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Designing Around A Corner Fireplace

If you’re lucky enough to have a fireplace in the corner of your living room or family room, you know that it can be both cozy and confounding. You might wonder how you should orient your couch and rug. And where should the TV go? Doorways, tight square footage and other variables can make those decisions even harder.


These rooms feature fireplaces built at an angle in the corner. Check out how home professionals and homeowners approached this common design challenge and read some helpful tips. Then, if you’ve designed around a corner fireplace, tell us how and post a photo in the Comments.



Arranging Seating 


Sofas and Chairs 


A fireplace is an architectural focal point — and furniture is usually directed toward a room’s focal point. So why is it hard to find a couch facing a corner fireplace?


While every room is different, designers often advise against that layout, since it causes a couch’s corners to stick out awkwardly in the room, impeding flow. Instead, orient a couch and rug parallel to a wall. A chair or chairs can then be placed at an angle.


Hot Tip: 

  • Draw it! Map how you think you want your furniture arranged and how traffic is likely to flow through the room. Then make sure large and sharp-edged pieces of furniture aren’t in that path.



Another Option: 

Place two chairs or a loveseat facing the fireplace and at 90 degrees in relation to the couch, to create an L shape. A feature wall, facing the couch, is a secondary focal point.


A room could have a second seating area, which is a nice addition whenever space allows. An armchair next to the fireplace, paired with a side table, creates a cozy reading spot that can still feel connected to the conversation area.


The furniture placement in a living room with a large opening into adjacent rooms can be challenging, as the busy travel path goes right through the middle of it all. To keep the path as clear as possible, scale down a rug, chose tailored pieces and push the couch and chair against the walls.


Hot Tip: 

  • Swivel chairs let you change your orientation from the conversation area to the television or the fireplace.
  • You’ll want at least 3 feet of width for paths of travel. If there’s a rug in that path, opt for a thin flat-weave and make sure there’s a nonslip pad underneath.
  • Rounded furniture, such as circular coffee tables and rounded-back chairs and sofas, also deemphasizes angles in awkwardly shaped rooms while being easy to navigate around.



Sectionals

An angled sectional is conducive to conversation, but it can create a pleasing continuity with the angle of the adjacent fireplace.


Placing a chair directly in front of a fireplace is best avoided if possible. But it can work if the fireplace isn’t frequently used and the chair is visually light and easy to move out of the way.


Hot Tip: 

  • In a small room used mainly for conversation, consider omitting a couch altogether. Instead, group four comfy club chairs around a circular coffee table in front of the fireplace.



Adding A TV


On The Adjacent Wall 

Optimal TV viewing height is eye level when the person is seated, and heat and electronics don’t mix. So placing a television above a console or a built-in entertainment unit versus above the fireplace mantel is often the best solution.


Because the fireplace and the entertainment center are on adjacent walls, those seated on the couch can enjoy both. Two additional chairs opposite the couch can be placed so they don’t block the view but do allow for conversation.


Even though the television becomes the dominant focal point an angled sectional can help to invite the fireplace into the furniture grouping.



On Another Wall

Doorways, windows and other architectural elements also can leave few places for the television. But wherever the TV ends up, the seating arrangement ideally will allow for comfortable viewing of both it and the fireplace.


Hot Tip: 

  • A neutral, monochromatic palette keeps a room with multiple focal points from looking cluttered.
  • Echo the materials and design of your fireplace surround in other elements of your room to create a cohesive look.
  • If your room’s proportions allow it, place the longest side of your sectional toward the focal point you want to emphasize.
  • Another way to avoid the big-black-box look is to use a Frame television, which resembles artwork when it’s off.
  • When you have a corner focal point, populate the room’s other corners to create symmetry and balance.



Above The Fireplace 

The concept of placing the TV over the fireplace sparks a lot of debate in the design community. If you have a low, linear fireplace that doesn’t emit much heat, or if your seating is far away from the set, it can work well. But the configuration can be bad for your TV and a pain in the neck — literally and figuratively.


