Ten Days in Australia

I've waited two months to write about my trip to Australia because it was so amazing I'm still processing it all. Since I was a kid I've wanted to go there, I grew up on Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin as the two on screen personalities that made me fall in love with the "accent" and over the years I've read stories and met many Australians who talked about the beauty and adventure that exists in their country. I have two cousins that grew up in California but now live in and are married to Australians and their stories and pictures further stimulated my desire to visit.

Australia was thrilling, there was never a dull moment and so many fantastic beach days and wildlife encounters. The family spent 10 days exploring various cities in Queensland and New South Wales along the east coast, we spent 3 days in Cairns, flew by plane to spend 3 days in Brisbane/Gold Coast, spent 1 day driving from Gold Coast to Sydney, and finished with 3 full days in Sydney before we flew home to California and we loved EVERY minute. I took hundreds of pictures but today I'm just sharing the highlights.

We rented a car for our entire stay in Australia. We got the hang of driving on the left side of the road after spending a week in New Zealand before arriving. Our first adventure took us out on a boat trip out of Port Douglas to the Great Barrier Reef. #bucketlist

We are not certified for scuba so we couldn't go out into the deep water, but the snorkeling was great, we saw giant sea turtles, little reef sharks, so many fish and coral, and a venomous sea snake, yikes! But it was thrilling to spend a day at the beach and in the water.

During our stay in Cairns, we rented a 2 bedroom place on Trinity Beach, they had an area netted off just beyond our condo for swimming since jellyfish ("stingers") are in the water in November.

Trinity Beach is a small coastal resort with a lot of vacation villas. It was close to everything with a gorgeous ocean view, I spent every morning walking the coast with my coffee in hand, these are two cell phone pics I snapped while the family snoozed, I simply can't sleep in on a beach vacation, I must get up early and feel the sand between my toes!

The next day took us up the road 20 minutes to Hartley's Crocodile Adventures and this place ranks top on our list of favorites. It was AMAZING. Hartley's is an outdoor preserve that allows you to get up REALLY close to the wildlife.

Can I just pause for a moment and say that crocodiles scare the bloody hell out of me. You too I imagine. So at Hartley's I couldn't believe how close you could get to the salt and freshwater crocs with only a fence to separate you. They have a lagoon with a boat reminiscent of the Disneyland Jungle Cruise except crikey, the crocs around the boat are REAL.

In between visiting the tame animal habitats, we watched two croc shows, one was a feeding where we learned all about their biology and natural habitat, at another show they demonstrated how crocs lurk under the murky water then JUMP out, OH MY GOD, and then they showed us at the attack show the underwater death roll, you can watch this one on You Tube which also shows it too. Wow.

At Hartley's there were a lot of cute critters that you needn't be afraid of, in fact you're welcome to pet them! Kangaroos, koalas, wallabys, and more. We fell in love with a harmless water dragon that hung around the cafe, I loved the pattern on his reptile skin. I was able to get up so close to so much of the wildlife, it was the best animal habitat I've ever been to.

These next two poses kill me.

Another place that's big on the list of things to do in Cairns is visit the Kuranda Village in the rainforest. You can take a train or a gondola, both are popular ways to get to Kuranda Village, but we didn't want to spend the money and time so we drove our car to the top to walk around the village. There is an animal habitat where you can see crocs, pet kangaroos, and hold a koala, also a shopping mecca where you can buy Australian made goods.

The highlight was the Butterfly Sanctuary in a gorgeous conservatory filled with thousands of fluttering butterflies and tropical foliage (it reminded me so much of this one in Niagara Falls).

Cheap and Easy Under the Kitchen Sink Organizing

Hello Bestlaminate fans! I'm back here at the Passion For Home blog to share some cheap & easy ways to organized under the kitchen sink. There is nothing like that feeling of having everything clean and organized. Sadly, I wasn't getting that feeling when I reached under my sink for the dish soap, so I decided to do something about it. If you are feeling "blah" about yours, you can too!

My under the sink storage space is pretty average, with two cabinet doors that meet in the middle and lots of plumbing pipes. The area wasn't horribly messy, but it was over-full and just not working properly, and that is something I'm really trying to remedy all over my home.

• Clean Slate: To get started, remove everything from the cabinet and set it on your counters. (in this photo, I had already taken more junk out of the cabinet. It was stuffed.)

• Take Stock: Assess what needs to live under the sink and find a cleaning closet or cupboard for what does not belong there. You don't want to clutter up the area with things that don't belong.

• Fresh Beginnings: Next wipe down and clean your cupboard. I took this opportunity to remove the stickers from the inside of my doors. I took a snapshot of the cabinet maker information before removing, printed it and filed it in my file cabinet.

Make sure your cabinet surface is clean and dry, and get ready to put the necessities back!

• The Basics: The first thing I added back was some shelf liner. You can find fun patterns everywhere. This was very inexpensive and I like the basic black & white color scheme. Shelf liner helps to protect your cabinet surface and it's easy to wipe clean.

• Vertical Storage: After deciding what was absolutely necessary, I began adding my items back. Something I'd been meaning to try was adding a tension rod across the width of the cabinet.

