According to Time.com, “By the 1859 edition, The (Old) Farmer’s Almanac counted off “one month from marriage makes a sugar wedding; one year makes a paper wedding” then wood at five, tin for ten, silver for 25, golden at 50, and diamond at 75. Other sources describe a “copper wedding” at twelve and a half years.” When Hallmark got involved with anniversary gift giving in the 1920’s, there was no escape from the traditions....
How Refacing Works Many firms specialize in performing cabinet refacing. A skilled and patient DIYer can also perform cabinet refacing by buying a veneer kit containing the wood veneers and application materials, then special-ordering cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Either way, the process follows the same order: Cabinet doors are removed; drawers are removed and their fronts are removed (the rest of the drawers boxes remain intact). The front portions of the cabinet boxes are covered, either with natural wood veneer or RTF (Rigid Thermofoil), a melamine-based product....
Finding a great comforter for under $50 is rare, which is why the Utopia Bedding Comforter Duvet Insert caught our attention after we saw that it has thousands of positive online reviews. To see if the hype was real, we bought one to test out over several weeks. After numerous nights of shut-eye, we’re here to weigh in on its warmth, material, softness, and durability. Material: Soft polyester One-hundred percent polyester is the go-to choice for both the shell and fill of this down alternative comforter....
What are vintage, antique, and retro style pieces? Vintage, antique, and retro each have their own style characteristics and encompass different items and time periods. Here are some definitions to keep things simple. Antique: An antique item is something that is about 100 years old or older. So in 2022, an item would need to be from 1922 or earlier to generally be considered antique. Examples could include handmade, wooden furnishings, paintings, or other decor items....
Sheets are the foundation of a comfortable bed. You can get the best mattress and the plushest pillows, but if your sheets are thin, scratchy, or pilling, it can ruin your whole bedtime experience. That’s why we made it our mission to find the best cotton sheets out there. The organic cotton and 400-thread-count of the West Elm Percale Sheet Set caught our eye, but we wanted to see if it could deliver on its promise of being West Elm’s “softest sheet set ever....
Just as floors, countertops, and pool tables must be level, vertical elements such columns, walls, and uprights must be plumb for proper construction and load-bearing capacity. The Meanings of Plumb For architects, builders, and carpenters, plumb can be used as a verb, and an adverb—or even a noun. It’s an adjective when it describes something that is perfectly vertical: “The wall is plumb.” It’s a verb when it identifies the action of making something plumb: “You must plumb the post before pouring the footing....
Characteristics of True to Seed True to seed plants are open-pollinated. This means they are pollinated by outside forces, such as bees, animals, wind, or water. True to seed plants (also referred to as true to type) allow you to collect the seeds year after year and still grow the same plant with the same characteristics. For example, if you grow a beefsteak tomato, collect its seeds, and plant them, the resulting plant will create more beefsteak tomatoes....
Specific issues that the building permit process may address include structural integrity of the framing work, zoning, sanitation, water, and sewer lines, fire protection, and electrical service. When Is a Building Permit Needed? Not all home construction and renovation projects require a building permit. In most cases, simple repairs and replacements can be performed by professional contractors or homeowners without applying for a permit. However, any project that involves additions or major changes to your home’s structure or its mechanical systems usually require you to apply for an appropriate permit from the local building department....
How Do I Know if My Faucet Has an Aerator? Faucet aerators first entered homes in the late 1940s as add-on devices that would reduce splashing and help water taste better by introducing oxygen. Today, faucet aerators are standard components on nearly all kitchen and bathroom sinks. However, you can also purchase separate faucet aerators and install them on faucets that are lacking or have broken aerators. As the faucet aerator usually comes assembled, it only needs to be screwed onto the end of the faucet....
History of Queenslander Houses The first Queenslander houses were built in 1850, and today remain one of Australia’s most distinct regional architecture types. Scholar John Freeland once characterized Queenslander homes as having “the strongest regional identity in creation of a native indigenous style.” Queenslander homes are a regional type that were developed as a response to the humid, sub-tropical Queensland climate rather than a singular architectural style. Instead, Queenslander homes were tropical iterations of styles that were being built elsewhere....
The concept of a she shed is similar to that of a man cave in that women have realized they deserve a space to call their own, too. A spot to relax and be alone with their thoughts—with no children or spouses or pets, and maybe even no work, if that’s the purpose of the she shed—has been just the respite many women need to escape life’s many demands and pressures, even for a short time....
In recent years, cotton has garnered attention and a certain degree of notoriety due to the high levels of synthetic pest management products as well as the amount of waste generated. As a result, cotton growers and industry organizations are focusing on ways to reduce synthetic substances and developing new uses and products from cotton crop waste. One of these is cotton burr compost. If you decide to try it in your own garden there are several important factors and questions to consider before making a purchase....
The History of French Colonial Architecture Dating back to the early- to mid-1600s—when French colonists began to arrive in the United States—French Colonial homes are commonly found in areas that were once ruled by France, including sections of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. Louisiana, however, has the greatest concentration of French Colonial homes in the United States. Typically, architectural styles are informed by the environment, surroundings, and tools and materials available for building....
What Low-Voltage Wire Is Low-voltage wiring is insulated wiring with non-metallic sheathing that carries 50 V or less of electricity. By comparison, standard wall outlets found in rooms and hallways are 120 V. Low-voltage wiring is commonly used in the home for thermostats, doorbells, TV cable, and network cable. Low-voltage wire is most often found outside of the home with low-voltage landscape lighting systems. Low-Voltage Wire Gauges American Wire Gauge (AWG) is a standard way of identifying the thickness or gauge of electrically conductive wire....
Although mid-century modern architecture boomed all across America from 1945 to 1969, it’s seen a major resurgence in recent years. Interior decorating styles that draw inspiration from mid-century style, like Scandinavian design and Danish Modern, have made this style accessible to millions of new homeowners. History Taking influences from Bauhaus and American high-prairie style homes, mid-century modern architecture was brought to the United States by European architects fleeing Nazi Germany....
To have a rustic home, you don’t need to live in a log cabin—you just need to put emphasis on the natural and the organic. Most rustic pieces are made from real wood, sometimes only lightly treated or entirely natural. Think reclaimed wood, raw materials, and elements that come directly from the earth. Rustic decor also feels completely unpretentious or stuffy. It’s a type of design that is incredibly approachable and relaxed....
Before You Buy a Bunk Bed A bunk bed is a great way to make the most of the living space available in your child’s bedroom, or if you have a larger family and a bedroom needs to be shared, you can group two of your children together without taking up additional floor space. It also makes it easier for your child to have another child over for sleepovers. As you start to go searching for one, make sure you are prepared to find the right one that will not only fit properly in the room but is well constructed and last for years....
Why Transplant Roses Roses have gotten an undeserved reputation for being difficult to grow. That assertion is largely untrue; in fact, there are many types of roses that are easy to grow for beginning and experienced gardeners alike. Like all plants, roses need certain conditions to grow well and one of the most important of these is the right location. There are several reasons why you might need to transplant your roses....
When to Plant Spring Bulbs: Zones 2 to 3: SeptemberZones 4 to 5: OctoberZones 6 to 7: NovemberZone 8: December How Deep to Plant Your Bulbs To determine planting depth, go by bulb height. Dig a hole three times deeper than the height of the bulb. So for a bulb 1 inch tall, go 3 inches deep. It also matters which way you place the bulb into its hole. Inspect the bulb for either a point or tiny roots....
