Every time we have to hang something and I say we need to find a Stud, my husband always says “Here I Am” and starts scanning himself with the Stud finder 🙄
And if a Command Strip tears when you're taking it off, and there's nothing left for you to grab, use dental floss. Just slide the dental floss behind the hook and work it out, and it will divide the Command Strip so you can take off the hook, and then find a piece to pull the rest off--straight down. This is the company's recommendation, and I've tried it and it works.
USEFUL!!! I had this happen with a paper holder I had stuck to the side of my computer monitor. Apparently the heat from the monitor had dried out the adhesive and it tore when I tried to remove it. I ended up with a big mess. I will keep this tucked away for next time!
@@staceykersting705 On brick? On stone? On rental walls? (From family experience I can tell you that toothpaste is a good way to lose your deposit. It doesn’t fool landlords at all.) For people with arthritis or other hand issues who can’t easily wield hammers? For people who aren’t handy and are more likely to leave big holes in walls than neatly attaching nails? Command hooks are excellent alternatives for many people and situations.
@@RachelReiss i was thinking rentals...no impressive stonework! Just sheetrock. I usually see scars on walls from past tenants when the light hits just right and my eye's super close to the wall. When I leave, my places look WAY better than they did before. Everyone's different and i didn't go into all the contingencies, but those little tiny picture hanging nails from the Dollar Tree always work for me....about as small as staples in diameter. Usually don't even require any remedial action when removed. I don't even usually have a hammer. U can press them in with the blade of a knife. Easier than a push pin.
In Canada we seem to use "duvet" to mean "down filled", and as you say, it needs a cover unless you want to wash the duvet often. "Comforter" refers to the version that's filled with non-down or hypo-allergenic materials. They work great with covers too but they're often designed to coordinate with pillow covers and shams so people don't always cover them up. At least, this is the way retailers describe them when they sell them.
Agreed! I have used down quilts/duvets for 60 years and you could not buy premade covers in the US so you had to have the covers made or sew them yourselves from 2 topsheets. A comforter was always the decorative polyester lightweight quilted covering that is used by itself and comes with the matching shams.
@@jennifershevin5588 Agree! we always had covers on our (down) duvets. The USA actually has electric kettles now, too! I'm SO happy about it. My friends think u can make tea in a microwave! We were always the only family to have an electric kettle. My classmates were amazed. Mom was Canadian.
@@staceykersting705 I sent a kettle to a friend of mine in the states years ago, and I was really surprised to learn that he'd never seen such a thing before! I can't imagine making Tea any other way but they're also pretty great for doing things like boiling corn quickly [ if you're travelling for example ]. Also I wonder how people didn't know about them because Target was selling the Michael Graves design stove-top kettle years ago, and we couldn't get them in Canada then. There are so many nice looking ones out now, such as the electric kettle design from SMEG, that are also available in the US. Enjoy them!
You have a fantastic combination of class and humor. This content was so helpful, and I found myself laughing throughout the segment. Thank you for all you put into your channel!
Also if the paint on your walls is old then anything painted after that time even with the same can of paint it will not match because fresh paint and old paint doesn't look the same color because of the old aged paint that has dried out on your walls. So if you have a huge hole in the middle of your wall, paint the whole wall over again after patching.
The light bulb info came right on time for me! I have a floor lamp in a favorite reading corner that has begun to annoy me because it's too dim. I thought the low (800) lumens was because the bulb is an LED. Your explanations helped me admit that the bulb needs to go into a different lamp, maybe in the bedroom (?) for mood lighting. Glad I stopped to watch this video; buying a new bulb is on my list for today! 👍🏾🙂👌🏾 Edit: Back from Lowe's. Turns out I needed a higher Kelvin, not more lumens. The bulb purchased is lower in lumens but not a soft white. (No, it's not daylight white 😏) Love it! Since I read in this spot, the light is perfect but the shade keeps it from being a beacon. But now I can't quite get the lumens thing...😖
Also if you need to add just a little more length to your curtains to avoid the gap near the floor, get curtain rings with clips! They make your curtains glide so nicely too.
