Archive for September, 2007

September 26th, 2007

If you’re going to do a job…

Most message boards that deal with decorating will have the dreaded question, “Can I paint countertops?” This question seems to come up about twice a week. It’s really a testament to how many horrible orange laminate countertops are left over from the 1970′s. Most of these people are on a budget & want a diy project. Yes you can paint countertops. However, the countertops will look painted & won’t be durable. Besides, all of the paint & primer can be more expensive than one might think.

My suggestion is if you want to tackle this job, try ceramic tile. It’s inexpensive, looks great, & will last for decades to come. One word of warning though: personally, I’m sick of looking at cheap ceramic white tile. There are just so many other colors & types of tiles out there. AnchorBayTile.com specializes in unique tile. You can make your project unique by using a subway tile, or even just adding in metal accent tiles. This won’t cost a lot of money, but it will be the finishing touch that makes it look like you spared no expense. Anchorbaytile.com even has the most amazing wood tiles that I’ve ever seen. They have products that aren’t found in most tile stores & they have fantastic customer service. They even have Flat Rate Shipping anywhere in the country.

If you’re going to do a job, do it right. I had a lot of problems following this adage when I first started doing DIY projects. However, I found out that it saves a lot of money & time in the long run.


Technorati : , , , ,

September 24th, 2007

Throwdown with Bobby Flay

I’ve never been a huge Bobby Flay fan. Yes, I like the show Iron Chef, but that has more to do with my obsession with watching people cook really fast then it has to do with Bobby Flay. Honestly, he annoys me. He just seems so prideful. He’s always like “I have about 14 shows on the Food Network”. Yes, yes you do. However, if you had one decent show then maybe you wouldn’t require the other zillion shows.

However, I have to say, I love “Throwdown” with Bobby Flay. Bobby shows up & surprises local chefs & challenges them to a contest. Then Bobby tries to come up with a better venison of whatever that chef’s specialty is. Then the food is judged. The best part? Bobby Flay loses pretty much every single time. It’s about time he got some humble pie. I know, with my cliches I’m starting to sound like HGTV. On the last episode of Throwdown that I watched, Bobby said it was the last episode ever. That’s a shame, I really liked seeing him lose.

Note: I’m not usually a vindictive person who delights in the failure of others. I usually don’t go on long rants about celebrities I’ve never met. Bobby Flay just brings that out in me.


Technorati : , , , ,

September 24th, 2007

Save money & the planet all at once

When I watch “Living with Ed” I start feeling guilty. I could never “go green” to the extent that he has. However, I feel like I should be doing something. I was excited to learn about Shoplet.com – Shop Green. Shoplet.com is one of the leading e-marketplaces to buy discount office supplies. It has a huge selection of online office supplies & office furniture. In fact it’s one of the largest in the world with over 200,000 products.

Just their Shop Green section has over 8,000 products that are eco-friendly. Their motto is “Save Money. Save the Planet”. This section has everything from telephones, copiers & of course paper. There are so many affordable ways to go green that I never even knew existed. I think the key is to not feel guilty, but instead take the time to be informed & purchase wisely.


Technorati : , , , , , ,

September 24th, 2007

HGTV needs a new focus group

I like watching HGTV. Most other decorating channels or shows seem to fight way too much. It’s just way too much drama for a decorating show. So I watch HGTV instead. I do have one complaint, it’s all of their cheesy lines. It doesn’t matter what show you are watching on HGTV. The host will always chime in with “This blue paint will add up to a lot of green when you sale your house”. Another overused HGTV cliche is calling anything to do with the fridge “cool”. There’s probably a million more inane cliches that this channel has come up with.

My question is why? Their programming is strong otherwise. Is there really a focus group out there going “I want to see less home improvement. Whenever a door is installed, I’d like the host to say something about that being adoorable. Get it? Adoorable, because it’s a door”. HGTV is actually a lot easier to watch with the TV on mute.


Technorati : , , ,

September 24th, 2007

Outdoor Kitchens

We got a grill this summer & I thought we’d use it once or twice a year. Instead we use it several times a week. I’ve never really liked to eat meat honestly, but I’ve found that I love anything that has been grilled. I can really see why people install outdoor kitchens. They are just so great for parties & they make cooking so much easier & more delicious.

I was looking at a site called Werever & they really know everything there is to know about outdoor kitchens. I was really impressed by the quality of their cabinetry. Their cabinets are made from a marine-grade polymer that can withstand even the harsh winters in Utah. A lot of other outdoor kitchens require a lot of maintenance & where is the fun in that? Werever’s cabinets are maintenance free & come with a lifetime warranty. They even have designers that can help you create your dream outdoor living space. The testimonials on this site are absolutely amazing. Best of all, their cabinets are Made In America. They can ship kitchens all over the country. The modular cabinets are easy to put together & they have a lot of styles & colors to choose from. An outdoor kitchen is a must. I used to think that it was just a dream. However, now it’s a necessity to me.


Technorati : , , ,