eeks's Profile

Yes. One of the necessities for us when buying a house was a front porch. We love spending time in a way that makes it easy to connect with neighbors.

The mice in my house always outsmarted the snap traps. I don't recommend sticky traps because then you have to drown them or something. I ended up getting an electronic mouse trap from Amazon.com :
http://www.amazon.com/Victor-M2524-Electronic-Mouse-Trap/dp/B000E1RIUU/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365194666&sr=8-2&keywords=mouse+trap
It has worked great for me. It will blink if you've caught something, but only for a day or 2, so you want to keep an eye on it.
I had the best luck keeping it along a baseboard since they usually run along a wall. Definitely in a room you know they've been in. Check your house for any cracks and gaps that you can fix or fill with 'great stuff' foam.
After you've been mouse-free for awhile I would try the peppermint oil to keep them away. But it's worth trying to catch what's already there. Good luck. It isn't fun! But I think the electronic trap is totally worthwhile. It sends a shock that kills them in just seconds

I love how it looks. Find pulls you absolutely love and I think you will be set! I recently DIYed some leather pulls from an old belt and was really happy with the look. I think you did a great job.

I have a home about that age and the original hardwoods had been removed. Went with an oak that was a medium/dark stain and purchased through lumber liquidators. Definitely worthwhile. I considered engineered flooring but the ability to refinish them over time made me opt for something more traditional and fitting for the home. We lean towards a clean-yet-eclectic style as well and with new hardwoods everything else just shines too.
Our dog (20lbs) hasn't scratched them up even though we play frisbee inside! High heels can ding them up. My recommendation is to pick out a wood you love that you think will also look great as it gets more 'rustic' that way you don't freak out over every ding. Good luck!!

I'm going to focus on recycling magazines. Also I'm thinking about getting rid of DVD boxes and just keeping them all in a large cd binder. Undecided though...
As far as books go, most are my husband's. I'm looking into a few places in our home that would be good for a large built-in book shelf. That is one project I definitely want to complete this year!!
Right now we have a few smaller bookshelves in each room, plus books taking up half an expedit and half also my sideboard. Need to get it together. (Ignore the boxes of books in the basement, please....)

We like to have a little wine and chocolate party most February's. We say- guys bring a wine, ladies bring a chocolate. Doing it potluck style is so fun! This may have to be my Cure party . :)

I have something made by a friend I want to frame and put by the front door so I see it whenever I'm leaving the house... should be easy enough, it's just a matter of actually doing it !

I love this room - & I love to see dark colors done so well. It doesn't feel dark. It feels clean and welcoming. Lucky kiddo.

This is absurdly charming. I'd love to make myself right at home!

I painted my piano and have no regrets. It looks better in our home and hasn't changed the sound quality.
We bought it very cheap from the local school district - they were getting rid of old classroom pianos and it was certainly beat up. Many areas of the veneer had chipped, so sanding and painting were a huge improvement. Sounds AND looks great now.
Of course I wouldn't do that to a piano that was already beautiful or particularly sentimental. But if you want to do it - Do it!!