Thanks Again, BHG.com!

Happy Monday, friends!  I cannot believe that we're already at the end of July!  As much as I love Fall, I don't want summer to end just yet.

Speeeeeaking of Fall ... I was be-YOND flattered (and dumbfounded) when the kind folks at Better Homes and Gardens recently contacted me to see if they could include another Fall mantel of ours as part of this year's Fall Mantel Decorating Ideas feature on their website! 

Here's our mantel from last year and what BHG.com had to say:

Welcoming Fall Mantel

"Becca (adventuresindecorating1.blogspot.com) combined rustic and vibrant elements on her fall mantel, using a metal-and-wrought-iron frame as a focal point for her design. A vintage wooden pheasant figurine, a red fall sign, and small gourds placed under a glass cloche to give her mantel pops of color. Creamy pumpkins, candles, and burlap-wrapped pitcher add to the design, and a garland made from fall-hue wooden beads strung together on picture wire adds a fun layer. The mantel gains a welcoming glow with light-up branches placed in a pitcher alongside faux florals, natural branches, and feathers."

I'm like a proud Mom seeing our little mantel included on their website! When you have a moment, you should take a peek at the other mantels they featured (click here) ... they are fabulous!  And, I'm sure you'll recognize quite a few of them!  Yes, I'm truly humbled to be in their company.

So, again, thank you, BHG.com ... I'm not worthy, but sincerely appreciative!

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Becca

Njia 18 za matumizi ya vikapu.....

 Habari zenu ndungu wadau.... Leo nimependa tuongelee juu ya matumizi ya vikapu, kwa upande wa kuhifadhi vitu.....Vikapu ni vizuri sana kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi vitu, na vina matundu, matundu ambayo hupitisha hewa... picha ya kwanza hapo juu inatuonyesha kua, vikapu vyaweza kutumia kwenye makabati,, na pia ukaweka label ya majina ya wanafamilia yako, kwamba wasichanganye....

 Picha hii ya pili hapo juu, ni kapu hilo sie huku hua tunatumia sana kwa kwendea sokoni... lakini pia linaweza kutumika kwa kuhifadhiwa vitu, na ukisha maliza kulitumia kwa muda huo, basi lirudishe na ulihifadhi kwa usafi mahala ulipoamua liwekwe.....waweza kutumia kwa kuweka vitabu, magazeti etc,

 Bafuni pia hakujaachwa nyumba.... vikapu hivi hufaa sana na hupendeza sanaaa huku bafuni, ni wewe tuu kuamua unawekea nini, na sehemu utakayoiweka pawe panaukubwa wa hilo kapu kuingia, na kwa mpangilio ulio mzuri.

 Haya chini ya kiti pia waweza weka, kiti hiki kimetumika kama kiti, na kama stoo, maana kuna droo, na kuna kapu chini yake, 3 in 1.......nyumba zisizo na nafasi, hii kwao ni nzuri zaidi....

 Chini ya meza pia waweza weka vikapu, na kukapendeza pia.... hupunguza sana vitu kukaa ovyo ovyo....

 Vyooni napo kapu hutumika,, kwa kuwekea mataulo, nguo chafu etc... ni wewe tu upange uwekee nini, ila chooni kusiwe na maji maji sasa.....

 Jikoni, mpangilio huu hupendeza sana.....na kufanya jiko lako kua safi.....

 picha 3 hapo juu, kapu zimetumika kwa kuhifadhia vitabu, files kwa ofisi za majumbani......

 waweza kuweka chini ya uvungu makapu kwa kuhifadhi mashuka, etc.... lakini kwa uhifadhi wa chini ya kitanda, inabidi uwe makini sana, maana waweza kusahau kutoa ili vipate hewa, maaa ukajaza sana mavitu chini ya uvungu na kukuletea harufu mbaya ya uvundo, na hata wadudu, sasa tuwe makini katika hili....

 Jikoni pia mpangilio wa makapu hupendeza....

 Makapu kwa kuhifadhi vitu visivyotumika mara kwa mara ...

 makapu yenye divider, inapendeza kwa kweli....

kwenye kabati za jikoni.... hutumika pia na kuleta mvuto.. na muonekano mzuri.....

