Do You Have an Inviting Place to Play?

By creatingyourspace | Published: January 12, 2012

When the weather outside is cold, it’s nice to have some space that works well for children to play games and entertain each other. A family room can provide enough area for large projects, while still feeling cozy enough for simple card or board games.

This room is designed with style and taste. The fireplace carries the room with its generous size and clean lines. Built-in bookshelves on either side balance the space and coordinate well with the color and lines of the fireplace itself.

The marble on the fireplace surround also makes up the hearth and the baseboards under the shelves. The crown molding of the mantel also tops the shelves, keeping everything well integrated.

Light wood floors suit the room’s style, with mid-toned cream walls and a thick area rug to match. With all the marble, the area rug softens the room and carries the wall color well into the space.

The other advantage offered by the area rug is that it creates a appealing place to settle on the floor and play. These children benefit from a double-warmth in the room: the toasty fireplace and the thick luxurious rug. Short sleeves and bare feet work even in the winter with this combination of comforts.

This family thought about style and function when designing this room. It provides the opportunity to showcase hand-crafted items probably purchased while traveling, and at the same time gives the children a place to play comfortably, the best of both worlds.

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New Year’s Resolutions For Your Home

By creatingyourspace | Published: January 10, 2012

Have you already started making your list of things you’re going to improve in 2012?

- Get fit/lose weight

- Don’t commit to more than you can handle

- Prepare healthy and nutritious meals for the children

Etc., etc., etc…well, good luck with that. While you are making a list we encourage you to make some resolutions for your home as well. Now don’t freak out, it’s nothing too overwhelming.

Get rid of clutter. Commit to going through each room in your home to clear out items that you don’t use or need. Donate these items to charity.

Make your home safe. Take time now to test for radon gas. Install carbon monoxide monitors on every bedroom floor.  Test fire alarms and remember to replace batteries regularly.

Shrink bills and your carbon footprint. Turn off lights when you leave a room. Only run the washer if you have a full load of laundry. Consider drying some clothes on a line instead of in the dryer.  Turn off your air conditioning when you leave your house. Dial down your furnace to 55 degrees at night. Install compact fluorescent lighting and low flow showerheads. Water your yard less.

Work out a plan to keep your house clean. Each day dishes should go into the dishwasher. Hang up clean clothes each night as well. Put dirty clothes straight into the hamper. Weekly, enlist your family to help you. Have one person vacuum, dust and make the beds. Have another person clean all the bathrooms. Then team up to clean the kitchen and take out all the trash.

Get your home ready for entertaining. If one of your personal resolutions is to spend more time with friends and family then do something in your home to make it more “inviting”. Rearrange your furniture into conversational groups. Update a room with a new coat of paint. Add new runners, throw pillows or even plants for a fresh new look.

These are resolutions that you can actually make AND easily keep. Cheers!

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Post Holiday Parties

By creatingyourspace | Published: January 5, 2012

It’s nice to relax and take a break after the holidays. There’s time to get your house back into shape, return that odd scarf from Aunt Joan, and get back into normal life. At some point, however, you may realize that you miss the fun and camaraderie you experienced during the holiday season. Maybe it’s time to throw a party for no particular reason.

Start by deciding on a theme. You could have a board game tournament with some silly prizes for winners and losers. Or how about celebrating a country, say France, with a crepe party? Choose something you and your friends will enjoy.

You probably want to keep the party small. There are so many large gatherings during the holidays. Maybe you could invite those people that you saw over the holidays but didn’t really have time to catch up with?

Keep your efforts under control also. For the crepe party, a couple of photos of Paris on the buffet table and maybe a small French flag would do it – after all, the crepes will steal the show. Look for a crepe recipe that requires the batter to be refrigerated first to ensure top-notch crepes.

For a board game party, scatter some cards, dice and game pieces among the snacks. Remember to keep it to tidy finger foods; people will be playing while eating. Mini sandwiches, cheese and crackers, and cookies will help keep hunger at bay and provide energy for some serious game competition.

Parties like these are simple to plan and execute, but provide an evening of fun for you and your friends. Don’t limit your entertaining to the holidays – you can make any day special.

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How I Live – Home Quiz

By creatingyourspace | Published: January 3, 2012

When you begin dreaming about a new home, or upgrading your existing abode it’s so easy to visualize what the finished project will look like. You know exactly what color scheme you like, the light fixtures you want and the perfect area rug to finish up a room. What may seem perfect in your mind, however, may not be what is best for your lifestyle. Sure, it would be great to have a monochromatic white room or vibrant walls, but have you considered what your kids may do to a white carpet? Or, how much fun it’s going to be to repaint the entire house if you want to sell it quickly?

That’s why we offer the How I Live Quiz on our website. The quiz consists of a few easily answered questions. With just a click of a button you will receive a ton of decorating advice based on your answers. The quiz covers all aspects of your life. Do you have kids, pets or elderly parents living with you? What are your color scheme preferences? Do you entertain? Will you be selling your home anytime soon? Are you buying new furniture or using what you already have? Do you want a formal or a casual atmosphere?

