Cleaning a Chandelier
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How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier

The crystal chandelier in our dining room has traveled with me from house to house. Found in an antique store and electrified, I love the elegance and beauty of it. Not too gaudy, but just enough sparkle to make the dining room extra special. Once a year, every December, I clean the chandelier by hand….

Hidden Storage in Front Hall
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Hidden Storage in Front Hall

Upon entering our front hall, you see our grand staircase and an antique petticoat table. But tucked in behind the mirrored table, is a wainscoting panel, just to the left of the door to the powder room. Several months after we purchased the house, we discovered that this panel is not permanently fixed, but slides…

Getting the Garden Ready for the Fall planting
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Getting the Garden Ready for the Fall planting

After being away at the cabin for 2+ weeks, I am feeling a bit behind in getting my garden ready for fall planting here in Phoenix. In looking over blog posts from previous years, my tardiness is self-imposed. I’m actually a bit early this year. Now it makes sense that the vegetable selection at the…

Making Fabric Pumpkins
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Making Fabric Pumpkins

I love fabric pumpkins for home decorations in the fall. They come in a variety of sizes and fabric and you can coordinate them with every room in your home. Year to year, I store our fabric pumpkins in plastic tubs in our garage. If you are marginally handy, you too can make your own…

Odd Shaped Closet Solutions
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Odd Shaped Closet Solutions

Do you have an odd-shaped closet? Like most older homes, we have a front hall closet in our foyer. Since we rarely wear coats or jackets here, having a closet to hang them in is just bonus space. This particular closet isn’t square, because it tucks underneath the U-shaped front staircase. One side of the…