#The bathroom tile may have been mostly a 60s thing

[bettermetalgoat]

Oh boy. My dad used to build/remodel houses back in the 80s or so and he had some stories about the design choices of the 70s.

Apparently at some point it was a trend to put glitter in the paint you were going to use on your (popcorn) ceiling. I've heard that if this is done right, it can look really nice but the examples I've seen have been very tacky. Also the ceiling was probably made with asbestos.

Carpeted bathrooms AND carpeted kitchens were a thing. Sometimes the shag carpeting would find it's way up the wall as well. I guess if you were high as a kite on whatever, you wouldn't want to rest your head on a non shaggy wall?

Evidently adding fake marble windowsills at some point was a thing. I saw this while I was looking at houses a few years back.

Also, from just visiting relatives who hadn't updated their house since it was built (1970s usually), there was always a lot of very brown fake wood paneling. Any laminate flooring was this weird yellow-brown or avocado green block/flower pattern. That's not to mention the avocado green bathroom tiles - which granted I do kind of like because it's a fun kind of tacky. These tiles also came in a weird pink color or a blue color.

The 60s and 70s were an era full of progress and new ideas. This attitude of curiosity and experimentation carried into home architecture and created some truly unique buildings. People asked things like “Well, why don’t we put a balcony in the bedroom overlooking the living room?” or “Well, why don’t we put thick shag carpeting in all the bathrooms?” the answer to why we didn’t do these things is that they are impractical and they fucking suck.

[anotherdayforchaosfay]

One of my husband's DnD players is a real estate agent. He's the one who helped us find and buy our house.

I recently had a chat with him, mostly me ranting about everyone saying you should keep your house beige and boring because of the resale value. Basically, live like renters. He wants me to share this info with you:

Buyers want color. Most of the buyers who insist on beige and boring are, in fact, landlords. He's had to deal with several. There are some folks who just want a blank slate to add color, but most of the time, it's landlords.

Adding color actually raises the home value. Why? People want color! Most homebuyers have lived as renters. They have been surrounded by bland for years. It's like going from eating bland unflavored unsweetened oatmeal and then discovering flavored and sweetened oatmeal exists. Buyers generally don't want to live a life of plain oatmeal.

Wallpaper is iffy. If an entire room has wallpaper, buyers tend to lose interest. If just one or two walls have wallpaper, and the other walls are painted to go with it? Buyers are actually excited.

The only real occasion he has seen where buyers are aghast about the wallpaper or paint is when the room they're seeing is a nursery. Unless they're expecting a baby or planning on having any, the nursery is often the make or break space.

Tile your bathrooms with color. Few people want an all-white bathroom. It feels too much like a locker room bathroom space when it's all white. if nervous, choose a white tile with a print on it, like flowers, or have a few tiles with colors or prints.

Putting wallpaper inside cupboars and cabinets may seem cute, but often comes off as being something like a time capsule. It was most popular in the 60s-70s. Some folks love it, but they tend to be elderly and feel a sense of nostalgia.

You are actively increasing the value of your home by giving it color and life. Even just painting the window or door frames, or a single wall in each room, will make a HUGE difference!

Former renters do not want to live like renters. They want a home, not just a place that happens to have all their things in it.

[bhandarimarblekishangarh]

Marble Granite & Natural Stone

https://bhandarimarbleworld.com/?p=10119&preview=true

Marble Granite and Natural Stones to Create Positive Aesthetics and Happy Moods!

Why Bhandari Marble World

Welcome to Bhandari Marble World, the hub of Marble Granite & Natural Stone which provides you all kinds of marble and granite at a reasonable price range and best quality. We at Bhandari Marble World know the value of money and time of each and every person and also the value of our company goodwill. We always recommended good quality material to homeowners and all kinds of c

MARBLE

Marble is one of the most luxurious stones and is highly preferred because of its natural grain patterns and high luster which infuses a rich and elegant look. Marble can be broadly classified into Italian marble which is quarried from Northern Italy and Indian marble which is primarily quarried from the Indian state of Rajasthan. If you are confused between these two options then this guide will tell you whether Indian or Italian marble is more suitable for your home.

