Designer Crafts Thoughtful Brand
Salisbury, NC — When Sara Lee started her design business in Salisbury, North Carolina, she knew just what to name it – SISU Home Designs. “SISU is personal to me,” says Lee. “It is a word used by my grandmother and mother of Finnish and Norwegian heritage. In one word, it embodies determination, potential, grit, freedom, courage, preparedness, strength, community and heart.” She adds, “In the business of design, there is inherent potential for what is possible.”
This inherent potential of design has, according to Lee, always been part of what drives her. “I always enjoyed setting up rooms and drawing house plans, even as a child,” she says. “Design school was a natural decision, and I specifically fell in love with kitchen and bath design. There is so much technicality, plus creativity. It’s problem-solving, communicating and wonderfully challenging.”
Branding a journey
Like most in the industry, Lee worked her way up from the bottom. “My first opportunity was with a large cabinet manufacturer, and I worked in marketing and sales, drawing plans for nationwide Lowe’s store displays and ‘The New American Home’ projects.” After a subsequent stint with a small dealer in order to gain more sales experience, she moved to Washington, DC to get a feel for the luxury market at a high-end showroom.
“A move to North Carolina in 2013 gave me new opportunities to serve a uniquely southern clientele,” she continues. “I thrived and felt a new confidence for what I could do for people and their spaces.”
When it came time to hang out her own shingle, Lee was careful to take her personal journey in the industry into account, working with an expert to create a cohesive narrative across all her digital channels.
“The branding [for SISU] was created by a lovely woman in London – we had much communication about who I am and what SISU represents,” she says. “The brand experience engages the senses and imagination through a visual narrative that is timeless, elegant and full of intentional detail – a visual identity that speaks with poetry and textural appeal to communicate inherent possibility and expertise.”
She adds, “Consistency is important. The brand carries over into social media and, I believe, sets a standard of credibility.” The Instagram presence of SISU in particular features a balance of crisp, beautifully staged project imagery, personal touches and anecdotes and graphics featuring the company’s sprouting plant-inspired logo.
New growth
Like the little sprout featured in SISU’s logo, Lee cultivates her client relationships carefully. “I get to know my clients through many meetings, calls and even texts,” she notes. “I have the privilege of going into people’s homes, and that requires trust, and I honor that. Our welcome packet actually goes over the entire process from beginning consultation to photoshoot day! It gives my clients a nice road map of what will happen over the course of the next few months.”
Looking ahead to the new year, Lee anticipates growth for her business. “Plans for 2022: I would love to hire some help and continue moving toward having a fantastic showroom.” 
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Creating an Elegant Waterfront Dream
Hicksville, NY — Sometimes, some of the best projects start with a complex story. Such was the case with this recent renovation, which involved a tear down and rebuild of the Northport, NY home sited on the shores of Long Island Sound.
The homeowner and builder (Jato Builders) had visited several firms looking for a collaborative kitchen designer who could help bring to fruition the client’s vision for an elegant residence with a coastal design vibe.
“She’s very particular and she just wasn’t making a connection with anyone,” recalls Ellen Lopez, CMKBD/founder/principal designer, EL Design Studio, in Hicksville, NY. “That’s when I received a phone call from a friend and fellow designer who asked if I would be interested in the project. The homeowner came to my studio and we hit it off immediately.”
Focus on the Waterfront
One of the challenges in finding the right designer was finding someone who could navigate the challenges associated with the relatively large space and the homeowner’s wishes. Specifically, she wanted a kitchen that was unique – i.e., nothing ‘cookie cutter’ – with a functional layout. She also wanted a focus on the waterfront and elegant materials and finishes – including those that would play off of the reflective and shimmery chandelier she had already selected to float above the adjacent eating area.
Lopez’s client wanted a design that included elegant materials and finishes – including those that would play off of the reflective and shimmery chandelier she had already selected to float above the adjacent eating area. The breathtaking vista of the Long Island Sound played a significant role in the kitchen’s design.
“The whole design concept actually started with the light fixture,” she says. “We wanted to keep everything elegant to live up to it, yet keep it toned down a bit so it wouldn’t be overpowering.”
The breathtaking vista of the Long Island Sound also played a significant role in the design.
“The view is the focal point,” she relates, adding that the home’s location is very peaceful and serene. “We didn’t want to detract from it.”
To accommodate, a wall of windows and patio doors with transoms and arched mullions stretch the length of the kitchen and into the adjacent dining room. The color palette and material selection also pay homage to the view.
“We wanted to bring the North Shore of Long Island’s color palette into the house, which we achieved with a variety of materials and wood tones,” Lopez explains. The resulting mix of soft, natural tones is accentuated with a perfect balance of accent colors to provide definition and detail.
For example, Cambria Skara Brae quartz countertops and accent walls, which are tucked behind wooden floating shelves, feature dramatic earth-toned veins set against a bone white background that draw the eye around the room and capture the ebb and flow of the water beyond the windows. Its light and dark tones are repeated in the custom EL Design Studio cabinetry, which is accented with Rocky Mountain Hardware and walnut interiors. The former color tone is represented by the perimeter cabinets and the latter is echoed in the island, which is sheathed in a custom finish that reflects the colors and textures of rocks and pebbles outside. To visually minimize its large dimension, Lopez topped the island with a combination of quartz and custom-figured maple. The wood, from Grothouse, is stained dark and rich to add elegance, depth and strength.
“In a sense, the combination of materials tricks the eye,” she states, adding that elevating the wood eases the transition between the surfaces and gives the wood an impressive and stately appearance. “I didn’t want just one giant piece of stone. Instead, the mix of materials, and the light versus dark, is more interesting and inviting.”
Lopez incorporated plenty of seating, a prep sink and the Thermador range into the island. Hovering above, the ventilation hood – built collectively by Birchcraft Kitchens and Grothouse – also includes antiqued mirrors that reflect the water.
The Importance of Work Flow
Because Lopez’s client loves to cook, creating a functional layout was critical…and challenging, given the fact that she had an extensive appliance wish list that included two wall ovens and a 36″ range, two dishwashers, a microwave drawer and a built-in coffee machine. Plus, she wanted a walk-in pantry with entry provided from within the kitchen.
Lopez accented the pantry door with antiqued mirrors to add interest. Plus, the mirror offers a reflection of the water. Inside, the designer included several unexpected details, including glass/wire mesh upper cabinets, open shelves and a wood countertop.
“It took three iterations to find the perfect layout that established a good work flow in an aesthetically pleasing space,” she indicates.
With one wall dedicated to the view, and therefore unavailable for wall or tall cabinetry, the designer focused on creating rhythm and flow with a small work triangle consisting of the Kohler Whitehaven Cashmere farmhouse sink and Thermador range and refrigerator. Tucked within is the Miele coffee machine and a Thermador microwave drawer.
A separate Thermador column freezer is a few steps away on the opposite side of the arched entrance into the great room. Turning the corner, Lopez placed two additional ovens. Across from another arched entrance, this time into the formal dining room, she included a television, countertop with additional storage and the entrance into the hidden pantry, which sits behind the wall. To add interest, Lopez accented the door with antiqued mirrors.
“I created the entry to look like a tall cabinet, rather than a door,” she explains. “Plus, the mirror offers a reflection of the water so everyone, including those seated at the nearby banquette with their backs to the window, can see the view.”
Inside the pantry, Lopez included several unexpected details, including glass/wire mesh upper cabinets, open shelves and another Grothouse wood countertop. 
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Manufacturers Examine Supply Stresses
The DPH manufacturer concentrates on quality product and superior customer service. We are expected to provide both at competitive prices and with as little friction as possible, and I would say, most of us do. However, as we’ve witnessed the ‘Amazoning’ of the marketplace, amplified by a pandemic world, DPH manufacturers are fighting to maintain stability between logical expectations and ‘the Amazon effect.’ While we all appreciate the convenience of an Amazon marketplace, not all products can be treated equally. Unlike some other industries, hardware, plumbing, appliances and lighting often have specific shipping, installation and service needs.
Manufacturers are often viewed simply as marketers and salespeople, but as you may have seen when visiting a factory, manufacturing is a multi-faceted and complex business. Manufacturers in the U.S. and around the world are more tightly bound together through raw materials, labor and freight than may appear from a finished product.
