Shopping List for Sense-sational Home Products

A Sense-sational Room

Since I wrote yesterday's post, "Sense-sational Home,"  I started thinking I should let my readers know some of the inexpensive items that I use in my home that help make it have the feeling I like it to have.
Scents are very important to me so I like to use a few cleaning products that leave behind a fresh scent.

In my bathtub and shower I like to use Method cleaner in the Eucalyptus and mint scent. It makes it smell like a spa.  After I wipe down my shower daily, I spritz this around the edge of the tile floor and it smells Yum!, very spa-like.

Another product I enjoy using is Mr. Clean, Lavender.  I started using  this product after a very close friend of mine told me about it . She wipes all her counters down with this and it smells divine.  I also mix it with Murphys oil soap to wash down all my wood cupboards in the kitchen.  It gives it just another layer of a delicious fragrance.  The Lemon Mr. Clean mixed with Murphys oil soap is also a very fresh fragrance.

The best,by far, lavender spray I have found is, Woods of Windsor. It last a long time and smells soft and lovely.  I use to find it at Homegoods very reasonably for $3.99 a spray can.  I would buy every can on the shelf.  I have not found it there in a long time.  It retails for $12 here.

  It is so wonderful that when I run out I will pay full retail for it. This site also offers free shipping so that is another plus.

When I have this spray my visitors are always asking me what is it in my house that smells so wonderful.

My friend Terri,  at La Dolfina blog uses Nellies Lavender Sticks from Crate and Barrel. These are actually for the laundry but she tucks them in hiding places in her bathroom and she says they are divine. I will have to try these out.  If you have a chance go by and visit Terri's blog, it is wonderful. She is a true treasure hunter and she finds wonderful treasures on her journey.  I get to go treasure hunting with her very soon, I am very excited!

Tea lights are always lit in my home even in the day time. If it is a gloomy wintry day I will light my tea lights. I always know it is time to change decorative accessories from the summer to winter when I start lighting candles in the house.  I have noticed it seems to fall right around when  football season starts.  I purchase my tea lights at Bed Bath and Beyond.  They come in a bag of 100 for $5.99. They always have a 20% coupon so they are totally affordable and bring so much ambience for so little money.  As far as scented pillar candles I don't burn those in my home.  I have found that the oil they use to scent the candle seems to smoke.  I have heard that the soy base candles don't do that but I have not tried those myself . I usually buy cream colored candles without a scent.

Pottery Barn seems to have the prettiest faux throws .  They are not inexpensive but you don't want anything that is faux to look cheap.  I think these are well worth the price. They are on sale right now, so if you are considering one,now is the time to buy.  What a wonderful texture for your room and what a delight to wrap up in all this softness.

This faux mink throw looks pretty lush and it is a litlle less expensive at Overstock.  I think one in white would look great in just about any room.

As for the ambiance of music , I realize it is totally subjective.  I have sirius radio on my stereo and I have soft moodscapes playing throughout the day.  My morning routine is make coffee, turn on all the ambient lights (would you believe I have nine ligths to turn on?) , light some tea lights and then turn on my music. I am good to go for the day!

I will leave you with one more "Smell Good," that I like to use.  I was asked if I like plug-ins?  The only one that I have found that I like is sold at Bed Bath and Beyond, by Yankee candle company.  The fragrance is clean and fresh, Sage Citrus

These will run about $12 for two refills, I try to watch when they are on sale and then use that ever faithful 20% coupon.

I hope this helps to show you it does not have to cost a lot of money to bring items to your home that will make it a Sense-sational Home.

"Enjoy the Process," Of: Trying new items to bring comfort to your home.

Kathysue

A SENSE-SATIONAL HOME!

My philosophy is that it is more important how a house feels than how it looks. We can all make a room look lovely. We can copy a picture in a magazine or buy everything out of a vignette in a store. However, to make a Home feel a certain way is , in my mind, Great Design.  In my experience, how a house feels to those who enter, is what makes it a Home, not just a well decorated House. One of the important things a Home should have in it are things that stimulate the senses: Sight, Smell, Touch, Hearing and Taste.

SIGHT

I posted this room yesterday in my Color post. This room is very pleasing to my eye.

I know this will be subjective--what is pleasing to one is not pleasing to everyone.  Generally speaking, a well appointed, tidy home is pleasing to most. If it is night time or the winter months a nice roaring fire is always an inviting sight. Candles will be pleasing to the eye and the nose if they have a delicate scent.

SMELL

Scents for the home will always be to the homeowner's taste.  Just make sure it is a pleasant scent and not over powering to your visitors.  The scents above were found on a great blog  A Gift Wrapped Life. She is actually having a give away on these beautiful frangrances for the home by Charlotte Moss. Fresh flowers that have lovely scents are pleasing to the eye and the nose.  Paper whites, roses, lilacs just to name a few. Try to stay away from the large bags of potpourri that are artificial smelling and over powering.

TOUCH

Having soft and inviting textures in your home will only add to its appeal to all who enter.

SOUND

The soft sound of a trickling fountain outside an open window

Soft music playing in the background can help make a home have a wonderful atmosphere.

TASTE

Offer your guest a simple cup of tea or a cool glass of water with lemon.

It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just welcoming.

I would love if you would share some of the ways you  make your house a Sense-sational HOME

"Enjoy the Process" of: Filling your HOME with items that stimulate the Senses

Kathysue

What COLOR Are YOU??

I am " GREEN!"

We all know color is subjective.  I thought it would be fun to take a little test to determine what color "We" are.  I took the test and it said I am " Green."  What does that mean?  Well, according to the test it means, " You are a very calm and contemplative person.  Others are drawn to your peaceful, nuturing, nature."  Seriously, I did not make this stuff up.  Here is the web site so you can go and take the test yourself.  http://www.quizmeme.com/
 I know it is just for fun but sometimes they come very close to being right.  One of my dear friends took the test and fouond out that she was blue. It described her perfectly.  Take the test and  let me know what color you are?  Since I am " Green", how would you like to see some green rooms?  Green is a color that does make me feel peaceful.  It is the color of nature and springtime.  Green is a color that is used in my home repeatedly.  The main color in my kitchen and dinette are green as you can see in the above picture.  I love almost all shades of green, however, there are a few that I do not find suitable for decorating in my own personal home. The following rooms, are all rooms that I would love to live in.

No surprise here.  Lime, black and white!  Love it!

Just a hint of green in this room makes it fresh and cheerful.

Aaaaaaaah!

Notice in this room there are several different greens but they all work well together. I read a long time ago, that all greens will go together.  I have not proved that point but I find the concept interesting.

Very Soothing

Time for an afternoon nap.

Fresh and Fun

I am ready to move in.  I love the sloped bottom of the chair.  Notice the casters on the legs. They added an interesting piece of iron work next to the window.  This room is Perfection!

This might be bright for most, but I love this room done by Sarah Richardson, one of my favorite designers on TV.

Fresh, Open and Airy.  Three of my favorite adjectives to use in describing a room.

I would love to sit and read in this room. What great light.

This is just wonderful.  I know the green looks a bit bright but I think it is more a lighting issue than the actual color of green.  I love the soft taupe and white with the pop of green and no other colors.

I hope you let me know what color you are!!

"Enjoy the Process", Of:  Finding what COLOR You are!

Kathysue