I like a lot of dark colors. I’m big on romance and intimacy, so it’s no surprise I take to things that offer quite a bit of ambiance… like sconces.

Anyway, I just purchased two candle sconce sets today. One set for my living room and another for my hallway. The living room I’m not so concerned about, but the hallway…

Well… I either made a big mistake or I chose well. The candle sconces are really nice, I’m just not sure how well they’ll work with my hallway. I think they’re going to look good but I’ll show you the results–good or bad–when they arrive.

What I plan to do is place them on the two short walls that frame my kitchen doorway. Later I will compliment the sconces with an accent picture (or something like that) on the corresponding wall.

If I didn’t goof it up then they should flow well with the colors from my living room. As you may know from my video clips–my living room is full of dark colors.

Please Lord, don’t let me have goofed this up…

Bookmark this page...

More »

In my last post I spoke about the best beaded curtains to purchase. Well, I got the Bob Marley beaded curtain. In the photos above you can see through it. However I got a black curtain (54″ W x 84″ H) at Walmart and placed it behind the beaded curtain. My mother cut the curtain in half for me and sewed it into two panels. We then placed it on a tension rod and hung it up. It looks great.

The last 3 photos above show what the beaded curtain looks like with the black curtain behind it. It doesn’t look much different. The colors just look a tad bit richer… and of course you can no longer see behind the curtain.

I put this curtain up to conceal my coat closet because it’s used for my dog. His dog potty is in there and some storage supplies. I wanted a way for my dog to get to his potty without having to open and close the door when he was done. He also likes to sleep in there sometime.

Bookmark this page...

More »

Bob Marley Beaded Curtains

When you’re looking for a beaded door curtain to divide and add style to your small space, it might help to know if you’re looking specifically for a beaded curtain that will be as close to the real thing (door) as possible, you should narrow your search down to beaded curtains that have 90 or more strands on them. Those will have the strands really close together so there are as little gaps as possible.

If you want to go up on quality a bit then you can go solely for ones that have 135 strands on them. With those you’re going to pretty much feel like you have a door and won’t feel self-conscious about people seeing past into the other room.

But don’t get me wrong, the 90 strands are really good too, so don’t rule them out. You should be very pleased with those as well.

If you’re going for a plain beaded door hanging, then finding ones with 90 strands are a little more common, but it isn’t impossible to find ones with 135 strands. But if you’re going for painted beaded curtains (like the Bob Marley beaded curtains above), then you’ll have no problem finding some of those with 135 strands.

And on the contrary, if you want beaded curtains that feel light and airy–ones with plenty of space between each strand, then you should rule out beaded door hangings with a count of 90 strands or more.

Bookmark this page...

More »

Not everyone in a house is tall; that is the main concept behind the creation of this Staircase, designed by the Shanghai based designer Danny Kuo. The Staircase is actually a bookcase that features sling out shelves.

If for instance you need a book placed on the upper shelf, but you are not tall enough to get it, you can simply pull the lower shelves out and use them as steps of a ladder. Shelves used as ladders are not a new concept, but the Staircase can be put anywhere and it’s very simple in creation and execution.

The design allows you to take advantage of high ceilings but still have an easily accessible piece of furniture in your apartment, especially if you are vertically challenged.

The Staircase can also be used instead of ladder if you want to reach a lofted area for storage. It is a practical and sleek storage furniture piece.

Bookmark this page...

More »

The Transformer Shelf is a uniquely designed concept for convertible shelving. The concept was designed by Martin Sammer who was born in Munich, and studied design in Germany. The concept of this shelving unit allows you to constantly rearrange the structure of the shelf.

Consumers can help design their own individual Transformer Shelf to fit their own specific needs for space, as well as their own unique decorating ideals. A prototype of the Transformer-Shelf has been built. It was recently on display in the contemporary arts museum located in Germany.

Their visitors were allowed to examine and try out this unique convertible shelving concept. There is no date set for production of this convertible shelving concept. However, it will probably be in the near future. The Transformer-Shelf would be a great addition to any home. With the efficient storage space and the ability to help create your own, the Transformer Shelf is sure to be a bit hit.

Bookmark this page...

