This blog will completely change your view point on “Coffee Filters”…

25 different uses for Paper Coffee Filters:

Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in microwave. (no splatter)

Clean windows, mirrors, and chrome…  Coffee filters are lint-free so they’ll leave windows sparkling.

Protect China by separating your good dishes with a coffee filter between each dish

If you break the cork when opening a wine bottle, filter the wine through a coffee filter.  (Great tip if you are a wine drinker)

Protect a cast-iron skillet.  Place a coffee filter in the skillet to absorb moisture and prevent rust.

Apply shoe polish.   Ball up a lint-free coffee filter.

Recycle frying oil.  After frying, strain oil through a sieve lined with a coffee filter.

Weigh chopped foods.  Place chopped ingredients in a coffee filter on a kitchen scale.

Hold Tacos.  Coffee filters make convenient wrappers for messy foods.

Stop soil from leaking out of a plant pot.  Line a plant pot with a filter to prevent the soil from going through the drain holes.

Prevent a Popsicle from dripping.  Poke one or two holes as needed in a coffee filter.

Do you think we used expensive strips to wax eyebrows?    Use strips of coffee filters.

Put a few in a plate and put your fried bacon, French Fries, chicken fingers, etc on them..  It soaks out all the grease.

Keep in the bathroom.  They make great “razor nick fixers”.

As a sewing backing.  Use a filter as an easy-to-tear backing for embroidering or appliqueing soft fabrics.

Put baking soda into a coffee filter and insert into shoes or a closet to absorb or prevent odors.

Use them to strain soup stock and to tie fresh herbs in to put in soups and stews.

Use a coffee filter to prevent spilling when you add fluids to your car.

Use a coffee filter as a spoon rest while cooking.

Can use to hold dry ingredients when baking or cutting a piece of fruit or veggies. (Saves on having extra bowls to wash)

Use them to wrap Christmas ornaments for storage.

Use to remove fingernail polish when out of cotton balls.  (I needed this one last month!)

Use to sprout seeds.  Dampen the filter, place seeds inside, fold it and place it into a plastic baggie until they sprout.

Use filters as blotting paper for pressed flowers. Put the flowers between 2 filters and put the filters in a phone book or family bible.

Use as a disposable “snack bowl” for popcorn, chips, nuts,  candy, etc.

And, by the way – They are GREAT to use in Coffee Makers!

Hope you enjoyed this week’s blog.

I hope I’ve given you some great ideas and inspired you to turn your home into…

Cathy C

The Trendy Home

Today’s challenge #1: Do you have too much jewelry?  Or is it you just don’t have enough room in your jewelry box, does it look like this?

Today’s solution #1:    Turn your tangled jewelry into artwork.   Use shadow boxes or frames to group pieces of your jewelry together to create great works of art, and when you want to wear it you open up the shadow box and put it on!

Not only will your bed room walls sparkle with color, but you may find out that you actually wear your unique pieces more often because you see them on a regular basis.     Doing this will free up your jewelry box for your  “better” jewelry to be placed in a safe place.

Today’s challenge #2: No Towel Rack

Today’s solution #2:   In this picture they are using a wine rack to place rolled towels on,  not only are the towels easy to reach, but they are an instant decoration.

Another look is a big decorative basket full of colorful towels.

What I personally use is a Comforter Rack and I hang our bath towels and our hand towels, makes for a perfect towel rack when you don’t want to drill holes in the wall paper.

Today’s challenge #3: No Focal point in the room.

Today’s Solution #3:    If your room is lacking a built in focal point such as a fireplace,  or built in entertainment center one needs to be created.

In this picture they hung a large size mirror on the wall, and paired it up with two wall mounted swing arm lamps and a table below to create a point of interest on the far wall.    This gives a place  for the eyes to focus on first when you first walk into the room, and it also added height and definition to this room.

Another great decorating tip is in hanging a mirror in a smaller room will always make the room appear larger, and with mounting the two lamps on the wall will give the room light without taking up floor space.

I hope you enjoyed today’s challenges having to do with your Bed, Bath, and Home;   I hope I have helped you in making your home….

Cathy C

Trendy Bathrooms in Pastel…

When it comes to remodeling your house the Kitchen and the Bathroom are the two most popular rooms in your house.