Nawatakia mwanzo wa wiki mwema......

Nyumba yako iko mikononi mwako........

Sisi ndio waamuzi wa nyumba zetu tunataka ziweje.....

Muonekano wa nyumba yako ndio unaokuonyesha wewe ni mtu wa namna gani.....

Na kumbuka nyumba inatakiwa ikukaribishe, na sio ikuchukize....

Iwe ni ya kupanga, ni yako umejenga etc... hiyo ni yako... tumekua na mazoea,  kama si maono ya kwamba, nyumba ya kupanga si yangu sasa siwezi kuipamba mpaka nipate yangu....

Jamani haya yamepitwa na wakati..... nyumba unayoishi ni yako na ndio hapo uishipo, sawa.... kuna ile ukifanya ukarabati mkubwa mwenye nyumba anakutafutia visingizio, kama si kukupandishia kodi basi, hatokuongezea mkataba atataka uondoke....

Sasa basi leo ninakuja na ushauri wa nini ufanye na ambao sio gharama kwa kuremba nyumba yako...

Katika nyumba yako hiyo uishio, unaweza ukaipamba kwa vitu vinavyohamishika.. yaani fanicha, mapambo, pazia nzuri, chuma za pazia nzuri. rangi za ukuta ukiwa ni mtunzaji mzuri kuna rangi za maji, yaani sio wash n ware......na kuna rangi za acrylic,ziko za makampuni mbalimbali...

Jaribu pia kubadilisha badilisha mpangilio wa fanicha, kukarabati, kama kuna vitu vimeachia virekebishe usisubirie mpaka viharibike kabisaa.... na pia jaribu mara kwa mara kufanya usafi kwa kina...... hii husaidia sana kuona nini cha kutoa, na nini cha kubaki....

Tusisahau pia kwa upande wa garden. kuna msemo usemao kua "first impression is the last impression"

ukiotafakari msemo huu utakubaliana nami.......

Uamuzi ni wako.. na kumbuka rahisi ni gharama siku zote, maana havidumu.....

Lovely...

Maandalizi ya Sikukuu ya Idd kwenye nyumba zetu yakianza mapema hupendeza......

Napenda kuwakaribisha wote Homez Deco, katika maandalizi ya sikukuu ya Idd,  Kwa wale, watakopenda ku pamba nyumba zao kwa ajili ya sikukuu, wanakaribishwa.

Homez Deco tunatoa huduma zifuatazo:

1. Kupaka nyumba rangi
2. Kupanga fanicha
3. Kupamba nyumba
4. Kushona pazia
5. Kutoa ushauri
6. Garden marekebisho
7. Kuuza mapambo ya ndani, kama vitambaa vya mezani, foronya za mito, mito

Tunawakaribisha sana. na tunawatakia ramadhani njema......

Tips On Office Furniture Selection

With all the current trends and styles in commercial office furniture, having your office fitted with new furniture may seem like an overwhelming task.  A great amount of thought and consideration must be placed into selecting the most appropriate office furniture and fixtures for your office space.  Having the right office furniture can reap various rewards including an enjoyable work atmosphere, increased employee productivity and even health benefits.

Your office fit out can also help create a good and lasting first impression.  How you would like your clients and partners to perceive your business may be portrayed through its decor.  Office furniture with sleek lines and basic colours speak professionalism while more modern pieces portray creativity.

Without a doubt, selecting the right office furniture is a job that can’t be overlooked.  Here are some tips to help you find the office furniture you need for your business.

1.  Know your budget
How much are you willing to spend for office furniture?  There is a wide range of office furniture available with varying prices.  But take note that high quality office furniture does not come cheap.  Be ready to allocate a considerable part of your budget to invest in high quality office furniture.  This actually enables you to save in the long run as quality office furniture will not need replacing or repair for years.

2.  Study your office space
When furnishing your office, the office area is an important concern.  Do you have a large or a small professional space?  Larger office space may have more room for storage areas separate from workstations while smaller spaces must aim for slim, minimalistic and multi-functional pieces that maximise the space available.  How many meeting rooms do you have?  These will need to be fitted with appropriate boardroom tables and chairs.

