image by Clements Interiors

It’s a Saturday morning ritual in our home to pour over the newspaper flyers that land on our doorstep.  Somehow each time I think I will miraculously find that one great home décor deal which will make the weekend tradition worthwhile, or at least worth the messy black smudges on my fingertips.

For me, browsing the flyer pages gets the home improvement juices flowing.  The notion that absolutely everything that is ‘wrong’ in our house must be fixed immediately or better yet yesterday, is overwhelming.

I’m certain my husband spends many Saturday afternoons avoiding direct eye contact with me as I purposefully roam from room to room surveying the state of affairs that is our home.  Suddenly the draperies in the dining room look tired, the kitchen could use repainting, and if we’re going to repaint, what about replacing some furniture?

The thought process I go through amazes me still today.  Having been an Interior Decorator for some 16 years now, I still catch myself falling back into pre-decorator thinking.  The notion that “I’ll buy something inexpensive to fix the problem for now” still lingers even though I know better.  Perhaps we can blame television shows (on which I am guilty of appearing) and shelter magazines which make it look easy, attainable and instantaneous, with images of all the beautiful things in other people’s homes.  If only the looks were only cheaper… okay, free.  Free would be good.

I whip myself into a home-decorating frenzy that is only placated on Monday morning when I’m thrust into the world to take on the renovating challenges in my client’s homes.  Truthfully, I’m not trying to keep up with the Joneses.  I’m just trying to keep up with me!

So, what’s a person to do with too many home renovation ‘wants’ and not the budget with which to tackle it all?

Many homeowners struggle with the concept of “having it all, NOW.”  Not biting off more than we can chew seems to be lost on today’s consumer (I’m guilty as charged).  To conquer this, I approach my work – and encourage my clients to follow my lead – with a plan first and completing the room as a secondary priority.  Too often people try to spread their budgets (large or small) over as much space as they think possible.  With a finite number of dollars to spend, they try to redecorate the entire house.

I am an ardent proponent of tailoring your timelines to meet your budget requirements.  When planning how to spend your decorating dollars, you must ask yourself, “Does my budget realistically allow me to purchase all the items for my home at once?”  A browse around a quality furniture store will quickly give you the answer.

My motto is “Do it once and do it right.”  I regularly suggest that clients take money allocated to designing two rooms and consider spending it only on one.  This will allow you to purchase the best quality items that you can afford while beginning to make long term investments for your home.  This approach coupled with purchasing classic styles will ensure that your money is not wasted on items which need to be disposed of five years down the road because they are already in poor condition…with a home that’s finished for now… not finished for years to come.

Moreover, consumers are probably just as concerned as I am about unwittingly adding to the problem of our community landfills.  Until relatively recently, little consideration has been given to the disposability of modern consumer goods.  When I think about the number of mere cell phones I have thrown out over the years, I shudder to think about how the waste management problem is compounded by the frequent disposal of much larger furniture items bought because people wanted ‘the-look-for-less’.

Purchasing quality Canadian goods and home furnishings is not a thing of the past.  Doing so will help boost our economy while improving the condition of the world we’re leaving our children.  Your home is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make.  Shouldn’t the things you fill it with reflect its value?

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About the Author

Janice Clements is a Certified Interior Decorator, President of Clements Interiors and a member of CDECA.  Visit her on the web at www.clementsinteriors.com, or follow her blog at http://www.40somethingandcounting.blogspot.com/

For many, one’s first home is either a studio or one bedroom apartment. Although these may be compact, it’s perfectly possible to make a studio homey, especially with all the clever storage solutions you can find in furniture today.

It needn’t be too expensive to kit out a small space. Look around at a furniture sale to give you some ideas of what kind of furniture you should be getting – there are often room sets which can provide you with some inspiration.

If you have a bedroom and a living room, you might want to buy a sofa bed, rather than just a normal sofa. This will provide you with easy to organize guest accommodation – and the bed will fold away and disappear back into the sofa bed whenever it’s not required. If you’re not in a rush to buy a sofa, wait for the sofa sales before you buy – you’ll save a great deal this way. Sales are usually put on to clear the last season’s stock and if you’re not too fussed about what colour or shape sofa you have, you can find some real bargains.

In the living area, you’ll need a table and chairs – even if you don’t have a dining room, you still need somewhere to eat. And if your kitchen is just a corner of the living room, the table can provide useful extra workspace to prepare your meals on.

