Tip 1. Curate an outdoor lounge space. Looking to re-live a memorable beach vacation? Set up an outdoor lounge space on your patio or in the yard to give your outdoor space a tropical feel. You can scour the internet for lounge chairs, chaise lounges, hammocks and outdoor sectionals, or create your own, like a one-of-a-kind outdoor lounge bed. All you need to complete this project is a platform bed frame, a futon mattress and outdoor fabric to cover it. (If you’re not handy with the sewing machine, this would be a simple task for a local upholsterer to tackle.) Plop some outdoor pillows on top for added comfort and style. To complete your lounge, add in some side tables, a few candles and maybe a glass of wine to create that all-inclusive atmosphere. Tip 2. DIY outdoor movie theater. Re-creating a movie theater experience in your own backyard doesn’t have to be complicated: All you need is a white sheet that can be tautly mounted on a flat surface (a shed or siding on your apartment patio will do just fine), a projector and your phone to play movies, TV shows or whatever else you’re binging these days. Don’t have access to a projector? It’s surprisingly simple to make one out of a shoe box, some cardboard and a magnifying glass. Round up your favorite patio chairs or arrange your outdoor cushions, make some popcorn and enjoy your movie with the background noise of the crickets chirping. Tip 3. Create an outdoor bar. There’s no shorter commute home than from your own property, so why not create a place for libations in your outdoor space? You can, of course, buy a bar online, or you can repurpose an old table or desk — or even get crafty with some cinder blocks, concrete glue and a few 1 x 6 boards to create your very own. Gather your Bluetooth speaker, your favorite cocktail ingredients and a few glasses to get the ambiance of your favorite bar right at home. Here are a few ideas for inspiration, including bars you can squeeze into the smallest of outdoor spaces. Tip 4. Beautify a barn or shed. A barn or a shed is a utilitarian structure, but that doesn’t mean it has to be an eyesore. Spruce it up by painting it a bold color, attaching some shutters, adding some flower boxes, installing a stone path or even stringing up some lights to zhuzh up that forgotten space in the backyard. Tip 5. Do the fire pit. If a camping trip is too much to squeeze into your days off, you don’t have to miss out on everyone’s favorite camping activity: the campfire. You can easily create a fire pit for your backyard in seven steps, which only requires a few supplies you can pick up curbside at your local home improvement store. Not a big DIYer? You can always buy a prefab fire bowl that’s just as effective at creating that warm, cozy campfire glow. Be sure to look into local burn bans and regulations for best practices in your area. Tip 6Tip 1.. Make an al fresco dining destination. Maybe you’ve become a marvelous home chef over the past few years. Mix up nights at home a little by making an al fresco dining destination in your backyard or patio. In addition to an outdoor dining table and chairs, lay down an outdoor rug and string up a strand of lights or craft yourself an outdoor chandelier to transform your evening meals. Tip 7. Create a meditation zone. Sometimes there’s no better place than home to find your center. Make your restorative practice or shavasana even better by creating a meditation zone in your backyard. Plant a garden with calming scents like lavender or jasmine, create a stepping stone path to your meditation spot or even build yourself a standing tent or cabana with curtains that blow in the warm, calming breeze.
7 Ways to Enjoy Your Outdoor Space at Home
Tip 1. Curate an outdoor lounge space. Looking to re-...
