#all with a thin layer of vent art on top
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silkysong · 2 years ago
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what if pebbles never got interrupted....jus kidding.. unless.. ?
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spearxwind · 4 years ago
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I’m curious what your technique is to do all the glowing marks on your chars (ex: the purple glowing spots on talas or the red vents on adri) I am terrible at digital effects and luminosity layers and stuff are a mystery to me so if you are willing to share your technique I’d love to know! anyway have I nice day as always I love your art
honestly? lately ive just been really lazy about it lately. i draw the color on top of the shading so that its not obscured, and i choose a color that’s contrasting enough but that’s not 100% saturated bc that looks Bad
for both adri, talas, and any other oc who’s bright glowy markings can be summed up into thin dots or lines i dont even use a layer effect
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i used to have a glow tutorial with actual layer effects on my gore blog but i just looked and it seems like not only has a weird bot snatched my url, all my posts seem to be entirely gone so. unless someone happens to have a reblog of it i think it’s been lost to the ether
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theterribletenno · 3 years ago
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Amp Skin Concept Ideas
Aight well since I can't art I will words. Cosmetic Amp skins.
Fokkus Amp Skin: Grineer styled amp skin. Bulky tubular brace covers a large portion of the forearm, rounded and vaguely olive-shaped. Smooth shell has Nightwatch Camoflauge styled detailing. Near the wrist there is a band of dark metal cut with a set of thin glowing vents, when the amp is fired these vents flare and sputter with flames and sparks. The scaffold section consists of a thin, rigid metal arm which holds the prism in front of the hand with several flexible and bent hoses also connecting the brace to the prism. The prism itself is spherical, resembling a mechanical eye from which the amp's attacks are fired.
Augur Amp Skin: Corpus styled amp skin. A set of four thin metallic triangles make up the brace of this amp which do not directly touch the forearm but are held in place around it. Between the edges of these suspended metal triangles are square screens which display a combination of Orokin and Corpus lettering and text that slowly scrolls down the brace from the elbow towards the hand. The script scrolls much more rapidly when the weapon is fired. The prism is a small metal pyramid that floats in front of the user's palm, pointing forwards. When the amp fires the sides of the metal pyramid split apart and open, revealing the insides to be glowing brightly.
Neuron Amp Skin: Infested styled amp skin. A thick growth of oily black technocyte flesh which wraps its short gripping tendrils around the Tenno's forearm to feed on void energy. A set of longer, thinner tentacles reach outwards past the wrist and hand with glowing tips. The tentalces flare outward and wriggle when firing. While inactive the tentacles curl up around the wrist.
Legacy Amp Skin: Orokin styled amp skin. A sturdy and ornately shaped brace of ivory curls around the forearm of the wearer, decorated with several Orokin gold crown motiffs arranged along the back of the brace. The prism resembles a miniature Ayatan Anasa Sculpture with much of its detailing stripped and only a few limbs. The limbs of the prism open when the amp fires. The anasa prism is held in place by fibers of the plant-like white tendrils commonly seen in the orokin void tower tileset. When the amp is not in use the white tendrils pull the anasa prism up and out of the way of the Operator's hand.
Pariah Amp Skin: Sentient styled amp skin. Similar in appearance to some of the amps made using parts from Quill Onkko, the Pariah skin shares its design with the Lohrin Brace and Shwaak Prism, but with more and larger tooth-shaped vents along the sides of its brace and prism. These tooth-vents angle backwards when the primary fire is used and forwards when the secondary fire is used. An aperture resembling the eye of a Vomalyst is mounted at the tip of the prism and three more decorate the top side of the brace, all of which open wider when the amp is firing.
Unum Amp Skin: Ostron styled amp skin. Features a simple and humble-looking brace made of grayish-green leather bound with golden clasps and reinforced with carved splints of bone. Three long gold prongs unfold from against the forearm, one on each side and one along the bottom when the amp is activated, extending in front of the hand. Charms of luck and protection made of cast gold and carved bone dangle from chains that hang from the prongs and are rattled violently when the amp fires.
Vox Amp Skin: Solaris styled amp skin. A totally slap-dashed void amp made from random pieces of Solaris technology. A bracer made from the components of broken moas connected with salvaged servofish guts to a prism that appears to be repurposed kitgun parts. It looks too hastily and sloppily assembled to work.
Sepulcher Amp Skin: Entrari styled amp skin. A heavy, bulky, but ornately decorated amp that almost looks like a cannon. Layered plates of dark colored metal etched with intricate gold inlay make this amp look like a combination of medieval armor and Orokin technology. A long tube cut in half and lined with glowing prismarine serves as the prism for this heavy amp, simultaneously brutal and beautiful.
Ki'teer Amp Skin: A skin for Tenno amps made with the style of Baro Ki'teer. A lightweight and almost minimalist amp made by the skilled hands of Baro Ki'teer, a fine arrangement of triangles and diamonds decorate the wrist brace, making this amp an elegant accessory. The prism is a large and fine crystal disk mounted in a diamond-shaped fitting which is held in the hand when in use. When not in use the diamond fitting holding the crystal lens is allowed to dangle delicately beneath the operator's forearm at the end of a short chain.
If anyone wants to draw a couple of these PLEASE DO.
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davidlynchschreibner · 4 years ago
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A long while ago an anon asked me for Davenzi touch headcanons and as happened previously it spiraled out of control into a snapshot-style fic. I left it a long time but with other angsty projects in the works I think it is high time for a fluff break. I hope you enjoy!
A Love Song In The Language Of Hands
With a mother whose arms had always been open for him to crawl into, a boisterous extended family during summer holidays, and friends who drape limbs over each other with thoughtless ease, Matteo has never had any real cause to be touch-starved. Yet, he finds that he has become most spoiled by the ready availability. He asks for nothing but observes how his bones ache and muscles cramp if he goes too long without physical contact. It sates that twinging discomfort to feel a hand on his back, passing over his hair, flicking the round tip of his nose. As he submerges in the warmth he realizes how much he had missed letting it soak in. Readily he gives back, reaching with his hands as once his heart could not, and revels in the care he can exchange. But while the affections of his family both blood and chosen quench his thirst, David is a pitcher of water drawn from an abundant well and the shady cool of a shelter to drink it in. Matteo feels quickly parched for want of the warm press of his body and chapped lips sliding over any available skin. Where the hugs of his friends soothe an ache David’s touch is a euphoric pleasure. So he’s always groping around for it in daylight, artificial light, and darkness. They are teased for their relentless displays of affection but any potential embarrassment rebounds off him without even leaving a scuff mark. Matteo isn’t particular about the method or the mood of their touches but he always craves them. Even a playful slap is good if its David’s hand that’s connecting. He doesn’t have a reason to need like this. But every day he does.
They have equally restless hands. David is an artist and through his eyes Matteo is the first masterpiece he can touch. Not like the stylized saints or marble heroes which awe viewers in museums. Nor the beautiful street art that spills over high city walls and the crumbling innards of abandoned buildings. Matteo is low to the ground, spindly, undecorated when he peels off his many patterned layers. David finds him a perfect canvas that begs for sweeps of paint and ink. The smooth hills of Matteo’s shoulderblades and the sharp mountain range of his spine make a small world to populate with myriad creations. Matteo loves David’s art with oceanic depth and power; he is eager to be part of it. It begins with a bird, a question, and a pen. They both find David’s little portrait on Matteo’s shoulder immensely satisfying. Later, Matteo volunteers to trial a design David is debating for a character and all frustration evaporates as he works. David admires the design after, blows air across the non-toxic paint to dry it, and says only ‘perfect’. With this in mind, Matteo discovers an excellent way to vent stress. When the feelings inside make David feel his skin is stretched too thin Matteo offers for David to communicate in the way he does best--- with art. He works so delicately and diligently, unspooling all the tangled cares of his day and putting them where they are felt, acknowledged, and later washed away by the shower. Matteo lies still for however long it takes, occasionally humming a gentle query or a contented encouragement, until David is almost as relaxed as the puddle of boy beneath him. With an admiring eye the artist observes his work and the way Matteo shows through in the spaces between lines. He smoothes his hands over the fresh ink, uncaring of the way it smudges in places, and presses a kiss to the top of Matteo’s tawny head.
It didn’t take long for Matteo to learn he loves the springy curls of David’s hair beneath his fingers. In quiet moments he strokes tender touches over the pleasantly textured strands, meditating with abstract appreciation how beautiful his boyfriend is. David never lets anyone else touch his hair (would understandably bristle if they tried) but he allows even the most provocative of ruffles because this is Matteo’s love language. His hands are not mean when they tug, not dehumanizing when they reach, not careless when they accidentally get tangled. They can give in their turn the softest admiration and comfort that cards away all worry. The underlying love can be felt no matter what the particular delivery method is. It would be a lie to say that Matteo doesn’t take advantage of his unique permission. Whether it is a playful mussing, sliding his hands into the tight whorls in order to push away or bring closer the face he loves so well, or reverent strokes reserved for private moments, it’s a treasured indulgence. David has grown to enjoy lying pliant under gentle attentions. When they’re curled together in bed or on the living room sofa with a film playing on the television he becomes so relaxed beneath the steady passes over his scalp that he’s fallen asleep on more than one occasion. Matteo buries his fingers in the thickness of the top, rubs over the shaved sides, traces the fine wisps that frame David’s hairline. He loves every hair on David’s head and what he can say with the ways hands move over them.
It’s not a feature most people give thought to but David thinks Matteo’s forehead is particularly well suited to kisses. It’s one of his favourite spots made all the more attractive for being usually covered by tangled ribbons of hair. They tumble into his eyes and move across in unpredictable patterns that shift the slivers of skin between with every movement. Matteo’s forehead isn’t seen in full often but David never forgets the warm plane and the way it curves around his eyebrows. There is a variety of ways to kiss it, each one a silent message that David’s intuitive boyfriend is an expert at interpreting. A slow press still humid with the shared moisture of many kisses says a silent ‘I love you’. A hard smack planted while Matteo tries to dodge teases ‘you’re my favourite idiot’. A feathery brush is an acknowledgment of connection when it feels like there is not enough time in the world. The lingering kiss that rests long and is eventually replaced by David’s cheek murmurs ‘there’s nowhere and no one better than you’. There’s a short peck reserved for praise which makes Matteo’s cheeks dimple and glow more than any flattering words. Sometimes his brow is wrinkled with the swells of his stressors and David traces his lips over the lines until they relax back into smoothness. When David is otherwise occupied with the demands of school, work, and his activities for the student group he volunteers with he apologizes for not being his best self with a firm kiss to Matteo’s temple. They’re still discovering the endless vocabulary of forehead kisses. And they have all the time in the world.
For all that David once fashioned himself a vampire it’s really more Matteo that has an interest in necks. David’s pointedly and specifically. It has always been this way even in the swaddled months of winter, back when they were both hiding in too many layers of clothes and anxiety and David first stood in the WG’s kitchen stripped down to a low-necked shirt. Matteo is quite enthralled with the long lean line his boyfriend displays when he turns his head. His eyes trace the curve from a distance, track the way it bobs when David swallows, shine with contentment when they come indoors from the cold and he watches David unwind his scarf. It’s Matteo’s special place to lavish kisses of both the tender and excited variety. A butterfly-soft contact to reassure, a passionate mouthing in the heat of the moment, a slow press in place of those three precious words. It makes his skin tingle and tighten pleasantly when he runs his lips over David’s throat in the early morning and a patch of stubble pricks him. Sometimes he buries his face there, just presses into the curve of David’s throat and breathes him in. It presses safety into his nerves, the shape slim but solid like the trunk of a young tree, and fragrant with his favourite person’s scent. Despite the strength of it this is such a vulnerable location and they both know it. The skin is thin over blood and bone and he sometimes revels in the fact David is completely at ease beneath his touch. Never shies, never tenses, instead tilts his head in invitation and wraps Matteo up in the warmth of his arms and sunbeam smile.
It’s a very common occurrence to find Matteo lying against David in lazy cat-like fashion and this sight is the one which readily comes to mind. But this is not always the case. It’s fact that David takes immense pleasure in curling his arms around the relaxed borders of the person that embodies home. He would do so until they both surrender to inevitable eternity. But the times where he curls into Matteo and lays his head down are also plentiful. They instinctively relax each other and find the grooves where they can fit together. Sometimes David releases the mindful control with which he guides his life and lets himself dissolve. With a contented puff of air he rests the head so heavy with thoughts in all the dips and bends of Matteo’s body. They cradle him with wordless patience and support. Whether it’s the soft bellows of Matteo’s belly, the sinuous hammock of his shoulder, or the firm plate of his chest, David feels the weight of his skull absorbed as easily as an empty eggshell. Other times, he is thinking of nothing serious at all and feels anchored to the world by the grounding pressure against his head. He turns his cheek into the divots between ribs and listens to the metronome of Matteo’s breath. Or Matteo does something annoying and David lets his head lift and thump back in fond rebuke. Or gently, so as not to jostle their brains, David slots his head just beneath Matteo’s and feels them rest like stacked stones. David can always rest his head on Matteo and the same is true in reverse.  
Matteo is fascinated by David’s hands. They are useful in ways he loves to count and he thrills at what they can do. Yet they are not big or heavy with those abilities. The slim lengths of his brown fingers slide between Matteo’s pale digits like the tumblers of a lock clicking into place. Their palms are exactly the same size as he idly measured the first time they pressed together. Beautiful hands, he thinks, capable of both labor and the softest of touches. Long ago Matteo’s hands felt cold with emptiness that longed for another to enfold. It seemed perhaps he would never have that--- especially not from a boy. But David is always eager. In bed or on the street his fingers spread invitingly and prove ready to hook around Matteo’s. He loves those generous hands and how well they care for him. David knows when Matteo is anxious by the way his fingers twitch with the urge to fidget. The calloused pad of David’s thumb rubs soothingly over the nearest knuckle. If Matteo’s hand clenches suddenly tight he’s reaching his snapping point and David quickly places himself between whatever the trigger is and his boyfriend. When Matteo is wilting with the exhaustion of prolonged social engagement he slots their fingers together like a seamless mechanism, squeezes weakly, and David squeezes back in agreement. Then the former gets towed by the hand to an available space where things are less hectic. He’s tugged to lying his weary body against the strong support of David’s with their hands still intertwined. Their palms and fingers speak to each other with a language no one else understands.
Love can be expressed with roughness, David has discovered. He grins when Matteo shoves him across the couch, glares without real ire when teeth nip him, enjoys the way he can’t properly pin his boyfriend down because he fights dirty. The burn in his muscles when they wrestle is like a joyful flush. No matter how tenderly he’s cared for Matteo is still untamed. But that’s perfect--- David wants to be challenged and played with. Matteo pokes him in the side when he’s trying to focus and he slaps at the offending finger to make it go away, but it’s already been retracted in favor of an expectant expression that’s difficult to resist. If he wants to linger in bed (as happens every now and then) but Matteo wants to make breakfast he will seize David by the ankle and try to drag him off the mattress and even across the room should it come to that. They race each other and Matteo cheats to get ahead, but then David tackles him to the ground and they’re both yelling and laughing too much to go on. One day they are talking about something tedious and Matteo starts hitting him repeatedly with a pillow. With a frustrated growl David rips it from him and squashes the soft stuffing into Matteo’s face until he signals that he needs a breath. Even when David swallows it back because really he is irritated there’s always a sound of delight vibrating inside him. The other boy is a complete menace but it’s invigorating, lights him up inside, and is somehow more charming than good manners. His stomach jumps and then explodes upwards into butterflies when he’s given that devilish grin presaging some mischief. It’s not a delicate declaration of ardor but they are not fragile.
Their feet tangle and press when they lie together. Sometimes in the heat of summer cuddling is too sticky and they sleep sole to sole like sets of palms in prayer. Matteo loves thick socks, the fluffier the better, so the bottoms of his feet are kept smooth as silk. David began life running barefoot outdoors and his feet are calloused with years of pounding the ground, jumping, twisting inside his trainers so that the soles of his feet scrape. Matteo traces the arch of David’s foot with his toes and marvels at how the other boy is not at all ticklish. In the slanting light of another afternoon David balances a book at an awkward angle because their legs are wound together like a trailing plant and Matteo is cuddled under his other arm. Sometimes when they wrestle David seizes his boyfriend’s leg between both of his and holds tight against the wriggling and kicking as Matteo struggles to gain the upper hand. Eventually they declare a stalemate and lie panting with their limbs still twined. As their breathing quiets into sleepy softness Matteo burrows his foot beneath the edge of David’s trouser leg and runs his toes up the curve of the calf inside it, shivering as rough hairs brush against his skin. In winter Matteo’s feet are consistently freezing but David’s are always warm. They snuggle into the pile of blankets like two birds in the nest. Without being asked David stretches across the cool bedsheets and folds Matteo’s icy feet between the pleasant heat of his own. Like their hands, their feet are often holding each other.