More »

If you want to save space and want good lighting at the same time don’t forget you can use track lighting. And before you cross it off the list, there is track lighting that will allow you to plug it into an outlet rather than fumbling with the distributor box and having to deal with the electrical issues that come with it.

It’s great for home offices. I can vouch for this since I just got a track light kit for my home office. Check out the picture above. You can even see the cord hanging down (which I will work on hiding discreetly soon enough).

I got mine at Lowes. The track light and the outlet cord came to around $60 when purchased together.

The kit I got is called a “Portfolio 3 Light Pinhole Track Kit (item #233052)” and the cord that allows you to plug it into an outlet has to be purchased separately and it’s called a “Track Live End Power Connector with Plug and Cord (item #232974).”

The track kit itself cost around $49 and the cord cost around $9. This is without taxes included.

Note:You can also search for these items at Lowes.com but note that they may not necessarily come up in the system. This may be due to the Lowes using a different item number than the manufacturer.


So please keep that in mind. You just may need to physically go there to find what you want and come across a larger selection like I did.

You’ll notice I have the lights directed so that they light the area and provide artificial lighting for my plants at the same time.

Bookmark this page...

More »

Are you an avid reader like me? Maybe you like to read more than you like to watch TV? If so, then you might find it annoying to deal with library books lying all over the place. Maybe you want a strategic system that will allow you to handle a multitude of books?

For some reason, for me the closet just won’t do. I’ll put them in there and then find I can’t sort through the books well and a day or two later they end up all over the place. So, what I did to remedy this problem is use a shelf in my home office and dedicate it to all the library books I check out.

The books are displayed on a shelf like the books I own. And since I usually check out more when I take others back, there’s always a stash to keep the shelf looking nice with a selection of books.

Note: Keep in mind you can do this with bookcases at home as well. You don’t necessarily have to go out and purchase a shelving system. Look around your home first and see if there’s something that you can use that’s already there–a system tailored to your needs.

I have used a small decorative shelf that I purchased from Lowes for about $10. However, I think I’ll return and get a shelving system that will go down my wall (one that will look a lot less plain). It will then allow me to use the two shelf for library books and the others for a few other things lying around in my home that would look nice on display.

Bookmark this page...

More »

My guess is that you are, if you’re checking out this discussion.

So, it’s great you dropped by, because before you go off and buy one, there are some key features you should be aware of that may inevitably change your buying decision.

I know you may already have the type of fan you want in mind, but take it from me… it’s best not to write it in stone just yet. It’s a good idea to prepare yourself for the chance that you might end up going with something completely different after we talk over the details.

It’s true… the market is flooded with different types, brands and sizes of fans. However, today we’re going to concentrate specifically on certain types of fans. Simply because they factor into what you’re looking for, whereas chances are good that others don’t.

So, what are the fans that we’re going to talk about today?

• Pedestal fans
• Tower fans
• Wall-mounted fans

Once we’ve talked about important features and the pros and cons of each fan type, you can then decide what you want and select your fan based on that.

There are a range of features you could concentrate on, and although they’re mildly important, ultimately you’ll find that only a few relevant details will have a bearing on what choice you make.

So, let’s talk about them right now…

Is the Fan Quiet Enough?

Obviously, noise factor is a very essential feature when it comes to deciding what fan you want. So, one of the first things you’re going to want to look for is a fan that operates quietly. It should be able deliver good air flow and yet still remain moderately quiet.

Why is obvious but let me give you a good example that can make it even clearer.

Imagine a hot summer’s day–you’ve popped in a Blockbuster movie, you’re chillin’ and about half way through the movie you need to cool down a little. You turn the fan on and suddenly you can barely hear anything. The sound from the TV is being drowned out.

You’d swear there’s a sandblaster somewhere in your area… but nope, that loud tornado sound you hear is your fan a few feet away.

An embellishment, yes… but not far from what could be a true story. Loud fans make for big distractions and no one likes a loud fan: neither during waking or sleeping hours. So, do yourself a favor and put it on your top 10 list to look for a fan that complies with your “do not disturb” needs and you’ll be that much happier for it.

Is it Flexible Enough?

