Uteliv

Snart april och snart dags att öppna dörrarna till det härliga utelivet. Här i Skåne har de flesta nog varit ute lite redan. Något som jag tycker är jättekul är att planera för hur det ska se ut och ändra och flytta runt. Det är inte alltid att de blir som jag tänkt utan kanske blir det något helt annat. Kanske är det just det som gör det kul. Bilder från Light Locations.

Soon the summer is coming in Sweden and I think we all long for the gardenlife again. Images from Light Locations.

Vilken bra idé!

Elle Interiör har en tävling där det gäller att komma med den bästa göra-om-idén. Av flera bidrag har de tagit ut 10 som man kan rösta på. Den här garderoben som de kallar för 'Ewas rokokogarderob' är ett av bidragen. Kul idé tycker jag.

The swedish magazine Elle Interiör wants you to vote for the best before-after ideas. This is one of the nominees 'Ewas rokokogarderob'.

How to Really Declutter Your Home for Buyers

by: Bob Lipply

Your real estate agent has come to your house to assess what needs to be done to sell it the quickest. The word, "declutter," continues to come up. You assure your agent that you are a very neat person and that everything will be clean when the potential buyers come to view it. Many sellers encounter the same situation each day. What agents wish their clients would understand is that decluttering is more than just keeping the baseboards dust-free and the countertops wiped down. Try some of the following tips and wow your real estate agent, and especially, your buyers.

With pen, paper and clipboard in hand, tour the outside of your home, then the inside. As much as possible, pretend that you don't own the house and even that you've never seen the place. You will quickly see what your real estate agent meant by decluttering when you use this new perspective. Write down anything which is the least bit offensive to the eye, including unruly hoses, toys in the front yard, a busy mantle above the fireplace and newspapers stacked up in the laundry room. The list will seem longer the more times you go through the process. However, the more you notice, the more prepared your home will be for eagle-eyed buyers.

The biggest stumbling block for sellers preparing their home for the market is their lingering attachment to their house. From repainting a room neutral, to taking family photos off the wall, sellers must accept that their time in that particular house is coming to an end. To counteract this mental block, take your most personal items out of rooms first. Get plenty of clear plastic tubs, or boxes to store your items. Treat the decluttering process as if you are preparing a model home for viewing. In order to sell your home, you have to give the buyers room to imagine their personal belongings. Little forward-thinking daydreams about decorating your new abode should also counteract those strong attachments.

A good round of decluttering will often leave you with a pile of boxes and bins to contend with. Although stacking them up in a closet seems like a nice, out-of-the-way option, this may not be the best choice. Consider that closet space is often one of the key selling points for a home. Closets should look as impeccable as possible. This will aid greatly in creating a spacious feeling. If the closets are crowded and messy, the buyer may think that your home is just not big enough, even if it has the square footage they want.

Your garage is the most acceptable place for storage in the mind of the buyers. Of course, not everyone has this luxury. If you can convince a family member, friend, or even a neighbor to let you store those boxes and crates, then take advantage of the opportunity. However, if you really need or want your storage items in the house, then try to stack them up in the least conspicuous place you can find. A playroom or basement can usually stand to have a few of these bins stashed in the corner. Better yet, think about renting a temporary storage facility to house these things.

Despite all your efforts, be prepared to hear your Tampa Bay Florida real estate agent tell you that you still have too many belongings cluttering the house. If this happens, just remember that they're on your side and that they're the expert. Also, remember that a well-decluttered house is your quickest ticket to a "Sold!" sign.

About The Author Bob Lipply is a licensed broker associate with Remax Realtec in Palm Harbor, Florida. He has many years of experience in selling Tampa Bay Florida Real Estate and has helped many families relocate to Florida and find their dream homes. Visit his website at http://www.lipplyrealestate.com or contact him direct at 1-888-423-5775. e-mail address is info@lipplyrealestate.com

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Vita golv - hur göra?