Does your business require you to receive clients in your office?  In this case, you will need to have an area fitted with client seating.   Does your office space allow for a pantry or recreational area for employees?  Furniture for client and recreational areas may be contemporary office furniture that includes sofas, cafe chairs and stools.

3.  Set time restrictions
When installing new office furniture, it’s important to keep business operations running and employee productivity high.  How much time can you spare for the set-up of new furnishings?  Do you have a weekend for the job or do you need it to be set-up after work hours?  If you have limited time for set-up, then choose office furniture and fixtures that are easily and straightforwardly installed.

4.  Consider your industry
As mentioned previously, your office decor can speak volumes about your business.  Consider the industry your business is in.  Are you in the finance industry as a consulting company?  Then perhaps your office space merits a more traditional look.  Are you in the publishing or advertising industry as a fashion magazine publisher?  Then perhaps your office furniture can be more contemporary to reflect a creative feel.  Your office’s aesthetics needs to reflect the nature of your business.

5.  Pay attention to office chairs
Many employees nowadays are spending more time at the office, working longer hours.  Spending hours seated can be tiresome especially if they are sitting on an office chair that does not offer the proper support.  Pay close attention to selecting quality office chairs that offer comfort and proper support to their backs and arms.  Having the appropriate office chair will help avoid any health problems and discomfort from back strains and also enables your employees to work at their best.

6.  Consider the lights
Lighting is another important factor that must be considered when installing new office furnishings.  Make sure that the work area is well lit and that the lighting is not harsh on the eyes.  Professional lighting consultants are available to help you with fixture arrangements and wattage output concerns.

7.  Consult your employees
If you are still unsure of what office furniture to get for your business space, it would be helpful to ask your employees.  Remember, these are the people who spend hours in the office so their input will be very important.  Ask them what they are looking for in an office chair or what type of storage system they need.  When you are able to provide office furniture that supports a healthy and productive work environment, you can rely on the best possible performance from your employees.

Some Final Words

There are various trends in office fit outs and office furniture today.  To know which one is the most appropriate for your business, it will be helpful to consult with a professional and experienced office fit out provider.

Choosing your sofa

In choosing your sofa, function and aesthetics require equal consideration. The people who will be using the sofas should spend a few minutes sitting, or lying, on the sofa being considered. The depth of the sofa, measured from the front edge to the back seat cushion is a critical measurement for comfort. Tall people need more depth, short the opposite. If your feet can not rest comfortably flat on the floor when in an upright, sitting position, your legs will tense up the longer you sit in the sofa. If people intend to recline on the sofa, then the arm should be comfortable and not too high so it can serve as a pillow.

Most people want the sofa to look inviting as one enters the room. Sofas and chairs "beckon" for us to sit in them. A sofa filled with dressy pillows says, "go sit somewhere else." Colors can be equally inviting. When choosing a sofa, the wall colors, the color of the other furniture, and most importantly, the color and design of the rug that sits directly in front of the sofa, should be considered. Again, if you feel lost in making these decisions, just bring your color samples and fabric swatches to the store and we will assist you. In large rooms, the area rug in front of the sofa will help to settle the eye on the seating area, and give a feeling of restfulness to the room. Depending on the size of the room, a 6 x 9 rug is usually sufficient although larger rooms can use the 8 x 11 size and expand the "seating circle."

Today most people prefer using a solid color or "body cloth" on the sofa and save larger patterns for accent pillows and side chairs. Seldom do customers use the same fabric on all pieces: the exception being the case in formal settings. Contrary to popular myth, you can still buy sofas with narrow arms. The wide arm craze of the late nineties left many people shaking their heads when they went shopping for a smaller sofa.

Furniture selection for your home

Selecting furniture is a little tricky for some. They may know they need some new items but are unsure as to what type of furniture to add to their residence. Thankfully, the variety of furniture available is so vast that no one will ever run out of options. However, making the actual selection can be difficult.  So, let’s look at a few tips and tricks regarding how to select the right furniture.