Soft Aqua Bathroom

So, why is it that one of the smallest rooms in the house—the bathroom— can costs so much to upgrade?      This is the subject of today’s blog.  We have a little secret:   Bathroom overhauls don’t have to put the hurt on your wallet!   In fact, you can have fun adding personality and pretty touches without spending a fortune.   One good idea when remodeling or upgrading a bathroom is using wainscoting, the benefits are numerous, the look is beautiful, and you can do it your self. Here are some great bathrooms all using wainscoting, and a touch of color to brighten up the room.

Lavender in Luxury

Another great DIY idea is painting your bathroom,  yes the room is small and it is not the easiest to paint,  but never underestimate the power of paint!

If purple is your royal color, then this lavender bathroom exudes that same royal feeling.   The pale lavender walls,  white wainscoting,  a black sink to create some “drama”,  and a nice set of shelves to show case your bathroom accessories and beautiful towels.

Bubbles in Blue

If Baby Blue is your color, this is the bathroom for you.  Soft blue walls and creamy white wainscoting shimmer against sparkling chrome faucets and sconces.   While your upgrading your bathroom with new paint,   it’s the perfect time to upgrade those fixtures and towel racks.   When it’s all done, sit back and enjoy that bubble bath!

Grandeur in Green

Set at treetop level, this attic bath set in soft green walls, cool white wainscoting and white “Pegasus Versailles” sink.     Building a fake wall to hide the plumbing was also a great way to make a shelf behind the sink,  just another creative way to use the wainscoting and create a focal point in the room.

Pretty in Pink

What a beautiful Claw Foot Tub, painting the exterior black makes a beautiful statement along with pulling out the black in the floor design.   Adding the new “vintage” hardware makes it easy for daily cleansing rituals.  This black and white bath gets a shot of color from a soft pink paint color on the walls, along with the white wainscoting to give the bath a true vintage flare.

Yield in Youthful Yellow

When I saw this yellow bathroom and reminded me of a previous blog when I said “Yellow” is the in color this year,  yellow has been very popular in home decorating this spring.

In this smaller bathroom,  they painted the upper walls in a pale yellow, lower walls in white wainscoting,  and added a new pedestal sink to give it a updated look.

Hope I inspired you to give your bathroom a face lift, or even a new color,  and turn your home into……

Cathy C

Have you ever walked by a Linen Department and seen a bed in the middle of the department that was so magnificent in grandeur that it made you think,   how can I create this look in my home?   To be honest with you, it’s very easy!     It’s called “Dressing the Bed”,  just like you dress your self in the morning, you dress your bed.    When it’s cold out side you put on layers of clothing,  a bed requires layering, and the more layering, usually the more beautiful a bed becomes.

Looking at this photo;    Let’s start with the sheeting which includes the FLAT sheet (A), the  FITTED sheet (B), and the pillow cases (C).    Most  likely all of these pieces will match and are considered a Sheet Set. Sheets can be very basic from 300 thread count cotton, to 1500 thread count Egyptian Cotton,  or Satin Sheets – this is what you will be sleeping in between,   I say  make them comfortable and a dream to sleep against!     This is one area that I don’t mind spending a little more for higher thread count sheets, we all deserve a little luxury in our life!    Note:  your sheets “should” enhance the top of the bed components, such as the duvet cover, shams and coverlet.

Our next layer is a Coverlet, or matelasse. (D)  Coverlets are available in a variety of fabrics, weights, colors, and styles.  Selecting the “right” one is a matter of personal preference.    Coverlets are a great way to add depth to the bedding ensemble and some coverlets come in set’s with matching shams.  At The Trendy Bed we have a great selection of Egyptian Cotton Quilted Coverlets in seven different colors with matching shams.   Note:  If using a patterned Duvet Cover and Shams, a coordinating solid color Coverlet is the perfect way to break up a bold and busy pattern.

The Duvet Cover (E) and Shams are now added to the bed, some people like a Comforter instead of Duvet Cover, this is personal choice.   Your Duvet Cover and Shams  (or Comforter) is the inspiration for the entire look.   Most likely these 2 pieces are of the same pattern and tie together the entire ensemble.   While placing the duvet cover at the foot of the bed with a lofty Goose Down Comforter inside evokes the feeling of relaxation, comfort, and elegance.   Placing the Shams at the head of the bed are what adds the height to the bed.

