Things You Should Be Doing to Reduce What You Own

info • January 27, 2020

Most of Your Stuff Is Worthless. The stuff you love the most, the stuff you think is so good you don’t use for fear of breaking it, has little to no resale value. From china, crystal, flatware, silver trays, serving pieces, tea sets, pianos and collectible figurines, to grandfather clocks and real pieces of craftsmanship furniture.

Why? Baby boomers have glutted the market with their castoffs, and millennials, don’t want it. Millennials hate both formal in-home entertaining. With looming student loans, they tend to rent and move often. Who wants to be constantly moving a piano from apartment to apartment?

And furniture? There’s no market for so-called “brown furniture,” meaning any furniture (regardless of quality) other than the “mid-century casual” furniture (think clean, lightweight) favored by millennials. Brown furniture is basically firewood.

Well, Almost Everything. What do guns, LPs (records), and precious metals/gems have in common? They are the few things you might have in your house with a robust resale value. Silver also has value, but only if it is real and can be melted down.

Be viciously thoughtful about holding onto sentimental items. Keep just enough that reminds you of who owned it, but not so much stuff that your children/grandchildren will need to deal with. That means they box it and shoved under a bed or out of sight, out of mind into the attic.

How do you get started? Let children/grandchildren select 1 or 2 pieces of jewelry, Christmas ornaments etc. so that if they want, they have a special remembrance. You giving away these items and seeing the joy in preserving a memory of a special family member is priceless.

Set aside photos to be digitized (with the originals then destroyed). Don’t save any school papers, report cards, awards or art projects from grown children.

Buy fewer books. While used book resellers do an important service in keeping books in circulation, a surprising number of books end up in landfills because many paper recycling facilities can’t process the the glue that binds book spines. Cut down on your book consumption by only reading books that are borrowed from the library or purchasing ebooks.

Buy fewer, but better quality, clothes. The world is overflowing with used clothing. Clothing today is meant to last no more than a few years. In fact, a lot of clothing isn’t even made to withstand more than a few washes. Think you are “paying it forward” but dropping off a load of unwanted clothes at a charity shop? Think again. Most clothing donations never make it to the racks are only about a third of what does eventually sells. Cut down on the amount of clothing you have by buying better quality clothes that last longer.

Start Using Everything. Why hold on to family china, silver, crystal to only use it maybe twice a year, that is if the children/grandchildren come home for the holidays. You deserve to be using your best. If it breaks or gets damaged, don’t worry. Remember, your children/grandchildren will just be selling it for pennies on the dollar at a garage sale after you're Dead And Gone. So, use what you Love and Toss what you Don’t!

Faux Foliage Tips

By info • September 17, 2020
1. Mix real and faux. No one needs to know it’s not all real. It can be difficult to tell the difference at a glance so let it be your secret. 2. Mix and match! Select a few faux seasonal statement stems that you can mix in with other foliage. This can help your basic arrangements go farther and give you a variety of shapes, colors and flowers to play with all year round. Keep less seasonal specific blooms or branches to cut down on the amount of items you need to store. 3. Bend the branches and leaves so they feel more relaxed and organic! 4. Vary the stem heights in the vase give it a more interesting shape. 5. Create an airy arrangement, leaving breathing room for a simpler look. 6. Pack a visual punch by using just one type of foliage. Use unique containers for your foliage to make a one-of-a-kind statement! 7. Fill the bottom of glass vessels with rocks for more interest. 8. You can use water in the bottom of a glass vase to make faux look more realistic!

Lessons on, Why Quartz Countertops?

By info • July 31, 2020
Lesson #4 - How to Clean Quartz Countertops -Quartz countertops are non-porous, which means they don't absorb bacteria, mold and mildew — not to mention things like red wine. So spill away! Cleaning is straightforward. Use only soap and water, and maybe some mild detergent. (Always check your manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance guide before you use different cleaning products, just to make sure the quartz won't react adversely to a particular chemical. Lesson #5 - Quartz Countertop Pros and Cons • Technology means that quartz countertops are consistently and uniformly produced, so you know exactly what you are getting when you buy it. • Quartz's main selling point is durability. It will last for years without staining or breaking down, and requires little to no maintenance. It's also very easy to clean. • Because it's made from little leftover bits of mineral, versus mined in whole slabs and shipped around the world, quartz countertops are considered a good environmental choice. • One drawback is the upfront cost: it's one of the more expensive materials out there. However, quartz is extremely popular these days, which can be a huge selling point when you put your home on the market. • Current technology limits the quartz countertop slab sizes. If you want an oversized island, for example, you might have to choose a different material. However, seams are less visible on quartz countertops than other materials. Lesson #6 - Quartz Countertops vs. Granite/Marble - Granite/Marble was the go-to countertop for years, but has recently fallen into second place, leaving people to wonder which is better. Granite/Marble is an all-natural stone that's quarried: no two slabs are alike, and there are endless variations for you to choose from. It's also can be more affordable than quartz. Like quartz, granite/marble is highly durable, although it is porous and susceptible to stains, and therefore requires periodic sealing after the initial installation.