Makrana Marble: Makrana is the source of the marble used in the Taj Mahal. It is situated at a distance of 60 km from Kishangarh and falls in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. The region has various mining ranges, mainly Doongri, Devi, Ulodi, Saabwali, Gulabi, Kumari, Neharkhan, Matabhar, Matabhar Kumari, Chuck Doongri, Chosira, and Pahar Kua amongst others.

Rajnagar Marble: World’s largest marble-producing area, with over 2,000 gang saw units located in the nearby town of Udaipur to process the material produced. Agaria is a variety of this area, with numerous other varieties and patterns, primarily in white base. The marble is dolomitic and often has quartz intrusions.

Andhi Marble: Located near the capital city of the state of Jaipur (also known as the ‘Pink City’), it is dolomitic marble with intrusions of tremolite, and is commonly known by the name of pista (pistachio) marble, because of the green-colored tremolite against an off-white background. One of the famous varieties of this area was known as Indo-Italian, owing to its resemblance with Statuario Marble. Most of the mining of this famous field is now banned by the Supreme Court of India because of the vicinity of the area to the Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Slumber Marble: Also known as Onyx Marble, it has thick bands of green and pink hint. A resemblance to Onyx Marble from Pakistan gives it this name. This is also highly dolomitic.

Yellow Marble: Jaisalmer stone is found in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. Though not been metamorphosed and hence is still a limestone, it is known as Yellow Marble in trade circles. It is mined in the Jaisalmer District.

Bidasar: These are ultra-basic rocks in shades of brown and green color found in Rajasthan. The crisscross linear pattern gave it a remarkable resemblance to a photograph of dense forest. These are also known as forest green/brown or fancy green/brown.

Gujarat – AmbaJi White Marble: It can be compared with Makrana Marble. It is highly calcic and is produced in a town called AmbaJi (famous for its temple of Durga Devi). The marble has a very soft and waxy look and is often used by sculptors.

Rajasthan – Abu Black: This is one of the rare Black textured marble available. Only produced in the mines of Abu road, this black textured stone is a decorative marble used in temples and sculptures.

Madhya Pradesh – Katni Range: It is famous for its beige-colored marble which is dolomitic but highly crystalline, with very fine grain size and some quartz intrusions. The marble accepts polish. Another variety of the same range is red/maroon-colored marble.

Indian Green Marble: It is found in Rajasthan India, Indian Green Marble’s most quarries are situated in Kesariyaji it is 60 km far from Udaipur Rajasthan India. This Indian green marble is known by name all over the world. In Europe, people know Indian green marble as a Verde Guatemala. Many varieties are available in Indian green marble. Indian Green Marble is exported to Africa, Europe, Australia, Middle East, and many Asian countries. It is found in the Rishabh town of Udaipur District state Rajasthan of India.

Exclusive Indian Marbles range

Makrana Brown Albeta Marbles. Rs 100/ Square Feet and Above

White Statuario Marble. Rs 75/ Square Feet and Above

Exclusive White Marble. Rs 120/ Square Feet and Above

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Rust Fantasy Marble. Rs 25/ Square Feet and Above

Makrana Marble. Rs 100/ Square Feet and Above

Appearance

Italian marble has a luxurious crystal-like appearance and a high lustrous sheen while Indian marble has a medium luster.

Both these types of natural marble are available in a wide variety of color options and natural grain patterns.

Strength and Durability

Indian marble is available in a thickness of about 30mm while the thickness of Italian marble ranges between 18 to 20 mm.

While the latter is much softer, it may develop small hairline cracks over a period of time.

A thin nylon sheet is used as a backing for this type of marble so that it can provide extra reinforcement.

Also, Italian marble has to be treated with epoxy resins and matching pigments to increase its strength, hence one side of the Italian marble is always pre-polished so that it can hide the chemical resins.

Maintenance

Italian and Indian marble have the tendency to lose their luster after a few years. Therefore both should be periodically polished to retain their original shine. Marble polishing can be done by using carborundum stone and tin oxide.

