#gazebo ideas diy

[philbridges]

Walmart Gazebo Installation #Shorts

Walmart Gazebo Installation #Shorts

I’m about as ready as I’m ever going to be. I’ve done been punished by this Walmart Better Homes and Gardens thing. Supposed to have four guys, we did with three still took 5 hours and I feel like a retard. But it is what it is. It’s a beautiful thing and we’ll see how long and everybody stays happy with it because it looks really neat sitting on that deck that we built. And I wouldn’t have…

[gazebohome]

Enhance Your Backyard with Affordable Pergolas

Looking to elevate your outdoor space without breaking the bank? Adding a pergola can transform your backyard into a cozy retreat. From classic wooden designs to modern metal structures, pergolas offer both style and function. They're perfect for small backyards, providing shade and a defined space for relaxation.

For a rustic vibe, consider a cabin-style wooden pergola, or opt for a sleek metal pergola for a contemporary look. Add charm with a garden arch pergola adorned with climbing plants. If you love hosting, a poolside bar pergola makes a stylish addition.

Customizing your pergola is key to matching it with your home's aesthetic. Choose materials and colors that complement your exterior, and accessorize with outdoor furniture, potted plants, and lighting. Consider functional enhancements like retractable canopies or weather-resistant curtains for added comfort.

When planning your pergola, factor in costs for materials, size, and installation. DIY kits offer a budget-friendly option, while professional installation ensures a perfect fit. Whether you’re looking to create a cozy corner or a lively entertaining space, a pergola is a versatile addition that enhances your backyard's beauty and functionality.

For more ideas and tips on affordable pergolas, visit Gazebo House. Explore our guides and find the perfect pergola for your small backyard!

[sweatypatrolyouth]

Bridging Festivity and Craftsmanship: The Ultimate Christmas Card for Construction Enthusiasts

The holiday season is a time of joy, nostalgia, and creativity. For many, it's also a reminder of the cherished tradition of exchanging Christmas cards—a gesture that retains its charm despite the digital age. This year, a delightful trend is emerging that caters to niche interests, particularly those who find their passion at the intersection of construction, design, and DIY crafts. Enter the world of Construction Christmas Card Intricate designs, where craftsmanship meets festivity most delightfully.

A Brief Evolution of Christmas Cards

The tradition of sending Christmas cards dates back to the mid-19th century. Sir Henry Cole, a civil servant in Victorian England, is credited with creating the first commercial Christmas card in 1843. What began as a way to promote the newly established postal service quickly became a global phenomenon. Over the years, these cards have evolved from simple illustrations to complex and diverse expressions of holiday cheer.

Today, Christmas cards are not just about conveying a message; they are a canvas for personal expression and a means to showcase one's interests. It's no surprise that themes ranging from pets to sports have found their way onto these small, festive canvases. However, construction-themed cards—themed around tools, blueprints, and iconic structures—are making a unique mark on the holiday card scene.

Celebrating Craftsmanship with Handmade Construction Cards

For those who live and breathe construction, from hobbyists to professional craftsmen, the idea of a construction-themed Christmas card is particularly appealing. What sets these cards apart is the artistry and dedication of the artisans who create them. These are not your typical store-bought cards; they are meticulously crafted pieces that speak volumes about the sender's appreciation for the art of building.

Imagine receiving a card with miniature pop-up cranes or delicately sketched blueprints of famous buildings. These cards are more than just paper and ink—they are a tactile experience that resonates with the recipient's passion for construction. It's an intimate nod to the intricate work that goes into building something from the ground up, whether it be a skyscraper or a simple gazebo.

The Intersection of Festive Traditions and Niche Interests

Personalization is key in today's world, where the mass-produced often feels impersonal. The beauty of construction-themed Christmas cards lies in their ability to merge festive traditions with niche interests, offering a truly personalized touch. For DIY enthusiasts, these cards provide a chance to showcase their skills and passions during the holiday season.

Consider a card adorned with a miniature hammer or saw, or one that cleverly incorporates construction puns into its festive message. These thoughtful details transform a simple greeting into a memorable keepsake, enhancing the holiday experience for both the giver and the receiver.

Supporting Independent Artists and Small Businesses

Opting for handcrafted construction-themed cards not only adds a personal touch to holiday greetings but also supports independent artists and small businesses. In a market saturated with mass-produced goods, these unique creations stand out as a testament to the value of handmade artistry.

By purchasing from local artisans, you are investing in the talent and creativity of individuals who pour their hearts into each piece. This support fosters a community of crafters who continue to innovate and inspire, ensuring that traditions like sending Christmas cards remain vibrant and meaningful.

Conclusion

The marriage of construction themes with festive cards offers a refreshing take on a beloved holiday tradition. Whether you're a construction enthusiast, a crafter, or someone who appreciates the art of personalization, these Construction Christmas Card Intricate designs are a perfect way to celebrate the season. They honor the spirit of craftsmanship while bringing a unique twist to holiday greetings.

This Christmas, consider stepping away from the generic and explore the world of handcrafted cards that celebrate both festivity and craftsmanship. Your choice will delight recipients and contribute to the thriving community of artisans dedicated to making the holidays special.

[quirksphere]

How to Incorporate Lath in Kitchen Styles and Outdoor Décor?

Incorporating lath in your home décor can transform both your kitchen style and outdoor spaces. Lath, a material traditionally used in construction, has found its way into the realm of interior and exterior design. Its versatility and rustic charm make it an excellent choice for various applications. In this blog, we will explore how to use lath to enhance your kitchen style and create stunning outdoor décor.

Key Takeaways

Lath offers both aesthetic and functional benefits for home décor.

It can be used in multiple ways, from backsplashes to garden trellises.

Choosing the right type of lath and maintaining it properly is crucial for longevity.

Understanding Lath

What is Lath?

Lath is a thin strip of wood, metal, or gypsum that has been used historically as a base for plaster. In modern times, it is being used creatively in home décor for its unique texture and visual appeal.

Types of Lath

There are several types of lath available, each with its own characteristics:

Wooden Lath: Known for its natural look and versatility.

Metal Lath: Provides a more industrial feel and is highly durable.

Gypsum Lath: Offers a smooth surface, ideal for painting and finishing.

Incorporating Lath in Kitchen Styles

Lath as a Backsplash

Using lath as a backsplash can add a rustic charm to your kitchen style. Here’s how to do it:

Benefits: Lath backsplashes are not only visually appealing but also easy to clean and maintain.

Installation Guide:

Measure the area where you want to install the lath.

Cut the lath strips to fit the measurements.

Secure the lath strips to the wall using adhesive and nails.

Finish with a sealant to protect against moisture.

Lath for Kitchen Islands and Cabinets

Lath can be used to enhance kitchen islands and cabinets, giving them a unique and stylish look.

Enhancing Kitchen Islands:

Attach lath panels to the sides of your kitchen island.

Paint or stain the lath to match your kitchen style.

Revamping Cabinets:

Replace cabinet doors with lath panels.

Add lath inserts to existing cabinet doors for a fresh look.

Decorative Lath Panels

Decorative lath panels can create visual interest in your kitchen. Here are some DIY ideas:

Creating Visual Interest:

Use lath panels to create a feature wall.

Design custom patterns with lath strips for a personalized touch.

DIY Ideas:

Frame a section of the kitchen wall with lath.

Combine lath with other materials like glass or metal for a mixed-media effect.

Using Lath in Outdoor Décor

Lath in Garden Spaces

Lath is perfect for garden décor. It can be used to build trellises and fences, adding both functionality and beauty to your outdoor spaces.

Building Lath Garden Trellises:

Design a trellis that suits your garden style.

Assemble the lath strips into a sturdy frame.

Install the trellis in your garden to support climbing plants.

Using Lath for Garden Fencing:

Create a charming garden fence with lath.

Paint or stain the lath to complement your outdoor décor.

Lath for Outdoor Furniture

Designing and constructing outdoor furniture with lath can create a cohesive look for your outside space.

Designing and Constructing:

Build lath benches, tables, or chairs.

Ensure the furniture is sturdy and well-constructed.

Weatherproofing and Maintenance:

Apply a weatherproof finish to protect the lath from the elements.

Regularly check for signs of wear and repair as needed.

Lath Pergolas and Gazebos

Lath can also be used to enhance larger outdoor structures like pergolas and gazebos.

Advantages:

Provides shade and adds architectural interest.

Can be customized to fit your outdoor décor style.

Design Ideas and Construction Tips:

Incorporate lath into the roof or walls of the structure.

Use lath to create intricate patterns and designs.

