It’s not too late to ensure that your home, from outside in has been poked, prodded, and provided for when it comes to winter care. Below are some steps you can take that will your home more comfortable, energy efficient and save money; you may even prevent damage caused by colder temperatures and weather conditions. Any materials that may be needed can be easily found at your local hardware.

Maximize your Heating Efficiency

Making sure that your home’s HVAC system is at its optimal is one key thing you can do this season. Getting a heating tune-up can result in reducing your heating costs and having everything run efficiently during the coldest time of the year. In order to check that you’re not inadvertently wasting energy, inspect for cracks in obvious places like around all windows and doors as well as gaps in the brickwork, stucco, siding and even the foundation of your home. You can find these air leaks by making a flag from tissue on a toothpick or by lighting a stick of incense around windows and doors or switch plates on outside walls. If air is coming in, the flag would wave or the smoke would be dispersed. The next step is filling in these holes with temporary caulking that would be removed once the weather is warmer.  For the exterior of the house you will need weather stripping, caulk and foam. Adding more insulation – which can get compacted over time - in the attic and crawlspace are other ways to prevent heat from escaping.  Adding storm windows over your existing windows can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent. Implementing a programmable thermostat that is set to a reasonable temperature can also help save energy.

Winter Garden Care

Winter hardy plants should be planted in areas that are not under the eaves of your house as come snow fall, that and ice will settle on them. Soaking plant beds before the ground freezes helps the soil retain its moisture underground, which is especially important for evergreen type plants. Laying down a 2-3 inch layer of mulch - pine bark or needles or wood chips - will also maintain the soil’s moisture by reducing water loss, as well as prevent alternate freezing and thawing of the soil (that can damage short-rooted plants). It also keeps the soil temperature warmer so that roots can grow deeper during the winter. If laying mulch around trees, leave a good amount of space, several inches, to prevent rodents from feeding on the bark.  Weak branches should also be removed, however, if pruning was done during late summer, it might have spurred new new growth and this could lessen the nutrient reserves of your plants necessary during winter hibernation.

Protect Your Plumbing

In addition to sealing up your home from cold air leaks, cleaning out gutters, and wrapping up outdoor plants, homeowners should consider winter care for the plumbing system. Taking a few precautionary measures before cold weather sets in just might save you from dealing with a messy and costly water pipe break. Shut off outside water supplies like the tap in your backyard or if an irrigation system if you have one. Make sure water is drained from the lines and also drain disconnected garden hoses then store those in the shed, garage, or basement. If there are valves in your basement that supply water to the garden faucets, these too should be shut off and drained by unscrewing the little cap on the side of the valve. Leftover water can freeze and cause pipes to break.

Should a problem arise, knowing where your main water shut off valve is located – typically next to the water meter at the front of the home or in the furnace room – could be crucial. To stop the flow of water into the home, this would need to be switched off. If you and your family plans to be away for a longer period of time during the winter, consider turning off the main valve and having a professional drain your system to prevent freezing of the pipes should the furnace unexpectedly stop working. Another preventative measure is having pipes and valves in unheated areas wrapped with heat tape, or covered with pipe insulation.

Taking a few uncomplicated steps in preventative measures this winter can safeguard your house and garden from damage caused by prolonged freezing temperatures. Making your home more energy efficient and avoiding potential incurred costs will save money as well as give ease of mind, making the worst of winter that much more endurable.

With Files from: Naturalawn of America, Waterworks Plumbing, and Service Experts

* Discard or give away any ornaments or decoration you don’t love.

* The trend again this year seems to be themes of colors with gold but mostly silver. Pick up an accent color from your home and continue this theme for your holiday decor. For example, if your cushions on your sofa are green, look for green ornaments and decor, then add a splash of sparkle, like silver.

* Arrange your Christmas decorations in groups or themes, creating vignettes. In other words, don’t scatter little ornaments here and there in your home. Look for areas, tables, consoles to turn into special displays.

* When you buy new items, buy at least two or three to have impact. For example, are you buying miniature trees or poinsettias or thick candles for your mantel or table? If so, buy two, rather three or more; a grouping makes a statement.

* Do look for a focal point, perhaps your tree or your mantel, but maybe not both side by side (you can find your focal point by closing your eyes while standing at the door to your room, and the first thing you see should be your focal point).