But there’s no denying that installing a television above the fireplace is popular, and it has the advantages of being space-efficient and creating a single focal point in a room.


Hot Tip 

  • If you’re still scratching your head about where to put the TV, consider a pull-down screen and a projector.



Placing A Rug


Rugs are great for grounding conversation groupings, but they can conflict with hearths and draw attention to awkward angles. A round rug, resolves the “In which direction should the rug go?” question.


Hot Tip: 

  • Organically shaped rugs, such as hides and sheepskins, faux or real, and multiple rugs layered to create asymmetrical shapes also can help to ground a seating arrangement and add softness without having a distinctive directionality.
  • Designers usually advise having all furniture legs, just the front legs or no legs at all on top of an area rug.
  • Wainscoting or built-in cabinetry can help to spread out the visual heft of an ornate fireplace so the room feels more balanced.
  • If you have a wood burning fireplace: prevent sparks and embers from lighting your rug on fire, place the rug at least 12 to 18 inches away from the fireplace and invest in a pretty fireplace screen. Flame-retardant hearth rugs are available as well.
  • Read: 11 Area Rug Rules and How To Break Them
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How To Stay Organized During Your Move

Moving can be physically and mentally overwhelming in the best of times, and the ongoing COVID-19 worries add new challenges. The recommendations on social distancing mean you’ll need more coordination to manage your move to ensure that you and those working for you stay safe.


Here are several strategies to help you stay organized no matter when you move.


Create A Master Plan And Schedule


It’s important to understand the big picture of all the tasks that need to be completed and all the people who will be involved in each part of a move. Creating a spreadsheet or a calendar of events helps to visualize the overall timeline as well as your current progress.


A defined plan can prevent you from getting buried in or overlooking any of the details. Having a plan also makes it easier to delegate tasks. Add contact information of the key people involved to your schedule, including your real estate agent, packers, movers, inspectors, architect and designers.


Tasks to include: real estate agent meetings, packing deadlines, moving dates, inspector visits, donation pickups, trash removals, and utility cancellations and setups, among others.


Declutter Before You Move


Packing can be hard work. Most people must make decisions about which items to move and which to let go. This can be mentally exhausting, especially if you’re downsizing to a smaller space and have accumulated many items over the years. Your first instinct may be to pack everything and review belongings once you’ve moved. But I recommend putting in the hard work of decluttering before the move.


Decluttering before will make unpacking at your new home more efficient and less chaotic. Also, the fact is that many people find that they feel no urgency to declutter immediately after a move. Instead, they end up storing unopened boxes for long periods. Plus, most moving companies charge by weight.


Try to start your decluttering process as early as possible. It may take longer than you expect and you can minimize exhaustion by spreading out the work. Inevitably, you might not be able to decide on every item ahead of time, but do what you can to filter out unwanted belongings before your move.


Remove Unwanted Items From Your Home


Once you have decided what you won’t be taking, get those unwanted items out of the house, you’ll have more space to focus on what you’re keeping. In addition, you’ll eliminate the possibility of accidentally moving unwanted belongings to your new home. 


Return Items: 


Many people have items at home that aren’t their own, such as kitchen containers, tools, books and clothes. I recommend you gather all these items and return them to their owners. This also applies to items your grown children have left behind. Have them pick up their items or give you the OK to dispose of them.


Charitable Organizations: 


Now it may be more challenging to find an open location, so check ahead with your local organization on their hours and COVID related policies.


Junk-Removal Services: 


Many fee-based junk-removal companies are offering no-contact pickups. These services accept and coordinate appropriate distribution of almost everything — trash, donations, recycling, yard waste, large appliances, furniture and more. However, if you have hazardous waste, you may want to check with the company, as some may not accept it.


Rent A Dumpster: 


If you have either lots of trash or many large trash items such as old couches and mattresses, consider renting a dumpster. You won’t have to worry about bagging items and you can typically rent the dumpster for as long as you wish, allowing you to clear out at your own pace. If the dumpster needs to be placed on public property, such as a street or sidewalk, be sure to verify whether you need a permit.