Tips and Best Practices

Choosing the Right Type of Lath

Selecting the appropriate lath is crucial for achieving the desired look and ensuring durability.

Factors to Consider:

The environment where the lath will be used (indoor or outdoor).

The overall style of your kitchen and outdoor spaces.

Comparing Durability and Aesthetics:

Wooden lath is great for a natural look but requires more maintenance.

Metal lath is highly durable and offers a sleek, modern appearance.

Gypsum lath is ideal for smooth finishes and painting.

Maintenance and Care

Proper maintenance ensures that your lath installations last longer and remain attractive.

Maintaining Lath in Kitchen Spaces:

Regularly clean the lath surfaces to prevent buildup of grease and grime.

Reapply sealants as needed to protect against moisture.

Outdoor Lath Maintenance Tips:

Inspect for signs of weathering or damage.

Apply protective coatings to prevent rot and insect damage.

Conclusion

Incorporating lath in your home décor can significantly enhance both your kitchen style and outdoor spaces. Whether you choose to use it as a backsplash, in garden spaces, or for outdoor furniture, lath offers a versatile and aesthetically pleasing solution. Remember to choose the right type of lath, maintain it properly, and let your creativity guide you in using this wonderful material.

FAQs

What is the best type of lath for outdoor use?

Metal lath is often considered the best for outdoor use due to its durability and resistance to weather conditions.

How do I maintain lath in my kitchen to prevent damage?

Regular cleaning and reapplying sealants can help maintain lath in kitchen spaces, preventing damage from moisture and grease.

Can lath be used in modern kitchen designs?

Yes, lath can be incorporated into modern kitchen designs by choosing sleek finishes and combining it with contemporary materials.

What are the costs associated with installing lath in my home?

The cost of installing lath varies based on the type of lath and the scope of the project. Wooden lath tends to be less expensive than metal lath.

Is it difficult to install lath as a DIY project?

Installing lath can be a DIY project if you have basic carpentry skills. However, larger or more complex installations might require professional assistance.

By incorporating lath into your kitchen style and outdoor décor, you can create a unique and beautiful environment both inside and outside the house.

[sar--ang]

Budget-Savvy Wedding Decorations in Mumbai: Sparking Brilliance on a Budget

Planning a wedding in Mumbai, a city renowned for its vibrant culture and rich traditions, doesn’t have to break the bank, especially when it comes to creating a dazzling atmosphere with decorations. With a touch of ingenuity, strategic planning, and resourcefulness, couples can fashion stunning wedding decor that wows guests while keeping costs in check. This article explores inventive and affordable wedding decoration ideas in Mumbai, ensuring that every rupee spent enhances the enchantment and unforgettable moments of your special day.

Unleashing Creativity in Affordable Decor

Crafting exquisite wedding decor on a budget involves innovative thinking and maximizing available resources. Whether your celebration leans toward tradition or contemporary flair, these inspired ideas will help you achieve a stylish look without compromising on aesthetics:

Economical Floral Artistry

Local and Seasonal Blooms: Opt for locally sourced flowers that are in season; they’re not only fresher but also more budget-friendly than exotic varieties.

DIY Floral Ensembles: Rally the support of friends and family to craft DIY centerpieces and bouquets. Buying flowers in bulk from local markets and arranging them yourself can lead to significant savings.

Greenery and Foliage: Integrate lush greenery and foliage into your decor. These elements are cost-effective alternatives to flowers and lend a botanical charm to your venue.

Innovative Illumination Tactics

Fairy Lights and Candlelit Glow: Illuminate your venue with string fairy lights or candles in glass jars to cultivate a warm, romantic ambiance. These affordable lighting options can accentuate pivotal areas such as entrances, dining tables, and dance floors.

Paper Lanterns and Personalized Lamps: Dangle paper lanterns or fashion your own lamps using materials like mason jars and string lights. These bespoke decorations impart a personal touch and can be tailored to harmonize with your wedding theme.

Chic and Cost-Conscious Tablescapes

Minimalist Table Centerpieces: Embrace minimalist centerpieces featuring candles, uncomplicated vases adorned with seasonal blooms, or non-floral alternatives like succulents or fruit arrangements.

DIY Table Runners: Concoct DIY table runners using economical fabrics such as burlap or lace. These additions impart texture and refinement without the lofty price tag of elaborate linens.

Revamping and Recycling Decorative Accoutrements

Utilize Household Artifacts: Infuse personal belongings such as vintage frames, mirrors, or lanterns into your wedding decor. These cherished items not only economize your budget but also imbue your decor with sentimental value.

Rent or Borrow: Explore the option of renting decor items such as furnishings, linens, or larger pieces like arches or gazebos. Renting offers a means to achieve an urbane appearance without the financial outlay of purchasing new items.

Strategic Venue Selection

All-Inclusive Venue Packages: Opt for venues that proffer all-inclusive packages encompassing decor, catering, and ancillary services. Consolidating services can yield substantial savings versus procuring each element separately.

Embrace Outdoor and Natural Settings: Consider hosting your nuptials in an alfresco locale like a garden, park, or beach. Natural settings necessitate minimal embellishment while furnishing a picturesque backdrop for your ceremony and reception.

Navigating Your Economical Wedding Decor Expedition

A triumphant journey through budget wedding decor in Mumbai hinges on meticulous planning and artistic flair. Here are pivotal suggestions to ensure every rupee is utilized judiciously:

Establish a Pragmatic Budget: Set forth your financial framework at the outset of the planning process, earmarking funds for pivotal decor elements.

Conduct Diligent Research: Peruse various vendors, venues, and decor alternatives to compare prices and negotiate advantageous discounts or bundled packages.

Champion DIY and Delegate: Tackle DIY undertakings where feasible and enlist friends and family to aid in the effort.

Flexibility and Ingenuity: Remain adaptable and receptive to alternatives should initial plans encroach beyond budgetary confines. Adjustments may be essential to adhere to financial constraints while preserving elegance and quality.

In Closing

Budget-savvy wedding decorations in Mumbai celebrate ingenuity, resourcefulness, and thoughtfully curated selections that mirror your individuality and aspirations. By embracing DIY initiatives, leveraging local resources, and concentrating on pivotal facets such as lighting and tablescapes, couples can fashion breathtaking decor without exceeding financial parameters. Remember, the triumph of a wedding fête is gauged by the happiness and camaraderie shared amid an exquisitely adorned setting. Let these wallet-friendly concepts kindle your creativity to forge wedding decor that resonates as profoundly as it dazzles, ensuring your momentous day in Mumbai is imbued with unparalleled enchantment.

[homehacksideas]

#Free #DIY #Gazebo #Plans #Ideas #Build #StepbyStep #Tutorials #Woodworking

[stonemitche6]

Enhancing Your Outdoor Space with a Wooden Pergola

A wooden pergola stands as a timeless and versatile addition to any outdoor space. With its blend of aesthetic appeal, functional benefits, and the opportunity for creative customization, a wooden pergola has become a popular choice for homeowners looking to elevate their outdoor areas. In this article, we will explore the allure of wooden pergolas, their advantages, and how they can transform your outdoor space into a haven of relaxation and beauty.

The Charm of Wooden Pergolas

A wooden pergola instantly adds an element of charm and elegance to your outdoor setting. Its natural, earthy tones create a warm and inviting atmosphere that complements various architectural styles, from traditional to contemporary. The interplay of sunlight filtering through the wooden slats casts intricate shadows, further enhancing the visual appeal of the structure.

Creative Customization

One of the most enticing aspects of wooden pergolas is the endless scope for customization. Whether you envision a cozy nook for quiet contemplation, a shaded area for outdoor dining, or a picturesque backdrop for your garden, a wooden pergola can be tailored to your preferences. Choose from various wood types, including cedar, redwood, and pressure-treated pine, each offering distinct textures and durability. Additionally, you can decide on the pergola's size, shape, and lattice design to ensure it complements your outdoor space seamlessly.

Functional Benefits

Beyond aesthetics, wooden pergolas offer several practical advantages that contribute to a more enjoyable outdoor experience. By providing partial shade, they create a comfortable space where you can retreat from the sun's intensity while still relishing the beauty of the outdoors. This makes them ideal for hosting gatherings, BBQs, or even as a quiet reading corner.

Furthermore, wooden pergolas can extend your living space beyond the confines of your home. With the addition of outdoor furniture, such as lounge chairs and tables, you can transform the pergola into an alfresco living room or dining area, perfect for entertaining guests during warm summer evenings.

