by macewan on September 4, 2007
Hey there I'm Robert MacEwan the author of Ideal Absolutes. If you're new to macewan.org, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed.
Parents of small children know better than anyone else about the importance of a well-built, securely attached fireplace screen. Hearths are dangerous places. Did you know there used to be such a thing as “hearth death”? It was commonplace in the pre-twentieth century years — before stovetops. A woman’s long skirts could easily catch on fire and result in morbid reality. Fortunately, we not only have kitchen stoves but we don’t require the fireplace to sustain our lives. While it’s no denying that in 2007 many fireplaces supplement home heating — sometimes even they even replace it all together — I’d venture to say a majority of today’s modern fireplaces serve for visual enjoyment. The fire entertainment-factor. Gas logs completely fool the eye and realistically simulate a nice pile of burning logs.
It’s important to shop fireplace screens and fireplace tools where quality and craftsmanship is foremost to the retailer. Stores worth their salt, like the online one linked to above, offer safety features as well as beautiful surrounds.
Thank goodness we can enjoy our fireplace in comfort without worrying about our two toddler grandsons getting hurt. At three years old and 18 months, safe decor is a big deal for us.
by macewan on September 4, 2007
Lamps do so much more than provide light! It’s obvious they brighten up a room [pun#1] but did you know the right table lamp can also set the mood? Ambient lighting can be dramatic or subtle. Dark rooms seem to lack warmth and character. Without the proper lamps, rooms can seem cold and uninviting, shadowy and bereft of personality.
And then there’s my grandmother, repeating herself every time I spent the night at her house, “Don’t read by the flashlight, you’ll ruin your eyes.” Then my mother would lecture me about proper task lighting when I did my homework. Didn’t they know aesthetics, the quality of my room’s decor, were important to me? I needed a decorative lamp and not the football-shaped goofy thing I inherited from my older brother.
Don’t live in a personality-free zone, perk up your space. Get online and find a place to shop decorative table lamps. Maybe something brass? How about ceramic with a big shade?Buy something truly nice. High quality means less breakage because it is weighted better than the cheap stuff.
by macewan on August 17, 2007
A construction company builds a house. The construction is easy. Bricks and mortar, wood and nails, plaster, tile… kitchen appliances… carpet… windows. Elements are combined to form a structure.
You want live in a home. This is the difficult part. In a brand new house, you have to add character. In an older home, you have to take the character and the charm and keep viable. Make windows energy efficient with double-glazed uPVC replacements. Replace roofing tiles. Buy new kitchen appliances. Perhaps even build a Conservatory. Now that would be loverly.
That’s my dream. When the repairs are over and done then we want a dependable company build a beautiful room where we’ll enjoy the yard all year round. All through winter, summer — every season.
Don’t be afraid to call in professionals when you need home improvements. Find someone you can trust.