Somehow it happens that every year tangerines become the first sign of the approaching New Year for us. They appear in all stores, attracting us with their bright skin and inviting aroma. But as soon as you try one tangerine, the whole package becomes empty in an instant. Why does this happen? To begin with, we will understand what “tangerines” are. And so, “mandarin” is the fruit of a citrus shrub. But not all that is sold in our supermarkets is tangerines, often hybrids: Mandarin + grapefruit = tangerine - a smaller orange, with an easy-to-clean skin. Mandarin + grapefruit = natsumikan - a sweetish taste. Mandarin + orange = tangora - bright orange pulp, sweet taste, flattened shape. Mandarin + wild lemon = citrandarin - a relatively sour taste. Mandarin (Satsum) + Ichang = Ichandarin - also sour, but has small sizes. Mandarin + kumquat = calamondine - very small tangerines. Mandarin + orange-bead = clementine - very sweet - the most common. Why do so many of us love these citrus fruits so much? The answer is simple: they are very useful, which is why the body requires! Beneficial features: 1. An excellent source of vitamin C and magnesium 2. Mandarins are a decongestant 3. Very useful in diabetes - lower blood sugar 4. The essential oil from this citrus is uplifting 5. At temperature, tangerines act as a natural antipyretic 6. Regular consumption of tangerines improves metabolic processes in the body 7. They improve appetite very well 8. For colds, decoctions from the peel of tangerines have a positive effect on expectorant processes 9. For cosmetic purposes, the fruits can be used for skin diseases (acne and some fungi) 10. And tangerine oil is a very popular anti-cellulite remedy. But it should be remembered that there are exceptions to the rules. For example, pregnant women can eat only 1-2 tangerines per day, and if more, this will cause diathesis in the unborn child. And the use of these fruits in significant quantities is undesirable for those who have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis in the acute stage, ulcer, colitis, etc.) Interesting: in 1 kilogram of these fruits - 380 calories (about 38 calories in 1 mandarin), so mandarin diets are becoming more popular.
All about tangerines
Somehow it happens that every year tangerines become t...
Thing 1. WHOLE-HOUSE SOUND SYSTEM. If you’re like most of us, you have different speakers all around the home—some bluetooth, some wired, some requiring an amplifier, some needing to be recharged or have their batteries periodically changed. Cut the cacophony and wire your home for sound. One of the hardest parts of putting in a whole-home sound system is cutting through ceilings and walls to run wires and install speakers, but if you’re still in the building stage, this part is a breeze. Working with a kit to wire your home for sound is one of the easiest ways to go. A kit typically contains a base station plus a series of controllers that can be placed in rooms around the home. This allows you to create various zones in your house to which you can send different music streams. After you’ve chosen a base station, you’ll want to select speakers that recess into the walls or ceiling and connect them to the station as well. Those with repositionable tweeters let you direct the sound exactly where you want it, while speakers with inbuilt bass and treble controls let you further tweak the sound for every room. When running speaker wire through the home, be sure to use UL-rated speaker wire marked CL2 or CL3. Thing 2. RADIANT FLOOR HEATING. When it comes to making a home feel at once modern, comfortable and eco-smart, it’s hard to beat radiant floor heating. Installed on or in the subfloor, radiant floor heating panels typically use channels of heated water that give off heat to the floor above them. The result is a wonderful, all over heat that doesn’t have any of the allergy concerns of forced-hot-air or any of the uneven heating problems and noise often associated with radiators or electric baseboard systems. One of today’s smarter choices for radiant floor heating is Warmboard as they make panels that are super-conductive, which means that more of the heat from the water that runs through the channels is transferred directly to your home. The enhanced conductivity also means there’s less heat loss, which makes the system extremely efficient, and that Warmboard is also very nimble, heating and cooling down more quickly than other systems when you change the temperature at your thermostat. Thing 3. SPA BATH. The bathroom can be a simple utilitarian space or, with a little planning, it can become one of the most luxurious retreats in your home. When designing the bathroom, be sure to leave ample space for your shower and tub area and reinforce the floor beneath it—so that you can install a heavy-duty spa tub. These days, you can purchase all-in-one units that contain a massage-jet tub, multiple shower heads, and steam and sauna functionalities—plus a computer to control them all. It’s also possible to mount moisture-resistant TVs in the walls of your shower or bath area so that you don’t miss a bit of news or sports action. If that’s all too extreme for you, consider installing a remote control for your shower or tub which allows you get the shower warming up before you even step out of bed. Thing 4. HOME AUTOMATION. There are several options for home automation systems that do everything from controlling your lights to alerting you when the doors or windows are open, or even when there might be a fire or flood. There are thermostats that learn from your heating and cooling patterns and can be controlled via smartphone. There are speakers that can also be phone-controlled and can play different tunes throughout your house. And at