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Crafty DIY Projects That Every Cook Can Use in The Kitchen

September 15, 2016 by

Picture the kitchen of your dreams. Is it neat and organized? Stylish and chic? Or perhaps it's a combination of all the above! Either way, these do-it-yourself projects can help you add storage and personality to your kitchen!

Copper Paper Towel Holder [almostmakesperfect.com]
Love modern design? If so, this copper paper towel holder will add some modern style to your cooking area. The end result may look expensive, but the materials are very affordable — and it's easy to make!

Tiered Fruit Basket
Display fruits and vegetables without taking up counter space by making this three-tiered hanging fruit basket. Its sturdy chains make it able to hold a good deal of weight, while its wooden bases create flat surfaces for your produce to rest upon. [alwaysrooney.com]

Stitched Hot Pads [purlsoho.com]
Whether you're looking to add a pop of color to your kitchen or to add to your collection of textiles, these adorable stitched hot pads are the perfect project. Even the most novice crafter can easily stitch together the fabric scraps used for these hot pads, and by mixing and matching fabrics, you can create a whimsical look that's sure to bring some big style to your space.

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How to Curate and Design a Catalog-Worthy Gallery Wall

August 18, 2016 by

Gallery walls are certainly not new things in the design world, but if you have yet to try out this simple DIY decor idea, now might be just the time. Spice up any bare wall in your home at Millenium Waterway using these inspirational tips for curating and designing a gallery wall that even the pros would admire.

  1. Decide on a shape. First, think of what type of shape you’re going for. Are you looking for something structured and symmetrical that uses frames in all the same sizes, or something wild and eclectic filled with mix-and-matched frames?
  2. Choose the frames. Visit your local thrift store to pick up a variety of frames in all shapes and sizes to create an artistic gallery wall. If you’re going for a more structured style, visit a craft store and hunt for bargains on frames in the same styles and sizes.
  3. Create your own art prints. Get creative with the prints that will go inside the frames. Print out your own Instagram photos, change old family photos to black and white for an antique look, or simply cut out images that you love from vintage art books.
  4. Create a map. Finally, map out the shape of your gallery wall using painter’s tape before hanging the frames themselves. Once you find the perfect shape, hang them using a device that’s easy to remove.

Create a Frame Gallery [Pottery Barn]
How To Hang Your Gallery Wall [West Elm]
How to Create the Perfect Gallery Wall [Architectural Digest]

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Damage-Free Ways to Display Wall Decor at Millenium Waterway

March 17, 2016 by

When you live in a rental, you want to leave behind as little damage as possible to keep the unit in top shape (and insure that ever-important security deposit). In many cases, that means finding new and creative ways to hang posters, paintings, and other wall decor without taking a hammer to the walls. Here are just a few ideas for creating damage-free wall displays.

  • Use Command strips. These handy tools from the trusted 3M brand are lifesavers for many renters. Simply stick the sturdy adhesive back to your frame, stick the other side to the wall and attach the two with the equally strong Velcro strips. When it comes time to move out, they simply peel off the wall without leaving any residue behind.
  • Try monkey hooks. Monkey hooks are complicated looking metal hooks that are actually quite simple. The slim, curved devices have long ends that push into the wall and create a hole not much larger than a pinpoint, and then they push back out of the wall to create a loop that can hold frames weighing up to 50 pounds.
  • Stick on poster putty. For lightweight wall hangings without frames, tried-and-true poster putty is always a safe bet. Simply tack on small dots of this unobtrusive putty to hang posters without nails or tacks showing through—or damaging your walls.

How to hang a picture without hammer and nails [SheKnows]
Hang Pictures on a Wall [Lowe’s]
How to Hang Pictures Without Destroying Your Walls [Lifehacker]
How To: Hang a Frame Without Leaving a Mark [Apartment Therapy]

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How to Use Color to Brighten Your Home at Millenium Waterway

February 18, 2016 by

It’s not uncommon for renters to have restrictions when it comes to making changes to the look of the unit; however, there are a number of other ways to brighten up your space without the use of paint. Here are just a few!