Hire An Estate Sale Company: 


If you prefer that someone else deal with the items you don’t want to keep, consider hiring an estate sale company. It will present your items for sale, give you a small percentage of the profits and help you dispose of the rest. Different companies offer different services, so be sure your desired services are covered in the contract.


Sales And Consignment: 


Consignment and secondhand shops are a good way of selling your goods, but there are also endless options for selling your things online. Some sites require you to list and manage the sales yourself and some will handle the entire process for you and even donate items that don’t sell. If your time is limited, consider selecting a company that will handle the full process. You may not earn as much, but it might be a good tradeoff for having more time to manage other parts of your move.


In addition to these options, there are many organizations that handle specific items. For example, schools may welcome office supplies, animal shelters may appreciate old towels, and specialized companies recycle textiles. Find your best match with a quick internet search. If your time is very limited, hiring a junk-removal service to take it all away and distribute items as appropriate may be worth the cost.


Keep Track of Your Packed Boxes


When you’re ready to start packing, invest the time to track what you’ve packed. This will make it easier to direct movers when they unload at your new home or, if you’re the one moving your boxes, to know where to place items yourself.


I recommend recording the following information in a spreadsheet as you pack each box:


Box Number And Contents: 


Number each box and record the number on your spreadsheet. This will help you keep track of the total number of boxes to be moved and easily identify any that get lost. List the contents of each box on both the spreadsheet and the box itself. This doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it should be specific. For instance, instead of writing “Kitchen Things” or listing every item in the box (which takes a long time), use short, descriptive labels such as “Baking Supplies” or “Summer Shorts and T-shirts.” Packing in categories will make labeling, locating items and unpacking easier.


If you’re short on time, you can skip listing the items on the box and just list them on the spreadsheet. But number your boxes.


Room Destination: 


Label each box with the room you want the box to be placed in. I recommend putting the room destination in large letters on the same spot of each box (such as the top) where it can be easily seen. To make it stand out even more, print the room destination on a white label, using a different font color for each room, such as green for the kitchen, red for the master bedroom, blue for the living room and so forth.


High-Value And Fragile Items: 


Add to your spreadsheet an inventory of high-value items. Most moving companies consider anything worth more than $100 per pound to be high-value. Quality jewelry, valuable comic book collections, art collections, sterling flatware and currency are in this category. Be sure to complete the high-value inventory form provided if you are using a mover so that if anything happens, you have the best chance of being covered for the full value of your loss.

Also label fragile boxes. Preprinted stickers are widely available and will save you much time by not having to handwrite “Fragile” on each box. Stickers may also be easier to see.


Box Size: 


This isn’t too important to record. It’s just an extra step for identifying a box. It takes very little extra time to record the box size, and since the movers count this information, you can keep track of it as well.


Pack Essentials for the First Few Days


You may want to pack some essentials to get you through the first few days in your new home without having to open a bunch of boxes. Label these boxes “Pack Last” and these will be loaded last, meaning they’ll come off first. Of course, if your move won’t be completed in a single day, some of these items will need to travel with you and not be loaded onto a moving truck.


Include items needed to care for yourself and family members, including pets. Pack as if they were going on a short trip, including such items as:

◦ Towels

◦ Clothing and shoes

◦ Toiletries

◦ Pet food and supplies


Include essentials to help you settle into your new home smoothly, such as:

◦ Scissors and box cutters

◦ Basic tools for furniture assembly

◦ Tape measure

◦ Pen and paper

◦ Flashlight

◦ Scotch tape

◦ Paper towels

◦ Toilet paper

◦ Dish soap and sponge

◦ Hand soap

◦ Household cleaners

◦ Disposable gloves

◦ Trash bags

◦ Paper plates and disposable or compostable cups and utensils

◦ Shower liners and rings

◦ Pillows and bedding


Keep Valuable Items With You


Some items should always stay with you and not be out of your possession, even during a move. These would include things like:

◦ Important documents such as passports, deeds and trusts, birth certificates and Social Security cards

◦ Medications

◦ Mobile phone and charger

◦ Electronic devices and chargers, such as work laptops

◦ Cash

◦ Checkbook

◦ Credit and ATM cards

◦ Keys

◦ Valuable, sentimental and irreplaceable items. For instance, while a large jewelry collection may be too much to keep on your person during a move, you should definitely keep irreplaceable pieces like wedding rings and heirlooms on your person.