Kiva you are so sweet and comical. Thank you for the tips. The lightbulb thing is so irritating, I dread buying them. I remember the days that incandescent bulbs were the only option, life was easier.😊
“Metal studs will break up your relationship” LOL so true. There are those products that are so stressful to deal with , they can push people to explode. The baby crib we had for our kids was that product for us. After the first time, we decided to NOT do it as a team, just to avoid the war. LOL
for the command strip (extra help addition to KB) i found if the place is humid and there's a lot of paint layers on the wall it really helps to hold the plastic piece against the wall as you slowly pull down. The extra force against the wall help hold that paint onto the wall when it would normally just come off (even when listening to the back of the box) Also as an added bonus then the plastic piece doesnt flick back at your thumb lol
I’m 65 and ever since I was teen, I have always had a Down-filled Duvet & Duvet covers, I have never had “loops and ties” which seem to be common place now. I just purchased a new Duvet cover which has ties, but unfortunately, none of the Duvets we own (at least 4) have loops to tie the cover too. I think this is a great idea. I guess I’m going to sew loops on my current Duvets. 😉. Love watching you on RU-vid Kiva! 🤗🇨🇦
I don’t know if many people know this but when it comes to paint most hardware stores can color match your paint and finish all you have to do is bring in a quarter sized piece of paint chip and they put it in a machine and it matches it spot on pretty cool feature if you ask me and we used it a few times in our own home with no issues.
Oh my goodness, your comments about paint were spot on! My next door neighbor is a painting contractor for a development company and he can bring home leftover paint. He literally has hundreds of 5 gallon buckets of leftover paint!
Omg, Kiva, this was hysterical! I don’t think I’ve laughed so much at your videos!! Yet, informative, of course. Can I just share a story about how several years ago (a little longer than YOUR incident @7:30…yes, I saw that 🤣) I went to buy light bulbs. I’m only 58 yrs young yet I found myself so overwhelmed with all the options. Not to mention now there are even more options.
Being an educator, my philosophy is there are no stupid questions. Questions are asked because there is a lack of knowledge but a curiosity. So just answer the questions and move on. People say but it’s common knowledge. Nope! Knowledge is no longer common when I new person walks in. Thanks for the information Kiva.
KB! Lady! I just want to say you’ve really grown in confidence making these videos. I was watching some of your earlier ones as nice background noise as I try to fix up my bedroom. And noticed the difference with your latest one here. It’s really inspiring!
I live where the 🦂 are, my curtains are a half inch-ish off the ground and I'm not sorry. The minute a friend told me she found 2 🦂 hanging on her curtains.... No ma'am.
Stud-finding: You can tie or glue a magnet on a string about 12 to 18 inches long. Then when looking for a stud, hold the end of the string and let the magnet drag across the wall. When it encounters a stud, the magnet will stick. The great thing is that this works with both metal studs (for obvious reasons!) and for wooden ones (because it will run into a nail or screw eventually). This isn’t as precise as a modern stud-finder because you won’t know how wide the stud is. But if you’re trying to find your studs quickly and don’t have a stud-finder (or can’t find yours, which is what always happen to me!), it works.
Since most designers tell you not to push your furniture against the wall, how do you deal with table (or any type of lamp) lamp cords running across the floor? It is a trip hazard and unsightly too. I have a hard wood floor and want to have a lamp next to the couch (my furniture is not against walls), what do I do?
I believe the old fashioned version is getting a floor cord cover, they are little rubber tunnels that lie flat. You've seen them probably in big offices before. Once the cable is on the wall you can hide it in the base boards, they are avilable with cable channel. Not the prettiest version, but safe and affordable. The high tech version would be light bulbs that are rechargeable via usb on a charger so your lamp is just a holder, they are quite pricey though. Or the cheap puck lights that need batteries (at least get rechargeable ones).
You can cut a very small hole in the rug under your lamp, and run the cord under the rug toward the outlet so the cord is not a tripping hazard. To prevent the edges of the hole from fraying, put a drop of glue or silicone around the edge so the edges of the hole will dry/harden and prevent additional ripping. Make sure you’re running the cord in a direction where there is the least chance of someone having to step on it, so you aren’t wearing the cord out underneath the rug. Frazzled cords eventually become exposed wiring, which is a definite fire hazard.
