The Best Home and Garden Sites

Design Inspired by Earth and Sky, October 22, 2006

"Earth was used to create farmhouses in France, cottages in England, castles in Germany, and missions in California and Arizona. Eighteenth- and nineteenth-century adobe buildings still stand today in New York, Boston, Virginia, and South Carolina." ~ pg. 35

The cover picture is a picture of Mision de Sol, a resort and spa with vibrant colors, dramatic waterfalls and beautiful adobe walls. Throughout the pages we are introduced to textures, interiors, surroundings, traditional adobes, modern adobes, adobe escapes and building materials needed to create a rugged home with romantic appeal.

The decorative iron sconces with glowing candles are inspiring and the use of reflective pools and lush plantings adds artistic appeal. I loved the bookshelves in a room with a chandelier, table with a vase of lilies and rough terra tiled floor covered with a beautifully textured red carpet.

~The Rebecca Review

Mediterranean Design

Ideas for Exquisite Living, October 19, 2006

"The stonework is hand chiseled and laid in an organized pattern, with wide chinking and wooden accents. Wood-framed windows deep-set in very thick walls purposely shade the rooms from the hot Mediterranean sun yet swing open easily to direct the sea breeze throughout." ~ pg. 108, Stone Casitas

Luxurious designs are displayed in all their glory throughout this beautiful collection of inspired ideas. From the incredible spa-like pools in creative shapes (including stars) to the sapphire blue tiles in a Moroccan-style bathroom, the pictures are breathtaking. Dreamy outdoor settings filled with sunflowers and fountains look like scenes from a novel you would want to live in and the terrace with a tented roof garden is so romantic!

Sunlit walls surround an outdoor seating area and sheer orange curtains allows light to filter into a room with ancient walls. Light plays with color and texture throughout the book and makes this fascinating.

Villa Rockledge has an enviable reading room with a cozy chair upholstered in a crimson fabric that is mirrored in the carpet, but with less complexity. The room seems especially comforting and may give you some ideas for your own reading room/library.

The walls of the rooms throughout are almost as interesting as the furnishings. In one room a lime-washed pumpkin walls glows in the light of candles, a chandelier and a fireplace. An outdoor room seems to glow with hints of lavender blue as sunlight filters in onto the stone pillars and tiled floor. The stonework in the Ada Hotel in Turkey is fascinating and create the feeling that you are living inside a castle.

Every page of this book is a masterpiece! It is rare to feel such longing to dissolve into the pages of a book and to wander through intoxicatingly designed rooms, covered verandas and courtyards. The aquamarine seating area that matches the color of the water in a pool is a must-see. You can truly imagine spending much more time outside with such beauty. Unlike many architecture books of exclusive homes, this one showcases a few hotels you could actually visit!

~The Rebecca Review

Cowboy Style

Showcase of Contemporary Western Design, October 16, 2006

"In the typical cowboy-chic living room, overstuffed couches and deep Molesworth-inspired club chairs invite lounging while oversized upholstered ottomans offer a variation on the traditional coffee table, providing softer edges, a more casual feeling, and extra seating." ~ pg. 54

Cowboy Style is filled with warm comforting styles to reflect a casual sophistication. Intricately designed armoires and Tiffany lamps are as welcome as the more organic designs made from ponderosa pine.

Wood furniture shimmers in the glow of fireplaces and creative chandeliers in rooms layered in comfort. Intricately designed carpets and designer bookcases make the spaces inviting.

A magical artist's studio built in Wyoming showcases a cut-metal lamp by a California craftsman, Tony Alvis. His fireplace screens are of especially high interest in this book because they are scenes of cowboys overlooking deserts and the interplay of the light behind the silhouettes makes for a fascinating magical experience.

Other interesting features include the details about sheep wagons used by sheepherders in remote mountains, cozy cabins and stories about the artists featured throughout this book.

~The Rebecca Review

The Secret Gardens of Charleston

Gorgeous Secluded Gardens and Lush Green Landscapes, July 26, 2006

"Today, the garden has something in bloom all year-round: roses and sasanquas at Christmas; pansies and snaps in winter; jasmine, bulbs, and alyssum in the spring; geraniums, phlox, petunias, and impatiens in the summer. Window boxes spill periwinkle, violas, verbenas, and ferns."

Louisa Pringle Carmeron loves gardening and she grew up in the mysterious world of historic gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. She lives in an eighteenth-century house and joins Lauren Preller Chambers in the creation of this beautiful book.

