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Oval Office Makeover

 

There was very little fanfare about the recent Oval Office makeover. Judging by the pictures, I can see why. I mean, I’m not expecting red velvet, but what’s with all of the beige?

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal outlined all of the new accouterments, which include a new rug, new wallpaper, new chairs, new couches, and a new coffee table. Apparently, taxpayers had no say, because frankly, they didn’t pay for it. The White House Historical Association picked up the tab, thanks to a contribution from the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Despite the blah look, there are two very cool call-out items. The first is an oval rug, which has quotes from former presidents Kennedy, Lincoln and both Roosevelts, as well as the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. Guess you can’t get that at IKEA, huh?

The quotes are:

  • “The Only Thing We Have to Fear is Fear Itself” – President Franklin D. Roosevelt
  • “Government of the People, By the People, For the People” – President Abraham Lincoln
  • “The Arc of the Moral Universe is Long, But it Bends Towards Justice” – Martin Luther King Jr.
  • “No Problem of Human Destiny is Beyond Human Beings” – President John F. Kennedy
  • “The Welfare of Each of Us is Dependent Fundamentally Upon the Welfare of All of Us” – President Theodore Roosevelt

The other nifty thing about this room is that everything is American-made. Tracking down those (matching!) items must have been the most difficult portion of the project.

The entire redesign was done while the Obama family vacationed on Martha’s Vineyard. There’s no word on whether Ty Pennington was anywhere near this extreme makeover — kidding!

by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on September 7, 2010 at 1:00 pm
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Qubicles

Bookshelves have taken over almost every wall I have.  And while they’re nice, they’re not stylish.   Modular shelving, like these stylish Qubicles, would be really nice.

Sold in sets of three cubes, Qubicles are designed for easy arrangement and variability.  With an inner storage area of 8in x 8in x 6in, each cube provides plenty of room for books, pictures, CDs, or little glass unicorns.  The outer dimensions of each cube is 10in x 10in x 6in.

What makes Qubicles stand out among other modular shelving systems is the bracket system.  Once the bracket is mounted you can rearrange the cubes any way you wish—without having to use tools.  They simply slide in and slide out.

Multiple colors are available.  So, for example, you can change your Qubicle colors for the holidays.  Put up orange and black Qubs at Halloween to display mini pumpkins.  Change it up in time for New Year’s Eve. 

Sound great?  The tricky thing is this:  Qubicles are not yet available for purchase.  They are listed at Quirky, a website devoted to developing and selling inventions and innovations devised by people like us FIYers. 

The way it works is that Qubicles are available for pre-sale at $32 set.  When demand hits a certain threshold, the product goes into the manufacturing stage. 

More about the Quirky revolution coming soon. 

by John Barker

Written by editor on September 4, 2010 at 10:37 am
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He said, She said

Our weekly round-up of  the talk in blogland. 

Bob Borson of Dallas, TX writes Life of An Architect about his own house, his work and, well, the life of an architect.  He’s a pretty funny guy.  Guess which one is him in this photo.

Speaking of building houses,the  Tiny House Blog has plans, resources, and tons of photos about “living simply in small spaces.”  Here small can mean  400 – 600 square feet cabins, sheds, huts, or bungalows.  It’s cool stuff.  

On a similar blog called  The Tiny Life, this post does a good job of explaining  the Tiny House Movement and this post discusses the question of raising kids in a tiny house.   

Anyone going thrifting this weekend?  It seems to have been a good week for finding stuff.   Heirloom Farmhouse showed off her envious stash and  Jen West at Jentrified shared some of her amazing estate sales finds, too.

real

Last but not least, Real Estate Blog 360 offers up clear, easy to read articles about various real estate topics.  I like this one about about how to correctly price a home for sale and this one about the best free phone apps for house hunting. The apps list is a probably a little dated - if you’ve found any new apps we should know about, let us know!

Have a great weekend!   

by Lisa Oram

Written by editor on September 3, 2010 at 2:16 pm
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Things Not to Do With a Fish Tank

Fish tanks are a beautiful and cost-effective way to brighten up a home.  But—if you’re stupid enough—they can get pretty darned expensive thanks to water damage.

Take this kid, for example:

 

Okay—that was an honest accident.  I suspect the kid will be more careful next time he’s flexing his massive guns around glass objects.

But this next video . . .well, some people are just stupid on purpose.  Best guide the kiddies out of the room for this one—it ends with a naughty word.  And if you’re in PETA, avoid this video altogether.

The results were predictable, though I thought for sure those fish were goners.  I like being wrong about things like that.