TIES THAT BIND
Raw Materials: These are tied to industries as varied as oil and microchips. Most can be, and are, sourced nationally, but some must be sourced internationally. The flow of these products is regulated by countries, politics and commerce vagaries all around the world. In a normal year, price increases are expected and applied where necessary. In a COVID year, price increases have been compounded by national and worldwide slowdowns in supply, and increases are reflecting the upheaval.
Ben Alliker of HamatUSA explains, “2020 was not kind to many parts of the construction industry, mainly due to increased demand and decreased supply. Appliances and lumber both faced an initial crunch, and appliances remain on short supply and long lead times. For many DPH manufacturers, it was a mixed bag. Kitchen products, unlike a shower valve or new freestanding tub filler, don’t require an extensive remodel project. It’s relatively easy to install a new kitchen sink and faucet into an existing kitchen. Because of a huge number of people staying home across the world, and the relative ease of installation, HamatUSA saw a huge spike in demand over the summer and into the fall for kitchen sinks and faucets – both in the U.S. and in foreign markets.”
Production and Inventory: For manufacturers, this is handled in a wide variety of ways. That is to say some manufacturers work on a made-to-order, just-in-time basis with very little inventory, while others continually produce and maintain large inventories. There are pros and cons to both, but both take deft skills to balance output with demand and costs with profit.
Freight Costs: Costs associated with shipping have skyrocketed. The freight industry has been working throughout the pandemic, putting themselves at risk, but also realizing their undeniable necessity to the buying public. Their charges are reflecting their increased importance. ‘Fuel surcharges’ have become more common. Most DPH manufacturers have decided to keep freight rates as stable as possible, absorb many increases and/or set free freight levels.
LABOR AND SERVICE
Returns and Restocks: There is no easy fix for returns and restocks, which have become a flash point. We know, stuff happens. We all want to make these transactions as painless as possible. However, returns in our segment are not as easy as logging on and printing off a return label or simply scanning a QR code. Returns and restocks are expensive for everyone and cannot be ‘solved’ by simply raising prices to try and speed up the process. The customer changed their mind? It happens. But a faucet, toilet, steam unit, drain or tub cannot simply be Rambo-taped back into its packaging and dropped off. Return transport, reception and inspection, repair (if necessary), repacking (if possible) and return to inventory are only a few of the things that need to happen to a return. But, let’s be honest. We all know that a consumer wants a new product, so reselling product is difficult and frowned upon. What can be done with returned goods in our industry? How many ways are there to reduce, reuse, recycle? Manufacturers are often caught in a difficult position to satisfy consumers even when issues are not manufacturing related.
“Absorbing the costs associated with returns would most likely come with a price increase,” says Barbara Kratus of Infinity Drain. “Ultimately, it’s the consumer who will pay for it in the end, whether it’s Prime delivery or no-questions-asked returns – just as they do now on Amazon or any other online retailer where it’s baked into the price.”
Harris Wattles of Amba Products adds, “Re-stock fees are put into place for a variety of reasons, and a price increase simply to help offset a reduction/elimination of restock fees is not the answer to the problem. Increasing our prices for this reason will only make it harder to compete with other brands, especially the low-cost companies that you frequently see on Amazon, further eroding a company’s image while likely pricing our products out of the market.”
Labor Costs: In manufacturing, these are more competitive than ever. Recruiting, hiring and retaining the best people at every position is not exclusively difficult to showrooms or agencies. Most jobs in DPH manufacturing are not on assembly lines, but rather require trade training or artistic skill.
“Production facilities (during COVID) had less time/resources available for new product production. As responsible suppliers, we had to initiate protocols to keep production teams safe and healthy,” Alliker explains. “That universally meant less people in the factory at one time, and different production schedules, and thus decreased production capacity. We have seen COVID-related delays to the supply chain for new components as they also deal with COVID realities.”
Service: This is the other main component to successful manufacturing. We all remember bad service when we encounter it, and good service doesn’t always get recognized but is expected at all levels. Good service can be a simple smiling voice or a clear instruction about how to turn something on and off. Good service to a consumer can be slowly walking through how to operate a control, or good service can become bad service by not changing out that same control, that is working properly, because the user doesn’t like how the control operates. There is a fine line between the customer always being right and easy, on-site solutions.
Labor Costs: These are now jungle competitive in the field. Skilled tradespeople have never been as busy as they are now. Product support for warranty issues or installation inspections is a critical component in the overall experience of a product offering. Your warranty can be 100 years, but if you can’t get a professional to a job site, it’s not worth much. And we are all dependent upon how professional and experienced the tradesperson working with us can be during the initial installation or follow up servicing.
“I think products that incorporate tech could inspire young people to enter the trades,” says Kratus. “There are incredible innovations in building materials! We have to tout that at all levels of the building process.”
Patrick Weidl of ThermaSol adds, “ThermaSol, like many of us, is reliant on two trades – plumbers and electricians – to install the products. Have their expectations changed? Yes, absolutely. To meet those expectations, we introduced virtual trainings as it relates to product knowledge, installation and general 101s.”
The web runs the world. It would be an understatement to say that the web has gotten us through a lot this past year and we have all learned new angles to using it. It has become indispensable to our everyday lives. You can order a car, a boat, a diamond necklace, your groceries, birdfeed, a towel bar or a potty, all from the phone in your hand.
But as we all know, the web is a catch-22 for everyone selling product, any product, around the world. Amazon and similar companies ruled the web pre-COVID but now all companies have improved their online presence either as a seller or simply as a store window showing off their skills and products. Today, if your store front isn’t well represented on the web, your brick and mortar isn’t going to get the attention it deserves. We’ve all become accustomed to checking out a product or business on the web before we head out to see it. A web search can be simply to see what kind of COVID protocols are in place or to actually see if the product you want is on display or to read reviews of that product or business.
Web views and reviews are, without a doubt, a crucial component to the future of business. We’ve seen how reviews shape the perception of a product or company and how reviewers, paid and unpaid, can affect mom and pop start-ups, large corporations and government agencies, to name a few. The world watches and reads what everyone has to say about a product whether what is being said is true or valuable. They can literally make or break a business. So, we ask, should we raise our prices to be more ‘Amazon-like’?
It’s been a challenging time for all, but the future of construction and renovation is bright, and we are hopeful. 
Kimberly Frechette is the national sales manager at Americh Corporation. She has worked in manufacturing, distribution and sales in the bathroom segment for 30 years. Frechette has been involved with DPHA for 18 years and is a returning Board member.
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IKEA Cabinet-Greenhouse Hacks
Space is at a premium in most apartments. You want to grow your food, but you don’t have the space for a full-sized greenhouse or even a small one. Well, with that limited space you have in your apartment, Ikea cabinet greenhouse hacks are the best way to go.
For plant enthusiasts, finding the perfect balance of creativity and plant displays is an art. Everyone loves it when plant parents show off their favorite tropical plants while creating a perfect environment for the plant. And that’s where the Ikea greenhouse cabinet hack comes in.
Countless individuals have turned their IKEA cabinets into growing systems by adding home components like grow lights, fans, and special herbs. Here are some great ideas for transforming your IKEA cabinet into a greenhouse:
Features of the Ikea Greenhouse Cabinet
Robin Schouten, the founder of a popular Instagram page @Ikeagreenhouse cabinet, states that the Ikea cabinet greenhouse features IKEA cabinets that were converted into greenhouses for tropical plants.
Schouten, the founder of an Instagram account called Ikea greenhouse cabinet, was looking for a glass greenhouse for her humidity-loving plants and found people using these Ikea DIY ideas. In this trending DIY hack, plant parents transformed glass Ikea cabinets into indoor greenhouses, making it ideal for plant enthusiasts to deal with their limited space.
It’s fairly easy, and all you need is a glass cabinet, grow lights, a small fan, and a humidifier. These Ikea greenhouse cabinets are versatile and can be cheap and simple or expensive and complex as you want. It all depends on your budget, DIY skills, commitments, and the type of plants you want to keep inside them.
