A perfect hard boiled egg. Great for salads, deviled eggs, breakfast, protein source and more. Whatever use you have for hard boiled eggs, it is so easy to make them so they turn out perfectly every time. No green ring -- no rubbery white -- no stubborn shell that refuses to come off -- everything comes out right. Step 1: Place eggs in a single layer on the bottom of a large pan. For easy to peel eggs, choose ones that are at least five days old. New or farm fresh eggs are hard to peel and are notorious for taking chunks of white with them. I usually have older eggs in the refrigerator since they are one thing I always try to have on hand, but for Easter or when I know I will want to serve egg salad or have deviled eggs, I buy an extra dozen about a week ahead of time. Step ... [Read More]
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Stellar Staircases – The Reality
For weeks, I had been collecting inspiration pictures for redoing our basement stairs. What I finally pictured was a beautiful staircase with gorgeous dark stained treads, gleaming white risers and lilting teal blue stenciled designs. Then reality happened. We started with this lovely carpet covering each stair. Classic Seventies. Original. Chosen by the previous owner. What can I say? Basement stairs have been low priority. Wheels ripped it off and I began unstapling the pads and prying up the old tack strips. This was what I found beneath the carpet. Not pretty. Not pretty at all. I know the wallpaper is ugly and really strange, too. Does it help if I tell you that the previous owner also chose it? I didn't think so. In fact, now you know we have been living ... [Read More]
How to make old art new again
How to make old art new again. And make it coordinate with new room colors. And do it quickly, easily and at almost no cost. That was the challenge in our dining room makeover. I found this picture at a garage sale a few years ago. Someone was selling off the almost new contents of their office, including artwork. This reminded me of a spot in one of our favorite hiking areas, a place called Highbanks, in the spring time. When I got it home, the title of the piece is “Spring”. It’s pretty good sized - 48 inches by 38 inches - and very heavy. For a while it hung in the living room. However, a perfect spot opened up when we did the dining room. Except the mat colors made it look way too heavy for the light, airy and meditative vibe I was going for. Plus I didn’t think ... [Read More]
How to determine where to place a chair rail
A chair rail adds interest and polish to any room, bringing instant character and definition. The term may have originated from the Shakers who used rails with pegs to hang chairs so floors could be easily swept. Many people think they are intended to protect the wall from backs of chairs that were pushed up against it and they do sometimes serve that function. However as far back as the Romans, wood pieces have been most frequently used to divide walls for design and architectural interest. But how do you know where to place the chair rail on the wall? Is one place better than another? I am so glad you asked!!!! Because there are answers. Ancient Greeks searched for mathematical formulas to determine the perfect number, perfect chord, and points of perfect balance in ... [Read More]
8 things to know about how to remove wall paper
The first house we owned was a three story Victorian. The second and current house is a two story Seventies Special. What do they have in common? Wallpaper. Although wallpaper is a trend that comes and goes, it is still a classic solution for rough walls or providing an accent. What goes up, must eventually come down. Here’s what I’ve learned about how to remove wall paper: 1) The Victorian had plastered walls. First narrow wood strips called lathe was nailed to the stud, a rough coat of plaster was then applied. When it dried, a finish coat of plaster was laid over the top and polished smooth by a skilled craftsman. Properly applied and maintained, it produced a durable surface. To remove wallpaper we found hot water and a clean garden sprayer were most effective. ... [Read More]
How to Make a Christmas Garland in Six Easy Steps
Garlands are so versatile for Christmas decorating! They can lay across a flat surface, like a mantel, hang from a railing, swoop around door frames, window or mirrors -- and more. The best part is: Garlands don't have to be disassembled for storage. Next year, open the storage container and there is a glorious ready made decoration just waiting to bring you cheer! Step 1 -- Choose the foundation Choose size and type of garland you want. This one is eight foot long, quite full and is frosted. If your garland is not prelit, and you want lights, work the string of lights into the branches. Make sure the plug in will end up on the correct end for where you plan to use the garland! Put most of the lights in toward the center of the garland and just a few on the tips. Step 2 -- ... [Read More]
