THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 19, 1996 TAG: 9605170078
SECTION: HOME & GARDEN PAGE: G1 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Around the House
SOURCE: BY MARY FLACHSENHAAR, SPECIAL TO HOME & GARDEN
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines
LAST SUMMER WHEN Meko the terrier was just a couple of months old, he loved to curl up in his owner's canvas sun chair and nap. Problem was so did his owner, Kathy Jublou.
``Instead of fighting with Meko to get my chair back, I decided to make him his own chair,'' said Jublou, a mother of two who lives in the Larchmont section of Norfolk.
Meko liked his new nook so well, Jublou thought other dogs and cats might also. In January she went into business making and selling ``the original creature cradle.''
The hammock, made from the striped canvas used in awnings and sails, is designed to be suspended inside a crate 18 or 21 inches wide but it can be adapted to fit a larger plastic kennel or any cozy corner in a house or boat, said Jublou. Machine-washable, the hammock can accommodate pets up to 25 pounds.
A comforting alternative to a crate's hard floor, the cradle is ideal for the older pet with aching joints. When used during car travel, it allows the pet to rock with the motion of the car.
The creature cradle, with four hooks, is available by mail for $27 plus $3 for shipping. Call Meco Enterprises at 489-8024. It is also for sale in Norfolk at Animal Care Center, 1228 W. Little Creek Road; Pets 'N Things, 24 Southern Shopping Center and Exotic Pets & Plants, 121 W. 21st St.
Redecorate with care
Time to redecorate? Plan, don't plunge. Whether you hire a professional or are a do-it-yourself, answer the following questions first to clarify goals and priorities. The list comes from the June/July issue of Elle Decor magazine.
How long will you be living in this home and is resale value important?
Who lives here and how old are they?
Do you or will you need to accommodate anyone with special disabilities?
Do you have animals and what color is their fur?
How many times a week do you cook and where do you eat?
How often and where do you entertain?
What are your family's typical evening and weekend activities?
Do you have any large or meaningful collections?
Do you need more storage or work space?
Do you get overnight guests?
Which room in your house gets the most use, and why?
What do you desperately need more space for?
Create a work space
Working at home seems to be the wave of the future, according to the June issue of Home magazine. When there's not enough space to convert an entire room to an office, a makeover of a small space may do nicely. Some tips from Home:
Use a guest room as a home office. When company comes, put your work away and open up the sofa bed or pull down the Murphy bed.
Don't assume you need to use traditional office furniture. Try wicker, rattan, whatever suits.
Cover an ordinary bulletin board with a piece of fabric you create a bright place for bright ideas.
To keep open shelves neat and uncluttered, stack them with binders or bins in bright colors.
Build in more storage space than you think you'll ever need. You'll use all of it.
Save time by ordering accessories through catalogs.
Save resources in summer
It's almost summer - time to have more fun. It's also the '90s, a time to use less stuff. You can do both at once, according to The ULS (Use Less Stuff) Report, a newsletter. Some tips:
Before resorting to air conditioning, try cross-ventilating by opening tops and bottoms of windows on opposite sides of the room.
If you're away all day, keep the drapes closed. The house will be cooler when you get home.
Turn down the temperature on the water heater. Who needs really hot showers in the summer?
If you have a pool, keep it covered to reduce water loss.
Put sprinklers on timers and water only very early in the day or late in the evening.
Walk, jog, bike or skate instead of driving. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo courtesy of Kathy Jublou
Kathy Jublou's dog Meko kikes to curl up on his own pet-sized canvas
hammock.
by CNB