The ways in which they affirm their love through touch are many and ever expanding. It’s impossible to count every expression and location and occasion. There are, David thinks, as many types of touch as there are words in the dictionary. Every one is listened to and remembered. Some spoken sharply, softly, slow and slurred, a burst of sound, an entire speech, staccato. They whisper in the dreamy dark and shout so suddenly it’s startling. Matteo has always been slow to find his words but he writes David beautiful sonnets with his fingers. David sometimes doesn’t know how to say what he is thinking but he can explain with the way he fits his body to Matteo’s. This language is foreign to some. But it is complex, evolving, equal, and most importantly theirs. They’ve had to learn it but it feels as comfortable as a mother tongue. When Matteo can barely lift his exhausted head let alone open his mouth he knows David will listen with his arms. On days that David can’t explain the feelings that throb inside his skin Matteo hears those thoughts through the head tucked beneath his chin. Sometimes they use words, sometimes they use touch, but they tell each other how much the other is loved twenty times a day. With their bodies they can talk, and talk, and talk.
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ventcovers · 4 years ago
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Upgrades to 10 Hideous Air Vent Covers: Advantages of New Pacific Register Company
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Don't let unsightly air vent covers distract from your home's aesthetic. Take a look at these great-looking improvements that you can buy or build yourself.
Marble it to the gills If your old air vent covers are detracting from the charm of your new marble floors, Metro Marble Repair is here to help. Custom floor signups are available in tile, glass, granite, porcelain, and limestone. Simply give them your supplies, and they'll create the ideal vent shroud for you. Sheet Metal with Designs Purchase some patterned sheet metal to take a more innovative approach to repairing an unsightly air vent shroud. Measure the vent openings then cut them to fit over the vent with caution. Bear leather gloves when chopping, then file down any rough edges with tin snips. If required, paint the covers, fasten the metal to thin wood strips, and seal the cover with small screws.
Using a Fiberglass Plastic Air Vent Shroud.
This air vent shroud option is only for use on walls and ceilings, and it is a luxurious and sleek upgrade to standard covers. Installing the device is as quick as sticking it to the wall or ceiling with self-adhesive silicone. Attempt a Butterfly Although this is not a cost-effective choice, you might hire an artist to make air vent covers for you. Jerzy Sanecki of SaneckiArt, an Etsy customer, designs one-of-a-kind air vent covers, such as this butterfly style.
“I purchased five complete vent covers from Jerzy and am incredibly satisfied with the results. They are simply gorgeous and lovely, and we have already got compliments on them in our new home,” one reviewer says.
Check out these 100 stunning before and after home makeovers that will astound you.
Make an attempt at a minimalist style.
Through using the Aria Vent, you will achieve a minimalist look. When they go about making "seriously beautiful air vents," this maker has DIYers and industry pros in mind. With drop-in mounting technology, the original Aria Vent has a sleek, futuristic appearance. Minimalism is one of the 15 home patterns that Millennials are embracing.
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Make Use of an Ancient Shutter
Consider converting an air vent that is prominently placed on a wall into a piece of art. Find an old interior window shutter and hack it down to size for the air vent. The shutter should be completed with trim before being primed and sprayed. Attach some D-rings to the shutter and hang it on the wall. Here's an example of how it'll look when it's done. You can find a lot of antique window shutters on Etsy. Check out these 12 easy-to-make room dividers, one of which is made from repurposed shutters.
It's a Tile Matching an air vent to the rest of the architecture will prevent it from being an eyesore on your floor. Custom tileable in-floor vents with a welded aluminum frame and reversible insert are accessible from Tile Lines. You have the option of cutting your tile to match! Here's how to tile a DIY backsplash, when we're on the subject of tiles.
Consider a mirrored finish.
Install mirrored finish air vent covers for a streamlined look that blends in with the surrounding fabrics. This option was designed to replace old louvered grilles and is a perfect match for walls and ceilings. Big mirrors are among the 52 objects that will make your home seem more expensive.
Air Vent Mask in Brushed Nickel, Art Deco
Install these chic air vent covers to bring more Art Deco flair to your house. These covers, which come in a range of sizes and finishes, are simple to install—just drop it into the opening with no tools needed! Taking a look at these 15 retro home patterns that are resurfacing. Use a period-style air vent shroud to add some style to your room. You'll enjoy this period-style scroll pattern air vent shroud if your home decor is more Victorian. It's made of cast aluminum and has a luxurious black finish due to a baked-on powder coating. It's also rustproof and needs no repair! Do you want to give your home a Victorian feel? The following directions will teach you how to build a Victorian screen home.
Ground Air Vent shroud (DIY)
Okay, I understand that this DIY floor air vent shroud isn't for everybody, and that's good. This idea would not have been my cup of tea if it hadn't been thrust upon me. We have kittens, you know. There are ten of them. Cats can also be jerks at times. And cats have a history of peeing on things when they're feeling extremely jerky. They pee down stuff, in this situation. And that's just what our cats did: they peed down the vents in our floor.
Now, I understand how revolting it is. I debated not posting it and our eventual patch on the site because it was so revolting. But, as you know, I tend to keep it real around here, and I think that if I'm having this dilemma, there must be other pet owners out there who are as well. So, if I can help any fellow feline lovers out there fix this heinous dilemma, I'll take the risk of missing a few readers in the process. Anyway, this concern began when we first moved into the house where we now live. We didn't have this problem in our old house because it didn't have floor air vents, so we were surprised to see our cats piddling down our cool, clean air vents in our new home. We did everything a cat owner could do in this situation—made sure there were enough clean litter boxes open, using feline pheromone diffusers, etc.—and it helped a bit, but we still had the problem on occasion. I ultimately decided to strategically position furniture to cover as many air vents as possible, but some air vents stayed exposed. We searched for floor air vent covers to buy to fix our dilemma, but the only ones that looked like they could fit were made of plastic and would crumble into a million pieces if stepped on. We had to come up with a plan because there was no way I was going to put up with this and keep our house smelling like we had so many cats, even if we did have too many cats. These are designed to go over regular 4 x 10 and 4 x 14-inch floor air vent signups. Since signups come in a range of sizes, if you don't have the same sizes as us, you'll need to do some weighing and estimating to ensure a decent match. We built them to fit snugly in the back and front so they wouldn't slip around, but we made the cover 3′′ wider than the floor openings to prevent pee from getting under the sides of the air vent, which are open to allow air movement.
“But people are going to fall right over these!” I can hear some of you shouting at the computer screens now. Let me ask you a question: how much do you walk on your house's floor air vent signups? Floor air vents are usually positioned in inconspicuous areas and/or parallel to a wall. When wandering around indoors, people naturally leave a foot or two between themselves and the walls. And as long as you don't make them the same color as the floor you're going to use them on, they'll be easy to find.
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• Timber planks 10′′ x 3/4′ for the top of the air vent sheet. They usually come in 6-8′ lengths, but do the calculations to work out how many you'll need based on the number of air vents you want to protect. These are made of Pinewood, but any heavy wood would do (softer wood might split if it does ever get stepped on, but I still think the chances of that happening are pretty slim). • 1′′ x 3/4′′ wood planks for the air vent cover's foundation These may be difficult to come by, so you can have to break a wider plank down to size. If you do buy them, they usually come in 4-6′ lengths, so do the math and work out how many you'll need based on the number of air vents you want to protect. These are made of Pinewood, but any heavy wood would do. • Finish screws, 16 gauge, 1 1/2 inch • Weathered Gray Varathane wood polish (buy at Lowes) • Baby Gloves with Valspar Chalky Coating (buy at Lowes) • Uncolored Valspar Sealing Wax (buy at Lowes) Please note: I'm sharing the type and dimensions of the wood I purchased so you'll know what I used for this project, but you can use different types/sizes of wood if you can't find the same type/size wood at the hardware store or if you have scrap wood.
Instruments:
• Saw with no rope
• The Nail Gun
• Paint Brushes
• Cotton Rags
• Palm Sander
Directions: Cut the top and sides of the wood to match your floor air vent register's dimensions. For the 4′′ x 14′′ air vent register, we used dimensions of 17′′ x 9′′ for the top of the air vent shroud (two pieces of 10′′ x 3/4′ wood plank cut to fit) and 17′′ x 3/4′′ x 1′′ for the sides of the air vent shroud (two pieces of 3/4′′ x 1′′ wood plank cut to the 17′′ duration for the wide air vents). The top of the air vent shroud (two pieces of 10′′ x 3/4′ wood plank cut to fit) and 13′′ x 3/4′′ x 1′′ for the sides of the air vent shroud (two pieces of 3/4′′ x 1′′ wood plank cut to the 13′′ length for the large air vents) are the dimensions we used for the 4′′ x 10′′ air vent sing-up.
As seen above, nail the two top pieces to the two side pieces. Now comes the exciting part! Apply a wood polish and brush away the excess with a towel. Give at least a couple of hours for the paint to dry before going on to the next stage. Allow at least a few hours for the chalk paint to dry before going on to the next stage. Using the palm sander, distress the soil. It's completely up to you how much or how little you distress (or even whether you do it at all)! Using a wet towel, clear some pollen.
Apply a layer of sealing wax to the surface and brush away any residue with a towel. There's a lot of discussion on whether you can wax before or after distressing; I usually do it after because it covers the exposed wood as well as the chalk paint (and these will use all the protection they can get if my cats try to poop on them, which they haven't yet). Both of our air vent covers have been assembled and are ready to be mounted in the building! If you're having a similar issue with your cats as we were, I hope this DIY floor air vent shroud will come in handy! Our cats have been avoiding the freshly protected vents so far, and it's awesome to have them back in operation, particularly with the 100+ degree temperatures of our summers approaching! Thank you for coming, and please let me know what you think or whether you have any questions!
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Pacific Registry Company sells decorative wall grilles and overhead registers.
And the tiniest information will make a huge difference. Decorate a mundane and uninteresting region of your home with something amazing. Most vent covers are dull and unknown, and they frequently neglect beauty and appearance in favor of functionality. Air vents, which are used to limit or re-direct airflow in your house, are frequently ignored by homeowners, resulting in missed opportunities to add elegance and decorative appeal to every room. Request decorative register and vent shroud made of aluminum, brass, wood, plaster, resin, and stone from our vast inventory of completely customizable decorative sign-up and vent covers. It's never been easier to fit vent grilles to your unique style; use our range of vents to accent all of them. If you've been unimpressed or otherwise uninterested in the vents in your house, it's time to think about how this frequently neglected detail will relate to the overall design and décor you're striving for.
CHECK OUT OUR INVENTORY OF DECORATIVE REGISTERS AND VENT COVERS, CEILING REGISTERS, AND FILTER GRILLS ONLINE.
COVERS FOR VENTS Our high-quality heat signups and grilles are simple to customize to suit your room, from unusual old homes to renovated houses. When a heat vent consumes a large amount of space on your floors or walls, it's important to balance it with a sophisticated, long-lasting heat sign-up or grille. Below, you'll find a range of refined types and sizes. Rejuvenation has vent covers and floor signups for your house.
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When it comes to home decor, the slightest specifics will make all the difference, so consider replacing your old covers with one of our waterproof styles. The Classic Brass grille, which measures 4 x 12 inches and is made of sturdy cast brass, is one alternative. This grille brings refinement to the space with its sleek Revised Classic style and low profile. Combine it with other home accents like a BRASS PLANTER or a wall sconce. Wood floor signups are also available from Rejuvenation, and are suitable for having a Northwest Contemporary design look. The Wood Slat floor register is available in three sizes to fit your needs. To fit your furniture, pick from oak, maple, or cherry wood. Consider one of the Traditional Aluminum grilles in black enamel if you choose a Sleek Industrial look. Rejuvenation has all the home hardware you need in a range of classic designs in addition to these vent covers.
New vent covers and a floor register have a range of advantages.
Changing minor details inside the space will go a long way toward changing the overall appearance of the room, as previously described. Space is automatically updated when you swap your old vent covers and floor signups with one of this brass, aluminum, or wood alternatives. Change the switchplates to create a unified look; Rejuvenation has switchplates in a range of finishes to complement these floor signups and vent covers, as well as other fixtures and drawer, pulls to accommodate your house. Look through the collection for beautiful and long-lasting pieces for every room.
With registers and grilles, you can monitor the airflow in your house.
Airflow to and from the HVAC unit in your home is controlled and directed by signups and grilles, which keep your living room comfortable while concealing the ductwork. Lowe's has a large range of grilles, signups, and air deflectors to ensure that ventilation is directed where it is required most. Take a minute to calculate the size of the duct opening so you know what will work, and take note of the covering so you can find a fitting piece for the opening before you go shopping.
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Inventories
The distinguishing feature of these usually slatted covers, which can be found in the floor, wall, or ceiling, is a lever that allows you to open or close the air vent to alter airflow into the room. Floor signups come in a variety of materials, designs, and finishes, allowing you to use them as a decorative feature that often blends in with the rest of the room's hardware and fixtures. From scroll styles and oil-rubbed bronze finishes to light oak choices that blend in with hardwood floors, you'll find one that suits your room perfectly. Is your vent in your baseboard rather than on the floor? Lowe's also has baseboard signups that can match these gaps.
A grille's task is to draw air out of a room and return it to the heating or cooling system. It varies from a sing-up in that it lacks a damper to regulate airflow. Many small grilles will be mounted in the building, or a single wide grille will be installed throughout the ceilings or walls. They are available in a range of fabrics and finishes to match your personal taste.
Controlling the passage of air
Will you need to steer incoming air in a certain direction? Air deflectors mount to your vents to divert air, whether you're shielding plants put under vents or need to force air away from seating in the living room. These options vary from magnetically connecting to the sign-up to designs with multiway deflection, allowing you to quickly construct a calming environment. Are you looking for a way to help spread air more uniformly in a room? Ceiling diffusers are an excellent alternative. Want to monitor the temperature of a room without using the thermostat? Air vent covers prohibit air from accessing signups, causing it to reroute to other regions. A vent shroud can also help save electricity, and some come with a magnetic feature for simple installation.
Lowe's has the goods you need for efficient ventilation in your home when it comes to the air conditioning vents. Reggio sing-up and other brands are available to equip your home in both feature and design. With our Purchase Online, Pick Up in Store option, you can easily complete your heating and cooling project.
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sharepostt · 5 years ago
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5 Ways To Rescue Watery Blueberry Pie (After Baking)
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SHE WEARS MANY HATS Need some quick and easy fixes to rescue holiday dessert? Try these 5 hacks to save a watery blueberry pie (after baking).
1. Place It Back In The Oven
Easy as pie! Important: Use an oven thermometer to ensure the right oven temperature (if your dial isn't accurate). Cover the pie with aluminum foil, place it back in the oven and bake it at 425 to 450 F for about 12 minutes. Wait until the pie sets (about 2 hours at room temperature) before cutting into it. Or, it’s almost certain that you’ll end up with a juicy, wet mess when you slice it. Can you blame your oven? Some ovens don't heat evenly. Bad oven, bad!  READ: Should I Use A Gas or Electric Oven For Baking? Note: If your crust is burnt or you didn't follow these tips for baking blueberry pie, use strategy #2 or #3 below instead.
2. Scoop Out The Filling (Crumble Topping Method)
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SAVING ROOM FOR DESSERT A more time intensive strategy involves: re-heating the pie filling, re-baking the bottom crust, and making a crumble topping: Here's how, step-by-step: Remove the pie's top crust and scoop out the filling. Put the pie back in the oven (bottom rack) and allow the bottom crust to cook all the way through. Simultaneously heat the pie filling on the stove (over a low simmer) until the juice reduces. Let cool.Once the bottom crust cooks --and cools-- reinsert the filling. Replace the top crust with a crumble topping. Related Reading: How To Make A Crumble Topping For A Watery Blueberry Pie
3. Scoop Out The Filling (Whipped Cream Topping Method)
A little whipped cream, and all is forgiven: Remove the pie's top crust and scoop out the filling. Put the pie back in the oven and allow the bottom crust to cook all the way through. Simultaneously heat the pie filling on the stove (over a low simmer) until the juice reduces. Once the bottom crust cooks, reinsert the filling. Wait for the pie to cool. Then top with whipped cream instead of a crust. Related Reading: 14 Unwritten Rules Of Blueberry Pie Baking That Every Pastry Chef KnowsWhy Is My Blueberry Pie Watery?
