Organizing Made Easy with Cabinets
Just in time for spring cleaning and organizing, ReStore has cabinets of a variety of shapes and
Cabinets available at ReStore to help you organize your space.
sizes. These repurposed cabinets would be great in a basement or garage. Most of us have areas of our homes where stuff tends to pile up and we would love to have it organized and accessible, but still be out of sight. You may have tools lying around the garage or an area of a hobby room or basement where you have piles of craft supplies. Instead of stacking bins of fabric, yarn and other materials you want to keep but don’t have space for in a closet, you could install small cabinets for a more finished look.
If a room or portion of your home seems overwhelmed by clutter, your first step may be to declutter by donating and recycling what you can. Once you’ve cleared out the clutter, you can evaluate and organize what’s left and store it in newly installed cabinets. You’ll probably feel more organized and productive right away. For more decluttering tips, visit the Unclutterer blog.
What about you? Do you have any tips to share for how you keep your work or hobby spaces organized?
Hiring a contractor or undertaking major home improvement projects can be tricky. Make the 
wrong step, and you just might find your house appearing on HGTV’s popular Holmes Inspection show. The show features a homeowner facing massive repair bills and dangerous living conditions due to the incompetence of a home inspector. That is where Mike Holmes – or one of his expert contractors like Damon Bennett – comes in, inspects the home, and makes it right.
You’ll get a chance to see Damon Bennett in person at the Montgomery County Community Home Show on February 11 when he hosts a home improvement seminar. The home show will be held at the Universities at Shady Grove Conference Center in Rockville on February 11 and 12. Exhibitors at the show include a variety of providers, from remodelers to landscapers, painters, insulation and window companies, and much more. If you attend, you’ll be supporting our work since a portion of the proceeds from each ticket purchased goes to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County.
“This is an opportunity to help homeowners maximize the benefits of their homes, which is usually the biggest investment a person ever makes,” said Scott Smith, President of Mid Atlantic Expos and producer of the show. “These benefits could be as simple as the enjoyment a family gets from their home or something more tangible like energy efficiency, which saves them money and has a positive impact on our environment.”
Scott says the company works to offer programs at the show that aren’t simply informative, but are also a lot of fun. In addition to expert contractor Damon Bennett, the home show will feature veterinarian Dr. Susie Homire, known as Maryland’s Dog Whisperer. Dr. Homire, known for her motto of “helping good dogs give up bad habits,” writes the A Dog Whisperer Online blog and provides training to frustrated dog owners. Decorating Den Interiors will also give a seminar at the show. Decorating Den, which has been helping homeowners for 40 years, has been featured in House Beautiful, Traditional Home, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping and Better Homes and Gardens.
In addition to the expert speakers, another advantage to the show is that it gives homeowners an opportunity to connect with providers who can help them improve their living space. Scott says, “We have 65 booths at the show and the smaller size of this show really helps residents connect with the providers in a relaxed atmosphere. We try to have fun with the show and have a giveaway of something that most homeowners would enjoy. This year there will be a chance to win a set of cookware worth $2000.”
In addition to a financial donation of a portion of the proceeds, Mid Atlantic Expos also donated a booth space at the show to ReStore so we can educate attendees about the store, what we do, and how they can help support our mission. Hope to see you there!
What: Montgomery County Community Home Show
When: Saturday, February 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, February 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Conference Center at the Universities at Shady Grove at 9630 Gudelsky Drive, Rockville
Seminars: Damon Bennett will appear Saturday, February 11 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.; Dr. Susie Homire will appear Saturday, February 11 at noon; and Decorating Den will appear Saturday, February 11 at 2 p.m.
Cost: $6 for Adults; $4 for Active and Retired Military; A portion of the proceeds support Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County
ReStore Has Tile: Time to Tackle that DIY Project
Colorful tile for your creative DIY projects
It’s a new year, and with the calendar still saying winter – despite recent spring-like temperatures – it’s the perfect time for an indoor do-it-yourself project like tiling a bathroom, accent wall, or other small space in your home. ReStore recently received a large donation of 12” by 12” octagonal ceramic tile and another generous donation of 6” by 6” porcelain tile in cream and white. And we have some bags of grout to help you put it all together. In addition, we have tile in various colors for decorating small areas or making a mosaic. Come take a look and see what your next DIY project could be!
