Making over the mudroom

In addition to chatting with the Home Depot's Frank Turco about mudrooms last week, I was also taking on a mudroom makeover of my own.

The mudroom was a later addition to our home. In fact, the light in there is an outdoor model, and you can still see the spot where the house numbers used to hang!

Because it's such a small space, it didn't rank high on our list of to-dos, so it quickly became a crammed, and kind of mucky, storage spot. 

But, with the temperatures starting to drop (I froze on my way to work this morning!), I needed to clean it up so I could haul out our arsenal of winter coats, boots, scarves, mittens and hats.

Plus, it is the first thing people see when they walk into our house, and the crammed, grubby space was so not setting the right tone.

So, first order of business was clearing out the boxes that were stowed there "just for a day or two" back when we moved in, and giving the space a thorough cleaning.

Then, armed with a can of Boomerang paint, I took the walls from beige to a soft green, echoing the colours in the rest of the house. I also gave the ceiling, which had been painted beige like the walls, a fresh coat of white to try to make the space look more intentional.

The paint alone made a huge difference! The space (while nearly impossible to photograph - sorry!) now looks like it's part of the house, instead of just an add on. And, there's room for my boots and coats.

Of course, like all things in my house, it's not quite done. I'd love to replace the flooring next spring, and we need to install a more stylish wall sconce to replace the gold, outdoor model that we inherited from the previous owners. But, it's now functional and ready for winter - and apparently, not a moment too soon!

Poll results: Divine design viewing

The latest seasons of decorating and home improvement shows kickoff next week on HGTV, and the W Network has been airing new episodes for a few weeks now (read our full fall preview), so, as an avid viewer, I was wondering how many Yourhomers shared my obsession?

More than three-quarters (81 per cent) of readers said they watch home improvement and decorating TV shows, while the remaining 19 per cent don't tune in.

So, that means most of you will appreciate the good news that we'll be interviewing your favourite hosts to get the skinny on the new seasons along with practical tips you can use in your own homes! Check out this week's tips from Love it or List it's Hilary Farr for falling back in love with your home.

The new poll looks at the growing DIY trend, and asks whether the economy has spurred you on to tackle more projects yourself, rather than having it done for you. (Read the full story.) Let me know in the front page poll.

And, I'd also love to hear your thoughts on Colin and Justin's latest creation, and make sure to check out the Princess Margaret Hospital prize home, the latest trends in sofas and a preview of next weekend's home show.

Going green, in more ways than one

I've been intrigued by Boomerang Paints for a while: an eco-friendly, and ecologo certified, low-VOC recycled paint, which retails for about $15 a can.

It's made using leftover paints and stains, which are donated through Rona stores and other retailers. (Find a drop off near you here). They use about 1 per cent new material in the paint to try to keep colour, thickness and drying times consistent.

It sounds promising, but I've always wondered, does it work? How does it stack up to regular brands?

Luckily, I had the chance to give it a test run, using a pretty shade of green called "moss", in my mud room.

My first challenge? Getting the lid on the new, eco-friendly plastic pail open. It took some help from Mr. Speedy and a roofing tool, but, eventually, we outsmarted it.

Once we actually got to the painting part, it worked pretty much like all the other paint I've been schlepping home from the hardware store. I did, however, find it a little runnier, and needed to stir it more vigorously, than the paint and primer combo I've been favouring lately.

Painting over a seriously banged up beige took two coats, plus touch ups.

And,be warned, the colour choices aren't huge - 16 shades in the eco-certified latex line, with earthy names like "wheat" "shore" "moonlight" and "cotton."

Read more about Boomerang, and find local retailers, at the company website.

It's fall! Or is it?

While Tuesday may have been the first official day of fall, just over a third of Ontarians (36 per cent) agree that Sept. 22 signals the start of the season, according to a recent survey.

Conducted by Angus Reid on behalf of Direct Energy, the survey found that just under one third (30 per cent) of those interviewed instead felt that the first day of school is also the first day of fall. (A sentiment echoed by 1 in four across Canada).

The survey also found that 81 per cent of Ontarians agreed that the leaves changing colour signalled the start of the fall season. Other rituals that are a sure sign it's autumn? Turning on the furnace, 21 per cent, turning off the air conditioner, 19 per cent, and wearing warmer clothes, 43 per cent. 

So is it fall? Officially yes - but I haven't seen any red leaves or turned on my furnace, so the fall boots and corduroy jacket have yet to make an appearance. 

But, the "official" Sept. 22 date is a good reminder to start your fall home maintenance (see our tips). Yes, I know it's unpleasant, but wouldn't you rather do it now than be stuck freezing waiting for someone to come fix your furnace, while surveying frosted plants and trying to climb your icy ladder to clean out those frozen eavestroughs? Yeah, I thought so.

Direct Energy recommends testing your furnace now to avoid that whole freezing part of my nightmare scenario. Plus, if something is actually wrong, you'll have better luck getting service now than when the first cold snap hits. 

Here are the company's tips to get your house ready for winter:

- Turn on your furnace once every 60 days when you aren't using it. Schedule a maintenance appointment before it gets cold. And clean or replace your furnace filter every two to three months to save money on your heating bill.

- Cover your air conditioner to help ensure it's ship shape come next summer.

- Consider upgrading your old furnace to a new energy efficient unit, which will help cut your bills. There's a new minimum energy performance standard for home gas furnaces rolling out on Dec. 31, requiring 90 per cent efficiency for new purchases. (The regulations don't require homeowners to switch out existing furnaces.)

- Get a home energy audit, which can identify spots to make your home more energy efficient.

- Clean your ducts, which will help your ventilation system operate better and will reduce the amount of dust in the air, improving indoor air quality.

And, if all this winter talk is getting you down, just think about hot chocolate, hot apple cider and cozy sweaters! Doesn't that feel better?