4. Make A Festive Holiday Sundae Or Parfait
The best kind of mess. Soupy pie fillings make great ice cream toppings. FOOD NETWORK BLUEBERRY PIE SUNDAE INSTRUCTIONS Scoop ice cream into parfait or martini glasses.Top with the blueberry pie filling and crust. Garnish with whipped cream. BLUEBERRY PIE PARFAIT INSTRUCTIONS Here's an easy, step-by-step, parfait video tutorial. A parfait is similar to an ice cream sundae, only it's layered instead. Just use blueberry pie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkXp9UaM29E
5. Make A Blueberry Pie Bourbon Shake
Easy. Boozy. Beautiful. This is the one time you'll want to make a baking mistake. LEITE'S CULINARIA BOOM! You’ve got a festive & easy holiday shake or smoothie. It’s totally healthy, its got has blueberries AND milk! 😉 Here's the recipe:
Leftover Blueberry Pie Bourbon Shake Recipe
INGREDIENTS Serves: 1 thirsty person 3 scoops vanilla ice cream1/2 cup milk2 oz. bourbon1/2 cup chopped blueberry pie Optional toppings: whipped cream, pecans, & cinnamon powder DIRECTIONS In a blender, combine vanilla ice cream, milk, bourbon, and chopped blueberry pie.Blend until desired consistency. (Add ice cream if too thin, or more milk if too thick)Pour into a tall glass or shake glass.Garnish with crumbled blueberry pie. Or optional whipped cream, pecans and a dash of cinnamon.
14 Pro Baking Tips For The Perfect Blueberry Pie
A Helpful Beginners Guide. Making your first blueberry pie this holiday? Want to impress everyone with your mind-blowing baking skills? Here are professional kitchen tips & tricks to avoid common blueberry pie mistakes. Like a true pastry chef!
1. Use Instant ClearJel Thickener
Finally get that perfect pie! Professional bakers have been using this pie hack forever. Instant ClearJel is an instant, corn-based thickener for (high-acid) fruit based pie fillings. AMAZON It's called "Instant" because is gels & swells instantly upon contact with liquid (hot or cold).  How to Use: For smooth results, combine with dry ingredients before adding liquid. Unlike other corn-based thickeners -- (ahem, corn starch) -- ClearJel does well at high temperatures and doesn't lose its thickening abilities. It also tolerates acidic ingredients (like blueberries).  Other options for blueberry pie thickeners include: Quick-cooking tapioca, flour, and arrow root. Hint: Tapioca has a milder taste than wheat flour and is more forgiving than other thickeners.   Whichever thickener you go with, make sure to follow a recipe specifically for that thickener.
2. Choose A Reliable Recipe
The secret to perfect blueberry pie! Blueberry pie is very finicky & unforgiving. Make sure to find a recipe with good reviews and follow it exactly, for the perfect pie every time.
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BROWN EYED BAKER Tip: Read the whole recipe once or twice before getting started. And don't add ingredients out of order when baking. Also, don't make any substitutions that may add moisture. For example, if a recipe calls for an ingredient of a specific brand, don't use a generic brand.
3. Measure Ingredients Accurately
Baking is more science than art. Precision really matters in baking. Make sure to use the right tools when measuring. For example, there are 2 types of measuring cups: one for wet ingredients & one for dry ingredients https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCPdwnlntNI
4. Use Blueberry Syrup (instead of water)
Step 1: Bring one cup of blueberry juice to a boil over medium heat (in small saucepan). Reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes until mixture has reduced to 1/4 cup. Step 2: Combine sugar, thickener, and other dry ingredients in a bowl. This will ensure that the thickener is evenly dispersed throughout the filling. Step 3: In a large bowl, toss dry ingredients with the other ingredients.
5. Put a cold pie into a hot oven
"Make it cold, bake it hot." Putting a cold pie into a hot oven will help avoid a soggy bottom. Everything should be chilled: ingredients, bowls, and materials. Refrigerate the pie crust dough until your filling is ready. Warm dough causes butter to soften—which will cause a soggy instead of a flaky crust. You can also chill your pie in the fridge for 15 minutes before baking.
6. Use An Oven Thermometer
Pre-heat your oven and verify the baking temperature with an oven thermometer (don't trust your dial). If your oven bakes unevenly you may want to rotate your pie half-way through baking. Tip: Double crusted pies should be placed on the middle rack.
7. Use A Glass Pie Dish To Bake
Don't use an aluminum pie pan. Bake in glass dish in order to monitor the doneness.
8. Partially Blind-Bake Your Bottom Crust.
As an alternative to blind-baking, you can also sprinkle cornstarch (or flour) on top of your bottom crust. This will soak up excess liquid. Sprinkle before adding your pie filling. If you opt for a frozen crust, place a cookie sheet in preheated oven. Pour filling into frozen crust and bake on the preheated cookie sheet.
9. Do Not Overfill Your Pie Plate
Extra fruit can cause a soggy crust due to the extra juice. Stick with the amount of blueberries that your recipe calls for. 
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TASTE OF HOME
10. Vent Your Top Crust 
You'll need vents to allow evaporation of excess moisture.
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SALLY'S BAKING ADDICTION A lattice style or crumbly topping pie does not need vents.
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SALLY'S BAKING ADDICTION
11. Cool Before Slicing
Whenever you bake blueberry pie you need to give it a few hours to set before cutting it. Cutting a hot pie will cause it to collapse. Do not place a hot pie into the fridge, the temperature difference is too drastic. Cool for at least 2 hours on wire rack before serving. If you don’t allow blueberry pie to rest until it is cooled, it’s almost certain that you’ll end up with a juicy, wet mess when you cut into it.
12. Adjust Recipe In High Altitude
If you live in a high altitude, adjust the recipe (ingredients and oven temperature).
13. Don't Use The Browness Of Pie Crust To Judge Doneness
PARAMOUNT PICTURES Use aluminum foil to prevent over-browning the crust. (Add foil to the crust, halfway through baking.) Do not shorten cooking time or lower oven temperature to avoid over-browning your crust. If you’ve left it too late for that, you can slice the top off once it’s cooled and cover your mistake with some whipped cream!
14. How To Tell When Blueberry Pie is Done
Blueberry pie is ready when its bubbling in the center of the pie, not just the sides! Make sure bubbles have a slow, thick appearance in the middle. The sides have faster, more watery bubbles. Tip: Use a baking sheet below your pie to catch any bubbled over juices.
Did you know?
The secret to a mind-blowing blueberry pie is the recipe. Here's The Best Blueberry Pie Recipe Ever.
Q&A
Smart baking FAQs you should know about.
Why Is My Blueberry Pie Watery?
12 Blueberry Pie Baking Mistakes That Everyone Has Made You don't read the recipe all the way through before you start baking.You don't use the right thickener. You're not using a good recipe.You skip instructions in the recipe.You add ingredients out of order when baking. You eyeball the measurements. You overfill your pie with blueberry filling. You don't preheat your oven long enough.You use a gas oven (added moisture, hotspots, fluctuating temperatures).You don't use an oven thermometer to verify the temperature. You put a warm pie in the oven instead of a chilled pie.You don't cool your pie before slicing (big, juicy mess). For more mistakes you might be making while baking blueberry pie, check out: 14 Unwritten Rules Of Blueberry Pie Baking That Every Pastry Chef Knows
What is blind-baking?
Blind-baking is pre-baking the crust without the filling. This step ensures a crispy crust. For extra crispy blueberry pie crust - partially blind bake the crust before adding filling.
How do I partially blind-bake a crust for blueberry pie?
To partially blind bake, pierce the pie dough in the pie plate with a fork. Chill for an hour. Then line with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake at a moderate temperature (350 degrees F) for about 5 minutes, or until the crust is lightly browned, removing the pie weights halfway through.
Can I make substitutions?
No. Substitutions can add moisture, which may cause a watery blueberry pie.
What Is A Crumble Topping For Fruit Pies?
A crumble topping is typically used on top of baked fruit pies like: apple, blueberry, cherry and peach pie. It can also be used on coffee cakes or muffins. A basic crumble topping recipe consists of just three ingredients: flour, butter and sugar. Spicing with cinnamon is also common.
How Do You Make Crumble Topping For A Watery Blueberry Pie?
Here's how to make an easy replacement crumble topping for your watery blueberry pie. With just 3 ingredients! CRAZY FOR CRUST INGREDIENTS  12 tbsp. of butter, unsalted 2/3 cup of sugar (brown, white, or a combination) 1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour INSTRUCTIONS Grate cold butter and place in a large bowl. Add sugar.Add flour. Then, using a pastry cutter, work the butter into the flour and sugar until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.Distribute evenly on a sheet pan.Bake at 425ºF, for 10 minutes (or until golden brown).Remove from the oven. Let the crumble cool, and top on blueberry pie.
How do I serve blueberry pie?
Serve chilled, warmed, or at room temperature. Do not serve hot.Plate with a fork.Top with whipped cream, ice cream or hard sauce.
What is hard sauce?
It's an alcoholic dessert sauce made with creamed butter, sugar, vanilla (or other flavorings). Rum, brandy, sherry, or whiskey is also added. It is served cold.
Do I need to refrigerate blueberry pie?
Yes! Refrigerate within two hours of baking to prevent food borne illness. A warm pie is okay to place in the fridge.
Can I make blueberry pie without eggs or sugar?
Yes, there are a lot of vegan blueberry pie and keto blueberry pie recipes online. And they are just as gooey and delicious.
Should I Use A Gas Or Electric Oven For Baking?
Gas ovens release moisture, have hot spots, and fluctuating temperatures which can cause baking issues with crispiness. Try using an electric oven or toaster oven instead. Tip: Toaster ovens use less electricity and don't heat up your kitchen as much.
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hazzasgayvodka · 6 years ago
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7 * PUZZLE PIECES * 7
Impact: Chapter 7
Chapter title song: Puzzle Pieces - Saint Motel
HARRY
I wake up to the light pouring in the curtains and look beside myself to see her thoroughly cuddled into my side. It got cold last night which prompted me to grab her an extra blanket from the linen closet in the bathroom around three in the morning when she shook me awake to complain. Of course I suggested that she just snuggle up to me but she only rolled her eyes and stuffed another pillow between us. Now, her legs are intertwined with my own and her cheek is resting against my chest, her arm lazily draped across my stomach.
Her hair is nearly golden in the light, the usual dark red color nowhere to be seen due to the sun already high in the sky, beating down on us. She stirs in her sleep with her eyebrows furrowed together, mumbling something about sweating to death.
"Jesus Christ it's hot in here, did you turn the heat up to ninety?" She complains, turning over on top of me and suddenly coming within two inches of my face.
Her eyes open and adjust to the scene in front of her. The horrified look on her face when she realizes she's been sleeping on top of me feels like a punch in the gut. She scoots away from me completely, stuffing the forgotten pillows back between us before getting up and shoving on her slippers. She's already shivering as she walks to the door and I realize I must radiate some serious heat if she was complaining about being hot two minutes ago.
"Morning to you too." I huff, getting out of bed and shoving my legs through a pair of cotton pants.
I follow her out to the kitchen where Louis and Sam are already cuddling on the couch with bowls of cereal in their hands, laughing at some reality TV show nearly blaring this early in the morning. She meets Niall in the kitchen and asks where the cereal is so she can pour herself a bowl and I shove past her to the coffee pot to pour myself a cup.
She won't even meet my eyes as she stands there shivering, taking the box of cocoa pebbles from Niall and dumping them into a bowl.
"Well I'm glad someone else in this house has a brain in their head," Niall laughs, "Those two over there said they hated cocoa pebbles and opted for cheerios. Who the fuck eats cheerios?"
"I do, Nate." I laugh, grabbing the cheerios and pouring myself a bowl before cutting up a banana to put on top.
Jess takes a seat at the breakfast bar, shivering as she stuffs her mouth with cereal. I sigh and walk around the corner to the thermostat and bump it up a few degrees. I grab my cereal and elect to stand and eat it while I drink my coffee, knowing that if I sit next to her she'll start an argument.
"So, what's the plan today roomie, we've got literature in an hour." I smile, leaning against the cabinet behind me.
"I guess you're driving." She sighs, nodding her head towards the windows in the living room.
I glance outside to see everything covered in a thin veil of ice. October seems to be a little early for snow, but it looks like it's only a dusting of snow on the ground, not nearly enough to hinder any driving. It'll probably melt by noon.
"Sounds good to me," I shrug, putting my empty cereal bowl in the sink, "what class do you have after literature?"
"Government." She answers through a mouthful of cocoa pebbles.
"What time does that get out, so I can drive you home?"
"Three thirty," She mumbles, "but you don't have to pick me up, I can get Jace or-"
"I'll be there."
I finish off my coffee and put my mug in the sink, electing to grab a shower before someone else occupies the bathroom. I close the door behind me, setting my clothes on the counter and grab my toothbrush from the cup with hers. I brush my teeth without paying much mind, moving her face wash and makeup remover out of the way so they don't get toothpaste on them.
I start up the shower and step inside, welcoming the hot water when I hear the door open. I'm mid washing my hair when the sound of a blow dryer starts up and scares me half to death.
"Jess is that you?" I ask, peeking my head out of the shower.
"Yeah, we've got class in an hour I have to get ready. I was trying to be polite and let you have the bathroom but you're taking too damn long." She shrugs, turning back to the mirror as she straightens her hair.
"What are you doing that for? Your hair looked fine."
"No it didn't, it was a frizzy mess from your two-in-one shampoo monstrosity." She huffs, finishing the top layer of her hair with the flat iron.
I roll my eyes and duck back into the shower, rinsing my hair. I'm ready to turn the shower off and she's still in here. I lean back out of the shower curtain to see her carefully putting mascara on.
"Alright you gotta go, I'm done." I huff, turning off the water.
"Just wrap up before you get out." She groans, tossing me my towel, "I'm in the middle of doing my eyeliner."
I sigh and put the towel over my head, drying my hair before giving my whole body a once over and wrapping the towel around my waist.
"Toss me my tshirt." I say, pointing to the black shirt on the counter.
She laughs, picking it up and handing it to me, "What is it? Worried I won't be impressed?" She mocks.
"Actually, it's fucking cold." I huff, snatching it from her hand and tossing it over my head before stepping out of the shower and grabbing my shit on the way to my bedroom.
I sit in my bedroom waiting for her to come out of the bathroom for what feels like an eternity. She finally appears in jeans and a maroon sweater that nearly matches her hair. She passes me to her suitcase to grab her boots and shove them on her feet.
"Ready?" She asks, looking up from smoothing her shirt.
"I am, you're not. Where's your jacket?" I ask, gesturing to her outfit.
"I only brought hoodies."
"So, put one on." I shrug.
"They're like pajamas I don't wear them out places." She whines as if it's a common fact.
"Fine, grab one out of my closet and let's go." I say, standing from my bed.
"I'm not wearing one of your jackets." She complains.
"Well you're not gonna freeze your ass off and then beg me for mine later." I huff from the doorway.
She rolls her eyes as she shuffles through my closet and grabs my favorite black leather. She slides it over her shoulders and it fits her in the best ways. I have to pull my eyes away from her as she zips it up to her chin and pulls her jeans up on her hips before meeting me in the doorway.
"Come on, loser." She groans, grabbing my hand and dragging me behind her.
As soon as we're outside she's back to shivering and begging me to unlock the car so she can get in. I laugh as I press the unlock button and she climbs inside less than gracefully. She turns the heat on full blast and angles all of the vents towards herself.
"And you weren't going to put on a jacket." I tease her, and I see her glare at me out of the corner of my eye.
She shakes her head at me and I decide to turn up the radio to drown out the silence between us. She seems to appreciate this and heaves out a sigh of relief when the music floods the speakers in the car. I pull into the parking in front of the literature hall and she's shoving the car door open before I've barely had a chance to turn off the engine.
God she's impossible.
I'm starting to regret offering to pick her up from her next class as I follow her into the building and enter the lecture hall. I nod to Jason at the front of the classroom and he smiles, raising his eyebrows at me and Jess. I shake my head, rolling my eyes at his obvious assumptions and take the seat next to her.
Jason calls me down to him and I tell Jess I'll be right back to which she waves me off and mumbles a 'whatever'. I stand from my seat and join him at the front of the hall, leaning on his desk. He's smirking at me, looking between me and Jess who's still sat a few rows up.
"What?" I groan.
"Nothing." He laughs, shaking his head.
"Come on mate, spit it out." I huff, growing impatient with his bullshit this early.
"Who is she?" He asks, nodding to Jess who averts her eyes from us as soon as I look up to see her.
"She's uh," I wonder aloud, my eyes staying glued to her, "she's just a girl, a friend." I correct myself.
"A friend?" He asks incredulously.
"Yes, I have friends Jason." I laugh.
"Just a friend who happens to be very obviously wearing your jacket." He smirks, eyeing me.
"She was cold." I sigh defensively.
"Cold getting off your couch this morning?"
I turn back around to look at him, his eyebrows raised in anticipation for my response, but I only shake my head and laugh.
"My bed," I correct him, "but all we did was sleep, we're friends Jason."
"Harrison Styles is friends with a woman?" He ponders aloud, "That's a first."