Shams come in different sizes, with the European Sham (F) being a large square pillow placed against the headboards to the boudoir sham (G), which are smaller travel size pillows that add the “decorative” touch, along with dimension and character to the bed.  The more pillows used on a bed, the more elegant and luxurious of a feel it creates.

We are talking about the bed skirt next, but I must say… This goes on your bed FIRST between your box spring and mattress.   Some bed frames today are very decorative and do not require bed skirts, (H)  but I believe if your bed is a work of art, then the Bed Skirt is it’s pedestal upon which it sits.    Bed Skirts or Dust Ruffles come in many styles today;  Ruffled, Box Pleated or tailored are the most common.   Your bed skirt can match either the sheeting or the duvet cover and shams and create a very “finished” look to any bed.

To give your bed a creative and daring look, and making it your own is where you can throw on a couple of beaded or embroidered decorative pillows (I).  Like getting dressed in the morning and putting on a bracelet, necklace and earrings,  this is where you accessorize the look.

I hope you enjoyed “Dressing” the bed with me, now go and have fun and turn your Home into The Trendy Home you’ve always dreamed about!

Cathy C,  The Trendy Bed...

What a way to show your family and friends you care about them with one of these Egg Flower Cups at plate side.

How to make these:  Blown-out raw egg with small hole in top to hold individual tulip,  then prop your egg inside a silver napkin ring.   You can also use a tiny votive holder or an egg cup.

Time to do the Eggs:

These eggs are decorated with scrapbooking materials;  impress your kids with this idea and you all can be creative.   Pull out your stash of trims, stickers, rub-ons, and gems and let the fun begin.   Dye the eggs first, let them dry before you try to embellish them.

This super easy egg decorating is again with your scrapbooking supplies, you don’t even have to dye the eggs first!   Let the stickers give your white eggs all the flower power.  The deeply cut flower petals are easy to wrap around a egg because they cling to the curves.   These eggs are placed in little clay pots, use the pots later to plant your favorite spices.

This one I really liked.   Dye the eggs first, let them dry again before you start your eraser decorating.    Place some paint onto a disposable plate, dip just the end of the eraser into the paint and dot your egg.   Poke- A- Dot- Eggs, fun and simple for the whole family.  Tip:  you can also use Q-tips to make  small dots on your eggs.

Here’s another great ideal that maybe the “older”  kids may enjoy.   Pour your paint on a disposable plate, picking your two color choices.   To make the petals of the flower, dip about 1/4 inch of the toothpick into the paint, then lay the toothpick down onto the egg.   Repeat making petals,  leaving a space in the middle for the center.  Using a new toothpick and a different color of paint, dip just the tip on the toothpick in the paint and dot the center two or three times.  Let the egg dry.   This can be done on white eggs or dyed eggs.

Hope you enjoyed these little tips, enjoy egg decorating with your family and have a very enjoyable Easter weekend.

Brought to you with love from Cathy @ The Trendy Home

A few specific tasks,  done only once or twice a year will freshen up your entire home, try these time saving tips to your own cleaning routine.

Do you clean your home every day?

If you don’t,  they say you really should….   I’m not saying “full cleaning”, but they say if you follow some of these tips when it comes to “spring cleaning” it’s only limited to t

Daily preventive tasks:      Keep your kitchen organized and clean,  wash dish’s daily or put them in the dishwasher if you have one, wipe down counters / surfaces after each meal with a damp rag.    Pick up the mess at the end of day;  newspapers on the sofa, coffee table,  TV clickers all around the room, empty drink glasses sitting around,  dessert dish’s sitting about.  Take 5 minuets and pick up the dirty dishes and put them in the sink to wash with the breakfast dishes,  pick up the newspapers,  pick up the babies toys,  and put the TV controllers at a designated location every night.  You’ll be surprised in time others will pick up on these tasks.

