Cheap and Easy Last Minute Thanksgiving Decorations

Can you believe that Thanksgiving is only a few days away? If you’re anything like my family, you haven’t even begun to start decorating the house for the guests that are coming over. Between managing work, coordinating multiple Thanksgiving dinners (thanks a lot, in-laws!), and keeping the kids out of trouble, it can seem like a gigantic burden to get the house looking festive. Well fear not, friends! I will provide you with a few easy and inexpensive ways to make your house looking Thanksgiving-y.

Considering that the place people will be spending the best part of their Thanksgiving dinner is the dining table, it seems like a good starting point for decorations. Perhaps the easiest decorations to place on your dining table are gourds. Pumpkins, gourds, and acorn squash are all very festive vegetables that are in abundance at any grocery store during the holidays. The pumpkin and acorn squash are both awesome for cooking during the holidays, as well. There is a plethora of recipes online for pies, soups, and other types of dishes prepared using these vegetables. Another fun idea with small pumpkins is to make a card for each one with a different guest’s name on it. Place each pumpkin at the table where you think the corresponding guest will sit. This is an activity you can involve the kids with that is both fun and festive. You can also use candleholders as an elegant way to elevate small pumpkins on the dining table.

If you’re working on a budget like my family, there are many other ways to save money on decorating the table for Thanksgiving. Don’t be afraid to buy chipped or damaged decorations. When staged correctly, no one will notice a small chip. Thrift stores and estate or garage sales are typically the best dumping grounds for old decorations, but one would be surprised at how easy it is to get a discount on damaged merchandise at popular retailers. Most brick and mortar stores don’t really want damaged merchandise floating around their store and will eagerly discount things to get them out of the door. This doesn’t just apply to decorations, either. If you are short on plates or bowls, you can typically use cheaper or slightly chipped pieces and make them look fancy by placing a cloth napkin in the middle. Of course the napkins should match and be seasonably appropriate; also, they won’t look very nice unless you fold them in an appealing manner. Another alternative is to purchase cheap seasonal plating. You’d be surprised at how little you need to pay for plates with fall designs on them.

Aside from the kitchen table, there are an abundance of areas in your house that or perfect for cheap decorations. Pumpkins, pumpkins, and more pumpkins is a good motto for decorating your living areas on Thanksgiving. You can put pumpkins on your bookshelf to use as book stops, on top of your entertainment center, your coffee and end tables, and next to any snack areas you have set up in your home. Acorns are also a very appropriate fall decoration that you can get for free just by going on a walk. If you have children, they will relish in the opportunity to collect as many acorns as they possibly can for your decorations. You can make festive candle holders by placing acorns in mason jars with a candle in the middle. Even just filling up a glass with acorns can look beautiful, just make sure you clean and dry your acorns ahead of time.

The first thing people see when they arrive to your house for Thanksgiving dinner is your front yard. Once again, the pumpkin philosophy of fall decorating applies to your front porch. If you have a wheelbarrow that’s in decent shape, fill it with pumpkins and put it on your porch. You can make a wooden sign with a Thanksgiving greeting and rest it on the pumpkins. Broomstick scarecrows can be fun to make with the kids and hang from the front door. You can use a step ladder to make a multi-tiered decoration with pumpkins and other fall decor to place next to your front door. Fall-themed pillows on a chair can be effective, as can using a basket filled with gourds and pumpkins. As with any decorating project, use your judgment when designing and placing your decorations and never go overboard.

Lastly, let’s not forget about the bathroom when it’s time to decorate. Pumpkins and fall scented candles can be placed on the sink and any open shelving in the bathroom. Even the back of the toilet can be used to place decorations or fall-themed air fresheners. Why not use some of those acorn candles we talked about earlier for added atmospheric lighting in the bathroom? Fall-themed Kleenex boxes and towels are always a bonus, although if you’re operating on a budget you might not want to shell out for a new set of towels.

I hope some of these ideas can get you excited about decorating and feeling less overwhelmed with the holiday approaching. Remember, you don’t always have to go all-out with your decorations to make a positive impression on your Thanksgiving guests. Besides, the holiday is about being thankful and being around loved ones… and food!

Considering being your own General Contractor?