Many of the gardens in this book cannot be seen from the street and are hidden behind ancient walls and are not open to the public. So this book is a taste of the wide variety of hidden paradise. Gardens include a Japanese Garden with delicate ferns, Italian themes with cypress reaching to the pale blue sky, Misty morning gardens near a Marsh, Herb gardens and Formal gardens with gothic style carriage houses.

The quaint house with jasmine growing over the mailbox attached to a white fence reveals a sense of care and beauty. Flowerboxes outside the windows add a sense of nostalgia. The lush foliage speaks of a more humid climate.

As you read this book you can imagine having picnics behind a walled garden or sipping tea on a greenhouse porch. Shaded benches and courtyards are all part of the charm. One of my favorite pictures is the courtyard with cedar trees and a fountain. The paving stones look very natural and you imagine the owners of the home must enjoy sitting out in the cooling shade in the summer.

~The Rebecca Review

Natural Carpet Shampoo

Soft Fluffy Carpets, October 19, 2006

Earth Friendly Carpet Shampoo is not highly scented and has a delicate scent you could enhance with your own essential oils. I used this in a Dirt Devil Easy Steamer Deluxe carpet cleaner and there was no problem with foaming and this product worked very effectively to dissolve dirt and to remove stains.

This would be perfect for smaller carpet cleaners too and the solution can be used in hot or cold steam machines. The 40:1 Dilution Ratio makes this economical and one bottle of shampoo will clean up to eight average-sized rooms.

Ingredients: Plant-based surfactants, Soap Bark, Chamomile, Horsetail Plant, Bergamot, Sage and Purified water.

This is a natural, non-toxic product that helps to make the world a better place and puts you in a good mood because it truly gets your carpets super clean. This product can be used on wool, nylon, olefin and cotton rugs.

Biodegradable
Color Safe
Petrochemical Free

I was very pleased with the results and felt much safer using this product than anything I've tried before. It was comforting to know that a product exists that won't harm your health and fill your house with irritating chemicals. The carpets also seemed to dry faster and by the next day they were soft and fluffy!

Highly Recommended!

~The Rebecca Review

Tired of sleeping on your old mattress?

Select Comfort - sleep number beds

ACE Hardware Brands you trust.

Acorn Online Unique "Knight Light." Thought that was pretty witty. Gallantly illuminates
nocturnal journeys.

Adirondack Design Adirondack chairs, love seats, tables, swings and more.

Amana Quality appliances. Also see: OurHouse.com

Amerimark Blackout curtains and other unique home products.

Arrange A Room Would you love to rearrange your furniture? Make a design online and print it out! :)

As Seen on TV Kits #1

Be Home Eager to redecorate? Also see Area Rugs Etc

Bare Walls Up to 20% off on prints, posters and lithographs.

Bed,Bath and Beyond A huge collection of bedding and just about everything else to tastefully outfit a home.

Best Recyle Bin System You have to see item 17-0022. In is ingenious! The cart holds three recycling bins and has wheels!

Best Selections Treasures from artisans, galleries and shops around the world.

Natural Remedies & Beauty Products

Natural Remedies

Blindsgalore Home and commercial blinds. Get a free quote.

Bob Vila Tim the Tool Man's favorite rival.

Bombay Co Distinctive home furnishings.

Brookstone Hard-to-find tools and storage. Look for their unique talking photo album or back massager.

Burpee Featuring heirloom seeds, new varieties and vegetables, flower, annuals and perennials.

Buy Buzz Ethnic and internationally flavored home decorations.

Brylane Home Home decorating heaven.

Bloomingdales You never know what you might find!

Beautiful Brooms Colorful brooms made from sorghum and bamboo.

City Yard Gardening in the city. Make a garden anywhere!

Company Kids Bedding for kids. Look for the ABC wool rug - adorable.

Crate and Barrel The search the world for the best home product.

Current Custom-Framed Prints. Also see their main site for calendars and calendar hangers.

Curtain Exchange Designer-look/ready-made curtains.

Decorate Today Wallpaper, blinds, lighting, wall art, area rugs and more. Free UPS.

Lavender Cleaning Products

Natural Cleaning Products

Seventh Generations Products Work! The laundry soap, bathroom
cleaner and kitchen cleaner make laundry and cleaning a pleasure.

Scrub the Tub with the delicious Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Kitchen Scrub and
your entire bathroom will be scented like a field of flowers.