Find a unit that will hold your TV and DVD player, but also provide some useful storage space. You could get a wall unit that has a space for the TV, or a TV stand with a cupboard built-in underneath it.

The key to making a small space work is to keep it organised, so once you have your furniture sorted out, keep the clutter to an absolute minimum and your space will remain quaintly bijou rather than poky and cramped!

It’s possible to change the overall feel of a room and make it more appealing to visitors without performing a complete overhaul. The best way to achieve this is by carefully choosing accessories and furnishings that have a real impact on the atmosphere, whilst still making it a comfortable place in which to reside.

Whilst many people believe bold changes are required to accomplish this, there are a number of more subtle ways you can make this sort of difference.

One of the most neglected areas when it comes to home improvement is the window treatments in a home. Many people choose to concentrate on other choices, such as the wallpaper design, or the shadings of the wall paint, and simply do not pay as much attention to window treatments as they should. Many people seem to be of the train of thought that they don’t have much of an impact on the final appearance of a room. This simply isn’t true and a poor decision regarding window treatments could have a disastrous effect on the entire décor scheme in a room.

One option which can offer a number of advantages over its competitors in this case is wooden vertical blinds. According to many style experts and interior designers, these carry a more timeless quality than many alternatives. Window treatments such as blinds and curtains use different fabrics. In a similar way to clothes, fabrics and patterns can very quickly go out of fashion, rendering your window treatments out of date. The lack of patterns and varying colours on wooden vertical blinds mean that this is very rarely a problem.

Instead, these window treatments can go towards creating a contemporary look for any room, with the homeowner safe in the knowledge that not only the appearance, but the blinds themselves are made to last. The appearance isn’t as restricted as you may think either, as there are many types of wood available to make sure that your window treatments fit in with your existing décor. Here are a few tips to make sure you choose the right wood for your home.

Many people choose light woods for their wooden vertical blinds. Woods such as pine are a good choice for people wishing to create a brighter atmosphere in a room. This helps make the room more welcoming not only to you, but also to friends and family who may visit from time to time.

On the other hand, if your room feels a little bit on the large and unwieldy side then darker wood may be the right choice for you. Whilst having a large room is a nice dilemma to be faced with, you may feel that visitors could struggle to relax and kick back in your home as a result of the size. The key here is to create a cosy, relaxing atmosphere. Combining dark vertical blinds with dark décor and a piping hot fire is one way to achieve this.

Another idea is to use the blinds in conjunction with other pieces of décor and accessories to create the perfect atmosphere. Taking real care when selecting cushions, lampshades and other accessories as well as window dressings can go a long way towards making your house a home which appeals to you, your family and your friends alike.

If you’re looking for a way to alleviate the dry winter air in your Calgary home, a humidification system can help. There are two types to choose from: a whole-house humidification system and a portable unit — and each one has its advantages and disadvantages.

Dry winter air can be problematic. It can cause sinus and respiratory problems; it can also damage wood products in your home, like floors. Both whole-house and portable systems will send moisture into the air, and help to remedy dry air conditions. Adding moisture to the air can also help you with energy savings, because moist air feels warmer than dry air, so you can lower your thermostat.

Whole-house humidification

A whole-house system is ideal for homeowners seeking convenience and savings. This type of system is installed alongside heating equipment and connects to your home’s water supply, so as conditioned air is sent through the ductwork, the humidifier will add moisture as well. In that way, the air throughout your entire home will be more comfortable. With all of the spaces in your home able to benefit from humidification, you can go anywhere and avoid dry air. Finally, once the system is installed, there is very little maintenance required, besides an annual check-up.

Portable humidification

Portable humidifiers can be beneficial as well; however, they are limited in the amount of humidification they can provide. Typically, these devices are positioned in a room and deliver moisture into that specific space — so you won’t get whole-house humidification unless you take the device with you as you move through your home. These systems also require quite a bit of maintenance. You’ll need to fill the water tank every day, and clean out the tank every couple of days. Their main advantage, though, is that they are inexpensive to purchase.

Think your home could benefit from a whole-house humidification system? Contact Arpi’s Industries today, and let our experts help you explore your options and find the best fit for your home. We’ve been serving homeowners in Greater Calgary for almost 50 years.

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Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about humidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

It is very often that the visitors of our store, while admiring the beautiful play of colors on our crystal chandeliers, ask – how do you clean crystal?

Many think that cleaning a crystal chandelier is at least a very tedious task. Let us assure you – that is a myth. In reality, if you clean the chandelier the right way, then you will not need to spend much time on it at all and the process will seem easy.

