* The last time I opened my family room blinds, the site of cobwebs made me close them, and fast. And those big, heavy window treatments were just filled with dust. Yuck. “Wash the windows; wash the curtains” went on the to-do list, and sat there. Until today! I just tore through the room, vowing to turn over a new leaf, vowing to swing my windows open gloriously on all those lovely spring days that are surely coming soon. I used vinegar and newspaper–very eco (just like on this blog, Green and Clean, which is where I found this photo–gosh, I remember when my kids used to help me with stuff like this). I even took down all the hardware for the window treatments and am going to “go bare” for awhile (like the trees outside the windows) until I decide what I want next. Every ten years or so, you just have to do something different, don’t you think?
* Speaking of different, I’m thinking of maybe skipping the fabric altogether on the window treatments and literally “bringing nature in,” sort of like the curly willow in this photo I found on a blog named Itsy Bits and Pieces. Not only would this be a nice continuation of my eco-thing, but it would be thrifty as well. But most of all? It would help reduce the dust in the house that gathers in things like window treatments. Indoor air is something like 90% dirtier than outdoor air, and one way to try to keep my family healthier is to reduce toxins and allergens indoors. At least that’s what I hear. So I’m trying to go a little lighter on the fabrics.
* Another way to reduce toxins indoors? Get your family to take off their shoes when they come inside, since practically every lawn in America is loaded with chemicals (thank goodness this is finally starting to change). A sure way to make it easier to do this? Jazz up your “mud room.” Take a look at some great ones on a blog named Restyled Home (which is where I got this photo). No room for that? No worries. I just painted one wall of my little tiny laundry room, gave each of us a heavy-duty bag for our shoes, which we slide under a shelf that holds pool towels, and added some hooks to the wall for our various reusable bags (for the pool, the farmers market, sports outings, picnics, and so on). Very cute and effective.
* The mention of “pool” gives me a perfect excuse to show you another photo I found on that Restyled Home blog–of the most adorable pool cabanas I’ve ever seen! Check it out. Isn’t that just off-the-charts charming?
Want to get your windows cleaned (no, I’m not available!), have some custom window treatments made, update your mud room, or get a perfectly-sized cabana built for your pool? Find service companies that can help you on Kudzu.