  1. Add a pop of color in the kitchen by mixing and matching brightly hued chairs with a neutral table. Paint your existing set in a bright yellow, rich navy blue, or trendy turquoise.
  2. Set out vases of fresh flowers throughout your home for an all-natural burst of color. Think daisies, hydrangeas, and tulips in equally colorful vases.
  3. Top your bed and sofa with a variety of mismatched throw pillows in complementary hues. While they don’t all have to match completely, choosing one color scheme will help you to keep things looking stylish.
  4. Add artwork from local thrift stores and home decor shops housed in painted frames. You can also try a “dipped” look by painting the entire bottom half of the painting and frame in one bright shade.
  5. Add removable wallpaper that you can easily peel off when your lease is up. Use a floral or striped style on one accent wall for a magazine-worthy look.

20 Ways to Add Color to Your Home Without Painting [Brit + Co]
Top 10 Tips for Adding Color to Your Space [HGTV]
7 Ways to Add Color to Your Dining Room [Dwell]

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Interested in Modern Architecture? Explore Your Interest on Pinterest!

January 21, 2016 by

With its sleek, clean lines and open design scheme, modern architecture is fascinating even to those with no architectural experience. Here are two Pinterest boards with so many photos of modern homes and buildings that the possibilities for browsing are practically endless.

Modern Architecture
This particular Pinterest is dedicated to the more traditional styles of modern architecture. Frank Lloyd Wright homes feature wall-to-wall windows and natural elements that bring the outside in, while minimalist buildings designed by more current architects offer a tour of some of the very best modern structures from around the world.

Futuristic Architecture
If you take your love of modern architecture a step further, this board features homes so unique that they’re almost futuristic. Some of these buildings actually exist in cities around the world, while others are simply dreamed up and drawn in a cartoon-like way. Buildings like the twisted Cayan Tower in Dubai and the proposal for the open Hong Kong Alternative Car Park Tower, with its sides cut open in a way that almost looks like the building is sliced in half, are just a few of the fascinating buildings on this board.

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Budget-Friendly Ways to Decorate Your Home at Millenium Waterway

January 7, 2016 by

While you can’t make permanent renovations in a rental, there are a number of ways to add your own personality to the space in a truly budget-friendly way. Here are just a few ideas for decorating your home at Millenium Waterway — even if you’re on a budget!

  • Spraypaint large, wall-sized canvases (or a series of two or three) from the local art supply store in bright, bold shades. This is an easy way to add a pop of color to your walls that mimics the effects of a new paint job, and it makes it affordable to create your own simple artwork.
  • Mix and match furniture from the local resale store to create a kitschy, cool effect that looks straight out of a design magazine. This is also a great way to save a good bit of money on big ticket items, such as sofas and lounge chairs.
  • Bring in elements of the outdoors to create a warm, natural look throughout the home. Fill vases with stark branches, add seashells to small bowls, or fill a large jar with pinecones for seasonal dwcor.
  • Create your own headboard by simply covering a flat, wooden board the size of your bed with a high quality fabric. Leave the top open and stuff it with pillow filling, and then add tufted details or nailheads along the outer edges.

32 Budget-Friendly Home Decorating Ideas [Country Living]
Budget Decorating [HGTV]
20 Low-Cost Decorating Ideas [Real Simple]
20 Thrifty, Frugal & Inexpensive Decorating Ideas [Apartment Therapy]

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Where to Shop Host and Hostess Gifts Online

December 17, 2015 by

Going to a party in the near future? It’s polite to bring a gift for the host or hostess, but it may be difficult to decide what to give. Luckily, there are a number of fun and affordable websites are packed full of great ideas that anyone will love. Here are three of the best places to shop for host and hostess gifts online.

Uncommon Goods
This foodie-friendly website is filled with gift ideas perfect for any avid entertainer. From self-chilling wine glasses to sets of unique salts and pizza cutters in silly shapes, these unique items make great host or hostess gifts.