Inget ont om våra svenska ekparketter, men titta så snyggt det blir med ett vitt golv. Men det är inte helt problemfritt, för vilka alternativ finns. Måla ett befintligt trägolv vitt, jo men det känns lite synd om det nu är en vacker fiskbensparkett. Vit klinkers, nja den kalla känslan i vårt klimat. Vit plastmatta, nej usch eller? Epoxygolv eller flytlackat på befintligt betonggolv, visst men slits tydligen lätt och blir repigt förutom att det blir väldigt hårt. Så hur göra - har du något bra tips?

Isn't this white floor just beautiful? Images from Light Locations.

Candle Scents To Enhance the Season: Fall Into Winter

by: Lisa DeClue

To decide on just a few candles is like choosing between eating chocolate and having lots of chocolate to eat… With so many scents to choose from, it's next to impossible to choose just one. This is part two of several articles to follow on choosing candle and fragrance scents for your home.

Having the perfect scent can vitalize my day and scents can improve one’s mood. Citrus scents rejuvenate and create energy, lavender scents are calming, and “holiday” scents are reminiscent of home. And then there’s the primordial magic of the flickering flame and poetry in certain scent combinations. So what do I use to renew myself? Home & Garden Party.

Here are some suggestions for scents that "fit" the months of November through February.

Blueberry Muffin:

Along with Hot Cinnamon Rolls, this one will make you hungry! Soft, warm and delicious.

Christmas Memories:

A little spicy, a lot warm and wonderful, this scent is a must for the holidays. I enjoy it burning with after dinner coffee!

Bahama Breeze:

This breath of fresh ocean air is most welcome during the doldrums of winter.

Crème Brulée:

This is perhaps my favorite fragrance because it is soft and creamy with a warm custard smell. Yummy!

Relax, Spearmint & Eucalyptus:

Fresh, calming with a hint of mint, this is a very soothing scent to have going in the background.

Of course, my favorite way to diffuse scent throughout my home is to use the Home & Garden Party Fragrance Lamp. The lamp uses an alcohol-based “oil” and is wicked up to a heating stone. After allowing the stone to warm for about three minutes, you blow out the flame and enjoy pure, clean fragrance that will permeate an entire floor of your home. It is very useful ridding the house of the stuffy, heated smell of winter indoors and really adds a pleasant aroma.

With refills in spiced apple, lavender, creamy vanilla, citrus infusion, floral medley, woodland breeze and passion flower, there’s at least one to please your nose and your visitors!

Need more suggestions? Read other articles on the Decorating with HGPgal website at: http://www.HGPgal.com/articles.html.

About The Author Lisa DeClue is a WAHM and Owner of Decorating with HGPgal – an information & resource site devoted to beautifying your home. Grab your FREE decorating report by subscribing to her newsletter at: http://www.HGPgal.com/newsletter.html. View the entire Home & Garden Party candle line at: http://www.homeandgardenparty.com/Products. Then return to HGPgal.com to order and join the DecoForum.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Just nu gillar jag...

...svarta väggar. Fondväggar må vara ute eller ej men det är ett effektivt sätt att förändra ett rum så där 'lagom'. Det svarta soffbordet 'C1' från PeterBoy Design känns stilrent och har det där enkla men vackra över sig. Ferm Living har inte bara urtjusiga tapeter och stickers utan också mycket fina kuddar som den här med fåglarna på. Kolla också in deras påslakan.

At the moment I'm very much in to black, like this black wall. The coffeetable 'C1' from Peter Boy Design is very stylish in black. I also like the bird cushions from Ferm Living. So sweet and different. If you havent seen their bedlinen you have to take a look.

Buying a Home - What is a Home Inspection?

by: Raynor James

Any Sally and Sam Homebuyer can look at a home and decide whether it is attractive. They might notice it is freshly painted in pleasing colors, has the requisite number of rooms, a cook’s kitchen and is located in a location with top schools. But what about less obvious parts of the house?