All the liquid spills on the marble should be cleaned immediately.

The routine cleaning of both these types of marble involves cleaning with a mild detergent or with mild cleaners which are specially formulated for cleaning marble.

Since marble is a delicate stone, it should never be scrubbed. Italian marble and Indian marble should be sealed with impregnating sealers which create a protective and stain-resistant surface.

Exclusive Indian Granite range

Black Granites- ₹80-450 / Square Feet. …

Brown Granite- ₹80-150 / Square Feet. …

Gold Granites- ₹68 – 250/ Square Feet. …

Green Granites- ₹75 – 225 / Square Feet. …

Grey Granite- ₹65 – 150/ Square Feet. …

Red Granites- ₹85 – 250 / Square Feet. …

White Granites- ₹55 – 100 / Square Feet. …

GRANITE FOREVER

Nowadays Granite becomes the material of choice for homeowners for remodeling their houses, kitchen, and many more. Being an Emerged Marble Manufacturer and Exporter here we are going to introduce you to the Granite and its Properties for all the homeowners in order to choose the right kind of material for their application.

So here is the complete guide on the introduction of granite and its characteristics, its specification, and its uses that will help to satisfy your curiosity while choosing the material for your home Space. Granite is a natural stone that is formed under extreme heat and pressure.

It has one more advantage over the other natural stones its color not gets fade under sun exposure.  Granite has the property of high durability so can be utilized as a part of counters, washrooms, backsplashes, or floors. granite slabs and tiles are used to make the kitchen countertops, tile floors, stairs, and many other design products.

Varieties of Granite

If you are looking for a tough and high-efficiency tile to give the stylish look to your design space, then you can go for granite. This stone comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns in the form of slabs to make it adjustable to any space. Here is the variety of Granite that can help you with your granite countertop needs.

1Black GranitesRs. 75-250 per sq. ft.

2Red GranitesRs. 85-250 per sq. ft.

3Brown GranitesRs. 65-150 per sq. ft.

4Grey GranitesRs. 75-250 per sq. ft.

5White GranitesRs. 55-150 per sq. ft.

6Gold GranitesRs. 95- per sq. ft.

7Blue GranitesRs. 70-450 per sq. ft.

8Pink GranitesRs. 60-350 per sq. ft.

9Green GranitesRs. 40-180 per sq. ft.

Granite Benefits

Granite is comprising of many different characteristics that give it’s every slab a unique and classy appearance with strength and Durability. It is one of the hardest, strongest, and beautiful natural stone comes in numerous color and patterns.

Granite gives the natural beauty which makes it different as compare to the other natural stone. There are many different characteristics of granite that make it ideal for a kitchen countertop, pathway, bathroom vanity tops, cladding, and flooring, etc.

Heat Resistant:

Granite is highly resistant to heat as it does not get melts when exposed to heat. Granite countertops are one of the most preferable heat-resistant countertops. It is resistant to heat in the range of between 150 ˚C and 200˚C temperatures.

Durability:

Granite has high durability which makes it the perfect choice to make the kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops it has the property of fire-resistant, scratch/abrasion-resistant, and water-resistant once the sealer is applied.

Scratch Resistant:

Granite is one of the Scratch Proof stones available. It cannot be scratched even cut on things such as knife, blades, and other appliances. It is one of the hardest stones is available. It does not lose its shine like other stones.

Maintenance:

One of the most important characteristics of the granite countertop is it requires low and easy maintenance. Mostly stone requires cleaner to remove the stains from the countertop surface but granite countertops surface is considered to be easy maintenance countertop surface as all it requires clean the surface is a rag, lukewarm water.

WHERE YOU CAN USE GRANITE

People are using granite for thousands of years. It can be used as a construction material, as a dimension stone, an architectural stone, for home décor purposes,s and also it is used to manufacture a wide variety of products. Each and every smooth surface made up of a natural stone whether it is marble, granite, or some other stone.

The most likely Granite stone surface is used to make kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops. It is the best stone for countertop surfaces that is the r reason granite has many uses due to its unique and useful properties that are quite different from other stones.