Business Donations Mean Greater Selection at ReStore
At ReStore, we value and encourage donations of new or gently used furniture, appliances and building supplies by individuals. It’s always great to see people avoid more trash in our landfills and give their possessions a chance for a new life as someone else’s treasure. We’ve seen great stories about shopping at ReStore lately, including how a new owner can personalize an item in our ReImagine at ReStore feature and the story of an old piano that is thought to have entertained many at New York’s famous Cotton Club finding a new home.
But just as important as these donations from individuals are the donations that come from our local businesses. We have new doors, cabinets, tile and many more items that have never been used available at ReStore, thanks to the generosity of local businesses. So if your business is able to make a tax-deductible donation of building supplies, appliances or furniture, please consider donating to ReStore. Or if you’re in the market to purchase one of those items, remember to check out our supply. You’ll be advancing ReStore’s mission to support Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to help families realize the dream of homeownership.
Story of Piano Purchased at ReStore in Local News
The Montgomery County Gazette and The Washington Post Local Living section carried the story of the unique piano sold at ReStore that was believed to have been used at the famous Cotton Club in Harlem, N.Y. back in the 1930s. Donor Sherman Harris said the piano was brought down from New York in 1952 to be used in the home of real estate agent Lillian Smith of Washington, DC. Mr. Harris was given the piano in the 1970s by Mrs. Smith’s nephew, Kermit Thornton, who was a close friend of his. Buyer James Hunt said the piano will be his inspiration as he remodels his basement in 1930s and 1940s decor. We’re happy at ReStore to see this story shared and to learn a little more about the Cotton Club’s place in our nation’s cultural history.
Welcome to ReImagine at ReStore: Our DIY Inspiration Column
There are so many clever and creative things you can do with the items available at ReStore. A little imagination goes a long way in turning an old door, an outdated light fixture, a tired piece of furniture or almost anything you can imagine into a unique and trendy piece perfect for
Interior Decorator Jenifer Yoon
decorating your home. To get our inspiration, we’ve teamed up with interior decorator Jenifer Yoon, of Interior Creations by Jenifer in Rockville, to launch ReImagine at ReStore, a new blog feature where Jenifer will share her ideas on what customers could do with items available at ReStore to create chic decorating pieces for their homes. In this feature, Jenifer explains how to transform a common brass chandelier into a unique dining room focal piece.
From Common to Chic: How to ReImagine an Outdated Brass Chandelier into a Piece You’ll Love
by Jenifer Yoon
Contractor-grade brass chandeliers are everywhere and can make a place look very dated and humdrum. To give them a fresh new and personalized look, you can easily repaint them whatever color you choose. When selecting a chandelier for a do-it-yourself project, ignore the color and pay attention to the scale and the shape of the piece. Ask yourself if you like the lines of the piece. Does it have graceful curves or sleek modern elements? If the color or finish is the only thing you don’t like, then all you need to make it perfect is a little bit of time and some spray paint.
Example of brass chandelier available at ReStore
Once you have everything you need, then the fun begins:
-Take the chandelier outside or to a well-ventilated area and protect anything you don’t want to get paint on. If you have a way to hang or suspend the chandelier, that will work best and allow you the most access to the entire piece.
-If you can, remove anything that isn’t metal. Some chandeliers have plastic tubes to look like candles that you can slide off and set aside.
-You’ll want to tape over any light bulb sockets or wires so paint doesn’t get on them.
-Use the steel wool or fine grit sandpaper to lightly rough up the surface (but be careful not to gouge or damage it); this will help the paint stick to the light fixture.
-Start with the primer spray paint and apply a thin layer, let dry, then apply a second coat. If you apply spray paint too heavily, it can cause drips and runs in your finish.
-Then spray with two to three thin coats of paint, allowing 10 minutes of dry time in between coats, and then let the whole piece dry for 24 hours.
-Finally, if you are an experienced DIYer then carefully wire up the chandelier or contact an electrician to wire it for you. We want you to be shocked by the beauty of the piece not by an electrical current.
And there you have it! You have an updated lighting fixture from a very common and readily available brass chandelier. We’ve found a video that shows some of these steps at http://bit.ly/wKnkJp so you can get a better visual of the process and see a sample of a finished piece.
Next time, Jenifer will reimagine ways to use some great folding doors with decorative glass panels to create a headboard or a room divider that adds character and lets the light in. Check out samples of Jenifer’s work at www.ICbyJen.com
Lincoln-Style Bed Donated to ReStore
Lincoln-style bed donated to ReStore.