• Use Alternative Items For Storage: I slipped a chippy enamelware cup on my tension rod before I positioned it in the cabinet. It proved the perfect size for holding sponges.

• Tensions rods are perfect for slipping spray bottle triggers on and it makes them easy to grab & get to!

• Do What Makes The Most Sense For You: For me, and my plumbing configuration, I wanted minimal and streamlined. I can't really reach anything in the back of my cabinet unless I remove everything from the front, and that is just frustrating.

• Of course, if you need the extra storage, use it! Less frequently used supplies can be stored towards the back of the cabinet.

• Eye Pleasing Storage: Dishes are my least favorite chore. I will scrub bathrooms to avoid doing a sink-full of dishes. Don't ask. I know it's so silly! I thought maybe having a mini strainer for my sink stoppers, and putting my dishwasher pacs in a pretty glass jar would be nice. And it is!

• Multi-Use Organizers: Another thing I did to help this spot be better organized, was to add a pot lid holder to the right side of the cabinet. We were pressed for space to hold our cutting boards and trays and I thought this might do the trick.

It works wonderfully! Now we can slide them in, instead of stacking them in a messy pile. The cutting boards are there, right at the sink where we need them and our snack trays are easy to wipe off in the sink and slip in a slot.

This solution could work great for cookies sheets too if you are lacking a good place to store yours.

Now, I know this isn't a mind-blowing makeover, but it's a nice, simple project that can make your everyday life a little easier and might just make the beginning or end of your day a little smoother.

Now, when I walk in the kitchen, I know that the area under the sink isn't messy & yucky. And it feels nice!

I might even be a little more joyful when I do the dishes.

And a little more JOY is a good thing.

More Ways To Organize Your Home:

• Tips For Decorating and Organizing a Kids Bathroom


• Tips To Get Your Entryway Organized In The New Year


• 3 Simple Tips To Get Your Home Organized

The post Cheap and Easy Under the Kitchen Sink Organizing appeared first on Passion for Home - Bestlaminate Blog.

MUST-HAVE: New Products From Karastan / Mohawk's 2016 Collection!

Laminate wood-look flooring

You know I love a good antelope patterned rug.

I've done it here and here. The one I've used is from Stark.

Well now I have an alternative for instances when a budget won't allow for that Stark pattern that I love.

Karastan Man Cave - Antelope

This one from Karastan / Mohawk. They have zebra too. :-)

Karastan Bedroom - Radiant Zebra

We're all seeing more people go to wood flooring these days. It has to do with dust and allergies and really just people wanting something easier to care for.

Karastan has an incredible SmartStrand carpet that is the most amazing carpet for keeping stains at bay, but Karastan also wants to provide more choices for wood flooring owners, too. They know that once a wood floor goes down in a home the first thing homeowners want is a rug.

They want something to soften it up...to frame a seating group...to provide some color or pattern in a room.

So, Karastan has stepped up to provide more patterns, colors, and styles for a more economical way to get a rug into a room. I've had some rugs that retailed for $10,000 for a large rug. Many do. And down here in Texas, we have big houses; houses that would be awfully cold and uninviting without some softness under foot.

With carpet or rolled goods, you can make the rug any size you want. You can do something oversized, or something that has a weird angle or needs a particular shape cut out. There is a lot of flexibility available when designing a rug with carpet bound to the size and shape you want.

Karastan knows that and has provided.

Patterned carpets from Karastan - Photo by Tori Aston

Patterned carpet from Karastan

Patterned carpets from Karastan

We saw more great intros in their Mohawk wood look floors.

There was a big table with 6 kinds of wood type flooring. By wood type I mean laminate, sheet vinyl, duraceramic, tile, actual wood, etc.,...all that looked like wood. We had to look and touch and figure out which was which. Well, I got the wood and vinyl right. :-/

Mohawk - Guessing which was real wood - Photo Tori Aston

Mohawk - Guessing which was real wood - Photo - Tori Aston

Wood look sheet vinyl

I'm so glad to have more options in my corner for my clients.

These are great options for lower budget purposes and for spaces that have maintenance or wearability issues.

Mohawk - Photo by Tori Aston

*Karastan / Mohawk is a sponsor of Modenus BlogTour's Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). All opinions contained within this article are those of Carla Aston of DESIGNED w/ Carla Aston and have not been influened by any of the aforementioned parties.

Karastan is part of Mohawk Industries, a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of broadloom carpet, ceramic tile, wood, stone, laminate, vinyl, rugs and other home products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which, in addition to Karastan, include Mohawk, Ralph Lauren, Lees, Bigelow, Dal-Tile and American Olean. Mohawk's unique merchandising and marketing assists customers in creating the consumer's dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations.

How To Deal With Lead Paint

It’s probably fair to say that we’ve dealt with our fair share of messy home improvements. We’ve tackled everything from removing tonnes (literally) of tarmac to tiling our roof, but one of the most frequent questions we get asked is about how to deal with lead paint. ‘May contain lead paint’ is one the many... 