JESS
I try to force my eyes to drift elsewhere but somehow, they always land on him and his stupid head of unruly hair. Jason's nearly matches but it's blonder and straighter, reaching all the way down to his collar bones. He's much more handsome than the average literature professor with his dark brown eyes and tan skin; the girls eat it up.
"Alright everyone, take your seats, take your seats." Jason says as he makes his way back to the front of the room and takes a seat on the edge of his desk again. I spot Harry making his way to his seat next to me, but I make an effort to pay him no mind.
Jason grabs a yellow scrunchie off the corner of his desk and ties his hair up in a bun. I realize more about him the longer I look at him. His cream-colored button up shirt is wrinkled and his black jeans are much too skinny for a college professor. His converse are grey but I can tell that they used to be white. There's even a small silver stud through his lip. Since when do esteemed colleges like Easton let guys like this teach majoring classes?
"Alright everyone, let's get started on explaining this course," He smiles, "This is Literary Arts, not English. We are here to learn about literature and the devices that make up the greatest works in history. We will be studying famous literature in many languages, across many cultures, all across the world. I want to broaden your horizons and truly make you feel something. I hope that by the end of this class you will have your favorite literary work that truly resonates something within you. It doesn't matter the language it's in or the culture it represents, all that matters is how it makes you feel."
He goes on to tell as that we will be keeping a journal that helps us write out our thoughts, especially when we're analyzing literature, so we can truly dissect it and what it means to us. The journal itself is fifty percent of our grade which makes me and nearly everyone else in the room almost choke on the air for a second.
Jason laughs and decides to stand, grabbing a clipboard off his desk and turning back to us. I can tell he has something up his sleeve for the first day when I notice the devious smirk on his face.
"Alright, one last thing and then you'll all be free to go," He smiles, looking up from scribbling something on his clipboard, "you will all have a semester project and it starts today. Each of you will have a partner and it is your job to get to know your partner as much as you possibly can. After you get to know them, you will create a presentation to describe your partner to the class in any way you see fit."
At this, the class begins to bustle with chatter about ideas for projects and partners. Jason calms the class back down with a chuckle, "Oh, and one more thing, I've already assigned the partners."
The class goes silent after a chorus of sighs and Jason delightfully begins reading the partner assignments. I listen intently for my name as people sigh heavily, roll their eyes, and make their way to the door in disappointment. Soon, the class is nearly empty and I'm looking between the two girls also sat in my row and the son of a bitch sitting right next to me.
"Kasey and Emily, and finally, Jess and Harry." Jason smiles profoundly, finally looking up from the clipboard to meet my eyes and then to Harry to see him already standing from his chair.
"You've got to be fucking kidding me." Harry groans as he walks to the front of the desk.
My heart sinks in my chest knowing that I'll be spending the first semester of my favorite class trying to understand exactly who Harry Styles is. But even more maddening is his sudden distaste for me after arguing over picking me up from my next class. I don't understand how he can go completely 180 in a matter of seconds.
"Oh, Jess, did you need something?" Jason asks looking over to me, standing perfectly still in thought on the stairs.
"Oh I, um, no." I stutter, continuing down the stairs and trying not to trip over my dazed feet.
"Alright, I'll see you later then." Jason smiles.
I turn around one last time before walking out the door to see him looking right at me with that stupid lip ring pulled between his teeth. My eyes divert to the clipboard held in Jasons hands as he turns to talk to Harry. My eyes narrow in on the last set of names, Jess and Harry, scratched down in pencil rather than neatly printed like the rest of the names. Further up the page I see two other names scribbled out and the names across from them circled. He put us together on purpose.  
I turn back around quickly, not daring to look at him again but instead wondering why on Earth Jason would think putting me and Harry together was such a great idea.
HARRY
At three twenty-seven I'm sitting outside the social studies building in my car waiting for her walk outside. As soon as the flood of students starts to appear from around the corner I pull up next to the sidewalk and unlock my car doors. I blast the heat on seeing her shivering her way over here hoping the car is warm enough despite me starting to sweat.
She sees me and I stupidly wave, making her roll her eyes and say goodbye to her friends, probably complaining about our project together or just me in general.
She opens the door and climbs inside, dropping her bag in the floor board. She's not even buckled before I'm pulling away from the curb to get home.
"What's up with you today?" She asks, looking up to meet my face but I don't take my eyes off the road.
"Nothing, you?" I say plainly.
"Oh, shut up, you're pissed, why?" She huffs.
"I'm just fucking peachy, dollface."
I feel her eyes on me as she glares, folding her arms across her chest in defiance of my nickname for her. Who would've thought that dollface would be the one to stick?
"That's exactly what I'm talking about-"
"Okay, fine, you want to know what's wrong? I'm bending over backwards for your bullshit, driving you places and letting you stay at my place and eat my food and you can't even be civil with me." I shout, turning to gauge her reaction as I come to a stop at a red light.
She looks like a dear in the headlights, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst. I know what I said was harsh and as I think about it, I wonder if it's what I truly wanted to say or if it's more than that.
"I'm sorry," She mutters, "I guess I just get defensive around you, you have to admit you haven't been completely civil with me either."
"It's fine-"
"How about we just start over?" She suggests, cutting me off, "Maybe try to be friends?"
"What?"
I turn to look at her to see her sat with her hand outstretched, gesturing for me to shake it. I sigh and take it in my own, shaking it gingerly.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Jess Lawson, and you are?" She says overly politely.
"Harry Styles, it's been a pleasure dollface." I smirk, taking my hand away from hers.
She scowls at the nickname, rolling her eyes as she sits back against her chair and turns up the radio to fill the newly silent air between us.
"I really need to call Jace and make sure we're okay." She thinks aloud, running her hand through her curly hair.
"Oh, come on, that twat?" I huff, looking over to see her glaring at me, "I thought I just assumed his old position as your best friend." I tease her, hoping to recover from my previous comment.
She laughs, grinning up at me before slumping back in her seat. She takes out her phone and scrolls through her contacts, landing on his before turning her phone back off and putting it away.
"What do new friends do with each other?" She sighs, looking over at me.
"Hmm," I think aloud, "coffee? Share secrets? Oh, I've got it, braiding each other's hair."
"Cute," She quips sarcastically, "but really, we're supposed to get to know each other for this project."
"That project isn't due for half a year." I groan.
"You're supposed to track changes in character, it's not really a 'cram it together in one night' kind of presentation, Styles." She laughs, letting her head lay back against the seat.
"I don't think I could put together a project in one night with the information I've already gathered, I'm going to need every day he's given us, you're a walking jigsaw puzzle, dollface."
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johnfaa · 6 years ago
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Book Care 101: How to Properly Store and Clean Your Personal Library
Article orginally published on November 2017, reporpused for Tumblr.
We all know basic book ettiquete -- don't read it with greasy hands, don't sit on it, don't get it wet, and don't you fold that page corner, damn it! But not only by following these basic rules will our book survive in good condition for a lifetime.
This is book care 101: simple, basic rules you must follow to assure a long lifespan for your book collection (50 to 500 books).
Having a long-lasting library relies heavily on the carer of such collection -- you and your decisions regarding how to store your books. At this point, everything is important: from the location that you choose, to how you clean them and the products that you use. It's not as difficult as it sounds, it's more planning than hard work, actually.
Paper is, in a way, alive. It breathes and it expands and it contracts and it changes according to the environment, hour of the day, season of the year and dare I say, mood of its own. Therefore, it's not something static. In order to make sure that we are taking good care of our books, we need to have in mind that paper moves (quite literally) in its threads… And, like any living being, it adapts to its surroundings. Our job is to make sure that these surroundings are relatively stable and adequate for them.
For this, you need very basic tools:
THE “KEEP MY BOOKS FOREVER” KIT:
Indoor thermometer
Humidity gauge
Reusable cleaning cloths
Gel or liquid alcohol
Optional:
An air humidifier OR a dehumidifier
Reams of acid-free paper
Protective gear: dust masks and disposable latex gloves
Don’t go buying the most efficient and expensive de/humidifier that you see on Amazon just because. As we’ve seen, paper can adapt to its environment, so suddenly changing this can have a negative effect on your books (making them crackle and harden or become damp).
If you have some special book in your collection, or a more fragile edition that is very dear to you but is old, you can use a sheet of acid-free paper to create a dust-jacket for it. The paper will protect it for the most part and it won’t affect its surface.
The protective gear is highly recommended for those who have a lot of books and not a lot of time to clean them constantly. Once too much dust is settled, you best take precautions for your health.
LOCATION
1.    If you are laying them against a wall (be it on mounting shelves or a bookcase), be sure to choose inner-walls for your books. This way you'll prevent any occasional dampness/infiltration or sudden and constant changes in temperature from the exterior world.
2.     Be sure to also protect your books from direct sunlight, using shades or choosing a wall that doesn’t get direct exposure. But don’t keep your books in a dark room, this will also impact their lifespan and can be way too appropriate to pests to set up camp among your books!
3.    Mind the plumbing -- avoid setting up mounting shelves against walls that you know have plumbing going through them, so basically kitchen and bathroom walls in which you have sinks, showers and sanitary toilets against it, as well as distance from radiators and vents.
It's not a given that you're going to have an infiltration on that outer wall, but in the case of books, it's better safe than sorry!
With the Indoor thermometer and humidity gauge you’re going to be able to monitor the stability of your environment and even analyse if it’s necessary to buy an air de/humidifier (if there’s a lot of fluctuations in the relative humidity of the air, it’s best to buy one, for example).
WATCH OUT! The Library of Congress recommends relative humidity between 30 and 50%. This will avoid paper degradation from both too dry or too damp environments.
SHELVES
SHELVING: try to shelve books of similar sizes together. This way the face of the covers are maximally supported by the neighbors on each side, preventing distortions and bending. Always keep shelved books straight and not leaning (use bookends for that!). If the book is too big and heavy, you should store it lying flat.
CLEANING: You're going to use the reusable cleaning cloths with the liquid alcohol or gel to clean the shelves alone. Be sure to remove all the books, and using a damp cloth with a mixture of water + alcohol (the relative portions are always personal, but I prefer 50/50), scrub the shelves clean.
The books, once removed from the shelves, need to be cleaned one by one, using a DRY cleaning cloth. Do NOT use water or alcohol or any other product. A dry cloth is plenty sufficient to clean your books, I promise you. Anything else and you’ll be harming, and not preserving, your collection.
Provided a stable environment, the removal of dust is already enough to make that book lifespan gain 15 years.
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Be sure to clean both covers (front and back), the spine, the fore edge, the top edge and, if you’re feeling too much dust on it, open it up and clean the endsheet of both sides.
When cleaning the top edge, be sure to scrub in only one direction: from the headband forward, taking the dust to the outwards end of the book, and not to the inside of the spine.
This whole process can be done every few months, it depends on how dirty your room gets. My tip to you is that if you can see a thin layer of dust, it’s already time. Don’t let it accumulate because dust carries all types of specks and you just can’t know for sure what’s in there, and it can be something that’ll harm your books (and maybe even you).
Attention! Only put the books back on the shelves when the surface is COMPLETELY DRY.
SHELVING MATERIAL:
MDF: Cheaper and weaker materials such as MDF and the like will easily bend and get destroyed by any water contact overtime (especially longer shelves) and this can harm your books over time if you’re not paying attention. However, it’s not a volatile as wood, so it won’t be affected so heavily by weather changes or termites at all.
HARDWOOD AND PLYWOOD: If you want to go more classic and opt for wood shelves, choose wood of good quality (plywood is fine, and hardwood is always best, but not always affordable). The problem with wood is that unless we're talking about excellent hardwood, the dangers of the wood itself getting affected by all types of variables (from termites to humidity) is quite high, and usually what affects wooden shelves, affects books, because guess what, they’re made from the same material!
METAL/STEEL: For affordable, sturdy and good shelves, prefer metal shelvings with a coat of paint on them, which will protect your books from any eventual rusting and give you plenty of time to take care of that. Bear in mind that for very humidy places such as coastal cities, you should make sure you’re buying stainless steel shelving. 
There’s a lot more detail and subtletry to the art of book conservation, but from my experience, this little guide is more than enough to take care of a personal librabry of up to 500 books! 
Hope you enjoyed it!
more info on the subject:
·       Dos and Don’ts for Taking Care of Your Personal Books at Home - NY Public Library Shelly Smith, NYPL's Head of Conservation Treatment, shares tips on how to keep your treasured books in shape.
·       Overview — NEDCC PRESERVATION LEAFLETS To go deeper into book conservation, The Northeast Document Conservation Center is an excellent start. It specializes in paper and book conservation.
·       Care, Handling and Storage of Books - Collections Care (Library of Congress) How to care for your books, including how to find a book conservator.
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elfnerdherder · 6 years ago
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Ill Intentions: Chapter 13
[Support my Writing] [Read on Ao3]
A shout out to my patrons, with whom I have ardent admiration for: @jenacar @frostyleegraham @evertonem @starlit-catastrophe @sylarana @kenobi-is-king @frostylicker Mendacious Bean, Superlurk, Duhaunt6, and Cecily!
Another huge, huge shoutout to kenobi-is-king for such a happy surprise for me when I got on my computer today. This fanart of Will Graham blew me away, and I’m so thankful to them for their work! It honestly made me tear up. :)
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Chapter 13: Plot Progression -The True Bane of the Writer
           Beverly and Abigail enjoyed their arrangement just as much as Will supposed they would. They eyed one another speculatively, shook hands, then left Will on the steps of the office building with a turn to their shoulders said that they weren’t going to be friends in the near future. Their common denominator thought to feel a bit guilty at foisting them together, but in truth he didn’t.
           The air stung his nose as he headed home. He’d only realized that it was time to leave when Beverly had come up to him and asked if he was going to try and put in OT for being late. Late. He was late on everything, wasn’t he? His head pounded in time with the pressure of his feet on the concrete. Had he eaten? Had he ever gone and gotten water?
           His stomach gurgled furiously. Those peanuts hadn’t gone a long way in providing sustenance. No, he hadn’t fucking gotten water.
           He only stayed in his apartment long enough to change. The place was still a dilapidated mess from the overturned chairs to the kitchen utensils that littered the floors and counters. He pocketed a few important tools, then saw himself outside once more where he managed to convince a taxi cab to take him to Baltimore.
           He wouldn’t begin to imagine just how much he spent just to get a ride to fucking Baltimore.
           He didn’t want anyone to know what he was doing, though. Darkness had fallen by the time that he arrived to the posh and non-descript neighborhood, and he waited until the taxicab had driven around a corner before he turned in the opposite direction of the address he’d given in order to head towards the house at the end of the lane.
           It was cute, in a Tudor-style sort of way. White fencing trimmed windows, and the rich stonework along the walkway to the front door looked as though someone took great care not to allow grass to grow between the cracks and ruin the aesthetic. It was the kind of home that a psychiatrist would have, Will supposed. Lush evergreen bushes dotted a mildly Asian-inspired garden with Japanese maples whose rich red leaves still clung to the thin branches. Resilient. As he walked just on the edge of what appeared to be motion-sensor lights fixed on the yard, he plucked a leaf idly from one of the branches. He paused by the tree and crushed it in his palm, pressing the leaf to his nose. It was bitter yet sweet, and he wondered if that was much the way that his life seemed to be going –each individual breath holding some taste of one or the other in an equal enough balance to keep him from blowing his brains out. He couldn’t say that his life was bad. He wouldn’t yet call it good, either.
           This is the most fun that you’ve had in years.
He slipped around back and hopped a fence, ducking behind well-trimmed hedges. There was a pond whose waterfall gurgled and spit water down artfully laid rocks, lily pads and natural overhangs hiding what Will figured would be a delicate collection of Koi. No self-respecting psychiatrist would fill a pond like that with anything other than Koi. Goldfish would be the cheaper route, but the Chesapeake Ripper of all people wouldn’t cut corners in his garden décor.
           Will found his entry point at one of the only blind spots that he could find –perched on the top of the 6 ft. privacy fence, he managed to hoist himself up using a wall trellis. A few broken vines and a couple of curses took him to the roof where he slipped through the attic window. Most people didn’t lock attic windows.
        ��  It was just as neat and tidy inside as the garden was. Even among the dust and aged smell of old things, there was a clear order to the boxes. They were labeled in a neat hand, but although the looping curve of the ‘G’ was familiar, the rest of it was not.
           What if he’s not the one you’re looking for?
           Quite simply, he was fucked. He wasn’t going to even begin to figure how he’d be able to justify his actions to Agent Crawford should he find out what Will had been up to in the middle of the night. The cops would laugh if he accused someone that casually kept a koi pond well-maintained this far into the chilly season. People like that didn’t hide bodies. People like Will Graham, however, broke into homes in the middle of the night on a really, really good hunch.
           That, and the guy had his watch.
