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Spring Travel to Vienna, Austria

Vienna is absolutely stunning in the spring! I’m freshly home from an amazing trip there and I want to share with you some of the cool things that I experienced.

There are so many things to do and see in Vienna but my favorite is the music. Vienna is commonly referred to as the city of music; it is bliss for classical music and opera lovers. I enjoyed getting dressed up and visiting the Vienna State Opera House, one of the best opera houses in the world, for a performance of Tristan und Isolde. I had a wonderful seat in the balcony and never got bored waiting for the show to start because it was so hard to stop looking at the incredible ceiling.

When you think of Austria, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart must come to mind. Did you know that the Vienna State Opera House was opened in 1869 with a performance of his “Don Giovanni”? There is a magnificent statue honoring him just inside the entrance of the Burggarten.

The most noticeable landmark in Vienna is St. Stephen’s Cathedral which towers over the city with its 370 feet tall steeple. The tower room contains 13 bells and you can walk up its 343 steps for an outstanding view of the city. Construction began in the 12th century and It was rebuilt during the 13th – 15th centuries. Parts of it were destroyed during WWII but it has been restored to its full glory!

For a kaleidoscope of colors and ornamental design, make sure to pop in the St. Perskirche. It’s alluring on the outside but inside is an array of colors that entertains the senses, taking your breath away.

There are so many lush green parks in Vienna that are perfect for strolling with a yummy local ice cream in hand. Everything is so colorful, especially with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Vienna is very bike-friendly as there are tons of bike paths so it’s nice to rent a bike to explore the city.

Home Exterior Painting

What a difference a coat of paint makes… right?! There is no easier or faster way to update the look of your home exterior brick than by giving it a fresh coat of paint; it will give your house the ultimate curb appeal. Furthermore, we spruced up the front entrance to make it more inviting by adding a portico. To pick the perfect color scheme for this home exterior, we went through many test pots, aka paint samples. We painted the different color options on boards to finally choose just the right color combo:

Brick: Ben Moore #1550, Cumulus Cloud
Trim: Ben Moore OC-17, White Dove
Shutter: Ben Moore HC-178 Charcoal Slate

All colors matched the existing pale gray siding that is located on the sides and back of the house.

How do you paint brick?

Step 1: Make sure that the brick is cleaned thoroughly. The best way to do this is by having it professionally power washed. Additionally, confirm that the chemicals your power washer uses are eco-friendly so that they do not kill your lawn or shrubbery.

Note: All brick must be completely dry before the painting process can begin.

Step 2: Apply one coat of primer that is suitable to use on bricks. Primer helps to fill the porous surface of the brick so that your paint will go on more smoothly.

Step 3: Apply two coats of paint to sufficiently cover the brick.

At Kelley Astore Interiors, we can provide custom coloring and labor for the exterior painting of your home to make your house look beautiful!

Industrial Shower Install

The unusual industrial-style shower door might be my favorite feature in this newly remodeled bathroom! The shower door system included a solid chrome rail at the top with a glass stationary panel on the right and a sliding door on the left. Additionally, the shower received a recessed shelving unit, seat, and large chrome shower head.

For the shower tile, we chose a medium shade of gray that complimented the flooring which was installed next. The shower flooring is 1 x 1 white and gray tumbled marble that aids in preventing slipping. This tile flowed well into the bathroom flooring, which is large 12 x 24 tiles of white marble with gray grain.

What are the benefits of a sliding glass shower door?

They save space. Instead of having a door that swings out, a sliding door easily tucks behind its corresponding glass panel. Not only does a sliding glass shower door save space, it makes the bathroom appear larger.

No shower curtain needed. Shower curtains are difficult to keep clean because they readily accumulate mold and mildew. On the contrary, a sliding glass shower door is easy to keep clean because you only have to spray and wipe. Additionally, a sliding glass shower door allows for a very bright shower, whereas one with a shower curtain can be dark if adequate lighting is not in place.

No water dripping on the floor. A sliding glass shower door never hangs over the bathroom floor so you don’t have to worry about your bathroom floor becoming slippery. Therefore, when you are in the shower and realized that you have forgotten something outside the shower like a razor or soap, you won’t have to worry about opening the door and it dripping on the floor. The shower door water stays in the shower!

They can be custom-made. Having a shower door that is custom-made for the space eliminates leaking.
They are safer for children. With the easy sliding, the chances of smashed fingers decrease significantly with sliding glass shower doors. Plus, they are safer for your walls; they can’t swing open swiftly to have the shower door handle slam into and leave a nice dent in your wall.

When considering your next shower or bathroom remodel, I highly suggest a sliding glass shower door for its appearance and convenience.

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