Cover Home

When planning a evening with friends at your home you probably on occasion scramble for something to use as the centrepiece for your dinner table. It may just be a night consisting of dinner and a movie, but you still want to decorate the table to make it a bit special. Well, chances are you have a number of vessels to your name that would create a magnificent feature for the middle of your table. Come on think about it, all those well preserved silver and pewter bowls, goblets, and other “good” pieces that you house in a specially allocated cabinet.

Some of these items may be family heirlooms, or just things you have acquired over time, but you consider to be too fancy, or precious for everyday use. Well, a night of entertaining is a great time to pull them out and put them to decorative use. If you use a silver pitcher for the base of a floral arrangement, you won’t even need to go through the hassle of polishing it afterwards, as it will have only held water. And what a presentation they will make, the elegant holder paired with seasonal flowers is just the thing to show your guests they are special, and to relieve you of all that guilt for not using your “good” pieces often enough.

Now that Halloween has come and gone, many of us have at least one or two uncarved pumpkins leftover. You could easily leave them lying about as Autumn decorations, or you could use one for something entirely unexpected. We here at Cover Home absolutle love the unexpected when it comes to repurposing objects, so this is one of our new favourite crafty uses.

Take that extra pumpkin and turn it into a wine cooler for your next cocktail or dinner party. All it takes is removing the top one third of the pumpkin completely, and shucking out the stringy pulp and seeds. In our case, we get the kids to do it, they just love the messiness of it. Then they separate and wash the seeds so we can bake them for a nutritious snack item.

It is best to line the inside prior to inserting ice, or it could become a problem. We recommend using an actual container as a liner, but if you do not have anything that is the right size, then a small garbage bag will do nicely. Just remember when you go to remove bottles that they may be slightly stuck to the bag.

Now we are off to figure out what to make from the Black Swan costume I wore this year, as it will not be as memorable next year.

Instinctually, for many, having a houseful of guests means making plenty of tasty meals from scratch. Though the initial idea of inviting over friends or family for a gathering might sound quaint and enjoyable, once the questions start about hat will be served, blood pressures will rise. This is for some what entertaining is all about, and should remain so. The belief being that nothing is as good as homemade, and our loved ones deserve to be treated to the best.

I say to those purists, if you will, good luck with that, and to those more sensible creatures out there, think about where store bought makes perfect sense. And for those who fall somewhere in the middle, then bring in some store bought creations and add here and there to make those more your own. Give it a try, and if it does not meet your standards, and you do not enjoy yourself more then go back to chopping incessantly, and being slightly frazzled about timing stuff.

Speaking of chopping, this is one of the best things that I think one can get, pre made salsas, sauces, and dressings. Then whatever special ingredient you swear by can just be added in, making it great and practical. Of course you will want to put these into decorative serving containers to make them feel as though they were made from scratch, but those leftovers can go right back in the containers they came in, so you do not have to wash additional Tupperware. More time saved!

Bar stools come in many various shapes and forms, from the contemporary, cutting edge designs to the retro inspired 70’s throwbacks and the traditional four legged wooden stools.

The majority of stools on the market are chrome plated gas lift stools, which usually have a conical round base for stability and a hydraulic mechanism for variable height and 360 degree swivel. However, there are variations to even this archetypal arrangement that caters for differing needs. The conical round base is sometimes replaced by a flat round base, or even a square base as an added design feature. These are heavier and are usually found on larger stools, lowering the centre of gravity in order to keep the whole stool stable and sturdy.

The chrome plated finish on the stool metalwork is also only one of several frame finishes that can be had. Brushed steel is growing in popularity as more modern kitchen appliances and fittings are becoming available in this finish. Brushed stools have a more up to date look and feel, with a sublime hand worked pattern.

However, if you are set on a reflective finish but do not want a bright frame, gunmetal, otherwise known as black chrome, provides an excellent alternative. This has the same durable electroplated surface as regular chrome but in a much darker colour.

The seat is the main part of any bar stool and holds the most visual impact, so it often dictates the way the whole stool looks, and how well it sits in its surroundings. Because of this, the material used is of paramount importance.

Faux leather is the most common material used on bar stools. This is because it is a very durable material with a leather-like grain but is inexpensive when compared to real leather. It is still as soft and luxurious to the touch as leather, but is available in a much larger range of colours and can withstand spillages and stains much better.

Faux leather is used for the traditional look, and for padded seats where it covers high density foam cushions that provide you with support and comfort. This contrasts with resin, which is the material of choice for the new age bar stool. ABS resin is a high impact, injection moulded polymer that is very durable and comes in an almost inexhaustible range of colours, with gloss, matt and even metallic finishes. It is used for the shells on egg chairs and similarly styled items, so has a retro flair that really stands out from the crowd.

Acrylic Perspex is another of the modern materials and is used for translucent seats. It is available in clear, which makes it appear as if the seat occupant is floating, or comes in a series of vibrant colours. Translucent acrylic is a superb choice for smaller areas as it can be seen through, leaving the look light and airy. Also, if light is shone through coloured acrylic, the surrounding area is bathed in a glow of colour, adding to the visual impact and overall funkiness of the design, ideal for any modern home.

If you are hosting a party in the summer, you may be wondering what drinks you should be serving up. What follows is a brief guide to steer you in the right direction.