Make your bed each morning, I know some people say they don’t have time.  Have you ever timed how long it really takes to make a bed?   Really, I timed it and it took me about 54 seconds to pull up the sheets, place 2 shams on the bed, and 5 throw pillows,  that’s even with walking around a King size bed.   Making your bed daily really has both physical and mental positive effects to your day, and it teaches your children to keep “their” space clean.

Teaching your child good habits can be really easy,  at The Trendy Bed we carry  Inseparable sheets in 100% cotton, cotton blend, and flannel;  check them out at The Trendy Bed.com.

Bathrooms:  Try to keep your bathroom organized,  there should be a place for everything, hair brush’s in the drawer, hair dryer in drawer or rack, curling iron in drawer or holder.  Here is a picture of the holder/rack my husband made for me, I love it.   Home Depot little wooden table top, he cut it and drilled the holes in different sizes to fit 3 curling irons and 1 hair dryer.

If you keep up with the daily touch-ups,  your weekly cleaning can really get done in a few hours, and your spring cleaning is really just that!

Windows, Doors, Walls :  Wash your windows on a cloudy day, when you wash them on a hot sunny day the cleaning solution will dry too fast and you’ll have streaks.   Try this washing solution:   1/2 cup of sudsy ammonia,  one pint of rubbing alcohol, one teaspoon dishwashing liquid, and one gallon of water.     Tip:  Other than washing on a cloudy day,  to determine whether streaks are on the inside or outside, wipe with vertical strokes on one side of the window, horizontal on the other.

Scrub and vacuum sliding glass door tracks.   You’ll appreciate doing this once the outdoor entertaining season gets into full swing.   Tip:  Use an OLD toothbrush to loosen debris in the track, then using your vacuum hose to remove it debris and the finish with a wet rage or sponge.

Wipe down your baseboards, door frames and walls.     These can get overlooked during the year, but once a year give them some T.L.C.    Wash them with a sponge and a squirt of dishwashing liquid mixed in a bucket of warm water.   Tip:  Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for spot-cleaning, good for those big boys, and little men fingerprints, scuffs, and even crayon marks I’ve been told.

Floors:  Deep clean your carpet and rugs.  Should be done every 12 to 18 months,   granted depends on the number of people living in your home, if you have pets or not, and where is your carpeting.   Mine is only in the bedrooms and the “formal” rooms in the home,  so once a year is perfect for me.     This is where you can have them professionally done, rent them from your local grocery store for a day or two, or invest in your own if you have pets.

This is the time to move the furniture and clean under and behind…   Tip:  If your range has a drawer, remove the drawer and vacuum underneath.     If you can slide out your appliances,  now’s a good time to clean under and behind those also.

Furniture, Fabric, Fixtures: If you are having your carpets professionally done, now’s a good time to also have them clean your upholstery.    Restore smooth leather with an upholstery/ leather cleaner and conditioner.

Window Treatment:   In all likelihood, your curtains and draperies aren’t dirty enough to launder.  To clean,  go over them thoroughly with the upholstery attachment on your vacuum.  I do this at home about every 3 months because I love to have my windows and doors open, helps to keep them looking fresh.  Tip:  To remove dust from sheer curtains, put them in the dryer on LOW with a fabric softener sheet, clean and smelling good also.

Dust your light fixtures, ceiling fans, and lightbulbs.   Using one of those microfiber or lint-free cloth to dust fixtures and bulbs you can reach.   For the ceiling fans you can skip the ladder and use an extendable duster, good to wipe those high light bulbs also.

Spring cleaning is one of those hate it and love it tasks…   Hate doing all the work, but we LOVE it when it’s all done.

Nothing better than a nice, clean home to make your home,  “The Trendy Home”…

What an idea – letting kids write on their furniture…   I saw this in  Better Homes and Garden and I wanted to share this idea with my readers.

Refresh that old dresser with two coats of  RustOleum brush on chalkboard paint, perfect for your kids to doodle and when they grow up you can write on “Reminders” like clean your room,  make your bed.

You can also paint the dresser first with RustOleum Magnetic latex primer, then paint  with the chalkboard paint – now you have a surface that is magnetic AND writable.  This idea is great for the young child in your home,  or the teenager in the family.   Great place to hang those concert tickets or prom tickets for safe keeping.