Ooh I have tips If you have the same paint color in different finishes in your house and all you need to do is touchups, don't buy both finishes. Buy the glossier finish and pour some into a jar and mix in some cornstarch or baby powder (1:5) to degloss it. For command strips, you have to pull really slow, and keep your hand right against the wall. With the other hand hold the hook in place until the strip is totally stretched out. This message brought to you by holes in my paint. Also for renting, you can totally put nail holes in most walls even if they say you can't. Just spackle them up before you leave and they really won't care. If you're not sure where to hang your art, cut out a piece of wrapping paper or a piece of cardboard from a box the same size and hang it with masking tape for a few days to see if you like it. Also, I just had to mention that I find it odd that so many people expect software to be free. You don't work for free, right? Why should app developers?
Regarding scale- if you want to know exactly how something will fit in a room, get the measurements and then mark it out on your floor (or wall if it’s artwork) with painters tape. That way you can get the exact feel for the size without damaging your surfaces, plus you won’t have to deal with trying to mail a couch back after the fact.
Great video! Another thing to add with the Command strips is if you attach them to flat paint they will pull off the paint (and sometimes drywall) no matter how straight you pull them down ☹
“Sometimes they like to have fun in there” cracked me up. Good video, good presentation, I appreciate your audio improvements! Very nice! As a painter, I must add that any painter worth their salt isn’t using an arbitrary mixture to paint, plus they won’t need to water down paint bc pros have airless sprayers with high enough psi to disperse the paint as-is. If they are thinning the paint they are (read: should be) using a precise mixture that is the right viscosity for the tool they’ve got. Everything painters do is, ironically, chemistry. NOW- some maniac rando with an HVLP sprayer and a Craigslist account may do otherwise, but usually you’re not going to keep/maintain their work once you’ve taken possession of the property bc it sucks so much you’ll want to replace it. (As in, if you care enough to touch up paint and match paint colors you care enough to have things done properly in the first place) ALSO- a fundamental issue with paint and mixing it is that every paint will dry differently, usually lighter, from how it looks when it’s wet. ALSO- the finish, the base, the pigment and the environment are never going to be an exact match. Even when you keep what’s left of your original paint in a little baby food jar or whatever in the garage, (WHICH YOU SHOULD ALWAYS DO) you will get a slightly different result upon _each_ and _every_ reapplication due to myriad variables both previously and not previously mentioned here today. IN CONCLUSION- paint is science, read the instructions on every single can, and save your samples girl (in a climate controlled space in an air tight container out of direct sunlight)
Your whole sequence about studs was so good! You and babe don’t talk about them: no doubt. Very funny. Thanks for mentioning the stud finder. Not everyone does the knock on the wall method. Stud finder‘s are pretty full proof.
I’m anti-cool light, but my husband loves it for reasons I do not understand. The compromise is he gets to put cool lights in the kitchen (his domain) so that it looks like an OR, and we use them in the bathroom because it’s better for makeup. And we put a diffuse, cool “daylight” temperature strip light along the wall in our home office, which gives the room a surprisingly soft glow during the day. But I demand warm light everywhere else. Especially in the bedroom.
Water doesn’t change the colour of paint. It can sometimes have a tiny bit of affect on sheen, but not like your sample photo of a bad touch up. That’s not where the problem is coming from. The best thing to do when building a new home is to ask for some touch up paint. They should leave some for you. You want the original can and their sticker with the colour, so you know exactly what formula, sheen and what paint they bought. When you go to touch up the wall, you need to use the exact same paint. If it’s dried up, you need to get the same brand, sheen and line: ie you can’t touch up Sherwin Williams Opulence with Sherwin William Duration; different bases take pigment differently. We use Benjamin Moore at work a lot, their Advance is a bit lighter than the Regal we use on the wall: you’ll notice if you use the wrong line. You can’t just take whatever paint was cheap at Home Depot, you need to use the exact same stuff it was originally painted with. Another problem that comes up a lot is with the store’s machine. Paint comes with only white pigment in it, the pigment is added at the store. Not all pigment machines are equal. Older machines or ones that haven’t been maintained as well can get air bubbles in the lines for the pigment, which can throw off the colour of the paint can. Your best bet: if it’s been more than 5 years or your never got touch up paint, just paint the whole wall. You can usually paint just the affected wall, just cut a sharp line at all the corners, you won’t notice if the other 3 walls are a bit off since light hits them at different angles and it visually reads like a shadow. Also, in regards to studs: wood is typical for free standing single family houses. Aluminum and concrete are used in condos and apartments due to fire regulations, they reduce the chance of fire spreading from unit to unit. A lot of multi-family buildings follow commercial code rather than residential, which changes a whole bunch of different building materials (like you need copper pipes and not pex, you might need fire sprinklers, etc). Age doesn’t really matter. Older condos are often concrete, but you need to either frame in front or put strapping on to hang drywall, strapping functions similarly enough to a stud that you’ll be able to treat them like a stud most of the time.