least one company makes a hub that can tie it all together. Even though it’s easy to install home automation equipment in an existing home, doing so while you’re still building will ensure that you get everything exactly where you need it before you take control of your smartphone and pilot your house like the Starship Enterprise. Thing 5. OUTDOOR KITCHEN. There was a time when homes had summer kitchens—separate buildings in which food was prepared during the warmer months to keep the heat out of the main living quarters. Even though summer kitchens are a thing of the past, the logic remains: cooking outside keeps you from having to turn on the oven when the weather feels oven-like itself. When planning your outdoor kitchen, keep in mind that you’ll want to have easy access to utilities to plumb in a line for the sink, drain and gas line, if your home has natural gas service (otherwise, you’ll run your grill and cooktop off of propane, so make sure you build in space to store the tank). While you can construct your open-air kitchen out of stone into which your sink and cook surfaces can be set, a more affordable option is to build the structure out of wood and face it with stone veneer which will weatherproof it and create an equally attractive look.
5 Things to Covet in Your Dream Home.
Thing 1. WHOLE-HOUSE SOUND SYSTEM. If you’re like mos...
Idea 1. Winter library look. This library look is a perfect fit for a snowy winter day. Filled with shelves of leather-bound tomes, tufted chesterfield sofas and focused lighting from brass sconces, the study is the perfect spot to curl up with a favorite novel, enjoy a cup of tea or nap away the afternoon. Built-in bookcases may run up a tab, but two or three flat-pack units arranged tightly in a row can nearly fill a wall without breaking the budget. Pack them with as many books you can find — the fuller the better. Check out garage sales, thrift shops and library clearance sales for additional hardback books if you’re short. Sure, you may not have a tufted leather sofa on hand, but any love seat positioned in front of the bookcases will look dramatic. Instead of square throw pillows, try round bolsters in the corners for a more formal style. A vintage rug is ideal underneath, but convincing reproductions can be found online for a fraction of the price. For the coziest of lighting in the evenings, add sconces to your bookcases. Inexpensive clip-on downlights work perfectly in a pinch. If possible, flank the love seat with a pair of floor reading lamps, swiveled low over the arms of the sofa. Idea 2. The Scandinavian chalet. Crisp white paint, whitewashed wood and neutral furnishings make even the gloomiest of days feel bright. This aesthetic is definitely modern, yet it’s touched with woodsy rusticity and directly connected to nature. Winter-friendly accessories bring in a bit more comfort and prevent the space from feeling cold. Compatible with the popular all-white color scheme, the Scandinavian chalet look can be achieved with a few tweaks — some more involved than others. For an amazing yet affordable chalet transformation, consider covering one wall (ideally around a fireplace) in inexpensive pine boards. You can run them horizontally or vertically, and you may choose to either paint them to match your other walls or seal them with a whitewash or light gray stain. Embrace irregularities and small gaps between the boards — they’ll give you the modern, woodsy touch that makes these spaces memorable. Define a seating area using a generously scaled jute rug. Build on this surface’s natural color and texture with pieces of upholstery. If your furniture isn’t neutral, try slipcovering it or even tossing a large canvas dropcloth over it. A stack of substantial floor pillows encourages a more relaxed gathering beside the fire or around a board game. And a faux sheepskin throw or two will further warm the space. For accessories, try hanging a white papier-mache deer mount over your hearth and stacking paper birch logs beside the fireplace. For lighting, overscale paper lanterns affixed to a simple plug-in pendant light make a big 1970s Scandinavian statement at minimal cost. Idea 3. The boho nest. Longing for the warm colors of summer? This look brings them indoors using tapestries, artwork and an abundance of houseplants. Layering is the name of the game, with floors covered by an arrangement of inexpensive flat-weave rugs, upholstery draped in throws and embroidered pillows, and groupings of mixed-media art on the walls. While many seeking the boho style focus on white walls as a backdrop, you can create a warmer space with a bold color or dark earth tone. Paint one or more of your living room walls to invite contrast. Start building your nest from the floor up. Instead of purchasing one large expensive rug, try layering a mixture of smaller and more affordable rugs of varying styles and colors for an eclectic and relaxed feel. If you have walls that feel a little barren, consider draping them with floor-to-ceiling curtains. This will envelop and soften the edges of the room. If premade ones aren’t in the budget, you can easily make your own perfectly fitted drapes with fabric. Create a simple hem around the edges with a quick pass through the sewing machine or a little bit of ironing with hem tape. Use ring clips to attach the fabric panels to curtain rods. A gallery wall can also give your living room a warmer feel. While typical galleries consisting solely of framed art tend to be the decorating norm, you can keep the look fresh and more bohemian by integrating a broader spectrum of art types. Hang clay or wood pieces, textile art, paper sculptures and even wall-clinging plants — like staghorn ferns — to give your gallery wall life and personality.
