The Catalina collection makes me think of a beautiful long-haired kitten, purring majestically. On the other side of the spectrum, when I hear Monte Carlo, I can’t get the revving of engines out of my head!
Monte Carlo Collection
This designer set is the exclusive choice for those interested in keeping up with the latest and greatest furniture styles. The Monte Carlo Collection features an artsy chair design and oblong or round tables to match. Bar height set is the perfect place for chatting about the up-to-the-minute styles over a smooth latte.
Catalina Collection
You’ll simply be overwhelmed by the quiet beauty inherent within the Catalina Collection. Like its name, this collection is unassuming, yet charming, sophisticated, and breath-takingly beautiful. A stunning addition to any patio, garden, or home.
Grand Monacco Collection
Finally, I’ve saved the best for last. The Grand Monacco collection offers a stunning table and chair set. Granite tile tabletop and both swivel and armchair availability, all decked out in a strikingly beautiful bronze finish creates the feeling of majestic dinning and boundless leisure time. Indulge yourself in one of life’s truly outstanding comforts.
April 16th, 2007
Aluminum Sling furniture is light-weight, water-resistant, and easy to maintain. These items are perfect for lounging by the pool, or for those who like to move their patio furniture around. Their light weight makes sling aluminum easy to transport, while the mesh material allows water to pass through the furniture ensuring that you won’t be sitting in a puddle!
Avalon Collection
By far, my favorite aluminum sling collection (though the Corsica is an extremely close second), the Avalon Collection has added a stunning twist to all their pieces. Avalon combines the comfort of sling, the finesse of aluminum and the pleasant look and feel of wood to create a spectacular set of outdoor furniture. Dine, swivel, or just relax with this exceptional collection.
Corsica Collection
This French revival collection shares the same beauty, style and comfort as the wonderful Avalon Collection, with the delightful addition of an optional tan/bronze combination. Wave-like seating allows for perfect support and comfort. This collection has gotten comfort and style down to a science.
Executive Collection
Just as the furniture in an executive conference room connotes power while simultaneously providing comfort and style, the Executive Collection offers these same features. Deep seats, wide arching arms, and sleek table and chair design, all crafted with a tasteful flair, create the atmosphere of prestige and confidence.
Milan Collection
Remember that zany adrenaline-pumping move called The Wave? Well, I can’t say why exactly, but this furniture set reminds of that feeling! The Milan Collection is smooth, cool, and comfortable, and yet charming all at the same time. The Milan sling lounger, the swivel and dining chairs, and the fire pit dinning table with woven design are prime examples of the easy going, sling back characteristic of this remarkable collection.
April 23rd, 2007
It was a nice kitchen, cheery, breezy, bright, with lots of cabinet space, and plenty of countertops. All my appliances fit in neatly, there were no plumbing problems, and it even had a great view. So what more could I want, right? Except if you’ve grown up having every meal, morning, noon, and night served to you at the kitchen table. So there was my dilemma. My perfect kitchen had it all except room for a nice table and chair set. But everything else was perfect. A solution had to be found.
My search for a space-conscious, yet functional, eating station led me to the farthest reaches of the world. . .well, at least, the farthest reaches of the www! I flipped through magazines, and browsed the Internet. I even went so far as to borrow ingredients and small appliances from my neighbors with the hope of getting a peak into their homes for more ideas! Finally, I found what I was looking for (and, surprisingly, without getting arrested as a peeping tom!) Here’s the basic gist of what I did.
First I had my husband measure, fit, cut, sand, varnish, and attach (it takes so little to make him happy, why not!) a beautiful piece of oak wood countertop to my kitchen wall. The counter ran the entire length of the wall minus two feet on either side. Next I bought (yes bought, I drew the line at the countertop) five bar stools to match. My bar stools are 30″ tall, (but you can get them in a few sizes), and at this height I am able to easily slide the stools out for meals, and neatly tuck them away when not in use.
This whole exploration into space-economic furniture has really made me fall in love with my bar stools. Like I said, I searched for the perfect look, and these really fit the bill. Not only are they pretty and comfortable, and fit cozily under the countertop, but I take my bar stools all over the place; into the living room, down to the playroom, even outside on the patio. They’re also a great blend of style and class. Not too classy that you don’t want to sit on them, but not so plain that you fall asleep looking at them either!