           He forewent lowering the attic stairs in order to drop silently down onto what appeared to be a thick, plush carpet. His steps made no sound; nary a squeak on the wood as he ventured deeper into the house and down a hall that led to a master bedroom just beside a curving staircase.
           It was empty; Will wasn’t sure whether or not to feel relief or a mild sense of disappointment at the neatly made bed and the curtains adorning the four-post bed. A quick scan of the end tables didn’t reveal any watch or master plan, although Will pointedly left behind something small, something unmistakable if it was the Chesapeake Ripper. In the walk-in closet, suits of various twills and plaids hung in sleeve order, followed by color order. When he found a small box containing handkerchief squares, he pocketed one, fingers worrying over the embroidery of H.L. No watch. No fucking watch.
The house was dark, sharp outlines of vases adorning end tables casting layers of shadows on wine-colored walls. While the outside boasted a modestly expensive garden, the interior of the home felt like old money, the kind of money someone was born into rather than earned. Natural, was the word for it. Will descended the stairs, careful to mind weak floorboards. The grandeur of the house was natural.
           He wasn’t sure how he would know when it was time to leave –when he discovered his watch? The owner of the home? Evidence? Will perused a sitting room that didn’t seem to have been sat in much, and he passed fingers along a grand piano. The lid was lowered, but he imagined the rich tones of harmonies woven through effortless fingertips gracing the ivory. It wasn’t the sound from the neck of a dead man that Will heard, but something sharper, like pricking an unsuspecting finger on a cruel thorn.
           Will tried to imagine the thoughts that nestled among the floorboards and heating vents. He tried to feel the skin of the Chesapeake Ripper as fingertips glided along a bannister; he wondered if he sometimes roamed these halls as Will did, searching but not yet finding. He could see the elegance in the artwork on the wall. He could feel the sophistication in the subtle scent of rosewater and ivy that permeated the air. If the person that owned this house wasn’t the Chesapeake Ripper, they were certainly something much like him.
           It wasn’t until he found the kitchen that Will knew what he was truly there for. The pantry held a meat freezer, and within that cooler there were two neat little rows of package-sealed meat.
           On each package, there was a sensible tag that labeled a date.
           Will’s heart stuttered, then stopped. He wheezed a breath, and with clammy yet eager hands he grabbed three packages of meat with three very specific dates –he barely remembered to take a photo of the rows on his phone before he was rushing from the pantry with his breath in his ears. He had something. He had something.
           He fucking had something.
           His heart didn’t stop pounding until long after he’d gotten back to his apartment. His breaths couldn’t quite grasp onto an even pace, even as he paced his apartment with three very special packages of meat in his freezer. His phone read the time 3:23 A.M. He still had time.
           With careful deliberation, he scrolled through his contacts and hovered over a very specific number, one he hadn’t thought to call in a long, long time. He glanced to the freezer, then back to his phone.
           Molly Foster, ex-girlfriend to Will Graham, answered on the seventh ring.
           “If you’re drunk, Will, I really don’t have the time,” she said. Time had taken the sting out of her words; in truth, it sounded more like fatigued repetition from a person that knew the words to say without having to miss a beat.
           “I’m not drunk.”
           “Do you promise?”
           Hearing her voice made his stomach turn. “I never lied about drinking. I didn’t feel the need to.”
           “I have to ask, you know. It’s three in the morning, and you’re calling me.”
           “It’s the perfect crime,” Will agreed. He propped his chin in his hand and resisted the pressing need to tap his foot in order to track seconds. If he’d had his watch, he wouldn’t have felt the need.
           “Does Beverly know you’re calling me?”
           “I couldn’t sleep, and I thought about you. I just wanted to hear your voice, Molly.”
           “I’m not a booty call, Will Graham.”
           “I wouldn’t do you the disservice, Molly Foster.”
           They were quiet. Will thought about the silk texture of the Ripper’s lapels in his hands. He’d wanted to destroy, then. Something had stopped him, though, stopped him from the moment in which he could have brought the Chesapeake Ripper to his knees at an art gala in Baltimore.
           He didn’t like thinking about why he’d hesitated.
           That would spoil the fun.
           “How have you been?” Molly finally asked. Her voice changed, softened around the consonants rather than spitting them.
           “Not too good. I think I over-estimated my ability to be alone.”
           “You purposefully isolate yourself,” Molly reminded him.
           “I know, I know,” Will replied, and he twisted on the couch in order to lay down. He tracked dust motes dancing from the lights of the traffic below lazily. “I maintain that I’ve never really known how to be around people. I’m learning.”
           “Will…I have seen the news, you know. How’s… that been working out?”
           His gaze darted to the freezer again.
           “It’s fine,” he assured her, quietly. “It’s been…fine, really. The news makes it sound worse than it is.”
           “I thought about calling you, but then I also remembered that you can be an ass.”
           “I can be sociable. How’s this: how have you been, Molly? Are you still working in the bio labs at GWU?”
           Her laughed was muffled, but he still heard it. “Yes, I have. I’ve been promoted.”
           “Wow, that’s…that’s great,” he said, and he meant it. “I’ve been writing wedding announcements.”
           That time, the laugh wasn’t muffled. “What are you doing tomorrow?” A brief pause. “Much, much later today?”
           “I can clear my schedule,” Will promised.
           “You do that.” She yawned, and it was so endearing that it made him cringe, made him wonder just what the hell it was that he thought he was doing. “I’m going to go back to sleep. Good night, Will.”
           “Good night, Molly.”
           He set the phone down only after he heard the line disconnect. It’d been awhile since he’d last spoken to Molly Foster. She had a warm heart and a dry wit, and Will had followed along because she didn’t mind his idiosyncrasies and the way he sometimes woke up at night covered in sweat and shaking. She accepted him until he made himself unacceptable. It hadn’t been an amicable break, but there was never the bitterness of harsh words exchanged or tense silences after. Their break-up had been more sorrowful than angering. It’d felt like something had been cut short before it’d had the chance to even begin to grow –a flower plucked too soon.
           He didn’t regret it, though. Molly Foster wanted children and a white picket fence one day. Will wasn’t quite sure how things were going to end for him, but he could safely bet that a white picket fence wasn’t on the list of what the Chesapeake Ripper had in store.
           And considering how poorly he handled Abigail Hobbs, Will was more than confident that children were about as good of an idea as him being foisted into wedding announcements.
           He fell asleep on his couch only after he had it barricaded against his front door, to better prevent the Chesapeake Ripper from dropping in on him. He dreamt of overcooked meat and a fisherman’s hook dangling just out of reach. His wrist was bare and lacking.
-
           His temporary watch was awful.
           It was a classic analog that he dug out of an overturned drawer from his bedroom end table. Any extra money that he could have used to buy a new watch had been spent on taxi fares –next paycheck, then. He wasn’t sure how to go about removing that watch from his data plan while it was still having payments made on it, but the need to have all of his communications blocked from the Chesapeake Ripper’s prying eyes was at the top of his list of things to-do.
           He remembered his water bottle, although it wasn’t until halfway to work that he realized he hadn’t filled it with water. He’d forgotten to do laundry. He wondered if Freddie would notice that he still had the small stain on his shirt cuff from spilling coffee in the break room. Breakfast had gone cold by the time he’d remembered to eat it. Cold oatmeal. Cold coffee. Bare wrist.
           Jack Crawford met him at the door to the office building with two coffees and a stern jaw. Will wondered if the Chesapeake Ripper had found his calling card yet.
           “I was given word that Abigail Hobbs visited here yesterday,” Jack said by way of greeting.
           Will accepted the coffee. “She was upstairs when I got there.”
           “You didn’t think to call?”
           “The last boyfriend I had that kept harping about me calling every time something happened at least had dinner and drinks waiting back at the apartment when I got home.” Will gestured with the coffee cup, then took a long drink of it. It was black with no sugar –the ex-boyfriend had been far more attentive to sugar-coating things in order to placate Will’s frustrations at feeling like a child that had to check in with their mother every ten minutes. At least that relationship hadn’t ended because of Will.
           “I’m pushy in relationships.”
           “I could figure that without you telling me.”
           They tracked cars inching by in the early morning traffic, their sour feelings punctuated by the occasional sips they took from the cardboard cups. At least this coffee was hot.
           “Abigail Hobbs is being investigated,” Jack finally confessed. His comradery tasted like the small grinds that’d found their way into the coffee. “I think she was helping her dad.”
           Will’s most vibrant dreams had been Abigail leading her father back to his apartment so that they could strangle him. His breaths shortened, then stuttered. He took a gulp of hot coffee and regretted it.
           “Why do you think that?”
           “You have your tricks, and I have a good gut feeling. My gut is rarely wrong.”
           “What’s your gut say about me?” Will wondered.
           Jack’s mouth puckered, and he wouldn’t look at Will. “I’m still trying to figure that out.”
           That was better than Jack saying that he hated Will, that his gut said to take Will and lock him as far underground as possible with no possible key for release. Maybe he wouldn’t feel the same if he knew just where Will Graham was the night before. Will unconsciously reached into his coat pocket in order to stroke over the embroidered initials on the handkerchief. His token. His prize. It was grounding to feel such an accomplishment. No watch, but if he sneezed then he was taken care of.
           He wondered if the Ripper had sent more fan mail yet.
           “I met her, and my empathy says that she’s scared as hell,”
           “What’d she want to talk about?”
           “Mostly she wanted to see the person that incidentally became the reason you had to kill her father,” Will replied pleasantly. “She wasn’t impressed with me.”
           An understatement. The look on Jack’s face said far more than words could. Will swallowed down a sneer and glanced to his watch. He was late.
           “What do you think of her being an accomplice?”
           “What do you think of her being an accomplice?” Will countered. He didn’t want Jack to know what he thought about Abigail’s lure. He wondered if Beverly and Abigail had found some sort of truce while settling into Bev’s apartment.
           “I think it’s too much of a coincidence that she managed to find girls that looked remarkably like her every time she went to a college to check it out, became decent enough acquaintances with them that her father was able to stalk them and then murder them within a day or two of her meeting them. The first, maybe, but after eight…?”
           He wasn’t wrong. It was suspicious at best, downright bone-chilling at worst. Will chewed on his bottom lip and rolled his words about carefully.
           “She’s not got a unique profile, Jack,” he said when he found the right angle. Careful, careful. Speech wasn’t like writing where one had the ease of editing and fine-tuning the words to sound just perfect enough to resonate. “Brown hair, blue eyes, pale and freckled is a consistent appearance in mid-American Caucasians. I’d say more popular than the blonde hair and blue-eyed stereotype.”
           “I had her checked out by a psychiatrist back in DC, and they said she has a penchant for manipulation.”
           “Yeah, so do you.”
           “And you,” Jack agreed.
           Will wasn’t sure why he was defending her, but he let out a quiet huff of breath and nodded. “With that logic, then, we should all be on the chopping block. Manipulation is a trait of psychopaths.”
           “Where’s she at now, Will?” Jack asked, ignoring Will’s jab.
           “Are you taking her in?” At Jack’s pointed glare, he relented. “I had her stay with Beverly. She had nowhere to go, and I figured it’d be inappropriate with me.”
           His straight answer mollified Jack, but only just. Will wondered how long it’d be until Jack snapped and tried to wring his neck. “How do you see her?” he asked Will. When Will opened his mouth, he added hastily, “No shit. When you look at her, tell me what you see.”
           That was a little trickier to answer. Will stalled by sipping his coffee and pretending to consider Jack’s question, brow furrowed. He glanced to his watch. No notifications. It was a terrible watch. The fact that he hadn’t found the watch at that house had been infuriating, to say the least. His watch would have urged him to finish his coffee. This watch ticked seconds like small strikes against him.
           “I think she’s uncertain, and she’s trying to find her footing,” he said at last. “I think those victims weren’t the only ones that her dad kept tight control over. She’s putting on a good show, but that’s a scared kid, Jack. Trauma victims react in sporadic ways. I didn’t shoot dear old dad, but I made a small column that led to his death. She can’t blame the FBI for doing their job, but reporters are great scape goats. I think she could have known, but then again; I think it’s just as easy to say that she didn’t. There’s no proof to say either way.”
           “He tried to kill her when we arrived. Killed his wife, had a knife to her throat when we came in.”
           “He was loving up until he couldn’t love anymore. That fucks with a kid’s head, no matter how monstrous their parent is.”
           “What were your parents like?” Jack asked. It sounded far more curious than aggressive or accusatory.
           “Foster care,” he replied automatically. “Had a lot of parents. Some were great, one ran the next-door neighbor’s cat over and buried it in the backyard. Never told the neighbor. I hated that.”
           Jack found that enormously funny. He didn’t guffaw or laugh obnoxiously, but he did allow a very thin-lipped smile to overtake him. He huffed a couple of short breaths and looked down in order to watch his shoe scuff over a few rocks and pebbles.
           “I figure that as long as she’s not a runaway, Jack, she could stick around here. Beverly said she’ll only let her stay if she gets a job, so that’s probably what she’s doing right now. Job hunting and trying to put her horrors as far back behind her as possible.”
           “The doctor that administered the psychiatric evaluation said that it’s too soon. Repressing isn’t healing.”
           “You can’t call it repressing when she sat down across from me and asked if I’d intended for her dad to die right in front of her,” Will said cheerfully. “That’s pretty damn direct.”
           “Keep me posted on her is all I’m saying, Will. You can do that, can’t you?”
           Will certainly could, although he’d probably be just as particular and careful in what he relayed as he was with the Ripper case. He watched Jack climb into an SUV just at the curb after his coffee was finished, and he headed into work with an odd feeling in his stomach. Probably the coffee. He’d let it grow cold. Fucking watch.
-
           Will was just sitting down outside of the small café that Molly had chosen to meet at when he received a call. In truth, he only realized that he’d gotten a call because the guy just to the side of him let out a loud, unattractive sigh and jabbed his shoulder roughly, once. Will looked away from the thick, fat clouds that threatened snow and blinked at him owlishly.
           “You gonna answer that, or you just gonna keep letting that shit ring?” the guy asked, clearly annoyed.
           That is when the sound of his ringtone finally broke through the haze of his thoughts, left him equally annoyed as he managed a sheepish “sorry,” and picked up the phone. The man uttered a short curse and went back to reading the newspaper –Tattler News. Will hoped he wasn’t another Avid Fan. He sincerely hoped that he wasn’t recognized.
           “Are you ignoring my calls now?” The Chesapeake Ripper wondered. Amusement colored his tone.
           His voice filtering through the tinny speaker made Will’s skin heat up. He stood and wandered away from the man nearby that eyed him suspiciously over the top of the paper. He eyed the thick clouds overhead, then looked out across the street where busy passerby hurried home after work. Traffic was thick, heavy with a sense of impatience, and curses hissed from clenched teeth. Horns honked and middle fingers were liberally shared through intersections. Molly was late. Will’s wrist wasn’t bare, but it might as well have been. How many steps had he taken?
           “Or is your anger at missing your watch so encompassing that you cannot even find the words to share?” he continued, seemingly unworried over Will’s silence. “If I stood in front of you, would you resort instantaneously to violence?”
           “Any violence given would be overdue for you, I think,” he said after a moment. He tried to collect scattered thoughts like dust motes.
           “You reflect the world around you. If you give violence, it is because violence was first given to you.”
           “And if I steal, you’d say it was only because something was first stolen from me?”
           The Chesapeake Ripper was quiet at that. He didn’t sound as though he were among the hustle and bustle of post-work traffic, but then again; the first time around Will had only known because the Ripper wanted him to know. He itched to ask about his calling card, but he refrained.
           That would spoil the fun.
           “That is the way the theory of mirror neurons work, but I’ve come to find that after childhood mirror neurons don’t work the same way for humans as they do our primate cousins. You reflect the world around you because that is how you are able to pass among the general populace.”
           “If you tell Jack Crawford that, I’m positive that he’d ensure I was institutionalized,” Will said dryly.
           “Giving the illustrious Agent Jack Crawford a ‘bone’ is actually not on the list of things that I’m willing to do,” the Ripper assured him. “You’re safe from me.”
           Will laughed, and when the sound didn’t do the feeling justice, he laughed a little harder. It scraped from him, and he thought about Jack asking him to keep tabs on a teenage girl, as though he could be trusted with something like looking after rebellious teens. He took one of her cigarettes out and lit it, taking a drag of the menthol. Seconds ticked with the pulse that pressed just at his temple, threatening a headache. Fucking menthols.
           “You’re collecting a following,” the Ripper said when Will’s laughter died down. If he mentioned his stolen items, he’d surely give it away, wouldn’t he? Will’s stomach lurched, curled in on itself at the thought. Was absence of acknowledging it just as damning as mentioning it?
           “Sooner or later, every psychopath will climb out of the woodwork just for a chance to be featured in my column,” Will replied. “What would you do then?”
           “Come now, Will, you know that I don’t share.”
           “Neither do I.”