3 Ideas for turning your home into a winter paradise
Idea 1. Winter library look. This library look is a...
If you have a meeting in a restaurant, you don’t need to worry about the intricacies of serving wines or strong alcohol, the waiter will take care of everything. Although, unfortunately, sometimes it is necessary to correct the waiter or even the sommelier on the contrary, because not all restaurants, even expensive ones, can afford to hire really qualified personnel. About cafes and bistros it’s even better not to remember. But if you yourself act as the owner, it is absolutely necessary to remember a number of simple rules for serving wine to the table: - White wine is served in front of red. - Young wine is served before the old. - Table (natural) wine is served before strong (special) wine. If you pour wine into glasses, keep the following in mind. - A bottle is never taken by the neck - only by the lower part. - Pouring wine into a glass, you can not put the neck to the edge of the glass. - Glasses never fill to the brim, large glasses - only one third (if the capacity of the glass allows it), small glasses are filled half (or slightly less than half). - In order not to stain the tablecloth with red wine, the neck of the bottle is pre-wrapped with a napkin. - White wine, especially if it is champagne, is always served chilled, a bucket of ice water (not with ice!) Is placed not on the table, but on a special stand (a small table is suitable at home) next to the table. Of great importance for the correct perception of the taste and aroma of the wine served on the table is its temperature. There is no need to adhere to the numbers below, but it is better to follow the following guidelines. - Sparkling wines (including champagne) - 7-9 ° C. - Table white wines (dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, sweet), as well as strong white wines (including port, madeira, nutmeg) - 12-14 ° С. - Table red wines or strong slightly extractive wines - 14-16 ° С. - Strong red wines of high density (Cahors) - 16-18 ° C. Following these simple recommendations will help you to establish yourself as a gracious host and will be a good occasion for guests to return to your cozy home more than once.
How to serve wine?
If you have a meeting in a restaurant, you don’t need...

Sometimes there are situations when there is no refrigerator - rest or force majeure - there are all sorts of things, and you need to be ready for this. I suggest you learn about storing food without a refrigerator - how, how much and in what way.

Dairy products. Butter is densely packed in cans and poured on top with cold salted water, which is then changed daily. Dairy products can be placed in a bowl, which is then placed in a large container of water. The food is covered with a piece of cloth, the ends of which are dipped in water. Water evaporates to keep the temperature low, and this prevents spoilage.

Fish and crustaceans: To keep fresh fish for longer, it needs to be gutted and gills removed. Dry the fish, rub the abdominal cavity with salt and line with napkins or toilet paper. After that, each fish is wrapped in clean, dry paper. Crayfish need to be boiled, placed in a glass jar and filled with cold salted water (1 tbsp. Table salt per 1 liter of boiled water).