Natural Landscaping

Wooden pergolas blend harmoniously with nature, acting as a canvas for climbing plants and vines. As vines like wisteria, grapevines, or climbing roses weave their way through the lattice, the pergola becomes a living structure that evolves with the seasons. This natural landscaping not only enhances the visual appeal but also contributes to a healthier environment by providing shade and reducing the ambient temperature.

Installation and Maintenance

While the idea of a wooden pergola might evoke thoughts of complex construction, modern kits and professional installation services have made the process much more manageable. Kits often come with pre-cut and pre-drilled materials, reducing the complexity of assembly. However, if DIY isn't your forte, hiring professionals ensures a sturdy and safe structure that will stand the test of time.

Maintenance requirements for wooden pergolas are relatively straightforward. Regular inspections for signs of wear, treating the wood to prevent rot and pests, and occasional re-staining are usually sufficient to maintain the pergola's beauty and structural integrity.

A wooden pergola transcends being a mere outdoor structure; it's a statement piece that transforms your outdoor space into a haven of relaxation and beauty. Its visual allure, creative customization possibilities, functional benefits, and seamless integration with nature make it an appealing addition to any home. Whether you seek a quiet sanctuary or a space to entertain, a wooden pergola offers endless possibilities for enhancing your outdoor lifestyle. So, consider investing in a wooden pergola and unlock the potential of your outdoor space today.

For More Info:-

Retractable Pergola

Aluminium Gazebo

Corner Pergola

[excavationcompanyinlorain]

Lorain Land Clearing Services provide opportunities: Your Property, Your Way

In their properties, land clearing is often overlooked, underscoring the importance of engaging a reputable Excavation Company in Lorain, OH. Clearing existing vegetation opens opportunities for landscaping, construction, or outdoor havens. This article discusses why professional land-clearing in Lorain is essential for property transformation, including backyard revitalization. commercial projects enhancing value or simply increasing curb appeal!

Professional land clearance offers immense and multidimensional advantages compared to DIY clearing methods alone. While the temptation to clear land independently is alluring, its complexities often surpass the initial appeal. Entrusting this task to an experienced Lorain, OH Excavation Company ensures a transformative process beyond debris removal.

Land Clearing Is Essential

Professional land-clearing service in Lorain, OH shine in this scenario. By removing trees, shrubs, rocks, and debris, you create a blank canvas for diverse projects. This cleared space becomes a foundation for your vision, whether it's crafting an outdoor entertainment space, cultivating gardens, or launching construction endeavors.

Imagine standing amidst freshly cleared land and seeing all its possibilities unfold before your very eyes. Free from overgrown vegetation and clutter, your imagination flourishes. Picture flower beds, seating, or a gazebo in full bloom!

With Cleared Land Come Countless Benefits

Land clearing goes far beyond aesthetics; it creates space for future opportunities. Let's examine its key benefits:

Improved Safety and Accessibility

Land clearing greatly enhances both safety and access. Overgrown vegetation harbors pests, hides hazards, and hinders property navigation. Enlist a Lorain, Ohio excavation company for safe removal, safeguarding your family and guests. Professional excavation services have the expertise, tools, and experience to clear land with minimal disruption and ensure safety. Excavation companies in Lorain, OH are familiar with regional terrain challenges. Soil types, drainage patterns and erosion concerns necessitate taking an individualistic approach when clearing land; excavation companies in Lorain know exactly how to navigate these hurdles while prioritizing safety throughout.

Increased Usability

Imagine transforming a wild landscape into usable space for gardening, play, or outdoor living through land clearing. Land clearing enhances property usability and transforms neglected spaces into inviting havens for relaxation and recreation. Once obstructed by thickets, now an open canvas for your creative dreams! One immediate advantage of clearing property is increased space. Land clearing provides access to neglected areas, offering customizable spaces for your needs. From lush lawns for play to tranquil spots for gatherings, yoga, or meditation, possibilities unfold! With land clearing comes this potential reality becoming realization!

Seamless Construction and Landscaping

Whether enhancing existing structures or building new ones, clear land provides a unobstructed starting point for your projects. Construction becomes smoother while landscaping ideas flourish without preexisting obstacles becoming an obstruction to progress. When tackling construction or landscaping amidst dense vegetation, rocks, or debris, land clearing removes these obstacles, enabling progress. instead, it creates space for the execution of plans with little disruptions along the way. Facilitated by an established Lorain, OH Excavation Company, land clearing strategically sets the foundation for seamless construction and landscaping.

Increased Property Value

Properties with clear, well-kept land appeal to buyers, making land clearing investments worthwhile and adding substantial value. Furthermore, by doing this, you enhance curb appeal and marketability, crucial in today's competitive real estate where first impressions matter greatly. Investing in these services could leave an indelible mark with buyers. In real estate, first impressions last, and the impact of land clearing services by a respected Lorain, OH Excavation Company is substantial. When buyers encounter a property cleared professionally, they're greeted by an inviting canvas that sparks imagination and showcases its potential.

Canvas for Your Vision

Imagine your property as a blank canvas, ready to be adorned with beauty. Land clearing readies the canvas for your vision's realization. Once unwanted vegetation is gone, an unblemished slate awaits your unique aesthetic transformation. Land clearing lays the foundation for your dream garden, serene pond, or versatile outdoor space, free from constraints.

Picture your property: vibrant flowerbeds in sunlight, an idyllic water feature reflecting the sky, or a welcoming patio for gatherings with loved ones. This becomes reality once debris is cleared and land is open, bringing dreams closer.

Professional Land-Clearing Services

Must take an ecologically friendly approach when providing their services in Lorain, Ohio. Reputable excavation firms prioritize ethical practices, considering the local ecosystem when disposing of materials. They may also offer advice on sustainable landscaping, maintaining environmental balance. This responsible land clearing commitment, shown by established Excavation Companies in Lorain, OH, extends beyond immediate property transformation. It extends to a conscientious approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of the land, the environment, and the community.

Partnership With an Excavation Company in Lorain, OH

For smooth, safe land clearing, experts familiar with local terrain, regulations, and environment are essential. An experienced excavation company is best for efficient and safe land clearing. Prioritize safety as you embark on property transformation.

Engaging professional excavation services isn't just a decision; it's a strategic move, ensuring success, protection from liabilities during property transformation. Partnering with a respected Excavation Company in Lorain, OH reflects a holistic understanding of property transformation's complexities, surpassing the immediate project.

Conclusion

Land clearing can open the doors to transformative change on any Lorain, Ohio property. With a dependable excavation company, land clearing establishes space for possibilities, anchoring safety, usability, value, and seamless projects. Don't miss unlocking hidden potential—clear your land to unleash dormant creative energy. With clutter gone and obstacles removed, you can shape your surroundings to meet desires, needs, and aspirations like never before!

FAQ's

Q: What role do excavation companies play in land clearing?

A: Excavation companies use heavy machinery, skilled operators to clear land, creating open, workable spaces for diverse uses. Partnering with a Lorain OH excavation company grants access to their expertise, ensuring smooth and precise land clearance.

Q: Are There Environmental Concerns with Land Clearing?

A: Yes, land clearing must be undertaken responsibly to limit environmental impacts. Reputable excavation companies in Lorain, OH adhere to sustainable practices which support natural habitat preservation as part of environmental stewardship efforts; in such a world of increasing concern about environmental preservation they play a pivotal role in improving properties while simultaneously decreasing ecological footprint. Sustainability isn't simply lip service: its core value guides all their land clearing operations.

Q: How long should a typical land-clearing project take?

A: Land clearing projects typically last anywhere between six weeks to several months depending on factors like area size, vegetation density and extent of debris to clear away. An excavation company will offer more accurate estimates after inspecting your property, since every property differs in terms of size, terrain features, vegetation density levels and potential obstacles that need clearing away; hence personal assessment conducted by experienced professionals will ultimately define scope and costs involved with their land clearing endeavor.

Q: Can I Repurpose Cleared Materials on My Property?

A: Yes! Cleared materials such as trees and shrubs may often be reused as mulch, firewood, or landscaping elements after being cleared away from properties. Talk with your excavation company to explore this option further - open communication between partners is the cornerstone of successful land clearing partnerships; don't just view them as service providers but partners working together towards realizing property transformation dreams! By engaging in in depth discussions about possible reuse options that align with your vision and goals this can open up numerous possibilities that align perfectly.