• Does it tilt, so that the air flow can meet the demands of less convenient positions?
  
  

  This is what often reveals the advantages and disadvantages of each fan type. For instance, although tower fans are more pleasing to the eye, you’ll notice that many of them don’t have a tilting option, as do pedestal and wall fans.

  This can really make an impact on how well you feel the air circulation. So, if this is a major requirement for you… for the most part you’ll want to rule out tower fans unless you can find one that tilts and meets your standards of approval concerning look and feel.

• Is the degree of oscillation broad enough? In other words, is the range in which it rotates from left to right satisfactory to you?
  
  

  Most, if not all fans, have the ability to rotate at least 90 degrees or less (usually at least around 70 degrees). But before I go into what to look for, let me clarify…

  360 degrees is the ability to rotate full circle. That means if a fan could rotate 360 degrees, it would have the ability to rotate or oscillate all the way around. For example, a fan that can actually do this is a ceiling fan.

  But if you divide that number in half you are left with 180 degrees. So, if a fan could rotate 180 degrees it would have the ability to oscillate half way around (semi-circle). That would allow it to rotate from left to right. As an example, think of your basic floor fan. They can’t typically oscillate 180 degrees but they can usually pivot 180 degrees. Which simply means they can pivot half way around (i.e. all the way down to all the way up).

  But let’s divide one last time. Take 180 and divide it in half. When you’re done you’re left with 90 degrees. A fan that can rotate 90 degrees could oscillate from the center to either left or right (a quarter), or vice versa. A good example of a fan that can do this is your basic pedestal fan.

  So, if you’re looking for a fan with great oscillation abilities a good way to check it to make sure it at least oscillates 90 degrees is to…
  
  1. Position the fan in the center.
  2. Turn the fan on.
  3. Press the oscillation button.
  4. See if it rotates all the way to the left or right (from the center). You may still need to adjust it a little once it starts.

  Here is an example of a tower fan with approx. 70 degree oscillation. You can tell it doesn’t rotate a full 90 degrees because it doesn’t oscillate all the way to the left from the center.

  Here is an example of a pedestal fan with 90 degree oscillation. You can tell it rotates a full 90 degrees because it oscillates all the way to the right from the center.

  And if it does oscillate all the way from the center to the left or right, you’ve got a fan that at least rotates 90 degrees. If it doesn’t, they skimped a bit on oscillation and if you’re not happy with this, then you should return the fan and find another one that offers at least 90 degrees rotation.

  And now that we’ve mentioned oscillation, let’s concentrate a bit on wall fans. Consider some wall fans may not provide 90 degrees oscillation. Depending on how far they protrude from the wall, you might find oscillation limited since the fan head may be too large to rotate all the way to the left or right.

  Or you may find that it does provide oscillation of that caliber but simply may not rotate all the way to the left or right.

  Also, this should help you keep in mind that a wall-mounted fan may not have the ability to circulate air at certain angles due to its remote location. For instance, you may be sitting in a certain area of the room but find the fan can’t turn far enough in that direction.

  If you’ve never thought of that before, you might find yourself frustrated to discover this when you need that feature the most.

• Is it tall enough so that the air flow will be competent enough to reach you at satisfactory height?
  
  

  When it comes to air flow, height can be just as important as oscillation. A fan that is too low may not do as good a job reaching you across the room as one that is taller or one that has adjustable height. Say, for instance, when you’re lying in bed… this could be a fairly important feature to have on a hot summer’s night.

  During your search for space saving fans it won’t be uncommon for you to find that there are a fair option of pedestal fans that can be adjusted but this option in tower fans is nearly unheard of.

  To make the advantages and disadvantages even clearer, you’ll also notice that many pedestal fans range from 20 inches all the way up to 54 inches in height, whereas tower fans commonly range around 40 inches high or below.

  When comparing the two, this makes the cons of tower fans fairly obvious.
  

Are Timer Options Good Enough?

What about the timer? It’s true you also need to be on the lookout for good timer options. But before we discuss what those are, you may be wondering what the timer option is.

Well… simply put, it is the time interval in which a fan can shut off by itself. Different fans offer different time intervals. Some offer 2, 4 or 8 hour intervals and others offer less.