* Place your Christmas tree away from heat sources such as vents or fireplaces so that it does not dry out so fast, but place your tree where you can admire it the most.

* Hide your tree stand with fabric, maybe burlap, a tree skirt or a big fun bucket or pot.

* Use a timer for your lights to save energy and use white lights to mimic candles.

* Do put candles or ornaments (electric) in your windows toward the street.

* Look for natural decorations: a big bowl of pine cones, sugared fruit, red apples in a large bowl with holly or cedar branches.

* Greenery, greenery, greenery. If you have to cut branches from your tree (to make it fit in the stand), use the branches in arrangements, or lay them on your mantel. Ask the tree vendors for branches to use in arrangements.

* Arrange long branches of greenery in large vases, IKEA or HomeSense has some great big glass vases that can be used as fruit bowls, candle holders or for arrangements.

* Let your kids have their own decorations and little tree (fake) in their room to decorate as they wish.

* Make your guest bedroom inviting with select decorations.

* Don’t forget to add a Christmas touch to your bathrooms, perhaps a bowl of scented pinecones.

* Decorate your front hall and outside your door with fresh greenery, make the entrance into your home the best it can be. Use lights on timers.

* For special nights, or every evening if you like, light a candle (tea light) in a safe enclosed lantern outside your home.

* For a fun piece, place a string of lights in a large bowl (they now come battery powered). You can add greenery or pretty shiny decorative balls to the bowl.

* Do keep apple cider spices simmering on your stove for a lovely scent.

Find the entire article here.

This article was provided by Room4refinement.com. Cat Hackman is a Calgary based interior decorator and owner of “www.Room4refinement.com”:http://www.room4refinement.com. Call 403.705.4791 c. 403.681.4473.

photo Courtesy of Susan V. Philips

It’s always at the last minute that I decide to join in on Halloween festivities. As one of my co-workers pointed out, it is the only day of the year when it’s not only acceptable, but generally encouraged to dress up.  Just in case you were wondering, there’s a Superman, Ugly Betty, Han Solo, and Lady Deathstrike roaming around the office today.

In case you are less inclined to don a disguise this eve, perhaps you would prefer to dress up your home.  Smaller more intimate home Halloween parties are a fun way to showcase your creativity with freaky finger foods or charming crafts.

Maybe you are full of imagination and handy to boot.  For most of us, googling tips on line is the way to go.  Or, if you happen to have access to professional advice, all the better.  I’m happy to share some ideas from Susan Philips, a professional interior decorator who runs her own business, Spotlight on Decor, and also teaches a Real Estate license accredited home-staging course. Ms. Philips put together an impressive Halloween stage together last year for Ottawa’s City Hall.  She offers a couple of uncomplicated crafts for the home hobbyist to make and use to dress up the home.

Perhaps it’s the nostalgic factor that’s really the big draw; memories of decorating your grade school classroom, chomping on candy apples, pumpkin carving with one of those safety knives and scooping out sticky, stringy pumpkin flesh, then eating the baked seeds - Enjoy!

Photo from The Globe and Mail website

The downside to choosing not to have TV in my home is that I’ve missed tons of fall premieres, including the slew of new and returning home improvement shows.  Just to have an idea of what I’m missing out on, I thought I’d have a peek at what the line up is for this fall on HGTV.

One of my all time faves, not to mention one of the few English programs that aired during the many years I spent in Taipei was “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy”.  I think that for most people, the favourite and most impressive segment of the show was when Thom would unveil his interior redesign.  Every time he’d knock my socks off!

The stable of HGTV shows also rely mostly on Cinderella-esque transformations.  But there’s no winning formula despite the similarity of these programs, it really comes down to a combo of talent and personality.  There was only one show that I’ll remember to check out the next time I’ve got a remote in hand.  It was the only one that I can say seems genuinely interesting, has an attention-holding premise and uses the host’s natural charm and humour instead of having to rely on cheesy editing or campy overacting.

Sarah’s House 2

The plethora of billboards dotting my neighborhood have done their mesmerizing work - this was the first show I checked out through the wonderful world of internet streaming (maybe it set the bar too high for the others).  Clips of Season 1 can be viewed here. It only took the length of clip 1 (about 6 mins) to see why this show got a second season.

