Monthly Archives: July 2010

Last-Minute Travel Contest

Leave a reply

Cymax’s End of Summer Travel Contest

Summer’s almost over but there’s still time for a last-minute getaway with the kids. To help you get out the door faster, we’ve put together a little prize pack that includes must-have items for any last-minute planner, including a luggage set, a stroller for the kid, a laptop case for the mom or dad who can’t seem to unplug (even on vacation), and a carry on alarm clock (because you don’t want to miss that plane!). Entering is easy. All you have to do is Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to accumulate entries and increase your odds of winning.

CONTEST RULES

ELIGIBILITY
The Cymax.com Last-Minute Travel Contest (“Contest”) is open to individuals who are legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia age 18 or older at time of entry. Employees of Cymax.com (the “Sponsor”) and its respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, retailers, distributors (collectively, “Contest Entities”), and their immediate family members and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible to enter or win.

WAYS TO ENTER
Odds of winning increase with Twitter & Facebook participation. The more posts and referrals each person makes, the more entries he/she is awarded. Cymax.com reserves the right to take any comments, photos or videos off our page that we deem offensive or do not meet the spirit of this competition.

  1. Like Us on Facebook: In a few words, tell us about your travel plans, include a pic of a past trip and tell us your Twitter @Username (so that we may credit you when you follow us on Twitter). You may only do this once. [5 ENTRIES]
  2. Refer a Friend: Tell a friend to “Like” us on Facebook and write on our wall saying they were referred by you (your full name must be included in the post). The more people you refer, the more entries you accumulate.  Note that your referral will also need to make a nomination in order to receive an entry. [1 ENTRY PER REFERRAL]
  3. Follow Us on Twitter: Follow us on Twitter and Tweet this message one time: I want to win the CymaxStores_ Travel Contest. http://ow.ly/2hrE4 [1 ENTRY]
  4. Get Friends to Follow Us: Tell friends to follow us on Twitter and Tweet. In the message below, they must replace @Username with your Twitter account name: Follow @CymaxStores_ to help @Username win the Travel Contest. Please RT! http://ow.ly/2hrE4 [1 ENTRY PER REFERRAL]

All online entries must be received between 11:00 A.M. Pacific Time (“PT”) on July 29, 2010 and 11:59 P.M. PT on August 15, 2010 (the “Contest Entry Period”).

PRIZE & ESTIMATED ODDS OF WINNING
One (1) Grand Prize: Grand Prize (“Prize”) winner will receive the following:

1 Chass Carry On Luggage Alarm in Silver, valued at $44.00
1 Samsonite Nested 4 Piece Luggage Set in Black, valued at $100.79
1 McKlein P Series Clinton Leather 17 Inch Detachable Wheeled Laptop Case, valued at $136.00
1 Graco Quattro Tour Deluxe Baby Stroller in Zurich, valued at $158.90

Prices subject to change at any time. Approximate retail value of prize is $440. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received during the Contest Entry Period. Cymax.com reserves the right to replace prize items with other items of similar value.

SELECTION OF WINNER
Contest is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia, age 18 or older. Winner will be determined in a random drawing from all eligible entries received on or about August 16, 2010. The nominator must provide contact information, including email, phone and address, within three (3) days of date specified on notification. If a potential prize winner cannot be reached within seven (7) days, or if said e-mail and/or mail is returned as undeliverable, or if an entrant is otherwise found to be ineligible, or if the selected winner cannot accept or receive the Prize for any reason, the potential prize winner will forfeit the Prize and an alternate winner will be selected. The Sponsor reserves the right to modify the notification procedures in connection with the selection of an alternate winner, if any.

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT OF ANY KIND IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS CONTEST. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE CHANCES OF WINNING.

Entertaining Indoors – Just In Case

Leave a reply

Yes, summer is supposed to provide us with nice weather all the time. But we do need a little rain sometimes. When you’re getting ready for an outdoor gathering, whether it’s a backyard barbecue or a birthday bash by the pool, it’s good to have a contingency plan just in case Mother Nature decides to be a little uncooperative. Even when it is sunny, especially if there isn’t a cloud in sight, your guests might want to head indoors to take a little break from the heat. Counter space in a kitchen can easily do double time by adding counter stools, giving friends and family someplace to sit and chat or help out with food prep. A home bar like the Home Styles Furniture Steamer Trunk Bar in the family room is the ideal place to mix a quick drink while waiting out a brief spat of summer showers. Having a place to entertain indoors, even if you entertain more outdoors than in, is a great way to improve the esthetic quality of your living space and its functionality.