If you’re not picky, then you won’t mind the fan taking awhile to shut off by itself, but if you would prefer better features, then it’s best to look for a fan that at least offers the option to shut off after 30 minutes (a half an hour) up to 6 or 7 hours.

You can find some fans with even better options than that but a 30 minute timer is a good standard to go by in general.

Does it have a Remote Control?

A fan with a remote control is usually a must for most people. Is it also essential for you? Again, imagine yourself lying in bed or chilling out in the couch and you suddenly get hot. Do you really want to get up to turn it on or would it be much more convenient to press the “on” button using a remote control?

If so, then add the remote control to your “must-have” list.

Can it be Easily Cleaned?

Is cleaning this thing going to be like fighting a war? If so, then you might want to test out how easy it is to clean your fan while it’s new. If you find that handling this job is more than you bargained for, then you may not want to deal with it.

The chances of this being likely are slim since most fans are relatively easy to clean, but if this option is very important to you due to a handicap or for some other reason, it’s best to make sure it’s easy to clean while you have the opportunity to return it and get a refund.

Is the Warranty Important?

If you have in mind to use the warranty, you’ll want to be on the lookout for a fan that comes with a good one. In the case of owning a fan, this may not be most essential since fans are the type of items that can be easily replaced if they break or if a piece malfunctions.

And the truth is that most of us don’t want to deal with the hassle of a warranty for something that costs $60 or less. However, having a warranty is good back-up if you think you’ll use it or come across a fan that you simply can’t do without and you’re willing to go the extra mile to have fixed or have a part replaced, instead of buying a new one.

Which Space Saving Fan is Best?

Well, there are pros and cons to each fan. So, let’s get down to business and talk about them right now.

As always, deciding upon what’s best for you is different from asking “which space saving fan is the best?”

The latter is easy to answer. If I had to recommend which space saving fan was the best choice out of all of them, I’d say the pedestal fan. Wall fans and tower fans are still moderately new and after discussing some of the pros and cons with you it’s clear that they are still lacking in certain features that the pedestal fan has.

For instance, wall fans may cause problems if you’re sitting in a hard-to-reach area. You won’t be able to turn the fan around and angle it toward you because it’s mounted to the wall.

Also, there is the possibility that wall fans may not oscillate completely to the left or right because the fan head may be too close to the wall. However, this is all really dependent upon which fan you get, but since there aren’t a lot of wall-mounted fans out there, your selection is limited, which gives you a greater chance of coming across a fan that has limited features one way or another.

With wall fans you’ll also notice that very few come with remote controls. This is a minor anomaly, but still something you should consider if you really need a fan with a remote control.

As for tower fans, their limitations come into play with height adjustment and tilting options. Very few provide either of these benefits. And concentrating specifically on height will also allow you to realize that most tower fans are considerably lower than pedestal fans. Compare 54 inches to a mere 40 inches.

This means there may be a significant difference in how satisfied you are with how the air flow circulates in a room–how it reaches you and how much cooler you feel in the end. For instance, you may find that you have to fight a bit more with positioning a tower fan in order to receive proper a circulation than you would have to with a pedestal fan.

The advantage with the pedestal fan is not only the height abilities and tilting options but also that the fan head is bigger as well as the fan blade. This makes it so much easier for the air flow to reach you.

However, although the advantages and disadvantages are evident, and the pedestal fan is clearly the superior choice in general, that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice for you. Whatever fan you choose is a personal journey.

One of the most important things to be aware of when discovering what your wants or needs are is recognizing what you don’t know about the fan is just as important as what you do know. I’m sure it’s obvious that the product features and descriptions are often vague. Sales experts make known what is good about a fan but are experienced in not disclosing what it lacks.

But of course why would they? Common sense and good sales tactics make it evident that this would put a dent in retailers and/or manufacturers profit plan.

So it’s up to you to consider everything before you make the purchase.

If you’re buying online, sometimes you’ll have to go the extra mile and write to find out if certain features are included. For instance, if the fan rotates 90 degrees. However, you can also be certain that most of the time if the feature isn’t bragged about it doesn’t have it.

But keep in mind that isn’t always the case… so extra work is sometimes required in order to find out what you need to know.