As host Sarah Richardson (who has two other successful shows under her belt) traipses across town, seeking a diamond in the rough to sharpen and shine, viewers get a voyeuristic thrill, touring through otherwise uncrossed thresholds.  It’s sort of like getting introduced to one of those back alley nightclubs - or maybe that’s just from the retro shmaltz they venture into clip 1.  I can only imagine how once she makes her pick, the “after” portion of the series tops the “before”.

I wonder if there’s anything else worth catching on the tube?

Stay tuned …

Photo from www.HGTV.ca

Painting your home interior may be as easy as paint by numbers for some, but for those uninitiated yet willing to give it a go (and save hundreds of dollars), having a bit of background knowledge is a boon.  This past weekend I painted my entire apartment.  It’s pretty small - only 3 rooms - so, I figured it would be a breeze.  Wrong.  I’m sure that as with most other people, the assumption may be that painting is a no-brainer and hey with a roller, fast too.  While it isn’t rocket science, there are a few pointers that can be very helpful (which I now wish I’d had before hand) for first timers.

I suppose you might want to start out with how to pick colours.  Although I flirted with some ideas of setting a Mediterranean Island feel/California terra-cotta look, in the end I went with a light cream to open up the rooms which had been previously coloured light olive, mauve, and yellow - all hideous shades.

If you’re not sure about which colours you’d like, or even where to begin, you can watch Mag Ruffman’s video tips or read the article. She basically recommends using more than an itty bitty paint chip as a reference.  For further reiteration Style at Home’s article also suggests viewing your chosen hue in different lighting.

Now that you’re sure about the colour(s), what other tools do you need?

1. masking tape

2. drop cloth

3. wall brush & trim and sash brush

4. roller

5. painting paint

6. cleaning supplies

Perusing a number of articles, I was surprised to learn that a number of professionals suggest washing your walls first.  Or, if the existing paint is glossy, you might have to wash with a special solution or else the new paint may not even adhere properly.

I also asked around and the general consensus was to cover everything of importance with a plastic drop cloth, cover edges with masking tape, cut the edges (line with paint) and then fill in the rest with a roller.

I thought this was all I needed to know.  Instead this is what happened …

Top 5 things I learned about painting:

1.  Make sure you have enough paint.

Seems obvious right?  Well, you might not want to end up with a bathroom door and one bedroom wall baby blue as I did.

2. Go towards the light:

Daylight reveals imperfections that are hidden in dim lighting that you’ll be quick to want to correct.

3. Tape the edges:

It will actually save you time in the long run.  I thought that painting the baseboards would be easy since as a fine art painter, I can draw straight lines on canvas no problem.  But as I cut across the baseboards, the effort it took to wipe up dribbles each time it happened collectively took longer than the couple of minutes it would have taken to put down tape in the first place.

4. Don’t overload the roller

Dipping your roller where the paint starts to pool in your paint tray and rolling it until the paint covers it thinly and evenly, tip it so that joint where it attaches is pointing to the ceiling as this will help to avoid gobs on the floor.

5. Start from the Middle

When applying paint with a roller, start about midway on the wall, roll upwards first, then pull down - this way the paint has less of a chance of running onto the floor.

Looking for more detailed instructions? One of my go-to sites - sort of like an online Dummies equivalant - HowStuffWorks.com has a great section on various aspects of painting.

For a host of painting tips, paint decor ideas, the low down on paint, materials, accessories and more, the Home Renovation Guide’s article library painting section is chock full of useful information; from the difference between Latex vs. Elastomeric Paint or the secrets to How to Make a Room Look Larger with Paint.

I wish I had been armed with all of this information, so I hope this post will help out others out there with the determination to beautify their space with paint.  When all is said and done, next time, I’d seriously consider just hiring a professional.

It’s hard to believe that summer has gone by so quickly and it’s already time to start thinking about ways to warm up our homes.  Well, there’s more than one way of thinking when it comes to that.  Yes, insulation, duct cleaning, leaf raking might be what immediately comes to mind, but Fall is also the perfect opportunity to find other ways to bring warmth into the home.  Where to find some such ideas?  Home Shows of course.