Building Monuments

Flooring

Fireplace

Bathroom & Kitchen Countertop

Granite is the hardest and toughest natural stone is used to make Long lasting structures like temples, gravestones, or monuments.

Granite tiles can be used for flooring as they can last a long time and also it is both scratch and stain-proof. It adds great value to your home space.

Granite is used to building a fireplace or remodels existing ones. It can be used to frame the flames with a beautiful surround. It gives a luxurious appearance to your design space, It is also fire resistant which makes it safe to use.

It is one of the most popular choices for countertops or worktops whether it is a kitchen countertop or bathroom countertop. It is an ideal choice to make kitchen countertops and bathroom vanity tops as it is waterproof, stain-resistant, and heat resistant.

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[travelingtheusa]

ARKANSAS

2021 Apr 24 (Sat) – Did some errands today.  Got fuel, picked up groceries, and bought pet food.

    Vanleigh had a catered breakfast this morning.  Following that, they had a Q&A with Leigh Tiffin.  We left early because we had an appointment with techs to make some repairs on our RV.  Our appointment time of 9:30 a.m. came and went without anyone showing up.  At 10:30, Paul went over to find out what was happening only to be informed that they were waiting until after the Q&A. That infuriated me!  I wanted to be there for the Q&A but had to leave for the appointment that never happened.  The techs showed up at 12:30 and worked on our Magic Fan for about an hour. They even wound up reprogramming the Spyder Control Panel.  But, they were not able to make the repair.  They are going to send us a new fan.

    After our catered dinner tonight, they played Survey Says, a take-off on Family Feud.  It was cute but a little irritating.  We left after the first group challenge.

 2021 Apr 23 (Fri) – Paul brought the truck to the garage at 7 AM this morning. He had to take a taxi back to the campground.  The mechanic called later and said the truck started several times with no problem. He sees no sign of starter problems. Paul instructed him to change the starter any way.  With his years of working with heavy equipment, he’s got an ear for trouble with engines.  

    The weather is forecast to be crappy for most of the rally.  Thunderstorms are due in today and tomorrow.  Sunday is supposed to clear up but that’s when the rally ends.

    The seminars started at 8 AM. There was one scheduled for each of the first 3 hours, then lunch, then 3 seminars in the afternoon, then dinner and more singing.

 2021 Apr 22 (Thu) – The Vanleigh Owner’s Rally started today.  We went over at 1 PM to sign in and get our goodie bag. Some goodie bag.  The rally schedule, two pieces of advertising from vendors at the rally, a bag, a lanyard and ID card.  Activities will be taking place in an large open-air pavilion.

    At 5 PM, we went over for dinner. A caterer was set up in a tent where came in and they served us as we moved along the line.  There was BBQ pulled pork and pulled chicken, cole slaw, beans, corn salad, potato salad, and a scrumptious brownie.  After dinner, there was entertainment by Nick Dover and an employee of Vanleigh who played guitar and sang.  It was fun but the temperature really dropped.  It was cold.

    While getting propane, Paul had trouble restarting the truck.  He thinks it’s the starter going bad.  We called the local Ford dealership but as usual, the earliest appointment is not for at least a week.  So Paul called a local garage and arranged to bring the truck in tomorrow.

 2021 Apr 21 (Wed) – It was 36 degrees this morning.  Brrrrr!  We had a minor disaster overnight.  Paul heard the water leak alarm in the basement go off around 2:30 a.m. this morning. He got up and went outside to see what was going on.  There was water dripping into the basement.  It was coming from the bathroom area.  He came back in to the RV to check it out.  The floor had about a half-inch of water on it and the throw rugs were soaked.  He lifted the toilet seat and saw that the toilet bowl was overflowing.  It turned out that a piece of toilet paper had not fully flushed but got stuck in the valve closure.  Because it wasn’t fully closed, the water kept running and filled the tank.  After it filled with the water, it overflowed.  Fortunately, we dumped the tanks this morning so they were not full of waste.  It could have been so much worse.  Paul emptied the tank and I scrubbed down the bathroom.  We took the wet rugs from the bathroom and in the basement to the laundry room and washed and dried them.

