Happy Tails To You.........

The Wall Street Journal, in its weekend edition this past, ran a really interesting article about how pet “ownership” is changing the way we design our homes.  They had one really interesting example of one woman’s creative way of dealing with dog beds on the floors of her house.  Which got me to thinking about how different the sleeping habits are of our four rescue dogs.

For example, Rommel, one of our 100-pound German Shepherds, who is as smart and crafty as his namesake, will sleep anywhere.  Backseat of the car, my bed, husband’s bed, dog bed, floor, doesn’t matter, he is getting his Z’s.  His favorite napping zone is a vintage couch, on his back with legs straight up in the air and snoring to his heart’s content.  Unfortunately, his favorite Z Zone has become off limits because I recently recovered that couch in faux ostrich skin with nailhead trim.  Ryder, our other German Shepherd who is named after the truck rental company, will not sleep on people furniture.  Floors, dog beds, rugs, towels but definitely no furniture.  The problem with German Shepherds is that they are smelly, have breath so bad it would stop a horse in its tracks, and shed more hair than a mohair sweater in July.   Our home requires the vigilance of a wonderful “cleaning assistant,” Sherri, a woman with great patience.  I hope she realizes what a blessing she is to us.

Our two terriers, who are both quite insane, are entirely different.  I often think, after watching the antics of these two psychos, that there must be a picture of a terrier dog in the dictionary beside the word “insane.”  Rommel is our pack leader but make no mistake, these two hold their own.  But they refuse to sleep on the floor, no matter what.  Chairs, dog beds, rugs, pillows, couches, backyard but no floors, won’t do it.  And if their dog beds are in the wash, they will pace the unworthy floors until the beds are clean and put back in their rightful place.  Apparently terriers insist on order. 

 These days, people see pets as an extension of their families and the dilemma of what to do with dogs beds taking over coveted floor space is a problem, especially if one has multiple dogs.  But there are great choices out there that are durable, fashionable, and washable.  One can always go to the Box Store for Furry Friends and find a suitable but boring solution.  Or check out the dog bed I have pictured here, done in fun and funky Amy Butler fabrics. You can find all sorts of handmade and individualized selections on Etsy.  This can be found at HeartKnitHome, a shop in Etsy.  That’s the beauty of home design, getting what expresses you!

Back to the creative solution from the WSJ, she built a “dog condo” in her house, which really was more like customized bookshelving for Fido.  Anyone could tweak this idea, depending on how deep the bookshelves are in your home, by simply removing the last shelf and putting a dog bed on the very bottom shelf.  You might have to train your little darlings to sleep in the new arrangement, but I know I am at least willing to give it a try.  It also might solve the problem of me being launched across the kitchen when looking for a midnight snack because the dogs have moved one of their beds.  Such is the life of a pet owner……

We all would love to see some pictures of someone (maybe me…) who tries out this bookshelf idea.  We encourage sharing.  Until next week, Happy Tails!

Radiant Orchid and Bathroom Repair

             This incident report is based on a true story.  In order to protect the names of the innocent, they have been changed to “my husband” and “my husband’s youngest son.”

            We needed two new toilet seats for … well, you know.  So my husband and I went to Lowes and bought the appropriate fitting seats.  His youngest son was on board to help with exchanging the seats, the old having seen many days of tortuous use by the men in my life, to the new, looking shiny and much more hygienic.

            They searched through the toolbox and selected what they deemed to be the appropriate sized wrench to wrest the toilet seat from its perch and proceeded.  After much blood, sweat, and tears, they decided they were using the incorrect sized wrench and moved to one that more than likely was designed to remove tire lugs from an 18-wheeler truck.  Shortly thereafter, I learned that it was possible to make a large hole in the side of the toilet bowl with a wrench handle.  I did not know that.  Water began spewing out of the toilet bowl like a New York City fire hydrant on a July afternoon. My husband began running around, searching for towels while his youngest son tried in vain to shut off the water valve that was rusted open.  To make a long story short, professionals were summoned.  The total cost for two new toilets was $641.  Lucky for us, the new toilets came with seats.