Knit up some furniture

OK, I must admit, I've never been a very good knitter. I tried to learn during university as a way to keep myself engaged while reading very dull texts, but I never got past straight scarves. And stripes nearly destroyed me.

But "Phat Knits" from Bauke Knottnerus kind of makes me want to pick up the needles again, albeit on a much larger scale.

The exhibition uses a series of giant threads to create pieces of furniture (or art, depending on who you ask) that look knitted. Imagine the possibilities for chairs, ottomans, even tables!

And, while I don't think a piece like this would fit in my home, you've got to admit, that guy (or girl?) looks pretty darn cozy!

For more information, visit the designer's website.

(Via Furniture Fashion)

Poll results: Fall is in the air

As the evening temperatures have started to dip, I've been reluctantly making the switch from refreshing ice teas and cocktails to steaming mugs of cider and hot chocolate.

And, with that (albeit delicious) change, it's also time to start thinking about getting the house ready for fall - pulling out the heavier blankets and sweaters and tackling those unpleasant, but necessary, maintenance tasks. (Check out our outdoor tips for fall, and stay tuned for our fall maintenance guide on Monday).

With these things on my mind, and a growing concern that I'm falling behind, last week's poll asked whether Yourhomers had started preparing their gardens for fall.

It's still a pretty even split, with 45 per cent having begun their gardening tasks and 55 per cent waiting it out just a little bit longer. Which means I've still got time!

Fall also means a new TV season (read our full guide), so, in lieu of to-do lists, this week's poll is looking at this far more entertaining side of things and simply asking whether you watch home improvement and design TV. Do you unplug your phone on Sunday nights to keep things quiet during Extreme Makeover: Home Edition? Rely on Colour Confidential to keep those creative juices flowing? Or just can't get enough of Mike Holmes? Let me know in the front page poll.

And, while waiting for those new seasons to start (get the dates and times here), be sure to check out the incredible wallpaper in Colin and Justin's 'cave' transformation, learn the latest in flooring, get the skinny on the Shipyards development, and, of course, snoop into the latest real estate transactions in the GTA.

Kitchen envy

Lately, I've been experiencing a whole lotta kitchen envy. My kitchen is relatively functional, but not so fabulous. (Read more about it here).

And, in case those lush spreads in the fall magazines weren't enough to have me shopping for my imaginary kitchen makeover, Frigidaire has just introduced a new line of lust-worthy appliances.

The 200 (!) revamped appliances look super sleek and offer "time-saving" features, like the ovens' "PowerPlus Convection", which is supposed to reduce cooking time by 30 per cent and pre-heating times of "less than six minutes." 

The new dishwashers offer speedier wash and dry options, while refrigerators have more storage and a fancy new organization system.

The other thing that's got me drooling is the new washers and dryers, which have something called "TimeWise" technology - meaning wash time is supposed to be the same as dry time. I hate waiting for the dryer to finish when I'm doing a serious run on laundry, so my impatient side welcomes this idea!

"Our goal was to build the kinds of appliances that would help families breeze through household tasks to create more time to enjoy the things they love," said Tom Coulman, Director of Product and Brand Development for Frigidaire, in a release. Keep an eye out for the new lines at retailers like Sears, The Brick, Leon's and The Bay. Read more about the new lines on the Frigidaire website.

Not your average extinguisher

Doing double duty as a fire detector and a sprinkler system, the Automist has claimed top honours at the 2009 James Dyson awards.

This nifty product was designed to make fire protection more accessible, with an eye on the space where many fires start: the kitchen.

Automist, which is currently preparing for production, is installed under your typical kitchen tap. 

A wireless heat detector monitors for fire, and in the event of a blaze, triggers a pump that pushes water through the nozzle, filling the kitchen with mist -- and putting out the fire.

"This simple but clever device should become a permanent safety feature in the home. Smoke alarms are essential part of modern life but have remained fundamentally unchanged for forty years. Automist not only detects a fire but can put it out as well," said James Dyson in a statement on the award website.

Automist, which beat out more than 400 projects from 21 countries, was designed by Yusuf Muhammad and Paul Thomas. They win £10,000 (nearly $18,000 CAD) towards product development.

Read more about the contest, and the runners-up, here.

Spell it for me?

I've previously disclosed my love for all things typographical, but this chair (which has been floating around the blogosphere for a little while, I know for sure I saw it on the Mogg Blogg and Apartment Therapy) takes it to a whole new level!

Mission No.2 by Eric Ku takes the letters that spell "Chair" to create a ...

...

-- wait for it --

...

... chair!

I must admit that I'm not totally sold on the idea of having the final product as an accent in my house.

In fact, I think I may prefer the deconstructed version over the finished for my own decor!

But, still, I can't deny that this is one cool, alphabet-inspired idea!

Poll results: Kitchen tech

I'm a technology-loving kind of gal. My basement den decor has even been designed to match our video game consoles. And this love extends to the kitchen, where my laptop regularly subs in for the traditional cookbook. 

But, if last week's poll is any indication, we're not ready to chuck out our cookbooks in favour of netbooks just yet (read the full story). A whopping majority, at 83 per cent, still favour their cookbooks, while 11 per cent are plugging in to find their recipes. The remaining six per cent are splitting their time between the two. For a little more kitchen tech, make sure to check out this week's story on the latest in toaster ovens!

This week's poll looks to that changing weather, and asks whether you've started preparing your garden for fall. (Read the full story). Let me know in the front page poll!

And, don't miss Colin and Justin's fabulous makeover this week, where they inject some Hollywood glamour into a home that will be part of their After the Heist tour in support of the cancer society! You can also get the latest on TIFF's new home and a look at whether now is the time to buy.

Have a great weekend!