           “And yet you’ve found yourself rekindling an old flame?” the Ripper wondered. His teasing tone was just curt enough when he said ‘rekindling’ that Will grasped onto it immediately. “I see from your watch that she is running late but will be there in approximately five minutes.”
           Such casual mention made his tongue curl, made his teeth clench tight as he snarled.
           “What else do you see on my watch?” Will asked snidely.
           “I see your sleep schedule is abysmal at best, and you drink a fair amount of water considering your otherwise terrible diet. In truth, I’ve mostly been intrigued by the reminders that you have set up. They’re quite persistent.”
           Will saw Molly pass by the café, her car slowing to turn into the parking lot. He wandered away from the entrance, phone pressed tight to his ear as though he could ingrain some part of the Ripper’s voice into his skin. His breath came short.
           “Your alarm starts the day early, and before you’ve even left the house you’ve ensured that at least one cup of coffee and one glass of water has been consumed. You remind yourself to collect your things by the door, and you remind yourself to practice a polite smile in the mirror in your bathroom. You remind yourself which stop to take on the bus, what time you should be at work, and you remind yourself to grab a glass of water before you sit down. After a couple of hours, you’ll have hopefully taken a lap or two around the office while refilling your water, and you have a reminder to tell you when it is appropriate to eat.
           “Your entire day is structured from the moment you wake until the moment you sleep, but what I found most fascinating were the reminders that you set in order to appear more human than you really are. ‘Check in with Charlie’ took precedent over ‘make small talk,’ which only went off approximately ten minutes after ‘eat lunch’ prompted you to stop working. You have a reminder for leaving work, as well as a reminder for ensuring that you’ve had another cup of water before you left. You remind yourself to get necessities at the drug store near your apartment. You remind yourself to prepare dinner, followed by a reminder to eat the dinner that you’ve prepared.
           “One of my favorites, though, would have to be the reminder that you set periodically throughout the day, in between reminders to exercise and prompts to make eye contact. ‘Wake up,’ as if to imply that you exist in a state of dreaming unless otherwise prompted. Do you oftentimes forget what reality looks like, Will?”
           “If you’re jealous about Molly, don’t be,” Will rasped, and he was ashamed at how the Ripper’s words tore right through him, left gaping holes where his insides should be. “She was just another dream, once.”
           “And now?” the Ripper inquired, saccharine sweet.
           “I hope you’re getting your steps in. If you mess up my streak by the time I get my watch back, I won’t be happy about it.”
           “A missed day is a red day, yes?” he asked. At Will’s grunt of affirmation, “I’ll endeavor. I’m not sure if your mild form of O.C.D. could handle the indignity of seeing a jarring discoloration on the days of the week that as of late consistently glow green. Congratulations, by the way. You’ve recently increased your step goal.”
           Will had a sharp retort for that, but he was surprised by a loud and sharp sneeze that made his throat burn. He withdrew the handkerchief and pressed it to his mouth. It smelled like laundry detergent.
           “Bless you.”
           “Thank you.” A beat, then, “Thankfully, I found a nice handkerchief for use in polite company.”
           “Embroidered, no doubt.”
           Molly waved to him, and Will headed towards her, swallowing down something sharp. She was layered in a sensible winter ensemble, complete with plaid scarf and a loosely fitted beanie that made her hair frame her round, pink cheeks. A dream. A dream, and Will stomped down the mild sense of guilt at seeing her smile grow upon taking in his suit and peacoat. “No doubt. Goodbye.”
           “Goodbye, Will. Enjoy your dream, but try to remember when it’s time to wake up.”
           Will couldn’t bring himself to admit out loud that he was already awake –had been since Jack Crawford first showed up to inform him that the Minnesota Shrike was dead.
           This is the most fun you’ve had in years.
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andreafestefano · 5 years ago
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How to make a HUGE upholstered bulletin board
Hello there! I'm back with a project I've been planning for a few months! I was finally able to get to it last week. I've been holding off on starting until I could get a sconce installed on the wall first. I've only shared this side of my office once because it's hasn't been much to look at. I showed you this wall early last year:
It certainly wasn't awful, but it wasn't nearly as cool as the other side of the room!: 
You can see how I built that wall of office built ins here. 
Since that before picture I've changed out the TV for a slightly larger one and moved the dresser to another room. The bookcases gave me plenty of storage. (I replaced the dresser with a smaller table for the printer.) 
I've had an idea for a big bulletin board in my head for a long time, but as I mentioned, I wanted to get a sconce installed first. If you have an outlet it's pretty easy for an electrician to run wiring for a sconce and switch. I've done it many times over the years! 
I taped out the size for the board before starting: 
I use painter's tape all of the time to figure out the placement and sizing of things -- it's great for figuring out furniture layouts too!
This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. 
See my policies and disclosure page for more information. 
I found the brass sconce here (I'll show you a closer pic in a bit) and it was only $36! It is an LED light, so if you don't like that brighter daylight look, you'll want to pick something else.
Step one: Hang particle board
I had to give my bulletin board a base on the wall -- otherwise I would be gluing the foam directly to the wall. I learned a long time ago avoid glue on the wall at all costs. :) My bulletin board size is four by six feet so three 2x4 boards were enough:
I think they were $7 each. (It would be slightly cheaper to get a 4x8 piece cut down, but I get impatient sometimes.) As you can see, the TV was staying. I left it up as I worked because I wanted the bulletin board to surround the TV mount as closely as possible. 
At the bottom I cut the boards short so the cords could go through that channel: 
I don't have a pic, but I later put my favorite cord hider down the middle with the cords inside. If I have to remove the TV I can still take it off the wall and pull the cords through the bottom. 
Step two: Install foam boards over the particle board
I've used the large 4x8 insulation boards you can find at the hardware store for bulletin boards before, but they are bulky and hard to get home. (I'd have to score and cut it there to get it in my car.) 
So instead I used this insulation kit I found at Home Depot: 
I can't remember the exact price because I bought it so long ago, but it wasn't bad! 
It comes with six sheets and they are about 3/4 inch I believe. One kit was plenty!: 
I used Liquid Nails (in a caulk gun) on the back of each piece of foam to secure it to the wood: 
As you can see I just pieced it together as well as I went. Cutting it down is easy, it's just MESSY. I  used a razor to score the foam and it popped off with a pretty clean edge. 
It looked like it had snowed in my office after I was done, but it worked! 
Step three: Attach the fabric 
This is where I made a little misstep, so learn from my mistake! It ended up working out much better in the end thankfully!
I used a staple gun to attach my fabric at the top and then started working my way down. You'll need to be patient with this part! To make sure the fabric stayed against the foam, I used this spray glue as I worked. Just spray over the foam and then smooth your fabric down as you staple it around the boards. 
I removed the TV for the middle part and just cut through the fabric:
Trim the fabric and staple around the hole like so: 
I could have taken the TV mount off and installed it over the particle board, but that seemed like extra work to me. Either way would work -- just be careful not to put the foam and fabric right up against the vents of your TV so it can "breathe." 
The spray glue method worked GREAT! Almost too well -- the problem was, after I was done I could see the minor imperfections in the foam (because the fabric adhered so well). I wish I would have taken a photo to show you. It wasn't crazy noticeable, but enough that I knew it would bug me. 
Thing is, I bought a fabric for this project months ago, but when it came time to install it, I chickened out. It was out of my comfort zone a bit, so I went with a basic cream tweed fabric instead -- trying to play it safe. But when I got it up, not only could I see the imperfections...but it was BORING. 😂
Sooooo...I went back with my original fabric and LOVED it. I should have stuck with my gut, but it ended up being a good mistake because the first layer of fabric hid the imperfections. (I installed the final fabric over the first.) After I got my fabric up, I painted and installed trim around the whole thing to frame it out:
I carried the beautiful green (called Vintage Vogue) on the built ins over to this side of the room and I absolutely love it against the fabric. 
The fabric makes a statement but isn't busy. A larger print (like a floral) would look great, but I was worried it would get super busy with the photos/notes I want to put on here. Here's a closer view of the art light:
You can see how bright the LED light is! 
I am SO in love with how this turned out!! I found my antelope (faux) fabric at Hobby Lobby for 40 percent off, but you can also find it here online: 
The little console was from At Home and it's perfect for extra printer paper and ink. 
I've already started filling up the board with things I've wanted to display for awhile -- some inspiration pics, mementos and recent magazine spreads: 
Aren't those huge letters fun? I found those at Hobby Lobby too. I think they still have them!
It turned out just as I had envisioned all these months. I love that I have a spot to display these in a "neat" way: 
Here are a few things to think about if you tackle this project:
Use a fabric with a loose weave -- something that will allow your pins to get through easily (and won't show or snag when you pull them out).
Remember you can only go as big as your fabric width -- length can be as long as you want. If you want one piece of fabric, you can only go about 50 inches across. 
To avoid seeing any imperfections in the foam you can do a layer of a thin fabric (like muslin) over it first. I think anything with a pattern (like what I ended up with) would also help to hide it.
Here's a look at the before of this wall again:
And how it looks now!: 
I have plans for one more big project in this room! But after wanting to do this big bulletin board for so long, it feels complete to me for now. Have you created a big bulletin board like this for your home?
------------------------------------------------------
Here are a couple of other ideas for office organization! You can also make a HUGE chalkboard using my tutorial here:
Or use an old frame to create a bulletin board as well: 
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(I later changed it out to a magnetic board instead of using pins!) See more of our home here. To shop items in our home, click here! Never miss a post by signing up to get posts via email. 
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samuelmmarcus · 5 years ago
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Beautiful Homes of Instagram: British Columbia
  British Columbia has a special place in my heart, and Langley is also a very special city to me because it’s where my husband and I got married many years ago. To say that I am happy to be featuring a home from there and getting to know Cristy of @centrestagedesign is quite an understatement. Cristy, as you will soon see, is a very talented interior designer and she has opened the doors of her home to not only give a house tour but also share all details of her custom home.
Keep reading and make sure to follow her on Instagram!
  “Hello readers! I am beyond excited to be sharing photos of my home with you. A month ago, I received a message from Luciane @homebunch asking me if she could feature our home on her blog series “Beautiful Homes of Instagram”. I felt a surge of excitement and disbelief! Me? Our home? I couldn’t believe it! I am constantly inspired by the homes Luciane features and hope that you can find some inspiration in reading about our home too.
My name is Christy and I live in Langley, British Columbia, Canada with my builder husband Erik and our four children. My husband grew up in the country and I was a city girl and right now we’re living the best of both worlds on our half acre property just on the outskirts of town. Erik works in construction and I am an interior designer and the owner of Centre Stage Design. Prior to becoming a designer, I spent six years in University to become a high school teacher then later completed my interior design program and opened my own design business.
The first house we ever owned was one we built before our first child was born. We scooped up a lot at a great price just after the recession in 2009 and started the build process with much less knowledge than we have today. Our first experience building was a learning curve but it taught us a lot about design and function. We’ve since done other new builds and a renovation and have gained much more experience. We completed our current build in the fall of 2017 and I can honestly say that I am still so happy with the elements of design in this house. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do and thanks so much for checking out our work!”
  Beautiful Homes of Instagram: British Columbia
As much as I love the look of the ever-popular white house, I wanted to do something different so I opted for a grey-green exterior colour called Monterey Taupe. Our home was designed by the incredibly talented Andy Friesen from Su Casa Design. To save on cost, we used one of Su Casa’s stock plans and modified it to our liking. Andy is wonderfully intuitive and incorporated every element we asked for from the circle window to the arched entry and the curved gable roofline. We used a variety of textures on our exterior including shake, plank and natural stone!
Main colour – “James Hardie Monterey Taupe”
Architect – Su Casa Design
Curb-Appeal
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that so much planning and design thought goes into creating a home! I love that this close-up shows off some of these details.
Trim colour – “Benjamin Moore Ashwood”
Stone – White Harbour
Lighting: here – similar
Doors – Masonite
Meet the Homeowner!
This is the beautiful and talented Christy of @centrestagedesign.
Foyer
Our front entrance still gets me excited. I paired our double front doors with double French doors to the office for a dramatic flare. I am also a huge fan of bringing the outdoors in. We are blessed to have a family member who owns a plant nursery, so we were able to incorporate trees, like this Ginkgo, into our decor.
Door Colour – “Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain”
Wall Colour – “Sherwin Williams Repose Grey”
Wainscoting colour – “Sherwin Williams Pure White”
Bench – Valley Direct Furniture (Local store) – similar here.
Bench Decor – QLiving Furniture – (Local Store) – similar here.
Clock – Urban Barn – Others: here, here & here.
Beautiful Foyer Rugs: here, here, here, here, here & here.
Home Office
Our office is a beautiful mix of traditional and modern elements that blend perfectly. Our RH partner’s desk adds a sophisticated touch while our chairs add a whimsical and fun flare. These chairs are actually outdoor chairs that I’ve layered with pillows and throws to make them cozy indoor chairs.
Wall Colour – “Sherwin Williams Repose Grey”
Wainscoting Colour – “Sherwin Williams Pure White”
Desk – Restoration Hardware – Others: here, here, here (many colors) & here.
Desk Chair: here – similar
Chairs & Pillows – Homesense
Dining Room
When I saw this Robert Abbey light fixture in a magazine, I knew I had to have it. Knock-offs just wouldn’t do so I splurged and got it! I think the wallpaper compliments the chandelier perfectly.
Chandelier: Robert Abbey
Making Memories
I’ll admit, we don’t use our dining room much and I would contemplate putting one in our next house but it’s a great space to use for entertaining during the holidays and special events. We both come from large families so when we do host, there’s always room!
Wallpaper: Wayfair.
Table – Valley Direct Furniture – similar here.
Dining Chairs: Local Store – similar here – Others: here, here, here, here & here.
Vases – Structube
Faux Leaves – Pier One
Great Room
Since the fireplace design is the focal point of our Great Room, I wanted something different than the everyday stone wall, so we bought some 6” tongue and groove cedar and stained the rough-edge backside and installed it in a chevron pattern. The bottom of the fireplace is a textured tile that was originally grey to look like concrete, but it didn’t work well with our warm wood tones, so I painted it white!
Wall Clock  – QLiving – similar here.
Similar Rugs: here & here.
Layers
I love playing with textures and layers as you can see from my sofa styling. The oversized knitted blanket and large chopped pillows make this a spot to melt into.
Sofa & Pillows – Valley Direct Furniture – similar Sofa & Velvet Pillows.
Nesting Coffee Tables – here.
Chandelier
This 50” double tiered Restoration Hardware chandelier was worth every penny! I swapped out the candelabra bulbs for tube shaped bulbs for modernity.
Beautiful Chandeliers: here, here, here, here, here & here.
Kitchen
I LOVE our kitchen with our large 5’ x 10’ island, veined quartz countertop and gold accents. Our kids eat breakfast at this island each morning and I am so grateful for the size and prep space it provides! I went with a thinner shaker style on these maple doors and did a flat slab on all the upper drawers for visual interest. We have a good-sized butler’s pantry off to the right which allows me to keep my kitchen clutter-free!
Bar Stools – Wayfair
Kitchen Hood Vent Shelf
I love the shelf above the hood vent! We opted against open shelving so building our hood vent this way allowed me the option to still do some shelf styling.
Large Glass Vase – Homesense – similar here.
Stems in Vase – Pier One.
Dishwasher: KitchenAid
Faucet: Delta.
Island Pendants
Our oversized 18” island pendant lights are perfect for our 10’ island. I had them custom powder coated to match the hardware.
Lighting – RH – Other Beautiful Lighting: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.
Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color
Island Colour – Custom Stain (close to Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain)
Cabinet Colour – Sherwin Williams Pure White
Wine Fridge – Having a wine fridge in the island was a must. Need I say more?
Wine Fridge – Vinopro
Range
The hot topic here is our 48” dual fuel range! 6 burner gas cook top with a griddle and double electric ovens beneath. The best part is we found this range at Costco for a fraction of the price of a Wolf and have no complaints!
Range: Thor Kitchen Range
Hardware – Richelieu Transitional Metal Pull Champagne Bronze.
Breakfast Room
With having 4 kids I knew I wanted a round marble tabletop but couldn’t find one large enough within my budget. So, I found a 60” marble tabletop at a Restoration Hardware Outlet in Vancouver and had the metal base custom made then spray painted it gold! Voila, my design breathed into life and at a fraction of the cost.
Similar Dining Tables: here & here – rectangular
Chairs – Wayfair
Metal Base – Xtreme EffeX
Powder Room
I kept most of our house light and bright but played with a moody tone in the powder room. Our gold “lightsaber-like” wall sconces are paired with our gold faucet. I even went as far as having our towel bar and TP holder powder coated in gold to match!
Vanity Colour – Benjamin Moore Silver Song
Wall Colour – Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain
Vanity – Custom – similar here.
