Category Archives: Fix-ups

Window Coverings Add Style

Posted on 09/16/2011 | Leave a comment

When you buy a home, chances are you’ll need to add or replace window coverings. That can include drapes, blinds or shutters. You can go to a discount store to buy cheap and have to replace them in 2-3 years plus chances are they won’t “hang well” and will look cheap. They also are probably not made in America.

You can also go to a store that specializes in all types of window coverings where the customer service you receive is excellent. They can help you with measuring, installation, and even cleaning later on. You’ll have coverings that you can be proud of throughout their life.

Once such local store is Home Source Interiors, located off of Rt 315, just north of I-270. The business is owned by Cheryl Garrett, who I first “met” via Twitter (@DraperyDiva). Cheryl recently expanded her store size and held an open house tweet-up last night. I took a few photos of her new space while there. (I used my Blackberry so excuse the quality of the pics.) Please stop by to check out all the new options. I especially liked the alternatives for patio doors, since you’re no longer stuck with verticals, but can choose options that offer convenience and wind/cold block. Her web site is HomeSourceInteriors.com or read her blog at SimplyHomeSource.com.

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't click on Google AdsANY GOOGLE-TYPE ADS SHOWN ON THIS BLOG ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY THIS BLOG. DO NOT CLICK ON THEM.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Fix-ups, Franklin County, Homes, Worthington Ohio

Tagged , ,

Concrete leveling – a cautionary tale

Posted on 08/23/2011 | Leave a comment

Last November I wrote an article about and included a video of concrete leveling being performed at a seller’s home. Earlier this Spring, I had the same type of work performed on my own home. All went well with those two jobs.

However, a recent job did not end so well, so let this serve as a caution for you if you’re planning to have this type of work conducted. The caution concerns any drain tile that might be underground and running unseen underneath the concrete to be leveled.

Since holes are drilled into and through the concrete, if the workers should happen to drill through a drain tile, the concrete they later pump in, will fill the tile as well as under the concrete. Once the new concrete sets-up, the drain will no longer function and will have to be replaced or drilled out – which is very, very costly.

So – o – o, if you know of drain tile or suspect there might be tile located under the section of sidewalk to be leveled, be sure to alert the workers or mark it in advance. It will save you a lot of $$$$ later.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Fix-ups, Homes

Tagged , ,

Maybe I’ve taken planting-for-birds a bit too far

Posted on 07/26/2011 | Leave a comment

If you read this blog with any frequency, you know that I like animals; that I enjoy feeding the birds; that I have an issue (or rather The Murph does) with the Attack Rabbits; and that I enjoy landscaping to attract the birds. The landscape makeover that was recently done seems to have changed the dynamics of the animals that visit.

Rabbits & squirrel in Delaware County, OH

Various quantity of chipmunks began visiting several years ago. The most I’ve seen at one time is 4.  They scamper up the shepherd hook feeder poles to get a cheek-full of oilers, then they bury the seeds. I have sunflowers sprouting all over the place.

Since doing the landscape makeover, 3 squirrels have appeared at the oiler feeder. You can see the tail of one of the squirrels in the photo. They make a mess, but the rabbits, chipmunks and birds help clean it up. 

The rabbits have been here for years. I often see 3-4 along with babies sometimes. They have no fear. They lounge on their side with legs outstretched, soaking up the warm sun. AND they chew select plants. The small plants (Gaillardia) in the photo are half the size they were when I bought them for butterflies. I gave up trying to have liriope. They chewed it as if it were lettuce.

coneflowerI recently planted 3 coneflowers for butterflies and this photo shows what the rabbits did to 2 of the plants. The deer-rabbit repellant seems to have protected the 3rd plant so far. It smells so bad that it would repel most anything with a nose. The odor does dissipate in a couple of days.

I also now have 4 crows coming to the front lawn. Not sure why.  The expression on Murph’s face was pretty funny when he first saw these over-sized birds.