Vegetables Vegetables are spoiled by excess moisture, so it is better not to wash them before storing them and keep them wrapped in paper.

Meat and Poultry Important: Prevent air from reaching these perishable foods. To do this, they can be poured with milk (after 1-2 hours, the cream will “stick around” the flesh from all sides, without letting air in, and lactic acid will inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria). There are other ways to seal products: meat or poultry fillets can be poured boiling water (its surface will turn white, as the top layer of protein will cook) or smear with sunflower oil. In the summer, you need to protect meat or poultry from flies: rub the product with pepper, grated horseradish, or wrap it in a cloth soaked in strong pickle brine.

Chicken eggs Eggs are sealed by dipping them in boiling water for 5 seconds (a layer of cooked protein forms under the shell). Unused yolks are stored in a glass container, filled with cold water. With these simple tips, storing food without a refrigerator will not be a problem for you.

Tip 1. Curate an outdoor lounge space. Looking to re-live a memorable beach vacation? Set up an outdoor lounge space on your patio or in the yard to give your outdoor space a tropical feel. You can scour the internet for lounge chairs, chaise lounges, hammocks and outdoor sectionals, or create your own, like a one-of-a-kind outdoor lounge bed. All you need to complete this project is a platform bed frame, a futon mattress and outdoor fabric to cover it. (If you’re not handy with the sewing machine, this would be a simple task for a local upholsterer to tackle.) Plop some outdoor pillows on top for added comfort and style. To complete your lounge, add in some side tables, a few candles and maybe a glass of wine to create that all-inclusive atmosphere. Tip 2. DIY outdoor movie theater. Re-creating a movie theater experience in your own backyard doesn’t have to be complicated: All you need is a white sheet that can be tautly mounted on a flat surface (a shed or siding on your apartment patio will do just fine), a projector and your phone to play movies, TV shows or whatever else you’re binging these days. Don’t have access to a projector? It’s surprisingly simple to make one out of a shoe box, some cardboard and a magnifying glass. Round up your favorite patio chairs or arrange your outdoor cushions, make some popcorn and enjoy your movie with the background noise of the crickets chirping. Tip 3. Create an outdoor bar. There’s no shorter commute home than from your own property, so why not create a place for libations in your outdoor space? You can, of course, buy a bar online, or you can repurpose an old table or desk — or even get crafty with some cinder blocks, concrete glue and a few 1 x 6 boards to create your very own. Gather your Bluetooth speaker, your favorite cocktail ingredients and a few glasses to get the ambiance of your favorite bar right at home. Here are a few ideas for inspiration, including bars you can squeeze into the smallest of outdoor spaces. Tip 4. Beautify a barn or shed. A barn or a shed is a utilitarian structure, but that doesn’t mean it has to be an eyesore. Spruce it up by painting it a bold color, attaching some shutters, adding some flower boxes, installing a stone path or even stringing up some lights to zhuzh up that forgotten space in the backyard. Tip 5. Do the fire pit. If a camping trip is too much to squeeze into your days off, you don’t have to miss out on everyone’s favorite camping activity: the campfire. You can easily create a fire pit for your backyard in seven steps, which only requires a few supplies you can pick up curbside at your local home improvement store. Not a big DIYer? You can always buy a prefab fire bowl that’s just as effective at creating that warm, cozy campfire glow. Be sure to look into local burn bans and regulations for best practices in your area. Tip 6Tip 1.. Make an al fresco dining destination. Maybe you’ve become a marvelous home chef over the past few years. Mix up nights at home a little by making an al fresco dining destination in your backyard or patio. In addition to an outdoor dining table and chairs, lay down an outdoor rug and string up a strand of lights or craft yourself an outdoor chandelier to transform your evening meals. Tip 7. Create a meditation zone. Sometimes there’s no better place than home to find your center. Make your restorative practice or shavasana even better by creating a meditation zone in your backyard. Plant a garden with calming scents like lavender or jasmine, create a stepping stone path to your meditation spot or even build yourself a standing tent or cabana with curtains that blow in the warm, calming breeze.