Read More »

The post How To Deal With Lead Paint appeared first on Little House On The Corner.

Favorites Under $50: IKEA Storage

Hi friends! I hope you enjoyed your weekend, we had a blue sky Sunday so I sat outdoors for an hour, soaking up some rays, it's amazing what a small amount of sunshine can do for the body and mind in the middle of winter.

You may have spied the badge in my sidebar announcing this year I've signed on as a Brand Ambassadör for IKEA this year. It's a natural fit since I've been a fan for a decade and have used dozens of their products over the years. I'll be featuring a few original DIY posts using IKEA products later this spring.

IKEA is one of the most affordable sources for storage products and since I'm reorganizing around the house, I ordered some baskets to help me corral some craft supplies. I also spied more organizational products that provide functionality and great style, all under $50, roundup below.

The Gunnern Pedestal makes a great mini side table, plant stand, or toiletry holder for the bathroom, available in 4 colors, $40.

 

The Knodd Bin has a classic pail shape and comes in two sizes, it's versatile for storage in all spaces, craft rooms, kitchens, even the garage, or perhaps to hold pet food or as a compost bin? $15 for the 4 gallon, $25 for the 11 gallon, also in gray and black.

 

Oh hello classy black stripes on this $19 Maffens Basket. Use this to hold blankets in the family room, towels in the bathroom, or toys in a kid's room, but wouldn't it also make a stylish planter?

  

The clever design of the bamboo Ragrund chair also includes a towel rack, perfect for small spaces, and it does double duty as a place to sit or prop so you paint your toenails while your towel dries, $50.

 

This powder coated grey Hindo Shelf has an industrial vibe, it can be used outdoors to store potting supplies, also indoors in a kid's room or home office for book storage, bonus hooks on the side too, $50.

 

This little Kvissle cable management box is a lovely way to hide charging cords and provide a prop for cell phones, a chic little office accessory for $10.

  

This Bygel Utility Cart is quite versatile as a moveable storage station. Use it to store beauty products? School or art supplies? How about as a bar cart? Endless possibilities for $30.

 

This $13 Risatorp Wire Basket is cute enough to be left out on the counter to store fruits or vegetables, or perhaps for your ribbons or balls of yarn? I bought four for my closet reorganization project to hold craft supplies.

 

All images courtesy of IKEA.

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Designer Review: Multi-Talented Designer Kelly Wearstler

When it comes to multi-talented designers, West coast designer Kelly Wearstler takes the cake. She started as an interior designer in the 1990s. Since her beginnings, she has spread into designing her own fashion line, home product line, jewelry, authoring 4 design books, opening her flagship store in 2011, serving as a judge on Bravo’s show Top Design, and was a guest editor for In Style Magazine.

Wearstler’s style can best be described as luxury mixed with romance and a modern touch. Architectural Digest described her style as “Hollywood Regency.” She’s known to mix lacquer, chrome, brass, bold prints and patterns, rich colors and textures, and multiple furniture styles, including her own.

If you’re looking to bring this kind of glamour and luxury into your own home, here are some tips based on Wearstler’s design style.

Choose Bold Flooring

One thing you’ll notice about Wearstler is her love of bold and graphic flooring – anything from checkerboard pattern to a kaleidoscope marble. Her flooring choices make a bold statement up front and set the tone for the grandness in the rest of her design.

If you want to make a bold flooring statement in your own home, an affordable option would be exotic laminate flooring. Or, if you’re wanting a less permanent option, a large area rug in a bold print or funky pattern can make the statement you’re looking for.

Entryway Designed by Kelly Wearstler on Elle Decor

Chrome, Brass, and Mirrors, Oh My!

Wearstler is known for her use of chrome, brass, and mirrors, among other metals. It’s one of the key elements she uses in her designs that achieve that level of Hollywood glamour and sophistication.

If you’re not able to bring these metals to life in big scale, then you can bring these elements to life in furniture, funky wall mirrors, and light fixtures. You could choose a mirror or brass covered buffet for the dining room, chrome light fixtures for the bathroom, or create a mirror wall out of a collection of interesting mirrors.

Kitchen Designed by Kelly Wearstler on Elle Decor

Pops Of Color

You’ll see in some of Wearstler’s designs that she doesn’t use a smattering of colors. She tends to create a space in bold rich darker colors and then if she want to introduce a pop of vibrant color she’ll choose a carefully selected piece of vibrantly colored furniture (and then she might pair it with a coordinating, but more subdued, rug or art piece).

Create interest in your own rooms by choosing a piece of furniture that is bold in color and stands out. For example, choose funky turquoise side tables or a magenta chair to add the pop of color to your living room.

Dining Room Designed by Kelly Wearstler on Elle Decor

Interested in knowing more about Kelly and her empire? You can find her on any social media platform here.

More Designer Reviews:

• Designer Review: Dallas Interior Designer Emily Johnston Larkin at EJ Interiors


• Designer Review: Holland Based Studio Marco Vermeulen


• Designer Review: David Bromstad

The post Designer Review: Multi-Talented Designer Kelly Wearstler appeared first on Passion for Home - Bestlaminate Blog.