Thursday, August 18, 2011

Get Organized for the School Year

Back to school time has come for many of us and is quickly approaching for the rest. Even if school has already started there's still time to get your house organized and ready for the new school year. Life Made Better has a few quick and easy tips for getting an "A" on your organization this year.

Paperwork
Put your walls to work by organizing papers in wall-mount filing racks outfitted with folders.

Office Organization
Optimize efficiency by installing a corkboard, a dry-erase board, and a magnetic calendar above the work surface.

Office Supplies
Insert a divided tray or drawer organizer into a desk drawer to sort fasteners and other office supplies. You'll need to choose an organizer that has a bottom (as opposed to the type of bottomless drawer divider used for socks) to keep small items from slipping underneath.

Clips and Fasteners
Tiny little tools benefit from tiny little vessels to keep them organized. Transform colorful plastic ice-cube trays into divided storage containers for paper clips, push pins, and more.

Art Supplies
Use short mailing tubes or potato-chip cans to keep paintbrushes, pencils, and other art supplies organized. Cover the mailing tubes with decorative paper to fit your decor. Stack them and attach them to one another with crafts glue or double-sided tape to keep them stable.

Batteries
Eliminate the need to run through the house looking for batteries ever again. Use a plastic tackle box with multiple sizes of openings to hold your batteries, grouped by size.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

A Match Made in Tropical Heaven!


(Picture from KravetNews.com)

The preppy prints of Lilly Pulitzer have been racing out of the closet and into the home. First, bedding and bath goods last year, then a line of furniture earlier this year, and now the Lilly Pulitzer for Lee Jofa collection of interior fabrics and trimmings. Expect the brand’s signature prints—and some new patterns, too—in Pulitzer’s classic pink and green combinations, and other bright and clean colors. Available in cotton, linen, silk, chintz, and jacquard, the line carries 15 prints.
(Source: Elle Decor)

Let me just say... this excites me! Aside from the fact that I've already downed my first cup of coffeee, I have been running around like a mad woman telling everyone in the office of the expected arrival of the Lilly Pulitzer fabrics at Lee Jofa this month. After visiting the Dallas store for years I fell in love with Lilly's bright colors and perfect pattern combinations. I am so excited to see this same thing available in the home decor industry now!

Keep an eye out on www.InteriorMall.com for all these fabulous new fabrics (I know I will be)!

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Drapery Hardware Terms Made Easy

Bracket
A solid piece of material used to mount or attach curtain rods to the wall, molding, window trim, or ceiling.

Center Bracket
A single or double bracket made to mount over the top of a window to support additional weight in the center of the rod.
Clearance
The distance from the mounting surface to the back of the curtain rod. Important consideration if an under treatment is to be used.

Diameter
The length of a straight line that runs through the center of a circle, cutting it into two symmetrical halves. Commonly used to describe the size of a pole or finial.
Finial
A decorative element attached to one or both ends of a rod that also prevents rings and panels from sliding off the end of the rod.

Pin-on Hook (Drapery Pin)
A metal pin designed to slide into draperies, and then to attach (hook) to a ring or slide.

Projection
Distance from wall to the front of the rod.

Return
The drapery fabric that covers the area from the end of the curtain back to the wall. In shirr-on curtains, the fabric is eased around the corner of the curtain rod. In pin-on draperies, an additional pin is used at the outside top corners of the drapery and hooked into the rod bracket hole.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Home Bar Essentials

If you love to entertain we have some of the coolest bar and glassware essentials. Stock your bar with these 5 chic and functional home bar accessories available at www.InteriorMall.com

A durable and elegant wine chiller bucket is a must have! This double-wall insulated bucket is made of brushed stainless steel and is perfect for gifts or for your own house party.

This black-finished wooden wine tool box is a lovely way to store your wine tools. The box is lined with foam velvet and its contents include two wine bottle stoppers, a stainless steel drip ring, a retractable multi-tooled wine opener, and a thermometer which keeps your wine at a perfect temperature.

Personalize your experience with monogram shot glass embellished with your initial and a silver medallion. This set of 4 shot glasses will have you toasting in style.


A wine bottle carrier is a necessity! This faux leather carrier holds a standard size bottle of wine and collapses for easy storage when not in use. Wine carriers make great housewarming or wedding gifts and while you're at it, buy one for yourself so that you can take the party on the road.