DIY Life

Ask any real estate agent, and she'll tell you that when it comes to home equity and return on investment, the two most important rooms are the kitchen and the bathroom. Forget the fancy pool; it's nice, and it might close the deal at sale time, but prospective buyers are going to decide yea or nay in the kitchen.

The kitchen is a focal point for family gatherings and entertaining guests. So what are the main components of the typical kitchen? Well, there's the major appliances. They should match and be energy-efficient. Storage? There should be plenty of cabinets to stash food, dishes, pots and pans.

But what really stands out are the kitchen countertops. This is where the real work is done. Because of that, lighting should be focused on them, literally putting them in the spotlight.

Whether you're planning on building a new home or you're rolling up your sleeves for a remodel, you have a lot of choices when it comes to selecting the countertops. The things to consider are personal preference, aesthetics, matching the rest of the decor, and, of course, budget. Let's have a look at some of the choices.

The other day, I found an interesting and easy decorative glass vase tutorial over at CasaSugar. I thought to myself, "That's pretty cool for around the house, but I bet it would also be perfect as a wedding centerpiece." In fact, it turns out that the project originated at DIY Bride.

This is really as simple as picking up some rub-on transfers you like, along with a clear glass vase that has a smooth surface. After making sure the vase is completely clean and dry, just cut around the transfers you like, then use the burnishing stick that comes in the package to carefully rub designs onto the vase (exactly as you would if you were rubbing them onto paper).

The transfers are sold in almost any store that carries scrapbooking or other craft supplies. Thousands of designs are available, but if you can't find any rub-ons that you like in your area, the DIY Bride post has a list of online resources.

This project is as versatile and stylish as your imagination (for example, the right transfers would make it great for Mother's Day), but this is not exactly a new tip: a few months ago, this concept also ran in the Winter, 2008 issue of Somerset Life magazine, where it was used to decorate glass bottles and jars. Please join me after the break to read more about the appealing ideas that were presented there.

• a sewing machine
• 3.8 yards of fabric of your choice
• 3.8 yards of inexpensive fabric (for the inner bag)
• 50 cm zipper
• beanbag filling
• scissors
• thread
• pencil

• 18" wooden embroidery hoop
• 10-1/4 yards 45" - to 60" -wide sheer fabric
• 3-1/2 yards white seam binding
• White sewing thread
• 2 yards x 3/4" white self-adhesive Velcro
• 2-1/2 yards white cord
• 1" wooden bead (?" hole)
• 3/8" metal pot hook
• 1/2" double-side tape
• Sewing machine
• Scissors
• Sewing sheers
• Tape measure
• Fabric marker
• Safety pin
• Iron

If you have a lot of books, like I do, sometimes it becomes challenging to store them. Decent bookshelves that won't bow under the weight of the books can be expensive, particularly when you need a whole wall or more of them. And the books can be in the way when you have nowhere to put them... oh, the piles I have tripped over!

Some people suggest using bracket-supported shelves near the ceiling as a way to put extra storage into a room, whether for books or for knickknacks, but books can be so heavy that it's probably smart to be skeptical about that idea, even if the supports are properly screwed into wall studs. Also, until relatively recently, the most widely available brackets that could support more than a few pounds of weight were in styles only appropriate for country decor... nothing sleek or modern.

On a similar theme, but with a much more distinctive look, are the "rafter shelves" that have been running around the blogosphere recently, after an appearance on Apartment Therapy Los Angeles. You can read more about them after the break!

Many women have a fond place in their hearts for Victoria, the magazine that ceased publication in 2003 after a 16-year run. It was a lifestyle magazine, glancingly similar to Martha Stewart Living, with articles about anything that fit in with a romantic 19th century theme. It also showcased attempts to capture a similar vibe in modern life.

Some features were overtly historical, while others would simply be about wearing vintage-repro jewelry with modern clothing. There were always lots of recipes, all of which seemed to have something to do with country-house Christmases, garden parties, and afternoon tea.

If that sounds wonderful to you, I have good news: Victoria was recently relaunched with a new publisher, and is available on newsstands. Since that is not, however, news that is necessarily related to any sort of DIY topic, I have to add that they have some tips for you on their website. You can learn more about them after the break.