Posted by Larimer Associates on 7:34 AM
Who doesn't love saving money? A couple extra dollars can go a long way. But sometimes paying a couple extra bucks is really worth it. That's why when it comes to these 6 products, it's worth a little extra cost to get the good stuff. Check out "Worth The Splurge: The 6 Household Products We'd NEVER Skimp On"!
It's time to treat yo' self. When you're standing in the store aisle, there are some things that are just worth the extra pennies. What makes our list? Read on.
TP — As far as daily quality of life goes, non-scratchy toilet paper is a small splurge that's waaay worth it.
Bathroom towels — A relaxing shower feels so much more so with a big, fluffy finish. Don't try to dry yourself with a skimpy, threadbare towel ever again.
Tools — Even if you're less than handy around the house, everyone needs a few basic tools. Make sure yours are good quality — they'll be easier to use and last you forever. Wouldn't you rather buy one good screwdriver than five cheap ones? Yep, us too.
Sheets — It may not be as much as you'd like, but you still spend a good chunk of your life in bed. Your sheets should feel good, not pill, and hold up through many, many washes. The way to get that is to spend a little more up front.
Paint — No need to break the bank, but a mid-priced gallon of paint will not only cover better (fewer coats so you can use less!), it will look better and last long-term.
Knives — If you're a great cook then you deserve great knives. If you're NOT a great cook, you need them even more. A sharp, professional knife that fits your hand is easier and much safer to use and might even encourage your to eat in more often. No need for a set here, one or two multi-purpose models will do you just fine. Tell us, what's on your must-splurge list?
Posted by Larimer Associates on 7:50 AM
The amount of light in your home can have a dramatic effect on how you feel while you're there. Though your unit may have windows that let in natural light, as the days get shorter you may find your sunlight lacking.
Though it may seem impossible, brightening up your home on these shorter days doesn't need to be a chore. Just follow a few of these tips courtesy of Apartment Guide to get feeling good about your space.
Whether you add a few additional lamps or get creative with hanging lights, plenty of ways exist to keep your rental bright throughout the winter. We’ve gathered a few of the best tips for brightening your rental space through the use of lighting.
(Image courtesy of joan!ta)
Keep Shades Light
Since you probably want to avoid drilling into the ceiling of your rental, much of your lighting is bound to be in the form of floor lamps or end table lamps. The good news is that lamp shades offer an opportunity to really show off your style, so you can handle the whole daylight savings time issue with grandeur.
Floor Lamps
To keep your apartment as bright as possible, stick to light-colored lamps shades. Think white, cream, light gray, or similar hues when selecting a lamp shade. Darker lamp shades will filter out a considerable amount of light and may leave you sitting in the dark.
String Additional Lighting
If you still need more light once you have lamps set up, consider buying string lights, also known as fairy lights. While you may associate this type of lighting with the twinkle lights around a Christmas tree, there are other options available.
Designers now offer string lights with large bulbs, black or silver string, and a sleek modern look. Buy a decorative wooden ladder and string lights around it; set up your pyramid shelves in the corner and adorn the piece with string lights; or simply string them around a window.
Accessorize with Wireless Lights
Some rentals have a limited number of electrical outlets, and rewiring your home is not an option as a renter. Turn to wireless lighting that operates on battery power and is extremely mobile. Wireless LED candles, for instance, offer ambiance and go on with the flip of a switch.
Best of all, faux candles don’t pose the same fire hazard as an actual candle. Tap lights are also wireless and a good way to illuminate shelves or other small spaces. These lights are typically small and round, activated when you apply a small amount of pressure to the top of the light.
Use Mirrors to Maximize Lighting
Add a few mirrors to your rental space if you don’t have a lot of room or money for new lighting. Mirrors propped up against your walls won’t damage the drywall, and can reflect light from your lamps and other home lighting.
Mirrors create the illusion of more lighting sources, and doubles the amount of light that bounces around your apartment. Place larger mirrors next to a floor lamp and small wall mirrors adjacent to end tables with a lighting fixture.
