FALL CLEANING CHECKLIST

Spring isn't the only time to deep clean your house! After a fabulous summer of open windows and living outdoors, we all begin to close our homes for the colder, shorter days of winter. To get ready for a long winters night, it's a good idea to clean out what summer winds brought in. Like me, after active summer months, there are probably a few spots in your house that get ignored. My fall cleaning list will keep my home and yours healthier and cleaner through the cold season.  I don't use store bought cleaning products...except for one...and make mixtures with 50% water, 40% vinegar, and 10% cheap vodka.  I add different essential oils for disinfecting (clove, lavender, lemongrass & tea tree), antibacterial (cinnamon, thyme, tea tree and oregano) properties, natural fragrance and much more. Making cleaners is on the blog too.

1. After a warm summer with windows and doors open, your ceiling fan blades are going to be dusty. Dust sticks, especially in humid conditions  Get it off now so when you turn the fan on to clear out a smoky fireplace, dust won't come flying off.  The same goes for the crystal, shades, and arms of your chandeliers.  Get that dust off before your holiday entertaining.

2. I always thought that my washer and dryer were clean. According to consumer groups, they're not.  They both need periodic cleaning to remove the gunk around gaskets, grime and sticky things that adhere to the inside of your washer tub, and dust that gathers in the lint trap and the dryer vent. I run vinegar through the washer on a hot water cycle. I use a 50-50 mix of water and vinegar with 10 drops each of Thyme and Lavender essential oils, and wipe every other area of the washer. For the dryer, wet some towels and add a few drops of tea tree or other disinfecting essential oils. Run them through the dryer to clean the tub. Vacuum your lint screen, the dryer vent, and any area you can.

3. How many times have you thought of cleaning the coils of your refrigerator?  Now is a great time. Vacuum the main dust, then tackle the sticky stuff with a paint brush. You can also wipe the coils with the same water/vinegar/essential oil cleaner I used above.

4. You might have cooked outdoors a lot in summer, but fall is a good time to clean out your kitchen ventilation hood so odd smells won't permeate your house when you turn it on.

5.It's smart to run a vinegar and water mixture through your coffee maker every few months. It cleans out the old coffee and give you a sparkling clean reservoir for the water.

6.Windows left open all summer likely brought dust inside. Vacuum the tops of your window coverings, shutters and blinds.  When you turn the heat on, they won't smell dusty. Light bulbs collect dust too. When it gets dark outside you'll turn them on more. When they heat up, you'll smell the dust burning. A quick wipe will take care of that.  I dust my bookshelves, but sometimes I skip the books, so remember to dust the tops.

7. I don't use plastic bags in my bath garbage or recycling cans since it's a waste to throw away plastic bags every week. To keep them clean, I use Seventh Generation wipes; they're not toxic and they do a great job of disinfecting. In the kitchen, fall is a good time to remember to wipe the interior of your bins clean. 

8. This is the perfect time to vacuum your heating vents. Don't forget the intake grate. If you have baseboard heating, vacuum the coils and interior to prevent a burning dust smell when you first turn the heat on. Have a radiator? Try to get all of the nooks and crannies clean with a microfiber duster.

9.  I recommend cleaning pillows as each season changes since oils from your head seep into the pillows even if you have cotton pillow covers.  I wash my down pillows at home, although I am now changing to down alternative every time a pillow gets old. I can't stand the thought of having birds feathers plucked so I can sleep on something soft.  Laundromats have machines to fit the down alternative pillows which don't fit into some washers.

10. If you forgot to clean your down comforter or blankets before you tucked them away, do it in the fall before using them all winter. Fortunately I have a big front loading machine that fits everything. I can't get them to fit, i'll go to the laundromat or drop them off at my drycleaner who can launder them.