Compare the different types of bar stools that are available. If you’re struggling with sitting, eating, or working space, a countertop and set of bar stools can really give a new life to your room without taking up a lot of space. This trick can work in the kitchen, garage, even in kids’ rooms. If this blogger’s e-pinion is worth anything, bar stools rank pretty high (no pun intended!) in my book. Now I can have my cake, and eat it (in my kitchen) too!
April 30th, 2007
My husband is not exactly a social butterfly, so we always joked that G-d made us move so that he would be forced to meet new people occasionally. Well, the jokes on us because this was going to be our forth move in two and a half years (change of scenery is nice, right?)! Anyway we were only moving a few blocks down, so I decided that we didn’t need a professional moving company. My husband and I could pack ourselves (you know we had enough practice!) and we had plenty of friends who offered to help lug the heavy appliances, furniture, and boxes.
Well the best-laid plans don’t always turn out the way we expect them too! I’m still smiling, but I certainly learned a thing or two.
The key to a successful move is organized and efficient packing. There are several ways to achieve this.
- To avoid a good deal of last minute chaos (having to run out to the store mid-packing for example), start out with a good supply of boxes. Ask your friends or local stores, they’re usually happy to oblige. Also have plenty of packing tape, markers and labels on hand.
-A good penny saver is using your luggage to, well, lug! Instead of going to the post office or Staples or somewhere to buy yourself boxes and tape, make use of any luggage that you have. Duffle bags are great for large amounts of randoms, and small hard suitcases are the perfect mode of transport for fragiles.
-Do a little at a time. This is not always possible for two reasons. For one, you may not have too much advanced notice about the move. In fact, if you’re like us, you have precisely two weeks from the time you find out to the actual moving day. As such, you will just have to make do with the time you have (if there are little ones in the picture, you will probably want to pull a few late nights and get the job done during these precious stretches of uninterrupted time.) Also, there are certain things that you need during your day to day living that can’t possibly be packed in advance. Of course you shouldn’t be putting away your toothbrush, work papers, and favorite outfit. But you can pack your backup supply of toiletries, old school projects, and off-season clothing. Things that are rarely or infrequently used can also go into boxes early. Books, the majority of kids’ toys, and spare linens are usually safe bets.
- Throw out anything that is superfluous, past its prime, or basicly sitting around collecting dust. Give it a few weeks, and, I promise you, there will be plenty of dust in your new place even without these unnecessary attractors. And buying a few small things new is a great and well-deserved way to make moving more fun. Even something small like an area rug, or a nice light fixture can give your new house a more homey feeling.
- Label boxes according to room. “Books” sounds good initially, until you realize that, being an ardent reader, there are books in every room of your house! Also, marking boxes with colored labels or bags with colored ribbons will make directing where each one goes a breeze. If you’re super organized, put a matching color label on the door of each room in your new house so that anyone can follow the color-coding.
-Play packing by ear. If you are a regular Iron Chef, save your kitchen till the end. If, on the other hand, your idea of making dinner is dialing the Chinese take-out down the street, you probably won’t miss that ten-piece frying set your aunt bought you.
- If using the help of friends, order pizza half way through the job. It’s greatly appreciated, and gives everyone a new wind just as their energy is beginning to ebb. (We even made a BBQ a week after the move to show our appreciation. It might have been a little excessive, but, hey, any excuse to BBQ!)
-Keep important papers with you. Legal documents, stocks, or whatever else you consider valuable.
Moving doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience. Keep things organized, follow these moving tips, and save all that frustration for other things- like dealing with the phone company!
May 6th, 2007
As I sat relaxing on my newly relocated couch, I took in the scene. I saw that the move was just the beginning. I wasn’t being pessimistic. But now that everything was in it’s place, I could see all the imperfections. This area needed a paint job. That room needed curtains, and this one was lacking the proper lighting. And so the list went on. Needless to say, I was despondent. Fortunately, I’m married to the greatest man in the world. He took my hands into his, and gently explained that with a little work, we would make this new place home. We would tackle each project one at a time, and in the end, our home would be even better than we could have imagined.