[lllora]

The Beauty of Faux Wood Beams: A Cost-Effective Home Decor Idea

Faux wood beams, also known as fake wood beams or faux beams, offer an attractive and cost-effective alternative to real wood beams in home decor. Made from high-density polyurethane (HDPE) foam or other synthetic materials, these decorative beams perfectly mimic the appearance of solid wood without the associated weight, expense, and maintenance. Their versatility allows homeowners to add a touch of rustic charm or traditional elegance to their interior and exterior spaces effortlessly. Faux wood beams come in various sizes, shapes, and finishes, providing a wide range of design possibilities. They are easy to install, requiring fewer resources and less time compared to their genuine wood counterparts. Their lightweight nature makes them suitable for DIY projects, enabling homeowners to transform their spaces without professional assistance. Additionally, faux wood beams are environmentally friendly, often incorporating recycled materials and generating minimal waste.

The Versatility of Faux Wood Beams in Home Decor

Faux wood beams are incredibly versatile decorative elements that can transform any space in your home. Whether you have a modern, traditional, or rustic interior design style, faux wood beams can seamlessly blend in and enhance the overall ambiance. In living rooms and bedrooms, these beams add a touch of warmth and charm, creating a cozy atmosphere that invites relaxation. Additionally, they serve as striking focal points in dining areas and kitchens, imparting a sense of grandeur and elegance to the room. Outdoors, faux wood beams can be used to construct pergolas, gazebos, and other structures, allowing you to extend your living space and enjoy the beauty of nature while benefiting from the beams' durability and low maintenance. The wide array of sizes, shapes, and finishes available ensures that you can find the perfect faux wood beams to suit your unique style and space.

Easy Installation and DIY Appeal

One of the most significant advantages of faux wood beams is their ease of installation, making them an attractive option for DIY enthusiasts. Unlike real wood beams, which can be heavy and require specialized tools and expertise for installation, faux wood beams are lightweight and can be easily handled and positioned by one or two individuals. Many faux wood beams come with pre-installed mounting hardware, further simplifying the installation process. With basic carpentry skills and some guidance, homeowners can successfully install these beams without the need for professional help. This not only saves on installation costs but also allows homeowners to take pride in accomplishing a stunning home improvement project on their own.

The Authentic Look and Feel of Faux Wood Beams

Thanks to advancements in manufacturing techniques, faux wood beams closely resemble the appearance and texture of real wood. High-quality faux wood beams exhibit realistic wood grain patterns, knots, and distressing, which contribute to their authentic look and feel. Once installed, it is often challenging to distinguish faux wood beams from their genuine counterparts, as they replicate the beauty of wood with impressive accuracy. Whether you desire the elegance of rich mahogany, the rustic appeal of reclaimed barn wood, or the simplicity of natural pine, faux wood beams offer an array of finishes that perfectly mimic the real thing.

Faux Wood Beams for Ceiling Enhancement

Ceilings often represent an underutilized canvas in home design, but faux wood beams can transform them into captivating architectural features. By installing faux wood beams across the ceiling, you add depth and dimension to the room, making it feel more inviting and visually interesting. These beams can run in parallel lines, creating a classic and timeless look, or be arranged in intricate patterns for a unique and contemporary feel. Faux wood beams can also be combined with other ceiling treatments, such as coffered ceilings or beadboard, to add a touch of elegance and sophistication to your space. Whether you aim to make a bold statement or subtly accentuate your ceiling, faux wood beams provide an excellent solution for enhancing this often overlooked area of your home.

Faux Wood Beams as Mantels: Elevating Your Fireplace Design

The fireplace mantle serves as a focal point in living rooms and family rooms, drawing attention to the heart of the home. Faux wood beams offer a remarkable alternative to traditional mantels, elevating the fireplace design with their natural charm. When used as mantels, faux wood beams create a rustic and cozy atmosphere, perfect for country-style homes or cabins. For a more refined and elegant look, faux wood beams with smooth finishes add a touch of sophistication to contemporary or transitional spaces. Whether your fireplace is wood-burning or electric, incorporating a faux wood beam mantel provides an opportunity to showcase your personal style and enhance the overall aesthetic of your room.

Outdoor Elegance with Faux Wood Beams: Pergolas and Gazebos

Faux wood beams are not limited to indoor use; they can also transform your outdoor living spaces into stylish and inviting retreats. Pergolas and gazebos constructed from faux wood beams offer a luxurious extension of your home, providing shade, protection from the elements, and an attractive focal point for your backyard or garden. Faux wood beams are well-suited for outdoor applications, as they are resistant to weather damage, rot, and pests. Whether you envision a cozy outdoor seating area or a picturesque garden gazebo, faux wood beams can be customized to fit your desired size, shape, and finish, adding an element of natural beauty to your outdoor oasis.

Low Maintenance and Long-Lasting: The Benefits of Faux Wood Beams

Real wood beams require regular maintenance, including staining, sealing, and potential repairs due to weathering and wear. In contrast, faux wood beams are virtually maintenance-free, allowing you to enjoy their beauty without the hassle of ongoing upkeep. Made from durable and weather-resistant materials, faux wood beams can withstand harsh outdoor conditions, such as rain, humidity, and temperature fluctuations, without warping or deteriorating. Indoors, they retain their color and texture over time, providing long-lasting beauty to your living spaces. With faux wood beams, you can enjoy the look of wood without the need for staining or refinishing, freeing up your time and resources for other home improvement projects.

Environmental Benefits of Faux Wood Beams: A Sustainable Choice

For environmentally conscious homeowners, faux wood beams present a sustainable alternative to traditional solid wood beams. Many faux wood beams are made from recycled materials, reducing the demand for new lumber and promoting the responsible use of resources. Additionally, the production process for faux wood beams generates less waste compared to milling and crafting solid wood beams. By choosing faux wood beams, you actively contribute to environmental preservation without compromising on style or quality. These eco-friendly beams not only beautify your home but also align with your commitment to sustainable living, making them a wise and responsible choice for modern homeowners.

Conclusion

Faux wood beams are a remarkable choice for those seeking to elevate their home's aesthetics without breaking the bank or compromising on quality. With their realistic appearance and easy installation, these decorative beams offer a wealth of creative possibilities to enhance the overall ambiance of any room or outdoor area. Whether you desire a rustic farmhouse feel or a touch of timeless elegance, faux wood beams deliver a cost-effective solution that requires little maintenance.

[carpenteractivist]

Outdoor Kitchen Ideas From Design, Layout To Home Equipment

When planning your house don't forget to suppose about tips on how to shield your outdoor kitchen. A coated outdoor kitchen is at all times great, however that is not an option for every yard. If you've just invested in high finish appliances, an attractive outdoor sink and dining area - be positive to have covers or ways to guard it 12 months spherical. One of our favorite cabinetry options for each ease and versatility is pre-made stainless-steel cabinets. These are comparatively light-weight, sturdy, and are out there in a wide range of kinds to accommodate any equipment and layout.

Boost the presence of an out of doors kitchen by surrounding it with stunning landscaping. This patio cooking area feels like a lush oasis thanks modern outdoor kitchen ideas to plentiful timber and plantings. Containers planted with colourful flowers adorn the grill space, and string lights provide ambiance from above.

For one thing actually bespoke and original, think about constructing your personal outdoor kitchen. If you've some primary development expertise and the house for a everlasting set-up, a DIY brick-built kitchen is an inexpensive option and one that may be customized to your precise requirements and structure. The location you select for an outside kitchen idea will also have to keep in mind any utilities required, corresponding to water, electrical energy and gas. Pipes can normally be run underground, but will most likely be much less dear to run utilities a shorter distance.

From sink to range and even grilling station, every essential kitchen tools can be simply fit if your house has been geared up with a roomy patio. Ideally, the theme of your outdoor barbecue kitchen house needs to be both darkish brown, black, gray or pink. A mixture of these colors or contrasting themes would also florida outdoor kitchen be a good suggestion. Countertops made with red tiles will also give your outdoor kitchen a recent look. Though slick, custom-built outdoor kitchens are a majestic addition to any backyard, we have a gentle spot for this DIY, rough-around-the-edges fashion of al fresco living.

A roof overhang, as used right here, is one possibility; other small outdoor kitchen ideas for overhead overlaying embody a pergola or an outdoor umbrella. Located on a deck, this simple small outdoor kitchen idea has every little thing a family needs for dining and entertaining. A stretch of concrete countertop adjacent outdoor kitchen builders to the grill offers plenty of area for ingredient prep or serving meals. Whether you're internet hosting a group of associates or dining with your family, carving out an inviting house to loosen up outdoors is a should.

