Get Perspective on Your Room Design | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Interior designers have a talent that many people desire. They can visualize a completed room before the work begins although there are many steps between them walking into a room and the final result. They start by asking the owner questions, viewing and measuring the space. Then they begin planning steps to take and supplies they’ll need.

A lot happens after designers go. They will create a room layout on paper and bring together samples of the materials and paint that will get used to in the space. That helps them visualize the completed design.

Maybe you have ideas for a room you are redecorating but wonder if the layout in your mind will work in the space. Will the cabinets or furnishings fit as you think? There is an inexpensive solution that will help visualize the layout of a room without any heavy lifting. Use painter’s tape.  

Start by capturing your idea on paper. Sketch out the room and position of the cabinets and furnishings within. Note all the measurements. Get the exact dimensions of the room, each piece of furniture and all permanent items like cabinets, fireplace, staircase, etc.

Take that information and painter’s tape into the room. Measure each item in the layout you created and tape the life-size outline of the chairs, tables, sofas, cabinet, etc. on the floor and walls.

Once complete, determine if that layout works. Move around all the taped items, imagining their full size in the space, and decide if their position and the way you will transition in and through the room will suit your lifestyle.

Painters tape is also a great way to layout the full-frame size of art and photo collections on the walls before hanging a single frame. Another quick art hanging trick: mark the ideal position to nail the hook on the wall, put a spot of toothpaste over the hanger on the back of your frame and press it against the wall. \

One thing is for sure, taping out a room before the work begins saves a lot of time, money and muscle, and get a clearer perspective of the final space!

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Inexpensive Design Inspiration | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Home decor trends change seasonally. Remodeling your home décor to those latest trends is often too costly, but there are inexpensive ways to freshen up your space without breaking the budget.

Decorating ideas are plentiful. You can capture them from pictures in magazines; lifestyle shows on TV and online through Pinterest and Google searches. There are a lot of websites with budget-friendly décor updates and decorating tips to help you achieve specific styles in your home, and some provide step-by-step instructions.

Decorating ideas are plentiful. You can capture them from pictures in magazines; lifestyle shows on TV and online through Pinterest and Google searches. There are a lot of websites with budget-friendly décor updates and decorating tips to help you achieve specific styles in your home, and some provide step-by-step instructions.

For inspiration about how to best arrange furnishings and other objects consider the marketing by furniture, paint and flooring manufacturers. You may not currently be in the market for these items; however, those companies create some excellent room designs to best display their products.

These free sources equip you with ideas and information so that you can refresh and transform rooms in your home without breaking the bank. You may be shocked at what you can accomplish, or how simply you can update your space.

Being able to look around your home at the beautiful changes you create yourself can be very rewarding. Which room are you going to freshen up first?

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Must haves in the heart of a home | E-Neighborhood Advisor

It is said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. It's where we nourish our bodies, minds, and souls with friends and family. Of course, this is all relevant to your family size and lifestyle. The size and design of your kitchen will also have a significant impact.

No matter the size of the room, there are keys to a quality kitchen. If you’ve ever worked in a poorly designed kitchen, then you understand. The space is much more enjoyable when the layout is good.

A well-designed kitchen has an unobstructed, easily accessible work triangle. The points being the sink, stove, and refrigerator. Most of the action happens within that area, especially at the sink. For a comfortable work area without too many steps, that triangle should be within ten to twenty-five feet. Most household kitchens are closer to the five to ten foot range.

There’s a lot of “stuff” in the kitchen. That’s why another aspect of a well-designed kitchen is sufficient storage. There are a lot of not-so-common spaces that can be converted into additional storage. Thinking outside the box is a great way to take advantage of underutilized spaces.

Within your kitchen, think narrow, vertical, high, and low along with ease of use and access. For example, wide drawers installed at the floor level of kitchen cabinets is a great place to store flat items like cookie sheets and baking pans. Building cabinets all the way to the ceiling creates additional storage space up high for items used seasonally. Custom built, narrow, rolling shelves that fit perfectly between appliances and walls become ideal storage spaces for spices, cans or small dishes. Plus changing the permanent cabinet panel in front of the sink for a shallow tilt-out drawer becomes an excellent hideaway for dish cleaning tools. 

A quick search online for kitchen design or storage reveals many websites with ideas including pictures and some DIY projects. See this site for a list of things to consider in good kitchen design.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Help curb inflammation | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Inflammation is part of our body's natural defense system. It’s a natural response to help protect the body from infection and to help it heal.

Short-term (temporary) inflammation may come with a variety of discomforts, like itching around an insect bite or a sore throat when sick. Once the healing process is complete, the inflammation and discomfort go away.  

Long-term (chronic) inflammation can negatively impact tissues and organs. This extended inflammatory response may be the result of conditions like allergies, autoimmune reactions, hypersensitivity, or lifestyle choices. It can cause long-term symptoms like severe fatigue, rashes, pain, or serious illness.

Lifestyle factors that can cause chronic inflammation include smoking, excessive food or alcohol consumption, and chronic stress.  

