Home tips

Southern Living, Spring 2001 by Martin, Robert

Family Photos

Any mats or paper backing used to frame photos should be acid free. In act, all framing materials-glues, tapes, nd papers-need to be photo friendly. Conservation glass is also helpful in filtering light rays that could otherwise fade or yellow your photographs.

Home Accessories

Avoid too many flat surfaces; they makes a room look lifeless. Add extra pillows to chairs for comfort. On walls, look for mirrors and picture frames with lots of depth. Include architectural fragments as well.

Furniture

Arrangements

Proper placement of furniture not only determine the convenience and flow of your daily activities but also helps define a room.

When possible, pull furniture away from walls and into the room's interior.

Also, group pieces in intimate settings, such as near a fireplace.

Enhancing

Bookcases

Try lighting bookcases to create more display areas rather than just using them for stacking books. In some rooms, objects and accessories in a bookcase can be more appealing than art.

Fine Furniture Care

Display and store cherished pieces away from heat, excessively high and low humidity, and sunlight. Also, basements and attics are not good storage areas, because they trap damaging heat and moisture.

Silver Service

Store fine silver with tarnish-preventative silver strips. These strips, along with a properly sealed bag, will provide about six months of tarnish protection. Also, wash your silver immediately after use in hot, soapy water. Rinse with hot water, and dry thoroughly with a soft flannel nr rc, ftn i-Int

Shower Curtains

To enhance a small bath, hang the shower rod as high as the curtain will permit. Position the rod just outside the tub edge. This will enlarge the space visually.

Fine China Care

Never wash valuable china in the dishwasher, especially not dishes trimmed in gold, platinum, or silver. Instead, wash one piece at a time with mild dish-washing liquid and a sponge. Wipe dry with a soft cloth, and store.

Wood Furniture Repair

Repair small scratches or scrapes on wooden surfaces by filling in the area with a special wax crayon available at most hardware or home-center stores. Select one that is slightly lighter than the wood finish.

Linen

Storage

Never put table linens away without cleaning them first. Store them in containers that allow airflow.

Painted Brick

Tired of your home's exterior color, but happy with brick's low maintenance? Then paint it. Be sure the brick is clean and that all mortar joints are intact. Use a cementbased or water-thinned emulsion paint. And keep all weep holes open for proper wall ventilation

Interior Paint Colors

Work with a consistent color scheme so that the 94 hues complement one another. Pull tones from a prominent print or painting in your house, and then pinpoint rooms to paint. Also remember that colors should create a visual balance with furniture and upholstered pieces.

Fire Safety

Change the batteries in your smoke detector each time you turn your clocks forward to daylight saving time. Be sure to use a long-life alkaline battery. Keep an easily accessible fire extinguisher in the kitchen, another near the bedrooms, and one in the garage. Periodically check gauges for pressure loss.