Advice even includes tips on getting your home ready for resale, products that are low maintenance, tips for entertaining and how to decorate with warm and cool colors. We think this quiz is a no brainer before you start a decorating project.

Simply click here to begin. Now you can plan for that perfect room which will also be perfect for your lifestyle.

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New Year’s Eve Decorating

By creatingyourspace | Published: December 29, 2011

Yes, Christmas is just over but New Years is only a few days away. Even if you haven’t tidied up the Christmas decorations this is the time to change up a few things to ring in the New Year.

Is your gathering a sophisticated dress up adult affair? Or is it a casual neighborhood get together?

For an adult party chill champagne in an ice block with cranberries and juniper.

Don’t throw away your scrap holiday paper. Use them to make streamers ala the Times Square ball.

Create a centerpiece of citrus pieces, lemons or blood oranges. Add velvet green leaves and silver balls for beautiful cheer.

Adorn your mantle piece with clocks.

For a fun kid friendly party start by creating confetti using pictures of all your guests.

Create ice cubes in the shape of 12. Freeze water in number shaped ice trays. Add food coloring to make the cubes stand out.

Create instant drama by filling an entire room with balloons.

When the clock chimes twelve and you watch your guests enjoying themselves you will be glad you made the extra effort to make it a party to remember.

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How to Clean Your Glass Shower Doors

By creatingyourspace | Published: December 27, 2011

You wanted that plate glass shower but now you have to keep it clean. The glass, which looked so beautiful when it was first installed, is now covered in water spots, mildew and soap scum. Yipes!

The best way to clean the glass, however, can damage natural stone such as marble, limestone or granite. These cleaners include ammonia based formulas and acids like vinegar. While you can use these cleaners on the glass, you need to be careful not to get them on your stone.

Please take care to cover the stone shower floors with a tarp or some towels. Pour 1 quart of warm water into a bowl. Mix in ¼ cup of vinegar. Use a sponge and rub the vinegar and water solution on the glass. Be sure to squeeze the sponge out well so you don’t fling any of the vinegar solution onto the stone. After you are done cleaning the glass, dry the doors with a towel.

If there are stubborn areas of heavy soap scum apply undiluted vinegar and let it sit on the area for a good five minutes. Then wipe the glass again. To prevent soap scum from building up use a squeegee on the glass shower doors after each use.

By following these steps you can keep your glass shower doors looking beautiful and still protect the stone in your bathroom.

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Choosing the Perfect Carpet

By creatingyourspace | Published: December 22, 2011

Breathless Jewell Textured, Marshmallow Saxony and Jazz Fest Frieze. These are just a few carpets that are featured in O’Krent’s Abbey product catalog. If you are thinking about replacing your carpet or adding carpet to your home be sure to check the website to begin your search for your perfect floor covering. Currently there are many carpets on sale, some even up to 70% off.

But before you buy any carpet please be sure that you are choosing the best type for your situation. Here is a quick guide to help you easily find the type of carpet you should install.

CASUAL AND HIGH TRAFFIC

If your style is casual, Textured carpet is your best bet. This is a very popular cut pile carpet that has alternating twists of yarn creating a two-tone appearance. Textured carpet does a great job of hiding footprints and vacuum marks. They are ideal for today’s active families and are available in a broad range of prices.

For high traffic areas area, a frieze carpet may be the way to go. This cut pile style has a very high twist level, meaning each strand of yarn is twisted so tightly that they actually curl over at the end. This creates a textured surface with a knobby appearance, and a carpet of high durability. These carpets are great performers in high-traffic areas and can go anywhere in your home. They also hide footprints and are available in various pile heights.

If you have lots of activity in your home or area that you are re-carpeting, choose a Looped carpet. This style of carpet is often referred to as a Berber. Berbers are really big bulky yarns. Looped carpets are very durable and are ideal for casual, active family rooms. they come in solid colors, Berber fleck and patterns. This carpet hides traffic patterns well but be advised that this style may make seams more apparent. Still, this is a great all-purpose carpet.

If you need a carpet that is patterned try a Cut & Loop. Cut & Loop is a combination of cut and looped yarns that create pattern effects by the variation in surface textures. Like looped styles, these carpets are low profile and thus perform well, however, sometimes their seams are visible. This style can be used in casual and traditional rooms and are available in many patterns including fun geometrics and formal botanicals. Their distinctive carved appearance and multiple colors do a good job of hiding stains and standing up to traffic.

FORMAL AND ELEGANT

For a more formal, beautiful feeling you may want to choose a Saxony carpet. This style has a smooth, soft, velvet plush look. Each yarn has a uniform twist and finish, making this carpet the perfect solution for a master bedroom, dining room or a formal living room. This style is not a good choice for high traffic areas or rooms with active kids as it shows footprints and vacuum marks.

Another carpet that looks beautiful but is not suited for high traffic areas is Cable. Cable style carpet is constructed of thicker and typically longer yarn. The style is very comfortable underfoot and is beautiful in a bedroom or living room. Keep in mind that this style is better suited for rooms without a lot of activity as it can matte and crush with heavy foot traffic.