Space Out Your Lighting
Now that your space is outfitted with several floor lamps, a few strands of string lights, and a handful of large mirrors–take a moment to consider the placement of each piece. Don’t put all the lighting in your living room, for instance, while neglecting to consider your dining nook.
Instead, space out your lighting fixtures. Put at least one light source near each corner of larger rooms. Place your mirrors within a few feet of a lighting fixture; this allows them to better reflect the light out into the rest of your space.
Lighting your new apartment should be at the top of your daylight savings to-do list. If you neglect to properly light your apartment, you will soon realize that it’s not possible to enjoy all of your lovely decor in the dark.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 8:01 AM
We'd like to wish everyone out there a happy and healthy 2015!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 8:35 AM
Merry Christmas to everyone out there! Safe travels!
Posted by Larimer Associates on 8:17 AM
If you're like us, your bedroom is the one place in your home where you feel like you can be completely unique with your design. Unlike the living room, bathroom and kitchen there's not nearly as much traffic that comes through - leaving the space almost completely to you.If you're getting bored with your personal space, don't panic. There are plenty of ways to update your look without completely overhauling your decor. Just follow a few of these simple tips courtesy of Apartment Therapy and you'll be on your way to a revamped bedroom.
(Image courtesy of Emily May)
1. Paint the walls — or just one wall — in a really bold (but still soothing) color.
2. Add a colorful coverlet to your bed.
3. Layer rugs on rugs for an eclectic look.
4. DIY a big, puffy headboard for a super cozy look.
5. Hang an oversized piece of art above your bed.
6. Or hang a small piece off center, for a touch of the unexpected.
7. Or go one further and add a gallery wall behind the bed.
8. Choose traditional nightstands to add a little texture to a modern space.
9. Add an oversized plant.
10. If your bedroom is big enough, pull your bed away from the wall and let it be the center of attention.
11. Paint a smaller piece (like your nightstand) in an eye-popping color.
12. Hang a mobile above your bed, because why should babies have all the fun?
13. Pair two mismatched nightstands for a little contrast.\
14. Hang a rug (or a funky textile) over the head of your bed.
15. Use one or more low tables as a nightstand...
16. And lean art on top of them.
17. A simple bulb, with the cord looped a few times around a hook hanging from the wall, makes for a funky bedside light.
18. Hang a picture ledge over the top of your bed and use it to display a rotating selection of artwork.
19. Create an accent wall behind the bed with some funky wallpaper. (This one is 'Genuine Fake Books' by Deborah Bowness.)
20. Take the 'rug as headboard' look to a whole new level with an oversized sisal rug. (This one is from Eco Chic.)
21. Lean an antique ladder against the wall and cover it with string lights for some unusual atmospheric lighting.
22. Hang a metal wall sculpture above the bed. (Find one at an antique shop or on Ebay.)
23. Wrap a gallery wall around a corner.
24. Hang a curtain behind the head of the bed — it's easier than a canopy, but still gives a soft, classic feel.
25. Hang a mirror on the curtain for a little sparkle.
26. An Otomi quilt will bright up your room on even the darkest of days.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 10:58 AM
Are you hosting a holiday get together this year? You may be stressed, but there are a few things that are not worth stressing over. Your guests want to have a good time, but they do not need everything to be perfect. Here are three focus points for your dinner party, and a few things you should not worry about. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.
What to not focus on:
Having a picture-perfect setting. We all want to put our best foot forward, but holding your home to shelter mag standards is hardly necessary. So there are some half-built shelves in the living room; string some fairy lights on them and call in a feature! Putting off a party because your house isn't up to par only results in missed opportunities. Same goes for cleanliness. While I'd never advise having guests over without at least a quick clean, focus on the things that matter: a sparkling bathroom, relatively dust-free surfaces, a clutter-free living room. No one will care if your medicine cabinet or fridge are organized, and no one will notice if the walls in the entryway need a scrub. Low lighting and the distraction of good conversation can work wonders.