Pub sets are great for converting a “dead space” into a multipurpose dining area or an informal place to gather when entertaining family or friends. Having an impromptu place for friends and family to perch when eating or having a drink can be as simple as moving the barstools to wherever they are needed. It doesn’t hurt to have additional bar stools on hand; while they can be conveniently moved from room to room to provide extra seating when the house is full of company, bar stools like the Linon Gathered Back 30″ High Bar Stool also enhance a room’s décor with its decorative element.

Counter stools can be the ideal solution to making your kitchen more functional for impromptu gatherings or everyday use. Placing two or three or more counter stools around a kitchen island creates an instant “breakfast bar” for family to grab a bite to eat before beginning a busy day or guests somewhere to sit and finish their burger should you have to bring the party indoors. Counter stools such as the Hillsdale Montello 26 Inch Swivel Leather Counter Stool blend casual style, comfort and cutting-edge design, resulting in counter stools that are both elegant and practical.

When hosting an event of any kind, particularly one indoors, a home bar with a trendy vibe like the Home Styles Furniture Black Folding Home Bar Cabinet with Chrome Rails has a contemporary look that won’t go out of style for years to come. Many manufacturers offer home bars with casters, which makes them conveniently mobile, perfect when entertaining. A home bar is an easy yet creative way to take your entertaining style to a whole new level.

Steal This Look

1 Reply

Interior Decorating On a Budget

We love travel and we love design. In fact, we often get our best decorating ideas when we discover a new hotel, bar or restaurant that really creates an interesting ambiance with its furniture and lighting. We recently came across this beautiful new hotel in Paris (oh la la) and decided to see if we could recreate the look on a budget. And so we introduce our new column, Steal This Look!

THE INSPIRATION – La Reserve Hotel, Paris

The ultimate French take on modernist luxury, La Réserve is located on Paris’s monumental Art Deco Place du Trocadero with spectacular hilltop views of the city, including the Eiffel Tower. A cinematic take on 1930s elegance, it features a highly contrasting palette of beiges and black, setting off soaring ceilings and, in public spaces, double windows that are significantly taller than guests.

WHAT YOU NEED

The Bed: American Drew Sterling Pointe Off-White Wood Poster Bed
The Sterling Point collection displays clean effortless lines, able to make a lovely duet with many décor styles and your changing arrangement desires. Made of hardwood solids with hardwood veneers the pieces speak of sturdy, durable design.

The Sofa: Klaussner Furniture Master Black Upholstered Sofa
Sleek and simplistic this sofa will easily complement the architecture of your home. With tailored welting, three over three cushions, and deep seats covered in luxurious black upholstery, it stands out in its elegance and style.

The Lamp: ELK Lighting Kennett Table Lamp in Chrome
From inspiration to design, whatever your decor, the boundless character and exquisite details of Dimond Lightning creations truly become jewelry for the home.

The Dresser: Nelly Three Drawer Dresser in White
With three drawers adorned with uniquely shaped silver metal handles and the curved shape, you are struck by this dresser’s unique combination of new and traditional looks.The high gloss white finish brings a elegance and sophistication to your room.

The Right Furniture for Your Backyard

1 Reply

If you just haven’t had a chance yet to dress up your back or buy new patio furniture for your deck, it’s not too late! After all, as the saying goes, “It’s not over until it’s over.” And summer is definitely not over yet. There is still plenty of time to whip your patio or backyard  into shape and transform it into a place where you can enjoy a little downtime on your own or barbecue burgers for the kids or entertain friends. It makes sense to decorate a patio, balcony or backyard area with the comforts and styles of indoor furniture because not only does it create an esthetic space for entertaining, it also will inspire you to get and stay outside more, allowing you to make the most of the good weather.

 Gone are the days of decorating the backyard with just colored lanterns or tiki torches; as outdoor living spaces are becoming more popular, they are also becoming more trendy, chic and just plain fun. You can buy outdoor furniture that closely resembles their indoor counterparts, from outdoor sofas and outdoor armchairs to complete outdoor dining sets to fully operational outdoor kitchens. Decide what you want your outdoor living space to include: it can be as simple as some outdoor chairs gathered around a fire pit or as involved as a kitchen/dining area where you can cook and serve an entire meal outdoors.

To dress up your backyard and give it that touch of pizazz that will take your outdoor entertaining to the next level, here are some simple things you can do.

  • As with any decorating project, whether it is indoor or out, it’s always good to set a budget. It will help encourage you to spend within that limit.
  • If you’re like most of us and live in locales that have seasons, select outdoor patio furniture that can be easily stored away. Things to look for are stackable chairs; tables that fold flat; a barbecue grill or outdoor home bar that can be rolled into a storage shed or garage.
  • Even if it’s not going to be outdoors all-year-round, it should still be built to weather the weather. Choose outdoor furniture, whether it’s made of wood or metal, that has a durable water and/or stain resistant finish. For outdoor patio furniture that is low-maintenance, plastic framed furniture is often as durable as outdoor furniture made of metal and wood while not requiring as much upkeep.

