How to Create a Halloween-themed Kitchen

Halloween is fast approaching! It’s actually one of the most exciting times of the year. You can dress up in fun costumes, decorate your pumpkins, and enjoy devilishly delightful food. One of our favorite rooms to make over is the kitchen – where the preparation for the Halloween party takes place. 

Here are some ideas to up the spook factor in your home without all the extra clutter:

• Leave your kids in awe by switching out some orange bulbs creating a nice effect on the mirrors and lamps, just like what Vel Criste did. She bought everything else from the Dollar Store on clearance. She wrapped a creepy black fabric around the chandelier and window. Every other piece she either had on hand or bought on sale.

• If you want a nostalgic appeal of old-fashioned Halloween for a vintage party flair, you can add traditional decors like images of black cats, carved pumpkins, and other vintage decor. We also loved this kitchen when we first saw it on Houzz.

• Decorate a small area in your kitchen with piled pumpkins in gray/green and white to create an elegant display, like this countertop.

• Halloween decor is meant to be classy, fun and cheeky. Shelley Smith made almost everything on her own and others were snagged from thrift shops and dollar stores. The tableware is simple white with handmade vinyl decals. You can do that for your dining room, too!

• If you want to transform your outdoor centerpiece, use mini pumpkins that are hollowed out and punched with holes to make dramatic lanterns, like in this patio.

Milan Stoneworks wishes you a Happy Halloween (in advance). We’re as excited as you are! In the meantime, leave us some candy corns, wormy burgers, or blood colored cocktails.

Fall Maintenance Tips for Your Home

As the leaves change and the days get shorter, you have to make sure your home is ready to handle the cold weather. In order to keep your home running smoothly and to avoid costly repairs later, it’s time to start thinking about seasonal maintenance.

Schedule a tune up with a technician. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a scheduled tune-up for your heating system can provide efficiency and comfort. They will ensure there’s no leakage so you’re not stuck with a broken heater.

Reverse the air. This is also the time to reverse ceiling fans. Doing this will help to circulate the hot air, distributing the heat more evenly and cutting down the need to turn up the heater.

Change the filters in your home. If you have a central air conditioning system, make sure you have changed your air filter. For a wall air conditioning unit, you can place a waterproof cover over it to prevent damage.

Fill in the gaps: Check your windows for any leaks that may compromise heating efficiency and ensure the seal and caulking around the frame is in good condition. Purchase a plastic sealing from the hardware store if you feel cold air coming in and place it around the window to keep the heat from escaping. Don’t forget to check your doors too, and fix their weather-stripping.

Prepare your fireplace. Some people prefer to use their fireplace than the central heater during fall and winter days. To allow the air to move freely through the chimney, discard old ashes and make sure the damper is open. If you feel the air is becoming cold, close the damper immediately after cleaning. The handle and springs should be working properly. If necessary, you can hire a professional chimney sweep.

Check the roof for leaks and clean the gutters. Carefully inspect your roof for any missing or broken tiles to prevent damage when it rains. The flashing around your chimney and any openings in the roof should be free from any leakage problems. Make sure to clear gutters from leaves, dirt, and pine needles and check downspouts for damage or loose pieces.

Yard maintenance. Trim trees and bushes away from the house. Rake the leaves into piles and dispose them properly. Drain outdoor faucets, garden hoses and sprinkler systems.

Are there other tasks you incorporate into your fall schedule? Share it with us below!