Decorative Cedar Beams Make Vaulted Ceiling Stand out
A vaulted ceiling is a great architectural element that dramatically opens up a space, but without some trim or accents of some kind it tends disappear into the “up there.” Wooden ceiling beams have the size and heft necessary to draw the eye up and allow you to appreciate that height.
These decorative ceiling beams were done by Originals for Wood for a Texas Hill Country Home.
They describe the work as, “Decorative beams for vaulted ceiling with custom center piece and wall beams with extra depth to accommodate the wall radius.” They also made the window casings and sills. Everything is done in aged cedar with a honey golden wax finish.
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Purse & Handbag Organizer Hangs Behind Door
If you have a substantial (but perfectly reasonable!) purse and handbag collection, then you might want to invest in an organizer to make it easier to find your favorites (and keep them off the closet floor). Fortunately, you can get systems designed specifically for purses and handbags.
These hanging purse racks (two are included in the set) are designed to fasten behind a door, keeping purses and handbags out of the way and yet easily accessible.
They come with 8 adjustable hooks and can also support clothes, hats, caps, scarves, and other such items that won’t fit in your overflowing closets.
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Green Eco-Roofs Can Feature “Flower Carpets”
I’ve chanced across a few homes with green roofs (also known as eco-roofs or sky gardens), and they all had grass growing on them. Now grass is all well and good–it allows you to fight your city’s “urban heat island” while offering other eco-friendly advantages–but you can go beyond grass too.
For instance, this green roof features a flower carpet.
That’s one of several eco-friendly roof options available from the folks at Roofmeadow. Some of the other Roofmeadow types are aromatic gardens, savannas, meadows, and heath.
So, if you’ve been thinking of planting up your roof with grass, don’t feel you have to stop there. A patch of heath or wildflowers could be fun too.
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Crystal Clear Glass Sink with Invisible Drain
If you’re looking for a cool bathroom sink, it’s hard to beat glass for a sleek and modern look. And Art Ceram’s Crystal Wall Bathroom Sink goes a step farther, with a “space age feel.”
My favorite feature is that there is no visible drain (you know, the spot where grime, toothpaste, and hard water deposits really like to build up). Instead, this sink “drains water away without the hassle and unsightliness of a drain and plug.”
Of course, you’ll pay for that snazzy space age design. The glass sink runs $1,424 at Finest Fixtures.
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Mica Chip Wallpapers Offer Texture and Sparkle
It’s traditional for wallpapers to look and feel like… paper. Oh, sure, some have a bit of texture here and there, but you don’t usually see chips of rock on them.
Well, these wall coverings are different.
Cavalier Prints offers a variety of “mica chip” wallpapers. Their “stone” wall coverings are also supposed to be natural and eco-friendly.
These wall coverings are sure to create a unique and distinct look for any room in your home.
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Decorative Candle Sleeves Dress up Your Sconces & Chandeliers
A lot of sconces and chandeliers come with white plastic tubes that simulate candles (but aren’t fooling anyone). If you find these a tad drab, you could invest in some decorative candle sleeves.
Designed to cover those tubes, they are available in a variety of colors and designs. Get one set you really like, or several sets so you can change the looks of your sconces and chandeliers with the seasons.
KaarsKoker has a large line (68 patterns) of candle sleeves, and you can find everything from forest-inspired to floral to skulls and crossbones (presumably for Halloween decoration… or possibly just for pirate lovers).
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Decorative Pumpkin Wagon Makes Fun Focal Point for Your Garden
Decorating isn’t just for inside the house–it’s fun to add some touches of personality to the lawn and garden too.
For a fun focal point, try something whimsical from eras past. For instance, this cheerful red pumpkin wagon would draw the eye and might bring back memories for anyone who grew up in a rural setting (or ever worked in a pumpkin field!).
This is one of several decorative wagons from the Colonial Trading Company, and it features a wooden hub and solid, steam-bent hickory wheels.
If a pumpkin cart isn’t your cup of tea, you could try a decorative peddler cart, hitch wagon, or even a covered wagon (your kids can play Oregon Trail right in the backyard).
$258 for the pumpkin wagon.
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“Eco-Lawn” Drought-Tolerant Grass Only Needs One Mowing a Month
Even if water isn’t expensive in your area, it always makes sense to conserve whenever possible. You’ve probably heard of drought-resistant landscaping or even synthetic lawns, but maybe you aren’t ready to give up your gorgeous green (real) grass.
What you might consider, especially if you live in a dry area, is this grass seed mix from the Wildflower Farm. Their “Eco-Lawn” is drought tolerant, green all summer and only needs to be mowed once a month (or less).
The seeds are a mix of fescues that are slow-growing and produce thin, green blades. When the lawn grows in, the grass is as rich and green as the normal stuff, but it’ll be less work for you (and require less water) in the long run.
Get 5 or 50 pound bags of seeds, with prices starting $33.
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Laminate Countertops Can Look Like Granite
If you love the look of granite countertops, but the real stone just isn’t in the kitchen remodeling budget, then you might want to browse those laminate countertops that are designed to look like the real deal.
Laminate is significantly less expensive, and it comes in so many patterns and options that you can likely find something that closely mimics that beautiful quarry granite.
Of course, laminate doesn’t have the cool feel, sleek touch, or sparkle of true stone, and it’s not going to fool anyone who gets close, but if all you want is the look at an affordable price, then this may be an option.
It is important to note, however, that granite can add a much bigger “wow factor” if the resell value of your home is a consideration. Don’t spend a lot on appliances, flooring, and cabinets, and then skimp on the countertops. On the other hand, if you’re just trying to improve your kitchen for you and do it as economically as possible, be aware of all the nifty design options laminate gives you.
Picture from CCK Countertops
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Install a Backyard Skating Rink on a Budget
In colder climates, winter means an opportunity for ice skating and playing hockey outdoors. But what if your neighborhood didn’t come with a suitable pond? You’ll just have to install your own backyard skating rink.
Normally packages for this sort of thing start at $1,000 or so, but the folks at NiceRink have some “budget” starter kits.
For less than $300, you can get what you need to install a simple rink. A starter kit includes a liner, brackets, a roll of patch tape, an ounce of underwater glue, and an instruction book that tells you how to MacGyver these things together into a skating rink.
Then all you need is some cold weather!
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