Acquire Ikea Glass Cabinet Choices for Greenhouse Hacking
Ikea offers a lot of glass cabinets that you can transform into a greenhouse. These include the detolf, fabrikor, milsbo and rudsta. These Ikea glass cabinet hacks are available in different colors and sizes. Make sure you find one that suits you.
Install Grow Light
You can install fluorescent grow lights and a simple timer to keep your houseplants alive. Fluorescent tubes are cheaper, relatively cool, and very easy to set up. You can also use LED grow lights that are more expensive but last longer. They are very efficient compared to normal light bulbs. A fan is also necessary because it helps circulate air inside the cabinet.
Perfect the Air Environment
You can grow any plant you want in your greenhouse, but these plants are helpful for tropical plants which require high humidity. In this case, add a small humidifier and tray filled with water. Include mini fans to help with air circulation and prevent mold from growing. You can also monitor the climate by keeping a temperature and humidity gauge on one of the shelves.
Customize Your Liking
You can customize your greenhouse. There are shelves, hooks, and baskets that you can glue to fit your needs. You can also use Ikea cabinet doors or covers to make sure all of your plants do not go directly on the wall or floor of the cabinet. This is an awesome way to reuse old cabinets.
This greenhouse will help produce healthy plants, vegetables, and food for your family. Some people add pegboards, fern wood panels, and a wire rack to the back of the cabinet to clip stems and vines as plants grow. Others like adding heat mats, weather stripping, and replacing glass shelves with wire or acrylic ones.
All of these are not necessary. Beyond the main function of houseplants, indoor greenhouses are meant to please the eyes, so arrange the plants as you wish and keep monitoring their conditions to ensure their success.
Ikea Greenhouse Cabinets
Robin Schouten’s Fabrikor and Milsbo Greenhouse Setup
Robin Schouten’s greenhouse setup is pretty simple. A 3-tier Fabrikor shelving unit was attached to the wall, then a Milsbo cabinet just below it, followed by smaller plants on the top shelf. Two mini fans were used to increase airflow, and she uses grow lights in an area that doesn’t get much light. This would be perfect for growing strawberries or other vines that need support to hold them up.
A Vancouver Collector’s Milsbo Cabinet DIY Greenhouse
The plants inside this setup include basil plants and fig trees, both taking advantage of growing on top of cupboards that have fluorescent lighting that can be turned on at any given time. The Milsbo is retrofitted with wire shelves to allow better airflow than the glass shelves it comes with.
There are also three grow light panels, weather stripping, a small fan for air circulation, and a water tray to boost humidity. There is a hygrometer to monitor the temperature and humidity.
A Gorgeous DIY Terrarium from an IKEA Fabrikor Cabinet
There are a few steps involved in the process of building one of these units. One of the most important is to find an existing cabinet with a backlight that you can remove or buy a Fabrikor piece that allows for this feature.
This unit gets air from a small computer fan that blows into it from the back, and there is a removable water tray for easy watering of the plants. It’s sealed and waterproofed by installing fiberglass at the bottom so that it can open and close.
3 Cabinets for a Huge Aroid Collection
The owner of this house has a nice IKEA Fabrikor unit that he mounted to the wall to store his impressive colocasia and yucca collection. As you can see, it also houses some other plants, like an interesting-looking cactus.
The interior is filled with soil, and drainage holes were added to make it easy to keep plants alive. It’s a cheap but interesting approach to home plant storage.
FAQs about Ikea Cabinet Greenhouse Hacks
What can you grow in your greenhouse cabinets?
You can grow anything in your greenhouse Ikea, ranging from succulents, vegetables, and cacti.
Can you use perlite instead of a humidity tray?
Yes, this is an alternative way to increase air moisture for the benefit of your housing plants.
Final Thought about Ikea Cabinet Greenhouse Hacks
Well, that’s all about Ikeas cabinet greenhouse hacks. So, pick one according to your budget, DIY skills, and plant requirements to enjoy your indoor greenhouse.
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How to Grow Oriental Poppy Plants
Growing Oriental poppies is a fun and rewarding experience. However, it can be hard to know what you need to do before planting them in your garden. Oriental poppies are beautiful flowering plants that you can grow indoors or outdoors.
They are usually planted in the spring and bloom during the summer season. The flowers of these plants come in different colors including red, pink, white, purple, maroon, orange, salmon, and peach. These beautiful flowers attract many butterflies and bees, making them a perfect addition to your flower garden.
What are Oriental Poppies?
Oriental poppies, also known as Papaver Orientale are herbaceous perennial flowers with large, brightly colored blooms featuring petals reminiscent of crepe paper. Oriental poppies are grown mainly for their flowers, although they bear attractive foliage in spring.
The big, thistle-like leaves of Oriental poppy are downy, deeply lobed, and rich green, offering aesthetic value in their own right. What makes the Oriental poppy a good cut flower is its tightly packed leaves and stiff and hairy flower stems.
Oriental Poppy Plant Care
Indigenous to elevated lands in Western Asia, the Oriental poppy has naturalized in parts of North America that have cold winters. This cold-hardy plant hates high heat and humidity; instead, this perennial needs cold temperatures in the winter and fares poorly for most parts south of planting zone 8.
Make sure you mulch around oriental poppies for the first couple of years for winter protection because most varieties are clump-forming. Also, propagate them by seed instead of transplanting because the clumps are slow to become established. Oriental poppy has multiple uses, which makes it a valuable garden plant.
Sunlight Requirements
Make sure you plant your oriental poppies in full sun. This will not only promote better flowering but will also encourage a bushy habit. If you want a tall, slender plant, then choose a location with some afternoon shade. Full sun will also reduce the chances of powdery mildew infestation, which is a potential problem with oriental poppies. At least six hours of sun a day will help your plant to thrive.
Soil Requirement
The soil should be fertile and well-drained. The plants need a lot of water in summer but less in winter. They are extremely intolerant to wet soils, so choose your planting site carefully by avoiding low areas that remain damp for long periods.
Growing your oriental poppy in a well-drained soil enriched with compost will give the best blooms. Oriental poppy also prefers neutral to slightly acidic pH. Root rot can be a problem if the pH is too high so make sure you test the soil pH and ensure it doesn’t exceed the limit.
Water Requirements
Poppies like moist but well-draining soil throughout the entire growing season and regular watering. Make sure you water when the soil is dry and avoid overwatering, especially during dormancy. Poppies grown in containers will need more frequent watering than those in the ground.
Water regularly and thoroughly so that water runs out of the planting holes at the bottom of pots. Poppies are drought tolerant; however, they will flower less and instead put their energy into developing more leaves and stems, making them greener but not as attractive.
Temperature and Humidity
Poppies don’t like it too hot. As a general rule, if you are comfortable outside, the poppy will be happy. It can tolerate temperatures down to 20°F, but you must protect the flower buds from an early frost that could damage or kill them. This plant doesn’t prefer high heat and humidity. They grow in hardiness zones 3 through 9.
Fertilizer
Poppies require well-draining soil and regular fertilization. They respond very well to all forms of fertilizer, including slow-release fertilizer in the spring. Be careful not to over-fertilize. Too much fertilizer will cause the plant’s energy to be put into producing flowers rather than leaves and stems.
Fertilize in spring just before new growth appears. If you already have fertile soil, use ammonium sulfate instead because it also contains some nitrogen. If it is too late for this application, you can side dress the soil with compost or manure tea. Make your own compost for your plants and you’ll like the outcome.
Propagating Oriental Poppies from Seed
If you have an adult poppy plant, the division is easiest to propagate new poppy plants. There are a couple of ways to do this. The first way is called layering. This takes several weeks and should only be done if you want just one or two new plants.
To layer oriental poppy, bend one of the stalks down to the ground, and bury it in the soil where it touches the ground. Hold the stalk down with a rock or other object. Water frequently while your Oriental poppy is lying on the ground to dry out too much. It’s better to do this late after the blooms have passed.
How to Plant Oriental Poppies
Once you’ve purchased these plants from a garden center, plant them from early spring into early summer. Direct sowing is the standard method for growing oriental poppies. Scatter poppy seeds directly on the surface of the soil in spring or early fall, where they’ll receive the sunlight they need to germinate.