Last AND least, I noticed a tiny toad living near the back steps. He’s a keeper.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Fix-ups, Homes

Tagged ,

A “swinging” suggestion

Posted on 06/27/2011 | Leave a comment

Over the weekend I came up with the solution for a lot of what ails our country. It’s a rather simple idea. Take some of the stimulus funds – that didn’t work – and buy a porch swing for every home.

porch swingHave you ever lived in or visited a home with a porch swing? It’s a peaceful piece of furniture, especially if it has a slight squeak from the chains. While you can enjoy it alone, it’s even better when shared with a friend. It’s ideal for intimate conversations, or for peacefully sharing opposing thoughts.

You can’t get or stay mad in a squeaky porch swing. It has a way of lessening what seemed to be a major problem into a manageable concern.

I grew up in a home with a porch swing. It was my favorite place to be on a Sunday afternoon because friends or relatives driving by would stop and join us on the porch. Spontaneous get-togethers were common then. Mom always had a pitcher of fresh, REAL lemonade or mint ice tea in the fridge. Plus, there was the usual homemade cookies, cake or a pie handy as well. If the day was particularly hot, she would mix up a batch of homemade ice cream mix for the men to crank in the hand freezer. Although we occasionally got “brain freeze” from the extra cold ice cream, it was always a special time.

Let’s put porch swings in the Statehouse and national Capitol buildings, then make the politicians sit in them until they actually agree to compromise to fix the economy! Maybe a PORCH swing will have better results than the GOLF swing did.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Commentary, Fix-ups, Homes

Tagged , , ,

Renovating the landscape around my home

Posted on 06/23/2011 | Leave a comment

One of the best valued fix-ups a homeowner can do to their home is their landscaping. If the home doesn’t have any when you buy it, then plant some as soon as you can … even before you add a deck. That way the plants can be growing – and increasing in value – as you enjoy living in the home. Then when you’re ready to sell, buyers will love the privacy you’ve built into the yard.

When I moved into my home 14 years ago, the only landscaping was the typical junipers under the front windows, a little sand cherry shrub at the corner, and a sapling maple in the front. In the years since, I have worked on doing a section at a time, so many of the plants are maturing and giving a nice privacy screen from the neighbor’s lawns. I try to select plants that provide food, cover and nesting for the birds that I feed. Some of the plants are also providing cover for the chipmunks and Attack Rabbits that have taken up residence in my lawn. I may have carried this nature thing a little too far.

They came … they saw … they stayed!

Last week, it was time to undo the builder’s plants in the front, plus, I had other plants that needed divided and moved to other locations. I use Outdoor Makeovers to do my work, so I called Bruce – the Sales Manager - to tell him I was ready to get rid of the front junipers and the sand cherry that was now a full-grown scrubby tree. We met, I gave him my ideas & budget, then he created a plan based on that. They did all the work last week, so I took before-after photos. I think everything we’ve done over the years is shaping up nicely.

Want to investigate different types of plants? Visit Monrovia‘s website for a great way to search for plants based on growing zones, light, water, etc.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Central Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Fix-ups, Homes, Landscape

Tagged , , , , ,

Welcome home, little red oak …

Posted on 06/07/2011 | Leave a comment

Four years after it began, my street’s saga with the Emerald Ash Borer is coming to an end for some of us. Today the city began replacing our street trees (the area between the sidewalk & street) with new red oak trees.

New tree replaces the dead ash tree in Delaware OH

There are still quite a few dead trees yet to be removed this year, but those of us who have already had trees cut down were getting the new trees today.

In case you’re wondering why the city is replacing these trees, it is in the neighborhood deed restrictions. Originally, the developer’s rules required the builders to install a tree or trees per X-ft of frontage when they built a home. Once the home sold, then “authority” over the street tree became the responsibility of the city to care (prune) the trees. If they died, the city was to replace the tree(s) so the neighborhood would always be tree-lined.

There is a variety of tree species used throughout the neighborhood, but on my street, all the street trees were ash. Any ash trees located within the homeowner’s lawn are the responsibility of the homeowner.

I’ve written quite a few articles about the Emerald Ash Borer’s attack on my street’s trees, along with photos I’ve taken of the damage. You can access all those articles by clicking here.

NOTE: Scotts Miracle-Gro® now has a systemic insecticide for the Emerald Ash Borer. You can read about it on their web site.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in Ash Trees, Central Ohio, Delaware County, Delaware Ohio, Fix-ups, Homes

Tagged , ,