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  • Outdoor Living Spaces to Last the Whole Year Through

    Outdoor Living Spaces to Last the Whole Year Through

     

    Summertime brings a greater desire to be outside and spend time in our yards. Saturdays mornings are spent at home improvement stores and the afternoons are spent working on our many projects to make our yards a place to show off. But depending on where you live, these days quickly end and we are forced back inside, unable to enjoy our hard work until the backyard season returns. Here are some ideas for summer projects that can help you take advantage of your outdoor living space all year round!

     
    Tips for creating an outdoor living space that will last all year long.

    Fire Pit

    Whether you are roasting marshmallows under the stars or keeping warm on a crisp fall night, a fire pit is a perfect addition that will make you the talk of the neighborhood. Build it with seating options around such as stone, wood, or plastic benches. There is the option for a good, old fashion fire or you can make it natural gas fueled. The latter will give you the benefits of a fire without making you and all your guests smell like smoke every time you want to do some roasting.

     

    Grilling Caddy

    If you are a master of the grill, you probably want to be able to continue to show off your skills even when the weather cools down. Consider building a grilling caddy to keep your favorite grilling necessities close to the cooking station but safe from the elements. It can be used to store your tools, favorite seasonings, and even platters. Put wheels on the bottom for added ease of transport should you take your grilling to another location.

    Water Features

    Garden fountains are great additions to any yard that can add a sense of serenity and calm. Even if you are not able to use them in winter months, they can still add to the beauty of your yard. In the warmer months, misters are great to hang around decks, patios and anywhere else seating is available for a refreshing cool down.

     

    Outdoor Pizza Oven

    What better way to expand the culinary opportunities in your yard than to build your own outdoor pizza oven. These can be made from brick or stone. During the summer months, you can bake a pizza without heating up the house and during the winter, the fire is still covered, so you can continue to enjoy wood fired pizza year round regardless of poor weather.

    Waterproof TVs

    Whether you want to host an outdoor movie night or watch the big game without the fear of spilling salsa on the couch, waterproof TVs can give you the edge to be the most popular backyard on the street. Mount the TV on the outside of the house or create a weather resistant entertainment center to help add another level of protection for your technology. You might even consider mounting the TV into a window opening and using a cover to keep the television protected when not in use.  Waterproof TVs are made to withstand even the worst rain and snowstorms.

    Glow in the Dark Planters

    Potted plants can help you add variety to the foliage you may already have in your yard. One fun way to mix it up is to paint the planters with glow in the dark paint. This will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the plants in the daylight and as the sun goes down, your yard transforms with glowing night lights. You can even paint designs on the planters, creating patterns throughout your yard.

    Rope Lighting

    Especially once it starts to get darker earlier, you will want have lights set up to find your way safely through your yard. Use rope lighting to line paths in your yard or around your garden areas. These can be protected through waterproofing and can even be put on timers to keep your yard lit at the optimal times year round!

    The summer is more than half way over, but there is still plenty of time to get these projects into place before the weather takes a turn for the cooler. In the end, you will spend more time admiring your creations and have plenty of opportunities to have friends and family over to show off your hard work. If you need more encouragement, as this article explains, these types of projects also increase the value of your home. So what are you waiting for? You have work to do!
     
    About the Author: Alyssa Craig is a Salt Lake City native who loves hiking in the mountains, running, frozen yogurt, and quick wit. She is a professional writer and loves perusing the many posts in the blogosphere. In her free time, you can find her escaping the world on her hammock, or wathcing re-runs of “Friends”. 

     

  • Spring Cleaning Day 2 – Living Spaces and Windows

    Spring Cleaning Day 2 – Living Spaces and Windows

    Welcome back for Day 2 in the Spring Cleaning Challenge!
     
    Today we are headed to all the living spaces, and your windows. We’re going to get a lot done today.  The list is smaller, but the work is bigger.
     
    Go ahead, print off today’s checklist. After you’re done, make sure to come back and enter the Spring Cleaning Giveaway.
     