Delegate As Much As You Can


Moving is an enormous job that involves both big-picture management and attention to small details. No one should have to do it alone!


Accept help from friends and family who kindly offer, even if it’s something as small as asking them to drop off a meal on moving day. If your budget allows, entrusting certain parts of your move to professionals such as home organizers, expert packers and move managers can ease your burden and keep you sane amid the process.

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How To Age Proof Your Bathroom

If you’re planning to stay in your house for the rest of your life, consider renovating your bathroom with accessibility in mind. Along with kitchens, bathrooms are one of the spaces homeowners use the most. They also happen to be wet zones. Reducing slip hazards and ensuring adequate lighting and maximum comfort are vital when creating an age-proof bathing space. Universal design features also make a bathroom more accessible for people of any age with a disability or an injury. Here are some ideas that will help make your bathroom safe and easy to use for decades to come.


Include a Shower Bench


A safe place to sit in the shower is vital for an age-proof bathroom design. Decreasing the amount of time you stand in the shower not only eases the strain on your body, it also reduces the chances of slipping and falling. Be sure to install or buy a bench that is large enough to comfortably sit and bathe on.


Your bench may be built-in or free-standing. If space is limited in the shower, consider a bench seat that can flip up when not in use. Waterproof seat cushions can help soften a hard surface.


Install a Handheld Shower Head


Handheld shower heads are easily adjustable for height and, when placed adjacent to your shower bench, enable you to wash up while seated.


Add Grab Bars in the Shower


Sturdy grab bars provide something for you to hold on to as you’re entering and exiting the shower or sitting down on a shower bench or seat. Install one on the outside of your shower and on each of your interior walls so you can safely navigate the space.


Increase the Height of Your Vanity


The standard vanity height is 31½ inches, not including your countertop. This isn’t high enough for some homeowners. Raising the cabinet height to 34½ inches, this will reach standard kitchen counter height, including a 1½ inch countertop, can prevent you from having to hunch over as you’re washing up.


There are two exceptions to increasing the vanity height. If you’re more comfortable with the standard vanity height, don’t increase it. Or if you want to make your vanity wheelchair-accessible, choose a counter height of 34 inches maximum.


Buy a Comfort-Height Toilet


Most toilets are less than 16 inches high. Comfort-height toilets are 17 to 19 inches high, which can make sitting and standing much easier. This can reduce the strain on your back and knees.


Think Twice About Glass


Few things open up a bathroom like glass walls and doors. But keep in mind that shower glass requires upkeep. You need to squeegee it regularly to avoid streak marks. This may make it less convenient for a bathroom designed for aging in place. There are heavy-duty types of shower glass that reduce maintenance, but expect to pay more for it.


Ensure That the Space Is Well-Lit


The better your bathroom lighting is, the less strain on your eyes. You also don’t want to miss any wet spots that can be hidden by shadows. Good lighting comes in many forms, including recessed lighting, vanity lighting, lamps and natural light. You may even consider placing lighting inside an enclosed shower.


Choose Porcelain Wall and Floor Tile


Porcelain can last a lifetime, so chances are you won’t have to replace it as you get older. It’s also perhaps the easiest surface to clean. Water and a rag normally do the trick.


If you’re concerned about grout, look for porcelain tile with a rectified edge. Finely cut edges allow for thin grout joints, as little as 1/16 inch in some styles. You can purchase a presealed grout as well.


