I’m always on a look out for ways to furnish my home and make everything as function-able as possible but fun and pretty.   Saw this online and decided to share a new way with everyone on how you can shoe racks with a twist.  This is DIY project but it seem fairly simple.  I bet this picture is already inspiring you already – because it did that for me.  I set the spouse out to get materials and we are going to do a shoe rack like the above picture.  Wish us luck now!

If your home is looking like a zoo with so many stuff toys – I know how you feel.  Many a times, I’m tempted to just chuck all my kids’ stuff toys into a recycle bag and drop them off to Salvation Army.  And even though my kids are quite old they have quite a substantial amount of stuff toys – many, many years of collection and not letting any go.  This organizer sure suits me well and it’s an easy DIY project don’t you think?  we are going to attempt to do this – I hope you will try too – if you have as many kids and toys like I do.

For only $60 – you can buy this storage bench for the kid’s room or even in the hallway where you need to put your mittens, socks or scarves and a sitting place to put on your boots/shoes.  I loved it! and i could definitely use a storage bench anytime – in any room.  Kids can use the cozy cubes for their toys or favorite story books.  If you are adventurous enough – you can sew a long cushion to put on top of the storage unite – so that they can lie on it to read beside a window. Way Basic is the place that sells them online – super cool.

The entrance to our home comprises of sets and sets of messy shoes when everyone is home.  If we have people visiting – it would just be a complete mess and it such an eyesore and if you know me – you know I hate the mess.  The ideal is to build a shoe cabinet that can be hidden within the wall but since we have limited space at the entrance – it can be quite hard to do.   Now if only I can get something like the above – but in wood or brown in color that would be almost perfect.  I’m also looking for a carpenter who can work cheaply to make something like the above for me – but if anyone has any idea – please give me a shout.  It’s no joke when it comes to having so many pairs of shoes at the same time out in the open.

With 3 kids and a spouse who love gadgets from netbooks, laptops, phones,  ipod touches,  iphone 3g , LCD tvs – plasma ones – xbox systems, PS3 and a Wii – you can imagine – how clutter our home can get – if I do not keep them in order.  Love the gadgets – but hate the clutter and everyone of them has wires all over the place – and docking and charging system for individual gadget.  So what can we do – to keep our home gadget free and looking like the above picture?   Can’t do without the gadgets right?  because when our power went off – one year during the winter – the first thing that came to my mind – wasn’t how we were gonna keep warm – but what about our internet *slap forehead* – yes – you get the picture how much we loved our gadgets.  So we are hiring a designer to help us build a corner – for all these gadgets – yes! we are spoiled – or the kids and the man is.  Look forward to seeing our clutter free gadget corner eh.

i’ve always said that decorating one’s home need not be expensive if you know how to use your creativity.  Brackets like the above picture is like a gold bullion of ideas – when it is shown to someone who is handy and who uses their imagination.  I saw this at Real Simple and thought to myself – what wonderful idea -especially for those who are just starting out – in their own apartment – and for those who are doing up their dorm room for college or university – why not try this.  A few brackets and some oldist book to and some screws and there you have it – but make sure you don’t put too much or too heavy stuff on them.  A really good idea for a few bucks.

The kitchen is the pride of the woman in the house – so they said.  I found this picture on Martha Stewart to show the spouse what I was looking for.  While he is into the  fitness equipment and i can’t blame him for it, I’m into making my home a comfortable and a warm one to entertain my many family friends.There is nothing wrong with the one I have but being so high up and closed, you tend to push everything into the cabinet and closing it up easily and leaving a mess in it.  But an open glass cabinet is great but i prefer one that has matted glass and not the clear ones.  What about you? it’s popular back home 10 yrs ago, but i haven’t seen the matted glass look at all.

I never thought I would see these glass knobs ever again.  When i was younger, I never liked them in my grandfather’s house but how i wished we had retained some of these wonderful looking glass knobs for our home and kitchen.  I bet i would be showing off my kitchen more often.. if i had them. .and would probably need appetite suppressant for the trips I will be making to the kitchen and the tea parties that I would be holding.  But you can get them now at $40 each.. from Tracy Glover of course and online too – they are not quite the same as the old ones we had in our old house.. but pretty anyhow.. and i would want some in my kitchen drawers.. that’s for sure.

jobs in Las Vegas are aplenty, so the girlfriend and her boyfriend moved there to start a new job this week.  Knowing that they are only gonna have a small apartment to start with to settle them into a new environment, we decided to give them this tv stand which is small and wonderful to have. Comes in multi color to suit the room you want to use it in, and made of laminated wood.

Love how sleek it looks.. and it also hides those ugly wires for you.

The man is into fixing the basement to be his recreation room and of course, all his plasma tv and audio things is going to go down with him as well – and truth be told I can’t wait for that day.  One of the things we need for all his audio equipments are audio racks, I know he is particular about co-ordinating everything from color to the type of wood it is made of.  Unlike me, I take anything or buy anything that is useful and not too expensive.   Furnishing the basement is no easy feat, a lot of money is involved and one has to make sure that it is done right the first time.