            So what does this have to do with Radiant Orchid, Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2014???  It was on my initial trip into Lowes to find the above mentioned items that I saw It.  It is Radiant Fuchsia, a color I can’t decide if it is Pink-on-Steroids or Dressed-Down Magenta.

       

          

           

            For all you girlie girls, pink aficionados, this is your year to work your favorite color with reckless abandon.  Now is the time to paint your bedroom with that wild shade of pink with no apologies needed.  I once knew a woman who painted her dining room a shade of pink very similar to this and filled the room with fabulous antiques.  All the women loved it because, in the glow of the evening light, we all looked 20 years younger.  The men?  Well, it WAS a pink room……

            For those of you who see this shade through magenta colored glasses, this color has great tropical appeal; think poolside, complemented with cobalt blue, brilliant orange, and sunshine yellow.  Pillowcases, napkins, tablecloths or any textile in this shade makes it a great accent for leisure places.  Or as the main attraction, paint your bathroom walls this color and play it up with one of those fun plastic shower curtains you can buy that have shoes, lipsticks and the like on them.  But beware, Ladies, that this application would seriously limit the amount of time spent in the bathroom by your male counterpart.

            Well, that’s it for this week.  I welcome your thoughts on Pantone’s Color of the Year or bathroom repair.  Either way, have a Happy 2014!!!

Build a Better Bed

                                                         Build a Better Bed

I think possibly the worst thing EVER is to come home tired, wanting nothing more than to slide into your bed and visit Dreamland but actually having to slip between the sheets of Something Not-so-Inviting.  Before that long awaited trip to Slumberland, you have to sort of remake it because you didn’t this morning, get the magazines and I-Pad out of it, and put your dirty clothes in the laundry hamper.  Not a great recipe for a good night’s sleep.

One thing that all sleep therapists and medical doctors tell us is beds are not our office away from the office.  Nor are they a place to eat dinner on a regular basis (not that we don’t deserve an occasional breakfast in bed….).  Actually, I can’t imagine eating dinner in bed for any reason other than illness.  Messy, ugh!!

We have all heard the expression we “eat with our eyes first.”  Well, the same can be said for jumping into bed and actually wanting to spend the next eight (hopefully) hours there.  The best way to get a bed in which one can get a good night’s sleep starts with the mattress that is right for you.  Buy the best mattress you can afford.    But if we “sleep with our eyes first,” we need to make sure that our bed not only feels great but looks inviting.

Bedroom colors vary from individual to individual, bright and sunny to dark and exotic.  Our case example is a fun and unisex navy, lime green, and white.  





 This  picture is how an inviting bed should look.  Start with some pillows in coordinating colors; ours in navy and lime green.  Layer and alternate with coordinating pillows in smaller sizes and/or shapes.  Notice I did not say “matching”; big difference between coordinating and matching.  None of the materials are matching in the bed but rather have a coordinating factor: lime green.

And the duvet cover???  Again, coordinating but not matching, Amy Butler Full Moon Polka Dot in lime green makes a fun look and gives the room a sense of individuality. Unless you have allergies, there is nothing more comfortable than a down duvet with which to stuff your duvet cover.  Down allows good air circulation, keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer. White linens always have a crisp, clean look, and most designers prefer them to colored bed linens.

Word of caution: Several years ago, I visited a longtime girlfriend for a weekend.  Came bedtime, there were so many pillows on the bed I could not get in it and nowhere to put them if I could get them off the bed.  Plus, the bed linens were tucked in so tightly I couldn’t get them out of the military corners.  Not a great night’s sleep.  Of course, I could never tell her that this bed she had spent so much time on, trying to emulate the Horchow catalog, was probably the worst bed I have ever slept in.

A small nightstand is a good thing too.  Not too big or trust me, you will end up using it for a desk, piling everything on it you are too lazy at night to put away.

Well, enough for now.  Until next time, Sweet Dreams!!!!!!