Look for Textured Flooring


No matter which kind of flooring you decide to put in your bathroom, choose one that has high slip resistance. A slick tile can increase the likelihood of an injury from a fall. You can spot a floor with good slip resistance by looking for grooves or feeling for texture. Generally speaking, the more textured a floor is, the higher its slip resistance.


There are ways to measure a floor’s slip resistance. Tile, for example, is rated by measuring the coefficient of friction. A flooring material’s slip resistance can normally be found on the manufacturer’s website.


Go With a Curbless Shower Entry


A curbless shower entrance minimizes your risk of tripping over a step as you enter the shower. It’s also a wheelchair-accessible feature.


If you forgo a shower step, your shower floor will need to be properly sloped to allow water to drain correctly. If you do include a step, don’t make it large and bulky.


Consider the Lip Around Your Tub


Pay attention to the width of the lip on a bathtub. When you have to step over a wide tub surround, the gap between your legs gets larger, which can impair balance and increase the chances of falling. A narrower edge can be better for getting into the tub.


Alternately, some prefer a surround that includes an area wide enough to sit down on so they can sit on the edge and swing their legs over into the tub. This is easiest to do if there is a grab bar installed to provide support.

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Home Improvements For Function

“Will it affect resale value?” is a common question asked when discussing a remodeling project. But unless you are flipping that property immediately or anticipate selling it within five years, the answer is, “It doesn’t matter.” Tastes change and so do materials. No matter what decisions you make, a new buyer 10 or 20 years down the line will probably want to make their own changes to suit their lifestyle. Therefore, focus on designs that work best for you and your family.


However, this is not to say that all renovations are equal. Colors, styles and materials might change over time, but the need for function is timeless. Here are some home improvements for those looking to add style and function to their house.


Built-In Cabinetry


Having enough storage space to keep clutter at bay is a common design dilemma for many homeowners. Adding built-in furniture-style cabinets is a great way to gain storage space while creating architectural interest in a home.


For example, a built-in bookshelves provide display space for art and accessories that add character to a space.


Banquette Seating


Breakfast nooks with banquette seating are a perfect space-saving choice for small alcoves or corners of your kitchen. Many families like to have an informal place to eat, do homework or have morning coffee.


Another option is a booth-style banquette, it’s like having breakfast at your favorite diner. When remodeling, consider all the ways you can add storage to your planned modifications.

  

Curbless Showers


A curbless shower is a great feature for giving your bathroom a sleek, streamlined look, but its benefits go beyond appearances. You’ve likely heard the term “aging in place.” It means designing ways for homeowners to stay in their homes as long as possible. One of the ways to do that is to remove barriers that might cause trips and falls as our mobility decreases.


A bench that, when paired with a handheld shower head, allows for showering while sitting down. Add support behind the shower wall so grab bars can be added later, even if they don’t need them now. It’s much easier to do during construction than after the fact.

  

Mudrooms And Drop Zones


Mudrooms are a great remodeling addition, particularly if your home is in an area with inclement weather.


A well-executed mudroom can be easily cleaned with lots of cubbies, hooks, baskets and bins to contain clutter and keep wet clothing and shoes out of the main part of the home.


Add a drop zone for mail and a bulletin board for family calendars and commitments. You could even add USB outlets in the drawers to charge devices.


Home Offices


The pandemic has certainly changed our views on the need for real office space in our homes. And now that many companies are likely to make working from anywhere a permanent change, your remodeling plans should definitely include carving out space for this purpose.


You don’t have to devote an entire room to creating an office; instead, you can earmark part of a hallway or an alcove. A home office is a great place to invest in function-packed design. 

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How To Keep Pets Safe In An Emergency

With all the fires we are having in BC make sure you have a plan and a checklist ready in case you ever need to evacuate with your pets. Whether for a wildfire, flood or other disaster, pets are a top priority when it comes to evacuating. But if you’re not prepared, it can make a difficult situation much harder. In an ideal world, our pets would be forever by our side. But for situations where this isn’t possible or safe, or when you and your pet need to leave home in a hurry, what should you do to be pet-ready in an emergency.