So I did what any woman who is trying to feel productive does; I made a list! Each room got its own section, and within each section, I wrote down all the areas that needed to be attended to. With everything organized and clearly spelled out, I was already beginning to feel a little better.
With half the day wasted on my whining, I decided to tackle the smallest room first. It was located upstairs in the back of the house. This room presented a real problem. It was a long narrow room with a door to a balcony porch. I couldn’t put any of my kids in it because the access to the balcony made me too nervous, and anyway it was really too small to make a decent-sized bedroom. But it was too big to be a closet or storage area. After a few minutes of chin rubbing and head scratching, I found my vision! The small size made it cozy, and the door made it light and airy. All signs led to one point; this would be my new sitting room.
I furnished this pint-sized room with a comfortable gliding rocker and ottoman (a present from my mom after the birth of my first child- she mentioned something about ‘if he grows up like you, you’ll need a nice easy chair to collapse into.’ Not quite sure what she meant. . .), and a hearth rug to match the blinds (which we’ll talk about in a later blog). A small round table was placed next to the chair for convenience. On the wall opposite the door, I hung a picture that my father had penciled back when he was in college. It’s of a little girl sitting on a log and playing a banjo, and to this day is one of my favorite possessions.
The picture did a lot for the ambiance, but it was still missing something. The room needed another piece of furniture, one that made an impression, was functional, and didn’t take up a lot of space. With such a limited space, furniture juxtaposition was difficult. Luckily, I found the perfect thing. Corner shelves were exactly what I needed. Shelves served the purpose of both functionality and aesthetics, and these fit snuggly into the corner, hardly taking up any space at all!
Though I haven’t decided yet if I should add a coffee table to this set up, my sitting room is a quiet and peaceful haven. Just the thing after a hard day’s work!
May 13th, 2007
The other day my husband and I were walking down the street, when we saw a huge chest sitting on the ledge. Now maybe it was the little girl inside of me (if it was, my husband’s boy was thinking the same thing), but the sight of this chest gave me goose bumps and sent a rush of excitement through my whole body. A bona fide, real live (well. . .) treasure chest, in modern day, right smack between the dumpster and the corner pizza shop. What an adventure! Either my husband was curious too, or he just couldn’t bear to dampen the sparkle in my eye, but he agreed to open it up and see what was inside. My husband swung open the lid, peeked inside, and shook his head in disappointment. The chest was empty.
Then I did the last thing that my husband was expecting. I clapped my hands and said ‘’Yay, we’ve got ourselves a new trunk!†You see, the adult side of me had kicked back in, and my mind was already spinning with the possibilities. I could use this for quilts in the off-season, out-size baby clothes, linens, or even shoes. I could put it in the living room with a nice runner for a retro style coffee table. Or it could go in the playroom and be filled with toys or act as a bench for my kids to sit on. My big bulky sweaters are constantly looking for a good home, and this would be just the right place. Not to mention the possibilities it opened up for my limited pantry space.
We waited a few minutes to make sure no one was coming back to claim it, and then we ran. Like two small children who’d just found the candy stash, we ran all the way back to our house. Once home, my imagination began to swirl yet again. It looked terrific against the wall in the kids’ room with the nice wood as a backdrop. We moved it into the study/computer room, and saw it fit like a dream under the computer desk, and would make a great storage place for all the extra printer paper, cables, and other miscellaneous computer products we didn’t use daily. In the living room, as I suspected, it transitioned perfectly as a coffee table, and, though this is not my recommended use, my three year old showed us how it could make the ideal stage for a tiny dancer (sorry Elton, this kid beats out your L.A. lady).
With all the possibilities before us, I realized I had no choice. I went out and bought another chest. I couldn’t find the exact color, but since they’re in different rooms now, I think that’s fine. Since the new chest came in an unfinished wood color, I was able to stain and paint it to match the bedroom.
So if you’re moving, remodeling, or redecorating, keep your eyes and your mind open. Remember, there’s a treasure trove (or chest) around every turn!
May 20th, 2007
A funny thing about my new house is the shape and layout of all the rooms. The living room and dining room are separated by a staircase, bathroom and downstairs bedroom (which we’ve designated as a guest room). There are five bedrooms varying in size from large to almost closet-size, and the kitchen has frighteningly little room. Sometimes I wish I could just pick up the wall and move it over a few feet to balance out the room situation. Instead, I’m using and buying furniture that works with the space that I have.