Make a press release together with your coated outdoor kitchen by combining a chrome steel grill and different appliances with rustic stone. Add a wooden pergola to additional pull the house together and provide some shade and relief from the heat. Installing a fan or growing climbing roses or ivy to offer extra coverage can help maintain the kitchen even more cool and comfortable backyard kitchen ideas for the chef. Add this Hampton Bay Hard Top Grill Gazebo to your outdoor kitchen to maintain the grill master comfy as they prepare a backyard feast. With the interior storage shelves and counter tops, you probably can hold all of your grilling tools, seasonings, and items ready and in attain. The open sides of the gazebo also allow the countertops to double as serving buffets for beverages or food.

Canons and regulations, conservation, lighting and adjustments from local weather variations must be a prime consideration. The best outdoor kitchen ideas let you live outside once the temps rise above 72 degrees. More and extra outdoor kitchens south florida owners are in search of ways to bliss out in their own backyard, whether that means constructing the right celebration patio or a perch for morning coffee with the birds.

Your appliances, furniture and food prep areas should also be designed for climate circumstances in your space and set as a lot as stop any cooking mishaps or fires. Add some fun to your outdoor kitchen designs by building a easy wood deck and creating a modern cabin within the woods kitchen for your backyard. Incorporate a smoker or a grill into the wood cupboards with cabinets and cupboards for extra storage. Add a seating space and a transportable heater to create a cushty and comfy leisure area. While the iconic Big Green Egg, which bakes, roasts and barbecues, ranges in worth from £795-£1,795.

It’s finest to have a combination of the various counter tops included in your outdoor kitchen design because it allows for optimum functionality and adaptability. You can’t go incorrect either method, but the favoring opinion is built-in grills for outdoor kitchens as a outcome of they typically supply a sleeker extra professional outdoor florida kitchens look. The draw back is when you move, it’s a lot harder to deliver your grill with you. Freestanding grills have the advantage of mobility however lack the glossy look of their integrated cousins. If you’re starting your project from scratch, contemplate including in a rangehood, double facet burners and build-in a stainless-steel grill.

This is a good design fashion if you’re on a budget however still want an area to entertain or have a few quiet drinks with associates on a Sunday afternoon. These bar stools look nice with black framing and picket florida outdoor kitchens seating underneath a big and long benchtop. A nice selection for enjoyable and watching baseball with a few buddies on a heat summer’s day.

[go2mall]

Good Care for Good Homes to Buy Home Improvement Products

The idea of home improvement, home renovation, or transforming is the method of renovating or creating additions to one's home. Home improvement will include upgrading AN existing home interior (such as electrical and plumbing), exterior (masonry, concrete, siding, roofing) or alternative enhancements to the property (i.e. garden work or garage maintenance/additions). Home improvement will be administered for a variety of various reasons; personal preference and luxury, maintenance or repair work, creating a home larger by adding rooms/spaces, as a way of saving energy, or to boost safety.

While " buy home improvement products" usually refers to assembling comes that alter the structure of AN existing home, it can even embrace enhancements to lawns, gardens, and outside structures, like gazebos and garages. It conjointly encompasses maintenance, repair, and general mating tasks.

Save storage space with a handy tool that helps protect your countertop or counter from unsightly burns. This innovative gadget transforms rigid "potty mats" with a premium, super-flexible and smart design.

High Quality

Smart design

Good insulation effect

Anti-slip and wear-resistant

High quality materials

The material of these heat-resistant pieces is ABS material, high temperature resistance, heat insulation, eco-friendly electroplating, no rust, no blistering, no smell, durable and healthy. Safe products give you a better experience.

Realistic design ideas

This insulation board adopts hollow bottom design, which is not only anti-scalding, anti-slip, but also wear-resistant. The thickness of the product is enough to insulate your desktop to achieve a protective effect.

Super convenient storage

Foldable design, regular hexagon, easy to store, light and small, can be stored away when not in use. It is not only beautiful, but also saves space, making home life easier. You can also use it as a decoration to decorate your table.

Anti-slip and wear-resistant

The bottom is hollow, anti-slip and wear-resistant, won't hurt the table top.

Applies to many ranges

Silicone insulation sheets are suitable for kitchen, dining room, potholes, coasters, coasters, kitchen utensils, etc. Multifunctional and practical, will be your best companion in picnics and meals.

Features:

Dimensions: 8×5.3 cm (3.1×2.1 inches)

Material: ABS

Weight: 500067

It's not necessary to spend a lot of money or effort on home improvements just check go2mall website and Buy Home Improvement Products at reasonable rates .The human desire to advance and better himself has never been sated. In order to transform a house into a home, creative, original, and fresh DIY home improvement ideas are needed. Your lifestyle will undoubtedly take on some interesting new twists as a result of this.

[sar--ang]

Affordable Wedding Decorations in Mumbai: Making Every Rupee Shine

Planning a wedding in Mumbai, a city known for its vibrant culture and rich traditions, can be done beautifully without spending a fortune, especially when it comes to decorations. With a bit of creativity, careful planning, and resourcefulness, couples can create stunning wedding decor that impresses guests while staying within budget. This article explores affordable wedding decoration ideas in Mumbai, ensuring that every rupee spent enhances the magic and memorability of your special day.

Unleashing Creativity in Affordable Decor

Creating beautiful wedding decor on a budget involves innovative thinking and making the most of available resources. Whether your celebration is traditional or contemporary, these ideas will help you achieve a stylish look without compromising aesthetics:

1. Budget-Friendly Floral Arrangements

Flowers are a quintessential part of wedding decor, but they can also be costly. To keep costs down, consider these strategies:

Local and Seasonal Flowers: Choose flowers that are locally sourced and in season. They are not only fresher but also more affordable than exotic blooms.

DIY Floral Arrangements: Enlist the help of friends and family to create DIY centerpieces and bouquets. Buying flowers in bulk from local markets and arranging them yourself can save a significant amount.

Greenery and Foliage: Incorporate greenery and foliage into your decor. These are cost-effective alternatives to flowers and add a lush, botanical charm to your venue.

2. Innovative Lighting Solutions

Lighting can transform a venue and set the mood for your wedding. Consider these budget-friendly lighting options:

Fairy Lights and Candles: Use string fairy lights or candles in glass jars to create a warm, romantic ambiance. These inexpensive lighting options can highlight key areas like the entrance, dining tables, and dance floor.

Paper Lanterns and DIY Lamps: Hang paper lanterns or create your own lamps using materials like mason jars and string lights. These handmade decorations add a personal touch and can be tailored to match your wedding theme.

3. Stylish Yet Affordable Table Settings

Tables are focal points at any wedding reception, and enhancing them with affordable decor is key:

Minimalist Centerpieces: Opt for minimalist centerpieces using candles, simple vases with seasonal flowers, or non-floral alternatives like succulents or fruit arrangements.

DIY Table Runners: Create DIY table runners using inexpensive fabrics such as burlap or lace. These add texture and elegance without the high cost of elaborate linens.

4. Repurposing and Recycling Decor Items

Maximize your budget by repurposing and recycling decor items from other events or sources:

Use Household Items: Incorporate items you already own, such as vintage frames, mirrors, or lanterns, into your wedding decor. These personal touches can make your decor more meaningful and cost-effective.

Rent or Borrow: Consider renting decor items like furniture, linens, and larger pieces such as arches or gazebos. Renting allows you to achieve a sophisticated look without the expense of buying new items.

5. Strategic Venue Selection

Choosing the right venue can significantly impact your decoration budget:

All-Inclusive Venues: Select venues that offer all-inclusive packages, which may include decor, catering, and other services. Bundling services can result in cost savings compared to booking each component separately.

Outdoor and Natural Venues: Host your wedding in an outdoor setting like a garden, park, or beach. Natural settings require minimal decor and provide a picturesque backdrop for your ceremony and reception.

Planning Your Affordable Wedding Decor

Successful budget wedding decor in Mumbai depends on meticulous planning and creativity. Here are essential tips to ensure you make every rupee count:

Set a Realistic Budget: Determine your budget early in the planning process and allocate funds to prioritize essential elements of decor.

Research and Compare: Explore multiple vendors, venues, and decor options to compare prices and negotiate discounts or package deals.

DIY and Delegate: Take on DIY projects where possible and delegate tasks to friends and family who are willing to help.

Flexibility and Adaptability: Stay flexible and open to alternatives if initial plans exceed budget constraints. Adjustments may be necessary to stay within your financial limits without sacrificing style or quality.