 It can be tempting to have control in a project. To be the one who hires the tradesmen, orders and inspects the materials, checks and double-checks figures and costs, and perhaps most importantly, makes the rules of the project and enforces them. If that appeals to you, than you might be considering acting as your own general contractor. But should you?

Diving into the world of renovation is unchartered territory for a lot of homeowners. Many first time remodelers end up spending a lot more money than they need to because of a lack of knowledge about construction and materials costs. While you might have a keen interest in construction or remodeling, that doesn't a professional make. You’ll need the ability to speak the industry language, read the architectural drawings, understand the processes in accomplishing a result. You'll need to describe the job and schedule accurately, not to mention negotiate prices, draw up a binding contract and even take responsibility for getting I-9s and tax documents.

And while you're at it, don't forget that you may be responsible for all permits. You'll have to research what work requires a permit in your city, county or state and fill out the paperwork and get it submitted. You'll also be in charge of dealing with the inspections that come along with the process. Subcontractors might not be interested in committing unless your permits are complete.

The biggest reason homeowners become their own GC? Money, of course. GCs are trying to run a business, no different than other professionals who have credentials and experience. That means making a profit and covering the overhead cost they typically will add between 15 and 20% to the cost of materials and labor.

Who cares about time and hassle when you can save money, right? Not exactly. Consider that a large part of a GC's job is to figure out how costs can be minimized. This could mean a variety of savings that homeowner doesn't have access to like preferred vendor discounts on materials/products, and simply knowing who has the best deals on what.  Logistics is also a large part of a general contractor’s job description to coordinate all work done by subcontractors. It is these relationships that typically get GC’s better pricing and scheduling because of the volume of work, whereas a homeowner is a one trick pony show. The GC also checks to see that the work is completed in compliance with local building codes; warranties the work and deals with any problems that develop during and after construction; and collect lien releases and process payments.

In general, being your own GC is probably a bad idea for the average homeowner looking to save money on remodeling costs. But if you do have inside knowledge about the construction industry (or are willing to spend a serious amount of time learning about it), then being your own general contractor might be a realistic way to cut expenses.

Taking A Vintage Bathroom To The Next Level

BEFORE

This 1935 Lake Oswego main floor bathroom had vintage charm with bead board, pedestal sink, and unfortunately a vinyl flooring replicating a classic tiled look. The bathroom overhaul included a full gut, and reconfigured footprint behind the door to accommodate a new front hall closet on the outside wall. The 1980s cut out notch in the original shower wall was closed up for a full tub surround enclosure and we kept the original laundry chute access that is now housed in a gray cabinet supplied by the homeowner. The pedestal sink and bathtub were also repurposed.

AFTER

 
Keeping a classic black & white theme, the new look incorporated new ceramic tile from floor to chair rail height in “ice white” subway tiles with individually cut black Harlequin tiles set between rails to create a unique border all the way around the room and tub surround. And for further visual interest a black border was placed in the upper walls of the shower. A radiant heating floor system to keep your feet warm is set under the new 1”x1” octagon tiles with a Harlequin black dot border meticulously laid following the room’s perimeter including a four dot spray in front of the pedestal sink. This is truly a one of a kind beauty. A new “Soft Whisper” exhaust fan was installed to keep the moisture out and wall heat register replaced with new HVAC venting in the ceiling. New plumbing hardware in brushed nickel, a vintage style chandelier strategically placed in sync with the exterior window, and new crystal vanity light complete this up scaled vintage look.  

BEFORE - shower wall

AFTER - Shower wall

BEFORE tub surround

AFTER tub surround

AFTER - New Floor

 

Spooky Things Found In Remodeling Houses

In remodeling, you never know what you may encounter when tearing out walls. It’s the things you can’t see and unexpectedly discover that can send chills up your spine like a good horror flick. Also, it’s kind of creepy to think about things moving behind your walls or above the ceiling, after all this is the sanctity of your home and these are not invited guests. In our history we have discovered carcasses of birds, cats, possums, and some unidentifiable species in spaces that make you ponder. In one house there were a six dead squirrels piled on top of one another that had electrocuted themselves by chewing through a wire. Squirrels apparently aren’t very smart since they didn’t depict from their friends’ demise the hazards of chewing, especially on the same wire. Another memorable incident was the bat cave. 

