Well these are some of the more awesome bookshelves I’ve seen. Screw you IKEA, I want these ones! I wonder if we opened up the ceiling and went up to the roof of the schoolhouse if we could do the triangle shelves seen here?

Back by popular demand

I finally remembered to buy bird seed.

And apparently it was appreciated. While our weekend plans got turned completely on their ear I did manage a few hours at the schoolhouse this weekend to check on things and make sure the mice have officially retreated (it appears they have).

I made sure to pick up some bird seed as well as a pre-formed bird bell. I’m not the biggest fan but it will tide my feathered friends over while we aren’t there to fill the regular feeds.

Well the grand re-opening of our little bird bistro was a chirping success. I wasn’t even finished filling the tray when the chickadees started to dive bomb. They and the blue jays were the first in line. I wonder who else will visit?

Home renovation information in one tidy package

Well I must be getting exceptionally lazy. I think of a good topic and then find a handy infographic that solves all my writing blocks in one fell chunk of code.

This piece on home improvement trends for 2011 is still pretty relevant. Bits and pieces about renovating your home for resale, green living, use of colour and increasing the efficiency of space and your renovation dollar.

That is probably a good think to consider since any renovations we do will be on the cheap. A bit os spackle and paint here and some new curtains there. Oh and don’t forget the flowers. They will cover a lot of ground if you will pardon the pun.
Source: eLocal.com

Another fantastic infographic—ways to save energy in your home

OK so I seem to be obsessed with providing information with bright colours and cool graphics.

This British infographic provides a room by room display of ways to repair, renovate and change your ways to ensure your home is getting the best energy bang for your buck. Or, in their case, pound.

You’ll have to take into consideration that when looking at this, these folks use radiators much more than we Canadians do and in winter it isn’t all that wise to turn your heat off at night but rather turn it down. A lot of these people don’t have central heating and are a lot less likely to go through life not knowing what -35 degrees Celsius actually feels like.

The schoolhouse has a lot of energy-saving opportunity but we aren’t currently taking advantage of much right now. I think long-term we would look at geothermal heating and better insulation but for now we rely on our propane heating, a ceiling fan and some giant windows that provide light and heat on a sunny day but need some updating.

I think we will review this infographic more closely in the future.

Infographictastic!

Alright. From now on I want all my info in graphic form. That sound you just heard was all my graphic designer friends swearing under their collective breath.

I found this cool infographic today about colour. It covers a lot of ground and will be helpful when thinking about the use of colour in decorating and while I am at work.

I think we have to re-paint the kitchen now. Damn.

Courtesy of NowSourcing, Inc

Cool stuff I want

Well not the most inspired or well written title but how else could I put it?

I’ve been shopping around for gardening supplies and have found some pretty cool stuff. And now I want it.

These days you can garden and still maintain your cool sensibilities. Now while many of these items will never make it to my humble garden it is nice to dream.

Combat Garden Gnome (in prone position with M-16)

I like the idea of this little guy keeping the thieves at bay in our absence. He and his pal here (say hello to my little friend) would maintain a sense of whimsy and martial law at the same time that ordinary woodland gnomes just can’t handle.

Thorsson & Associates Workshop has a full (and fully armed) line of gnomes on its Etsy site we are currently looking at. I’m curious whether they come with their own ghillie suits or if you have to buy them separately?

TimeLapse PlantCam

This serves little to no purpose other than it being pretty cool. You can shoot time-lapse stills of your garden throughout the season and create a movie of your efforts. You could also use it as another security feature to ensure you know exactly which of your neighbours is stealing your tomatoes when you aren’t around. Handy.

Darth Vader gargoyle

 

OK so I am not sure how to get this one other than to hire a decent mason but they are always busy what with their secret meetings and ruling the world and what not. Apparently in Washington DC at the National Cathedral if you look closely you can find a gargoyle carved as the evil sith lord himself. Thus proving worship of Star Wars is indeed a recognized religion. And hey, wouldn’t it be cool in my garden? I was thinking more of a Yoda downspout but you have to start somewhere.

Run DMC Garden statues

It’s tricky to rock a rhyme but its even tricky to rhyme without these rocks in your garden. They seem to be as elusive to find as their woodland gnome counterparts but I’m on the hunt.

And if you have never heard of Run DMC it’s time to start your education.

This speech is my recital, I think it’s very vital…

Flower grenade

According to the folks at SuckUK, these hand bombs can be chucked into any desolate wasteland you might have on your property and in a week or two you’ll get some nice wildflowers. This seems a little more like a product for the urban warrior gardeners of Parkdale but perhaps we can stir it up in Buckhorn as well. However seeing as this is a UK company it might be a bit of sticky wicket trying to get grenade-shaped plant holders across international borders.

I’m not sure who or what will make it to our garden but I can’t wait to find out!

A great post about the stuff we all see and sort of like but are kind of getting sick of. Decorator’s Notebook was on the money.

Decorator's Notebook blog

According to the Interiors Fashion Police (yes, that link is to Elle Decoration) the decorating trends we’d all like to see dead and buried during 2012 are as follows…

{via Better Homes & Gardens}

BOOKS AS PROPS

“I adore books and cannot imagine life, or my home, without them,” says Ronda Carman, of All the Best Blog. But for her, books as props have a short shelf life. “Rose Tarlow put it best: ‘An object added for effect instead of affection will always look like an affectation.’”

{via HomeShoppingSpy}

MID-CENTURY MODERN

Antiques dealer Richard Shapiro has modernism malaise, calling out the “monotony of one midcentury room after another, all with predictable, gratuitous, gimmicky accessories.”

{via Canter & Cave}

HOLLYWOOD REGENCY

It’s time to retire brightly lacquered Hollywood Regency furniture, says decorator Mary McDonald: “I think we all have seen enough garage-sale junk sprayed in high-gloss…

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