Do it now
Now that most of the leaves are off your trees and in your gutters, it's time to -- can you guess it? -- yeah, that's right, clean your gutters. After you remove the leaves, twigs and other debris, take the time to check for leaks. Then, pour a bucket of water down each downspout to make sure water flows through them and away from your foundation.
ON TV
Looking for some Halloween decorating inspiration? HGTV's Halloween Block Party 2010 offers ideas for handmade costumes, party planning, downloadable pumpkin-carving templates and more. Host Sabrina Soto and a team of designers and contractors give a Halloween makeover to three neighbors for a creepy-fun block party (8 p.m. Sunday, with rebroadcast at 11 p.m.).
BOOK IN BRIEF
With her witty use of color and pattern, London-based designer Orla Kiely has created a collection of quirky prints that have been embraced by fashion and home decor enthusiasts worldwide. Her new book, "Pattern" (Conran/Octopus, $34.99), offers a peek inside the designer's studio as well as an inspiring lesson on integrating graphic prints into your home and wardrobe.
Kiely's bold, graphic patterns manage to be retro-inspired while staying fresh. And her writing is accessible, good-humored and breezy enough to make the book as fun to read as it is to look at.
She advises taking baby steps when introducing color to your home: Start with a foundation piece such as a painting, rug or sofa. Use that to determine your color palette, which should include a solid and an accent color. Then, Kiely likes to introduce a patterned "feature wall."
The book, which boasts a flowered, funky cover, could dress up a room just sitting on a table. But it would be a shame to not open the pages and enjoy the energizing works of a talented artist.
A SECOND CHANCE
Ikea critics have sometimes lumped the Swedish retailer's products into the "disposable furniture" category. But now even Ikea is getting multiple uses out of its furniture. It's begun selling used as well new Ikea products online in Sweden, and told the daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter it intends to extend the program to other foreign outlets to make it easier for its customers to use its products in an environmentally responsible way.
Martha Buns, London Nelson