Hon, this was amazing! We were looking to buy a new king-sized bed and you told me that that is what we need, NOT a California king. We are tall people who just want a little more space.
Kiva I am so grateful for this video and your attitude towards these questions! I studied set decoration in school and still found myself nodding along to questions I didn't realize that I had! Thank you for creating this. Looking forward to seeing more from you :)
This was one of my favorite of your videos. I knew some of the answers but others, it was just as you said: I never asked because I felt stupid. So thank you!
I bought a high quality duvet cover, and just slipped it over a comforter, and never looked back. I wash my comforter less often now, maybe a few times a year, because it's always covered with different duvet covers. Not wasting my money on a duvet when no one has ever been able to tell the difference, especially when I have so many comforters already. I did take one of your tips, and filled two duvet covers with comforters of the appropriate size, and layered them one on top of the other to make the nice and pouffy. Thanks for always making information accessible to everyone :)
I have chronic pain and I have to quibble with the advice about box springs. If you have a tempur-pedic mattress, especially if you bought it because of pain, DO NOT use a box spring with it. A box spring is meant to go with a coil innerspring mattress. Foam isn't meant to be put over springs because it changes the firmness of the foam and completely robs your body of the benefits of having foam in the first place. It can also defect your mattress-- when I bought my Tempur mattress I was straight up told by the store that if I put it on springs instead of a flat platform I was voiding my warrantee. This rant is brought to you by a trip where i stayed in an AirBnb with a foam bed. (I can only sleep on foam, sleeping on springs is fantastically painful. It absolutely limits my ability to travel.) After two nights I was in agony. Finally figured out that the mattress was indeed a cheap foam one, but the owner put it on box springs. Nobody had told him not to do this. So please, don't do this. Don't put it on a bed with springs, either. Only and ever a solid platform.
I'm such a lousy housekeeper. You don't want to know how many eons I put between comforter washings! Beyond that, Kiva, I so enjoy your explanations and your wry wit. Regarding curTains (love that!), I would say most of us don't have a furnace under the window but we have radiators; in my case, in my oldish co-op NYC apartment, a recessed rad with an unattractive slotted metal cover. I would love to see actual and beautiful solutions to this configuration--both in terms of window treatments and the ugly grille-type cover.
I had to buy a fluorescent light for my kitchen. Sadly it's not redone yet. And the fellow was nice enough to explain all the numbers on the bulb, or the tube I guess as to why it was what it was. So I came home with a softer fluorescent which matches much better. Than the one where I look like I wanted to do a dissection of a frog in high school.
This video is awesome and are a lot of things that I’ve either learned the hard way or had to tons of research on. You could call it “the logistics of decorating.” We are currently switching from a California King to an Eastern Split King, and I have spent countless hours researching what type of bed to get, if it needs a box spring or what, what type of bedding to get, etc etc ETC.