There are also specific food choices that commonly produce an inflammatory response in the body.

Top offenders include:

• Sugar

• high-fructose corn syrup

• saturated and trans fats

• gluten, which can be found in breads, pastas and other foods

• refined carbohydrates

• processed meats

• processed snack foods

• fried foods

• soybean and vegetable oils

• monosodium glutamate (MSG)

• dairy products

• and some artificial sweeteners.

Over time, chronic inflammation can damage healthy cells and tissues. That may contribute to future health issues like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, asthma, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or neurodegenerative disease.

Swapping inflammatory foods for ones with strong anti-inflammatory properties will help.

Beneficial options include:

• beets

• berries

• nutrient dense vegetables like dark leafy greens & broccoli

• beans and lentils

• cold-water fish

• extra virgin olive oil

• coconut oil

• nuts and chia seeds

• green tea

• herbs & spices such as turmeric, moringa, garlic, ginger and cinnamon

Also, good water consumption is very helpful with a number of health issues including inflammation.

If you’re experiencing long-term pain, fatigue, rashes or unexplained stiffness in your body, visit your doctor for help determining the cause.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

What’s that smell?? | E-Neighborhood Advisor

There is nothing worse than an unpleasant household odor. To regain the comfort and serenity of our home you want to eradicate any bad smell. There are odor masks like room sprays, deodorizers, and scented candles, but they are not permanent, they can get costly, and ultimately don’t fix the underlying problem. Here are a few suggestions to help you deal with the top nose offenders.

Household trash can cause an odor problem.

First, if that trash bag has raw meat packaging, dirty diapers or leftover food in it, take the bag to the outside trash bin before bed. Those bacteria and microbes work quickly and efficiently in your warm home, which makes odors go from bad to worse fast.

When the trash can itself contains the smell or if there is a spill from the bag, wash it with warm soapy water and let it completely dry. To counterbalance future odors before they happen in a plastic can, add a little baking soda or scented cat litter to the bottom of the can before inserting a new bag. To avoid corrosion in a metal can, put the baking soda in a small container with vent holes so it does not come into contact with the metal.

Sink drains and garbage disposal can stink.

Whether there’s junk stuck in the pipes and garbage disposal or gas is escaping from the drain trap, there’s nothing worse than a rotten food smell coming from the sink. Here are eight hacks to rid your kitchen of funky sink odors.

Musty and damp smells

There are a few reasons that cabinets, cupboards, and furniture may take on a not-so-nice musty aroma. It is often a result of moisture which can be caused by leaking pipes in the walls, but also by poor ventilation and air circulation. These smells can be an early indicator of mold and mildew. It’s important to identify if there is mold because it can be toxic to the health of your family. Learn more about musty odors and removing them.

If there is another odor you are looking to eradicate, a quick search on Google will likely give you information you need.

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

Create Mountains the KonMari Way | E-Neighborhood Advisor

Have you heard about the KonMari Method of tidying? It was created by Marie Kondo, a petite, joy-filled Japanese woman who has loved messes since she was a little girl. You may have heard of her new hit Netflix series, Tidying Up.

Imagine beginning by taking all your clothes out of every drawer and closet and putting them in a mountainous pile on top of your bed. That’s how the KonMarie Method begins.

Five categories are dealt with in a specific order. First, clothing. Next, books, paper, then Komono. That's the stuff from the kitchen, bathroom, garage, and everything miscellaneous. The final category is sentimental items.

By putting everything in piles, we are confronted with everything we have, Marie says, it’s then that we know what we must do.

It’s time to go through the piles and only keep what Sparks Joy. That’s a warm, positive feeling similar to how a pet lover feels holding a new puppy.  

After sorting, joy-sparking items are put away in a specific manner that makes them easy to find and lets you see what you have. Plus, clothing gets folded in a way that makes each item smaller, takes up less space and keeps everything visible when put away. Look at this video.

Marie makes it clear, "While you are tidying it may seem like things are more cluttered than before. By following the process step by step, there will always be an end to the tidying."

Learn more about Marie Kondo and her tidying method. Surrounding ourselves only with things that spark joy in a decluttered environment must be a good thing!

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160

They wanted more daylight – and got it! | E-Neighborhood Advisor

The idea caught on quickly – but not in England. The clocks in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada were shifted forward by one hour at midnight on July 1, 1908.

It would be nine more years before Willet’s idea took root in Europe, spurred on by WWI. Germany and Austria were first to make the change in April 1916, and Britain approved Daylight Savings Time changes on May 17, 1916.

Today, Daylight Savings Time is used in over 70 countries around the world, but not all honor it the same way or consistently throughout the country. The chart on this website shows that in more detail.

In North America, most people will move their clocks forward an hour this weekend, at 2:00 am on March 11th. That will move an hour of daylight later in the day, where it will get enjoyed the most during our summer months.

Remember to adjust your clocks this weekend, or on Sunday you might show up an hour early to anywhere you need to be!

Your Flooring Consultant,

Matt Capell

Email: sales@capellinteriors.com

Phone (208) 288-0151

Fax (208) 917-6160