Laura's ideas
Beautiful blue and white (Natchez crepe myrtle)
Idea for main bath using a ladder for a towel rack.
Great idea to use carpet squares under a dining room table. If one gets stained it can be removed and replaced!
Love the bright pop of color on the island.
Love the bold color and clean lines!!
Would this be an option for privacy when wanted?
White. Simple.
Pretty!
Interesting covering.
Like the clean look of the white. Ours could not be that tall, though.
Hmmm, cloth covering slats AND lights. Not sure we have this much room, though.
This is pretty in white. Open on 3 sides like ours.
This is interesting and cozy. Could work with the slatted wall to our west side.
I like the white!
Nice area off the house. Could work for us.
Cute. Simple.
Simple lines, string lights.
Something like this between kitchen and dining window for Dean to grill under?
Love the retractable sail cloth ceiling.
This looks more like our low ranch house. Could work.
Would love to do this off our sliding doors but not sure we have enough head room.
I like the idea of a covered walkway from our driveway to our patio!
What a magical looking back yard!!
Looks so warm, cozy and inviting!!
Love the wall/seating with lighting underneath!
Test its sturdiness. Quality sofas should feel solid and heavy. Flop around on one to test its sturdiness and then lift it up by the corner and shake it a bit. If it feels light or wobbly, take a pass. Look for a frame made from a kiln-dried hardwood such as oak, alder, birch, maple or, alternatively, high-quality hardwood plywood or marine plywood. Eight-way, hand-tied springs are a hallmark of fine furniture, but sinuous S-shaped springs can provide nearly as much comfort. Drop-in coil springs are a less costly alternative. Consider the cushions. Most cushions have a core of polyurethane foam; the denser the foam, the heavier it is and the longer it will last. In the cheapest furniture, the cushion is filled with just the polyurethane foam core. In better furniture, the core is wrapped with Dacron batting. Higher-quality options include poly-down cushions, which have down mixed with the batting; spring-down cushions, which feature a core of springs surrounded by foam and feathers; and all down, which is all feathers (and all work, so try to avoid this.) Check the joints and frame. The best sofas have joints that are double doweled and fitted with corner blocks that are both glu...
Get the right size. Consider the proportions of the room and determine what height, length and depth of sofa would look best in the space. If you’re uncertain, mock up a footprint on the floor using masking tape or blue painter’s tape. Or consider “building” a sofa out of empty boxes — then live with it for a few days to see how it feels. Don’t overlook the arms. If you plan to spend a lot of time lying on the sofa for reading or naps, make sure it has enough space between the arms. Don’t rely on overall length alone, as the width of the arms will affect the space between. If you’re short on space, think about buying a sofa with low arms or no arms — it’ll make your room look larger.
If you have kids and a neutral sofa sounds like an invitation to disaster, consider a darker color or a sofa with a subtle overall pattern. As a rule, synthetic fabrics are more durable, colorfast and cleanable. Tightly woven fabrics and fabrics that are heavy will stand up to wear and tear better, as will leather. Avoid satins, brocades and damasks unless the sofa won’t get much use.
Since sofas are such a big investment, you’ll want yours to stay in fashion as long as possible. Given that, it’s often best to stick with a neutral fabric. You can always add color and pattern with throw pillows. Plus, pillows are easy and inexpensive to change if you decide to redecorate.
When it comes to sofas, one size does not fit all. The depth of the seat and the angle of the back will influence how comfortable you feel. How do you know what depth is right for you? Let experience be your guide. If there’s a sofa or chair that you find particularly comfortable, measure the distance from the inside of your knee to the spot where your lower back hits the back of the sofa, then buy a sofa that has similar dimensions.
Sofas generally come with one of two types of backs: a pillow back, which has removable cushions or pillows along the rear; or a tight back, in which the upholstery is tailored to the contours of the sofa’s back. Pillow-back sofas are generally considered more comfortable and inviting, but there’s a downside: Unless you’re diligent with your fluffing, the cushions will usually look slightly askew. If you are a person who will be driven to distraction by that you might want to consider a tight back.
Asking yourself how many people you want to seat might sound silly, but the truth is, nobody likes sitting on the crack. So if you get a sofa with two cushions, expect just two people to use it. To accommodate more people, get a sofa with three cushions or a single long cushion, called a bench cushion.
If your interior is traditional, look for a sofa with rolled arms, a contoured back, skirting or tufted cushions.
Love the stone birdbath with re-circulating fountain!
Ideas for organizing bathroom drawers.
Organizing bras, underwear and socks
Ideas for organizing a junk drawer
Ideas for under the sink organizing
I LOVE this! All the windows! Love the neutral color.
A wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t have to mean a riot of color. If you prefer a limited palette, you can create a design that’s neat and stylish, yet still attracts insects and other visiting fauna.
Q