practical home accessories

The experts always say shop your home before shopping retail. This is a good suggestion. Except when there's isn't much inventory left in your home.

A few years ago, we started moving around. In preparation for our nomad ways, we really pared down. But now that we're feeling a bit more settled, there's a few practical accessories that I would like in my home . . .

A Clock
I don't own a single clock. Granted, I'm never without the time thanks to surrounding technology, but as a stand alone time piece, I'm clock-less.

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A Telephone

For years we didn't have a land line. We have one again, and it's probably time we got a house phone.

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Binoculars
I would love to have a set of binoculars handy. So many beautiful birds perch right in my own backyard and the surrounding trees. I would love a closer look.

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A Firewood Basket
We use our wood burning fireplace pretty regularly. This would be a pretty permanent addition to that area.

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An Outdoor Rug
My front porch is feeling a little bare. It would be nice to sneak a small rug under the bench I have there already.

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Does your home have any great finds or need just a few prettier practical touches? Share. . .

mantle love

My friend Monica loves her house. She loves the location, the layout, and all the improvements they have made to it. But her house is lacking something -a mantle. She loves mantles, and has had them in her previous homes. When I suggested she just get one, she gave me a quizical look and reminded me that she doesn't have a fireplace. No problem Monica; don't let that little detail deter your mantle love.

Here are some amazing non-fireplace mantle images.* As you can see, mantles add archeitectural interest and definition to any room - a living room, a dining room, a bedroom, and even an outdoor space.

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 This one is really fun the way it incorporates the painted book shelves. That yellow background color certainly pops.

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This is fun -turning a mantle into a headboard.

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And if you're really hung up on having a fireplace for your mantle, here's some sources for installing a ventless fireplace. (The best news, you don't necessarily need a chimney these days for a fireplace!)

• eHow
• Do It Yourself
• This Old House

Do you have a mantle crush? Where's your favorite mantle location?

*I gathered these images long before Pinterest or this blog, for my own personal use. Sadly, I did not keep a record of where I got them, so if any of these images are yours, or know the source, kindly feel free to let me know. Thanks.