For all of its virtues, and there are many, a kitchen island does come with its own downsides. Especially if the addition of one is led by the heart and not the head. Here are a few things to consider about including a scullery sanctuary. 1. Not Every Kitchen Can Pull it Off If your home has a smaller footprint or a closed-off kitchen, you simply might not have space for an island....
Arabian jasmine can be trained as a flowering vine with supports or maintained as a sprawling shrub. It also does very well in containers and makes an eye-catching plant for patios and porches. Keeping this plant in containers is an ideal option for areas with winters that are colder than the jasmine can handle, as the pot can be brought indoors. Arabian jasmine is not often bothered by pests or diseases....
Basic Lighting Options Install a hard-wired light fixture. Attics often have electrical cabling running through them, so an electrician or experienced DIYer can easily tap into an existing circuit. Place the light switch near the entry for convenience, and use a switch with a warning light that reminds you when the light is on. Pull-string fixture. This is also a hard-wired fixture, but one operated simply by a pull string. If wiring a wall switch is too much trouble, install a pull-string light fixture, preferably near the entry....
Those on a strict budget should order from companies that offer free shipping or at least carry a nice selection of lower-cost flowers. If a recurring subscription is what you’re after, there are retailers that have far superior plans to their competitors’. Scroll through our guide to find the best flower delivery service to fit your needs. Pros & Cons Not only is The Bouqs Co. website aesthetically pleasing, but it’s also easy to navigate, grouping arrangements by occasion, flower type, and delivery time....
More than one in five homes in the United States use a septic system to process household plumbing waste. To keep the system healthy, certain steps should be taken such as regularly scheduled pumping every three to five years to reduce sludge buildup and the installation of low-flow water fixtures and laundry appliances to reduce wastewater input to the system. So those laundry detergents and cleaning products you currently use around the house every week; are they safe for the septic system?...
New leaves will constantly emerge from the central area of the plant, which resembles a bird’s nest. Do not touch, move, or handle the new, delicate fronds as they emerge from the center. They are extremely fragile, and if you touch them, there is a high chance of them becoming damaged or deformed. Light Bird’s nest ferns grow well in filtered sunlight to a moderate amount of shade. Don’t expose them to direct sunlight other than the very early morning sun....
What Is Blood Meal? The “blood” in blood meal refers to the blood that is a by-product of the slaughtering that occurs at meat packing plants. It is most often cow blood but can be the blood of any animal slaughtered for its meat. The blood is dried into a powder before being packaged for sale as blood meal. The origin of the “meal” in blood meal may be less apparent to most people, because it refers to a seldom-used definition of “meal”: a course, unsifted powder ground from edible seeds of any grain (like cornmeal, for example)....
What’s New at Brooklinen Not sure where to look for spring-like sheets? In time for the spring season, bedding brand Brooklinen has launched its linen bedding in five new colorways, which include festive pastel shades. Faded lemon, for example, is sure to brighten up the rainiest of spring afternoons, while hydrangea blue (pictured below) is perfect for a classic, coastal space. Brooklinen offers more than just bedding basics—the company sells decorative accents like wall art, candles, lighting, and more, making it easy to refresh your entire apartment in just a few clicks....
The Brother CS6000i Computerized Sewing Machine has a number of useful features. From a computerized interface and a one-step buttonhole function to an automatic needle threader and quick-change presser foot lever, the machine is a beginner sewer’s dream. While it certainly ticks a lot of boxes on paper, we wanted to see if its in-person performance was up to snuff. We picked up our own Brother CS6000i and started a few new projects to see....
If your number one reason for getting a pool or hot tub is because your sibling, neighbor, or college roommate has one, maybe you should reconsider. Planning, building, and maintaining a swimming pool or spa is not a whim or keeping-up-with-the-Joneses kind of purchase. It dramatically alters the landscape of your outdoor living space. It can be a lifestyle change, albeit a positive one: more entertaining, more fun with your family, more exercise....
There are plenty of ideas for bullet journals to sift through. But before you do that, learn the basics of how you might want to set up a bullet journal and what could work best for you. If you’re just beginning the process or only thinking about setting one up, read below for easy bullet journal ideas to get your creative juices flowing. How to Create a Happy Planner Bullet Journal from Space + Quiet My Digital Bullet Journal from Life is Messy and Brilliant Printable Bullet Journal Pages from 101 Planners...
With flooring, installation is a service, and all services need to be paid for one way or another. If you’re able to remain within the limitations of the offer, free or included carpet installation might genuinely be beneficial to you. In other cases, it might be better to pay for installation separately. What You Get With Carpet Installation With many carpet and floor covering companies, free or included installation usually includes:...
Types of Cavity Nesters There are two types of cavity-nesting birds, depending on how they find a suitable nesting site: Primary cavity-nesting birds: These birds excavate their own holes, such as woodpeckers that drill out chambers in suitable trees or ground-nesting species that may dig out burrows in riverbanks. The labor to create a new cavity may take several days or weeks, depending on the birds’ nesting needs.Secondary cavity-nesting birds: These species take advantage of natural or abandoned cavities, or in some cases will usurp them from other birds through aggressive intrusion....
Regardless of which set of washing machine hoses you choose, you should replace them about every three to five years. It’s also a good idea to check the hoses for damage or leaks about once a year as part of your regular plumbing maintenance. If your washing machine is inside the house, these hoses are not recommended because they are the most likely to burst. Note that there are non-reinforced hoses available, so check that the label specifically says they are reinforced....
No matter the fiber content, velvet or velveteen fabrics need special care because of their texture and finish. How to Care for Velvet Clothes When a velvet garment becomes stained or needs cleaning to remove body soil and sweat, you will get the best results with professional dry cleaning. Dry cleaning will protect the fabric finish as well as the interior structure of the garment especially if the garment is tailored like a jacket....
In an effort to reduce waste and help the environment, my family has been using reusable shopping bags while we run our errands, go grocery shopping, and even packing items for our son’s day and weekend trips. Living in Brooklyn, New York, we are constantly walking everywhere and rely on reusable bags that are comfortable to carry and have the capacity to hold everything we need. We were immediately drawn to the design and color of the Colony Co....
Basic Wire Color-Coding A simple standard electrical circuit has a black or red “hot” wire that carries power from the power source to the device (e.g., switch, fixture, outlet, appliance), a white neutral wire that carries the power back to the power source, and a green or bare copper ground wire that connects the device to the home’s grounding system. A black or red-hot wire usually connects to a brass-colored screw terminal or black wire lead on electrical devices....
Other than containing their spread, caring for these plants is relatively easy. Just be sure they are getting sufficient water, and fertilize annually if you don’t already have rich soil. Common butterbur plants generally don’t have any major problems with pests or diseases, though slugs eating holes in the leaves sometimes can be an issue. Slugs can be controlled through both chemical pesticides and natural solutions. Likewise, strong winds can damage the leaves, so aim to situate your plants in a somewhat sheltered location....