As usual, make a list (mental or written) and compare each fan you’re interested in against the features you want and that will lead you to the space saving fan that’s best for you. And inevitably lead you to making the best buying decision that you can.

Products You May Want to Consider…

Wall Fan

Pedestal Tower

Pedestal Fan

Tower Fan

Although, it may suit you to get your fan locally since you’ll have an easier time returning it if you need to, here are some fans you may want to consider buying online if you have no other choice. All of the featured products are great for their own individual reasons, but let’s talk about the pros and cons of each.

The Tower Fan

The tower fan by Honeywell has many, but not all of the features we spoke about. The good news is it’s said to rotate 90 degrees, has an ionizer that can be turned on and off, and a tilting head.

However, although it doesn’t have adjustable height abilities (like most tower fans), one consumer said it offers a nice breeze up to 25 feet away. So, perhaps in this case, height will not be a great concern. It comes with a remote control, although timer intervals are 2, 4 and 8 hours. Not the preferable 30 minutes and up.

Noise factor is said to be good by a lot of consumers. So, in that case you should also be pleased. Overall, this fan has most of the features we talked about and has a good chance of leaving you satisfied. So, in the end, I recommend this fan if your needs are advanced.

The Pedestal Tower Fan

The pedestal tower fan is taller than most tower-type fans because, obviously, it’s on a pedestal. And keep in mind that it is adjustable. Timer options are also in the clear, starting at 30 minutes and moving all the way up to 7 and a half hours. Remote’s included as well. All of these details are provided by Lasko, the manufacturer.

However, keep in mind the degree of oscillation remains unclear. It could rotate 90 degrees but remember there’s a chance that it doesn’t. But rest assured, you can contact Lasko to verify that or simply ask another consumer who purchased the fan. You can do this at Amazon.com. They have a discussion board at the bottom of each product page. Simply post your question there.

Also, it doesn’t appear to have any tilting capabilities, which is akin to most tower fans.

It has a one-year limited warranty, although how easy it is to clean is unknown. However, you’ll be glad to know you may be able to address that concern by visiting the manufacturer’s website through the link above. You can get an idea of how difficult it will be to clean through their “Download Instruction Sheet” file.

In the end, this is likely the type of fan you’d want to get if you want a tower-type fan with the advantages of a basic pedestal fan. It offers almost everything you’d want in a fan. And did I mention you get the best of both worlds—-a tower and pedestal combined? What more could you ask for right?

So, yes this fan will suit you well if your needs are advanced.

The Wall Fan

The wall fan by Lasko is a very basic fan. Much of the advantage is that it saves space. What you might appreciate is that it’s said to be quiet and may or may not provide tilting capabilities. It has a limited one-year warranty and keep in mind that it lacks almost all other features that you might consider a necessity. Features you’ll likely have to do without are timer options, remote control, widespread oscillation and height flexibility.

The wall fan is still fairly new to the market and there’s clearly no contest when you compare other fans to the wall fan. So, in light of that it’s only recommended as an additional fan or if your needs are basic.

Yet, one last thing… keep in mind there are other wall fans out there. They will likely also have limited features, but may have slightly better ones than this one. So, although your options remain scarce, they’re not limited to this particular fan.

The Pedestal Fan

The pedestal fan by Holmes has features that may be of use to you. However, I’d be lying if I didn’t say the product description was vague. The fan doesn’t seem to come with a remote control. Yet, the good news it that it’s made out of metal and not plastic, like your usual fan.

It is also said to have a 90 degree tilt, which I assume is in regards to the tilt feature and not how wide it oscillates. It’s also said to tilt “straight up” so that it can oscillate air throughout the entire room. The fan offers adjustable height abilities like most pedestal fans—-ranging from 30 to 48 inches high.

It appears to be lacking timer options but has a 3 year warranty to offset its basic features. I recommend this fan only if your needs are basic.

Bookmark this page...

More »

The space would look less cluttered if a fan could be mounted on some kind of an arm that came out of the wall (up high). Do you know of anything like that? Thank you!

Bookmark this page...

More »

If you’re not aware by now, adding mirrors to a room can offer the illusion of more space.