Lessons on, Why Quartz Countertops?

By info • July 30, 2020
Lesson #1 - Quartz Countertops Colors - Although white and grey are probably the most popular, endless colors are available. Beyond color, new patterns also mimic the look of natural substances with subtle veins and striations — which gives the material some movement and makes it feel more real. There are also now more finishes to consider, in addition to the smooth and shiny quartz you can achieve a softer appearance — with honed or suede-like finishes — that have a brushed feel. Lesson #2 - How Much Do Quartz Countertops Cost - Unfortunately, quartz countertops aren't a budget kitchen material, and can be a significant chunk of your remodeling budget. They run between $60-100 plus per square foot, including installation. Lesson #3 - Durability - If you want the look, but not the maintenance, of natural materials like soapstone or marble, quartz countertops are an attractive alternative. Its hardness makes it a good work surface, and one of the most durable and low-maintenance options you can buy. Unlike other materials, it resists etching, stains, cracks and chips. More good news: the resin that binds the quartz during manufacturing already adds protection, so there's no need to initially seal the surface, or maintain by resealing in the future. It's good to know, however, that quartz countertops don't like high heat. You should never put scalding pots and hot pans directly on the countertop: always use a trivet instead.

The Secret to Decorating With Throw Pillows

By info • July 29, 2020
PICK AN ANCHOR COLOR: If there's a piece of furniture in your room that brings in a pop of color, make sure the rest of the room highlights it without outshining it. MIX AND MATCH PRINTS: By mixing and matching styles and prints, you'll elevate the intrigue to keep the eye engaged. THINK ABOUT SYMMETRY: Once you've got all the right pillows, you should also spend some time thinking about how you'd like to display them to get the most out of their potential. If you like the look of asymmetry, try an arrangement that looks more random and effortless. STAY NEUTRAL:. If bright colors overwhelm you or you simply resonate with neutrals more, you can still allow your personality to show through with things like texture, material and shape. EXPERIMENT WITH TEXTURE: Its fun texture makes it the perfect way to achieve a wild aesthetic outside of color, print, and shape elements.

Looking for the perfect chair?

By info • July 22, 2020
Perfect chair for that person who wants a higher back to rest their head. Better yet, can be ordered in your fabric selection and be stationary, swivel, or rock.

Ineffective, Out of Date Cleaning Staples You Need to Replace ASAP, part 5

By info • June 11, 2020
String Mops - String-mops are inefficient, unsanitary, and obsolete because most floors should not be wet-mopped anymore anyway, they should be vacuumed, dry-dusted, then damp-mopped by spraying the cleaner directly on the floor and immediately polished clean. The new gold standard for floor mops is one with microfiber strands, or a spray mop with a machine-washable cleaning pad.

Ineffective, Out of Date Cleaning Staples You Need to Replace ASAP, part 4

By davidh • June 9, 2020
Your Ancient Handheld Vacuum - Some handheld vacuums aren’t practical or sanitary. They are filled with old dust and debris and don’t do a very good job vacuuming up stuff.

Ineffective, Out of Date Cleaning Staples You Need to Replace ASAP, part 3

By info • June 5, 2020
Feather Dusters - Feather dusters and rainbow-colored dusters are outdated because they’re ineffective. Without a cleaner or polish, or something to cling to the dust, they’ll just move your dirt around. Use a Swiller style dusters for light dusting once a week, but for a good, effective deep clean use an all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth to trap dust and give your surfaces a nice shine.

Ineffective, Out of Date Cleaning Staples You Need to Replace ASAP, part 2

By info • June 4, 2020
Disinfectant Spray or Wipes More Than Two Years Old - Like it or not, if it’s been sitting under your sink for too long, your go-to disinfectant spray or wipes aren’t something you can count on. Disinfectant sprays are usually only good for one to two years max. If the smell is getting weaker, then it’s not effective as a disinfectant anymore.

Ineffective, Out of Date Cleaning Staples You Need to Replace ASAP

By info • May 29, 2020
Hydrogen Peroxide - (especially if it’s been exposed to light) Often used as a nontoxic disinfectant around the house, when stored incorrectly, hydrogen peroxide breaks down and loses its antibacterial properties when exposed to light for too long, that’s why it always comes in a dark bottle. Store it in a cool, dark place (in its original bottle) to ensure it stays potent and powerful. Even when stored properly, an opened bottle of hydrogen peroxide only maintains its effectiveness for six months to a year—it should indicate its shelf life on the label. After this time, the expired solution isn’t harmful, but it won’t be as effective at disinfecting as it used to.