Dear Debbie: We are considering installing an outdoor shower by the swimming pool and would like to know the pros and cons. Any advice would be appreciated.
Andy
Dear Andy: Outdoor showers are becoming a popular way to keep beach and backyard sand and dirt out of the pool or house. There are systems for all budgets, from the handheld garden hose to rainforest showers.
Choose a style that fits your needs, and pick a location.
Will your shower require privacy? Do you want cold or hot water?
Also, drainage is an important consideration. Open or closed drain? Open has a tendency to attract mosquitoes. You will require a plumber for proper installation and to connect the water source.
One of the top-of-the-line outdoor showers is from MGS, an Italian company that has retailers in North America. (mgstaps.com)
Its line of indoor and outdoor taps and showers for kitchen and bath all share an exquisite flair for style and durability.
The CB406 outdoor shower shown here illustrates the clean, refined lines of Italian craftsmanship partnered with the precision of Swiss engineering for a flawless look and feel.
The tilting handles control water flow and temperature. MGS uses solid stainless steel, with a brushed or polished finish, for durability and low maintenance. The shower resists dents and scratches and ages gracefully.
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Dear Debbie: Is there a way to organize all of my essentials in a small condo without my home looking like a storage locker? I am tired of the look of bins!
Andrea
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Dear Andrea: Vertical surfaces offer plenty of underused space that you can transform into attractive storage arrangements. Everything needs a place to go but it doesn鈥檛 have to be hidden away.
Locate wall space over counters, beside cabinets, inside cupboard doors, in the hallway or in the bedroom. Group the items that need to be stored by category.
Visit your local hardware or home store or go online to find a versatile array of hanging hooks and shelving to set up your displays. This way, you will discover items that you don鈥檛 really need or use, and out they go.
Another option is to create a nook in the wall by cutting out space between the studs. This inset will hold toiletries in the bathroom or CDs in the living room.
Save the bins for items not often needed that can be stored under the bed or high on a shelf in a cupboard. Old suitcases hold lots of stuff and they make an interesting arrangement stacked up in a corner.
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Dear Debbie:We are building a cottage and need help with cabinets and flooring. I鈥檓 considering nutmeg stain for the cabinets and an island painted in a biscotti colour with a cocoa glaze. What colour for the laminate floor? Does it have to match the cabinets?
Lynda
Dear Lynda: This really is the decade of colour alternatives to beige, or bright contrasts. Your floor does not have to match. Check out all the shades that are available now in laminates. Then choose one that will add definition to the kitchen, such as a teal green or baby blue. It will look brilliant.
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Debbie Travis鈥檚 House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to [email protected]. You can follow Debbie on Twitter at twitter.com/debbie_travis, and visit Debbie鈥檚 new website, debbietravis.com.