7 Ways to Enjoy Your Outdoor Space at Home
Tip 1. Curate an outdoor lounge space. Looking to re-...
Somehow it happens that every year tangerines become the first sign of the approaching New Year for us. They appear in all stores, attracting us with their bright skin and inviting aroma. But as soon as you try one tangerine, the whole package becomes empty in an instant. Why does this happen? To begin with, we will understand what “tangerines” are. And so, “mandarin” is the fruit of a citrus shrub. But not all that is sold in our supermarkets is tangerines, often hybrids: Mandarin + grapefruit = tangerine - a smaller orange, with an easy-to-clean skin. Mandarin + grapefruit = natsumikan - a sweetish taste. Mandarin + orange = tangora - bright orange pulp, sweet taste, flattened shape. Mandarin + wild lemon = citrandarin - a relatively sour taste. Mandarin (Satsum) + Ichang = Ichandarin - also sour, but has small sizes. Mandarin + kumquat = calamondine - very small tangerines. Mandarin + orange-bead = clementine - very sweet - the most common. Why do so many of us love these citrus fruits so much? The answer is simple: they are very useful, which is why the body requires! Beneficial features: 1. An excellent source of vitamin C and magnesium 2. Mandarins are a decongestant 3. Very useful in diabetes - lower blood sugar 4. The essential oil from this citrus is uplifting 5. At temperature, tangerines act as a natural antipyretic 6. Regular consumption of tangerines improves metabolic processes in the body 7. They improve appetite very well 8. For colds, decoctions from the peel of tangerines have a positive effect on expectorant processes 9. For cosmetic purposes, the fruits can be used for skin diseases (acne and some fungi) 10. And tangerine oil is a very popular anti-cellulite remedy. But it should be remembered that there are exceptions to the rules. For example, pregnant women can eat only 1-2 tangerines per day, and if more, this will cause diathesis in the unborn child. And the use of these fruits in significant quantities is undesirable for those who have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (gastritis in the acute stage, ulcer, colitis, etc.) Interesting: in 1 kilogram of these fruits - 380 calories (about 38 calories in 1 mandarin), so mandarin diets are becoming more popular.
All about tangerines
Somehow it happens that every year tangerines become t...
Thing 1. WHOLE-HOUSE SOUND SYSTEM. If you’re like most of us, you have different speakers all around the home—some bluetooth, some wired, some requiring an amplifier, some needing to be recharged or have their batteries periodically changed. Cut the cacophony and wire your home for sound. One of the hardest parts of putting in a whole-home sound system is cutting through ceilings and walls to run wires and install speakers, but if you’re still in the building stage, this part is a breeze. Working with a kit to wire your home for sound is one of the easiest ways to go. A kit typically contains a base station plus a series of controllers that can be placed in rooms around the home. This allows you to create various zones in your house to which you can send different music streams. After you’ve chosen a base station, you’ll want to select speakers that recess into the walls or ceiling and connect them to the station as well. Those with repositionable tweeters let you direct the sound exactly where you want it, while speakers with inbuilt bass and treble controls let you further tweak the sound for every room. When running speaker wire through the home, be sure to use UL-rated speaker wire marked CL2 or CL3. Thing 2. RADIANT FLOOR HEATING. When it comes to making a home feel at once modern, comfortable and eco-smart, it’s hard to beat radiant floor heating. Installed on or in the subfloor, radiant floor heating panels typically use channels of heated water that give off heat to the floor above them. The result is a wonderful, all over heat that doesn’t have any of the allergy concerns of forced-hot-air or any of the uneven heating problems and noise often associated with radiators or electric baseboard systems. One of today’s smarter choices for radiant floor heating is Warmboard as they make panels that are super-conductive, which means that more of the heat from the water that runs through the channels is transferred directly to your home. The enhanced conductivity also means there’s less heat loss, which makes the system extremely efficient, and that Warmboard is also very nimble, heating and cooling down more quickly than other systems when you change the temperature at your thermostat. Thing 3. SPA BATH. The bathroom