My next project is sleeping space. I’m always looking into the future. My goal is to have a million kids before I die (well maybe not a million, but enough for a baseball team!) It’s not so much the kids, but the babies that I love. I’m working on some sort of exchange program for when they get to a certain age we trade them in for a new model. Until then, I’m going to need a lot of bedroom space. I’m going to accomplish this in a few ways, namely loft beds, bunk beds and futons. First, let’s talk about loft beds.
It seems as if loft beds were literally designed just for me. And you will say the same thing. That’s because of the tremendous versatility of the loft bed’s design. There is a model to fit every individual need. Some come with a single bed raised high up off the floor with room for furniture, storage or recreational space underneath. Others have a second bed tucked under the first at various angles to provide optimum space. For the maximum bed and floor space, I thought the triple bed frame was great. This has two raised beds, and a single bed under one, with open room under the other.
At first, I was a little overwhelmed by all the choices there were for this one piece of furniture. I had to decide my need, and then it would be easy choosing which pieces would be right for me. The various models ranged from lounge style loft beds, to the college dorm room type. I wanted a lot of beds, and I was also looking for a decent area for my older kids to do their homework, study or do some recreational writing (hey, I can dream). In addition to all that, I needed there to be some floor space left in the room to throw down a rug (a room is just not cozy without one!) After flipping through the different models (some had a double raised bunk bed with a desk below it, others had bookshelves, night tables, and even couches to match), I decided to go with (get this) triple bunk loft beds (two raised up high, and a single resting on the floor) with matching dresser drawers and a computer desk to fit. Whew! Talk about customized furniture!
With my new find, I got the bed and floor space I wanted, and even had room to create a “lounge area” for tykes with a throw rug and pillows all around. Loft beds are flexible, and meant to cater to your specific living space. You know, this house is really starting to feel like home!
May 27th, 2007
The next option for optimizing your living space is the futon. Futons are wonderful pieces of furniture because they have a dual purpose (read my blog on multi-purpose items). Futons make comfortable and beautiful couches, and can be transformed into a sleeping space in a pinch.
A futon’s prime function is to serve as a comfortable piece of lounge furniture. They are both easy and fun to decorate. Futon covers can be bought or sewn in a variety of light and whimsical or stylish colors and patterns. Choosing various-sized pillows in different shades or designs will also be fun. After much consternation over the hundreds of choices, I went with a pair of 24″ square natural color pillows, and a set of 30″ pillows with pale green (almost sea foam, but not quite) floral pattern, each pulling out a subtle shade from the carpet, futon, and drapes. If you are handy with the needle, make a few lightweight futon covers so you can change your bedding with your mood.
And now for the multi-functionality of the futon. Aside from being a snazzy piece of living room furniture, futons convert into a comfortable bed instantly. If you already use a futon cover, open your futon and you are ready to go. Otherwise, a sheet and pillowcase is all it takes to effortlessly arrange this sleeping area for a child. In the morning, remove the sheet, and poof, you’ve got your regularly scheduled living space organized once again. Fluff those pillows, and no one will ever be the wiser. What’s more, a can get a futon with a built-in magazine rack or floor level drawers perfect for shoes, extra linens, unfinished projects (what’s that?), you name it!
Even if you aren’t a crazy baby lady like me (see last week’s post for explanation), there are other uses for futons. For example, I enjoy having sleep over guests. Before the kids came along, I loved having our friends from afar spend a weekend, inviting my sister over for a night away from the ‘rents, or any other excuse to throw a mini slumber party. Now that I have little ones, sleep-over friends are a blast for the kids (though never on a school night. . .usually). Summer slumber parties are a frequent occurrence around here as well. My affiliations with a local boarding school have also led to numerous occasions for housing the student who didn’t fit into the dorm, or needed some extra personal attention.
There is no end to the possibilities when you use this fantastic piece of furniture to open up your living space. With futons, the idea is the more the merrier!