Kitchen Remodel MUSTS

When you're ready to redo your kitchen, there are a number of things you should consider so your investment in cost and time is done right.  It's worthwhile to meet with a kitchen designer so you can maximize your space, your budget, and get enduring changes without skimping on what's important to you.   If you do a remodel and don't include a feature that you didn't think about, you'll regret it. Understanding materials, care and maintenance, technology and even trends are important both short and long term.

In a typical kitchen remodel, regardless of whether the budget is small or large, your percentages for spending will look something like this:

8-10% Electrical & Plumbing
14-16% Appliances
16% Walls, ceilings, floors, doors and windows
29-30% Cabinets and hardware
10% Counters
22% Planning, design and installation

You should visit showcase homes, model homes, showrooms, and think about the pros and cons of your existing kitchen.  You might find that you love specialty appliances like wine centers and pot fillers, but when you consider the cost, amount of use, and space required, they may not be worth the splurge.  Some things that you might think are over-the-top but are value added in the long run are second sinks, finished cabinet ends and shelves and drawers on full extension glides. In the Carlsbad kitchen above, I was able to include a host of useful appliances, carefully placed and concealed for a luxurious end result. Every cabinet was detailed to provide maximum use of space and finished so they blended seamlessly with the furnishings in the adjacent rooms.

Appliances can be tricky to select. Sure stainless is cool, but can you get features you like without the up-charge?  If you're  planning to conceal them, Do you need a professional grade appliance and the changes in counter depth, venting and ductwork that are required?  Is a dishwasher or refrigerator drawer a pro or a con? What refrigerator style works best for you and do you need to sacrifice interior space for an in-door water dispenser?  New cooktops offer fabulous features so be sure to check out options like induction.

Counter top materials get better every year. Granite is NOT the luxury surface it used to be. Quartz has many PROS and few CONS over stone, and the appearance is often more beautiful. Solid surfaces have new styles and benefits and the costs are often more reasonable than stone. Integrating sinks into counters is a huge plus. Combining counter materials like Cynthia Ryan did in this modern space is stylish and functional.

Don't forget to add space for recycling and composting.  Most areas of the country are actively participating in programs now, and more will make it mandatory for household food waste. 

Good lighting is KEY in every kitchen. Know local codes for lighting and be smart in using good, correctly lamped (the right bulb) fixtures. Understand the value of LED, florescent and even incandescent lighting and which works best in specific places in your kitchen.  Technology is your friend in lighting design and control, and a small investment enables a money savings and aesthetically fabulous long-term results. These Arts & Crafts fixtures are all warm LED and toe kick lighting accents the cabinetry around the peninsula serving as guide lights.

Know that there are  many flooring options and learn which is best for you. Wood, porcelain, vinyl, cork, ceramic and even linoleum have PROS and CONS for performance, durability, cost to purchase, install and maintain.  Wood is $8-40 per square foot installed but has performance and care drawbacks. Porcelain is $11-25 per square foot installed but colder underfoot. Cork is warm and $10-20 installed but does need occasional to coating. Linoleum has the best value at $4-8 installed, with beauty and design like never before, but seams are a must in large spaces.

Cabinetry is the usually the most expensive part of a remodel. Is wood better than laminate? Can you upgrade your look yet lower costs with veneers? Should use a custom fabricator or buy manufactured?  Understand the finishes and what will be more durable for your type of use. Antiquing and distressing is beautiful but not always worth the splurge. Consider that open shelves may be easier and better than closed door cabinets.  Be SURE that your interior fittings work for your lifestyle.

Plan a layout BEFORE you buy anything or demolish what you have. It may be better to change the position of your plumbing, gas lines and dedicated oven and fridge receptacles. It was key in this Coronado kitchen for me to relocate the gas line  for ideal work flow and a balanced kitchen. 

 Don't start without having all of your products in hand. Finding a sink you love only to find that it's back-ordered for weeks can wreak havoc with your life and the rest of the kitchen project. 