Poppies grown in containers are easy to plant. You gently settle them in the ground at the same depth they were in the pot. Be careful not to disturb the roots when transplanting. For bare root plants, plant them with the top of the tap root about an inch below the soil surface. Make sure you follow all directions that come with your bare root plant.
Pests and Diseases
Poppies rarely suffer from pests and diseases. But the oriental types can be set back by powdery mildew. This fungal disease can affect the whole plant by covering leaves and stems in white mildew in spring and summer.
Make sure you deadhead spent flowers and cut the plant to the ground level as you also clear fallen leaves to prevent the fungal disease from overwintering in the soil.
Oriental Poppy Varieties
Papaver Orientale Livermere
The most fragrant of all poppy varieties. It has large flowers, is very hardy, and is tolerant of poor soils. It also has a scarlet red flower that is 2 to 3 feet tall.
Papaver orientale Patty’s Plum
Patty’s plum is a variety new to the UK; it has purple petals with white markings. It is very hardy and loves poor soil. It’s heavily textured and plum-colored 2 to 3 feet high.
Papaver orientale Fireball
Fireball is a spectacular poppy with flowers up to 18 inches in diameter with bright scarlet petals, and a golden yellow center. The leaves are dark green and rough-textured, maturing to red-brown tones in autumn. It’s semi-double or double blooms.
Papaver orientale Bolero
Bolero is an amazing poppy containing purple-red flowers with purple eyes. The center of its flower is golden yellow. It’s 2 feet high, and it blooms in mid-summer.
Papaver orientale Princess Victoria Louise
This is another spectacular poppy variety that is 6 to 8 inches large, salmon-pink blooms, and 2 to 3 feet tall.
Companion Plants for Poppy Plants
Plant your oriental poppies in the middle or at the back of the flower bed to let other flowers fill in once they die. Hide the withering poppy foliage with summer bloomers such as Siberian iris, baby’s breath, Russian sage, daylilies, and rudbeckia. Protect the new poppy foliage in fall with bark mulch and pine boughs.
FAQs about How to Grow Oriental Poppy Plants
Do oriental poppies grow back every year?
Oriental poppies are true perennials, meaning the mother plant returns each year and slowly expands overtime to produce a larger plant and more flowers.
Should you deadhead oriental poppies?
Yes, you should cut back and deadhead oriental poppies after flowering. This will stimulate the growth of fresh new foliage and even new blooms.
Final Thought on How to Grow Oriental Poppy Plants
As you can see, growing and caring for oriental poppies is a fairly simple task. If you want to capture the magic of these brilliant blooms, consider planting them near your home or garden as an addition to the landscape.
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12 Gorgeous Flower Garden Ideas To Add To Your Home
Flower gardening is a fun and rewarding hobby, especially if you know how to do it right. You can use beautiful flower garden ideas to create an amazing backyard oasis that will impress everyone who sees it. These beautiful flowers help you express yourself in ways you never thought possible. All it takes is a little creativity to show your personality through these amazing flower garden ideas. Here are some ideas that can help you start this amazing hobby.
1. Consider Large Garden Areas
Many flower garden ideas are perfect for smaller spaces, but consider planting something other than flowers if you have a large backyard area. If you’re looking for an easy way to create an impressive look that’s also functional, go with ornamental grasses or evergreen trees. These plants are great year-round and require very little maintenance over time.
Choose two contrasting colors and one color family, such as purple or pink. You can then add perennial flowering plants in groups of three to five, and you’ll have an eye-catching flower. Make sure you carry out regular weeding because today’s weed might be tomorrow’s weed patch.
2. Create an Edible Flower Garden
If your goal is to create a garden as an outdoor kitchen, consider making a dedicated flower bed for herbs and vegetables. If possible, flower gardens should be beautiful and delicious. Vegetables will get a huge boost in productivity with the flowers available when pollinators are drawn to nectar-rich planting beds.
Edible plants such as tomato, squash, and cucumber will blossom in such flower garden beds. In addition, the beneficial insects that rely on floral nectaries will help control vegetable pests, thus, reducing the use of pesticides. You can get ideas on types of squash to grow here so you know which one can work for your flower garden.
3. Plant Flowering Plants on Trellis
Trellises and topiary create focal points in the garden, especially when consistent color and style. When creating an edible flower garden, place trellises along walkways and at the edges of beds to lead visitors through the garden and to help keep plants upright as they grow. Make sure you define borders against which to plant flowers of varying heights.
They provide support for climbing vines such as morning glory, cucumber, and sweet potato, and vertical growing flowers such as clematis. Trellises also provide structure for flowering vines that may not need support, like the passion vine. You may also trellis-filling vine in one season from seed with morning glory and moon vine.
The passion vine can climb up an arbor or trellis to create a lush canopy of green leaves. Passion flower blooms are attractive to bees, which adds to the benefit of an edible garden. Gloxinias, petunias, and their foliage can also bring beauty to your trellis.
4. Combination of Bogs and Rain Gardens
Brighten that soggy spot in your backyard with a rain garden or bog garden. And when planning a bog garden, consider plants that love both full sun and wet soil. Flowering plants that thrive in bog gardens include candelabra primrose, cardinal flower, and yellow iris and leopard plants.
You can also introduce fun and funky in your wet by including carnivorous pitcher plants. Make sure your garden rain never dries out. A natural bog garden will be replenished by rainfall, but a dry spell hits; ensure you help it out with a hose.
If you see frogs, salamanders and turtles, know that a bog environment is present, so use it to plant some rain garden plants. If you don’t have a natural depression that collects water, create your own by sinking a plastic kiddie into the ground. You can use pond liner to create a bog garden as long as you disguise the edges with rocks and fill the bottom with peat moss and sand.
5. Consider Flower Garden Paths
When you think of your garden, do you see only the flowers that need to be planted? A flower garden is perfect for an area where you can walk through and view the various blooms. If your current yard doesn’t have one existing place, design a path with bricks or stones, so everyone has easy access.
But keep in mind that you’ll need to choose flowers that can handle foot traffic. A flower garden path should comfortably accommodate a wheelbarrow and a cart with room to turn around. Make sure you mulch your plant beds as much as possible to keep them flourishing.
6. Butterfly Flower Garden Ideas
The butterfly garden works especially well near a porch or patio area. Butterflies love water, so add a small pond, and you’ll be treated to the sight of not only butterflies but frogs and lizards as well. However, some beautiful flowers may fall flat when it comes to attracting butterflies.
Some butterflies are designed to extract nectar from particular flower shapes, meaning that some blooms sound like the dinner bell while others miss the mark. Even though butterflies love bright colors, it’s important to include flowers with rich nectar stores easily accessible in shallow flowers.
Butterflies and other pollinators will stay in your garden throughout summer as long as you include seasonal blooms in your garden. This is because their food sources are usually most plentiful when the weather is hottest, and most plants bloom during springtime or summer.
Butterflies will truly thrive with a combination of butterfly-friendly flowers, annuals, and perennials, which they can land on for rest periods between nectar-feeding sessions.
7. Combining Tulips with Annuals and Perennials
Create a harmonious arrangement with this amazing flower garden idea. Extend your garden blooms with tulips, annuals, and perennials that will come back each year with less maintenance. Make sure you space out your flowers so that tulips stand taller than your shorter, low-growing annuals and perennials.
When winters are cold, your tulips will return for several years but won’t survive when grown in warmer, moist climates. A flower garden bed with a blend of red and yellow tulips will make the whole bed look amazing.
Create that festive effect in a mixed flower bed by planting clear, primary tulips. Daylily, catnap, salvia, and bells of Ireland are some of the great tulip companions, and once you should reconsider when recreating a gorgeous full flower garden bed.
8. Pallet Flower Garden Ideas
Flowers that provide color with the way you want the artwork to appear are a good start for any design. For example, mixed white and yellow flowers will provide interest for your garden whether you want a spring or summer look. The tulips will be particularly appealing in beds where most flowers are filled with one particular shade.
If you have a lot of flowers of the same style, plants with distinctive features will draw attention. Choose something really small tulip for this circumstance. Chives will certainly give you an option to create a variety of patterns by simply including or eliminating plants from your flower bed.
