The conversation with our friend Joan went something like this:
Me: This sofa is so comfortable and I LOVE the white upholstery.
Joan: Oh, I’m so tired of them. I want to reupholster them but I’m not quite ready yet.
Me: I like the upholstery.
Joan: But I need a change.
Me: Have you thought about removing the skirt?
Joan: Yes!
A week later Joan and I had the sofa on its back, staple gun and scissors in hand, giving her living room a quick and easy makeover…
As we’re renovating our big old Dream House, we’re also looking around at the other remaining American System-Built Homes for inspiration. While most ASB homes are private residences, there’s a beautifully restored house in Milwaukee that’s offered as a vacation rental. Scrolling through the photos of the house, it’s both exciting and daunting to see how our house could look…
In shopping for secondhand furniture and accessories for the Dream House, I’ve come across a lot of kitschy old vintage drinking glasses. Nearly every thrift store and resale shop has a few shelves stocked with 50 cent glasses. I started picking up mismatched glassware and, as my collection has grown, I’ve found quite a few ways to use the glasses that don’t involve drinking.
I spent a couple of weeks back in the city and, although I hated being separated from our beloved Dream House, I used the time productively. And by productively I mean that I spent most of my time shopping for the house.
Perhaps it’s because I grew up on endless reruns of The Jetsons but I am completely obsessed with all the advances in automated home technology. It may not be Rosie the Robot, but things like light bulbs and thermostats that can be controlled by smart phone are a reminder that we do indeed live in the 21st century!
We installed the Nest thermostat in the Dream House back in December and have had only good experiences. We can monitor and control the temperature from our smart phones, whether we’re upstairs or out of state.
If you’re willing to do a little DIY wiring, this light switch will allow you to control a light or outlet via your smartphone.
Now that we’ve had a positive experience with Nest’s thermostat, I’m itching to install the company’s smart smoke detector. Not only is is smart phone compatible, it reminds you when to change batteries and lets you deactivate false alarms with the wave of a hand.
This kit contains three light bulbs, a gateway and a remote control. Use the remote or your smart phone to dim lights or turn them on and off.
You can add extra cameras to this starter kit for a full home security system. Use your smart phone for remote-viewing of your home. (I want to install this so we can spy on the cat’s hijinks when we’re away.
— J. Blandings
Images: Linked and credited above.