Conclusion

Affordable wedding decorations in Mumbai are about creativity, resourcefulness, and making thoughtful choices that reflect your style and vision. By embracing DIY projects, utilizing local resources, and focusing on key elements like lighting and table settings, couples can create breathtaking decor without overspending. Remember, a successful wedding celebration is measured by the joy and love shared with family and friends in a beautifully adorned setting. Let these budget-friendly ideas inspire you to create wedding decor that is as memorable as it is affordable, ensuring your special day in Mumbai is nothing short of magical.

[soft-butch-cassidy]

list of update ideas for acnh:

-ability to place tools on tables (specifically watering cans)

-ability to place items in the middle of a table when outside

-ability to tell what color an item is when in your inventory (ie, if you have two of the same dress, it will say “pink ruffled dress” and “blue ruffled dress”)

-potted plants: combine clay pot, tin bucket,or  wood bucket with a flower plant

-ability to display hanging objects outside

-let us add a decoration to resident services door

-fence gates that we can open and close--visitors can’t open or close them, but best friends can

-place rugs outside (i have the perfect picnic blanket and it’s useless!!!!)

-let us put extra diy recipes in bottles with custom messages. like the way villagers are added into a global pool, these extra recipes can wash up on mystery islands or our friends’ islands! 

-pls add windmills, gazebos, and pergolas

-climbing flowers for trellises/pergolas: climbing roses, vinca, honeysuckle, wisteria, moonflowers

-build new cages/tanks for fish and bugs we catch so we can have pretty displays for them

-more food items to display besides mom’s birthday cake and tea cups/coffee mugs/coconut smoothie thing

-let us buy multiple nmt at once please for the love of god

-option to split a stack in half, not just grabbing one item at a time

-music volume slider separate from ambient sounds

[local-gay]

list of diy and/or nookstop items i wish we had in acnh (items in brackets are diy materials)

swing set (iron)

tire swing (tire and/or tire toy, iron)

pergola w flowers/vines (hardwood, flowers/weeds)

gazebo (hardwood)

chain-link fence (iron)

ability to customize fences

feel free to rb with more ideas

[aweirdkindofyellow]

Here I Am, There You Are Pt. 11

Jack Barakat x OC ‘Rachel has been best friends with Alex, Jack, Rian, and Zack since high school. What happens when one of them gets married?’

Part 11

Jack and I had officially moved into our house. Once the painting was done and the bathrooms were completely finished, we left Jack’s apartment. It made everything so much more real. While we were still renovating, it seemed so far in the future, like it was still to come. But as Jack’s apartment became emptier and our house became more and more furnished and decorated, it turned into reality. The first night we spent at our house made it all concrete. Things changed. They changed a lot.