Trends in Kitchen and Bath Design

It's important to know design and technology trends when remodeling your kitchen and bath. Kitchens can be costly, and it's smart to use the best quality products and maintain current code and technology standards. Aesthetics are as important as function, and understanding what's available will give you a long-term advantage for style, usefulness, and more. Since sustainability in purchasing, using, and ultimately discarding products, is a way of life, knowing what is 'green' and why will help you make the right decisions for your remodel.

The age of remodelers plays a tremendous role in design trends but is 'flattening out' as technology and aesthetics cross generational lines.  For the first time ever, 4 separate generations—Gen Now (ages 15-34), Gen X (ages 35-44), Zoomers (ages 45-65) and Prime Timers (ages 66-plus)—are interacting, influencing and coexisting closely with one another. While each has its own set of needs, together they are reinventing the rules of what a kitchen and bath should be, whether it cater to youthful technology savvy, a passion for entertaining, the quest for wellness or the desire to age comfortably in place.  Sure "Zoomers" are opting for easy of use and maintenance and "Generation Now and X" opt for clean lines and high technology, but overall, kitchen and bath styles are moving towards sleeker lines - no ornate details - and simple outward appearances, with function that makes operation and use fast. Whether it's due to a busy lifestyle or arthritic joints, new cabinet hardware that enables automatic opening, remote controlled shades, and faucets that turn on when you place your hands underneath, are all products that are here to stay. Long-term value and quality are must-haves for any kitchen or bath, as durability is key for homeowners raising families, as much as for those who have resale value in mind. Aging in place elements provide fabulous function and aesthetics across generations, and will be key elements when selling a home. 

Black chrome faucets

Formica has a new look and edge styles.

A savvy new toilet by Kohler.

Adding color to a neutral kitchen is hot (literally).

Color is more earthy overall, yet mixing in bold color is new.  Plumbing fixtures remain popular in chrome, but new black and midnight chrome are gorgeous and enduring. Sinks are available in earthy browns, grays and with suede finishes, and vessel sinks continue to be an opportunity to add style and a unique focal point to bathroom design. Glass is beautiful as well as functional for vessel sinks and even kitchen counters. Grey and white are popular in natural stone tile and quartz surfaces, as well as appliances. I see products that enable a more personal design alternative. For example, updated quartz and paper - yes paper - countertops, glass backsplash tiles, and even Formica, have textures, colors, and patterns that will work well today as for the long-term. Cabinet colors lean towards white and ivory, but dark stains are still in vogue.  White tubs, toilets and sinks are still king in the bath. Blending with large format porcelain tile in deep gray, makes an elegant and easy care statement.

Integrating products seamlessly into the spaces remains a top trend. From refrigerators that blend right into the overall cabinetry to drawer inserts that provide quick access to hard-to-reach spots, these new storage solutions generated new, unexpected openings for work spaces. Concealed kitchen shelving and extra-wide sinks boasting functional colanders and cutting boards within were also heavily featured, as storage possibilities spread from not only closets and the garage but to the kitchen and bath as well.

  Advanced technology from products that include smart phone applications to designs that mix light and sound in the bathroom. Toilets can now determine how long you’ve been sitting, or open the lid as one walks toward it, and even wall sockets are built smarter to incorporate direct USBs plug-ins for consumers using laptops and charging their phones in the hub of their home, the kitchen.
Once a buzz term, “green” has become engrained in the kitchen and bath industry. What began as an appeal for eco-friendly products and materials in the home has now transformed into holistically sustainable spaces that encourage healthy living behaviors by those inhabiting them. Designers, architects and manufacturers alike are rethinking the word “green” to encompass a complete lifestyle, and as a result, its definition has expanded to include descriptors such as “authentic,” “American made,” “character,” “local” and “organic.” It's now easier than ever to go green. High-efficiency toilets and showerheads are the norm and can easily be installed or retrofitted in any home. Recycling has even become easier, with compactors that can silently crush cans installed right into kitchen cabinet space. Technological advances like motion sensor faucets and lighting have become more sophisticated, helping to save both water and energy.