It is just as easy to clean any regular lamp as it is a crystal one, but the effect of cleaning a crystal chandelier is much more noticeable.

The surfaces of a regular crystal are indeed attractive to the bits of dust, but in the surfaces of the Swarovski crystals the natural attractive force of the crystal is neutralized, using a special refining method made by Swarovski. Capillary forces do not allow water to hold on to the surface of the crystal in the same way they don’t allow dust. The dust may only lie on the surface of the cover, while water contracts itself in drops of dew, dripping from the surface without leaving a trace.

Lighting fixtures with Swarovski crystals do not require special care. You don’t have to untangle the numerous knots of suspended crystal strings, nor do you have to take off individual crystals.

A dry antistatic wipe and a brush are enough for you to quickly clean thin dust layers without any consequences.

In order for you not to leave fingerprints on the crystals (sadly, this type of stain is the one that most often worsens the appearance of the chandelier and is the hardest to remove), we recommend to go through this process in white gloves.

But what to do if your chandelier has crystals of another type, not Swarovski ones? A little dishwashing liquid, diluted in warm water, will help conquer very dusty or very dirty crystals. In this case, it is best to use microfiber wipes, even though it is possible to use a lint-free cloth made of cotton. The thinner the cotton, the better. The cloth should be moist. Then each suspension should be wiped, from top to bottom. After wiping, we recommend drying the crystal with a clean dry cloth.

After this procedure, you will see that crystal looks like a brand new one in the hand of a master craftsman.

ADVICE: Do not leave the suspension in a moist condition for too long – this may cause the corrosion of metal parts and connection parts of the lighting fixture.

Recommendations:

• Dry cleaning: dry cleaning is the way of cleaning your lighting fixture from dust using an antistatic duster brush

• Wet cleaning: If the structure of the fixture allows for crystal suspensions to be taken off, that will simplify the cleaning – just carefully wash them in cool water with special cleaning agents for crystals, then dry it with cloth. If it is impossible to take of the crystal suspensions, then carefully and without pressure, wipe the crystals with wet cloth

• Aerosol: we recommend rinsing instead, since many aerosols contain a multitude of solid particles which may leave a trace on the crystal

Also we would like to note, that if you are using any special cleaning agent for crystals, do try to make sure that the agent does not get on the armature of the chandelier, as it may be affected negatively by its chemical components.

ADVICE: Another good approach is a “dual-gloves” one. Take a pair of white, cot-ton gloves, and wet one of them with a liquid used for cleaning glass. Spray the chemical specifically on the glove, not the chandelier itself, otherwise it will for sure get into some part of the armature and cause corrosion. Wipe the crystal using a wet glove and immediately wipe it with a dry one right after.

Careful care and compliance with these easy recommendations will help you enjoy the beauty of lamps, crystal chandeliers, sconces and floor lamps for long, long years.

During a time of financial hardship, homeowners can experience a real struggle in getting the most out of their property. With house prices falling, many families are forced to stay put and sit out the property slump. One piece of advice that investors and interior designers have suggested is utilizing the existing house, rather than hunting for a bigger one and losing money already invested. There has been a significant increase in investment of home extensions to create extra space whilst increasing the value of the property.

The problem with extensions is the sheer cost. Not many homeowners are prepared to shell out such a large amount of cash on something so extreme. A cheaper alternative would be to transform a garden shed into a living space. There are many uses for a garden shed but here are the top ideas:

Office

Many people are now choosing the option to work from home. Although appears ideal, there are many potential distractions when attempting to study or work around the home. With a separate space for work activities, all disruptions are kept out of sight and mind. Simply set up an internet connection and enjoy the benefits of both working from home and working in an office.

Playroom

Those who want to move to a bigger place are, usually, expanding families who are struggling to find the space to accommodate such active and playful members. Toys are frequently seen piled up in the corner of a living room with games consoles taking up the whole entertainment stand. An inexpensive and realistic solution to this is to transform the garden shed into a playroom. Toys, games and books can all be stored there, giving your child a safe place to spend the day.

Workshop

For those who work in the construction or practice a somewhat messy hobby, such as woodwork, an extra space to work is incredibly necessary. Not only will one be able to undergo their work in peace, log all their projects in one place and enjoy complete tranquility whilst getting creative juices flowing but children will also be kept safe from sharp blades and instruments.

