Like so many in the last 18 months, I had to find an outlet to redirect my energy into and that has become home improvement projects. Growing up as a contractor's daughter, I have a healthy respect for both a can do attitude and also, resale value so it doesn't look too homeowner did it finish. I receive zero kickbacks from Amazon (how many reviews do I have to post before I get cool coupons and insider views?!). I'm posting this as a nice change of pace from the normal angst and because I also know the stress of trying to find the right fits you didn't know you needed to spruce up your own place.
Broken into sections and kept more rapid fire without the ads of all those Buzzfeed lists, see some awesome items for your house below, all rated five stars by yours truly. Special to note, all items have been complimented by at least a few others so it's not just me!
Practical Pretty
1. Door Hinges
Review: After repainting all the doors in my house, I HAD HAD HAD to get rid of the old school gold hardware. Box stores were SO expensive. These are true quality and very easy to install.
2. Door Knobs
Review: See the door hinges. Same feelings!
Review: I was SO ANNOYED that all paint that got on the face of the outlets showed through covers plus the faces were all older yellow while so many covers were an off-white so they didn't match. My boyfriend is a contractor and didn't believe these were ever going to actually fit on. ZERO issues and they cover everything.
4. Black Pipe Rustic Towel Hook
Review: So simple and easy. Drill & hang. Very heavy duty metal piece, not faux plastic.
5. Toilet Paper Holder with Shelf
Review: Keeping with the above rustic bathroom vibe, I put this item in my guest half bathroom. They pair perfect and best part, the shelf is perfect for sitting a phone on top of it. It came a bit lighter than I preferred so I did stain the wood and seal it which was too easy. That was a personal color preference. The slight knock is drilling in one hole close to the bar was a bit of a pain.
6. Pantry Organization & Rubbermaid
Review: I use the first link for items like roasted walnuts & pasta and use the rubbermaid containers for all of my dry baked good items (flour, sugar, etc).
Duly Decorative
1. Magnetic Decorative Door Handles
Review: Strong magnets that are so easy to move around and reconfigure but amongst a few very heavy storms and up and down doors, stay on.
Review: These probably could have fit into practical pretty but I am one of the world's lightest sleepers. My bedroom has four giant windows and we all know window treatments are EXPENSIVE. These resist the ever floating black fur, stay wrinkle resistant, and truly block out all the light.
Review: Lightweight but holds heavy blackout curtains (see above) well. Very easy to install and love the black rod look.
4. Wooden Bar Rustic Light Chandelier Fixture
Review: I don't do electricity so I'll take it from my electrician it wasn't bad. It looks fantastic and was relatively quick to put together. The only slight annoyance was balancing it to hang straight.
5. Flush Mount Rustic Farmhouse Light Fixture
Review: Electrician said equally easy to install. Hangs flush and looks fantastic.
6. Tissue Dispenser-Library Book Style
Review: I HATE clutter. Unless it's a plant or 100% required to sit out, it goes in a cabinet. Tissues count as an item 100% required to sit out but I hate looking at the boxes. Fits the farmhouse theme and looks so cute.
7. Sunflowers & Lavender Flowers & Orange Blooms
Review: Finding good, pretty, fake flowers at a reasonable price is next to impossible. All three of these fit that niche!
8. Solid Metal Hello Sign & Solid Metal Gather Sign
Review: Very heavy duty metal. Few other words are available. It has a hole on each end so I used wire to string it into the middle of a wreath for my front door. Hung outside for a year still without any rust. Second link for gather I nailed to a finished board for inside the house. It's very lightweight and thin.
9. Diffuser
Review: Not sure if this is decorative or beauty but nonetheless, it's a pretty diffuser for the nightstand. Several light color options (or none like I select), different speed options, I love it.
Review: Holds 36 spoons and fits my sophisticated wood theme. My paternal grandmother was a nurse in the army and collected from where she was stationed all over the world. Such a special connection I continued!
11. Elevated Dog Food and Water Bowl Holder
Review: While I bought it because my dog is a jerk and kept dumping her food over, I read it's best for digestion to have the bowl elevated and closer to the height. Bonus, it looks really good.
12. Floating Shelves
Review: Overall, pretty happy. Looks similar to pictures-distance looks like wood finish, up close can tell it’s fake. Metal brackets are real metal and very sturdy. You probably read fine print better than I do. The brackets are not attached: pro you decide configuration. Con: make sure you have it flush the FIRST time you drill the holes.
13. Welcome Eucalyptus Front Door Wreath
Review: Outside for six months on my front door and it still looks brand new and just like the pictures. Sprayed with a hose a few times and it holds up to the water blast very well.
Technology
Review: I'm a GIANT scaredy cat of the dark. It comes from a very sad, scary night out in my late teens. Needless to say, I hate coming home to a dark house. I use these smart plugs to have lamps plugged into the house so I can turn on lights before I get home or when I'm on vacation. I know some women who use them for bathroom outlets to ensure they can turn off the outlet if they are worried they left a straighter or clothes iron on after they left.
Review: If you know me, I rarely carry a purse. The less clutter the better. I love this extremely easy to install door lock for a few reasons: 1) You're only replacing the lock on the side so you don't have to worry about the locks changing 2) You can control from an app so you can take just your phone for a walk and still let yourself in and 3) You can give others access whether it's temporary or permanent and then quickly revoke if needed.
3. Cloud Camera
Review: It's a long story, but my house has a ghost. After too many things moving around when I wasn't here, I installed a camera indoors. Not a bad thing for safety but it helped answer the question what was going on when I was gone. Anyone have some sage to burn?
