Natural and effective cleaners you can DIY

When I first got married I was tasked with cleaning out my husband's bachelor pad that he had rented out for a while.  There were cats, guys, and a huge mess.  It was a small condo that had little cross ventilation and I knew it would take a few days to clean. I looked for non toxic products that I could use and came across some 'recipes' that I modified.  I loved how they worked and how easy it was to make.  Finally, people are starting to realize that indoor home health is important and seek out products that are "green" and safe.  I buy bulk baking soda and vinegar, essential oils from Jimbos Naturally or Amazon.com, Castile at Trader Joes, and alcohol and borax at Walmart. 

All-Purpose Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
½ gal. water
1/2 cup lemon juice (I added this to weaken the vinegar scent)
Directions: Spray on surface and wipe clean with a dry cloth (let sit longer for heavily soiled areas)

Disinfectant
¼ cup baking soda
4 tbsp vinegar
3 cups hot water
¼ tsp castile soap
Directions: Spray and wipe down. You will want to go over again with a cloth soaked in hot water so there is no baking soda residue leftover.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
½ cup baking soda
1/8 cup castile soap
10 drops essential oil 
If possible, make this in a cleaned out ketchup or mustard squeeze bottle. Squeeze out along rim of toilet bowl then spray with pure vinegar, allow to foam for 10 minutes then flush. No scrubbing needed (unless extremely soiled)!

Glass Cleaner
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water
1 tbsp vinegar

Don't add oils or you'll get streaks. Spray and wipe clean.

Wood Floors
¼ cup vinegar
30 oz water
(do not allow vinegar to stay on wood, make sure it is rinsed properly.)
Or
¼ cup olive or vegetable oil
¼ cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil
Directions: Use microfiber mop to apply and go over again with damp cloth with hot water to get vinegar off.

Dusting – Wood
1 cup olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
Directions: Rub in with cotton or microfiber cloth using wide strokes.

Baseboards, countertops, and walls: Dissolve ½ cup borax in 1 gallon hot water and pour the solution into a spray bottle (which you can store for later use). Spritz generously, wipe down and let air-dry.

China (including hand painted): Soak china in a dishpan filled with warm water and ½ cup borax; rinse well.

Dishwasher: If the machine is smelling like last night’s chicken cacciatore, sprinkle borax in the bottom, let it sit overnight, then wipe down with a damp sponge. No need to rinse; just run the next load.

Pots and pans: Rub borax into cookware with a damp sponge; rinse well.

Toilet: Pour borax in the bowl and let it sit overnight.

As we start a new year, the need to reduce energy consumption and create sustainability in our homes and lives is more important than ever.  Manufacturers of home goods, electronics, building materials, fabrics and more, are offering better and more attractive products to help us lessen the negative impact we have on our environment, I have been an advocate and practitioner of sustainable design for many years, and am enjoying the global attention to this movement.  The philosophy of sustainability includes re-thinking how to use what we have rather than tearing down to start anew.  Innovation and creativity will drive our desire to live well and better, changing our culture of excess consumption and a 'have it now' mentality. Our need to de-materialize without sacrificing luxury or quality will result in creative solutions in product design and manufacturing.  Eco-luxury - my specialty - will be commonplace as clients understand and quantify the long-term benefits to their lives and homes.

Whether you are a trade professional or direct consumer, you will be affected by this global movement for ecological sensitivity. It will change how you think, what you can buy, therefore how you live.  I have seen manufacturers respond to 'green' initiatives by producing furnishings, fixtures and building materials that go beyond simply meeting state and federal recommendations for energy efficiency. The Water Sense program launched by the EPA has resulted in the production of plumbing fixtures with low flush and flow rates, whose style and water consumption have completely changed the profile of bathroom design as we know it.  

A few predictions for the next decade:

• Sustainability of products and process used in both construction and interior design will become commonplace.  
• The monitoring of claims for 'green' and sustainable products, and the regulation of labeling and terminology will reduce 'green-washing' and help consumers understand what they are purchasing.
• Quality of life will take precedence over quantity of belongings in everything from the size of our homes to what is used in them.
• Homes will be designed as 'net-zero' - producing their own energy- and 'smart-homes' that work towards energy efficiency and not just convenience will be the norm. 
• Contractors and builders will educate their clients on the benefits of working 'green' by using products that offer them long-term cost and energy savings.  
• Companies will offer services designed to help us effectively maintain and re-new what we already have.  
• Designers, engineers and a rising group of 'green' entrepreneurs will formulate products that re-use, re-cycle and re-new to a new level. 

  Live well, design smart!

Think GREEN when you update or re-design.

When you're thinking of re-doing your sofa, updating your bathroom, installing a new carpet, or doing other home improvements, consider being kind to the environment - and the inside of your home as well.  The smell that we associate with new (cars and carpeting are most notable) is the result of toxic chemical off-gassing.  It's best to reduce and even eliminate the use of chemicals in your home.  Here are some ideas and resources:

FSC certified woods in transitional bedroom furnishings.

1. New furniture: Be sure the woods used in your furnishings are made without urea-formaldehyde and are sustainable or from harvested forests (display the Forest Stewardship Council - FSC - certified label).  This is especially important in painted and self-assembled pieces made from medium density fiberboard or particle board. Many companies are manufacturing 'green' furniture that is made from recycled materials and the pieces are stunning.