June 3rd, 2007
I went to an out of town boarding school for the last two years of high school, and it was there that I first encountered bunk beds. I mean, I had seen them before, of course, but I’d never actually used them until this time. The school and I went through a lot of changes together, so I had plenty of opportunity to experience the bunk bed from every angle. First I was bound to the bottom bunk by my inexplicable fear of the top bunk (not a fear of heights, just of the top bunk?)
When I switched rooms, I was forced into a top bunk out of necessity. I found this to be a delightful haven, a secret get away (almost) in a life of precious little privacy (such is dormitory life). But I also missed the ease of the bottom bunk. Coming home after a trying day at school (ha, those were the days to remember, weren’t they, Billy Joel!) the biggest relief was collapsing onto my bed, just letting all the day’s stress melt out of me and away through the mattress. When living in a top bunk, this is not possible. The mere idea of climbing a ladder (or even taking a running jump as we liked to do sometimes) was hardly worth the time it took to laugh at such a proposal.
And so, back in my latter years of high school I had already tallied up the pros and cons of bunk beds. Top bunk means privacy, quiet, and a greater chance that you will be forgotten in morning wake up rush. However, it comes at the price of some inconvenience, as the key to such freedom requires effort. Bottom bunk, on the other hand, is the hot spot, for better or for worse. Bottom bunk means easy access, constant action, and lots of comings and goings.
Which location is best for you and your kids’ will depend largely upon necessity and personality. One thing is for sure, though. Bunk beds are terrific space savers, and are easily matched up with complementary furniture pieces and accessories like dressers, chairs, and desks. Give your kids a fun experience. If nothing else, they’ll have a memory to blog about in a few decades- or will blogging be old hat by then?
June 10th, 2007
Somehow I got lucky and married the greatest guy in the world. What I totally didn’t bargain for was that he would also make one of the best fathers, too! so what do you get for the guy who gives without being asked, takes what he’s given without a complaint, and loves without end? Tough question. I racked my brain for any Father’s Day gift ideas that would be suitable for my hero, and came up with a few. None were exactly what I was looking for, though.
Then I remember that the best gifts are things that fill a need (the need could be for a nice steak dinner, but it’s still a need!) and it came to me all at once. When we moved to our new home, my husband and I chose our bedroom for location and practicality. When we arranged the furniture, though, it turns out that my husband’s night table didn’t fit next to his bed. We discussed moving things around or switching rooms, but in the end we decided that he would just live without the night table.
As I said, my husband doesn’t complain, but I saw that this was a big convenience for him. A glasses-wear, my husband had to keep his specs and book on the floor next to the bed. I pray that he doesn’t step on them each morning. His nightly bedtime tea had to be moved from the comfort of bed to the kitchen, and there was now no place for him to keep his little gadgets that he was fond of toying with just before bed. The need was there; the solution: a new nigh table.
Of all the Father’s Day gift ideas, this was the best. Needless to say, my husband loves it. He can once again drink his tea in bed, tinker with his latest project, and rest assured that his glasses will be in one piece come sunrise. Often, it is the little things in life that are most enjoyable, and most appreciated.
Here are some of the other good Father’s Day gift ideas that might be the perfect thing for your man.
Tie rack- For the super neat and organized men in our lives, a tie rack is a thoughtful and appropriate gift. For those less meticulous, it could be a tactful hint.
Tools tools and more tools-I’ve yet to meet a guy who didn’t love tools. Whether it’s a 540 pc. Craftsmen tool set, or a simple screwdriver, next to us, tools are a man’s best friends.
Ergonomic Computer chair- People spend hours in front of the computer, for business and for recreation. Give the guy you love a little bit of comfort and class with a computer chair. More than luxury, an ergonomic computer chair can help prevent serious back, neck, and leg muscle problems. Show him you care; get him a chair!
Pool supplies: Most men enjoy being outdoors, and take great pride in belonging. As such, pool supplies can be a great gift. It allows them to spend time outside taking care of one of their favorite toys. My father is one of these guys, so this year we bought him a new pump for the sand filter. He looked like a kid in a candy store as he set about fixing it.
Hammock- Call it cliché, but who doesn’t love spending a lazy afternoon swaying on the hammock with a cold drink and the warm breeze?
No matter what you decide, remember that the most important thing is to get something personal and thoughtful for your man. Cause even our strongest guy can appreciate a little sentiment. Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there!
June 15th, 2007
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