-ventilated and the air is circulating if you don’t want the fumes going to your head. Open the windows and use an oscillating fan if you have to.
3.Remove all decorations, fixtures, etc. from the walls. Move all furniture away from the walls. For immovable objects like built-ins or light switches, cover them with plastic sheets or drop cloths. Read more »