9. Recycled Rubber Tires Flower Garden Ideas
You can never go wrong with turning your old tires into a garden ornament. Rubber tires are tough and long-lasting, making them fantastic materials for your yard or business’s landscape design. This reclaimed rubber tire flower garden idea is a great way to recycle old tires while beautifying the area at the same moment.
If you have an old bike lying around, make use of its tire as well. If you have some scrap tires lying around, turn them into a flower garden. This will not only make your lawn look good but will also help you avoid worrying about tires taking your space or disposing of them.
10. Potted Flower Garden Ideas
There’s nothing more pleasant than a stunning potted flower garden in the backyard. So take your time and plan it well so you can enjoy it for many years to come. When it comes to convenience, nothing beats flowers planted in clay pots and half buried in a bed of gravel.
It doesn’t have to be complicated – using a simple pot will also do the trick. You can also bring in some hanging baskets if you have a nice outdoor space for them. To achieve a harmonious and colorful look, choose a different flower for each pot. Round your flower bed with pots.
A circle of purple, white, red, and white striped Bizzy lizzies spread out from the pine ringed by stonecrop, moss, and pots of pink and white Bizzy lizzies. And if you want to enjoy the view from your home or balcony, consider adding some cascading plants, vines, or grasses, which will make it look like an entry from fairy tales. Add in some wooden trellis and little lights too to complete the look.
11. Formal Flower Garden Ideas
Of course, the clean lines and tidy layout of a formal garden will provide a respite from the stresses of modernity. Adding some flowers on top of that grass and well-cut boxwood shrubs will be the finishing touch to the garden’s look. You can stick one or two flower varieties in the formal garden.
Lavender, roses, tulips, hydrangeas, and salvia are a few things that you can use in your formal garden. You can mass the flowers around a central fountain, use them to edge paths, and fill in geometric hedge plantings with blooms.
12. Flowering Cottage Flower Garden Ideas
You can turn your cottage garden into plant beds with the help of perennials, ornamental grasses, and flowering shrubs. Roses, lavender, cosmos flowers, lilies, snapdragons, and hydrangeas are among some of the plants that you might use to make up your cottage flower garden.
Grasses like colorful ornamental rye can be used as a ground cover to fill in spaces between other flowering plants. Perennials like bleeding heart, lupines, black-eyed Susan, and daylilies are among the many types of flowering perennials that you could use for your cottage garden.
FAQs about Beautiful Flower Garden Ideas
How do you lay out a flower bed plant?
Arrange border plants with plants taller than 2 to 3 feet tall, then place them in the back with the mild-size plants from 10 inches to 2 to 3 feet tall in the middle. After that, layout shorter plants in the front of the bed. It’s also best to use groupings and drifts of plants for a natural feel.
How do you plant a flower garden for a beginner?
First, make sure you remove the weeds and amend the soil. If it’s a new bed, put down a layer of landscape fabric to block weeds and top with six inches or more garden soil and topsoil. If your area doesn’t receive much sun, you can consider growing shade-loving flowers as they blossom in such areas.
Final Thought on Beautiful Flower Garden Ideas
Build your corner of paradise by adding different types of flowers in your backyard. You can enjoy your backyard for gardening, spending time with your loved ones, or just relaxing.
The post 12 Gorgeous Flower Garden Ideas To Add To Your Home appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
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16 Best Backpacks for College of 2021
Choosing the right backpack can be a difficult task for students, especially in high school or college. It is not easy to pick the best backpack that will suit your needs. With so many options available today, it can be overwhelming and confusing to choose one. Which type of bag should you get? What features do you need?
Below is the list of the best backpacks for college and high school kids in 2021.
1. Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack Herschel
Pop Quiz Supply Co. is an independent designer, distributor, and manufacturer of luxury backpacks, bags, and accessories. One of their best-sellers is the Herschel Pop Quiz Backpack which has everything you need for college. This backpack is spacious, durable, and lightweight.
It offers enough compartments to keep your must-have organized. This bag comes equipped with a padded laptop sleeve, fleece-lined sunglasses, and a few other compartments you can use to store your go-tos. The base of this bag is also lined with a water-resistant faux leather panel that keeps your items safe from spills and puddles.
2. Moleskine Metro Backpack
This backpack is a multi-purpose bag you can use to store all your college essentials. It has several compartments where you can store your laptop, phone, charger, and even your notebooks. It features padded straps that add extra comfort when carrying the pack for hours.
If you’re looking for a sleek, compact backpack that can help you keep your laptop safe from elements, then this is the right choice. This bag is crafted from water-repellent nylon, and it boasts a protective polyurethane base that keeps your electronics safe from spills and puddles.
3. Everlane Modern Snap Backpack
For minimalist college students, this backpack from Everlane is a good choice. This pack doesn’t have traditional compartments or zippers. Instead, it features a series of pouches and slots that allow you to store your stuff in the most efficient way possible.
Plus, its design allows you to store laptops, notebooks, and other school supplies. It has an exterior side pocket for your water bottle, making it safer for your inside belongings. You can also keep it for the longest time, thanks to its water-resistant cotton twill exterior.
4. The North Face Borealis Backpack
One of the best backpacks for college is this one from The North Face. It has 28 liters of storage space, perfect for carrying your books and notebooks on campus. Additionally, it features a fleece-lined pocket that allows you to keep sunglasses protected when you’re on the go.
If you need a whole lot of space, the Borealis backpack is a perfect choice. Upfront, it has an elastic bungee system. This bag is also comfortable, and there’s also a version that can fit women’s bodies. It comes in various colors, fitting everyone’s preferences.
5. Mokuyobi Flyer Backpack
This is one of the best backpacks for college students because it’s got a huge amount of space. If you want to carry your laptop, tablet, or iPad with you, there are two pockets in the front that can fit most laptops with screen sizes up to 15 inches. You’ll also find several exterior pockets with zipper closures.
There is an open space that’s perfect for carrying several books. If you’re worried about running out of time, this is for you. It has some space for extra clothes, some make-up or perfume, and a few items.
6. Herschel Heritage Classic Backpack
If you’re looking for a stylish backpack for college, this is your answer. Herschel is a brand that’s known for its affordable and trendy bags and accessories. It has several designs to choose from, so you’ll surely find one that complements your style.
This backpack has a bit more than enough space for most students with 19 x 13.5 x 8 inches. If you also like a light, classy backpack, this may be the best backpack for you. It has a large compartment with a sleeve that can hold a 15-inch laptop and a small media pocket with a headphone port.
The classic black color with a saddle brown faux leather bottom is one of the 23 designs available. It has an air mesh back padding and cushioned straps that keep you comfortable across the campus.
7. Dagne Dover Dakota Backpack
This is a cool backpack for students who are always on the go. It has one main compartment with dividers to provide easier organizing. The exterior also features two front zippered pockets, one of which is padded to protect your laptop or tablet.
There are three colors available, including dark pink camo, midnight camouflage, and navy blue. For comfort and better back support, the designers made the straps adjustable. It also has the signature feature of Dagne Dover’s backpacks and bags, which is the key leash.
The superior material is made of premium neoprene, making it water-resistant, hand-washable, and one of the most durable backpacks on the market.
8. Modoker Vintage Laptop Backpack with USB Charging Port
This is great for any college student. It can fit most laptops up to 15 inches with its slim design, making it perfect for many carrying cases during the day. With two front pockets, one of them with a built-in USB port, this backpack will make it easier for you to access your phone or tablet while on the go.
This backpack has a roomy main compartment with a padded laptop sleeve and an internal organization panel. There is also a front pocket for your accessories, such as pens, calculators, tablets, phones, and more. This backpack also boasts spacious main compartments, two water bottle pockets, and two compact pockets.
9. Day Owl Backpack
If you want to live a sustainable life on campus, then the qualities of this backpack suit you well. While the bag looks trendy and small with its circular design, the interior of this backpack is very spacious and can hold your laptops, a few books, and other belongings. You can also send this backpack back for repairs to make it last longer.
