The Fall Equinox: A Great time for Lighting Your Home

The Autumnal Equinox: A Great Time For Lighting Your Home

As you know, the autumnal equinox is an astronomical event that occurs once yearly in which the Earth orbits around the sun. At that moment, the sun crosses the celestial equator, in order to enter the sky’s northern hemisphere. It is said that after this event, days and nights are almost the same length. However, this also means that days are shorter than in periods of solstice, which in turn requires more lighting. Therefore, this is the perfect timing to ensure that your home is well-lit in the absence of daylight. Let’s take a closer look at some stylish and efficient light fixtures for your home:

1)      Floor lamps:

The floor standing lamp is a traditional fixture that comes in different shapes and designs. It is a great way to add style & ambiance to a room, since they do not cover as much ground. This fixture is perfect for a living room, as it can serve well for reading or lighting the room while enjoying your favorite tv shows.

2)      Pendant light:

A pendant light fixture is one that hangs from the ceiling by means of a cord, chain or rod. It usually includes one to several lightbulbs that are not combined into one single unit. The beauty of this fixture-type is that you can find many styles, colors, and even textures! From vintage-inspired glass, to industrial metal and a casual organic weave, a pendant light fixture will bring a unique accent to your room.

3)      Table lamps:

The table lamp is yet another classic. This lamp will ensure that any table in your home has perfect lighting. It is the ultimate measure to fine-tune your atmosphere in a room, whether you need extra lighting or want to dim the room. They come in a number of shapes, sizes and colors. From bold to muted, you will not have any difficulty finding your desired look.

Choosing a light fixture has become less mundane, as today’s wide selection will not only help you achieve a well-lit room, but also give you an abundance of style options.

WHY SHOULD YOU USE AN AREA RUG?

By Home Style Furniture

It’s amazing how much an area rug can transform a room. If you’re looking to roll out big style—for a modest outlay of cash—opting for an area rug is a good way to go. When shopping for the right area rug, choose one that’s roughly the same shape as the accompanying furniture. Cluster the furniture around it or on top of it, place a table, desk or bed at its center—and you’re good to go!

Why are area rugs so great? Because area rugs…

Tie together a room’s color scheme. An area rug works as well, if not better, than art or throw pillows to unify your color schemes.

Anchor furniture. Area rugs make a room look connected and cohesive. In living rooms and family rooms, use an area rug that’s big enough to fit under the front legs of your furniture. If it’s too small to do that, center the rug under your coffee table. 

Are inexpensive “artwork.” Bringing color and graphical elements into a room, area rugs help create a dynamic gathering place. Certain area rugs, such as handwoven style rugs, can also be hung on a large wall, at a fraction of the price of large-scale artwork. 

Add warm, comfort and safety. Especially if you have solid-surface floors, such as hardwood, concrete or tile, you can appreciate the cushy relief area rugs bring to your space.

Work everywhere. Be it in the living room, bedroom or dining room, area rugs feel right at home. As a rule of thumb; use an area rug under the largest piece, or group of furniture, in a room to anchor the space.

Absorb sound. Especially when accompanied by an ample rug pad, area rugs do a wonderful job of buffering noise.

Move with you. Wall-to-wall carpeting might be there to stay, but area rugs are all yours to take with you should you relocate.

While machine-made rugs are the most common today, there are plenty of handwoven options that can include everything from precious oriental rugs to affordable jute styles.

A bit about area rug materials:

Synthetic rugs are mostly made from petroleum products. They’re popular for their colorful designs, durability and low price.

Wool rugs offer a step up with their remarkably soft, plush feel. Most are hand-tufted, with loops of yarn punched into a cloth, backed with latex and then sheared to produce a cut-pile surface. It’s completely normal for wool area rugs to shed a little when they’re brand new.

Jute rugs are another natural fiber area rug. These are usually handwoven. Though associated with more relaxed/casual settings, they’re a designer favorite in many interiors today because they add texture, lie flat and are easy to maintain.

Tips for keeping your area rug as good as new:

• Purchase a rug pad to reduce movement on the floor and prevent rug wear.
• Vacuum regularly to reduce dirt accumulation.
• Blot spills immediately. Avoid saturation with water. 
• Rotate occasionally to reduce the effects of traffic and sunlight.

Content provided by: +Tailbase & Ashley Furniture 

www.tailbase.com

BITE INTO FALL'S FAVORITE HARVEST FRUIT

by Home Style Furniture

Be it the shiny apple Mom routinely packed in your lunch box or fond memories of your great aunt’s famous apple pie, fall’s favorite fruit is a slice of nostalgia.

Simply delicious, apples offer a golden opportunity for culinary magic. Can you believe there are more than 7,500 apple varieties worldwide? Talk about mass appeal. With their cornucopia of color—from ruby red and mellow yellow to lime green—apples tempt with various tastes and textures, from crisp and tart, to subtle and sweet.

