POSTCARDS: MORE THAT JUST CORRESPONDENCE

Ever get a postcard in the mail from a friend or relative telling you how much fun they're having, think to yourself how pretty the image on the postcard is, then promptly toss it into a box or drawer filled with similar items?

If you're looking for a way to spruce up your walls with some new art or pictures this fall, consider that box or drawer full of old correspondence. Finding new art can sometimes be as easy as looking through your catchall drawers.

By adding just a simple frame, you have an all-new piece to set on a shelf or hang on the wall. Don't just use frames that hug the edges of the postcards either. Sometimes an over-sized frame with a mat that is 3 inches or more highlights the postcard even better.

If you have multiple postcards that are related by location (maybe your parents go to the same place each summer and send you a different postcard each year) or theme (beaches, historical locations, etc.), consider getting a multi-opening or collage frame. These allow you to group two or more postcards into one frame, but the mat has several openings cut into it.

The same principals apply to greeting cards. Sometimes people who donate to a specific charity will be sent greeting cards with an artist's work on the front as a thank-you gift. These cards make excellent framed art as well.

You don't even have to wait for someone to send you a postcard or greeting card to put this tip into action.
The next time you are looking at greeting cards, if you see one that has artwork or a photo that catches your eye, don't wait for an occasion to purchase it and send it to someone, purchase it for yourself and frame it.

Many greeting card stores carry postcards, as do many grocery stores and mini-marts. In particular, they often carry postcards that highlight the city you live in or near. If you want to show a little city pride, pick up a postcard or two with city scenes you like and frame them. Next time you're on vacation, consider picking up some postcards then and framing them, too.

Framing a card or postcard that speaks to you artistically, also displays a piece of yourself and your personal history on your walls and bookshelves.

ALTERNATIVES TO PLAIN OLD KITCHEN CABINETS

If your kitchen is lacking in cabinets and other storage spaces, consider an alternative to putting in more permanent storage - a bookcase or open shelves.

Free-standing furniture and wall shelves can be a flexible, lower-cost alternative to buying and installing additional kitchen cabinets. These options also have the ability to be moved to a different room in your home if you decide to add kitchen cabinets later, or you move to a different residence and find that your needs have changed.

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Bookcases can hold everything from boxes of noodles and other dry goods, to cans of soup, and even your dishes. Just about any style you favor will work. Consider the contemporary style bookcase to the left. It allows you to store your kitchen items and also displays them in an out-of-the-ordinary way. Or, if you prefer, you can choose a more traditional style.

There are also few limits on what materials the bookcase is made from - wood or metal - so feel free to mix and match materials in your kitchen. Contrast your wood cabinets with a modern, metal shelving unit, or contrast your contemporary-style cabinets with a traditional element. The one caveat is that we don't recommend you choose a unit with mainly glass shelves if you plan to store heavy items in the unit.

 

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If you want more counter space in addition to extra shelving space, choose a furniture piece that is counter height, about 36". We recommend placing something on the shelving unit's top to protect it from stains and knife marks. Cutting boards that are the same depth as the bookcase (about 12" in most cases) or a little deeper, placed along the length of the bookcase, often work well in this function.

You can also put a pair of bookcases back-to-back to create a narrow kitchen island. But, again, we recommend placing something on top of these pieces to protect the top surfaces of these units.

For kitchen items or other items that you want to put on display, consider floating shelves or other shelves that attach directly to the kitchen wall. These can be placed anywhere there is open wall space in your kitchen, including over a window.

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So, if you have a special teapot that you wouldn't mind putting on display or a set of glasses that you want out to catch the afternoon light, consider adding a wall shelf or two to your kitchen. Just watch that the items you place on the wall shelves aren't too heavy. These items often have a weight limit, and you don't want to accidentally damage your kitchen wall if the shelf becomes overburdened and comes down.

One thing to note when choosing a furniture piece as additional kitchen storage - you may favor a shelving unit with doors to protect items from dust or spills, but we don't recommend extra-deep furniture such as a wardrobe for use in the kitchen. Often these pieces are deep enough that it makes seeing or reaching items in the back difficult. So, we recommend a unit that is no more than 14" deep.

Aside from that, it's up to you as to how high or how long of the furniture piece is that you choose to use. Just remember to measure your space first, before you go hunting for a free-standing piece to expand the storage in your kitchen.