Also, if you’re looking for an eco-friendly backpack that will suit all your outfits while carrying all your items in it, then you should consider this one. Since the bag is made with non-toxic materials and the company’s claim that every feature in the backpack has an environmental purpose is convincing, I’d say that there is no reason not to buy this for yourself or even friends who are into sustainable living.
10. Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack
Fjallraven Kanken Laptop Backpack is a highly practical and stylish backpack. If you’re looking for a high-quality, durable backpack that does not look like a typical boring one, this should be your choice. In addition to its durability, the Fjallraven Kanken is also waterproof and highly functional.
It comes with a number of pockets and compartments inside and out, which means you can fit everything you need in the backpack, including assorted snacks for your college days. If you’re looking for something trendy but functional, this might be the best choice for you.
The Fjallraven Kanken comes in 17 colors inspired by nature, including acorn forest green and autumn leaf. The ergonomically designed padded shoulder straps also make a comfortable journey between classes.
11. Timbuk2 Spire Laptop Backpack
This is another great choice of student college backpacks. It’s designed to protect all your 15-inch laptops and tablets. With careful details like the Napoleon pocket that makes it easy to quickly access important items, rugged ballistic zips, and a scratch-resistant lining, this bag is just an example of what you can expect from Timbuk2 products.
If you’re going to school in a rainy city, this bag should be one of your options. It’s made out of canvas fabric and waterproof material, enabling it to keep your laptop dry. It also has a laptop compartment and a zip pocket that can hold your phone, wallet, and other small, significant items.
It has multiple storage spaces for pen holders, water bottles, and other school supplies on the inside. Apart from the laptop compartment, the main compartment can carry books, extra jackets, and other essentials. It has incognito back zip access and a secure pocket for valuable items. It also has comfortable straps which are adjustable and come with a sternum strap suitable for travelling.
12. Vera Bradley Signature Cotton Campus Backpack
Vera Bradley is a globally recognized brand with an extensive selection of luggage and backpacks. This backpack comes in 13 different designs, giving you a wide range of options to choose from depending on your style preferences.
The bag has double carrying options, a short handle, and adjustable shoulder straps. It has a front pocket with a flap and an additional zipped pocket for your valuables. It also has three pen holders. In addition, it has no natural wool fiber, making it perfect for animal lovers.
13. JanSport Right Pack
The Right pack features the signature suede leather bottom, padded laptop sleeve, two front pockets, and a side water bottle pocket. This backpack is also made of durable Cordura fabric and comes with an organizer. The company is also committed to providing durable and reliable products offering you a lifetime guarantee.
If the bag breaks down, you can send it back, and the company will fix or replace it. Additionally, there are many colors and designs you can choose from. For example, you can display your personality in bright, floral, and evergreen tones.
14. Lululemon City Adventurer Backpack
This college student backpack is for you if you’re a sports enthusiast and want academic success and a fit body. It has enough room for your laptop and comes with an expandable pocket that could hold your gym clothes. It has a water repellent fabric and comes in different colors.
The minimalist design of this college backpack makes it fit well in both class and at the gym. If you want to save time and money, this is the backpack for you.
15. Kenneth Cole Reaction Women’s Chelsea Backpack
If you’re looking for a feminine backpack with enough for all your school essentials, grab this Kenneth Cole Reaction backpack. It has enough room for your laptop and all the other things you need during class, plus it comes with an extra compartment where you can keep your sunglasses safe. It also has interior pockets where you can place your pens, phone and tablet.
16. Herschel Dawson Backpack
Hershel backpacks are very popular. However, this one differs from other backpacks belonging to the same brand through its separate front pockets.
The pocket has a drawstring closure with foam padding for extra protection. Plus, the main compartment has a capacity of 20.5 liters and can hold laptops and notebooks effortlessly.
FAQs on Best Backpacks for College 2021
How do you choose college backpacks?
By the total capacity. It should be spacious enough to carry all your books, laptop, computer accessories, and toiletries.
How do you choose a durable backpack for college?
By its fabric and construction. Good backpacks are made of robust materials like leather and canvas to ensure long-lasting durability.
Final Thought on Best Backpacks for College of 2021
Being a student is already hard enough. Try to make it simple by choosing the right backpack. Remember that a good backpack shouldn’t only have trendy looks and enough space for your things. It will also contribute to your health, and a low-quality backpack can deform your spine and put you in tremendous pain.
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What are Faucet Aerators and Why You Should Install Them
As a homeowner, you should constantly look for ways to improve your home functions. Home renovation helps you conserve water and energy, improve user experience and help you save money in the long run. One thing that often gets overlooked is faucet aerators.
Faucet aerators reduce the pressure at which water comes out of a faucet by reducing the flow rate. This reduces the amount of water used per action and brings down your monthly water bill. The truth is that there are many reasons why installing an aerator can be beneficial to your home, regardless of whether you live alone or with family members. Keep reading.
What is a Faucet Aerator?
A faucet aerator is a round device installed on the ends of faucets that channel water into steady steam. But without a faucet aerator, your faucet will still deliver water, but the stream will splutter and splash. A faucet aerator helps to reduce splashing and spluttering because it uses a small channel to introduce water from the faucet into a larger channel, creating a steady stream.
The result is that your dishes and laundry will be cleaner, and you can also save water. In addition, an aerator is a small screen that breaks up the flow of water into multiple small streams, adding air in between. Today, a faucet aerator is very common in all kitchen and bathroom faucets.
By diluting the water stream with air, the aerator significantly reduces the volume of water flowing from your faucet. The aerator does this while maintaining the feeling of a high-pressure flow. Aerators also reduce splashing in sinks.
Choosing Faucet Aerators
Daniel O’Brian, a technical specialist with SupplyHouse.com, says that different faucet aerators are designed to enforce different flow rates. Here are what you should consider before installing a faucet aerator.
Consider the Flow Rate When Installing an Aerator
You might be tempted to choose an aerator with the lowest flow rate to maximize savings. You should also remember that you’ll rely on certain gallons per minute GPM minimums on activities such as washing the dishes. However, O’Brian suggests choosing an aerator with a flow rate between 1 and 1.5 gallons per minute GPM is a good compromise between conservation and practicality.
To wrap it up, there’s no rule here, so your personal preference and use cases will dictate what GPM you should choose. For the most part, it’s considered to install an aerator with a flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute GPM if you want to conserve water while maintaining functionality.
Aerators Come in Different Sizes
Apart from knowing how many GPMs you require, you should also know the size of the aerator you’ll need. Faucets come in different shapes and sizes, and aerators come in three different varieties. These varieties include standard, junior and Tom thumb.
Other than the diameter, you also have to know if your faucet has a male or female spout. You’ll be able to identify this by locating the sprout’s threads, which are grooves found at the end of the spout. If the threads are outside, then it has a male spout and requires a female aerator. If the threads are inside, then it’s a female spout and requires a male aerator.
Aerators Provide Different Water Streams
You’ll also want to consider what kind of water stream you would like your aerator to provide. There are three different stream designs to choose from. These include the aerated stream, which is the most common in households.
In the aerated stream, the air is introduced to the water flow, causing the water to come out in even. There is also a laminar stream where the air isn’t mixed with water. The laminar stream also differs from the aerated stream by offering more gallons per minute GPM. The last one is spray stream, where faucets require very few GPMs.
Benefits of Faucet Aerators
Decreased Faucet Noise
Also, by installing a faucet aerator, you will end up having a decreased flow rate without actually needing to cut your water pressure. The water stream that comes out of the faucet is frizzy and mist-like. This makes it much quieter than the concentrated streams.
As mentioned above, water flow can be reduced by up to 35 percent. This is a great benefit as the faucet remains to deliver adequate water without causing any inconvenience or discomfort.
Lower Water Bills
As you save more water, your water bills will also get lowered. Though this might not be noticeable in the short term, it is great to note that the faucet aerator can help you lessen your water expenditure over time.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, installing a faucet aerator is the single most effective water-saving plumbing change you can make. This is true because you’ll use less water when you use an aerator to accomplish the same task.
More Consistent Water Pressure
A mesh screen allows the water pressure to be more consistent. It also slows the flow of water, making it possible for you to use less water and still achieve the same task. Instead of experiencing pressure changes right away as they happen, the steam will stay steady due to water caught behind the aerator.