Whether all the food is homemade. As someone who loves to cook and entertain, I've fallen into this trap more than once. Serving an array of finger food while guests arrive? Better make three kinds of flatbreads and homemade hummus, then. Store-bought ice cream with that pie? Not at my dinner party! This, quite frankly, is exhausting and ridiculous. If you can swing a 100% homemade meal, by all means go for it, but otherwise, cut yourself some slack. Good breads, cheeses and olives always go down a treat as pre-dinner nibbles, as does a bakery-bought dessert if you're not a natural baker. Even consider ordering in the main if that's your thing: as long as it's tasty and abundant, no one will care where it came from.
The group dynamic. When mixing friend groups, it's easy to worry about whether everybody will hit it off. Equal numbers of guys and girls, whether every guest has a "buddy" other than you: my advice is not to worry about these things, and choose your guests based on their fab and mesh-able personalities. Think about it like this: you're an awesome person with awesome taste in friends. All yours friends are thus, similarly awesome. Everyone will be friends by the time dessert rolls around, anyway.
Instead, focus your energy here:
Presentation. While I'm not suggesting Martha levels of prep are always necessary, I do think that presentation is the best way to make your guests think they're getting a Michelin-star meal (even if you did buy half of it at the deli around the corner). Toss a simple salad on a beautiful platter, arrange the cheeseboard with care. Don't ignore the table either: flowers, candles, place cards if you're so inclined— all will create the sense of a considered, yet effortless, occasion.
Abundance. It's always better to have too much food and drink than too little. Offer more dessert, even if everyone is stuffed. Bring out tea and coffee. Heck, send guests home with leftovers for their lunch the next day! I keep cheap plastic take-out containers around for this purpose, and it's a huge compliment when someone eagerly takes me up on the offer.
Enjoyment. If you're enjoying yourself, so will your guests. Answer the door with a drink in your hand and a smile on your face. If you're stuck in the kitchen for a bit, take up an offer to join you and help. They came to see you, after all.
Posted by Larimer Associates on 11:44 AM
Are you traveling for the holidays? If you are staying with a friend or family member, it is very important to be a respectful houseguest. Hosting guests is very stressful, but you can help make it easier for your loved one. Read over these tips, and you can comment below with some tips of your own. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.
Keep your belongings, neatly, in your room.
As someone who aspires, at least, to keep her house in order, I really appreciate it when my guests do their best to keep their suitcases and extra belongings in their designated areas. Of course, items like coats and shoes (which we don't wear in the house), are left out, and I am happy when guests take it upon themselves to notice where they belong and put them there.
Take care of your own special needs.
If your hostess asks about things you can't (or prefer not to) eat, it's okay to be honest— to a point. But if you have specific dietary or health needs, it's nice to take care of them yourself rather than expecting your hostess to learn about and provide for your needs. For instance, before I was more familiar with gluten-free diets and before gluten-free alternatives were ubiquitous, a houseguest of mine brought her own gluten-free pasta. I appreciated her foresight and consideration — and that, for the sake of my preparations, she told me she would do this beforehand.
Fit in.
Try to notice the rhythms and rituals of your hosts. If their habit is to sit and eat around the table together, join them rather than grazing, even if that's what you're used to. If your hosts enjoy conversation once all the kids are down, spend some time with them even if all you want to do is go to bed yourself! On the other hand, if you know your hosts go to bed earlier than you do, assure them that you're fine up on your own or even retreat to your space so your hosts feel comfortable leaving the common area as well.
Strip the sheets.
This could depend on how well you know your hosts, but this act, to me, shows a thoughtfulness about the practical side of having houseguests and a willingness to help however possible — and this means a lot. If you're not on a do-my-laundry-in-your-washer level of familiarity, leave the bed linens and towels in a tidy pile. Otherwise, if you can swing it, do the sheets and put them back on the bed. My mother always does this, and recent houseguests did this for me and what a relief! How nice to leave your host's place even better than when you got there.