Try not to go beyond your budget. If you overspend on furniture you may end up with less furniture than what will be needed to make a room look complete. Having a nice reclining chair and sofa is always good. But, if they are the only two items in the room then the environment will hardly look inviting!
Selecting a theme would also be quite helpful. When furniture is placed in a room without any noticeable theme it will probably look ok, but it might miss out on its potential. So, select a theme such as Victorian, modern, western, etc. Then, make a purchasing decision that includes furniture items that match the singular, selected theme.

You can also select certain themes for certain rooms. For example, many people will have a room in the house set aside for work, study, or other pursuits. However, many people will keep such rooms bare. This is unfortunate since they could make these rooms experimental and unique. There are a number of specialty furniture stores that sell Polynesian style furniture, retro-mod style furniture, Asian art inspired furniture, and many other unique styles. Why not take that dull looking room and spice it up with a radical departure from traditional furniture styles?

Never overlook sticking with “evergreen” furniture either. While it is nice to stay on top of trends, trends have a tendency to run out or steam (and style) eventually. This could leave you without outdated furniture that may need to be replaced. Instead, it would be a little more prudent to stick with furniture that avoids a radical departure from common styles.
Select furniture that coincides with the traffic in your home. In other words, you do not want to select furniture that is over sized for your residence or makes moving around the house difficult.
Remember, it is not enough to purchase furniture. You have to do it smartly as well. When you follow this maxim, you will discover your furniture acquisition experiences more rewarding than you ever thought possible.

Duka linalouza wallpaper hapa Dar-Es-Salaam

Nimefanikiwa kuliona duka linalouza wallpapers, maana niliombwa sana sana na wadau niwajulishe ni wapi wanauza wallpapers.

Duka hili liko nyuma ya billicanas club, kuna round about na shell ya bp, hilo duka linatazamana na hiyo shel linaitwa Dolson...

Karibuni sana.....

Kazi ya Homez Deco site ilikua Mabibo...(www.homezdeco.co.tz)

 Kitanda baada ya kufunga.... hakijatandikwa bado........

 Kitanda kimeshafungwa....pamoja na bedside table zake

 Shoe rack ya pea 20

 Nilipenda rangi alivyopaka ukutani

 korido..... angalia rangi zilivyochanganywa......

Kazi ya homez deco katika nyumba hii ilikua ni fanicha za chuma, ambapo ni set.....kitanda, dressing table, bedside 2, shoe rack.....

Nilichokipenda katika nyumba hii ni mpangilio wa rangi, nyumba ni ndogo, na mpangilio wa rangi ni mzuri, siku zote jamani, vyumbani tusipake rangi ambazo ni kali... kumbuka chumbani nisehemu ya kulala, kupumzika, sasa unapopaka rangi kali, hata kichwa chaweza kukuuma,,, na ukashindwa kujua nini kumbe tatizo ni rangi ulizozipakaa ukutani kwako.

Chagua rangi unayoipenda, na kama rangi ni ya giza paka ukuta mmoja ama kuta mbili, halafu zilizobaki, paka rangi ambayo yenye kuleta mwanga...

Mfano mzuri ni nyumba hii... angalia alivyochanganya rangi..........yaani kweli kabisa, ukipumzika,,, unajisikia kabisaaa. kwamba umepumzika,  inawezekana kabisa ukadecorate mwenyewe na nyumba ikapendeza..... jiamini.....

tulimshauri pia pazia azipunguze urefu, maana pazia hazitakiwi ziburuzike......

waweza pia wasiliana nasi kwa ushauri zaidi....

Nashukuru kwa mdau wangu huyu.....

 may God be with u.....

Free Shopping!

Happy Sunday!  It's that time again for "Let's Switch Things Up a Bit!" 

Today's victim ... the dining room:

Newly painted lamps (AS Old White) that used to be green and in the great room now give the buffet a lighter look:

A blue runner flew on over to the buffet ... it not only serves as a fun pop of color to contrast with our white pieces, but also helps to tie in with the blue plates on the shelves:

It's fun to shop your house to create new vignettes, isn't it?