Choose the Right Apple

Some apples are perfectly yummy right off the tree. Others hold up wonderfully in pies, crisps and baked goodies. A slice of advice from the experts:

Best for eating out of hand: Braeburn, Cameo, Cortland, Empire, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, Honeycrisp, McIntosh.

Best for apple pies, crisps, etc: Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Gravenstein, Jonathan, Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, Newtown Pippin, Winesap

Tip: Pies and crisps, especially, call for sweet-tart, firmer apples that hold their shape and flavor in the oven. To mellow a tarter apple (e.g., Granny Smiths), try more than one apple variety in your pie.

Best for caramel apples: Tart Granny Smith apples have become the standard since they counter sweet caramel. Some folks find them a little too sour. Try the same apples recommended for pies for your caramel apples.

Frown on Brown Apples

Yes it’s true, brushing on lemon juice does keep sliced apples from browning, as do other citrus fruits such as lime, orange and pineapple. To avoid any hint of citrus taste, soak apple slices in apple juice until ready to serve. Another option: Mix two tablespoons honey and one cup water. Soak apple slices in mixture for 30 seconds.

Content provided by: +Tailbase  & Ashley Furniture

www.tailbase.com

3 Delicious Apple Recipes

by Home Style Furniture

What a great season that is the fall! When the leaves turn into beautiful warm colors, it’s time for the last harvests and delicious fruits and veggies are ready to be picked. One of the most popular among them is the apple. It is highly unlikely that someone doesn’t like this crispy fruit! That’s why we propose 3 delicious apple recipes:

Old Fashioned Apple Pie:

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour

Pie Dough

12 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

¾ cup of sugar (plus additional for pie top)

Zest and juice of 1 lemon

1 ½ teaspoons of cinnamon

½ teaspoon of nutmeg

Pinch ground cloves

2 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1 large egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly flour the working surface.

Roll out pie dough into two 1/8-inch-thick circles (diameter should be slightly larger than that of an 11-inch plate).

Press one pastry circle into the pie plate. Place the other circle on waxed paper, and cover with plastic wrap. Put all pastry in the fridge until firm (about 30 minutes).

In a large bowl, combine apples, sugar, lemon zest and juice, spices, and flour.

Toss well. Spoon apples into pie pan. Dot with butter, and cover with remaining pastry circle.

Cut several steam vents (about 3 little holes) across top.

Seal by crimping edges as desired.

Brush with beaten egg, and sprinkle with additional sugar.

Bake until crust is brown and juices are bubbling (about 1 hour).

Let cool on wire rack before serving.

Apple Chips:

INGREDIENTS

4 Apples

2 tablespoons of sugar

½ tablespoon of Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Slice apples into ⅙" approximately (use a mandolin for better result).

Place apple slices in a single layer on a sheet pan fitted with parchment paper.

Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Bake in the oven for 1½ hours.

Flip them over to make the other side crispy as well.

Bake for 1 more hour

Turn oven off and leave the apple slices inside for a few more hours or overnight

When they are ready, if you didn’t eat them all, place the slices in a zip top bag

Raisin bread and apple grilled-cheese:

INGREDIENTS

½ cup of cream cheese

2 teaspoons of honey

4 tablespoons (½ stick) of butter (room temperature)

8 slices cinnamon raisin bread

1 Granny Smith or other firm apple, cored and thinly sliced

2 Tablespoons of brown sugar

In a small bowl, whip the cheese and honey together until it’s well combined and fluffy.

Heat the panini-press to medium-high heat.

Spread butter on two slices of bread to flavor the outside of the sandwich.

Flip over both slices of bread and spread 1 tablespoon sweetened cheese on each.

Top one slice of bread with a layer of apples and close the sandwich with the other slice, buttered side up. Sprinkle some brown sugar on top.

Grill two sandwiches at a time, with the lid closed, until the fillings are warmed and the bread is toasted, with a sweet crust (about 3 to 5 minutes).

Content provided by: +Tailbase 

www.tailbase.com

AROMATHERAPY IDEAS FOR FALL

by Home Style Furniture

Ahh, Fall! Who doesn’t love the sound of crisp leaves underfoot and the taste of pumpkin spice everything (especially lattes!)? One of our favorite ways to celebrate the season is by filling our homes with scrumptious scents. There’s just something about a cozy house filled with family, friends and delicious smells that lets us know our favorite season is finally here.

The Nose Knows

Looking for ways to cozy up your home for fall? Try these easy aromatherapy ideas:

Bake goodies

Fill your home with the scent of freshly baked pumpkin pie for an instant autumnal aroma. It doesn’t have to be made from scratch—even frozen pies smell fantastic while they bake. Premade sugar cookie dough also produces a heavenly scent. Nothing says “home” like the smell of vanilla!