can be a simple utilitarian space or, with a little planning, it can become one of the most luxurious retreats in your home. When designing the bathroom, be sure to leave ample space for your shower and tub area and reinforce the floor beneath it—so that you can install a heavy-duty spa tub. These days, you can purchase all-in-one units that contain a massage-jet tub, multiple shower heads, and steam and sauna functionalities—plus a computer to control them all. It’s also possible to mount moisture-resistant TVs in the walls of your shower or bath area so that you don’t miss a bit of news or sports action. If that’s all too extreme for you, consider installing a remote control for your shower or tub which allows you get the shower warming up before you even step out of bed. Thing 4. HOME AUTOMATION. There are several options for home automation systems that do everything from controlling your lights to alerting you when the doors or windows are open, or even when there might be a fire or flood. There are thermostats that learn from your heating and cooling patterns and can be controlled via smartphone. There are speakers that can also be phone-controlled and can play different tunes throughout your house. And at least one company makes a hub that can tie it all together. Even though it’s easy to install home automation equipment in an existing home, doing so while you’re still building will ensure that you get everything exactly where you need it before you take control of your smartphone and pilot your house like the Starship Enterprise. Thing 5. OUTDOOR KITCHEN. There was a time when homes had summer kitchens—separate buildings in which food was prepared during the warmer months to keep the heat out of the main living quarters. Even though summer kitchens are a thing of the past, the logic remains: cooking outside keeps you from having to turn on the oven when the weather feels oven-like itself. When planning your outdoor kitchen, keep in mind that you’ll want to have easy access to utilities to plumb in a line for the sink, drain and gas line, if your home has natural gas service (otherwise, you’ll run your grill and cooktop off of propane, so make sure you build in space to store the tank). While you can construct your open-air kitchen out of stone into which your sink and cook surfaces can be set, a more affordable option is to build the structure out of wood and face it with stone veneer which will weatherproof it and create an equally attractive look.
5 Things to Covet in Your Dream Home.
Thing 1. WHOLE-HOUSE SOUND SYSTEM. If you’re like mos...
Idea 1. Winter library look. This library look is a perfect fit for a snowy winter day. Filled with shelves of leather-bound tomes, tufted chesterfield sofas and focused lighting from brass sconces, the study is the perfect spot to curl up with a favorite novel, enjoy a cup of tea or nap away the afternoon. Built-in bookcases may run up a tab, but two or three flat-pack units arranged tightly in a row can nearly fill a wall without breaking the budget. Pack them with as many books you can find — the fuller the better. Check out garage sales, thrift shops and library clearance sales for additional hardback books if you’re short. Sure, you may not have a tufted leather sofa on hand, but any love seat positioned in front of the bookcases will look dramatic. Instead of square throw pillows, try round bolsters in the corners for a more formal style. A vintage rug is ideal underneath, but convincing reproductions can be found online for a fraction of the price. For the coziest of lighting in the evenings, add sconces to your bookcases. Inexpensive clip-on downlights work perfectly in a pinch. If possible, flank the love seat with a pair of floor reading lamps, swiveled low over the arms of the sofa. Idea 2. The Scandinavian chalet. Crisp white paint, whitewashed wood and neutral furnishings make even the gloomiest of days feel bright. This aesthetic is definitely modern, yet it’s touched with woodsy rusticity and directly connected to nature. Winter-friendly accessories bring in a bit more comfort and prevent the space from feeling cold. Compatible with the popular all-white color scheme, the Scandinavian chalet look can be achieved with a few tweaks — some more involved than others. For an amazing yet affordable chalet transformation, consider covering one wall (ideally around a fireplace) in inexpensive pine boards. You can run them horizontally or vertically, and you may choose to either paint them to match your other walls or seal them with a whitewash or light gray stain. Embrace irregularities and small gaps between the boards — they’ll give