First, let me apologize for being absent since my first blog post. I have been busy with work and readying my Southern home in anticipation of hosting a wedding shower this coming weekend. Furthermore, being a crazy, spontaneous couple, we decided to install new flooring in the guest bath last week and I am still recovering from that escapade. But, I must say that it looks smashing and I will share my experience from that adventure in a future blog.
The winning genre for this blog post was overwhelming cleaning. So the topic that I have for today is a tip that I use during my daily cleaning routine. First, I have a rather large dog who loves to look out the 7 foot tall windows that seem to envelop all of the space in the public areas of my home. Since she wants to get the perfect, close-up view of the goings-on outside, she presses her cold, wet window to the glass. When we first moved into this house, over 3 years ago, I would go through the equivalent of Windex and paper towels that Macy's Herald Square must during the Christmas season. However, I soon learned, by accident if I recall correctly, of the amazing power of the Microfiber Cloth. Now, whenever my darling Weimaraner gets the window dirty, I simply wipe the spot with a wet cloth and then dry it with the microfiber cloth.
Someone once told me that the best way to clean a mirror was to use newsprint paper instead of paper towels. I found this idea to be a farce and found my hands to end up blackened. I have learned that you can use the same microfiber device for streak-free mirrors as well. However, I must warn that if the microfiber cloth leaves lint, it will end up on your mirrors. Another trick that I have found for streak less cleaning is to clean the mirror with Windex as normal and then "buff" out the streaks with a cotton t-shirt or cotton bath towel. This is what I do most often to ensure that my reflection looks its best in the mirror.
That's all for today, y'all! Until next time, I wish you all happy Southern lives!
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Design: The “Rule” of Three
I decided that
my first blog topic would involve the world of interior design. I chose design because that seems to be the
area of expertise in which most find I excel.
I love to entice the “wow” factor when visitors enter my home or the
other spaces that I have designed.
However, the fact of the matter is that anyone can do what I have done in
my home. To me, good interior design is
both an art and a science. It does take
an “eye” to know what works and what doesn’t.
But, there are some rules to follow that can help one take what they
already have and make it look better.
I’ve chosen the first rule as my first blog topic for The Southern
Domestic Gentleman.
The rule of three, which I use when displaying most, if not all, of my decorative items was first conceived in the 18th century by a British engraver named John Thomas Smith*. This is a very simple, yet poignant way to display any items you have in the space with which you are working. Just like the rule states, you group items in that area into groups of three.
I like to take this rule and add onto it further by using the “pyramid rule.” To do this, take your three items and group them so that the highest object is in the middle and the two smaller objects are on each side. The human eye tends to process objects by “reading” them from left to right and short to tall.
As you can see from the picture on the left of my fireplace mantle, I have taken two groups of three items and placed them on each side of my mantle.
Notice in the close-up images on the right that each grouping also takes on the pyramid or triangle shape.
Do you have to stop with three objects? Absolutely not! I find that any grouping of odd numbered items works as well. As a rule, I try not to go over five. Therefore, I tend to group things by themselves, in groups of three, or groups of five.
I hope that this easy tip will help you in your home. I'd love to see this idea used in your home! E-mail your photos to me at edwinwallace05@gmail.com and I might share them with all of my blog readers. Until next time, have a great Southern day!
The rule of three, which I use when displaying most, if not all, of my decorative items was first conceived in the 18th century by a British engraver named John Thomas Smith*. This is a very simple, yet poignant way to display any items you have in the space with which you are working. Just like the rule states, you group items in that area into groups of three.
I like to take this rule and add onto it further by using the “pyramid rule.” To do this, take your three items and group them so that the highest object is in the middle and the two smaller objects are on each side. The human eye tends to process objects by “reading” them from left to right and short to tall.
Notice in the close-up images on the right that each grouping also takes on the pyramid or triangle shape.Do you have to stop with three objects? Absolutely not! I find that any grouping of odd numbered items works as well. As a rule, I try not to go over five. Therefore, I tend to group things by themselves, in groups of three, or groups of five.
I hope that this easy tip will help you in your home. I'd love to see this idea used in your home! E-mail your photos to me at edwinwallace05@gmail.com and I might share them with all of my blog readers. Until next time, have a great Southern day!
*Copyright Wikipedia.com. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thomas_Smith_(engraver)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)