This glass cloche filled with yummy "faux" cheese, grapes and corks traveled on over from the dry bar in the breakfast area:

... the engraved cheese knives from PB are still one of my faves:

Over on the table, painted candlesticks (AS Old White) ...

A dainty pitcher filled with faux florals:

annnnd, a fleur-de-lis dish:

help to create another simple vignette:

I suppose the *only* drawback to shopping your house is that it leaves lots of empty spaces that need to be filled in in other places ... oops!  Time to shop the house some *more* I suppose ... what a vicious fun cycle!

Sooo, just which rooms are *you* shopping today?!

Thanks for stopping by,

I'm linking up with: 

DIY by Design/Sizzle into Summer
French Country Cottage/Feathered Nest Friday
Thistlewood Farms/All About Color

Becca

I love Rum Cake!

Happy Friday !!

I'm keeping this short and sweet, but wanted to share something that we've wanted to do for a long time ... we *finally* got new carpet! 

BEFORE:  Not *too* bad ... in PICTURES!  But, up close ... it had a much different story to tell!  Trust me!

DURING:  Goodbye boring, flat builder-grade carpet filled with pet stains, kiddo stains, food/drink stains annnnd, yes, paint stains (not to mention lots of pink undertones, which I never truly noticed until after seeing this picture)!  

AFTER:  Well, hello Mohawk SmartStrand Silk "Rum Cake" carpet!  The fine folks from Lowe's installed it for us, and we couldn't have been more pleased with the installers' promptness, skill and professionalism.

I LOVE how lush and semi-shaggy this carpet is ... the padding is nice and thick, too!  Our Dyson is not quite sure what to do with carpet that it doesn't glide over ... it actually has to work now!  LOL 

We also had Jax's bedroom and "guest room turned playroom" done in this carpet, as well.  Our 4th bedroom (which is John's office) is hardwood.  Yes, this was definitely a "why didn't we do this years ago" project !!  I'm sure many of  you have those types, as well!

I hope you all have a great weekend.  I'm going to go roll around some more on the new carpet!  LOL

Thanks for stopping by,

Becca

All Ready for Fall!

Yup, I'm all decorated for Fall!  Okay, okay ... juuuuust kidding!  But, I simply couldn't resist the great gathering that Amy is hosting at WhisperWood Cottage.  You can share your Fall decor and projects from last year to get everyone's wheels spinning for the upcoming season!  In fact, your fabulous project(s) could even end up on the pages of "Cottages & Bungalows" magazine! 

So, humor me as I take a stroll down memory lane ... starting with our Fall mantel! 

Even though it took *foreva,* one of my favorite elements was the garland I made by stringing inexpensive wood craft beads onto picture wire ...

Over on the buffet, Mr. Roo took center stage:

And, how easy was it to add a little something to our lantern by nestling a candle in burlap:

Burlap even made its way to our lamp shades, too! 

The breakfast area didn't go untouched, either ... and, those who know me know that our Fall family tree means a lot! 

I always look forward to wrapping it with natural elements (such as burlap, grapevine, pinecones and leaves) and adding special family photos and sayings to remind me what is truly important!

In the neighboring kitchen, a simple word filled a chalkboard (inspired by SugarPie Farmhouse):

Kitchen canisters were easily filled with Fall goodness:

Onto the dining room ...

mixed in with the fun mercury were the white pumpkins that used to be orange ...

that is, until I painted them with Annie Sloane's Old White chalk paint!

Our neutral sitting room was splashed with corals, reds and browns.  And, yes, those are leaf placemats that I layered on top of the mirrors:

I know white pumpkins will be alll over our house again this year, too!  Here is another painted one that I simply placed on a bright orange leaf ... love the contrast.

Lastly, outside ... I made inexpensive pumpkin topiaries to flank our front door ...

and one of my mesh wreaths stood front and center to greet our guests:

As much as I don't want to wish summer away, admittedly, I am looking forward to football, chili and Fall decorating!  Who's with me ?!

Thanks for stopping by ... don't forget to come on over and party!

Becca

I'm also joining:

Savvy Southern Style/WUW

Coastal Charm/Nifty Thrifty Tuesday