An elegant Lincoln-style bed was recently donated to ReStore. According to the donor, the bed was purchased from an antique dealer in Lexington, Ky. in 1977. It measures 8 feet 7 inches tall from the floor to the top of its intricately carved headboard, which has a removable portion making it suitable for a room with an 8-foot ceiling. This bed would be a beautiful addition to a home!
Piano with Unique History Finds New Home
Earlier this month, ReStore customer James Hunt purchased the piano that was reported to have been used in the famous Cotton Club jazz club in Harlem, New York. Sherman Harris, who donated the piano, remembers it being brought down by a designer in 1952 to furnish the home of a well-connected Washington, DC real estate agent who was looking to turn a room in her home into an elegant gathering spot.
James said he came across the piano at ReStore, which he tries to visit to find what he needs before shopping at Home Depot. According to James, he and his wife, Ai-Fen Lin, are not collectors, although he admits to being addicted to the History Channel show, “American Pickers” about two collectors and dealers who travel around to homes and go through houses full of antiques or just old stuff to buy items to resell. James adds, “Like a lot of people now, we tend to romanticize the past and we are always browsing thrift stores, yard sales and antique stores and sometimes we come across furniture and accessories for our home. This piano will be the center piece for our basement renovation. We have been wavering between a few retro themes and this seals it!”
Piano believed to have once been used in Harlem's Cotton Club sold at ReStore
James said he wished there was some authentication of the piano’s journey from the Cotton Club because the connection to the club and its place in history are very important to him. “There is no getting around some of the less savory history of the Cotton Club, but there is also no denying its significance to the Harlem Renaissance and to the music of the time,” he said. The Cotton Club has been linked to segregation as it served only white patrons, although the entertainers and most of the staff were African American.
About the piano, James says, “It is a fantastic piece and it is a great motivation for me to finish up my renovations and get it tuned. Ai-Fen Lin and I couldn’t be happier that we found it, although my first impression of the piano was actually negative. It is not in great shape, but the story behind it is quite interesting. I would like to thank Sherman Harris for his donation and for his willingness to share his story and that of the piano. We spent 45 minutes on the phone last night and it couldn’t have been more enjoyable. Thanks Mr. Harris.”
HFH-MC Board Member Shares Her 2012 Resolution
This time of year conversations often turn to our New Year’s resolutions. With this in mind, we asked Board Member Margaret Cromelin to share her resolution for 2012. Margaret has served on the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County, MD since 2010 and shares her marketing expertise with ReStore. She is Vice President of Marketing for the Mid-Atlantic region for the commercial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle.
My Resolution for 2012
by Margaret Cromelin, Habitat for Humanity-MC Board Member
Re-gift to charity! That’s my New Year’s resolution for 2012. There are lots of things I need to do more of (exercise) and less of (eat), but one of my less predictable resolutions this year is to do strategic, charity-minded purging of things I just don’t use or want. Take the two artificial-greens Christmas wreathes hanging in our small storage room in the basement. I’m going to donate them to Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County ReStore when I go out there for a board meeting this month. It used to be you could only make donations for the ReStore Holiday Shoppe in the months leading up to Christmas; but now ReStore has storage space and can take holiday donations year-round.
I’m also going to donate a brand new triangle-shaped desk from Wisteria that’s in my garage. It arrived with a noticeable nick on the writing surface, so they sent me a new one and told me not to bother to send back the damaged one. Even with the nick, it’s a good-looking little desk and I know it will sell at ReStore. Then there are the clothes that don’t fit or have way too pronounced shoulder pads… I can’t donate them to ReStore, but I’ll find another worthy organization that will be happy to have them.
What about you? Tell us about your 2012 new year’s resolution. You can share your resolution in the comment portion immediately following this post. But if your resolution is to complete a home project or live greener, consider entering our ReSolve and ReStore contest below!
Time to Organize: Advice from Unclutterer
January is a great time to get organized and get rid of clutter in our spaces, whether it’s a work or a living space. It’s also a great time to plan home projects for the year. Creating an organized space out of a disorganized and cluttered area can be daunting, so it’s not surprising many people put it off for years.
However, there are some people who have a knack for organization and can either help you organize your space or give great advice on how to do it. If you plan to tackle the clutter in your space, check out professional organizer Erin Doland’s recent blog post for some great ideas. And if you are motivated to take her advice, make a resolution and stick to it. Tell us about it in the post above about ReStore’s ReSolve and ReStore contest.