Reduced Overall Water Use
Reducing the flow rate of water may cause some people to feel like they need to use more water to get the job done. However, experts say that using an aerator will not cause you to increase your overall water usage.
They claim that it is possible for you to reduce your total amount of daily and total monthly water usage. Apart from reducing water consumption at home, installing an aerator means less water usage, thus, reducing your home’s impact on the local and global environment.
Increased Filtration
With a faucet aerator, drinking water is filtered as it comes out of the tap. By using a filter, you can ensure that water used for drinking is free from toxic chemicals and metals. This reduces the overall amount of money spent on bottled water which would have been required if no aerator was installed.
The small screens increase the particle filtration for an individual faucet. A high-quality aerator works with a filtration system to keep your water clean and clearer. Ensure that if you have dirt and debris problems, you deal with them by regularly cleaning your aerator to prevent buildup.
FAQs on Faucet Aerators
How do faucet aerators work?
Faucet aerators work by getting air mixed into the flow, reducing the amount of water passing through the tap.
Final Thought on Faucet Aerators
That’s all about faucet aerators! Make sure you clean your faucet regularly to keep it as clean as possible. Do not forget to use a filter if you need it to keep your water pure and clear.
The post What are Faucet Aerators and Why You Should Install Them appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
12 Inspirational Kitchen Wallpaper Ideas
If you are looking for ways to make your kitchen look unique, then try out kitchen wallpaper. Decorating your kitchen is not an easy task. You need to consider the design, colors, and patterns of the wallpapers before you start decorating your kitchen walls. Wallpaper can be used in any room of the house for a stylish look with minimal effort.
Kitchen wallpaper is one such type that adds elegance to any home décor. It can transform an ordinary space into something extraordinary and unique. These days, there are many options available when it comes to choosing from different designs of wallpaper for kitchens.
If you want a creative way to makeover your kitchen wall, try out these new ideas on how you can use wallpaper on your walls instead of paint, tiles, and marble pieces.
1. Pantry Makeover
Adding wallpaper in the kitchen pantry will instantly hide any stains on your walls. However, you must choose the right color that will complement the design of your cabinets. Consider a small pantry that uses uplifting, colorful floral wallpaper as a backdrop for shelving and storage.
Taking risks in this small risk space is a great way of experimenting without huge investment and commitment. Dressing up the utilitarian corners of your home in bright colors and patterns is a small life-affirming act of care for your room.
2. Backsplash
Instead of using a tile backsplash, consider vinyl wallpaper that is easy to clean and replace. If you think that tile might be too permanent, you can try samples of stone-look textured wallpaper attached only temporarily onto the wall with double-sided tape or light adhesive.
This way, if your taste changes or you decide to change your kitchen layout,, you can quickly use wallpaper remover to remove it and restore your kitchen to its original look. Vinyl wallpaper will also save you a lot of money in the long run.
3. Feature Wall
Feature walls are a great way to make your kitchen look one of a kind. While everyone else uses subway tiles or standard white tiles, you can stand out from the crowd by putting up wallpaper. You might think this idea sounds too bold, but remember that you can always use accent colors and patterns and be as daring as you want.
Install an accent wall of wallpaper in any pattern that strikes your fancy. Don’t worry about coordinating colors and styles if you want to keep the rest of the space neutral. Feel free to go bold by dressing your contemporary cookie kitchen.
4. Get Inspired by Art Deco
From the late 1890s through the early 1940s, art deco was all about bold colors and geometric patterns. This trend has made something of a comeback over the past few years in interior design, so you can even find wallpapers that look like they came straight from an art deco painting.
These art deco prints will never get old despite their age. So, get a huge range of art deco-inspired patterned wallpapers. Make sure you line them up well due to their intricate pattern.
5. Add a Geo Backsplash for a Special Pop
To add a special touch to the kitchen, you can use this glazed Geo backsplash tile. These handmade tiles come in all kinds of colors and shapes. You can choose the right combination for your wall and decorating palette with different colors and patterns. The silky smooth surface of these handmade tiles makes them easy to clean.
However, to keep them in top shape, you need to wipe them with a damp cloth at least once daily. If the bright color doesn’t look appealing, opt for black and white wallpaper in a neat geometric design. Geo patterns can go well with any kitchen color scheme.
6. Consider Shades of Green in the Kitchen
Choosing a green color for your kitchen wallpaper is a great idea. It will add an organic touch to the room without making it look dull and grey. If you want something more striking, use bright lime or grass green shades in your wallpaper design. The dark background makes these colors stand out beautifully to give the room a bright look.
An otherwise simple white kitchen is the perfect blank canvas for a bold usage of pretty graphic wallpaper. Green is also a great color for bringing plants into the kitchen. Grasses, ivies, and ferns will look stunning when paired with these colors. If you aren’t comfortable with grasses and plants inside your home, use different shaped plants like bottles of ferns to give the same effect.
7. Consider Tie in Statement Colors with Existing Wallpaper
When designing your kitchen, you can go bold by using striking wallpaper for the whole room or around one wall. If you want to have an interesting statement wall in your kitchen, try creating a beautiful pattern with various shades of green.
The blue and white wallpaper print makes the teal shiplap and marble countertops look like a match made in home decor heaven. Blue and white is a classic kitchen colorway that always feels fresh.
8. Bring in Dark Floral Prints for a Hint of Dramatic Flair
A pretty floral print on wallpaper can turn your kitchen from dull to fab in one simple stroke. To keep the look from being overwhelming, use it as an accent wall. In this smart and stylish kitchen, there is no room for boring or bland, so they have used their statement wallpaper to beautiful effect.
Green patterned wallpaper is used on the kitchen ceiling, which is unusual, but it adds an interesting feature to this contemporary kitchen. If you are looking for a bold statement and a stylish focal point, go for a dark geometric pattern. The black dots are also echoed in the tiling on the wall behind the cooker unit and the hob.
9. Bring the Texture
The texture is a very important addition to any room, kitchen included. The right wallpaper not only adds visual interest to your wall but can also bring elements of texture to your entire kitchen.
10. Add a Black Kitchen Backsplash
To create a sleek and modern kitchen, you can combine black kitchen cabinets with black countertops, backsplashes, and flooring. It looks very stylish even when it is done in contrast to other colors. Black-and-white geometric tiles give you the opportunity to put your stamp on the kitchen design project. This is an inexpensive alternative to tile and gives you a perfect kitchen backsplash.
11. Corner Booth
Wallpaper is a great way to add personality to any room, including the kitchen. One of the underappreciated aspects of this idea is using wallpaper in an unexpected place. When you are tired of plain tile or give up on painting cabinets, consider covering them with wallpaper instead.
12A booth can be used as both a decoration and a functional space, including a dining area where you can have family dinners and late-night drinks once the kids are in bed.
12. Go French Countryside with a Muted Floral Themed Design
You can even buy cloth wallpaper that looks just like the real thing. The best part of this idea is you will have a unique kitchen unlike anyone else’s in your neighborhood.
Thanks to the paned windows and muted floral wallpaper print, a charming kitchen will feel like a traditional chateau off the French countryside. The sage-colored cabinets, marble countertops, and minimal conces add a modern twist that helps the kitchen feel more current and upscale.
FAQs about Kitchen Wallpaper Ideas
Is peel and stick wallpaper good for kitchens?
Yes, peel and stick wallpaper lets you add fun and color patterns to your kitchen without the permanence and expense of traditional wallpaper.
Is kitchen wallpaper a good idea?
Designers say wallpaper is a secret ingredient for creating a unique, whimsical kitchen. Whether you keep it in your backsplash, bar, breakfast nook, or cover every wall, wallpaper can instantly transform your kitchen.
Final Thought on Kitchen Wallpaper Ideas
As you can see, kitchen wallpaper ideas can be easily customized to your specific tastes and requirements. Today, we have seen how an elegant and stylish kitchen can be made just by changing the wallpaper, and this makes it easy for you to go ahead with the same idea to get that stunning kitchen you always wanted.
If you love fun and adventurous styles, then there are innumerable options available at your disposal. So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and give your kitchen a touch of elegance by changing the way it looks.