Then you have the random factor that is a cat.  As I write this, my 25-pound furry buddy (Buster) is trying to squeeze behind the entertainment center – and, like an octopus, he is somehow compressing his body to the thickness of a sheet of paper.  In other words, he’s succeeding.  And in a minute or two I’m gonna have to get up and pull his fat ass out because he’ll get stuck.  He’s done this before.

But I digress.  This next video shows you why I currently don’t have a fish tank:

That could have ended a lot worse.  If a cat the size of mine did that, there would be glass, water, and fish all over the floor.

I guess there’s a little lesson in here somewhere.  Buy a fish tank.  Enjoy its beauty.  But, unless you have flood insurance, don’t go swingin’ heavy stuff around it, blowing it up, or allowing your cat a preview of the night’s menu.

by John Barker

Written by editor on September 3, 2010 at 10:26 am
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Nicotine Fix

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/3038512708/

Believe it or not, cigarettes can be a good thing.  They have beneficial uses   that go beyond clouding your lungs with smoke.

For example, cigarette tobacco makes a great anesthetic for a bee sting.  Simply rip open the cigarette, pull out a wad of tobacco, lick it, and stick it on the sting.  You’ll get quite a good numbing effect.

And if you are still battling bugs in your garden, the alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants, which includes tobacco, can also be used as an insecticide.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewbain/766040444/in/photostream/

A commonly used insecticide in the 1880s, nicotine is  toxic to insects—particularly aphids, thrips, fungus gnats, leafhoppers, and asparagus beetle larvae.

The best way to utilize tobacco is to make a nicotine tea.  Soak a cup of plant leaves or cigarette butts in warm water for about 30 minutes.   Add a dash of soap, strain through a cheesecloth, and  you should be all set.   

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wheatfields/2671524520/

But don’t drink this tea.  Put some into a spray bottle and shower the leaves of your plants.  For ground critters, pour a little of the solution around the stem of the plant.  Be careful around young plants, as it can harm them.  It’s also a good idea to avoid using toxic tea on pepper, eggplant, and tomato plants.

So keep makin’ those smokes, oh giant conglomerates!  Even if sales are diminishing due to smarter consumers,  your product may still have a future in killing bugs. 

by John Barker

Written by editor on September 2, 2010 at 1:52 pm
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Pet-Friendly Features Boost Property Value

People are freaky when it comes to their pets. I’ve seen people carry their little dogs during the daily “walk,” little sweaters, baby carriages . . .you name it.

According to the latest report from Move, Inc., some of the latest, greatest pet features for the home include deluxe dog runs, custom dog doors, and private patios with personal fire hydrants. However, these items don’t just spoil Spot; they also boost your property value.

“Pets have become important members of the family, and their needs are often high on the list of must-haves for many buyers, sometimes even higher than priorities of the two-legged members of the family,” says Eileen Healy of Colorado’s Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors. “Calling out features or local pet-friendly amenities can make or break a buyer’s interest in a particular property. If a buyer knows a home they love already has features the family dog or pet will also love, they’ll be more inclined to give that home a second look and consider it more than others on their list.”

Just a quick example: An Idaho seller is offering a heated doghouse as part of his $520,000 home package.

You don’t need to move or go doggone crazy with the budget to make your home four-legged-friendly. Here are a three of our favorite products for the pampered pooch.

PetZen DogTread Motorized Exercise Treadmill:   Fido doesn’t have to worry about bad weather ora bad owner. This treadmill allows him to walk all day and night. With prices starting at $550, there are treadmill models available for small, medium, or large dogs.

 

Autoelex Pet Pavilion:  This creepy little invention looks like a microwave for dogs — to cook them, not cook for them. Don’t get out the steak sauce. It’s actually designed so that Rex can relax or recuperate from illness at just the right temperature. That sort of pampering doesn’t come cheap or easy, though. Right now, this device is by inquiry only, but you’d better have $10K handy.

MTI Whirlpools Jentle Pet:  Most dogs don’t love to take a bath. However, very few have the Jentle Pet. Starting at $1,199, this hand-held shower and a self-cleaning whirlpool system also features five massaging whirlpool jets, shelves for shampoos and supplies, and a seat for your favorite human.

 by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on September 1, 2010 at 10:10 am
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Bosch’s Power Box Rocks!

The Power Box™ 360 Jobsite AM/FM Stereo looks like the robot friend I’ve always wanted. It doesn’t make cute sounds like R2-D2 or crack wise like Johnny 5 from Short Circuit. However, this box will rock your socks off as you work on the deck, the roof, the job site, or pretty much anywhere else. Basically, it will provide 360 degrees of sound, no matter what the scenario.

However, the Power Box 360 isn’t just built to rock — it’s as tough as one, too. And yes, I really mean that. This thing looks like it’s would survive blasts of varying degrees, whether from weather or wartime. It’s got an enclosed, weatherproof media bay that’s basically wrapped in an aluminum and rubber roll cage. In other words, it can take a fall much better than you can.