Let your child be creative, and when they get tired it all they have to do is erase it!

Other DIY idea:   Paint a wall in your child’s room with the Chalkboard paint, or paint a space and frame it with molding to create a picture frame look.   If you don’t want to paint your walls get a piece of  plywood, cut it to the size you want and paint it with the chalkboard paint and frame it and hang it on the wall.

Trendy Tips:

Paint over the magnetic paint with two coats of chalkboard paint to finish.
Give the chalkboard paint three full days to dry and cure. Then rub chalk over the entire painted surface and erase. Let the drawing begin!

Have fun and be creative.

Cathy @ The Trendy Home

Here’s some great Trendy, easy weekend decorating projects to start of the New Year with a new look.

1.  Refresh your bedroom:  New bedding, a fresh coat of paint, and unique lighting will give a bedroom a new personality for the New Year, and it can be finished in a weekend.

2.  Update your Window Treatment:  Take down the old, add a new color, add a Valance with shutters, and it can be finished in a weekend.

3.  Pain Fun Stripes:   Stripes are the perfect way to add pizazz to a space.  While they’re not difficult to achieve, be sure to spend the time prepping so our stripes turn out perfect, and it can be finished in a weekend.

4.  Add Wallpaper:  With wallpaper’s recent comeback – look for oversize patters to create a Sophisticated and Dramatic look, and it can be finished in a weekend.

5.  Add or Upgrade Molding:  From grand Crown Molding to handsome baseboards – mill work can really elevate a room, and it can be finished in a weekend.

6.  Big Impact with Little Fabric:  If you love your lamp base but the shade needs help, give it a face lift with a modern fabric.  Working with a dram shade allows you to use almost any textile;  a tapered shade looks best with a small print or a solid fabric that doesn’t require a pattern match, and it can be done in a weekend.

7.  Create a Custom Shelf:   Make a custom shelf with a piece of wood and shelf brackets  from your local hardware store,  in just a few hours to finish off an entryway, bathroom, or bedroom wall with custom pictures and a small flower vase, and it can be done in a weekend.

8.  Make a new Headboard:  Be creative, take an old window from an antique store, take the glass out and replace with fiberboard or foam board to cover with any fabric or wallpaper design to add color and style to any bedroom.  Leave the window frame rustic or paint it RED or BLACK to give a dramatic look, and it can be finished in a weekend.

9.  Dress up your Bedroom with Mirrors:   Mirrors can make a room seem larger and brighter.  A symmetrical arrangement stands out for both its space-enlarging reflections and its graphic simplicity, and it also can be finished in a weekend.

10:  Change your Bed Skirt:   Change the color, change the style, change the fabric – going from a tailored bed skirt to a new ruffled in Satin or Chintz will add sophistication to any bedroom.  Dress up that bed and have fun doing it.  Pull out a color from your comforter or wallpaper and add a bed skirt, pillow shams and even your lamp shades in this new color to give your room a fun new look.   Visit The Trendy Bed for a great selection in Bed Skirts, Pillow Shams, and even throw pillows to accent any bed.

Have fun and remember,  Visit The Trendy Bed, the one place for all your Trendy Bedding needs.

Putting together a bedroom can be so much fun, going to flea markets or garage sales is a great way to find those unusual items.  

Great flea market finds come together in this room to create a beautiful cottage retreat with a flair of vintage.   An antique iron bed is topped with crisp white bedding and a tailored bed skirt to add to that cottage style. 

Yard sale finds such as the dressmaker form, cake stand – turned jewelry display all add to the cottage/vintage flair.   What young women dreaming of becoming a clothing designer wouldn’t  love to have a room like this.

Visit The Trendy Bed.com, the one site that truly specializes just on the BEDROOM!

Home made Trendy Canopy

No Canopy bed?  No Problem?  A system of rods suspended from the ceiling is a great impostor…

Crisp panels are hung from the four corners and are mobile along the rods, just like curtains.

In the picture above, the robs are painted to match the picture frames on the wall below.

The white canopy enhances and airy feel of the white Duvet Cover and White Pillow Shams, all items that you can find at The Trendy Bed.

Visit The Trendy Bed, the one site that truly specializes on the BEDROOM!