    We went to the Red Oak Fillin Station for lunch.  It was a cute café with a woodland decoration (stuffed animals and grasses around the room) and full.  There was only one table left when we walked in.  The food was very good and the waitresses very attentive.  

    After lunch, we went to Garvin Woodland Gardens.  It is a botanical gardens that covers about 100 acres of flowering shrubs, trees and plants.  The Children’s Garden was delightful.  There were lots of large rocks and water treatments among the trees that made it nice to walk among.  There was an amazing chapel in the woods.  The Anthony Chapel has clear glass walls that make it look like you are sitting outside among the trees.  It was like the chapel we toured in Bella Vista.  The same architect probably designed both of them.  I took a fall walking along the “natural” path and banged up my knee.

    After dinner, Linda (another Vilano owner) came by and invited us to join a group over by her trailer. We met Linda and several other folks who were around the campfire tonight at the Tampa RV Show in January last year.  There were also some new Vilano owners at the campfire as well as an SOB couple (Some Other Brand).  

 2021 Apr 20 (Tue) – We packed up and left Little Rock AFB FamCamp at 9:30 a.m.  It was an easy hour and a half drive to Catherine’s Landing in Hot Springs.  The campground is a resort. All the sites are paved with barbecues, fire pits, and picnic tables.  The pool is open, heated and very inviting.  They have a disc golf course and lake activities with Kayak and canoe rentals.  We are here for five nights for a Vanleigh Owner’s Rally.  The rally doesn’t officially start until Thursday but we’ve been watching Vanleigh’s coming in all day.  There will be about 100 rigs here, I think.

2021 Arp 19 (Mon) – It was cool when we got up this morning – in the low 40s. I can’t believe it’s still this cold. It’s just 2 weeks to Memorial Day and we’re putting the electric blanket on at night.  And there’s a freeze warning in effect for tomorrow.  What. Is. Going. On???

    We did the laundry this morning.  They have 2 washers and 2 dryers at $1 apiece. Unfortunately, one washer’s spin cycle did not work.  So we had to rewash one load.  The dryers worked fine.

    After the laundry was put away, we went into town.  We bought propane at Camping World.  The cost was double the normal price.  Why in the world would propane prices have gone up??

    We ate at the Whole Hog Café.  It was a barbecue place and the food was pretty good.  On the way back to the campground, we stopped at a plane display on base.  There were several aircraft on static display in a park. We walked around and read the plaques describing each aircraft, its origin, cost, and history.  It was interesting.  

 2021 Apr 18 (Sun) – We watched church service live stream on FaceBook this morning. Then we ran errands – got fuel, picked up groceries at Kroger, bought some wine at the BX, and parts at Lowe’s. When Paul was repairing the seat on the toilet bowl, the washer fell into the hole.  He had to pick up another nut and washer, which also fell into the bowl. After some cussin’ and fussin’, he wound up using the old hardware.

      We searched for places to have lunch. We have to keep in mind that down in the bible belt, most stores and restaurants are closed and the one or two that are open are usually packed.  After going through a number of options (all closed), we found an Italian restaurant with a 20 minute wait.  The food was very good and we bought leftovers home.

     For dinner, we enjoyed shish kabobs. However, they were overcooked. We’ll have to experiment for the right amount of time to barbecue them.  Having never cooked them before, it’s a learning experience for us.

2021 Apr 17 (Sat) – We stayed in the campground all day.  It was cold and overcast.  Paul worked mostly on trying to get our route laid out from the rally next week to Washington, D.C.  The internet is slow and it is frustrating.  I made reservations for a flight back to New York on May 16.  My sister, Susan, used her points to pay for my ticket.  That was very nice.

 2021 Apr 16 (Fri) – We stayed in most of the day.  It was a cold, dreary, drizzly day.  The fireplace was on all day.  I don’t think it went over 60 degrees today.  At 5 p.m. I took Paul to Barnhill’s Steak and Buffet.  The place had a very extensive buffet selection. We were surprised since all this kind of thing was stopped with the pandemic.  But this place had a robust buffet with all kinds of delicious foods.  

