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Feng Shui and the Front Door In Feng Shui, the front door is one of the most important areas of the home. From a purely practical perspective, your front door allows you to come and go out of your home. It’s the first thing visitors see when they stop by, and the “face” your home puts on for the world. Energetically, a front door can also represent how energy (both good and bad) and opportunities flow in and out of your life....

1. Carpeting Warm and soft to the feet, available in a nearly endless range of colors and even patterns, budget-friendly and helpful in dampening sound and controlling room temperature: it’s no wonder carpet is the hands-down favorite flooring choice for the bedroom. There are two major categories of carpet: cut pile and loop pile. As the name suggests, the tips of the fiber loops are cut with cut pile carpeting and left uncut and looped on loop pile carpets....

Why Birds Hit Windows Despite having exceptional sight, birds have a difficult time seeing glass. Instead, they see the reflection of the sky and plants in the glass. This looks like a safe area to fly, particularly if the birds are startled or threatened. Even at night, when reflections are minimal, lighted windows can be disorienting to migratory birds, causing them to collide with skyscrapers, office buildings, and other illuminated windows or glass walls....

Appliance manufacturers claim that less water and energy is wasted when using a dishwasher than washing your dishes by hand. If you need to prewash all of your dishes before you pop them in the dishwasher, though, this theory obviously doesn’t hold up. If your dishwasher is past its prime, it’s time to research new options. The Bosch Ascenta Series Top Control Tall Tub Dishwasher claims to be a sustainable appliance that cuts down on water waste while maintaining sanitary excellence, but with such an affordable price point, it’s easy to be skeptical of such claims....

Brass buttons can be planted in the spring or fall, generally from potted nursery starts or root divisions. Its rhizomes spread quickly to form dense mats, and it is listed as somewhat invasive in parts of California. Over time, as the soil becomes compacted, a colony may lose its vigor and die back. This is the signal to dig up the area, loosen the soil with organic material, and replant the divisions to restore the groundcover....

This butler’s pantry from oakleyhomebuilders is the perfect way to use up extra hall space off of a kitchen. Not only does it have tons of natural light, but it also features a mini-fridge and enough prep space for mixing cocktails and plating food. A butler’s pantry can easily double as a wet bar, allowing you to mix the perfect cocktail for your guests. If you are looking for inspiration to build the perfect pantry, we’ve rounded up our favorite ideas here....

Even if you have hardwood floors, chances are there’s a rug somewhere in your home. Whether you’re cleaning carpets or rugs, there comes a day when you need a carpet cleaner to help remove dirt, spills, and stains. Capture’s Carpet & Rug Dry Cleaner claims to clean carpets of all types, including stain-resistant and wool carpets. If anything, a carpet cleaner should at least make a dent in stains, help remove odors, and (hopefully) be easy to use....

Get to Know Celosia Part of the Amaranthaceae family, plants in the Celosia genus grow as warm weather annuals in all growing zones. In spite of the fact that there are about 60 species of celosia, most garden varieties are members of the argentea and spicata species. Within these species, you’ll discover tall spiky flowers, dense feathery plumes, and bizarre coral-like blooms in vibrant colors. The foliage of most celosia types is green, but some varieties have burgundy or bronze leaves....

Let’s be honest: sourcing unique, one-of-a-kind pieces for our homes is the ultimate dream—but it’s often much harder than it sounds. So when Anne Hepfer, luxury interior designer and upcoming author of MOOD, shared her go-to resource for incredible finds, we were all ears. What item made your work life easier this week/month/lately? Anne Hepfer: Sourcing on 1stDibs, the luxury online marketplace responsible for pushing the antique business into the 21st century....

This pairing brings up all sorts of interesting questions. Is the brown warming up the blue, or is the blue popping off of the neutral brown? Either way, the result is surprisingly cool. Beyond the color scheme, the key to keeping this look modern is in the furniture and accessories. The clean lines give the room a sleek and contemporary look accented by the unique color palette.

Small Containers When it comes to tomato containers, bigger is better. The bigger your container, the more soil it will hold. The more soil in the container, the more it holds water. Also, the more soil, the more available nutrients for your plants. Consistent water and food are two of the most critical elements for happy, healthy tomato plants and large harvests. Too Much Water Watering your tomato plants properly is the key to tomato success....

Fast Facts Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgarisCommon Name: European Starling, Common Starling, StarlingLifespan: 2-3 yearsSize: 8-9 inchesWeight: 2-3 ouncesWingspan: 12-15 inchesConservation Status: Least concern European Starling Identification These are stocky birds with short, stubby tails. Males and females are identical with allover black plumage highlighted with an iridescent green and purple gloss on the head, back, nape, flanks, and chest. After molting in late summer, these birds have buff, whitish, or brownish tips to their feathers, giving them a heavily spotted look, though the spots wear off by spring....

A concrete floor is extremely strong and durable, and if it is properly installed and maintained, it can last for as long as you own the house. And the design options are remarkably diverse. But concrete is also very hard and cold underfoot, and it is a practical choice only where there is an existing concrete slab, such as in homes with slab-on-grade foundations, or in the basements of homes built over basement foundations....

Because standard base cabinets/countertops are usually 24 to 25 inches deep, and standard refrigerators are between 30 and 34 inches deep, the refrigerator may extend out as much as 5 to 10 inches beyond the plane of the cabinet faces. This can make for a clumsy-looking room design, and can even interrupt traffic flow. An increasingly popular solution to this design dilemma is a counter-depth appliance, which has a shallower profile that keeps the appliance in-line with the cabinets and countertops....

Crassula plants range from annuals to perennials, herbaceous or woody plants, groundcovers to shrubs to small trees. Many species are small, including some miniatures and creeping groundcovers. Nearly all crassula plants grow slow and steady, and can be tended to and cared for all year round when kept indoors. Crassula plants can be toxic to pets. Given their low water needs, jade plants and other crassula species are ideal for people who tend to neglect their plants....

These activities are for all ages of kids but tweens and teens will really love these unique Easter egg hunt ideas because they’re more challenging. Adults might even want to get in on the action as well! Easter Egg Hunt Trophies from Lovely Indeed Egg Popper Tree from Studio DIY! Glow In the Dark Easter Egg Hunt from A Few Shortcuts Easter Egg Hunt Tokens from Life as Mom Easter Egg Privilege Cards from Over the Big Moon Alphabet Easter Egg Hunt and Match from I Can Teach My Child Easter Egg Hunt Clues from Edventures With Kids Printable Easter Egg Hunt Checklist from A Mom’s Take Exercise Eggs from No Time for Flash Cards Easter Scavenger Hunt from Happiness is Homemade Egg Number Identification and Counting Game from Coffee Cups and Crayons Color Matching Easter Egg Hunt from Sew Many Ways Puzzle Easter Egg Hunt from It’s Always Autumn Magic Jelly Bean Garden from Southern State of Mind Easter Egg Hunt Signs from Morena’s Corner Printable Easter Egg Notes from Growing Up Gabel Easter Egg Tag from Get Your Holiday On Easter Hidden Message from Moms & Munchkins