hollandv's Profile

My house came with the same stairs, without any carpet. I first painted the treads an industrial grey, with black stringer and rail. Looked OK but the treads were pretty slippery and still looked like they should be outdoors.

Last year hired a guy to remove the treads and build wood replacements. He used thick oak planks, gave them streamlined frames to finish and stained all a rosewood tone.

Still haven't replaced the bannister so it really looks like a floating staircase, but for practical purposes I'll put one in soon. Found some good looking steel components at CR Laurence in Vernon, CA.

Quite nice.

Unique and inviting.

Wowsers.

I recently re-sorted my books by color. It looks nice. Why be rigid about grouping them by some strict code if color grouping pleases the eye?

A side benefit is that returning a book to its spot on the shelf is no longer such a precise thing as alphabetizing or by subject. Hey, I'm done with that bio of Frederick Law Olmsted -- poof, there it goes, in with the green bindings.

At least Matt is the first to say his style is confused.

There are vignettes I like but way too many styles with nothing to bind them but busy-ness.

Could do with a ruthless edit.

I've had many Roombas b/c I run them a couple of times everyday because I have a gang of rescued dogs at all times. iRobot replaced almost all of them at least once but I have no complaints ... Roomba is my liberator.

So, all you need is a battery, no biggie. Get them on eBay; standard price is about $30, a little more or a little less.

I bought two Roomba Reds at Big Lots with a 20% off coupon last last year because the price was so good: $80. I find the basic model does everything I want and don't go for the added bells and whistles.

not my first thought, ice ... look like disembodied hearts (not the valentine kind) to me

Have the endless antlers of cabin-fever decor now morphed into things made out of stumps? Further upstream, see fugly stump seating ...

Citron yellow green pops = always fresh.

And a nice surprise color choice for MO, though my heart sank at the be-jewelled collar and needless all-over embroidery. How swank the coat and dress would have been without any pattern, and a real (one with special meaning -?) necklace dropping a few inches below the neckline.