And there are a plethora of them coming this month.  One I’ll be sure to check out in my neck of the woods is the Toronto Fall Home Show from September 18th to 21st at the Better Living Center, Exhibition place (Tickets are $12 for an adult). (Gee, I hope I can get those Tiny Tom donuts).  Other than checking out some cool gadgets, home luxuries, and the like, there are some fun and interesting demonstrations and shows.  As my furniture is all Ikea, one show I’ll be sure to check out is “interior design and lifestyle expert” Janette Ewen’s “Do-It-Yourself High-End Looks for Next to Nothing”.  I’m also excited about some of the cooking demonstrations - mmm, award winning chef, Christopher Ennew’s Spa food - because what’s more homespun than home cookin’?

Some of the other September 2008 Canadian home shows that weekend of the 18th to the 21st are: the Ottawa Capital Fall Home Show from September 18-21 (only $10 for unlimited re-entry), Victoria, B.C.’s 2008 Fall Home Show featuring Colin and Justin of HGTV’s “How Not To Decorate”, and the Calgary Home & Interior Design Show’s own multiple HGTV hosts.

Stateside, there are undoubtabely a bunch, like the Orlando Home Show Sept. 19th -21st boasting Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (new season starts Sept. 27th) fame as their spokesperson, but who’s not on the actual agenda.  On the 26th - 28th there’s the Remodeling & Home Decor Show in Washington, D. C with a line-up of celebrity shows et al. and also a Dog Docks event.  That’s right, Dog Docks, the sporting event of dock jumping, where doggies compete for greatest distance or height jumper.

Sounds like Home Shows have a little something for everyone.

(Photo of Jannette Ewan from www.fallhomeshow.com)

Even though it’s been nearly a decade since I sat in a classroom, the fall season—the quickly approaching fall season, I should add—always makes me yearn for new projects, whether it’s taking a course or ripping apart a kitchen. After summer’s laissez-faire attitude (boat drinks, anyone?), there’s a feeling of “let’s get serious” in the air.

For many of us, this let’s-get-serious mood stems from an anticipation of snow. There are only so many home reno projects you can do once winter hits, and since fall is more moderate than Hades-heated July and August, it’s a great time to do one or two more outdoor projects, especially those tasks that can’t wait till next spring.

While crawling the web, I came across an article featuring HGTV handyman Steve Watson, host of Don’t Sweat It. In the article, Steve outlines the Top 5 things every homeowner needs to do before winter. Luckily, none of these jobs take more than a day to do. Here are his tips:

Leaky Roof: if you’ve got a leak, do not wait for winter before tackling the problem. Find the source of the leak by watching where it comes in during a rainstorm. Then, once the source is located, climb onto the roof and fix the spot; or, better still, hire a pro to do it for you. Because you’ve done the initial sourcing, the fix shouldn’t take long.

Clean the Gutters: unless you want to create an ice dam in winter, now is the perfect time to clean out your gutters so that the icy runoff has somewhere to run into. Of course, if your house is situated near trees that lose leaves come fall, you should save this job till late fall so that you can remove any littered leaves that can clog up your gutters. Also, don’t forget to check the downspouts. Or, as with the leaky roof, just get someone else to clean the gutters.

Check Window Seals: if you’ve opened up your windows in the summer, chances are there’s dirt and debris along the seal, which means the windows won’t properly seal in the winter and you’ll lose efficiency. But by simply cleaning the seals (and replacing any damaged spots) you’ll keep in the heat all winter long.

Winterize Your Pipes: take a peak under your house or in your basement for any pipes that need insulating or that require new insulation. Measure the length and then wrap it with pipe insulation. So simple, and yet such a pain to do in cold weather. Do it now.

Check the Deck: You’ve stored away the patio furniture, now do a quick once-over of the deck. Did you forget to treat it this summer? Do it now by giving the deck a solid clean (using a power-washer if you’ve got one) and then apply a coat of water-sealant. Done and done. You’re officially serious.

While visiting the U.K. a few weeks ago, I was struck by two things: the sheer amount of people on every street corner—something like 12 million in London alone—and the number of cyclists. While hardly reaching Dutch levels, Londoners are increasingly mounting bikes in effort to curb traveling time and costs, reduce carbon emissions and, of course, work off the seemingly endless pints and fish and chips.

But here’s the rub: if you live in a big city, chances are you’re working with limited storage space, so simply locking up your bike in a shed isn’t an option, and leaving it locked to a fence makes it vulnerable to rust and theft. So what are the options for indoor storage—options that don’t clash too much with the décor? After all, city living is meant to be a mix of style and substance.