Of course, the key to any emergency is to be prepared. We’ve all heard the message about the importance of having a plan for floods and fires. And those plans need to include pets. So, what can you do to be ready in case you need to get your pets out in a hurry?


Wildfires and floods might be top of mind right now, but there are other reasons you should have an emergency plan for your pet. What if you’re taken away in an ambulance, or you have to travel suddenly for work or a family crisis?


And what will happen to little Maks or Waffles if you’re delayed in getting home because your car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it’ll take days to get the parts and the pet-sitter?


More often than not, pet-sitting services get very short-notice from people in a panic. Someone’s ended up in hospital and they’ve got a dog and a cat at home and a budgie and they think, ‘Oh my goodness, who’s going to feed my pets?’”


The good news is that there’s plenty you can do in advance to make sure your pet will be OK.


The most important thing is to sort out a pet-friendly emergency contact — a neighbor, friend or family member or, failing that, a pet-sitting service. If your pet can’t stay home, it’s much easier to have an accommodation option worked out for them in advance.


The other important task that you can do right now is to jot down a packing list for your pet. In an emergency, you or someone else can pull it all together in flash. When you’re worried and trying to think of what to pack for yourself and your kids and whatever else, there’s just a basic list of necessities that your pet would need if it’s going with you or going somewhere else to stay.


If your pet hasn’t left your house before, you may not have a carrier in which to transport them safely and conveniently. If that’s the case, get one.


For example, if you have birds in an aviary, you should have a smaller cage for them. Keep it in the shed. Or if you have free-roaming rabbits, they’ll need a carrier.


And because you may be on the road for a while, or doing a lot of waiting, you’re going to need a large container to store enough water for an indeterminate length of time, as well as a smaller one that your pet can drink from.


Finally, even if your pet doesn’t normally wear a collar, it’s very helpful if they have one with a tag and your phone number, in case they run away in fright. This, increases the chances that you’ll be reunited sooner. Even if they are microchipped, it’s really easy if you look at their collar and you can see the number and call it rather than having to take them to a vet.


When it comes to floods and wildfires, there’s often a bit of time between the initial warning and the final order to evacuate. If you can, get your pet out as early as possible.


Ask a friend or family member if they are able to take care of your pet until the all clear has been given. This means that you have nothing to worry about to start with.


Here is a list of items to put together in a pet evacuation kit. A pet evacuation kit has all the critical items and information that is required for you to take care of your pet if you are temporarily displaced. Place all the following items in a large tub and have it in or near the car.


Transportation equipment: leads and harnesses, car harness, cat or dog carriers.

Food and water for at least a week: water bowl and several gallons of water, pet food that can be stored without refrigeration.

Current medications and a pet first-aid kit: Place these along with instructions in a small box.

Miscellaneous items: waste bags, blankets and toys.


Other items in the kit are not so obvious. Emergencies are stressful for pets, and when they’re afraid, they sometimes run away. Include things in your evacuation kit that will make it easier to find them, like a recent photo, phone numbers for local shelters, the local phone number for lost pets and contact details of after-hours vets.


And don’t forget to pack your pet’s medical records. If they can’t stay with you or a friend, they may have to board at a kennel and they’ll need proof of vaccination.


Keeping stress to a minimum is easier said than done, but anything you do to keep your pet as calm as possible in an emergency will go a long way to making the situation easier for everybody and reduce the chance of them fleeing in a panic.


Here are a few tips for keeping your animals as calm as possible.

  • Don’t punish your pet for being afraid. It can lead to worse behavior. Offer comfort and use distraction as a method to calm them down.
  • While still at home, create a quiet space for them to go to. If they have a place they like to hide, let them go there. Follow their lead. 
  • You can use music to mitigate stressful new environments and unfamiliar noises. 
  • Distract your pet with their favorite toys and treats on the way.
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Video Author: Christiaan Welzel Licence: ATTRIBUTION LICENSE 3.0

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