The first thing to think about is what food you will be serving. As it is during the summer there is high chance that it will be a BBQ, if this is the case keep an eye on using spicy sauces or lots of salt which may make people more thirsty. If the food you are serving is going to be light, it’s important to pick your drinks accordingly.

We’ll start with wine as this is always a popular choice. You should be serving up white wines or very light reds. Rose is also a popular choice for summer, as are sparkly wines. If you visit a large high street store like M&S Wine you will be able to ask a member of staff to pick wines to suit your cuisine. They will probably have a selection of wines that are best suited for the season. If you aren’t a wine expert then this is a really good idea, as they will really help you pick the best wines for you and your guests.

Another popular summer drink is cocktails, in particular Pimms. It has been said it is the most popular summer drink in the UK and if it’s not the most popular it is certainly up there. It is a drink that is really associated with Britain, straw hats and summer parties. If you are going to make Pimms though, you need to make sure that you do it properly. Of course it depends on your tastes but for a traditional Pimms try the following. Mix 1 part Pimms with 3 parts of lemonade over ice. Add strawberries, slices of orange and cucumber and garnish with a sprig of mint.
In terms of beers and ciders, popular summer options are the lighter more fruity choices, such as Kopparberg cider or Hoegaarden beer. If you don’t drink alcohol or just don’t fancy it, there are plenty of refreshing summer soft drinks. A cool ginger beer for example is a nice option as is a home-made lemonade. Elderflower cordial (home-made or not) is very refreshing and also better for you than fizzy drinks on the market. Saying that, there is nothing better than a diet coke with ice on a warm summer’s day is there? As you can see, your options for summer drinks are mouthwatering.

While researching ideas for our upcoming family reunion, which I am quite pleased to say I am not hosting solo again this year, I came upon this darling idea. Now, if you are not interested in this idea for a family reunion of your own, you may still be interested in using it at any family gathering you participate in, or host.

The idea is to hold a story hour for the children, and even interested adults with tales all related to your family history and traditions. If possible, collect memorable stories, and interesting tid bits from the elders in your bunch, and then designate one storyteller per evening to share these narratives with the young and old alike.

To get the children really interested, include servings of chocolate milk or cocoa depending upon the season. Allow them to share their own recollections of those members who have passed on if they would like to. Who knows you may be cultivating the talents of a new author in your family.

Many people avoid inviting guests over for dinner because they do not feel that their dining space is up to standards. Therefore, if they were to follow a few guidelines, they would be comfortable with the appearance and feel of the space, and much more open to dinner parties. Here are a few tips on creating such an area.

First off, it is said to be preferential to have a round, or oval dining table. This is attributed to several reasons, such as the elimination of sharp edges, which can impact the space and because things feel more intimate with a round one. While many people decide upon a square or rectangular table because it is all the more common, that is not the preferred reason of making such a decision.

Secondly, it should be commented that a sizeable rug, placed underneath the table is essential to warming up the zone, and to tying the area together. This is unless of course the room is already carpeted. Take note that a round table does not require a round rug. A large square, or rectangular one will work very well. Be cautious not to choose one that is too small, for that will mess up the whole look in one foul swoop.

People can be quite funny when it comes to entertaining in new homes, or homes they have on the market. The mere thought of it can almost make them cringe. This is because in a new house, the homeowners feel like they want to keep everything pristine for as long as possible, and that can mean taking precautions like removing shoes at the front door, and being extra careful not to spill anything.

But, as we all know when you invite others over, this all pretty much gets thrown out the window. Almost like it is a definite that somebody is getting their wine glass knocked over, or is dragging in mud onto the wonderfully clean carpet. Once this happens, it is all down hill from there, and the moment where everything seems shiny and new has passed.

Whereas, when folks are trying to sell their house, they are less keen to want to invite anybody over, because they are focused on what is to come in the next home. They are waiting to show off their new diggs. Plus, they want to skip the inconvenience of having to get the house back into top condition for when potential buyers come around again.

Well, my message to those who find themselves either in new homes, or homes for sale around the holidays is to live a little. Embrace the season, and invite guests over. For the house is going to get to looking worn no matter what, and the effort to get it back in to good shape is not that big of a deal. You will forget all about the house in due time, but the good times spent with friends and family you will remember always.

After watching Bree van de Kamp on Desperate Housewives all these live long years many of us believe that every gathering we host needs to be a big production. And this of course means lots of preparation, work and time to get things just right. This I think is sad, because with a little forethought, and organisation a casual more impromptu event can be very pleasing for all involved. In fact, for some guests it is preferential, because formal can feel uncomfortable.

Consider inviting over friends for get togethers that revolve around simple things, like wine and cheese, or just coffee and dessert. Then, you only have to collect a few things, and if you like, there need not be any cooking involved whatsoever.

More and more I am coming across the presence of theme parties, and boy do they turn out some phenomenal photos. The consistency in wardrobe, the repetition of colour schemes, and the fun of the theme itself promote a very festive vibe. It becomes a little like returning to childhood for a long afternoon, or jovial evening. My favourite theme so far was that of the Mad Hatters Tea Party. Oversized zany hats, a mosh posh of china, and celebratory streamers, balloons and cakes are simply sensational. And because it is such a slap dash approach, it becomes one of the easier themes to follow. Just thinking about the tasty tea treats, and the fragrant tea too makes me want to start to organize my own long table affair. What a great idea to run with, and so much fun to boot because precision is not a necessity here.