Other features include an internal battery, AM/FM presets, equalizer settings, an SD card slot, and a USB port, which can charge up compatible devices, such as a cell phone or MP3 player.

Bosch doesn’t list an MSRP on its website, but Amazon says the list price is $379. That seems like an awful lot to replace your trusty transistor. Luckily, Amazon is selling it at the much-reduced price of $185.

by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on August 31, 2010 at 10:41 am
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Snazzy Tubs

It’s a girly thing to admit, but I love baths.  Don’t get me wrong—I’m not goin’ for any pink foo-foo scented bath salts and such.  But there’s something just plain awesome about soaking in a tub with a book or TV show and a glass of wine—or a decent beer (none of the light crap).

But I don’t know if I could bring myself to even get near one of these tubs.  They’re just . . .too artsy looking to even be tubs – even if they ARE tubs.  Check these out:

SNAZZY TUB # 1: The WS Bath Epoca Free Standing Bathtub

That’s just plain daunting.  I feel like one of the King’s bath-boys would be hovering over me with some sort of tiny bath towel.  And the bathroom would have to be the size of a football field.

This sucker comes in gold as well.

SNAZZY TUB # 2: The WS Bath Milo Glass Bathtub

Yeah, I know.  WS Bath again.  But this thing is really cool.  You know it.  I know it.

But what wouldn’t be cool would be someone walking in while I’m taking a bath.  It would be like viewing a hairless albino seal through a viewing port at Sea World’s Seal Encounter.  Type that many S’s in a sentence and you know how serious this would be.

SNAZZY TUB # 3: Bagno Sasso X Line Free Standing Bathtub

Okay.  This is a bathtub I can wrap my head around.  Or sink my behind into. It’s somewhere behind the built-in towel and soap shelves.  In this case, the tub can be either freestanding or nestled against a wall.  And the taps can be mounted on the wall, floor, a Pillar column, or on the edge of the tub itself.

This is just the tip of the melty iceberg, if ya’ know what I mean, when it comes to the world of designer bathtubs.  I’ll be back with more!

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 30, 2010 at 10:20 am
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Broom Groomer

Okay, I’m just gonna say up front that I’m not sure what the benefit of this product is.  It’s supposed to be a “sweeping improvement” in dustpans.  But why is it called the Broom Groomer?

Let’s check it out together, shall we?

What you have here is a dustpan augmented with a row of rubber teeth in the back.  When you sweep dust into the pan, these teeth supposedly clean the broom’s bristles, which eliminates annoying dust bunnies the sweeper has to dislodge from the broom by hand.  I wish I had a hunting license to bag as many dust bunnies as possible.  I’m sure I currently exceed the limit and could get fined by the cleaning police . . .

Sorry… got distracted for a sec there…

The Broom Groomer is made of durable plastic with rubber on the grip.  A footrest is built into the handle—which angles downward.  This is something that makes a helluva lot of sense to me.  I hate it when I’m sweeping and the dustpan crawls across the flow with each stroke of the broom.

The Broom Groomer is available for pre-sale at Quirky for $9.99.  Here’s the design pitch—and the guy makes quite a good argument about why this is a great idea:

I’m sold.  And believe me, I need it.  The dust bunnies are currently building a warren in my house . . .

by John Barker

Written by editor on August 29, 2010 at 10:05 am
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Cynthia Rowley Pretties Up Your Toolbox

Considering you are on FixItYourself.com, you may not know that Cynthia Rowley is a g0-to name when it comes to choosing an outfit or even a fancy handbag. You’ll just have to take my word for it.  

And now, when it comes to running carpet, rotating screws, and cutting wire, the New York designer is getting into the game with her Genuine Article line.  These items will stand out like a sore thumb in almost any toolbox, but not because they are designed for dainty hands. 

Proving that you can be pretty as well as pretty handy, each tool in the Genuine Article line has its own unique look.  There’s a patterned pair of pliers, a screwdriver, a tape measure, and even a flowered staple gun — yes, it’s important to be pretty when firing off staples with such force. Other items include a hammer, wire cutters, and a level. She’s even come up with a bag to keep everything in. And if you are more interested in a traditional toolbox, this one might be a match.   

The perfect gifts for the wife or girlfriend, it says you want her to be involved.  I’m going to get a set for myself, because I know my husband will keep his dirty mitts off.

Genuine Article items are sold for $10 each (the bag is $25). However, you can save a few bucks by buying items in sets, which retail for $25.

by Rachel Cericola

Written by editor on August 28, 2010 at 10:44 am
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