Few consumers keep track of the brand names of the shelf hardware they buy, and since some of these brands may be proprietary and offered only at specific retailers, it can be difficult to buy new parts for an existing system. Manufacturers can also go out of business, making it impossible to buy new matching parts. So it can be quite helpful if you are able to mix and match shelving standards and brackets from different manufacturers....

When it comes to cleaning towels for cleaning surfaces or dishes, we love towels that have cute designs on them, but more importantly, we want towels that work as hard and as efficiently as we do. In our household of five kids, spills are a frequent occurrence. So, when we came across the opportunity to try out the Utopia Towels Kitchen Bar Mops cleaning towels, we were eager to investigate....

Early Designs The ancient Greeks and Romans built pools most likely in the form of a rectangle for athletic training in the palaestras (ancient gymnasiums), for the nautical games, and also for military exercises. The private pools of Roman emperors were stocked with fish and were known as piscinas. While others existed in various forms and for various purposes, it was the late Cleo Baldon of the Venice, California-based landscape design firm Galper/Baldon Associates who is credited with having brought the lap pool to California with her designs in the early 1970s....

Connecting an Outlet in a Junction Box As with any electrical installation, the first step is to turn off the power to the circuit that you’ll be working on before wiring and installing an outlet. Check first to see that the circuit is on with an electrical tester and then turn the circuit off. Double-check that the circuit is now dead and then you may begin the installation. There are a couple ways of stripping the outer sheathing of Romex wire....

Making the choice to purchase and install a Murphy bed can feel daunting if you’re unfamiliar with the features and styles available. You’ll want to be sure that you select a bed that fits your objective for the room, is easy enough to raise and lower, and is durable enough to last. In this guide, learn about the types of Murphy beds available, the most important buying considerations, and where to find and buy a wall bed....

History Summer kitchens gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries and could be found in many of the households able to afford them at the time. Historically, a summer kitchen was a small building, often made from brick or wood, that was located adjacent to the main house. There were many reasons why these structures became popular, but a key one had to do with the fact that there was no air conditioning or indoor plumbing at the time....

For a coconut by-product, coir takes a good amount of effort to get to market. The outer husks are soaked until the fibers can be separated and then cleaned. Then they have to be sorted and graded by size. Dark brown coir is from the familiar mature coconuts, but there is also a white version. White coir is from immature, green coconuts and is finer and softer. Some manufacturers also dye the fibers....

Variables That Affect Colorfastness Many elements affect whether fabrics retain their dye or bleed, including: The dye type—natural or syntheticThe type of fiber the dye is applied toWhen and how the dye was applied to the fabricThe pH of various substances the fabric is exposed to (like perspiration)Dry cleaning chemicalsHeat and sunlight, which can cause certain dyes to fade How to Test for Colorfastness The best way to test for colorfastness is to find a hidden seam of the garment or any hidden spot....

Unlike past historical aesthetic movements that arose as a backlash to industrialization and technology, Cottagecore provides its escapism via an internet portal where urban and suburban influencers and followers can tap into the collective fantasy of running away to a cabin in the woods or a cottage in a meadow—all without ever leaving home or facing the realities and challenges of rural life. A Short History of Cottagecore Cottagecore became a hashtag around 2018 and quickly boomed as an internet phenomenon....

Some famous French provinces include Normandy, Brittany, and Provence, as a province usually designated a regional city and its surrounding lands. Although “provincial” can often mean “unsophisticated,” these sprawling, country homes were anything but. Although some elements of French Provincial architecture have changed over the last several centuries, today’s French Provincial homes have retained many of the traditional designs and features, like brick or stone facades, steeply pitched, sloping roofs, and high, arched windows....

Although the type of Gothic architecture that was used to construct a building is based on the building’s age, location, and building type (for example, a church), all Gothic structures share five key elements: stained glass windows, pointed arches, flying buttresses, ribbed vaults, and highly ornate decoration. It’s rare to find a personal dwelling built in the Gothic style—although, they definitely do exist—but Gothic architecture essentially defined European construction and decoration for four centuries....

Origins The shabby chic style became quite popular in the 1980s and ’90s. It surged in popularity after designer Rachel Ashwell opened a store with the same name and began to partner with mass retailers such as Target to make shabby chic style products readily available to the public. While other aesthetics have emerged in the years since Ashwell’s rise to fame, designer Carrie Leskowitz knew it was only a matter of time before shabby chic became mainstream yet again....

When looking at house numbers and Bagua numerology, keep in mind that it’s not that some numbers are good and others are bad. More importantly, it really doesn’t make or break the feng shui; rather, look at it as a way to learn more about the energetic potential of your home and how you can harness the qi in your environment to benefit your life. Numerology Basics Before looking at each number and its Bagua meaning, let’s review some numerology basics....

If you’re not sure whether or not it’s time to replace your sponge, err on the side of caution and get a new one. After all, they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Plus, it’s better to be safe than sorry when it comes to cleanliness. We asked Jeri Fritz of Highland Park Housekeeping how she knows when to replace sponges for her teams. According to Jeri, here are a few signs that it’s time to say goodbye to your sponge....

Most overwintering insect activity takes place outside, but it can also occur inside, in spaces such as attics or crawlspaces. More often than not, these insects go outside come spring and head off elsewhere. You likely won’t even know they were there. Maybe you found a large congregation of dormant insects, or maybe you want to keep bugs from coming in after winter ends—what do you do if you are finding overwintering insect activity around your home, and are there ways to avoid it?...

Factory Coatings Electric elements in new ovens often have a factory coating, such as oil, that protects the elements during storage. The coating usually burns off when the device is turned on for the first time. There may even be a noticeable amount of smoke. New ovens can also smell from other internal parts, such as insulation or adhesives used during manufacturing. Sometimes the first use of an oven helps cure adhesives and other materials....

Spider webs are built from silk, which is produced within the body of the spider and pulled out of two openings—spinnerets—with the spider’s hind legs. All spiders have two claws on their feet, but web-spinning spiders have three. They are used not only to pull the silk but also to grip and release the web’s threads and provide traction as they move along the web. Spiders spin two kinds of silk:...

Read on to explore Yelp’s home trend predictions, from vintage-inspired accents to playful wall tiles. Plus, get a chance to hear Fletcher’s favorite trends and what she’s incorporating into her home in the new year. Framing The gallery wall will forever be a classic for decorating walls in a meaningful, impactful way. But, as we all know, framing and hanging each picture to precision can be totally time-consuming. Fletcher agrees, noting that Yelp has seen a rise in custom framing—and this could be the solution we’ve been looking for....

Stain removers, like Zout’s Triple Enzyme Laundry Stain Remover, are designed to prolong the life of your clothes. But some manufacturers make promises their products just can’t keep. To see if Zout could tackle common household stains like pasta sauce and grass marks, we put it to the test in our home. Keep reading for our take on the easy-to-use formula. Cleaning Power: Not that impressive If there’s anything that a stain remover should do really well, it removes stains....