It's All in the Details.....

Last week Heather and I attended the Las Vegas Parade of Homes. While touring some of these ginormous homes, there were some that were breathtaking while others just seemed like they missed the mark. When I asked Heather what was missing, she said that she thought it was the attention to detail. I realized that she was right (by the way, this really is the story of our everyday life together – she says something, I tell her I think that it is wrong, she doesn’t really disagree with me and then later I have to tell her that she was right originally.)
It is those little details that really do make the difference in creating that WOW factor. These are the details that make us shake our heads in disbelief, the ones that demonstrate ingenuity and creativity, and the willingness to think outside the box.

There are so many ways that you can add this "extra something" to your own home. Larson Juhl recently published an ad that featured framed art with metal braces on each corner.

(photo courtesy of stylebeat.blogspot.com)

This is a small detail that really can pack a lot of punch, especially when added to a few framed pieces within a large grouping of photos or art.
While flipping through the latest issue of Domino magazine, I spotted a divine lampshade detail.

Isn't it fun? It is such a subtle detail, but it really adds personality to a part of the lamp that most people would overlook - the boring white shade. I am a true believer that nailhead makes everything better, but that's a post for another time. This is such an easy detail to reproduce and the result is a sweet looking shade.

Drawer pulls and knobs are another fabulous way to add detail while dressing up your cabinets - sort of like adding jewelry to your kitchen, bathroom or laundry room.

Charles Edwards offers some lovely and unique pieces.

There are so many options and so many ways to give your home that special, one-of-a-kind touch. Open your eyes to the possibilities of creating these kinds of details and soon people will be wanting to parade through your home.

How to repair a stucco wall

How to repair a stucco wall by Jakob Jelling

Due to its special characteristics, a stucco wall can be very tricky to be fixed. When trying to repair a whole in such kind of wall, there are some important guidelines that might be very helpful to have in mind in order to avoid ending up with a very noticeable and unwanted patch instead of a nicely blended solution.
If you are not really sure you can repair a stucco wall appropriately and the way it looks is very important to you, you should consult an expert. But, if you still want to repair it yourself, we can provide you with some useful tips to have into account. Our tips are mainly focused on how to repair a hole in a stucco wall, so if this is your case you might find the next guidelines helpful.
Before you start repairing your stucco wall, you should start by making sure there is not any loose material in the hole. You should blow out any material or dust there might be in it and use a chisel for help if it is needed. If you find wire mesh and it is damaged, at this point you should replace it or blend it over with new one.
Once you have made sure the hole is clean and there is not damaged wire mesh, it is time to apply a coat of stucco. You should apply a first coat of it to about 1/5 inch of the surface, making sure it is firm with the help of a putty knife. Once this step is completed, you should wait approximately 48 hours before continuing.
Once it's been 48 hours after the first coat of stucco was added, you can add a second one. This second coat should be applied to within approximately 1/8 inch of the surface, and following the same procedure as with the first one. Again, you should wait 48 hours to continue. After 48 hours, you will be ready to finish the work by applying a last coat of stucco, preferably using a mason's trowel. You should smooth it and give texture to it until it blends with the rest of the surface, and then make sure of not touching that spot again for at least 90 hours.
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