     
    I always like to start with something that can finish itself. By starting with all the drapes in the wash, they can get clean while you work on the rest of the list.
     
    Pick Up and Put Away
    Don’t just put stuff somewhere. Give it a place. If it doesn’t have a place, make one, or throw it out. This is the time to get rid of the junk that we let overtake our lives.
     
    Wash Walls and Dust
    At this point, make sure you’re getting up in the corners, and removing any cobwebs. I remember growing up, we had these really high vaulted ceilings. It was never until spring cleaning week that we’d even notice the cobwebs, but they were always there.
    The best way to removed spiderwebs is with a broom. You can just use the broom as is, or attach a cloth to the bristles.
    When dusting, don’t forget the light fixtures, and ceiling fans. This would be a great time to replace any burnt out light bulbs as well.
     
    Wash Windows & Blinds
    Blinds are the bane of my existence. We always end up with the flimsy little things that collect dust and fingerprints like crazy. I think a great way to clean them is with an old unmatched sock (you know you have some!). Put the sock on like a glove. Soak your sock gloved hand in hot soapy water, and with the blinds closed start rubbing it across.  After you finish one side, turn the blinds and do the other side.  
    I’ve posted before on how I like to wash windows, but here you go again. Newspapers. They don’t leave streaks or little fuzzies behind.  I’ve also found brown packing paper to be effective. Don’t forget to head outside and get the other side of the windows.
    Lastly, we get to the window tracks. These collect dirt and bugs pretty well too. I would start with using the hose on your vacuum. Suck out as much dirt as possible. Then go in with a rag, or toothbrush. Make them shine!  This right here, will completely change to mood in your whole house. No kidding. Something about cleaning the dirt out of those window tracks, just changes the outlook on the rest of the house.
     
    Vacuum
    Now that you’ve finished all the above ground jobs, take to the floor. Vacuum everywhere you would on a normal vacuuming day. Then move the furniture, and vacuum behind and under where it normally sits.
    Before moving the couches back though, go through the cushions. Have a garbage bag nearby to toss away garbage. Use the hose on your vacuum and really get under those cushions clean. Then move the furniture back.
     
    Now that you’ve finished the living spaces, and windows, you can enjoy sitting on clean furniture, and looking out fresh windows. Doesn’t it feel great?!
    
    

  • Living Space vs the Toys …. Think About It

    Do you ever look around your house, and wonder how you can keep it all clean? You’ve got kids running around everywhere, and find yourself constantly tripping over toys.

    Over the weekend, we were at my sister in laws house. She has a set of toys in the main living space dubbed “Upstairs Toys”, but the bulk of the toys is in the basement and are dubbed “downstairs toys”.  Her home always looks so immaculate and inviting. We got to talking about how she keeps the toys separated, and it really helps with the cleaning.

    Now in my head I’ve always decided that the toys belong downstairs in our house. It’s where the kids bedrooms and the playroom are. Really the toys don’t need to be anywhere else in the house. Yet they always seem to get scattered up and down, and even outside. I’d really like to have a sit down with the kids and tell them that the toys aren’t allowed upstairs anymore.

    However, at the same time, I like that my kids feel comfortable playing in any room. I like that they come play near me while I’m working (even if they do get in my way sometimes).  I love watching their imaginations take off as different household items get incorporated into their toy play. Would I be squalling their creativity if I kept all the toys downstairs? Would I spend less time with my kids if I didn’t let them bring their toys upstairs while I’m cooking? 

    I guess I’m just having a hard time finding a good balance. I think I need to separate our toys, like my sister in law does. Some can be upstairs, and some can be downstairs, but we don’t mix the two. All I really want is a front room that when people walk into don’t feel bombarded by toys (or other stuff for that matter). I want just one clean room. Is it too much to ask? One room that looks like it could be in a Better Homes and Garden? 

    Think About it
    Do you have a room in your home, free of toys? How do you separate the living space, from the playing space? I’d love to hear your thoughts!