Lavender Laundry Soap

Lavender, October 30, 2005

"If every household in the U.S. Replaced just one bottle of 100 oz. Ultra petroleum based liquid laundry detergent with our 100 oz. Vegetable based product, we could save 220,000 barrels of oil, enough to heat and cool 13,000 U.S. homes for a year! ~back of bottle

The Seventh Generation Natural Laundry Detergent is ultra concentrated, tough on dirt and stains, non-toxic, biodegradable and hypo-allergenic. How often do you read all those items in one list?

For the past year I have purchased bottle after bottle of this Lavender scented product. Now I look forward to doing the laundry. It is more like a Zen experience. The lovely lavender scent is much milder than regular harsh detergent scents and they have a matching Lavender softener.

You may also notice this product cleans your clothes better and your skin will also notice the change. If you have any allergies to regular detergents, you might want to try this for a few months. You can also use less detergent, 1/4 of a cup is quite enough for most loads or you can use up to 1/2 cup.

This Product is not tested on Animals...I'm supporting this company as much as I can. They are really trying to make a difference in the world.

The 100 Fl.OZ bottle will wash about 33 loads.

~The Rebecca Review

Lavender Scent Dish Liquid

Digital City Your Town Channel which offers local news, restaurants, entertainment, shopping, etc.

Domestications Bring a new style to your home. Furniture covers, accessories, bedding, tablecloths and curtains.

Eddie Bauer Home The classic look for bedding, furniture, toys and rugs. Cute star shelf with pegs.

Eziba Handcrafted products from around the world.

Flat Hose 1-800-717-8866 A hose that rolls up easily and is more lightweight.

Frontera Large inventory of indoor and outdoor furniture. Search by room.

Gaiam White cedar Adirondack rockers, happy lights for the winter blues, rolling recycle cart and HEPA air filters. Also look for their Laundry Organizer and Folding Station #10-0015 and Laundry Fragrances #10-0028.

Bi-O-Kleen Dishwashing Liquid

Safe for Sensitive Skin, March 13, 2006

After weeks of using most soaps, you will notice how your skin dries out, especially in the winter. With this dishwashing liquid, you may wash more dishes and start to notice an improvement in your skin. If ingredients like coconut, orange, aloe and vitamin E sound delicious in a hand cream; imagine them in your dishwashing liquid. The oils cut grease while the vitamin E nourishes your skin. An excellent companion to this product is the Soy Cleanser. If you need even more cleaning power, add a dash of baking soda.

If you are looking for the most effective cleaners in the natural market, Bi-O-Kleen promises and delivers. These products work and you can feel good about cleaning your house because they don't harm the environment. This soap and the laundry soap are very mild and can also be scented with your own collection of essential oils. You can pour this dishwashing liquid into a dispenser and add a few drops of orange oil, rose or lavender oil. Essential oils make cleaning more enjoyable and a more beautiful/relaxing experience.

~The Rebecca Review

Bi-O-Kleen Glass Cleaner

Classy Glass Cleaner - Sparkle the Entire House, March 13, 2006

No Ammonia
Streak Free Shine
No Fumes
Vinegar Power

The first time you use this glass cleaner it will remove all the buildup from other cleaners, which will make everything super shiny. The Kosher vinegar in this product has a very mild scent, hardly noticeable.

Other fun uses:

Can be diluted with equal parts water and used with professional glass cleaning equipment. Can be poured into your car's auto washer reserve unit.

If you take this around the house and shine up mirrors, the front of the stove, the toaster, chrome in the bathrooms, the windows, mirrors and the glass on pictures....etc, you will notice your entire house is sparkling. Spring Cleaning has rarely been this much fun. This cleaner and the soy cleanser are delicious products. The soy cleaner has a lime scent and this product has a fresh vinegar scent that reminds me of a mixture my grandma would make up at home to clean the windows.

The vinegar is definitely the secret. What you might enjoy most is the mild scent and how you can breathe and clean at the same time! Unlike other overwhelming window cleaners, this is definitely ammonia free. I cleaned houses for years and this window/glass cleaner tops them all. For superior shine, this is one classy glass cleaner.

