Category Archives: After Home

Shedding some light on sheds


A shed is a small building that stands alone on a property.  It is the “jack of all trades” when it comes to storage solutions.  Some folks use their sheds for work, others may stock pile them with odds and ends that don’t have a home.  We recently renovated the shed that came with our property and boy does it look fabulous!
Our shed was just about gone.  The roof had caved in three years prior to our living here and the rain water and elements had wreaked havoc on the inside and the outside walls.  We nearly lost her, but with patience and time we were able to revive a living treasure.

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Store Review: Green Secret – The Winter Collection

In July I wrote about Sod Yarok (Green Secret), an inspiring florist store in Givatayim that creates the most amazing flower arrangements and also has great vases and some beautiful furniture too. I walked past there the other day and noticed that almost everything had changed, so I thought you may appreciate an update. I don’t know much about flowers but these are Chrysanthemums, which are about as difficult to spell as they are to pronounce. They were in simple white baskets which was lovely!
chrysanthemums

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A new stove makes a difference

Every step counts when you are upgrading an existing homes appliances.  I went from harvest gold to solid gold when I changed out my old stove for a new one… voila, instant happiness!
Harvest Gold Stove
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Unexpected bathroom renovation

Subway tile 2
A small leak behind the shower body turned into big problems in our New York rental apartment.  This unexpected bathroom renovation was a costly surprise and I looked for ways to make it more economical.  Visiting a known tile resource in the area gave us a clear idea of what path to choose in terms of design, we went with “subway tiles“, named for the fact that this is the tile used in New York City’s subway system.

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In the closet work space

More stuff to do with your closet… 
This time the closet becomes a cozy work area.  My sister Caryn is an expert when it comes to transforming small spaces with big ideas.  This storage closet was a real dump before she got her hands on it and now it is a  treasure. 
Caryn’s Closet 
Caryn's_Closet-2 

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Updating an old tub for less

On a recent visit to The Home Depot (my now favorite shopping destination since becoming a home owner),  I saw a car in the parking lot advertising a hot new trend… 
Old Bathtub
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DIY: my blue heaven

Heaven is different things to different people.  My heaven is this stairway leading to my new basement, having a basement is simply heaven in my book!
My family and I recently moved into a home that has been in the family for 40 years.  I can remember my grandmother making the trip up and down these steps well into her early nineties…
Steps Before
Stairs-before_Two 

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This Old House: before & after

This Old House, that must be my mantra; my life is one big “before & after”. I grew up in an old house and that title calls to me in more ways than one…  I also love their website.  If you have a project and you need good ideas, this is the place to look.  Check out this kitchen…
Kitchen Before 
this-old-house-kitchen-beforeNow that’s what I call a “fixer upper”, what a mess.  Most people would walk away from a complete re-do, but not the folks at “This Old House”.  Look at this amazing after shot.

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Outdated bathroom tiles, not anymore…

Wow there are some really ugly, old bathroom tiles out there; I am sure that you’ve seen a few…
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Here’s an old bathroom that is in pretty good shape.  The only problem is that these brownish tiles are dark and don’t do much to add to this small space.   The apartment is a rental and the owner did not want to do an expensive renovation, so she put on her thinking cap and came up with a pretty good economical solution. 

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Living small: Decorating small spaces

small-space-dr-bhg
Photo by Better Homes and Gardens
Small spaces can produce big rewards when it comes to decorating.  Although the photo above is a bit odd with that shelf sticking out, adding a side bench to a dining area creates more seating and aesthetic punch.  I have spent many years in apartment dwellings and in a sense “small space” has become my middle name.

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10/22