There are many other usages for garden sheds, from art workshops, to theatre rooms, to libraries right through to music rooms. Depending on an individual’s interests and needs, garden sheds can provide a substantial amount of extra living space that costs a fraction of the price for an extension.

Are you in need of some effective energy-saving tips? To stay comfortable through a Southern Alberta winter, with its harsh winds and frigid temperatures, homeowners have to use their heating systems a lot. And while higher energy bills are a reality for homeowners in our region, you can control heating costs, at least to some degree, by incorporating the energy-saving measures below throughout your home.

§ Set your home temperature lower. According to the government of Alberta, each degree you setback your thermostat will translate into a 2 percent savings on your utility bills. Over the long winter, saving 2 percent (or more) on your energy bills will add up to significant savings.

§ Ensure that your heating system operates efficiently. This action involves two steps. First, you should change your system’s air filters regularly. A clean filter improves airflow, and adequate airflow is the key to efficient operations. Second, scheduling fall maintenance (or scheduling maintenance now if you missed it) keeps your system clean, and experts agree that regular service is the primary factor that will guarantee efficiency.

§ Avoid unnecessary energy consumption by dialing back your water heater’s temperature. Most manufacturers preset water heaters higher than necessary. Forty-nine degrees is an energy-saving setting, and you won’t notice a difference in the temperature when you use hot water to shower. However, some home appliances, like dishwashers, require a higher temperature setting, so consult your user guide or talk with an HVAC expert to explore your options.

§ Seal air leaks throughout the home. A tight home that doesn’t allow outside air in, or inside air out, is a low-cost measure that greatly enhances home efficiency.

§ Upgrade equipment. While high-efficiency heating equipment is a significant investment, it translates into bigger energy savings, and that’s savings you’ll reap over the life of the equipment.

Need more energy-saving tips? Arpi‘s Industries leads the way in saving Calgary-area homeowners money, reducing their energy bills while maintaining comfort. So call the best in the business: Our experience is backed up by more 48 years in the HVAC industry.

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Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Arpi’s services Calgary, Alberta. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

photo from http://ikea.com

Need some more living space at home? With so many people working from home these days, for many families their home has morphed into being an office as well as a place to relax and rest your head. If you do work from home, it can be really useful to dedicate a space to work – especially if you can somehow separate it from the rest of the home.

One way of doing this is by putting an all-singing, all-dancing shed in the garden. A shed with power, heating and a phone line! If that’s too much to ask, or your garden’s not big enough, the next best thing is to transform the spare room or maybe even the dining room into an office.

A lot of today’s houses have dining rooms that are so small you can barely fit a dining table and chairs in them, let alone anything else. It feels more like a box than a room to entertain in. If you have somewhere else that you can sit down to eat, like a dining kitchen, or a conservatory that is part of the house rather than feeling externalised, the ‘dining room’ often becomes a bit of a box room – used for storage but nothing else.

In that case, take a couple of days to go and choose some furniture suitable to work at – a desk or a table that you can put the pc on, and run a phone line point into the room too. While you’re at it, look at a sofa bed sale and see if you can find a two-seater sofa bed that will fit neatly into the same room. That way, you create a guest room and office at the same time. Cheap furniture today is so easily available, and the quality is reasonable, too, as long as you don’t go for bargain basement cheap!

Follow this fail-safe plan before you start.

Unlike the homes in the magazines, most of us will never own a Schonbek crystal chandelier to tower over a twelve-seater dining table.  In fact, these days we’re lucky if there’s enough floor space in our homes for a dining room at all! Multi-functional, small scale and affordable is the way many of us live. And as more people move into and vie for premium spaces in the cities, large spaces will continue to be an expensive option.

We all want our homes to look good. But money, time and resources often limit what we can accomplish in our homes.

Consider the routine “Clearance Sale” sign hanging in store windows the same time each year.  We are repeatedly tempted and set adrift in the often confusing sea of home décor when we see something on sale.  Often eager to cash in on a good deal even though “it doesn’t go with anything else in the house.” But then we think, “But it’s on sale. And it’s such a great price.”  While shopping the ‘sale’ sections keep these 4 words in mind:  STICK TO THE PLAN.

Here are some Golden Rules for designing your plan and a home you’ll love over time while keeping your budgetary reality in mind:

• Hire a Professional

What’s your plan for your home?  Don’t have one?  Consider hiring a  professional, even if only for a few hours, to help you establish a long term plan and develop a list of priorities and “to do’s”.