It takes special expertise to determine if the functional parts of a home are in good shape. If you attend an open house, how do you determine if there are plumbing problems, electrical problems, structural problems, drainage problems, the condition of heating and air conditioning equipment and the condition of literally hundreds of other items that could cause concern?

Enter the home inspector.

A home inspector is trained to be a detective in regard to the construction and working parts of homes. It is not an exact science.

The home inspector cannot tear into things, so they can’t always see everything they’d like to. They do, however, come equipped with ladders, strong flashlights, and devices to measure various things related to plumbing, electrical and other necessary home items. Importantly, a home inspector will also typically bring a digital camera to photograph problems such as roof shingles not lying flat, signs of mildew from leaking pipes and construction that doesn’t comply with building codes. They don’t miss much.

It’s a good idea for the buyer to be present during the home inspection. If you ask them to, home inspectors will usually explain how things work to you. This is important as they can show you where cut off valves are, how to remove filters for cleaning or replacement and tell you how often various maintenance chores need to be done. This information can be very valuable if you ultimately purchase the property.

It’s also a good idea to ask the home inspector if there are any particular tests they would perform if they were buying the home. For example, radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas which is a carcinogen) can be a problem in some parts of the country. It can be detected, measured, and, if levels are above EPA standards, there are procedures to deal with it successfully. A home inspector can help identify such issues for you.

It’s easy to see that a home inspection can provide a wealth of valuable information. While it is easy to fall in love with a listed home, a home inspector can be the key to avoiding disastrous discoveries down the line.

About The Author Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - an online site providing national exposure for sellers listing properties and a database of properties for buyers.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Inspiration - orange

Inget lättar upp en tråkig miljö så som orange. Bilder från fotograf Alexander van Berge.

Nothing works as good as orange if you want some change. Images from photographer Alexander van Berge.

Retro shopping

Är du ute efter en dansk klassisk designmöbel och vill få tag i ett original med högsta kvalitet så ska du bege dig till Bredgade i Köpenhamn. Där finns butiken Klassik på nr 3 och även Dansk Möbelkunst på nr 32, som båda specialiserat sig på danska designklassiker.

På svenska sidan finns naturligtvis lite alternativ. I Malmö finns Dcentury på N Neptunigatan. Här kan du hitta skandinavisk keramik, konst och danska möbelklassiker. (De har även en butik i Stockholm). Obs på Neptunigatan är det endast öppet efter överenskommelse, så ring innan.

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Bakom domkyrkan i Lund finns Zimmerdahl som har en härlig blandning av klassiska möbler, tyger, prydnadssaker, mattor, tavlor m m. Bilden är från deras showroom på Raffinadgatan.

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Gillar du retroprylar från 50-60-70-talet kan jag varmt rekommendera 'Precis en sån' som har massor av kul. Butiken finns på Kastellgatan i Malmö.

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If you want to fin an original classic danish furniture you should visit Bredgade in Copenhagen where you can find two shops 'Klassik' and 'Dansk Möbelkunst' who sells only the best in this genre. If you then take the bridge over to Sweden you can find some good retro shops too. Here are a few examples 'Dcentury', 'Zimmerdahl' and 'Precis en sån'.

Blanda med stil

En blandning av prylar från olika delar av världen och av olika material från olika tidsepoker. Allt blir harmoniskt och stilrent med hjälp av den enkla färgskalan. Svartbrunt och vitt. Fotograf Johanna Henderson.

All kind of different things mixed together gets stylish and beautiful because of the one simple trick. The colour scheme of black and white. Photographer Johanna Henderson.

Stilfull romantik

Vacker dansk våning med känsla för både stil och romantik. Bilder från Boligmagasinet.

Stylish danish apartment with a romantic oldfasion touch. Images from Boligmagasinet.

Do-not-touch

Visst är de lite söta tekopparna med en liten buddha i botten eller koppen och ägget med guldvingar. Från Touch, Estúdio Manos. Via Favoriter.

Aren't these just adorable, the teacups with the little buddha or the cups and egg with goldwings. From Touch, Estúdio Manos. Via Favoriter.