 2021 Apr 15 (Thu) – We went to Papito’s Mexican Grill for lunch.  The place was very colorful with beautiful tile work all over the restaurant.  The employees were Spanish and the food was good.  It all felt very authentic.

    After lunch, we drove to Camping World. Paul is still looking for parts to permanently install the cell phone booster antenna.  They did not have what he wanted.  He couldn’t find the parts online either.  Looks like they just don’t make what he wants.  He’ll have to jury-rig something.

    Since we were out and about and the weather was pleasant, I suggested we take a ride over to the State Capitol. We had not seen it the last time we came through this area.  We don’t know why.  It might have been a weekend and the building was closed.  It was open and we went in.  There were four floors open to the public.  The House of Representatives was in session and we sat in the gallery for a little while, watching the proceedings.  One rep would get up, describe the bill he wanted to present, questions would be asked, then a vote was taken with the reps voting AYE, NAY, or VISITING (meaning they are present but not voting).  Out of three proposals made, two passed and one did not.  It was interesting.  The building was nice, but not spectacular.  The rotunda was four floors high with a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling.  It can be lowered all the way to the first floor.  That’s a looooonng cord!   After exploring the building, we walked around the outside looking at the statues on the grounds.  One exhibit represented the Little Rock 9 with statues of nine students. This is in honor of the black students who were bussed to the Little Rock High School at the height of the civil rights era.

2021 Apr 14 (Wed) – It rained most of the morning until about 11 a.m.  At least it wasn’t thunderstorms.  I called the office this afternoon and complained loud and long about the lack of electric.  A staff person in the office overheard my call and came over to see what he could do. He couldn’t solve the problem so he returned to the office and related the issue.  His boss suggested we plug into the 30-amp outlet rather than the 50-amp outlet.  The staffer returned with the suggestion.  We did it and voila!  We have a 30-amp hookup.  Not as good as a 50-amp hookup but better than limited electric.

    We went out to the Fried Pie Shop for lunch.  Paul read about it online.  It’s like a pot pie you hold in your hand.  I got a chicken vegetable pie and Paul ordered a beef vegetable pie.  We got a blueberry pie for dessert.  The wait was long.  *sigh*  When our order finally arrived, it was very hot; fresh out of the fryer.  I burned my mouth and my tongue was numb for the rest of the day.  The pies were OK; kind of bland.  Oh, well.  We tried something new.

    After lunch, we went to Lowe’s so Paul could pick up a connector for the antenna to the cell booster.  They didn’t have what we wanted.  We then drove to True Value.  They didn’t have the part either.  Then we went to Camping World and they also did not have what we wanted. So Paul changed what he planned to do. When the weather clears up, he’ll install a permanent connection.

     On the way back to the campground, we stopped at the base exchange looking for some wine and liquor.  It turned out to have a limited selection and we couldn’t get everything we wanted.  

2021 Apr 13 (Tue) – We packed up and left Memphis, TN at 9:30 a.m.  After a stop at the dump station and a hearty good-bye to the awful smell hanging over the campground, we drove 3 hours to Little Rock AFB FamCamp.  It is a small but pleasant campground.  Most sites are paved except the few in the tree line, of which we have one.  Our site is one grass.  After set up, I noticed we didn’t have any electric.  Paul checked the stanchion and found that one of the legs is not working.

    We drove over to Outdoor Recreation to pay and point out the lack of electric at our campsite.  The ditsy girl behind the counter said a work order had been put in and the problem would hopefully be fixed soon.  No indication when that would happen.  Paul rigged up an extension so we could have some electric in the trailer.  The fridge and TV are working and I have a plug for the computer.  We grilled steak on the barbecue since the toaster oven is not working (the toaster oven is the most used appliance in our rig).  At least the stove is propane and I was able to make side dishes to the steak.