you the modern, woodsy touch that makes these spaces memorable. Define a seating area using a generously scaled jute rug. Build on this surface’s natural color and texture with pieces of upholstery. If your furniture isn’t neutral, try slipcovering it or even tossing a large canvas dropcloth over it. A stack of substantial floor pillows encourages a more relaxed gathering beside the fire or around a board game. And a faux sheepskin throw or two will further warm the space. For accessories, try hanging a white papier-mache deer mount over your hearth and stacking paper birch logs beside the fireplace. For lighting, overscale paper lanterns affixed to a simple plug-in pendant light make a big 1970s Scandinavian statement at minimal cost. Idea 3. The boho nest. Longing for the warm colors of summer? This look brings them indoors using tapestries, artwork and an abundance of houseplants. Layering is the name of the game, with floors covered by an arrangement of inexpensive flat-weave rugs, upholstery draped in throws and embroidered pillows, and groupings of mixed-media art on the walls. While many seeking the boho style focus on white walls as a backdrop, you can create a warmer space with a bold color or dark earth tone. Paint one or more of your living room walls to invite contrast. Start building your nest from the floor up. Instead of purchasing one large expensive rug, try layering a mixture of smaller and more affordable rugs of varying styles and colors for an eclectic and relaxed feel. If you have walls that feel a little barren, consider draping them with floor-to-ceiling curtains. This will envelop and soften the edges of the room. If premade ones aren’t in the budget, you can easily make your own perfectly fitted drapes with fabric. Create a simple hem around the edges with a quick pass through the sewing machine or a little bit of ironing with hem tape. Use ring clips to attach the fabric panels to curtain rods. A gallery wall can also give your living room a warmer feel. While typical galleries consisting solely of framed art tend to be the decorating norm, you can keep the look fresh and more bohemian by integrating a broader spectrum of art types. Hang clay or wood pieces, textile art, paper sculptures and even wall-clinging plants — like staghorn ferns — to give your gallery wall life and personality.
3 Ideas for turning your home into a winter paradise
Idea 1. Winter library look. This library look is a...
If you have a meeting in a restaurant, you don’t need to worry about the intricacies of serving wines or strong alcohol, the waiter will take care of everything. Although, unfortunately, sometimes it is necessary to correct the waiter or even the sommelier on the contrary, because not all restaurants, even expensive ones, can afford to hire really qualified personnel. About cafes and bistros it’s even better not to remember. But if you yourself act as the owner, it is absolutely necessary to remember a number of simple rules for serving wine to the table: - White wine is served in front of red. - Young wine is served before the old. - Table (natural) wine is served before strong (special) wine. If you pour wine into glasses, keep the following in mind. - A bottle is never taken by the neck - only by the lower part. - Pouring wine into a glass, you can not put the neck to the edge of the glass. - Glasses never fill to the brim, large glasses - only one third (if the capacity of the glass allows it), small glasses are filled half (or slightly less than half). - In order not to stain the tablecloth with red wine, the neck of the bottle is pre-wrapped with a napkin. - White wine, especially if it is champagne, is always served chilled, a bucket of ice water (not with ice!) Is placed not on the table, but on a special stand (a small table is suitable at home) next to the table. Of great importance for the correct perception of the taste and aroma of the wine served on the table is its temperature. There is no need to adhere to the numbers below, but it is better to follow the following guidelines. - Sparkling wines (including champagne) - 7-9 ° C. - Table white wines (dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet, sweet), as well as strong white wines (including port, madeira, nutmeg) - 12-14 ° С. - Table red wines or strong slightly extractive wines - 14-16 ° С. - Strong red wines of high density (Cahors) - 16-18 ° C. Following these simple recommendations will help you to establish yourself as a gracious host and will be a good occasion for guests to return to your cozy home more than once.
How to serve wine?
If you have a meeting in a restaurant, you don’t need...