Stained Glass Can Add Elegance To Your Home

by: Sarah Peters

If there is one way to throw a new light on your home, it's through the stained glass you put in your windows. Whether you want to enhance old windows by replacing some of the panes, or are complementing the new Pella windows you've installed, stained glass can lend an air of grace and quiet elegance to a room.

Where and how you incorporate stained glass into a window treatment depends a great deal on the style of windows you have, and what you want to spend to achieve that multi- colored glow.

In an older home that has wood framed windows with six or nine panes, it's possible to take out the upper row of glass, and replace those panes with new ones cut from older stained glass that can be salvaged from yard sales, flea markets and auctions.

New stained glass that is handmade, can be quite costly due to the craftsmanship that goes into it. That's why cutting old panels of stained glass is a cost-effective alternative, that can give you several panes from one sheet. Even if the glass has small cracks or separations in the colored sections, they are easily repaired.

If you have installed a Pella casement window in your kitchen, a semi-circle of stained glass framed and set into the wall over top, will add jewel tones to the warmth of morning sunlight. Or you might choose to replace the entire bathroom window with stained glass, making it a decorative way to preserve your privacy.

The old and the new can come together in harmony. Take a look at your home and consider whether you'd like to warm up the house with stained glass, or combine it with the sophistication of new Pella windows. It's a pairing guaranteed to create a unique new look.

About The Author Sarah Peters works at home, and spends most of her free time on various home improvement tasks. Over a few years, she had all her house windows replaced. In this series of articles, she shares her experience and advice. sarah_article@yahoo.com

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Glad Påsk

Med den här lilla söta löken i en äggkopp vill jag önska alla en glad och skön påskhelg. Bilderna kommer från Sköna Hems reportage 'Blomsternjutning'.

Happy Easter everyone. Images from Sköna Hem.

Ljuvlig mix

Ljuvligt och lite avslappnat tokigt på samma gång. Kan inte låta bli att fundera på om det verkligen är tänkt att det ska vara den här mixen eller det bara blivit så, eller är det tänkt att det ska se ut som om det bara blivit så... Bilderna på huset från Shootspaces. Via Desire to Inspire.

Lovely and relaxed in a strange mix. From Shootspaces. Via Desire to Inspire.

Spotlights i taket för bra allmänljus

Får ofta förfrågan om vad man ska sätta i taket om man tycker om infällda hallogenlampor men inte har möjlighet att bygga in. Här är ett exempel 'Light On Halogen' från Ifö Electric. Bygger bara 11 cm ner från taket, du slipper dessutom problematiken med brandrisken.

Small spotlights for a room where you're not able to build in ... (I honestly have no idea how to explain this in english.. sorry).

Selecting The Right Drapes For Your Home

by: Ciara McNamara

Practically every house-proud homeowner wants to make the most of their home in terms of décor, and an integral part of achieving the perfect look for your property is getting the right drapes for each room. Because the theme and décor in a home can vary from one room to the next, it is important to consider a number of factors before selecting your window coverings. Some of the factors you need to consider when selecting drapes is the type of room you are buying for, the size of the windows, the type of ambiance you wish to create for the room, and the design and décor of the room. For instance, if you are buying drapes for your kids’ bedrooms, heavy elaborate covering would look a little odd and could work out quite costly, whereas lighter coverings with simple designs could prove ideal. On the other hand, if you have a room that is reserved for entertaining, where the décor is rich and elaborate, the heavier window treatments could fit in nicely. A family room used for relaxing might benefit from simply designed and easy to maintain coverings, whereas a kitchen might fare better with café style drapes or even blinds. Each room requires careful thought and consideration before you make any firm decision with regards to the right coverings for the windows.

Enjoy a great choice of fabrics, colors, and designs

Whatever the design and decoration of each of your rooms, you should have no problem finding the ideal coverings for the windows amongst the vast choice available. From simple, easy to maintain coverings designed for rooms with heavy traffic or children and pets to rich, luxurious coverings with elaborate patterns and sumptuous fabrics, you can the right covers for every room in the home. Having the perfect drapes to complement the décor in a room can really inject life into the room, helping you to achieve both the look and the ambiance you are looking for. If you are carrying out a home improvement program, finding window coverings to suit each individual room can really make a difference to the overall finish of your improvements, and can give each room a whole new look.

