home exterior: June 2010

Melamine Dinnerware

Melamine...it's not fine china that's for sure but it can look really good! I really love my melamine shell bowls pictured above! If you need some melamine dinnerware for all those upcoming summer BBQs check out my product review page for yet another great giveaway! I just love it when companies want to give you things!!!

My Friend's Garden

Aren't these foxgloves gorgeous? This is a photo of my friend Claudia's garden. I recently gave her lots of products to use in her garden...you'll have to pop over to my product review page to see. I'm also going to give one of you the same product....just click here!

Blueberry Peach Cobbler

Saturday night one of my supper clubs I belong to got together for summer themed dinner. I made a Blueberry Peach Cobbler from the current issue of Cooking Light magazine! It was recommended by one of my blog readers, Karen, who I've actually met in person a few times while I've been out and about shopping! This cobbler was really good and they have the recipe printed on their website. Click

Vote for Debbie!

Fellow blogger, Debbie of Debbiedoos, submitted a video for Oprah's search for the next TV Star! Check out her audition video and if you like what you see, VOTE FOR DEBBIE! Click here to go see it!

Outdoor LED Lighting Installation Guides

Enhance the nighttime curb appeal of your home—and add a measure of safety and security—with low-voltage Outdoor lighting. These exterior-grade fixtures are typically placed along walkways and driveways, but they’re also ideal for illuminating steps, trees, stonewalls, fences and other prominent landscape features. Here are several guidance in how to installing an outdoor lighting with led lighting.

The first thing should considering before installation is the allow the basic rules for outdoor lighting installations, include checking local code regarding outdoor lighting. Don't forget to always use type UF cable for underground wiring. The UF implies that there must be a fuse breaker inside the house at the starting point of the underground wiring installation.

Weatherproof switches are another important thing that are required, its a good idea to prepare an outlet boxes in both flush-mount or surface mount styles. Before you begin, shut off the electrical current at the main switch box, mount a breaker or a fuse box in a location similar to the underground wiring installation.

Dig a hole about 2" deep with an ordinary post hole digger or tiling spade, run cable up trough the lamppost, then fill the hole with about 12" of concrete mix. Insert the lamppost into the concrete mix in an upright, plumb position. every outdoor lighting lamp part exposed to the touch must also be grounded.

Many of the newer outdoor lights come equipped with photoelectric eyes or motion sensors or both. If your light does not have this type of control built in, you may wish add a timer, permanent timer switches are readily available and can be pre-set for any on/off times.

Composite Decking: Stone Deck

If you are building a new home or adding outdoor living space to your home, here’s an alternative in composite decking you may not have considered: a low maintenance natural stone deck.

With no mortar or grout, StoneDeck combines premium-quality natural slates, granites and quartzite with a high strength composite backing. A fastening matrix connects to the deck frame while interlocking all structural panels in place. The panels and matrix form a structure that is flexible, yet strong enough to support 4,000 pounds per square foot.

StoneDeck can be installed by carpenters, deck or dock builders, and landscape contractors. An homeowner can also install the system with instructions and guidance.

Cracking is not an issue - the surface of the StoneDeck system will not crack. And unlike traditional wood decks, StoneDeck is a permanent surface that does not have the maintenance and deterioration issues associated with wood surfaces. The long-lasting components can handle the harshest climate conditions.

Our builder friend, Everett Pollard of Northcape Design in Sunapee, NH, installed it at his house and absolutely loves it! Want more information? Check out their website at http://www.stonedeckwest.com/index.htm.

Show and Tell Friday

This week for Show and Tell I'm sharing all the different ways I've decorated with shells. I have some shells I collected from the beach but most of these I've bought here and there over the years. There's not a lot of shells to be found on the beaches by apartment but when I went to Martha's Vineyard on vacation in 2006, I was amazed at how many there were! I brought a big plastic Ziploc bag

My Blue China Cabinet

One of the questions I get asked the most is what color I used on my blue china cabinet so I've decided to do another post on it since it was way back in 2008 when I painted it.
I had originally painted this white but wasn't happy with it so I got brave and decided to try blue. I knew if I didn't like it I could repaint it white again!
For the first step I used Behr Interior House Paint in

Nothing to do with decorating but so cool!