Light a candle

Don’t want to go to the trouble of baking? Pick up a pumpkin spice- or sugar cookie-scented candle. Other scents that conjure fall include cranberry, sugar and spice, cinnamon and pear. Try burning different scented candles to create your own signature smell.

Create a stovetop simmer

Combine one sliced orange, a couple of cinnamon sticks and a few dried cloves in a saucepan. Add enough water to cover all ingredients and simmer on the stove. Check on your concoction periodically and add more water as needed. Your whole home will smell heavenly!

Content provided by: +Tailbase  &  Ashley Furniture 

www.tailbase.com

Tips & Ideas On How To Integrate Fall Colors To Your Home Decor

by Home Style Furniture

This year, fall color scheme includes neutrals and bold tones. We must get inspiration from landscapes, forests and fields. Even colors name refer to the nature; Dried Herb, Desert Sage, Stormy weather, Oak Buff, Amethyst Orchid, etc. This unisex color palette is easy to integrate in every home since the tints please everyone! Here are some tips and ideas to help you create a beautiful autumnal home decor:

As the color palette contains a lot of dark tints, we have to be careful with which we decide to use. To make a perfect fall mood without darken the place, we must follow some easy but crucial rules.

Walls and furniture

Dark colors have this tendency to make a room seems smaller than it really is. That’s why we should choose a light color for the walls and big furniture. It will help to balance the main decor.

Accents

As the bigger part of the room is pale, we can add some coolness accent. Marsala, Stormy Weather and Reflecting Pond are adding a touch of luxury and finesse when they are perfectly mixed with pale shades.

Don’t forget the cozy side!

An interior design can’t be autumnal if it doesn’t contain some cozy hint. Pillows and throws are the perfect match to add this delicate accent. Of course, faded colors inspire the warm comfort and security of a house full of joy and souvenirs.

Content provided by: +Tailbase 

www.tailbase.com

DELICIOUS PUMPKIN BREAD RECIPE

by Home Style Furniture

The long, hot summer days are coming to an end. As wonderful as it’s been to gorge on juicy fruits and sweet, luscious berries, it’s time to savor the flavors of fall. Fresh fall harvests are in full swing and pumpkin is one of the most popular autumnal ingredients. Turn the seasonal bounty into a slice of heaven with this quick pumpkin bread recipe.

One-Pan Pumpkin Bread

(Recipe from BettyCrocker.com)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Bake Time: 45-55 minutes

Ingredients:

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 cup canned pumpkin

3 eggs

2-1/3 cups Bisquick™ Original baking mix

1-1/4 cups sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans (or raisins, if you prefer)

Directions:

Heat oven to 350°F.

Generously grease bottom only of 9×5 loaf pan.

Stir all ingredients except nuts in pan with fork until moistened; beat vigorously for 1 minute. Stir in nuts.

Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 5 minutes.

Run knife or metal spatula around sides of loaf to loosen; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely before slicing.

Content provided by: +Tailbase  &  Ashley Furniture 

www.tailbase.com

SCHOOL'S BACK: MAKE A HOMEWORK STATION

by Home Style Furniture

With school in and the kids hitting the books, you’ll be asking, “Do you have homework?” If they do, you’ll need a game plan for after school studying. Here are some tips on how to get started on a homework station that fulfills your kids’ needs.

Pick the right spot

Choose a location in the home for work and study. It needs to be a quiet escape. Ideally, it could be their room, but a den, basement office, attic office or even a secluded kitchen nook all can serve the purpose handily. Ask your kids what their ideas of a perfect homework station are and incorporate as many of them as possible. This will help get their buy-in so they’ll use it more often. Include favorite colors and posters, as well as educational items like maps, globes, books, art supplies, computers, printers, chalkboards/dry erase boards and calendars.

Get it together for comfort

Clean up the clutter. Remove toys and items they’ve outgrown. Paint the study area their favorite color. Up comfort levels by putting down an area rug. Get cushiony chairs with ergonomic features. An afghan rack with throws is another great idea, so they can keep warm during long winter nights. Lighting is very important, too. Use floor lamps, pendant lights and desk lamps to illuminate the area. These help prevent eyestrain and headaches.

Furnish it

Set the scene with a desk. The bigger the better―kids need lots of room to work. Add bookshelves, file cabinets and storage bins for keeping all supplies organized and within reach. Decorate the walls. Include a wall clock, decorative canvas prints and a corkboard for pinning A+ work, photos and more. You can accent the work surface with a desk clock, photo frame and a favorite souvenir.

What’s next?

Once the homework station is ready, turn your focus to the next project―an area where you can keep organized. Get a desk and a comfortable chair. Wrap around desks are ideal because they give you more room to work. Don't forget to get a file cabinet. It's the perfect spot for keeping important papers and supplies you'll need to access throughout the school year.

Content provided by: +Tailbase  &  Ashley Furniture

www.tailbase.com