    We are at a new phase in our relationship.  Paul has begun to speak in low tones.  I am often asking him to repeat what he said. ��He is also losing his hearing.  Many of our conversations are filled with “I thought you said …” or “I heard you say …” I guess it’s kind of funny but it sure can be frustrating.

[a2bcrafts]

Home Improvements: What to do with shells from the beach

When you think of home improvements, you would most probably think about them costing you a dime or two. Well it doesn't have to be that way, all it takes is getting your hands dirty, some elbow grease and our help to improve your home in a number of ways by using the seashells from your favourite beach.

You’ve most probably collected shells before with your little one, perhaps for one of their own art projects or easy shell crafts they can do at home. But we bet you’ve never collected them to improve your home. There are plenty of ways you can use shells to add attention to detail in a bathroom or dining area, keeping you up to date with the latest home decorating trends 2019.

Here are just some of the things you can do with them.

But before we get into that, you’ll want to know how to properly clean your shells so you can get a spotless look which will match perfectly with the rest of the home...

How to Clean Shells from the Beach

There's actually quite the debate always going on about how to clean seashells from the beach, do you use baking soda? Regular fresh water? How about the water the shell was found in?

There are many different opinions across the web, here is ours;

MURIATIC ACID, shells will finally have their natural colour back and you’ll see a more beautiful side to them!

But don’t worry, muriatic acid for those of you who don’t know is just another word for hydrochloric acid. Which can be found in many household products such as toilet bowl cleaner and tile cleaner. This exact acid can be used to clean your shells.

Here is a safe solution for you and your shells and how to get them clean;

¼ cup of muriatic acid and ¾ cups of water.

Dip for a maximum of 3 seconds and neutralize in fresh water straight after.

Avoid contact with skin and stainless steel

If you want to see the process of cleaning shells from the beach and you want to be mesmerized by the dirty to clean to shells, check out the how to bring back color to seashells tutorial.

How to make Seashells shine

It's one thing cleaning your shells and making them look like they would in the sea, but it's another thing completely to have them featuring their natural shine. With some mineral oil, you're going to want to rub over the shell to give it a deep clean, it does 2 things:

It restores the natural shine of the shell

It preserves the shell

How to keep Seashells shiny

Finally you’ve got that shine back, but how do you go about keeping that beautiful shine so that after you’ve created your masterpiece, you can be happy knowing nothing is going to ruin ti design?

You can spray satin-finish polyurethane or coat with clear nail polish. Although this may be a lengthy process for each shell you have, you’ll be able to reverse the shells organic shiny look and give it an even extra glossy shine.

Decorating with Seashells in a Bathroom

Just like using old storage pallets to create your very own DIY furiture, there are plenty of ways you can use seashells to bring out a natural vibe in your home, especially in the area of your bathroom where these shells will fit the most.

Here are some end results, from the people who are already using this cost efficient way of bringing stylish design to their homes.

Seashell Display Jars

You’ve probably seen plenty of these from the image above, seashell display jars are one of the most common and probably the most stylish way of bringing the beautiful gems of the ocean into your home. Without compromising on the design of your home.

The best part about beach in a jar is that there is no limitation to what you can do and no two jars look the same so this way you can have something unique that only you own.

Jars with sand and shells are not limited to a bathroom, although we think they do look the best in there, these wonderful creations can also work to work with their environment, making them great in kitchens and lounge areas that feature ocean colours.

Now, we bet you’re excited to go ahead with going to your local beach, picking out some decorative shells and making your own sand and shells in glass jars. But we also know you’re probably wondering how the hell you go about gluing your shells to glass? Or how you even managed to get the sand to stick without it looking complete without purpose?

Read on to get some pro tips on how you can achieve your seashell in a jar dreams.

How to Glue Shells to Glass

Less is always more, as they say. Applying glue to shells is no different, there are many different techniques and practices for going about this. You’ll need some form of hot glue, typically that will from one of the craft glue guns from your local craft store.

Once acquired, you’ll want to squeeze a sizeable amount of glue on the outside of the glass, then you’ll want to take your best looking seashell and press down firmly on the glue. Hold for a minimum of 60 seconds to ensure the glue can harden around your shell. Repeat this process till you’re happy with your final design.