The post 12 Inspirational Kitchen Wallpaper Ideas appeared first on Kitchen Infinity.
10 Best Wallpaper Removers of 2021
Removing wallpaper can be a difficult task, especially when you haven’t done so in the past. But with the right tool, removing old wallpaper becomes easy and fast. If you’re planning to remove old or outdated wallpaper from your walls, then we have got an easy solution for you. With the help of these best wallpaper removers, your home remodeling project will be very simple and fast.
So without wasting any more time, let’s begin with our reviews on Best Wallpaper Steamers in 2021.
1. Wagner Spraytech Multipurpose Wallpaper Remover
Among all the wallpaper removers available in the market, Wagner Spraytech is an ideal choice for you. It’s easy to use and very efficient at removing even wallpapers with glue left on it. It will save you valuable time instead of using other methods like scrapping it out, which can consume a lot of time.
If you’re looking for an affordable steam cleaner optimized to use as a wallpaper remover, this pick suits you perfectly well. For those tough jobs that call for stronger tools, consider using this wallpaper steamer from Wagner. It’s an efficient and effective wallpaper remover. The steam plate has an easy-grip handle to help you complete long steaming jobs.
With its large tank capable of producing up to 70 minutes of steam, you’ll get enough working time out of this budget-friendly steamer as you steam and soften wallpaper and its adhesive backing. The steam plate also attaches to an 11-foot long hose, stretching to those hard-to-reach areas.
2. WP Chomp World’s Best Wallpaper Stripper
WP chomp citrus solvent is a darling to many people, thanks to its ability to transform the tedious task into a quick spray bottle. This ready-to-use wallpaper stripper is effective on all types of wallpaper, including vinyl, grass, strippable and temporary wallpaper. Its commercial strength formula is designed to penetrate quickly, making wallpaper adhesive and leftover residue easier to remove.
This strip wallpaper remover has a mild citrus scent that won’t leave a strong chemical smell behind. However, WP chomp recommends using this spray with a wallpaper scoring tool, especially when it is tough to remove water-resistant wallpapers.
3. HomeRight Steam Wallpaper Remover Review
The HomeRight Steam Wallpaper Remover is a steam cleaner that can take wallpaper off your walls. The powerful handheld steamer features touch-free technology, which enables you to remove old wallpaper without touching it with your hands. Whether you want to remove double or triple-layered wallpaper, this steam wallpaper remover is equipped to separate paper glued with the toughest adhesive.
It’s powered by 120 volts of electricity, a 40 ounces water tank, heating element, jet nozzle, and a steam plate. These elements enable it to discharge pressurized steam as the only mode of effective wallpaper removal for fast and effective cleaning.
With different furnished nozzle attachments, this versatile cleaner isn’t only capable of wallpaper removal and works in showers, kitchen stovetops, bathtubs, and grills. This device is also equipped with a pistol-lock mechanism to promote continuous and intermittent steam discharge operation.
4. WP Chomp Wallpaper Scraping Tool
Apart from wallpaper removal, this device is also capable of scraping paint and rust. It’s an effective one-stop solution for various surfaces’ decontamination without the need to use a mop or brush. Vinyl is one of the harder wall coverings to remove due to its thicker construction and two-layer application. This makes it very hard to remove.
Fortunately, you can remove such stubborn wallpaper with WP wallpaper Chomp’s scorer. This wallpaper remover includes dual cutting wheels that are made of tempered steel for added strength and durability. It’s also easy to get into tighter areas, thanks to its compact size, plus the ergonomic design helps reduce fatigue.
5. Zinsser DIF Wallpaper Stripper
This wallpaper stripper from the house of Zinsser is a staple for any DIY enthusiast who wants to remove old wallpaper from their walls. It provides excellent adhesion and durability, giving you an easy time while removing stubborn wallpaper.
This best solvent from Zinsser is a basic wallpaper stripper that will dissolve adhesive and soften paper, paving the way for a smooth transition to bare walls. You’ll need to dilute it before application with each 22-ounce bottle yielding two gallons of stripping solution.
You’ll also need to put in some work when using this budget-friendly wallpaper remover solvent. You can pair it with the best scoring tool and a scraping tool to supplement your efforts.
6. Bates Choice Scraper
If you’re planning to tackle a range of wall renovation jobs, consider this set of multi purpose scrapers from Bates Choice. This inexpensive dual pack comes with two metal scrapers to remove paint and wallpaper. The tool comes with a compact design, making it easy to work in tight spots like behind the toilet and underneath cabinets.
The scrapers can also scrape windows and remove old adhesive leftover from decals or bumper stickers. Each scraper comes with a thick stainless steel blade and wooden handle. The dual edge blade is sharp and rust-resistant, making it ideal for sliding beneath wallpaper, even in damp and steamy conditions. The comfortable and sharp handle provides a soft grip to tackle long jobs with ease.
This wallpaper remover is made for multi-purpose use with a pointed end and a cut-out design to function as a go-to tool for home renovations. It’s also helpful in spackling drywall and removing crown molding to get walls back to tip-top shape.
7. Zinsser Paper Tiger Free-Floating Wallpaper Remover
With its three scoring heads, paper tiger free-floating wallpaper remover can perforate an entire room of wallpaper with ease. It has self-aligning heads that cover greater surface area than single head tools to finish the job in less time and with less effort. Paper tiger also has an ergonomic handle that can fit in the palm of your hand, making it easy to zip across the wallpaper surface.
While it can be a bit challenging to use paper tiger in corners, it still does a great job of quickly perforating large areas of wallpaper. You apply pressure and glide the wheels across the wall for a trail of tiny holes for effective wallpaper removal.
8. Spraytech 915 on-Demand Steamer
The Wagner 915 on-demand steamer is a handheld device that works as a steamer and a wallpaper remover. It’s called on-demand because it heats up instantly when you pull the trigger, producing steam immediately to remove wallpaper.
Once the trigger is released, the device cools down quickly to save energy and help preserve your wallpaper. With warm air and steam cleaner, this steamer can loosen the adhesive and lift the wallpaper without using any chemicals. This steamer cleaner is an essential household tool that you can easily adapt to remove wallpaper from plaster and drywall.
While it includes various attachments for different household cleaning tasks, you’ll be more interested in the wallpaper steam plate. You’ll then press the plate directly against the walls to loosen the paper. Making a few rounds with the steamer for wallpaper removal will take you some time, but it’s worth waiting for a chemical-free experience.
9. Husk Soft Grip Wallpaper Stripper
Wallpaper removal is a tough task, so householders need to have a powerful tool. This wallpaper stripper from Husk does the job effectively. The most impressive thing about this design is its top-loading boiler tank which ensures constant steam pressure for ease of use.
You can easily remove multiple layers of paper with this steamer within a short time. It features a replaceable blade securely held in a patented blade lock system with added tool-free blade changes.
With a 4-inch soft-grip handle, this wallpaper scraper is comfortable to hold and offers a safe, secure way to use the razor-sharp blade to peel back wallpaper. Its long handle provides additional leverage and proves useful when you’re working on hard-to-reach areas like ceilings and behind a radiator.
10. Roman’s Piranha Liquid Wallpaper Remover
When removing old wallpaper, you have to deal with both the paper and the adhesive. Some processes might help you bring down the paper quickly and leave behind an adhesive glue. In that case, try to use Roman’s Piranha Liquid Wallpaper remover.
This wallpaper remover is capable of dissolving wallpaper adhesives to give you a clean, smooth wall surface. Its spray bottle helps you quickly apply it to the wall without wasting too much of its contents.
FAQs about Best Wallpaper Removers of 2021
Do wallpaper steamers work?
Yes, wallpaper steamers use hot steam to soften the adhesive attaching the wallpaper to the wall. This makes it easy to peel and scrape away the old wallpaper.
What is the easiest way of removing old wallpaper?
This depends on the type of wallpaper you have. So, the ideal way to go about this is to know your wallpaper type; then, you’ll be able to use the tools of removing the old wallpaper.
Final Thought on Best Wallpaper Removers of 2021
Removing an old wallpaper doesn’t have to be an uphill task. Having the right tools and the required technology will help you do the job right and have a fresh new wall.
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