~The Rebecca Review

Bi-O-Kleen Soy Scrub

Lovely Lime Scented and Environmentally Friendly Cleaner/Scrub, March 13, 2006

If you have been dreaming of a natural cleaner that cuts grease and takes down everything from marks on your floor to yellowing on baking sheets, this is your cleaner. The delicious lime scent may encourage more cleaning and this cleaner is safe for all surfaces in the kitchen and bathroom. It will even tackle scuff marks on the floor, marks on the walls and hard to clean pots and pans.

If you need a little extra abrasive, just sprinkle in some baking soda. This cleaned the stovetop perfectly without scratching and polished up the toaster, lid on the crock pot and made all the tile in the kitchen super shiny. Anything it touches is shinier and cleaner because it seems to remove any oil buildup and rinses clean, leaving no residue behind.

Is there anything soy can't do? The soybean oil in this product replaces hazardous solvents and has excellent cleaning power. It is biodegradable and this cleaner is also gentle to the skin. I'm amazed at how it can cut grease, but it doesn't dry out my hands even when using this without gloves.

You can use this on glass, pots and pans, bathroom and kitchen sinks and even polished surfaces like stainless steel sinks and toasters. The chrome shines beautifully after just a quick cleaning and it even seemed to remove some of the water stains each time the bathroom was cleaned.

Next, I'm cleaning the outdoor furniture. It is good to know this product is biodegradable and also safe for the environment.

~The Rebecca Review

Gazoontite A site to help you fight allergies.

Good Home A traditional furniture store with a custom upholstery shop.

Great Buildings Gateway to architecture from around the world.

Haiku Designs Create a harmonious bedroom environment with zen platform beds, Japanese furniture,
lamps, shoji screens and more...

HGTV Fun home and garden ideas from your favorite TV shows. Home and Garden TV.

Home Advisor Get expert advice for your home. Simple repairs, decorating tips, major remodels.

Home Base Source for Weber Grills. Also see Cool House Plans if you are building a house.

Home Click Villeroy & Boch Isabelle Green Decanter and other items.

Lavender Surface Scrub

Goodbye Harsh Chemicals, October 21, 2005

Hello Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dreamy Lavender Scrub!

If you have been overwhelmed by chemicals while cleaning, then you will truly appreciate the natural scent of lavender in this scrub. This can be used in the kitchen or bathroom and it actually does contain real essential oils of lavender and orange. Unlike more synthetic cleaners, using this product can also have a therapeutic effect.

Ingredients: Calcium Carbonate, Oxygen Bleach (natural cleaning activator), Plant-Derived Surfactants, Fragrance, and Essential Oils of Lavender and Orange.

You may find yourself using less of this product than you would of a less natural product. The powder lasts a long time and you only need a little to clean an entire sink or bathtub. Unlike other powders that seem to dissolve more quickly, this one really cleans and scrubs before it dissolves, although it seems safe for most surfaces.

You may also find the "gardenia" scrub to be equally entertaining. I love the scents of these products and it makes me want to clean. I no longer dread cleaning showers and even look forward to washing the kitchen sink.

~TheRebeccaReview.com

Home Depot Tools, hardware and just about everything else for the do-it-yourself projects.

Home Ideas Link to home improvement magazines, find resources and tools you need.

Home Portfolio The world's largest resource for home design products. Where dreams become homes.

Home Remodeling Guide 123 Directory of home remodeling, home services, and home

improvement solutions, tips and articles.

Home Time Improvement, remodeling and repair.

IKEA Innovative ideas! Look for hanging lanterns and other fun items.

Improve Net Thinking about remodeling? Get great ideas and product information.

Improvements Catalog Quick & Clever Problem solvers. Order you own American Flag.

Mary Ellen's Complete Home Reference Book

Just Ask Jane Learn tips on house cleaning and home care. Or ask a cleaning question.

Kenmore Ranges, dishwashers, refrigerators, etc.

Kid Style You can buy one item or everything on a specific page to coordinate a bedroom. Time Saver!

Kohlerco Bath and kitchen ideas.

LandscapeUSA.com Gardening and landscape supplies.

Linenplace.com, Inc. The highest quality linens at the best prices.

llbean Top-quality goods. Everything from Indoor furnishings to accessories.

Insurance Web Research insurance coverage for your home, car, health and life.

Leather Furniture Cleaner: 1-800-300-2359. Ask for Leather Master's Cleaners.

LG Appliances Wash and dry your laundry in the same machine. Saves space.

Loose Ends Beautiful decorations for your home including wreaths, pottery and seashells.

Martex Caring for your sheets.

Microban Durable antibacterial products.

Home and Garden II

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