I spotted this car outside of my office yesterday and I just had to go outside to get a better look! I have a thing for cars...in case you haven't noticed! haha! The owner of this car drove it here to show his son at work. He was so nice and told me to go ahead and sit in it! OMG...Wow, unbelievable! This car cost more that my first house, and every car I've ever owned...combined! It was so

Summer Whites

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Summer Whites, originally uploaded by Romantic Home.Happy first day of summer my dear friends!

Happy Father's Day!

(Click on photo to enlarge)
Happy Father's Day to two of the best fathers I know, my dad and my brother!
The photo above was taken by my brother last summer at "Woodies on the Wharf" car show in Santa Cruz. For any of you out there in Northern California it will be held again next Saturday! It's held on the Santa Cruz Wharf and that's the Santa Cruz Boardwalk in the background!

Glamour and Modern Interior Lighting of Mombo Bar and Restaurant

A cafe, bar or restaurant will be a great place if it used a concept that based on a public space, the rooms are especially designed in several places, here is the Mombo bar and restaurant. All rooms are arranged in different shape, style and place. The main room are designed with red and white color, the Chinese lamps style are installed in white color.

Here is the cafe with sofa, it's look a living room with the complete chairs and sofas, its used the same lamps that installed on the main room.

Here are several table in romantic style, the lamps and the decorations are designed in special style, its suitable for romantic moment. Just visit outinhome to see the complete descriptions.

Show and Tell Friday!

It's time for Show and Tell Friday once again! This week I'm sharing a new project. My wonderful dad did the hard part of this project, he built it. I just need to sand it and paint it and I hope to get that done this weekend!
It's a bed crown which will be hung on the wall over my bed close to the ceiling. It will have long fabric panels attached inside and draped to the sides.I'm planning

A Garden Bouquet

A little garden bouquet...
looks so much prettier in a silver pitcher.

I mentioned a few days ago that I got a huge crack in my windshield of my Jaguar that I've only had for about a month. Thankfully, Janet from Housepeepers left a comment about having windshield replacement coverage on her car insurance so I called my insurance company and I was thrilled to find out that I also have it and

Home Remodeling Project of ST John's Wood House at London

Upgrading or remodeling a house is designing an old house with the new one to get a new looks and more modern house style. This is the project of ST John's Wood House by Stephen Fletcher Architects in London.This project was upgrading from early Victorian terraced house in St John's wood. The project included upgrading the connection between the kitchen and rear garden via a glazed extension with bi-fording doors.

The kitchen is located at the rear of the property, this kitchen is the focal point of the house. bespoke kitchen units sit on york stone tiling which flows into the rear garden beyond. The structural glass roof permits ample daylight and sunlight into the kitchen and a mechanical external roller blind helps with cooling in the summer months.

Home Remodeling Project of ST John's Wood House at London - glass roof above the kitchen

This fireplace room is a contemporary element to a traditional space, a new plaster cornices and window architraves in keeping with the original drawing room.

Home Remodeling Project of ST John's Wood House at London - fireplace

Home Remodeling Project of ST John's Wood House at London - master bedroom

the master bedroom suite has been upgraded and extended, including a new Japanese-style oak sliding doors leading to the bathroom, and low-level oak drawer units discreet high-level cupboards to either side of the bed. Below is another bedroom suite has been created on a different floor with similar storage to either side of the bed

Home Remodeling Project of ST John's Wood House at London - bedroom

Home Addition Remodel

Here's one of our latest projects for an addition and renovation of a 1970's contemporary home in New London, NH.

The addition will house a new garage on the basement level and Master Bedroom suite above.

A spiral stair in the Master Bedroom will access the third floor studio. The renovation includes replacing all of the old glazing with Eagle Windows with Douglas fir frames. Check back for progress!

I'm hooked on decorating books!