Omg first issue you discussed….I’m LITERALLY GOONG THROUGH THIS!!😩😩. I even chipped off a piece of paint to bring to the store to match …came home to try it and it was an utter fail!!! Called the developer who built my home……it was spray painted on 😬
I used to sell appliances. Before you go out to buy a refrigerator, measure your doorways, the space where it's going and what direction the door will swing open (if you're not getting a side by side fridge)
LOVE your stuff, Kiva. Fellow Pittsburgher here. Please, PLEASE do a video about lampshades. How to measure for correct size, shapes, and most importantly where to buy a good lampshade without having to spend my entire paycheck. I have a closet full of lampshades that didn't work on the lamp I wanted to use them for. I'd rather pay a little more for ones that work than have a closet full of the wrong lampshades. :-)
You CAN require both box spring even with a bed with slats if you want you mattress to sit higher and help bring up that height to match nightstand height so your nighstand isn’t too low or too high- all preference
Top sheets rule....no blankets, duvets, or comforters ever touch my face or body. LOL, apparently the "white fluffy thing" that is in between my sheet and quilt is actually a coverless duvet.....now I know! 🙂
I watch all your videos and this one is the one I’ve learned the most from. I always get so confused in the light bulb aisle and I realized I need a duvet because my comforters are too big for my washing machine
I love your content BUT this was one of the best! I’ve always had those questions and when I did ask a designer I either got no or incomplete info or “frowns”😂 Thank you for splendid, clear and useful information. Can you do more?
I have a light that can change it's light temperature. Perfect for my multipurpose living space. Cool light for working and hobby, warm light for relaxing, talking ...
“I’m not gonna talk about attractive men as studs, and you guys know why.” I LOVE YOU !!!!!!! You are one of the most unintentionally hilarious ppl !!! 👍🏼👍🏼😂😂😂😂❤️❤️❤️❤️🌈🌈😍
I cannot sit on a barstool or a counter stool. I am 5 foot two. Anything that comes up to my waist and then I have to hike myself up on it it's not going to happen. Well it'll happen once. And then they'll have to call the EMTs to get me off the floor.
My house was built in 1900. This past year I was updating it. Found out that there aren't studs in the wall because the whole entire thing is made out of wood. One piece right after the other without any space in between.
I love your videos. So informative and authentic. I don’t think you mentioned anything about hanging curtains in rooms with really high ceilings. I’m dealing with this in my living room and I’m not sure how high it should be hung. Seems like ceiling height you spoke about is too high and dramatic for our casual style.
You are great!! I just discovered your videos and I love them!! I especially loved this video because you answered questions I didn't even know I had. We bought our first house about 6 years ago. I have made so many mistakes, so I am working on redoing our home. I'm so glad I found your videos so I don't repeat the mistakes I didn't know I was making again. Please keep the great videos coming!!
Fantastic video! Perfect timing...we were just trying to match our paint color and pick light bulbs last weekend...and got nowhere. Now we can move forward!
Found your channel a few months ago & I’m obsessed! You’re so dope & this video was so helpful in answering my stupid questions. I especially needed the 101 on lighting. Keep doing your thing, I will be watching! 🙌🏽
I'm stuck on color! I took art in high school and learned about color schemes. I never EVER see color schemes in popular color palettes that make sense to me. So when I chose a palette for my home, I chose a common color and tried my best to complement it, but rarely do I find kitchen gadgets that match. I will probably have to wait until a popular "blue" to become a "color of the year" so I can purchase things that actually match. Okay, that's more of a rant than a question, so here goes. How can I design around my unpopular palette choice so it looks intentional and not like a swing and a miss when even the dominate color is so difficult to match?
A tip for renters: if you have white walls, and have holes in the walls from hanging heavy decor, fill the screw holes with white toothpaste. Works like a charm, and you'll get your deposit back.