• Tailor Your Timelines

Tailor your timelines to meet your budget requirements.  Does your budget allow you to purchase all the items for your home at once?  If not, take your time (which for many means months/years) and do it properly.  Do it once: do it right.

• Dress Your Home with Classics

Is your budget driving your timelines?  Could your long term schedule cause your finished rooms to be out of style a year from now?  Would you buy a shirt for $1000.00 that’s trendy today but you KNOW will be dated tomorrow?  Not likely if your budget is a concern.

Dress your house like you dress yourself.  Dress your home with classics.  That’s where to spend your money.  Consider buying furniture in the same way you would buy a great pair of black pants, or a little black dress or that pair of jeans you’ve worn day in and day out for 3 years.  Spend more on classics and get good quality that will last for years to come.

• Break the Bank (When Necessary)

Splurge (if you can) when needed.  Is that classic sofa taking up more of your budget than you anticipated?  You may need to compromise and spend more on  those classic pieces that will last forever.  Just remember: Do it right the first time and do it only once.

Don’t sweat the details of your budget.  If you planned on only spending $1000.00 on a sofa, and end up spending $2000.00 because you’re buying a great classic, adjust your budget accordingly and plan on spending less on all those great accessories (which by the way are also chuck-able because they were so affordable!).  Your bottom line can stay in tact while all the other numbers flex.

• Buy Smaller Trendy Items

If you must buy trends but are on a budget, don’t break the bank on these items.  When it comes time for you to get rid of it because the trend has passed, you won’t flush your money down the drain.

Make trendy purchases small, disposable ones: Things you won’t be afraid to get rid of like lamp shades, make-shift draperies and throw pillows.

• Buy Colours You Like

Buy colours you like, not what the colour trend is for that year.  If you like it today and you liked it 10 years ago, chances are you’ll like it 10 years from now too.

Trends are called trends for a reason: Here today, gone tomorrow.  If you must have some of this year’s hottest colours, put them on smaller items – toss cushions, throws and other accessories.  A good rule of thumb:  put classic neutrals on your larger, more costly items and change the smaller ones to follow trends or even to reflect seasonal changes.

• Keep the Big Picture in Mind

Eclecticism is an art.  If you’re not sure about mixing styles and patterns, and you’re making a major purchase, err on the side of caution and go back to your master plan.  Stick with neutrals and classic lines.  That bright orange leather slipper chair with the brushed metal legs on sale for $50.00…does it fit in with your French Country boudoir?  Not likely, right?  Don’t buy it (unless it’s for your modern home-away-from-home).

• Shop!

And if you can, shop a lot.  Just to clarify, “Shop” does not mean ‘Buy’.  Just shop (like when Mom used to take you into the city to “window shop” for all those amazing things we couldn’t afford).  Shopping will help you recognize what a good deal is and avoid impulse buys.  And it will help you be available when the good deals are available.  Always check out the clearance items.  Sometimes they’re junk, sometimes they’re goldmines.

• Spread the Word

If you can’t shop a lot, find someone who can or tell all your friends what it is you’re looking for.  Ten sets of eyes are better than one!  Use the Internet whenever possible to source new items before you spend precious hours scouring stores.

• Test Drive

Never buy an upholstered item without sitting on it first! Big mistakes can be made shopping on line for items that need to be comfortable.

• Read the Small Print.

Find out return policies before you buy.  Most custom pieces and window treatments can’t be returned.

• Follow a Floor Plan

Never (and I mean NEVER) buy anything without a first having a floor plan drawn up.  If you’re handy, tackle the plans yourself.  If not, a few hours of a professionals time is relatively inexpensive when compared to the alternative:  buying a sofa and loveseat that don’t fit in a room.

Ask yourself:

a) Do I know for a fact that I have enough space for this, and if so, will anything else fit in the room?!

b) Will this fit through my doorways?

c) Will this fit up my stairwell?

• Remember the Government.

Oh, that nasty word: taxes.  They often kill a budget that’s not built properly.

• Reuse and Recycle

Take a look around your house and find the hidden gems. What can be  painted, reupholstered or refinished?  What would a piece look like with new hardware or new legs?

Put your thoughts and plans on paper ahead of time. If your budget won’t let you to hire someone to do it for you, consider hiring a professional for a few hours just as a consultant.

A good decorator or designer can be your ‘sober second thought’. They’ll ask the questions you might not have considered during your planning. Best of all, they’ll help you develop a good strategy in your quest for a new and improved space!

Happy shopping!