Luckily, there are more options these days than the simple-but-ugly large S-hook mounted into the ceiling. The Art of Storage is one of many retailers now selling innovative storage units, including designs specifically made for interiors, both freestanding and attached to a wall.

Longtime cycling retailer Delta also offers cool storage solutions, including this one with a built-in shelf for bike accessories.

Those with a DIY sensibility can build their own system, made as pretty or utilitarian as you wish. The beauty of these systems is that they don’t have to be confined to bike usage — tuck away seasonal clothes, perhaps some luggage, or make your own book storage system.

In Part I, we discussed distressed furniture as a design idea. Now it’s time to stop talking and start damaging furniture!

Distressing furniture is a lot of fun. When else do you get to drag heavy chain across tables, burn cabinet edges or drive over cabinet doors all in the name of an “authentic” look of yore.

Before beginning, there are two things to keep in mind. First, only real wood can withstand on-purpose distressing; MDF, particleboard and other synthetic materials don’t stand up to damage. Second, you’re trying to make the damage look convincing, so concentrate on areas that would naturally wear, such as near handles and along edges. In other words, don’t add a tire squeal mark to your tabletop. For inspiration, take a gander at some examples of well-worn furniture and then simulate the look.

While there’s no single method for distressing furniture, remember that a little damage goes a long way; don’t go overboard or you’ll be left with a decrepit piece of, well, garbage. Start slowly with a few scratches created by dragging a heavy chain across the surfaces, a method equally effective using coarse rocks or rasps. You’re trying to create random markings, so any heavy uneven surface works well. Continuing with the medieval methods, half-drive a few nails into a piece of wood and then simply drop it onto the object you’re distressing, or wrap a pile of screws, nuts and nails inside a cloth and then throw it against the surface. The list goes on and on.

You can also create a distressed look through paint or by lightly sanding around edges and handles (a sander, or even just sandpaper, is another useful tool to get your hands on for this project).

First-timers are encouraged to experiment with random pieces of wood before tackling and potentially ruining your furniture. And if you’re feeling nervous and looking for specifics, you can always Ask the Expert.

Having grown up in a house without air conditioning, I know what it’s like to sweat through hot nights and loud fans. This was a time before the efficient, quiet fans now common; back in the day, we put loud, plane-propeller-size units in the window and on the floor hoping for a bit of air movement, just enough to pass out.

Luckily, I’ve found better way to keep cool. I still don’t have air condition, mind you, but I like it that way; besides, I’ve found a more efficient, less energy-taxing solution: the ceiling fan. Installed the right way, in the right place, these inexpensive and easy-to-install devices will keep you cool and save you cash.

Unlike energy-hogging A/C units, electric ceiling fans don’t actually cool the air; rather, they move it around, which helps evaporate moisture, on your skin and on surfaces in your home, making things feel cooler. Ceiling fans also help draw up warm air, mixing it with cooler air for more moderate room temperatures, so you get gentle warmth without the frigid, synthetic feel of air conditioning. (In winter, switch blade direction and the fan will push down warm air rather than draw it up.)

Installation

Putting up a fan is as easy as installing a ceiling light—right? Not quite. Screwing into the existing junction box might not provide enough stability. After all, some of these fans weigh more than 30 pounds standing still; add in the pressure and vibration created by the spinning blades and you’re left with a dangerous spinning blade—to say nothing of an eyesore.

Instead of affixing directly into the existing junction box, attach the fan to something—a beam—that will securely handle the weight and motion of the fan. Of course, it will need to be hooked up for power, so if you’re at all unsure how to safely connect, especially if your fan is also a light, hire an electrician to come in for a quick, inexpensive inspection.

Right place, right fan

Ceiling fans aren’t one-size-fits-all; there are ceiling fans for every type of decor; ceiling fans operable by remote control; fans designed for sloped ceilings; fans with blades as big as canoe paddles—you name it, it exists. Unless you want to recreate the plane-blade scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the first consideration here is ceiling height. If your ceiling is less than eight feet, it’s too low for a ceiling fan. Also, the blade span should be no closer than two feet from the wall to allow for airflow.

The final consideration is noise. Put it this way, you could spend $25, but do you really want to live with a fan worthy of the exhaust system at KFC?