So there you have it, all the types of carpet to choose from depending on your lifestyle. Once you have decided on which kind of carpet to use please visit us for more information and make sure to check out our product catalog along with our what’s on sale.

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Stress Free Holiday Entertaining

By creatingyourspace | Published: December 20, 2011

First things first, make a list. Determine what you can delegate so you don’t get too overwhelmed.

Do as much as you can ahead of time. Soups and stews always taste better the second day anyway. Desserts can be made in advance and frozen.

Stock up on bulk snacks like nuts. Toss nuts with a little olive oil, salt, minced rosemary and garlic and toast them in a low temperature oven.

While you are grocery shopping stock up on mixers, sodas, coffee and tea. Stock your bar with the standard vodka, rum, gin and a few choices of red and white wine.

Create an easy centerpiece of glass bowls filled with colorful ornaments. No need to get crazy with lights outside your house. Hang a beautiful fresh wreath or tie a bow on your front door.

Don’t worry about cleaning every room in your house before the party. If you have a messy room, just close the door. Keep a laundry basket on hand for all your countertop clutter. Hide it in the basement. You can go back through it after you are done entertaining.

If you are inviting a large group of people consider having a buffet instead of a formal sit down dinner. Pull your buffet table away from the wall so guests can get to the food easily.

Put your teenagers to work creating a holiday play list. Keep the music low, as conversation is more important during a party than blaring music.

Keep a couple of gifts on hand in case you need one in a pinch. If you pick up items during the year you can avoid that spending too much money in one month feeling.

Instead of using multiple colors of wrapping paper or gift bags, purchase solid colored paper, satin ribbon or cord and wrap all your gifts in your “signature style”. It’s simple and elegant.

And remember, sometimes your sanity is more important than keeping all the Christmas traditions. Maybe your grandmother spent hours slaving in the kitchen or you were forced to endure sing a-longs that seemed like they would never end. Keep the best and ditch the rest.

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Getting Candle Wax Out Of Carpet

By creatingyourspace | Published: December 15, 2011

Sometimes it’s just inevitable. You’ve decorated your home beautifully with candles for the holidays and now you’ve discovered one or two wax spots on your carpet. What should you do now? Relax; it’s not a disaster. Candle wax can be removed if you follow these simple steps.

Pick as much wax as you can off the carpet. Once you can’t get anymore off chill the wax spot with some ice. (Put the ice in a plastic bag first). This will help harden the wax and will make it more likely for you to pick off a little bit more.

Get a paper bag. Lay it over the wax spot. Use a blow dryer or an iron on a low setting to melt the wax. Be careful the blow dyer/iron doesn’t get too hot, as you don’t want to burn the paper or melt any fibers in your carpet. As the wax melts it will be absorbed by the paper. You may have to change paper several times depending on how big the spot is.

Apply rubbing alcohol to any spots that are stained by the dye in the wax. Be careful not to use too much as you don’t want to damage your carpet either. Gently blot the stain with a white cloth until no more dye remains and the towel comes away clean.

Rinse the area with warm water. Immediately dry the area with the blow dryer. Also use fans if you can to help speed up the process.

If you are unable to remove the dye spot by yourself, please call a professional as soon as possible.

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Are You Christmas Decorating Challenged?

By creatingyourspace | Published: December 13, 2011

Decorating your home for the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated or even costly. Let us help you look like a professional.

From year to year it is easier to stick with one theme and style. Say you like snowmen, or snowflakes – then stick with that. Each year it will make shopping for décor easier and it avoids that hodge podge feeling that you just put out every single Christmas decoration that you accumulated over the years.

One of the best memories of Christmas is the smell of the evergreen tree, the mulled cider simmering on the stovetop and sweet scent of Christmas cookies. Place out Christmas potpourri, use evergreen air freshener and light scented candles.

Choose two to three colors for your decorating scheme. Silver, white and blue. Plum, gold and forest green. Or the traditional red and white. Multiple color palettes can be too distracting.

Create an inexpensive family tradition that involves the kids. Decorate a gingerbread house together or have a night dedicated to making Christmas ornaments.

Give your space a different look and feel for this special time of year. Rearrange your furniture so the focal point is the fireplace or wherever you hang stockings.

Colored lights can be costly if you change your color palette from year to year. Stick with white lights; they can be used with any color scheme. Plus, white lights are simply elegant.

Start investing in a collection. A Christmas village, a train set, crystal snowflakes – something that can continue to grow through the years and can be passed on to the next generation.

Use lots of candles. Nothing makes a room feel warmer and more inviting than candlelight. Be sure not to use scented candles on your dining room table. That’s the one place you don’t want their scent to clash with the home cooked meal you just slaved over.

Don’t just decorate the family room. Kitchens, bathrooms, the hallway landing and your kid’s rooms are all fair game for additional decorating spaced.

Go big or go home. Don’t fall for the “less is more” during the holidays. Get as crazy and inventive as you can. The memories you create will be priceless.

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