Take the Party Outside

Leave a reply

 If a home bar can spice up your family room, living room or games room, an outdoor home bar can do the same for your backyard, patio or deck area. Outdoor home bars, like their indoor counterparts, can boost your entertaining style and enhance the time you spend with family and friends. Even if you have no immediate plans to host the block party of the century or you aren’t in the habit of entertaining in the backyard, a home bar by the pool and on the patio is a quick and easy way to enhance your outdoor downtime, while saving you a few steps back inside to the kitchen for more ice or a refill. Some outdoor home bars are designed with a specific theme in mind like a Tiki bar that will make you feel like you have been transported to an exotic tropical resort.

In order for your outdoor bar to be a vital part of your summer downtime and the center of attention on your patio or deck, treat the outdoor bar area as you would when decorating a room in your home. It might appear as simple as purchasing a bar with matching bar stools and just putting it somewhere that it can stand flat and secure without wobbling. But for you to get the best out of your outdoor home bar here are some things you should consider first.

Location

Pick a spot for your home bar in your backyard or on your patio or deck that will allow you to move around easily both behind and in front of the counter. If your outdoor home bar is to have barstools, ensure that when they are pulled up to the bar they won’t be in the way or interrupt traffic flow. If your home bar does not provide its own shade like the Alfresco Home Sabbia Tiki Outdoor Patio Bar Set does, you might want to make sure your home bar will be shaded by trees, an awning or a freestanding patio umbrella. Particularly if you have a special feature in your backyard, such as a waterfall, pond, trellis or spectacular view of the mountains or the city lights at night, plan on incorporating the scenery into your outdoor home bar design when deciding on where your home bar will go.

Functionality

Decide what the main purpose you want your home bar to have. This will largely determine what kinds of features your home bar should have to make it most useful. Do you want some place to serve drinks and sit and chat for awhile? If you plan on just having some place to mix drinks but serving them by the pool, by a favorite flower bed or at the patio table where you can play cards or a board game, then your home bar can be smaller sized and more compact since it won’t have to accommodate a certain number of people at the bar itself.

Features

When planning an outdoor bar area, consider carefully the types of features you would like your home bar to have. Keep in mind the main purpose you are purchasing your outdoor bar for. Some popular features of outdoor home bars are wine bottle holders, a spirits cabinet, bins for ice, multipurpose drawers, pull-out trays and compartments for appliances like a small fridge or sink.

An outdoor home bar will be the ideal addition to your patio, deck or backyard. Whether you entertain only occasionally or have never learned how to make a long island iced tea, an outdoor home bar is a great way to enjoy a morning latte, sip lemonade in between gardening chores or have a handy place to store bottles of juice or water.

Kid-Friendly Backyard

1 Reply

Forget Summer Camp. Instead, Create the Ultimate Playzone for Kids in Your Backyard!

Turn off the TV, get the kids off the couch and take them outside this summer! There’s no reason to sign up for expensive summer camp when you can easily transform the backyard or patio into the ultimate camp retreat kids can stretch their creative muscles, learn new skills and have an awesome time! Creating a fun and safe environment right outside your back porch is easy. Here, some ideas to get you started…

Alex Toys My Creative Center
Eager to encourage kids to get artsy but afraid they’ll make a mess indoors? This creative center can be set up outdoors in a jiffy. Whether the medium is paint, chalk or glue, this table makes it easy for kids to express their inner Picasso.

Boikido Puppet Theatre
Hosting a backyard party? Get the kids to entertain each other and adults with an intimate little puppet show – a great way to stimulate their imagination. The Boikido Puppet Theatre even comes with its own electronic applause track.

Play Croquet
Elephant, tiger, zebra, Oh my! Kids will have a roarin’ good time playing jungle croquet. Made of real wood, the Alex Jungle Croquet set is easy to set up and includes six wacky wickets in vibrant colors.

SPEAK UP: Kids not going to summer camp? How are you keeping them entertained?

Staycation 101

Leave a reply

Turn Your “Staycation” Into a Five-Star Getaway

Never mind Europe. You can still have the time of your life by turning your backyard or patio into the ultimate retreat in which to entertain with friends, chill out with family, get a tan and have a wicked good time.

Hammock Surf

Forget catching a wave. You can get the ultimate workout right in your backyard, swinging lazily on a comfy hammock. Think of all the reading you will get done, all the Zzzzz you will catch! Bathing suit not included. Shop for hammocks, patio umbrellas and more at PatioUmbrellaStation.