I have so many decorating books but I don't have one bookcase in my apartment! I just like to stack them up in different rooms. The make great risers to display things!and they are pretty to look at! My favorite book is An Affair with a House by Bunny Williams! What a gorgeous place and such a wonderful story of her affair with this grand home!

Back to Napa Valley

Last Saturday, my friend Natasha and I drove up to the wine country. Two months ago when we were there we became St. Supery wine club members so we had to go pick up our wine. We could have had it shipped to us but with the wine country so close we decided that we would drive up every other month. It's a good excuse to get up there! The photo above is from the Beringer Winery. Isn't that

Living Room Design with Centralized Space on Modern House

This modern home used a centralized living room, a room that focused in opened space such as a shelter, designed by MCK Architects. This modern house, just like a shelter expressed from its single roof plane, is focused in open plans house. The main architectural concept of this house is creation of centralized living space. The house uses principles of cross-ventilation and the thermal mass of concrete, tempered by in-slab, gas hydronic heating. The notion of building with something found is expressed through the solidity and permanence of concrete platforms and hollows and a fireplace. The roof also strikes a counterpoint to the lay of the land and the stepping of the concrete terrain. via

Show and Tell Friday

Once again it's time for Show and Tell Friday and once again the week got away from me so I'm going to share something I shared here a couple years ago. This is my heart-shaped rock collection. I had more than these but I think that some got lost when I moved about about 6 years ago. I've found these here and there and I'm always on the lookout for new ones to add! Every time I see a pile of

Positive Thinking

I've mentioned here before that I've read and follow The Secret. I don't think of myself as a "New Age" type of person at all, but I'm all about positive thinking, the law of attraction, but at the same time having gratitude for everything wonderful in my life. I think one of best things about this way of thinking is that I've retrained my mind , I don't have to think about being positive, it's

Bathroom Dreaming

My upstairs bathroom is the only room in my apartment that I haven't done anything with. You would probably be shocked at how bad it looks...too bad to even share here. I would be embarrassed! Actually I hope to someday show you but not until I can post the "after" pictures along with it. The reason I haven't touched it is that I don't have a clue which color I should paint it. It's now a yucky

I've been shopping for you!

I've been out shopping for my Vintage Etsy Shop and I'll be stocking it with more things soon! I have two of these beautiful covered vegetable serving dishes. The little pink roses are so dainty!

I also found this cute little creamer. I think it would make a wonderful vase for a little bouquet!

I'll be adding more things to my shop in the next couple of days. Click on "Shop" at the top of

Lighting and a giveaway!

In my opinion lighting can make a room! Don't you agree?Do you need more lighting in your home? If so head on over to my product review page for a lighting giveaway! Just click here.

Show and Tell Friday

Pink floral china....oh-so-romantic, don't you agree? Even though I love my blue decor I can't resist pretty pink dishes and I think they add a nice touch to all the blue I have in my home. I've never really been a "pink person" but I do like touches of it here and there. This week for Show and Tell, I'm sharing just a small portion of some of the pink dishes I've collected over the last few

Amazing!

When I was taking photos of the vine-covered homes for yesterday's post I had to snap a photo of this beautiful Victorian to share with you! It's also in the Willow Glen area of San Jose, California. I've seen this home through the years (actually decades) but it is more beautiful now than ever! I love these soft colors and how they make the red roses pop! This photo was actually taken through

Vine-Covered Charm

I've always been attracted to vine-covered homes! They just draw me in and take my breath away! This home above is in the Willow Glen area of San Jose, California. It's a huge home that wraps around a large corner lot. It's so large that I can't even fit the whole home in the picture. Here's the view as you drive up the street towards it...Oh-so-charming!
Here is another charming one with

Cheesy Crab Bread

On Sunday I went to my brother David's home for a BBQ. David is an amazing cook and his food is always great but this time he made a Cheesy Crab Bread that was to die for!!! I'm sure when I weigh in at Weight Watchers this week I'll be cursing this stuff but really it was so worth it! I was so tempted to make it again when I came home but I resisted the urge.
Cheesy Crab Bread1 Cup of