Garden Furniture Care

Is your kitchen drab? Missing something? Not an inviting or “cool” place to hang out? Here’s an idea: buy a set of bar stools. You will be amazed at what they bring to your kitchen. Partly because bar stools can come in so many different styles, and partly because they are so inviting to sit on, your kitchen will suddenly become a fun gathering place. A set of bar stools will add pizzazz to your kitchen, especially if your kitchen has a more neutral colored theme. If you want to bring the bar stools out, look for the bright but small accents in your kitchen and match the tops of the stools to their color. If you do not want to bring the stools out quite as much, get the tops in a neutral color that belongs in your kitchen, but get a set of stools with an eye-catching leg design. And who says that bar stools actually have to be at the bar? Try getting a more modern design and set them up along an open wall. When you actually have company, you may want to move the stools back to their traditional place at the counter or bar, but in the meantime, they can really be used as striking décor. Go for exciting. Don’t be afraid to try new patterns or loud colors. It may, after all, be just what your kitchen needs to bring it to life.

Before we moved into our new house, we ate all our meals in the kitchen. The kitchen was large enough for a table and chairs, but we couldn’t have more than four people over at a time. We had a dining room, but it was used as a home office. So we didn’t really feel a dining room was necessary until we moved into our new home. The new kitchen was lovely, but in exchange for the increased amount of counter space and storage, there was only a small corner in the kitchen that could hold a café table and four chairs. So the dining room, which was adjacent to the kitchen, became a room that we would have to outfit and use, especially for company. Of course, that meant we needed to buy some new furniture. I refused to move the old stuff into our new home. It went directly to the church for their annual rummage sale! Although our dining room was not huge, it was big enough for a nice sized table that could open up to seat eight people, and up to ten if we squeezed in close together. We looked at several different designs and made a decision to buy a Scandinavian style table and chairs with a small matching sideboard and breakfront. We wanted to maximize the space and make everyone feel comfortable, and not as if they were in a formal environment. Luckily, we made a great choice, because we love eating in our dining room! The sleek, contemporary style puts you in a good mood in the morning and is very welcoming for the evening meal. We also use the table for “game nights,” since everyone can gather around comfortably and easily. It was a good choice and we are truly blessed!

I balked when my husband suggested turning a spare bedroom into a home entertainment center. I’m not someone who is interested in spending hours sitting in front of a TV, so I was reluctant to waste a perfectly good spare room by converting it into a home theater. We had a lot of back and forth discussions, but I realized that there were more important things in life than arguing about a mini-theater, so I agreed to help him with the design if he would help me with the garden. I thought that was a very reasonable and valuable trade off. It was a win-win situation for me. My husband is interested in electronics, so he knew exactly what type of new wide screen TV we should buy and how everything else would connect to make the ultimate entertainment experience. He insisted on new chairs, that both swiveled and reclined, plus a cozy love seat with attached trays for our snacks and drinks. He claimed that was for our romantic evenings together … so who was I to object? We looked at the room and decided to remove the closet doors. Then we added shelving, bought a mini-frig and microwave, and kept the shelves stocked with snacks and drinks that we could prepare without leaving the room. It started turning into a really cool and relaxing space! In the end, my husband made fantastic choices and decisions. And for someone who was reluctant to think about turning the room into a home theater … well, I probably use that room more than my husband and have to admit it was a great idea. It’s cozy, comfortable and has become our private viewing sanctum, plus it’s large enough to have a small group over for movies. We both use it to unwind after a hard day at the office. I sure wish I could take credit for his good idea!

I was ecstatic when my husband and I purchased our first house, because I was anxious to turn it into a home. This was our first house together, and even though it was not new construction, it was everything we wanted. It was also the perfect excuse to get rid of all the hand-me-downs and previously owned furniture that we inherited from relatives or had purchased at thrift stores. Out with the old and in with the new! Fortunately, we had saved enough money to buy some good furniture pieces, which was going to help turn out house into our home. We started with the basic pieces and as time and budget permitted, added whenever we could. Both of us favor light wood and clean lines, so we knew what we were looking for. We wanted our furniture to reflect our individual styles but not overpower the rooms. We each had a lot of photographs, ceramics and miscellaneous glassware that needed to be considered, and thanks to the great suggestions in some interior design magazines, we were able to develop a plan before heading to the furniture stores. That was two years ago and our home is almost complete. We are just missing a few minor elements that I hope to purchase by the end of this summer. I also have to thank the in-store sales consultants who were able to look at our plan, scrutinize our budget and make fantastic recommendations that my husband and I probably wouldn’t have considered. In fact, we had a little party after the New Year to celebrate our success, and invited three of the designers who made our home possible.