Tattoo trend extends to walls
By: Beverly Allen - December 17th, 2007
Individual expression and decorative embellishment — emerging trends in home décor — are coming together right now in wall tattoos. These are easy to apply graphics, words and images for walls, often with pre-pasted or adhesive backing. And unlike tattoos for the skin, these appliqués are easy to remove, so one impetuous choice will not lead to a lifetime of regret.
One of the first companies to introduce peel-and-stick wall graphics was the Venice, CA-based blik, which makes adhesive decals that can be applied to any smooth, flat surface. Designs run from kid-friendly animals to Keith Haring’s gritty graffiti-inspired art. blik has even brought tattooing to the table, with Glass Stiks, dishwasher-safe decals for glassware that can be easily removed, (but not re-used). (more…)
Resisting refinishing because it requires hours and hours of sanding and stripping? Think again. Minwax’s new Polyshades is a one-step stain and finish product that takes a lot of the hassle out of refinishing. This new product combines rich stain colour and durable polyurethane protection, and can even be applied over an existing finish. Available in Mission Oak, Classic Black, and American Chestnut. For more information, go to 
Consumer choice is, in general terms, a good thing. Except when it means you’re presented with a mind-numbing array of options, as was the case when I recently set out to replace a beloved, but much battered, cooking pot.
Statistics show that 74.7 per cent of Canadians fantasize at this time of year about going to bed, pulling the covers over their heads and staying put until April. Okay, we made that up, but we’ll bet our 450-thread count, Egyptian cotton sheets that the number is pretty close to the mark. While it’s not healthy – physically or financially – to hibernate for six months, luxurious new bed linen will make it even harder to resist the urge to settle down for really, really long winter’s nap.
As electricity costs have risen over the years, and consumers have become more environmentally aware, the annual ritual of stringing coloured lights in and around the home to mark the holiday season has turned into something of a guilty pleasure. Sure they look beautiful, but those incandescent beauties are energy hogs.