Faucet – Delta
Sconces – Wayfair
Hardware – here – similar
Stairwell
Instead of carpet I opted for hardwood stairs with white risers. I shifted away from the thick and heavy spindles and selected thin rails and posts. These white oak posts are only 4” wide.
Flooring (European White Oak) – Dansk Mount Shasta Collection “Frost” – similar here.
Handrail Stain – Sansin Silver Birch.
Loft Landing
I love the rustic feel here with the beams and cowhide rug!
Rug, Desk & Chair – Valley Direct Furniture – similar: Rug, Desk & Chair.
Black Croc Head, Plant, and basket decor – QLiving.
Wall Art – Design Lighting – Other Beautiful Artwork: here & here.
Girls Bedroom
Our two girls share a room and they requested a pink wall! We added diagonal tongue and grove cedar feature panels above each bed to make the illusion of a larger headboard.
Wall Colour – “Benjamin Moore Driftscape Tan” (It’s pink)
Feature Wall Stain – Sansin Silver Birch
Artwork: here & here – similar
Beds: here – similar
Jack & Jill Bathroom
I put a lot of thought into designing our kids’ bathroom cabinet. The pull-out drawers on the bottom function as footstools for the kids!
Cabinet Colour – “Benjamin Moore Silver Song”
Son’s Bedroom
I created a mountain mural wall for our 3 year old son. It took me 20 mins to tape and prep this mural plus an hour and a half to paint!
Wall Colours – “Benjamin Moore Newburg Green”, “Benjamin Moore Classic Grey” and  “Sherwin Williams Repose Grey”.
Bed – Wayfair
Master Bedroom
Our master bedroom feature wall, with its vertical slats and moody jewel toned colour, makes me smile every time I see it.
Dark Wall Colour – “Benjamin Moore Essex Green”
Light Wall Colour – “Sherwin Williams Pure White”
Bed: here – similar
Bedding: here – similar
Beuatiful Nighstands: here, here, here, here & here.
Bench: here – similar
Decor
The gold lamps and art give contrast to our “Essex Green by Benjamin Moore” wall. Huge thank you to Langley Decorating Centre for supplying the Benjamin Moore paint for this fun project!
Lamps: here – similar
Color Scheme
When we built our house the trend towards natural wood tones was just emerging but I thought I’d give it a try on our master vanity and I’m so happy I did. Our shower glass seamlessly leads into the frosted glass of the toilet room. We went open concept on this bathroom…no doors!
Chandelier: here.
Master Bedroom Lounge
We have this little corner of the bedroom where I like to lounge and read. Kidding…I don’t have time with four kids!
Master Bathroom
The custom floating vanity and the curb-less shower bring a sleek feel to this spa-like bathroom.
Beautiful Vanities: here, here, here & here.
Sconces: Wayfair.
Tub
I kept our tile floors simple so that our black bathtub and vanity could be the focal points. While we don’t often use our tub, it’s a beautiful sight to look at!
Tub – Costco – similar here.
Bathmat – Homesense.
Shower
Take a closer look at our shower and you’ll see the simple yet gorgeously textured white chevron tiles paired with grey penny tiles. Double shower heads were a must.
Faucets
These bold black vanity faucets tie in nicely with the black hardware and tub!
Faucets – Wayfair
Theatre Room
I have to admit; this is a pretty cool room with its 3-tiered seating and 120” screen! Our brass wall sconces compliment our navy blue walls and ceiling.
Wall Colour – “Benjamin Moore Hale Navy”
Power Recliners – Costco Abbie Black Top-grain Leather Media Power Recliner – similar here, here, here.
Sconces: here – similar.
Projector – Amazon
Gym
The first question people ask when they see this room is, “do you actually use your gym?” Why yes, yes we do! We added 3 large glass panels, so this room doesn’t feel closed off from the rest of the basement.
Artwork: Ikea, BJÖRKSTA Picture, Jungle Journey.
Laundry Room
 Marble hex flooring adds character to our laundry room.
Marble Hex Tile: Local store – similar here.
Mudroom
Dark large-scale herringbone floors with light grout distract from the dirt that is ever-present in our mud room. Believe it or not, the kids actually do use these shoe drawers so the mud room stays decently organized! Shiplap on both sides for fun!
Cabinet Colour – “Benjamin Moore Classic Gray”
Tile Flooring – 12” x 24” Black Slate
Exterior Back
I don’t know what’s more impressive, the front or the back! We love the classy look of the black windows and the impressive size of our 17’ x 33’ deck. Our East facing lot also allows for some beautiful sunrises through our master deck in the mornings.
Windows – Morrison Windows Ltd.
Deck
 The beauty that surrounds us is all the decor I need in this space!
Outdoor Furniture: here – similar
Roof Inspiration
I just love the sloped roof!
Thank you for stopping by and checking out our home!
  Many thanks to Christy for sharing all of the details above.
Make sure to follow @centrestagedesign to see more photos of her beautiful home!
Photography – White Cloud Productions.
Architect – Su Casa Design.
  Best Sales of the Month:
Thank you for shopping through Home Bunch. I would be happy to assist you if you have any questions or are looking for something in particular. Feel free to contact me and always make sure to check dimensions before ordering. Happy shopping!
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  One Kings Lane: High Quality Design Decor for Less.
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  Urban Outfitters: Hip & Affordable Home Decor.
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  Nordstrom: Up to 40% OFF. New Decor!
  Posts of the Week:
Reinvented Classic Kitchen Design.
Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fixer Upper.
Empty Nester Townhouse Design Ideas.
Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.
2019 New Year Home Tour.
Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.
Florida Beach House Interior Design.
Small lot Beach House.
Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor.
Beach House Interior Design Ideas.
Home Bunch’s Top 5: Cabinet Paint Colors.
Tailored Interiors.
Florida Home with a Cottage Farmhouse Twist.
Dark Cedar Shaker Exterior.
Classic Colonial Home Design.
Family-friendly Home Design. Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.
Follow me on Instagram: @HomeBunch
You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch
See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.
“Dear God,
If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.
Lead me in Light and Love”.
Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”
with Love,
Luciane from HomeBunch.com
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dawnjeman · 5 years ago
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Beautiful Homes of Instagram: British Columbia
  British Columbia has a special place in my heart, and Langley is also a very special city to me because it’s where my husband and I got married many years ago. To say that I am happy to be featuring a home from there and getting to know Cristy of @centrestagedesign is quite an understatement. Cristy, as you will soon see, is a very talented interior designer and she has opened the doors of her home to not only give a house tour but also share all details of her custom home.
Keep reading and make sure to follow her on Instagram!
  “Hello readers! I am beyond excited to be sharing photos of my home with you. A month ago, I received a message from Luciane @homebunch asking me if she could feature our home on her blog series “Beautiful Homes of Instagram”. I felt a surge of excitement and disbelief! Me? Our home? I couldn’t believe it! I am constantly inspired by the homes Luciane features and hope that you can find some inspiration in reading about our home too.
My name is Christy and I live in Langley, British Columbia, Canada with my builder husband Erik and our four children. My husband grew up in the country and I was a city girl and right now we’re living the best of both worlds on our half acre property just on the outskirts of town. Erik works in construction and I am an interior designer and the owner of Centre Stage Design. Prior to becoming a designer, I spent six years in University to become a high school teacher then later completed my interior design program and opened my own design business.
The first house we ever owned was one we built before our first child was born. We scooped up a lot at a great price just after the recession in 2009 and started the build process with much less knowledge than we have today. Our first experience building was a learning curve but it taught us a lot about design and function. We’ve since done other new builds and a renovation and have gained much more experience. We completed our current build in the fall of 2017 and I can honestly say that I am still so happy with the elements of design in this house. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do and thanks so much for checking out our work!”
  Beautiful Homes of Instagram: British Columbia
As much as I love the look of the ever-popular white house, I wanted to do something different so I opted for a grey-green exterior colour called Monterey Taupe. Our home was designed by the incredibly talented Andy Friesen from Su Casa Design. To save on cost, we used one of Su Casa’s stock plans and modified it to our liking. Andy is wonderfully intuitive and incorporated every element we asked for from the circle window to the arched entry and the curved gable roofline. We used a variety of textures on our exterior including shake, plank and natural stone!
Main colour – “James Hardie Monterey Taupe”
Architect – Su Casa Design
Curb-Appeal
Sometimes it’s easy to forget that so much planning and design thought goes into creating a home! I love that this close-up shows off some of these details.
Trim colour – “Benjamin Moore Ashwood”
Stone – White Harbour
Lighting: here – similar
Doors – Masonite
Meet the Homeowner!
This is the beautiful and talented Christy of @centrestagedesign.
Foyer
Our front entrance still gets me excited. I paired our double front doors with double French doors to the office for a dramatic flare. I am also a huge fan of bringing the outdoors in. We are blessed to have a family member who owns a plant nursery, so we were able to incorporate trees, like this Ginkgo, into our decor.
Door Colour – “Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain”
Wall Colour – “Sherwin Williams Repose Grey”
Wainscoting colour – “Sherwin Williams Pure White”
Bench – Valley Direct Furniture (Local store) – similar here.
Bench Decor – QLiving Furniture – (Local Store) – similar here.
Clock – Urban Barn – Others: here, here & here.
Beautiful Foyer Rugs: here, here, here, here, here & here.
Home Office
Our office is a beautiful mix of traditional and modern elements that blend perfectly. Our RH partner’s desk adds a sophisticated touch while our chairs add a whimsical and fun flare. These chairs are actually outdoor chairs that I’ve layered with pillows and throws to make them cozy indoor chairs.
Wall Colour – “Sherwin Williams Repose Grey”
Wainscoting Colour – “Sherwin Williams Pure White”
Desk – Restoration Hardware – Others: here, here, here (many colors) & here.
Desk Chair: here – similar
Chairs & Pillows – Homesense
Dining Room
When I saw this Robert Abbey light fixture in a magazine, I knew I had to have it. Knock-offs just wouldn’t do so I splurged and got it! I think the wallpaper compliments the chandelier perfectly.
Chandelier: Robert Abbey
Making Memories
I’ll admit, we don’t use our dining room much and I would contemplate putting one in our next house but it’s a great space to use for entertaining during the holidays and special events. We both come from large families so when we do host, there’s always room!
Wallpaper: Wayfair.
Table – Valley Direct Furniture – similar here.
Dining Chairs: Local Store – similar here – Others: here, here, here, here & here.
Vases – Structube
Faux Leaves – Pier One
Great Room
Since the fireplace design is the focal point of our Great Room, I wanted something different than the everyday stone wall, so we bought some 6” tongue and groove cedar and stained the rough-edge backside and installed it in a chevron pattern. The bottom of the fireplace is a textured tile that was originally grey to look like concrete, but it didn’t work well with our warm wood tones, so I painted it white!
Wall Clock  – QLiving – similar here.
Similar Rugs: here & here.
Layers
I love playing with textures and layers as you can see from my sofa styling. The oversized knitted blanket and large chopped pillows make this a spot to melt into.
Sofa & Pillows – Valley Direct Furniture – similar Sofa & Velvet Pillows.
Nesting Coffee Tables – here.
Chandelier
This 50” double tiered Restoration Hardware chandelier was worth every penny! I swapped out the candelabra bulbs for tube shaped bulbs for modernity.
Beautiful Chandeliers: here, here, here, here, here & here.
Kitchen
I LOVE our kitchen with our large 5’ x 10’ island, veined quartz countertop and gold accents. Our kids eat breakfast at this island each morning and I am so grateful for the size and prep space it provides! I went with a thinner shaker style on these maple doors and did a flat slab on all the upper drawers for visual interest. We have a good-sized butler’s pantry off to the right which allows me to keep my kitchen clutter-free!
Bar Stools – Wayfair
Kitchen Hood Vent Shelf
I love the shelf above the hood vent! We opted against open shelving so building our hood vent this way allowed me the option to still do some shelf styling.
Large Glass Vase – Homesense – similar here.
Stems in Vase – Pier One.
Dishwasher: KitchenAid
Faucet: Delta.
Island Pendants
Our oversized 18” island pendant lights are perfect for our 10’ island. I had them custom powder coated to match the hardware.
Lighting – RH – Other Beautiful Lighting: here, here, here, here, here, here, here & here.
Kitchen Cabinet Paint Color
Island Colour – Custom Stain (close to Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain)
Cabinet Colour – Sherwin Williams Pure White
Wine Fridge – Having a wine fridge in the island was a must. Need I say more?
Wine Fridge – Vinopro
Range
The hot topic here is our 48” dual fuel range! 6 burner gas cook top with a griddle and double electric ovens beneath. The best part is we found this range at Costco for a fraction of the price of a Wolf and have no complaints!
Range: Thor Kitchen Range
Hardware – Richelieu Transitional Metal Pull Champagne Bronze.
Breakfast Room
With having 4 kids I knew I wanted a round marble tabletop but couldn’t find one large enough within my budget. So, I found a 60” marble tabletop at a Restoration Hardware Outlet in Vancouver and had the metal base custom made then spray painted it gold! Voila, my design breathed into life and at a fraction of the cost.
Similar Dining Tables: here & here – rectangular
Chairs – Wayfair
Metal Base – Xtreme EffeX
Powder Room
I kept most of our house light and bright but played with a moody tone in the powder room. Our gold “lightsaber-like” wall sconces are paired with our gold faucet. I even went as far as having our towel bar and TP holder powder coated in gold to match!
Vanity Colour – Benjamin Moore Silver Song
Wall Colour – Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain
Vanity – Custom – similar here.
Faucet – Delta
Sconces – Wayfair
Hardware – here – similar
Stairwell
Instead of carpet I opted for hardwood stairs with white risers. I shifted away from the thick and heavy spindles and selected thin rails and posts. These white oak posts are only 4” wide.
Flooring (European White Oak) – Dansk Mount Shasta Collection “Frost” – similar here.
Handrail Stain – Sansin Silver Birch.
Loft Landing
I love the rustic feel here with the beams and cowhide rug!
Rug, Desk & Chair – Valley Direct Furniture – similar: Rug, Desk & Chair.
Black Croc Head, Plant, and basket decor – QLiving.
Wall Art – Design Lighting – Other Beautiful Artwork: here & here.
Girls Bedroom
Our two girls share a room and they requested a pink wall! We added diagonal tongue and grove cedar feature panels above each bed to make the illusion of a larger headboard.
Wall Colour – “Benjamin Moore Driftscape Tan” (It’s pink)
Feature Wall Stain – Sansin Silver Birch
Artwork: here & here – similar
Beds: here – similar
Jack & Jill Bathroom
I put a lot of thought into designing our kids’ bathroom cabinet. The pull-out drawers on the bottom function as footstools for the kids!
Cabinet Colour – “Benjamin Moore Silver Song”
Son’s Bedroom
I created a mountain mural wall for our 3 year old son. It took me 20 mins to tape and prep this mural plus an hour and a half to paint!
Wall Colours – “Benjamin Moore Newburg Green”, “Benjamin Moore Classic Grey” and  “Sherwin Williams Repose Grey”.
Bed – Wayfair
Master Bedroom
Our master bedroom feature wall, with its vertical slats and moody jewel toned colour, makes me smile every time I see it.
Dark Wall Colour – “Benjamin Moore Essex Green”
Light Wall Colour – “Sherwin Williams Pure White”
Bed: here – similar
Bedding: here – similar
Beuatiful Nighstands: here, here, here, here & here.
Bench: here – similar
Decor
The gold lamps and art give contrast to our “Essex Green by Benjamin Moore” wall. Huge thank you to Langley Decorating Centre for supplying the Benjamin Moore paint for this fun project!
Lamps: here – similar
Color Scheme
When we built our house the trend towards natural wood tones was just emerging but I thought I’d give it a try on our master vanity and I’m so happy I did. Our shower glass seamlessly leads into the frosted glass of the toilet room. We went open concept on this bathroom…no doors!
Chandelier: here.
Master Bedroom Lounge
We have this little corner of the bedroom where I like to lounge and read. Kidding…I don’t have time with four kids!
Master Bathroom
The custom floating vanity and the curb-less shower bring a sleek feel to this spa-like bathroom.
Beautiful Vanities: here, here, here & here.
Sconces: Wayfair.
Tub
I kept our tile floors simple so that our black bathtub and vanity could be the focal points. While we don’t often use our tub, it’s a beautiful sight to look at!
Tub – Costco – similar here.
Bathmat – Homesense.
Shower
Take a closer look at our shower and you’ll see the simple yet gorgeously textured white chevron tiles paired with grey penny tiles. Double shower heads were a must.
Faucets
These bold black vanity faucets tie in nicely with the black hardware and tub!
Faucets – Wayfair
Theatre Room
I have to admit; this is a pretty cool room with its 3-tiered seating and 120” screen! Our brass wall sconces compliment our navy blue walls and ceiling.
Wall Colour – “Benjamin Moore Hale Navy”
Power Recliners – Costco Abbie Black Top-grain Leather Media Power Recliner – similar here, here, here.