 
Upon removing to replace the siding in the peak of a 100 year old home we watched over 100 bats who fled from their coveted home into the sunset. Upon returning they discovered their eviction notice and the home was boarded up. Also, more common than you’d want to think about, we find rat or mouse trails cut into the insulation behind the sheetrock or fiberglass shower stalls.   

What’s more creepy? Discovering what these unwelcome intruders can do to the safety of your home and family. In the case of the squirrels, had it not been discovered, the damaged wire would have eventually ignited a fire in the attic space. In addition to damaging structural or mechanical components to a house, unwanted animals can leave urine, droppings, and/or dead carcass odors that may have you perplexed as to what is that smell? Some rodents can carry rabies. But don’t freak out, here are some preventative measures to help deter some of these animal break ins:

MICE can fit into an entry hole ¼ inch or larger.
Likely entry points: Garage, basement, gaps around utility lines.
Signs of infestation: 1/8-inch-long droppings; smell of urine; noises at night; holes gnawed in food boxes.
Best spots for traps: Along walls; anywhere you suspect activity.
Preventive measures: Seal exterior gaps with mortar; weatherstrip the bottom of basement and garage doors; keep all foodstuffs in hard plastic, glass, or steel containers.
Stopgap measures: Stuff copper mesh or bronze wool into foundation cracks.
RATS can fit into an entry hole: ¾ inch or larger.
Likely entry points: Garages, basements, rotted sills or foundations, damaged or unused drain pipes.
Signs of infestation: Black, greasy smudges around openings; smell of urine; ¼- to 5/8-inch-long droppings; nests of discarded food; fur; matted-down insulation; gnawing and squeaking at night.
Best spots for traps: Poisoned bait stations outside the house and around the perimeter of the property line.
Preventive measures: Eliminate all water and food sources around the house, including bird feeders and pet dishes; store food (pet and human) in airtight containers.
Stopgap measures: Cover entry points with hardware cloth or 16-gauge steel flashing.

SQUIRRELS can fit into entry hole: 2 ½ inches or larger.
Likely entry points: Where dormers meet roofs or where roof shingles overhang fascia boards. (The second-story men of household pests, squirrels can jump 10 to 12 feet through the air.)
Signs of infestation: Scampering noises in ceilings or attic; insulation missing from spots near eaves; ½- to 1-inch-long droppings; piles of nuts.
Best spots for traps: Live traps, clamped in place near the spot on the roof where they're getting in. Bait them with peanut butter, dried corn-on-the-cob, or suet.
Preventive measures: Prune trees away from house; keep roof and exterior trim in pristine repair; remove bird feeders.
Stopgap measures: Nail hardware cloth over potential entry points until they can be repaired.

Skunks: These four-legged stink bombs will easily burrow under your patio slab or stake out territory in your garage, crawl space, or basement. Hire a pro to trap them live and transport them elsewhere.
Bats: Given the opportunity, they'll happily take up residence in your attic for the summer and leave behind potentially disease-ridden guano as a present. Seal off their entranceways with a double layer of insect screen and hardware cloth, but only after you evict them first (Bat species are protected nationwide). Call in a pro to erect a "bat flap," a layer of screen that lets the bats crawl out but blocks their way back in.
Birds: In spring, starlings and sparrows have a knack for building nests in hidden, difficult-to-reach openings in a house. The louvered vents for dryer exhausts and the openings behind roof fascia are perennial favorites. Bar them from entering with hardware cloth. Take down the bird feeders that are attracting them to your property.
Raccoons: The masked marauders of the animal world, they'll barge down chimneys and into open garages or attic vents. Best captured with a live trap baited with peanut butter, suet, raw eggs, or dried corn on the cob. To keep them from coming back, cap your chimney, keep basement and garage doors closed, eliminate bird feeders and outdoor pet bowls, and lock down trash lids with bungee cords.
Snakes: In the fall, they'll work their way into openings around basement doors or cracks in foundation mortar, looking for a place to hibernate. They'll leave of their own accord when the weather warms up in spring. Seal those openings behind them.

Preventative measures information by Joseph D'AgneseThis Old House magazine