Hold the command strip before you pull the tab at the bottom or it’ll fly off and smack you at the back of the nail bed and it’ll hurt like NO FREAKING OTHER lol
I love you Kiva.🤩 There wasn't one topic that I was completely in the know. Even learned that metal studs are 16 or 24" oc. (usually). A "self tapping screw" will work there. Can I get an "ignorant" instead of stupid? I live in FL., so except for maybe a few weeks/yr. they don't make sense. Sleeping, I sweat so much a duvet cover is futile, but I do notice that any polyester content makes matters worse. For me, the dacron filling is even a problem. Maybe I am not the only one? Again I love your personality and pretty smile: cute but not over the top and always to the point and logical. Thank you for all the diagrams and dimensions, I wish I had found you a year ago. I laughed when you said, buy a bunch of bulbs then store them in the closet. You didn't mention that "dimmable" bulbs are best, because not all LED bulb are dimmable. This vid saves allot of people unnecessary grief. Thank you. Love,💖 Your straight white fan boy. (lol)💌
I recognize that this is now scoffed at as stupid and old fashioned, but if you don't want to wash your comforter so frequently, use a top sheet. The comforter will last a lot longer, because the more frequently you wash it, the faster it will fade, or the fabric will start the break down, or the filling will shift or flatten. I even use a top sheet with a covered duvet, because it's a whole lot easier washing a sheet than taking off and putting on a duvet cover. Also, you should not (in some cases really cannot) wash duvets often, as body oils, odors etc will seep through the duvet cover. A really good duvet is an investment and can last a lifetime with proper care. I inherited an amazing down duvet from my grandmother, in really good condition after she'd used it for 70 years. She was fastidious about using a top sheet and occasionally airing out the duvet. A top sheet is also a better environmental choice, because if you treat your duvets and comforters well, they'll last and look good for years, even decades longer, so less damage from manufacturing and less landfill. Also, it takes less water and less electricity to wash and dry a top sheet than a duvet cover, which is twice the fabric, or a comforter.
Is IKEA sending me on a witch hunt. Almost died 😂 😂. I’m American 🇺🇸 I know the difference between duvet and comfortable, granted I worked high end bedding stores in college, it was a useful education. Also never wash your towels with any sort of fabric softener
Omg I love your college stories. “Are you ok?” … “studs” … “curtain” “king vs CA King” … “Alaskan King” who knew??? I so need this for my kids who think my bed is also their bed. Lol. Anyone else not want to be touched when sleeping? Great tutorial, I now feel well educated on lighting….thank you soooooooo much!!! I adore your channel.
Oh! I'm sure you are a busy lady but if you can recommend any places to check out in Pittsburgh (including surrounding areas outside the city), it would be greatly appreciated. I am planning on visiting Pittsburgh soon. Are there any videos from other Pennsylvania-centric creators that you would recommend? I love your style and I am sure that I would love anything that you love about Pittsburgh or Pennsylvania in general. Thanks again!
I have no idea how to buy light bulbs anymore! This was helpful. One thing I didn’t know was that box springs came in different heights. And because I assumed bigger is always better, I can’t sit on my bed without feeling like a toddler. 🙄
I had the opposite experience at my mattress store. We bought a new mattress. We have a platform bed, no box spring necessary. We told the guy selling it to us we didn’t need it. He said it comes with it, no extra cost. Even though it was included, we still didn’t need it. Mattress gets delivered, box spring spring included. Told the delivery guy we didn’t it it, please take it back. He refused. We were getting that box spring, no matter what. Box spring lives in our storage building.
Thanks, Kiva! I really appreciate your bluntness and telling it just as it is. There are numerous stupid questions when it comes to design. I am surely guilty of some myself.
Kiva, thank you! question: from window casing to window casing my window is 8 foot 10 inches. I do have room for 12 inches on either side, currently the rod extends 6 inches on either side of the window casing. on the left side of the window there is some wall space (43") leading to a corner, on the right side there is wall space (31.5") then more casing for sliding doors. I do not have any art work on those 2 portions of walls. I feel it is too small to add anything and the curtain is already extended into those 43 and 31 inch wall spaces. Do I think I should go for the 12 inches on either side? I have heard of 6 inches but I have not heard of 12 :) If I could, I would have uploaded a few photos!
Just wanted to thank you for all the tips. And by the way NO question is or should be embarrassing, that's the way we learn things. Even old people like me.😉
As a kid we had comforters BUT, they were called “eiderdowns.” I had two eiderdowns, one was filled with feathers and the other (cheap, poor people) one was filled with kapok. I don’t know where Mum got the feather one but I snagged it. I got used to the smell. To buy kapok filled pillows and doona’s now you pay an arm and a leg. Why? BTW when I was a kid our pillows were made of ‘ticking’ filled with feathers. I used to pull the feathers out through the ticking for fun. I don’t ever remember the eiderdowns being washed but we covered the whole ensemble with a chenille bedspread. Memories…