Sconces: here – similar.
Projector – Amazon
Gym
The first question people ask when they see this room is, “do you actually use your gym?” Why yes, yes we do! We added 3 large glass panels, so this room doesn’t feel closed off from the rest of the basement.
Artwork: Ikea, BJÖRKSTA Picture, Jungle Journey.
Laundry Room
 Marble hex flooring adds character to our laundry room.
Marble Hex Tile: Local store – similar here.
Mudroom
Dark large-scale herringbone floors with light grout distract from the dirt that is ever-present in our mud room. Believe it or not, the kids actually do use these shoe drawers so the mud room stays decently organized! Shiplap on both sides for fun!
Cabinet Colour – “Benjamin Moore Classic Gray”
Tile Flooring – 12” x 24” Black Slate
Exterior Back
I don’t know what’s more impressive, the front or the back! We love the classy look of the black windows and the impressive size of our 17’ x 33’ deck. Our East facing lot also allows for some beautiful sunrises through our master deck in the mornings.
Windows – Morrison Windows Ltd.
Deck
 The beauty that surrounds us is all the decor I need in this space!
Outdoor Furniture: here – similar
Roof Inspiration
I just love the sloped roof!
Thank you for stopping by and checking out our home!
  Many thanks to Christy for sharing all of the details above.
Make sure to follow @centrestagedesign to see more photos of her beautiful home!
Photography – White Cloud Productions.
Architect – Su Casa Design.
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  Posts of the Week:
Reinvented Classic Kitchen Design.
Beautiful Homes of Instagram: Fixer Upper.
Empty Nester Townhouse Design Ideas.
Small Lot Modern Farmhouse.
2019 New Year Home Tour.
Modern Farmhouse with Front Porch.
Florida Beach House Interior Design.
Small lot Beach House.
Coastal Farmhouse Home Decor.
Beach House Interior Design Ideas.
Home Bunch’s Top 5: Cabinet Paint Colors.
Tailored Interiors.
Florida Home with a Cottage Farmhouse Twist.
Dark Cedar Shaker Exterior.
Classic Colonial Home Design.
Family-friendly Home Design. Grey Kitchen Paint Colors.
Follow me on Instagram: @HomeBunch
You can follow my pins here: Pinterest/HomeBunch
See more Inspiring Interior Design Ideas in my Archives.
“Dear God,
If I am wrong, right me. If I am lost, guide me. If I start to give-up, keep me going.
Lead me in Light and Love”.
Have a wonderful day, my friends and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”
with Love,
Luciane from HomeBunch.com
Come Follow me on
Come Follow me on
Get Home Bunch Posts Via Email
Contact Luciane
“For your shopping convenience, this post might contain links to retailers where you can purchase the products (or similar) featured. I make a small commission if you use these links to make your purchase so thank you for your support!”
from Home http://www.homebunch.com/beautiful-homes-of-instagram-british-columbia/ via http://www.rssmix.com/
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itsworn · 6 years ago
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How to build your own cast aluminum windshield frame
Kustoms are all about styling- taking an original body, chopping it up, and redesigning it to fit the vision in your head. That is one of the things that makes building cars so much fun, you never know what you are going to see next. When you have an Art Deco model such as this 1941 Lincoln Continental, much of the original styling is already beautiful, just a few tweaks here and there to make it yours. However, there is one area that was a major failure, and that is the windshield frame. Unlike the rest of the body, which has big bold curves and swoopy lines, the windshield frame is just plain and boring. In all honesty, it looks like it belongs on a VW Thing or a Jeep as opposed to one the most beautiful Art Deco production cars.
The reality is that everything above the door line is wrong on this car- the windshield and the convertible top. The top is being changed out for a hand-built Carson style top, but what about that windshield frame? It is far too flat and square to be left as is. We could try to modify the cast iron frame, but it would still be a little too upright, and altering the angle would mess with the side windows. What we want is a swoopy frame that evokes the styling of the 1930s coupes, otherwise known as a “DuVall” style windshield. We just have to build it.
There are a couple of ways these things are done. We could spend months and months trying to hammer-form sheet metal into the look we want, which an expert metal craftsman can handle, but we simply are not that skilled with a hammer and dolly. We could search for a car in the salvage yards to cut up and modify into something that resembled what we want, or we can start over from scratch and build a design that matches our ideas and doesn’t break the bank. We are going to cast our own windshield frame.
OK, so technically, we are not casting in-house, that will be handled by a small local foundry that specializes in small production parts. We are designing and building the pattern for the mold. The pattern is the form that is used to make the mold itself. There are some critical features that you must pay attention to when laying out a part that is going to be cast, namely drafts and undercuts. Draft is the angle of all sides when the part is laying in the casting position (how it will be sitting when poured). The vertical surfaces must have at least a 2-degree draft, and the base must be wider than the top. This helps aid in the release of the part. The other issue to be aware of are the undercuts. On some parts, like our frame, this simply can’t be avoided. In order to get the part to fit the car, there are going to be undercuts. This is alleviated through a two-part mold, and a removable casting base called a “follower” that allows the top side to be formed, then the base is removed so that the other half of the casting mold can be formed.
The bulk of the work on this project is done with MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) and body filler. The design and build process is time consuming, but it is well worth the effort. Using the original frame as a guide, we built a rough copy from MDF, specifically the angle of the frame relative to the door glass and the tails that run into the door jambs. Everything else will be altered.
We built the frame using superglue and brad nails. You want to build the frame base as sturdy as possible, as you will be removing and installing the piece numerous times. The original glass was angled at 56-degrees. We don’t want to chop it, the original height is about right, but that angle is too steep, so we pulled the base of the glass forward 2.5 inches, which added 6 degrees to the rake of the glass (50 degrees total rake). In order for the glass to be at the same height off the cowl, the glass will need to be lengthened 1 inch, so this is sort of an “anti-chop.” We built an analog for the glass itself with ¼-inch Masonite, then used that to create the actual glass surround, which was made with 5/8-inch MDF. Using super glue and wood blocks, this piece was positioned and glued into place.
Once the skeleton was built, the styling begins. You can fill in the gaps and make a blocky frame, or go crazy and make everything swoopy. We opted for the latter. For this part of the process, we used a combination of body fillers, including Duraglass, which is fiberglass reinforced body filler, and standard lightweight body filler. The Duraglass is used as the base. This stuff can be applied thicker without worrying about cracking, and it is very strong.
Once the design was completed, the frame was prepped for casting and sent to the foundry. The casting process took about a month. The foundry built a casting frame called a flask, and used a process called bonded sand casting. Unlike green sand, which is fine sand mixed with oil to keep it in shape, bonded sand hardens like concrete. This helps reduce part shrinkage, because the cooling metal can’t collapse the walls of the mold. A green sand mold is cheaper, but a large, thin part like this is bound to shrink heavily and warp, which will render the final part unusable. Bonded sand cuts the shrink factor down considerably. Typical aluminum casting shrinks 1.5” over every surface, which means, for a part like ours, it could shrink as much as an inch over the width. However, that calculation only works for solid parts, and while the frame is 51” long, it is less than 2” thick. This makes any shrinkage calculation very difficult. In our project, the final shrinkage was less than 0.9 percent, which is much better than the estimates. The base shrunk ½-inch overall, which required some grinding and clearance work after the casting was complete, but that was going to be required anyway. If we were to cast a second frame, we could rectify the shrinkage so that the finished cast part would be match to the original pattern’s dimensions.
The final part looks incredible, fits the car and has the exact styling we were after. Our original plan was to polish the frame, but there were some minor surface imperfections that showed up during the polishing process that we couldn’t live with, so we ended up filling the pits with epoxy, priming, painting and using a silver nitrate spray process that yielded the polished aluminum look we were after. Chrome plating was also an option, but the $3,000 price tag was a little more than we wanted to spend. We spent $1,600 on the casting, and additional pieces could be cast for about $1,100. A second casting would most likely have fixed the surface finish issues, but we were able to get the look we wanted, so we stuck with the initial casting.
The original windshield is plain and boring. It has no style and does not fit the rest of the body. Time for it to go.
We removed the frame and laid it out on some strips of MDF, and then traced the shape onto the boards.
The cowl piece has to match the original frame, so we measured the original and transferred that to the new base cowl piece. Even a half of a degree off can wreck the fitment to the door glass.
The frame has supports that run through the door hinges on the cowl, we recreated those with strips of MDF and shaped it to match.
The frame base was laid up with notched panels. This adds strength to the overall piece.
The new base matches the original angle and fits the cowl well.
We created a pattern for the glass and then marked a board with the shape. The line in the middle is where the wood gets recessed with a router and a rabbet bit.
This becomes the windshield frame glass form. We added ¾-inch around the glass pattern for a reveal.
Keeping the top of the glass in the same position as the factory frame, we set the base forward about 2.5-inches, which gave us the 50-degree rake we were after.
Once the base skeleton was formed, we started layering on the filler. This is all Duraglass for strength. We used masking tape on these voids, placed on the inside of the frame to keep the filler from falling out of the skeleton. We will bodywork the interior frame later. This process took several days to get the look just right.
The interior of the frame is pretty simple, You can see the glass channel as well.
Once the filler work has been roughed in with 36-grit sand paper, we needed to make sure the two sides were symmetrical. Lots of measuring and note taking is involved with this project.
We used a piece of poster board to mark the shape of each side, and then made a pattern that will be used on both sides. The pattern must be perfect; any imperfection will be present in the final part.
The pattern is Masonite, and we placed it on either side of the frame, removing and adding material where necessary.
At this point, we also installed the dash and started bodyworking this area to make sure the frame looks good from inside as well.
The follower board was made with a sheet of MDF and a wood and Bondo structure that fits tight up against the pattern, providing the draft needed and ensuring no sand will find its way in the undercut area.
Metal Dynamics in Tulsa, OK handled the casting. They built a custom flask for this project, and it will be saved for us if we ever need to make another frame. The sand is packed by hand while the table vibrates to help it settle. Then they flipped the flask, removed the follower, and packed the other side.
This is what the raw casting looks like. The large round pieces are the sprues (where the molten aluminum is poured) and the long stem is the vent, which allows the hot gasses to escape the mold as it is poured. This gets removed with a bandsaw.
Once we got the casting back, it has a mildly rough finish. We started trimming and shaping the cowl area to accommodate the shrinkage. The blue tint is called Dykem, it is a fast-drying machinist dye the makes it easy to scribe lines and to see where you need to remove material. Think of it as guide coat for machining.
The door jamb tails had to be removed for casting. It would nearly impossible to sand-cast the frame with them intact. This means we have to recreate them in aluminum after the fact. Using some plate aluminum, we cut it to rough size and shape, and then used a torch to heat and bend it in the shop press, using the original tails as a guide. We then had the tails TIG welded to the frame.
Our new windshield frame looks so much better than the factory piece, it really adds to the Art Deco styling, and brings that 30s-40s era coupe look and feel to the car. Our favorite part is how the peaks match the fenders and hood.
The last step was finishing. You can finish your part anyway you choose. We wanted something between polished and brushed aluminum, and the silver nitrate process, Alsa Easy-Chrome, did the trick. It looked amazing in a brushed finish, but there are a few pits in the surface, so we had to go another direction.
The post How to build your own cast aluminum windshield frame appeared first on Hot Rod Network.
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hikingbackpackusa · 7 years ago
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NTK Texas GT up to 7 Persons14 by 14FT by 6.9FT Height 100% Waterproof 2500mm. Best Seller Deluxe Family Extra Large Car Hunting 3 Season Camping tent
Customer rating: 4.5/5 stars List Price: $ 359.99 Sale: $ 249.99 Discount: Save 31% off your order + Free Shipping Availability: New, original packaging – In stock Sold by and Shipping: Check store below »
Special Offer Today! Price: $ 249.99
( Thursday, January 25, 2018 ) » Buy It Now
“The condition of the NTK Texas GT up to 7 Persons14 by 14FT by 6.9FT Height 100% Waterproof 2500mm. Best Seller Deluxe Family Extra Large Car Hunting 3 Season Camping tent you buy and its timely delivery are guaranteed under the Amazon A-to-z Guarantee.”
We have found most affordable price of NTK Texas GT up to 7 Persons14 by 14FT by 6.9FT Height 100% Waterproof 2500mm. Best Seller Deluxe Family Extra Large Car Hunting 3 Season Camping tent from Amazon tents store. It offers fast and free shipping. Best truck tents for camping for sale will be limited stock of certain product and discount only for limited time, so do order now to get the best deals. Before you buy, check to see if a product is available online at store, read and compare experiences customers have had with truck tents for camping below.
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Read all consumer reviews about the best truck tents for camping
All the latest best truck tents for camping reviews consumer reports are written by real customers on websites. You should read more consumer reviews and answered questions of NTK Texas GT up to 7 Persons14 by 14FT by 6.9FT Height 100% Waterproof 2500mm. Best Seller Deluxe Family Extra Large Car Hunting 3 Season Camping tent below.
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hikingbackpackusa · 7 years ago
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NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm For Sale
When you search for good tent camping reviews, this NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm is the best cheapest price on the web we have searched. Many good reviews already proving the quality of this product. The NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm is equipped with a large number of features that makes it great product. The most sold product is not expensive and it is highly desirable, and if you want buy it now, you should not miss this opportunity because this product is the price length applications.
What are the features of NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm
SPACIOUS 5 to 6 Person (aduls/kids), 2 Door Tent Designed for Easy Assembly with only 3 pole sets. Super 5.7FT height for maximum comfort. Floor Size: 9.8FT x 9.8FT / Weight: 16.5LB. NEW 40 YEAR. CELEBRATION FREE PROMO GIFT INCLUDED: LED STORM STRETCH LIGHT WITH BATTERY VALUED AT USD14.99.
FULL COVERAGE RAINFLY: Double layer 190T polyester laminated with polyurethane 2500 mm water column, partially aluminum, heat-welded PU seam sealed and UV protection. Inner tent: Large D-style door with full size mosquito mesh for great views and ventilation. Roomy utility pocket and gear loft for storage. Large mesh roof vents provide excellent ventilation. Front and back can be fully covered or half covered.
FRAME: Nano-Flex technology, extra thick white pure fiber glass poles interconnected with high performance elastic and metal parts made of double gold plated steel. Pin-and-ring system for easy and quick setup. 3 Seasons.
MOSQUITO MESH: Ultra-thin NO-SEE-UM polyester mesh keep you safe from the smallest insects and mosquitos. Inner Material: 190T breathable Polyester for maximum comfort and ventilation. Built for the Brazilian Amazon, keeps you comfortable and protected under heat, rain and wind.
FLOOR MATERIAL AND DESIGN: Heavy duty anti-fungus seamless polyethylene with inner silver coated layer keeps you dry and protected enhanced by the unique element barrier bathtub-style construction (you won’t wake up in a puddle!). Security: Meets CPAI-84 flammability requirements. Heavy duty stuff bag with ID label to personalize your tent.
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Brand: NTK
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Best Sellers Rank: 105038
Total Offers: 1
Warranty: NTK
Condition: New
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Price: $ 119.99
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Product Code: B01LZY8WYX Rating: 4.5/5 stars List Price: $ 189.99 Discount: 37% You Save: $ 70.00 Special Offers: Check It » Most Recent Reviews:
What are the Pros and Cons of the NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm?
NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof
The COLORADO GT series is our premium line of tents. As a Brazilian company we build our tents to survive and offer comfort in the Amazon weather, heat, heavy showers and wind are constant so we focus on water protection, ventilation enhancement and state of the art glass fiber poles. Every detail of this tent show perfection, from the high frequency seamed flooring, special threads used on the … You can see more product information at here
Where to buy the best tent camping
NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm
Customer rating: 4.5/5 stars List Price: $ 189.99 Sale: $ 119.99 Discount: Save 37% off your order + Free Shipping Availability: New, original packaging – In stock Sold by and Shipping: Check store below »
Special Offer Today! Price: $ 119.99
( Wednesday, August 2, 2017 ) » Buy It Now
“The condition of the NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm you buy and its timely delivery are guaranteed under the Amazon A-to-z Guarantee.”
We have found most affordable price of NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm from Amazon tents store. It offers fast and free shipping. Best tent camping for sale will be limited stock of certain product and discount only for limited time, so do order now to get the best deals. Before you buy, check to see if a product is available online at store, read and compare experiences customers have had with tent camping below.
Free Shipping >> Buy from Amazon.com
Customer reviews about the best tent camping
All the latest best tent camping reviews consumer reports are written by real customers on websites. You should read more consumer reviews and answered questions of NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm below.
>> If you can’t see all comments, click here to read full customer reviews on NTK COLORADO GT 5 to 6 Person 10 by 10 Foot Sport Family Camping Dome Tent 100% Waterproof 2500mm at Amazon.com <<
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