Mark & Graham
If you’re looking for a gift that’s a bit more personal, Mark & Graham offers many items that can be customized with the recipient’s initials. Add etched initials to the side of a set of goblets, a copper ice bucket, or even trendy Moscow mule mugs, or create your own complete set of stylish barware.

Terrain
For the host with more romantic tastes, Terrain’s selection of pressed flower sachets, bottleneck vases, and enamel candlesticks are truly a delight. You’ll also find decorative candies and bottled cordials that are a bit more affordable for those on a budget.

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How to Control Entryway Clutter

October 22, 2015 by

Are you one of those people who walk through the door and drop everything right in the entryway? If you answered yes, you might be looking for ideas for controlling clutter in this high-traffic area. These simple tips will show you how to control all of those shoes, bags, keys, and other essentials that tend to accumulate right inside the front door.

  1. Add hooks. Whether you have an overflowing hall closet or no closet at all, adding simple hooks somewhere that you can easily reach them makes it much simpler to store your jacket, scarf, keys, or purse when you enter the house.
  2. Add bins. For your shoes, add a few large bins or one long, low bench where people can store their shoes without them amassing a large, unruly pile. You can usually find this type of storage containers at the flea market, thrift store, or any home goods store.
  3. Try out a locker. For more serious storage, hunt for a row of vintage lockers that will keep everything in place (and also create a cool, industrial look).
  4. Add a key hook. If you frequently lose your keys, try adding another, smaller row of hooks where you can easily store them every time you come home.

Entryway Ideas [Martha Stewart]
5 Tips for a Clutter-Free Entryway [PopSugar]
Organizing Your Entryway, Hall or Mudroom [Dorothy the Organizer]

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Simple Tips and Tricks for a Clean and Organized Kitchen

September 17, 2015 by

For most people, the kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in the home, as you use it as both a gathering space and a place to create healthy meals throughout the day. While your kitchen withstands quite a bit of activity, these simple tips will show you how to keep it organized without much extra effort.

  1. Add wall-hanging storage systems. Hanging shelves and rods with hooks on the walls creates extra storage while freeing up precious floor and counter space.
  2. Add hooks under shelves. If you run out of room on shelves and in drawers, add hooks under the cabinets to hold things like mugs and utensils.
  3. Purchase wire refrigerator shelves. You can even get the inside of your fridge organized by adding store-bought shelves that simply sit right on top of the current shelves.
  4. Create dividers. To organize pans and cutting boards that frequently fall over, add vertical tension rods between shelves in your cabinets.
  5. Organize the spice cabinet. Corral spices by placing them into glass jars of equal height, then labeling them with what’s inside. You can even add a lazy Susan for easy access to each jar.

5 Essential (and Renter-Friendly) Storage Products for Small Kitchens [The Kitchn]
8 Smart Organizing Tips for the Kitchen [Tidy Mom]
26 Kitchen Organizing Tips from Real Cooks – Twitter Style [Simple Bites]

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Let’s Clear the Air: The 4 Best Air-Purifying Houseplants

July 23, 2015 by

Have you ever considered adding a few air purifying plants to your apartment's decor? Not only do lush, green plants brighten up a space, they also clean the air and help remove toxins. Here are four of the best houseplants for air purification.

  • Boston fern. This tried-and-true houseplant doesn’t just look great, it also removes more formaldehyde from the air than any other type of plant. With its long, textured leaves and springy shape, ferns are ideal for an empty space on a shelf or even the floor.
  • Palm tree. If you want something a bit bigger, classic palm trees are also very good at removing formaldehyde from the air. They’re very easy to care for, and they add a tropical look to your home.
  • Golden pothos. This is one of the most popular houseplants, and for very good reason. It is almost impossible to kill, which makes it a great starter houseplant, and it’s also effective at purifying the air.
  • Peace lily. The flowering peace lily is one of only a few that will bloom indoors, and it removes benzene and certain VOCs from harsh cleaning products.

Natural Air Cleaners [Rodale’s Organic Life]
Types of Houseplants To Clean Indoor Air [Sustainable Baby Steps]
10 Clean-Air Plants for Your Home [This Old House]

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