Even compared to living together back in Jack’s apartment, things changed significantly. It was only good changes, though. I wasn’t living in Jack’s space anymore, this was our space. We worked on it together, we decorated it together. There were no more fights about the dishwasher because we got a new one and both figured out what the best way to load it was. This was our home together. Of course, moving was stressful, and it didn’t happen without fights. We would fight about the strangest things. One day we’d be fighting about where exactly to put the couch. Three feet closer to the wall or further away? Then we’d be fighting about which plant to put where. These obviously weren’t things to really get into arguments about, but we were both just exhausted. After our first proper full night’s sleep, that all ended. The last thing we had to do was fix up our backyard. It really was just a matter of cutting all the grass, trimming the bushes, cleaning out the pool, and making the gazebo accessible. There were a few planks of wood that had come loose, it really needed painting, and we had to put some furniture in it so we could actually use it. The gazebo was literally the only thing that we actually had to do after living there for a few weeks. We had fixed it and painted the inside, all that was left was the outside now. But it was a weekend, and that meant that Jack and I slept in. Sometimes we wouldn’t even leave our bed all day, but usually I’d get up before Jack did. I was just in a routine of waking up relatively early and the imaginary concept of a weekend didn’t rewire my body. However, for the first time since we had moved into our house, Jack was actually up before me. After I took a shower and put on my clothes, I left our bedroom. I fully expected Jack to be up so early because he had a guitar riff or something in his head that he needed to record before he forgot it. However, once I popped my head into his workspace in our extra spare bedroom, I found it empty. The next best thing was to just go downstairs and see if he was there. But once I went back out to our hallway, I could already smell the sweet aroma of something cooking. I followed the trail all the way to the kitchen and found Jack hanging over the stove. There was definitely something nice of the menu for breakfast. He was wearing shorts that came to his knees and a t-shirt, but he looked so damn good. I sneaked up to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, looking over his shoulder to see him flipping a pancake. A smile crept up onto my lips and I pressed a kiss to the back of his neck. “Hmm, pancakes,” I whispered, licking my lips. “What’s the special occasion?” “No special occasion,” he shook his head and picked up the pan to slide the pancake on the pile he had started before making the next one, “just pancakes.” “Just pancakes?” I repeated, not believing him at all. There was something fishy going on. “I highly doubt that.” “What makes you so certain that it’s a special occasion?” he retorted, turning the questions on me. “Well, for starters, you got up before me and I didn’t even notice.” I hugged him tighter and pressed the side of my face into his back. “And you never make pancakes unless something’s up. Like whenever I would come over when I was still in Vancouver.” “Hmm, true.” He gave in with a nod. “But we live together now. It’s not your birthday, it’s not mine, it’s not our anniversary. I’m just making pancakes for m’lady.” “I’m no lady,” I whispered as I let my hands travel down his chest until I reached the waistband of his shorts and kissed his neck. “Ay!” He slapped my hands away. “I’m making pancakes here!” “Alright.” I ended the conversation just as I had started it, with a brief kiss to the back of his neck, and removed myself from him. If Jack was going to make pancakes for no reason other than wanting to, then the least I could do was set the table. I reached into our cupboards and pulled out two plates and two glasses. After putting them down on our wooden kitchen table, I pulled out the freshly squeezed orange juice I had made the evening before from our fridge. Yes, I was turning into one of those girls. Somebody who enjoyed making things and DIY-ing. It wasn’t because I wanted to be one of those pinterest-slash-instagram-blogger girls nor did I really have the time for it all. I just really did enjoy doing it. And Jack didn’t seem to mind trying homemade pasta or some weird cake recipe occasionally. If anything, he enjoyed it. It didn’t take much longer for Jack to finish making all the pancakes. He brought the plate with the large pile to the table along with some syrup. After sitting across from me, he gave the first pancake to himself, the next two to me, and the next one to himself. While he poured some syrup on his and started digging in, I just looked down at mine and back up at him. “What?” He asked with his mouth full. “What did you do to them?” I squinted at him and inspected the pancakes from afar again. He frowned back at me and swallowed what was in his mouth. “Nothing…?” “Are you sure?” “Yeah! What would I have done to them?” I still was too skeptical to pick up my fork and knife and touch them. “I don’t know. For all I know, you jacked off in them so I’d eat your cum.” “Why would I do that?” he snorted and continued to eat. “I don’t need to, you already swallow.” I glared at him. If he hadn’t gone out of his way to actually make these pancakes, I would have gotten mad. He thought it was funny, but was it really necessary? I was still allowed to get a little pissed off, though. So, I crossed my arms and continued to refuse to touch the food. “Oh, come on. Look,” he reached over, cut off a big chunk of one of my pancakes and stuffed it in his mouth, “it’s all safe.” I continued to stare at him, but when he didn’t even flinch, I gave in. I poured some syrup on then and started eating, keeping a close eye on Jack’s reaction. You know, just to be safe. “Damn, do you really not trust me?” He shook his head, noticing how careful I was being. “I’ve been friends with you for too long, Jack. I know to watch my back,” I responded. “And we’ve been dating for three years. Have I ever done something like that in that time?” I wanted to give him examples, but I could only think of things that happened before 2016, before we got together. He actually did stop playing stupid jokes ever sinace then. “Then why did you hand out the pancakes so weirdly!” “Because I was greedy and gave myself one first, decided it was rude, gave you some next before giving myself another.” He shrugged. “God, you’re weird,” I scoffed and knocked his leg with one of my feet, “and to think I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” He grinned at me. “I love you.” “I love you too.” I rolled my eyes. After we finished our pancakes, Jack and I were in the kitchen cleaning everything up. That basically meant putting everything in the dishwasher and putting the syrup back into the fridge. Jack was once again doing most of the work, but only because he started. “Hey,” he tried to get my attention as he tried fitting the pan into the dishwasher. When I gave it to him, he continued, “why don’t you go get your nails done today?” I frowned and looked down at my hands. My nails were a mixture of short, broken and chipped. Usually, I liked to keep them up, have them taken care of. But that all went to shit when we were renovating and moving. “I dunno.” I shrugged although thinking my hands hadn’t looked this bad in a while. “They’re practically ruined. I’m not sure if it will be worth it.” “Don’t you want to make them look good again?” he wondered as he closed the dishwasher and took my hand to take a look himself. “I’ll pay for it.” I slowly took my hand out of his. “Why are you being so nice today?” He raised his shoulders. “Just cause I want to. Also, we’re finally done moving, so you should treat yourself. Or, actually, I’m treating you.” “It’s like you’re trying to get me to warm up to you. Like you used to do with your mom when you wanted to have a sleepover.” “Hey, I’m just offering.” He raised his hands up in defense. I checked out my nails again. Who was I if I didn’t take this opportunity? Jack was literally offering to pay for me to go out and get my nails done. “Okay, I will.” “Good.” He smiled and hooked one hand around my waist before leaning forward and kissing me. “What colour should I go for?” I asked him despite knowing I probably wouldn’t follow his advice once I was at the place anyway. I rarely did. He’d tell me to go blue when I’d be wearing pink to an event. “Something neutral,” he suggested, “maybe white.” “No, not white,” I rejected the latter. “That’ll be like wedding nails.” “If you say so.” I did exactly as I said and did not go for white. That was something I was keeping for when I was going to get married. Last time I checked, I wasn’t getting married anytime soon. Sure, if I had been single, I wouldn’t have cared. I would have rocked that white. But, now I wanted to keep it for something special. I did listen to Jack for the neutral idea, though. He was pretty spot on with that one, ignoring how vague it actually was. There were so many options and I was nearly tempted to just say ‘fuck it’ and go crazy like a neon orange or a bright green. But, Jack was probably right to go for something more calm. I could always decide to go crazy a few weeks later. So, I just went with an ombre of pink to white at the tips in a coffin shape. It really did look so much better than my natural nails. Jack just had to make sure he didn’t expect me to help finish the gazebo, or else they were probably going to break off as well. Once I came back home, I obviously wanted to show Jack what I had gotten with his credit card. The first thing I did was call out his name and tell him that I was home, but I didn’t get a response. I called it out again, thinking maybe he hadn’t heard me, but I still didn’t even get an acknowledgement. So, I took a little snoop around the house, not bothering to check the garden. It almost seemed abandoned. When I also couldn’t find Olive around, I just assumed that Jack must have been out taking her for a walk. So, I just flopped onto the couch and turned on the TV to see if anything interesting was on. Unfortunately, it just left me looking lazy while doing some channel surfing. I was sure that Olive couldn’t have waited any longer for her walk, but I would have much rather been out with them. And then something unexpected happened. Olive came bolting through the door to our second living room, coming right up to me. I gave her a few good head scratches and my mind immediately went to Jack also being around somewhere. So, I called out for him again with yet again no answer. However, that’s when I noticed Olive had something attached to her collar. I was confused. It was some yellow-toned capsule. Because I knew it wasn’t meant to be there, I clipped it off and opened it. Inside was a rolled up piece of paper, not much bigger than the size of half a notebook page ripped in half. Jack’s handwriting was scribbled on it. All it said was: Hey! Come out. I want to show you something! I held onto the note and turned off the TV before shuffling past Olive, who decided to follow me anyway. This instruction was almost just as vague as the nail colour he chose. I was fully assuming he meant the backyard, so I made my way there. After opening the door, I saw Jack standing in the gazebo already expecting me. What was once green from moss and had been sanded down, was now all painted in with a nice white coat, exactly like we had done with the inside earlier. “You finished it!” I exclaimed in glee as I approached him. The way he announced it was a little extra, but I was happy. “We’re officially done with our house now!” Jack cheered and pressed a deep yet short kiss to my lips before taking a step to the side and showing off the pillows and blankets he put down on the floor. “What better way to celebrate than a picnic in our own backyard?” “You already made pancakes this morning, and now this. Are you sure it’s not my birthday?” I teased and decided I wasn’t satisfied with the brief kiss we shared. To keep the contact longer, I circled my arms around his neck and shuffled closer to him. “It’s not November for another few months.” He wiggled his eyebrows and leaned in for another kiss while I could hear Olive barking and zooming around the entire garden in the background. “Then what did I do to deserve all this?” I mumbled against his lips. “A lot of things,” he breathed back and let his hand creep up my back underneath my shirt. I decided to challenge him. “Like?” “For not thinking I was a weird eleven-year-old when I was moved to sit next to you after disrupting the class too often,” he whispered and pecked me. “For dealing with me throughout high school and not letting my stupid crushes get in the way of our friendship.” He brushed his lips against mine again. “For being my best friend throughout all that time and staying with me after.” Another kiss. “For making me realise how shitty it was to deny my feelings and not giving up on me.” Another one. “For not letting my past ruin us.” And again. “For giving me another chance after I fucked up.” One last kiss. “For loving me and letting me love you.” Nope. There was another kiss. Only, this one was much longer and deeper. He pushed into me, using the hand on my back to keep us steady. I pulled him closer as well. I was so lucky. Never did I ever believe that I would be kissing and dating the boy in middle school who annoyed the living shit out of me. And I certainly did think I’d end up with the boy in high school who was such a big dork and would drag me to concerts super early. But now I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Jack pulled away before I wanted him to. I didn’t want this moment to ever end. He parted from me and got down. But he wasn’t getting down to sit and eat the food he had in a basket. No, he was doing something very different. He was getting down on one knee. My eyes widened and my heart started racing as he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a small black box. He cautiously opened it to reveal a diamond ring glistening in the light. “Rach,” he started, looking up at me, his fingers trembling lightly, “I know things are moving pretty quickly right now–” “Yes!” I practically squealed, slapping both of my hands to my cheeks in eagerness and anticipation. He chuckled softly, the trembling calming down. “Let me finish.” I nodded, urging him to continue. “Will you m–” “Yes!” I interrupted again. “Rach!” “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I rambled, moving my hands about, “continue.” He took in a deep breath and gave me a warning look not to interrupt again. “Rachel, will you marry me?” I nodded in excitement, holding out my arms so he’d stand back up. Before he got the chance to take the ring out of the box, I enveloped him into a hug. I dug my face into the crook of his neck, just wanting to take a second and bask in the moment so I would never forget it. “You can say yes now,” he murmured into my ear. I broke away from him and wiped away some tears that had managed to fall from my eyes onto my cheeks. I could barely manage to make the word come out for a third time. “Yes.” Jack couldn’t stop smiling as he carefully took the ring out of its cushioned box. He held my left hand and gingerly slipped the ring onto my ring finger. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. Jack could have gotten anything, and I would have been in love with it. But, damn, did that boy have a good taste. The band was thin, tiny diamonds all around it, leaving the rose gold to weave through them. On top was one large oval diamond that wouldn’t stop sparkling. As soon as the ring was at the base of my finger, my arms were around Jack’s neck again and my lips were pressed against his in a very hungry kiss. I jumped up and wrapped my legs around his waist, his hands immediately went to my butt to keep me up. Everything was so surreal. Just earlier, I was skeptical about Jack’s pancakes, and now we were engaged. I didn’t want to paint my nails white because I wanted to wait until I got married, and now I was going to get married in the future. We did end up actually eating the food Jack had brought outside. It took awhile for us to let go of each other, but eventually we did. We couldn’t stay and kiss each other forever, as much as I would have liked to. I was just eating some of the grapes, still subconsciously smiling all the time, when I noticed that Jack was taking a picture of me. “Hey!” I gasped in accusation. “What?” he laughed back in defense. “I’ve gotta announce it in some way.” “At least take a good picture!” “It’s not a bad one.” He turned his phone to show me what he had taken. He was right, but that was only because I wasn’t in the middle of eating. I was just smiling and you could see the ring because of the grapes I was holding. “But if we’re going to take a proper photo, then it’s going to have both of us in it. I want to broadcast it to everybody. Except for the guys, I already sent this photo to them.” I dropped my mouth open before grabbing my phone as well. Without giving him time to think, I raised my left hand and snapped a photo of it with him in the background. That went straight to my family and Sascha along with a caption saying ‘guess what’. “Now we’re even.” I stuck my tongue out at him. He shook his head at me, not caring as much that I had obviously just sent it to people. “Just get your butt over here so we have a photo to frame forever.” The perfect photo didn’t happen immediately. There were a few tries. It was pretty difficult to get the optimal position. We had taken many selfies together before, but this was just a little different. For some reason, actually getting the ring in the shot was the most difficult part. However, eventually, we settled on a picture where I was on Jack’s lap and kissing his cheek. My one arm was around his neck, both my hands resting on his shoulder, the ring in full view. While Jack was busy posting it on social media, his arms around me so he could type, my phone started ringing. I leaned over to grab it from where I was sitting and tried my best not to have to leave Jack’s lap. Not that he would let me leave. I could barely reach it to see that it was Ethan FaceTime calling me. When I finally got to answer it, Ethan immediately greeted me. “Hey!” “Hey, what’s up?” I replied as Jack locked his phone and put his chin on my shoulder to see who I was talking to. Only the bottom of his face was visible in the frame, so my moved my phone away a little so Ethan knew Jack was here as well. “Umm, what do you think is up?’’ Ethan mocked. “I just saw your message. I’m calling to say congrats!” I giggled and Jack nuzzled his nose into my hair. “Thanks.” “I’m excited!” He grinned back. “When Jack told me he was going to propose, I had to do everything in me to not tell you. It was so difficult.” I turned my head to look up at Jack. “You told him?” “Yeah.” Jack nodded like it was a given and started listing and counting with his fingers. “I asked your dad for permission, I asked your mom for permission, and of course I checked with Ethan as well.” I didn’t think that I could love Jack any more, but just the fact that he thought to include Ethan made me love him so much more. It was so adorable and heartwarming. I couldn’t help but smile at him and kiss him. “Please, not in front of me,” Ethan groaned. “You’re the one that called after we got engaged,” I teased back. If there hadn’t been food around, I would have let Jack fuck me right on this gazebo. Ethan could have called right in the middle of that, ignoring the fact that I wouldn’t have announced it to my family yet then. “I know, I know,” he brushed it off. “But I’m still maid of honour, right?” “You don’t want to be one of my groomsmen?” Jack asked, acting like he was personally hurt. “As honoured as I would be,” Ethan apologised, putting his empty hand to his heart, “maid of honour sounds just a bit cooler.” “Damn it,” Jack whispered underneath his breath, “it does, doesn’t it?” “It does,” I confirmed with a nod. “He’s my boy.” “I will keep the title maid of honour, I don’t want any of that man of honour bullshit,” Ethan made very clear. I chuckled in response. I loved that kid with all my heart. He was nineteen now, which was just absolutely insane and unreal. To me, he was always going to be my baby brother. But now, he had graduated high school as well. He was just a few weeks away from starting college. Back when Jack and I first started dating, he was still an inexperienced high school kid. He was almost an adult now and he even had his own girlfriend. I could still remember the day he called me in a panic asking me ‘how the fuck sex worked’ after his girlfriend expressed that she was willing for them to lose their virginities to each other. It was so adorable to me. He was super lucky, because Jack was visiting me at the time. He got both advice from me and Jack. Jack gave him some technique tips, while I was asked more about what his girlfriend would like. I loved how concerned he was about her and not just about his own pleasure. He was a good kid, and I could only thank my parents for how amazing they were at raising us. “Okay, before you hang up on me,” Ethan quickly added when he noticed the conversation was starting to die down, “let me go find mom so she doesn’t call you later as well.” He didn’t even wait for us to reply before he was bolting down the stairs calling out ‘mom’ loudly over and over again. Although he was almost an adult, he did sometimes still really act like a kid, but we all did that. I could whine like I was a teenager going through a phase to my mom for hours as well. It wasn’t as frequent, but it did happen. “Mom, I’ve got Rachel on the phone,” he said off camera although his phone was still pointed towards his face. “Okay, that's nice,” was all my mom said in the background. Ethan didn’t like the answer and forced his phone in front of her. She was wearing her reading glasses and I could tell she was working on her laptop because of the glare on them. Her eyes showed the annoyance brewing inside. I was fully prepared for her to shout. She didn’t shout just yet, though. But she did sigh loudly. “Ethan, I’m working.” “Didn’t you check your phone?!” he was quick to defend himself. “I’m not constantly glued to that thing like you are,” she scoffed. I had to hide my face in Jack’s neck to hold back the laughter. She had no idea what was going on. She hadn’t checked her phone and seen my message yet. In her mind, Ethan was just trying to disrupt and annoy her. Little did she know he was just trying to make things easier. He tried to reason with her. “But Rachel–” “What about her?” My mom turned to finally look at the screen. She looked like she was going to tell me exactly what she had told Ethan, just in a much nicer way. That she was busy and that she’d talk later. Usually, I’d respect that. This time, I slowly raised my left hand up to show the ring that was now nestled on my finger. Her eyes widened significantly and her mood changed completely. “Oh! Oh my god!” “Thank you,” Ethan grumbled from the side of the screen. “When did this happen?!” My mom continued to gush. “Like half an hour ago,” I laughed. If my mom said ‘oh my god’, you knew she was in shock. She would never use that phrase otherwise. Her mouth was literally agape. “How did it happen?” “Well, I had a plan,” Jack scratched the back of his head, “but it immediately went wrong. But then it went better than expected. All credits go to Rachel, really, she just made the transition so smooth for me.” “That’s why you made pancakes this morning!” I gasped and sat up straighter. He totally had been trying to butter me up. “And the nails! You planned all of it!” “Of course, I did.” Jack shook his head softly at my ignorance. “I know pancakes make your day, I know you’re a sucker for a good picture, and I know you love our new backyard.” “I can’t believe both of my daughters are going to be married now!” I mom smiled at us, her shock now turned into content. “I’m getting old.” “I’m still a teenager.” Ethan shrugged. “That doesn’t make me any younger…” She breathed out. “Anyway, I’m going to let you guys enjoy this moment, okay? I’ll make sure dad calls you later tonight.” “Okay,” I nodded, “I love you.” “I love you, bye,” she signed off before ending the call. I immediately shifted in Jack’s lap so I could face his better without having to crane my neck as far. While I put down my phone again, I grinned sheepishly. “You’re going to have to tell me your original plan now.” “Nope!” He shook his head and sealed his lips. “What?! Come on!” I tried batting my eyelashes to sway him. “No,” he refused, leaning back onto his hands. “The way it happened was perfect and I wouldn’t want it any other way.” As much as I would have wanted to know, he was right. The way he proposed was just perfect. I couldn’t imagine it going differently. I loved how it wasn’t overly planned, how it just happened so naturally. I loved how he brought our entire history up. I loved that it was so unexpected and personal. And, of course, I loved Jack. I put my hand on his cheek and kissed him deeply. Jack, while still leaning backwards, returned it with the same amount of pressure. My hand slipped to his hair on the back of his head behind his ear and I shuffled around to straddle him. He sat up to make it more comfortable and easy while he put his hands on my waist to pull me closer. There was just one thing we hadn’t done yet, and it was on both of our minds. His hands started traveling up my shirt when I realised something. I had been called by Ethan, but Jack’s phone had been awfully quiet. Strangely quiet. His instagram was probably blowing up, but he didn’t have those notifications on. Where were the other notifications? I pulled away from him, causing him to lean forward to try and make sure it wouldn’t stop. “Hang on, did you tell your family?” He looked annoyed and clouded with lust. There was this attitude like he was about to say ‘of course’ and get a little pissed off at me. But then his brow furrowed and he pursed his lips. “Oh… shit.” I raised my eyebrows to say ‘I told you so’ without actually saying the words. He gave me a little apologetic grin and reluctantly took his hands off me to take hold of his phone instead. I could already see that there were in fact notifications on his lock screen and they were definitely from the group chat he had with his brother and sister. I tried my best to read it all upside down and saw his sister freaking out just a little. She was mainly causing a fuss because she found out through his Instagram post instead of actually hearing something from him. Jack immediately sent an apology and an excuse. He even almost blamed it on me but noticed me reading along and deleted that sentence before it was even completed. Eventually, he just settled on being caught up in the moment, which was probably true. I couldn’t imagine him not wanting to tell his family. After a few messages, he put his phone back on the floor and returned his hands to my hips. “I’ll call my parents later. Let’s enjoy it ourselves first.” “Okay,” I agreed without a second thought and resumed the kiss I had interrupted before. This time, Jack was the one to break away. “Eager much?” “Like I’m the only one,” I whispered back against his lips and gingerly, yet not so subtly, put my hand on his crotch. He stared back at me and breathed out. “Fair enough.” As he restarted the kiss yet again, digging his fingertips into the back of my hips so I’d shuffle up closer to him. Once I was in the right position, he slowly started leaning back until his back hit the pillows he had put down. Everything was slow yet so passionate. I didn’t want to ever forget this day.