Cook in Style

Time to update that rusting, peeling grill. The Element Grill is a minimalist beauty from Fuego and is sure to become the envy this BBQ season. Surely the best thing to happen to the burger and bun! Shop for grills and accessories at CSGrills.

Provence, New England,  Bora Bora, Oh My!

Bring a bit of France, Cape Cod or Polynesia to your patio with a vintage looking bistro table, an Adirondack chair or even a Tiki style bar. Everything from your morning croissants to your mai tai will taste that much better. Shop for all outdoor furniture.

Speak Up: Are you going away this summer? Are you considering a “Staycation”?

Bird Watching Urban Style

Leave a reply

If you like the idea of bird watching but you’re reluctant to hike a trail through a forest with binoculars dangling around your neck, why not travel only as far as your backyard? A popular backyard design trend is to create an environment that attracts birds by doing a number of bird-friendly things including planting a variety of trees and shrubs. Adding a water feature to your backyard – the noisier the more attractive – is another way to make a lot of avian friends. Attracting birds to your backyard is the first step to bird watching urban style, even it’s from the comfort of your patio. Designing a backyard that is attractive to birds is not hard.

Feed the Birds

As with humans, food is a great way to break the ice and make new friends. The simplest way to feed the birds is to place a bird feeder in your backyard. Bird feeders come in many shapes and sizes from ones on stands like the H Potter Wellington Bird Feeder Stand to simple ones consisting of a raised platform and a groove or area to put the food. However, keep in mind that enclosed feeders like a hopper feeder or a tube feeder will not have to be filled as often. Depending on how large your backyard is having more than one feeder is a good idea. Or if you only want only one feeder, you can select a couple of trees and throw bird seed directly on the ground around the base of each tree.

Water Water Everywhere

Birds love water, and especially the sound of moving water is very attractive to them. The water should be shallow, as in a pond or bird bath. To make still water “musical” to wild birds, put a dripper, circulating pump or mister in a shallow pool or birdbath.

Shelter from the Storm

The birds you attract to your backyard will need protection from the elements and their natural predators. Bushy shrubs, tall trees and trellises covered with trailing vines will all provide good places for birds to hide. Particularly since the sound of birds splashing or squabbling over who gets what morsel of food will attract certain types of enemies, items like a birdbath or bird feeder should be placed near places they can easily take cover.

Different types of birds are attracted to different types of nests. To attract a specific type of bird to your backyard, do a little research to see what type of housing the local birds in your region enjoy the most. Some types of birds don’t mind bird houses built by humans; other species do. There are all kinds of bird houses and nesting boxes; each type will attract a different specie of bird.

Vegetation for the Birds

In order to have a really bird-friendly backyard, plan on having as varied a selection of plants, trees and shrubs as possible. Vegetation of different heights will attract different species of birds. Typical levels and heights include:

  • Ground cover, including grass – 2 to 12 inches
  • Shrubs – 2 to 5 feet
  • Short trees – 5 to 15 feet
  • Tall trees – 15 to 40 feet

So that you don’t have to depend solely on bird seed to feed your fine feathered friends, plant plants and foliage that produce berries, seeds, fruits, nuts and sap – all tasty avian treats.

High & Low: Upholstered Bed

1 Reply

Style for Less

Inspired by our design-savvy but budget-conscious customers, we introduce a new column called, you guessed it, High & Low.

Every week we present a beautiful piece of furniture that has become an icon in design and is, more often than not, too expensive for most of us. But don’t fret: we also feature a similar looking and equally well-crafted piece from the CymaxStores that is attractively priced.

The Story
Upholstered beds bring soft texture and warm color into the bedroom. A padded, slipcovered headboard should be tall and precisely angled to provide a comfortable backrest when reading or watching TV.  Recessed steel legs prevent midnight toe stubbing.

How Do They Compare?
$$$ Solid beech slats reinforced with rubber form the sturdy platform of the Reve Bed.  Castors underneath the headboard allow for easy mobility. A machine-washable, cotton headboard protector is included.
$ Skyline Double Tufted Button Suede Upholstered Bed is easily distinguishable by its playful shape, daring color, and simple, relaxed design. Impeccably modern in style, the frame is constructed of solid pine wood while the foam is made out polyurethane cotton and upholstered in premier microfiber suede. The side and foot rails are padded and upholstered. The adjustable height headboard works with various mattress sizes. The bed comes in red, brown, black, khaki, oatmeal, sage, purple, saddle and lazuli.

SPEAK UP Would you ever buy a bed upholstered in fire engine red like this one?