Not only that, it can also offer you unique ways of adding beauty to your home by allowing you to be a bit more creative without necessarily having to spend the extra cash.

Since there are many ways you can use mirrors to decorate a room, I thought today would be a good day to bring up a few unique and interesting ways you can add that special touch by decorating with mirrors.

I’ve compiled a short but sweet list. These ideas can be used in conjunction with one another or individually. They may even help you come up with better ideas as you embark on your journey of creating an ideal home that you can delight in.

So let’s get started, shall we?

Consider these creative ways you can add dimension and beauty to your home by decorating with mirrors…

How about Decorating with Mirrors to Reflect a Room?

That’s right. Suppose you want to make your room look larger. Well, one way you can make it appear larger than it is is by using a mirror to reflect a doorway.

Since doorways lead to corresponding rooms or hallways, when you place it on the wall parallel to the doorway it’ll offer your room more dimension.

You can always place a mirror facing the far end of a room to achieve this effect. However, since mirrors reflect light, keep in mind that these ideas will be less effective in homes that are painted with dark colors.

In fact, you may get the opposite results if your walls are dark—the room may feel as though it is being “swallowed up” rather than appearing larger.

You can also consider…

Decorating with Mirrors to Reflect a Light in a Room

If you have a lamp across the room that you just adore and want to add a little glow to your room, consider hanging a mirror behind the lamp or directly across the room. If you hang it on an adjacent wall it will then appear as if you have an identical lamp on the other side of the room.

Or consider reflecting candlelight. This idea can work great to create a romantic or cozy atmosphere at night.

If you have a decorative set of candles hanging on your wall or sitting on a table, why not double the pleasure?

Consider using a three piece mirror set if you’re candles are hanging on the wall. Hang the mirrors across the room so they reflect the candles in the two end mirrors.

How about Decorating with Mirrors to Highlight a Floral Arrangement

Ever consider reflecting a plant or floral arrangement? If you have a floral arrangement that you really want to show off, then this would be a good way to go about it.

A hanging plant, wall mounted plant, table plant or floor plant would work great with this idea. Or consider a tree. Floor mirrors would work well with reflecting a (fake) tree on the other end of the room.

You can also choose to reflect a floral arrangement that is sitting on a table. Consider using decorative or side tables to achieve this. You can choose to highlight the foreground or background of the plant.

To highlight the foreground you would want to hang the mirror above the adjacent side table so that it reflects the plant from the front and all of the other decorative accessories you have sitting on the table, such as knickknacks and family photos.

To highlight the background you would want to hang the mirror behind that table the floral and knickknacks are arranged upon. Anything that is hidden behind the floral arrangement will then be accentuated.

Another idea to consider is…

Decorating with Mirrors to Reflect a Window

This might be a perfect idea for a bedroom, den or sitting room. If you’re short on windows and you want the illusion of a second window, why not hang a mirror on your wall to reflect the window across the room?

You can even try this idea out with glass doors. After all they’re just windows too, simply much larger in size.

This not only opens up the space in your home but if the room overlooks a spectacular view, then you’ll be able to see that lovely view from both ends of the room.

And lastly, how about…

Decorating with Mirrors to Reflect a Picture

Use a mirror on your wall to reflect one of your favorite prints, photos or portraits. Or, as suggested above, you can place the mirror above one side table and have it reflect your favorite photo on an adjacent table.

The photo can serve as part of the background or foreground to compliment other decorative items that you place on the table in front of the mirror.

And did you ever consider doing this with an aquarium? If you have a wall mounted fish tank and love the scenary and you want to dupublicate that beauty, then hang a mirror up and show off those amazing saltwater fish that you have.

Really, it’s all up to you.

As I mentioned in the begining, these ideas work great in combination with one another or alone.

• knickknacks
• family photos
• portraits
• florals or trees
• windows
• adjacent rooms

…and any other fanciful ideas your mind can conjure up.

Many of these items can be placed on wall mounted shelves, tables, hung from the ceiling, and placed on the floor.

The sky is the limit. Use your imagination and let it soar and see what great things you can come up with to add more depth and beauty to your small room.

Bookmark this page...

More »