Necklaces and rings displayed on vintage wall hooks against a dark blue wall.
Can You Really Use Ketchup to Clean Copper and Brass?
From the knocker on your front door to the extra-special necklace you brought home from the craft market, brass and copper goods are showing up everywhere. Over time, these shiny treasures will start to tarnish, and we heard that ketchup can help get them back in shape. But does it really work? we gave it a try… Ketchup Small bowl Buffing cloth Small brush 1. For small, dainty pieces of jewelry like chains and earrings, it’s easiest to submerge them and let them sit for a while.
Ashley Poskin
Sep 21, 2015
I Painted My Laminate Countertops: Here’s How They Are Holding Up a Few Months Later
A few months ago I decided to paint my laminate countertops as a temporary solution to a very ugly, very burnt orange problem in my kitchen. I was a little hesitant to do so since our actual counter space is minimal and sees a fair amount of traffic, but forged ahead because the price and risk (those countertops are coming out this fall either way!) were low. Here’s how they’ve fared… They have unfortunately acquired quite a few battle wounds!
Ashley Poskin
Jul 24, 2015
10 Tips For Creating A More Kid-Friendly Home (For Non-Parents)
Your definition of what it means to be a good host will more than likely change a few times over the course of your lifetime. If you’re at that stage of life when everyone around you seems to be having babies, you might want to consider changing things up a bit — not only to be a better host, but also to protect your favorite things from being broken, squished, or colored on.
Ashley Poskin
May 22, 2015
Before & After: The Early Bird Gets The Hairpin Desk
I found myself in the vicinity of my favorite thrift store just before the doors opened recently, and while I wasn’t hardcore enough to stand in the sub-zero cold with the other bargain hunters, I made it in early enough to find this lovely hairpin Frankenstein-ish desk. I saw it in the back of the store and immediately scooped it up! I didn’t really have a need for (or a place to put) it, but I’ve never had the strength to pass up hairpin legs.
Ashley Poskin
Mar 4, 2015
How To Set Up an Annual Home Maintenance Calendar
Whether you own or rent your home, whether it’s an apartment or a house, it’ll need maintenance this year. Make your life easier and a little less stressful by planning out your home’s maintenance for the whole year all at once, filling out an annual calendar and setting yourself reminders so you stay on track all year long! A yearly calendar (paper or digital) A copy of your lease (if you rent)Your smart phone or computer 1.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 8, 2015
Before & After: A New Life For A No-Name Castoff
I spotted this gorgeous Thonet-esque chair while strolling through an antique mall a few months ago. It was in supremely rough shape, but I had a vision and at $8 I just couldn’t pass it up! If the chair had a makers mark I might have thought about restoring it and finding someone who wanted it in original condition, but it didn’t —so I grabbed some sandpaper and a can of spray paint and got to work!
Ashley Poskin
Jan 8, 2015
5 Weird Uses for Yellow Mustard (That Totally Work!)
Simple, understated, and delicious, yellow mustard has its place in the back row on the condiment shelf, pulled out for the occasional cookout or the quickly assembled sandwich. Sure, it’s tasty but is that really it? Have we underestimated yellow mustard all these years? Not just for hot dogs, yellow mustard has quite the list of alternative uses! From skincare to sore throats, it sure can (ahem) cut the mustard. Mild Burn Relief: First, run the burned area under cold water.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 18, 2014
Before & After: A Drab Card Table Gets a Ladylike Makeover
I passed by this sad little table at the thrift shop about a half dozen times before deciding to bring it home and give it a new life in our new house. With a little spray paint and some adorable laminated cotton (it was originally my idea to use oil cloth, but I couldn’t pass up this fabric), this little table received quite the transformation! We kept this project super simple and didn’t worry about removing the original fabric.
Ashley Poskin
Nov 12, 2014
Before & After: A Dining Room Goes From Crimson to Gargoyle Shadow
We recently moved into our new (very old) home and the dining room was the only room in the house that was not covered in wallpaper from the 1980s. I couldn’t seem to work up the motivation to start the long and arduous process of ripping everything off the walls in the rest of the house, so I decided to tackle a room that would be easy, quick, and instantly gratifying to help me get going. While the Crimson was nice, it wasn’t “us.
Ashley Poskin
Oct 21, 2014
Kathryn & Perry’s “Have Less Do More” Apartment
Name: Kathryn and Perry Bacalis — Wedding and portrait photography team in Denver. Location: Capitol Hill, Denver, Colorado Size: 650 square feet Years lived in: 4 months; rent Kathryn and Perry are the kind of people that make friends with just about everyone they meet. They are warm and welcoming, creative and stylish, just like their home. They recently left behind 1300 square feet of loft living and moved into a 650 square foot apartment in the heart of Denver’s Capitol Hill.
Ashley Poskin
Feb 20, 2013