Choose ready made coverings or create your own

For those confident when it comes to sewing and design, you can get some incredible drapery materials at really affordable prices, and these can be used to make your own coverings depending on your needs. If you are not confident enough to make your own, you will find a vast choice of ready made coverings designed for all sorts of rooms in the home, from bedrooms and living rooms, to dining rooms and kitchens, so you can ensure that every room in the home boasts the perfect drapes to complement the décor. You can often get excellent deals on both ready made coverings and a wide choice of materials online, giving you an even better chance of finding the ideal window treatments for use throughout your home.

About The Author Ciara McNamara reveals for http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com, a source on tips and tricks. The writer is writing on subjects such as drapes ( http://www.curtains-drapes-coverings.com/drapes.html ).

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Grosfillex Resin Patio Furniture Sets

by: Cat Greenbriar

Getting quality patio furniture sets of Grosfillex resin.

When shopping for patio furniture, many people are looking for furniture that is elegant, but is also convenient and long lasting. These factors are even more important for commercial settings, where saving money and retaining value are paramount. Grosfillex is one of newest advents in patio furniture material, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular.

Grosfillex Resin patio furniture sets are made to look just like wicker or metal chairs, and adds elegance to any outdoor patio seating. They come in amazing colors that make it look like real wood, even bronze or wrought iron. Resin patio chairs are built with a contoured design that makes them ergonomically comfortable for the back. Resin chaise lounges are built in a solid one piece construction, designed for comfort, support, and adjustability. The sling and resin frame constructed with elastic cords offer excellent shape maintenance. Upholstered fabric can even be embroidered with the company logo for an official, elegant look.

Grosfillex Resin furniture has many great advantages in maintenance that make it perfect for commercial settings. Designed and engineered for commercial resorts and food service business, Grosfillex resin furniture is resistant to salt air, chlorine, and common environmental and food stains, and cleans easily with warm, soapy water. Grosfillex resin furniture is also constructed with UV stabilizers that keep the plastic color from fading in the sunlight. Fabrics used for resin patio furniture are also built for strength and color fastness, and are also treated for mildew resistance.

All the advantages listed above make Grosfillex resin furniture an easy choice for any commercial patio or outdoor setting. The furniture meets the guidelines of the American Society of Testing and Materials, which set standards for plastic furniture and make it safe to use in any commercial environment. Grosfillex patio furniture sold at retail furniture stores is very different than the commercial line of Grosfillex patio furniture. Therefore, any business owner interested should know that their business needs will be better met purchasing their outdoor furniture through the commercial line.

Whether purchasing for the home or for a business, Grosfillex is an excellent choice, supported by it brand name, which you can trust to uphold guarantees for a long lasting and low maintenance patio furniture set.

About The Author Cat Greenbriar writes for PatioStuff at www.ettflorida.com. Please visit the site at www.ettflorida.com/resin-patio-chairs.html for some of the greatest deals on Grosfillex resin patio chairs and also at www.ettflorida.com/resin-chaise-lounge.html for some great selections on Grosfillex resin patio chaise lounge chairs.

Improving your home and your life only at Home Improvement Idea : http://home-improvement-idea.blogspot.com

Clarissa Hulse

Lampskärmar, kuddar, överkast och tapeter med motiv hämtade från naturen. Vackra siluetter av grenar, blommor och blad i en svartvit bas med inslag av neonfärger i gult, blått och cerise. På bilderna nedan serien 'Urban Jungle Range' från Clarissa Hulse.

At Clarissa Hulse you can find lampshades, cushions, wallpaper, covers etc with lovely silhoulettes prints inspired from the nature. This collection in black and white with neoncolours is called 'Urban Jungle Range'.