How to Glue Sand in a Jar

It's important you get the consistency right, with to much glue you’re going to look you made this with a blindfold on, alternatively with not enough glue your sand won’t stick to the glass and you won't get the desired effect.

To get the desired look, you’re going to want to follow our golden rule:

For every 1 cup of sand, you’ll want to have 1 cup of glue.

Doing this, you should get a thick mixture, with a little mixing you’ll be ready to add your gooey sand to the surface of your jar, spread out evenly for a balanced finish.

Other creative uses for seashells in your home

Beyond the basics of using shells and sand to make glass shell jars, there are other creative uses for seashells that you can use within your home, outside of the bathroom area.

As a side note, seashell crafts for adults is fun but it's even more enjoyable once you get your kids involved. Allowing them to help you create something that is going to be a cherished part of your home for potentially many years.

Seashell Display Case

For collectors out there, this is one of the ways you can proudly put your favourite seashells on display.

These seashells were probably left over from your glass jar projet, you’ve probably thought to yourself ‘these are just too beautiful to use’ and instead just threw them in a draw never to be seen again.

Making something out of them and putting them on display gets you the best of both worlds. You can admire a natural resource whilst adding a personal touch to your home, wherever you choose to feature your brand new display case.

There are many ways you can come up with to add shells to a display case, one of them would be to use a wooden, sort of like a larger display cause would be used from and assigning compartments for your favourite seashells. Maybe in order of size, type, or even colour.

We have yet to cover how you're going to manage to add shells to the display cabinet, so here’s how to glue shells to wood.

How to Glue Shells to Wood

Just like glueing to glass, you’re going to want to get a hot glue gun from your local craft store, so that the shells you attach will stay attached. However it is advised that you clean your wood before hand as dust and other particles can be visible even after the job has been completed, mostly this goes unnoticed with glass surfaces.

Seashell Shadow box

Similar to display cases, using a shadow box to display your shells will offer you another way of bringing in the natural design. However, these should be used as an alternative if you truly take pride in the design of your home, and you’re looking for a way to add shells that won’t compromise the general design.

This is because, unlike display cabinet, shadow boxes feature a more organized finish making them ideal for people who like to have a modern home looks like each decor piece was placed with purpose.

Shell Shower Curtains

You’ll most probably see some form of shell shower curtains in your home, but I bet they are all printed designs and not the real thing. Well why not use the real thing and create some fabulous curtains from them?

Whether you start off with a blank curtain or you use a shell design that is going to compliment the actual shells which you’re going to feature. However you choose to go about this fun craft, make sure to glue everything down properly and have some fun with it.

Seashell Animal Crafts

With seashell crafts, with usually think about larger designs, whether that's shell curtains or seashell jars. But what about little dinky ornaments that can fit on any tableside in your home that can bring you some unique style that has been made from seashells?

These little dicnky ornemants are seashell animals, whether you’re a lover of foxes, ladybirds or any other animal in existence, we are sure you can achieve the design with a couple of sea shells, some paint and a great deal of imagination.

How to make Seashell Animals

Now, this would depend on what sort of animal you’re looking to create. Thankfully we live in the age or internet so having resources for this information won’t be too hard to find, however we want to give you a head start, here are some tools you’re going to need if you want to create one of these beautiful pieces for yourself.

Hot glue gun

Some of your favourite paint and paint brushes.

And a creative mind

If you’re unsure what to create, perhaps you don’t have a favourite animal or you’re just looking for a unique idea, here is over 100 seashell animal crafts to inspire you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbKUhTBb2TE

Broken Seashell Crafts

When we’re looking for seashells, we usually look for the most pretty and eye catching ones, I mean that's just the way we are naturally as humans to seek out the most beautiful thing as possible.

But that means we waste materials that could add to our home, such as broken seashells.

Broken seashell crafts are unique in the sense that they take something that seems to be at the end of its life time, soon to be washed away or thrown away and turn it into something that is elegant yet charming and a piece that could become a great addition to a bathroom, lounge or bedroom area in a home.