Soy foam is soft and durable with no
petroleum used.

2. Fabrics and re-upholstery:  Using natural fibers like silk, cotton, hemp, wool and linen, and their blends is ideal.  Many fabric mills are producing recycled content fabrics and softening them with aloe vera and beeswax in lieu of harsh chemicals. Try to use soy-based foam for seating like chairs and sofas made by Lee Industries, or recycle the foam you have, adding a down envelope for padding and softness. For bedding I recommend bamboo sheets and towels, that are soft, absorbent and naturally anti-microbial. Indika uses plant-based dyes on their cotton sheets.

Rich color from no VOC paints.

3. Stains and paints:  Sherwin Williams has no and low volatile organic (VOC) compound paints that don't off-gas and have low odor. The color hues are stunning, they deliver maximum performance, and their impact on your internal environment isn't negative.  Finishes on ready-made furniture should be low-VOC like those from Lorts, and you might consider beeswax for cabinetry and tables.

Recycled content carpeting is durable
 and gorgeous.

4. Carpeting: Some of the most durable carpets are made from recycled materials and are no-VOC, stain and traffic resistant and gorgeous. Natural dyes and fibers (wool) are another green option. Mohawk has recycled content and 'green' carpet options in hundreds of textures and styles. Recycle your old pad and carpeting rather than dump into a landfill; request that your installer do this when they haul away what they remove.

Not your typical bamboo floor - strand
bamboo is beautiful and different.

5. Wood Flooring: There are many options in sustainable wood flooring. From engineered wood products like strand bamboo, to harvested woods with FSC certification, the products available are durable with beautiful style. New water-based stains and finishes allow for color options and protective coatings without toxic off-gassing. Locally harvested woods are ideal when you desire a solid hardwood floor. Look for a list of FCS certified companies in your area.


6. Plumbing fixtures.  WaterSense-certified fixtures will conserve water usage and still provide excellent function.  Kohler has some fabulous shower heads, faucets and toilets whose performance is stellar despite adhering to the EPA's flow rate restrictions. 


7. Surface materials: Quartz counter tops are an ideal material as they require no chemical sealants and are often Green Guard certified.  Cosentino has gone the extra mile and developed a gorgeous, durable and recycled content product called Eco. Other eco-friendly surfaces include glass, porcelain, ceramic and even wood.  During a remodel, you can often dispose of old ceramic and porcelain debris at local recycling center, and salvage centers often take solid surfaces and stone that is in reasonable condition for re-use.

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. 

Lighting design - easy and energy efficient solutions for any room.

LED in the ceiling and compact fluorescent bulbs
in the fixture, gives perfect lighting day or night.

With energy costs and concerns ever-increasing, and our global awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly design how can you be cost conscious and still have great design?   

Some incandescent and CFL bulb

The simplest way to make immediate changes is to purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) that can be screwed into existing light fixtures.   CFL's come a variety of styles from chandelier shaped bulbs with small bases, to regular "A" base incandescent bulbs (IB), to the reflector shapes found in recessed fixtures.   As far as cost, they are no longer many times more expensive than IB's.  Combine that with the fact that they last up to 10 times longer, and you are saving time as well as money. You can keep your existing fixtures and light your rooms in style for less. NOTES:  A 13 watt CFL - using 104 kilowatts - is the equivalent to a 60 Watt IB - using 480 kilowatts. Home Depot does recycle CFL's in their stores.

Another easy way to save money, add ambiance, and a great look on your walls is to use sleek dimmers instead of existing switches. Made by www.lutron.com, they are sold at most hardware and big box stores. You can also install their occupancy and vacancy sensors and see the benefits in energy use and functional use immediately. They can be retrofitted in the space occupied by regular switches or installed without wires at all.  Check out their room, lamp and whole home lighting systems for long-term design planning, energy efficiency and cost savings.

When remodeling, building or doing a major upgrade - particularly where local codes require energy savings - you can install CFL recessed fixtures that meet code in kitchen and bath design. Many well-known lighting manufacturers offer hanging and wall mounted fixtures in either fluorescent or incandescent bulbs so you can select either style.  Long -term, light emitting diodes (LED) are more energy saving, longer lasting, and are available in many styles including recessed or can fixtures, under cabinet task fixtures, and puck style lights. 

When in doubt, contact a lighting design professional. We want you to have the right light for your rooms and tasks while saving energy!

Small space design - open plans are great!

With the advent of apartment living, builders chose to separate rooms. The resulting apartments had multiple small rooms and long narrow hallways connecting them. Today, with the need for more effective function and the desire for more space, open floor plans are desired. My clients in New York and Philadelphia love their neighborhoods but realized that their spaces were all too small.   How did we accomplish the remodel to get maximum living space and functional privacy?

1) Create private spaces first. Bathrooms and bedrooms need walls.  Whether they are solid, sliding closed as needed, or other partition walls, these spaces were first to be determined. Glass walls that can become obscure with the flip or a switch are a great way to accomplish privacy yet maintain an open feel.

2) Make things function in more than one way.  Creating walls with cabinet storage on one side and shelves on the other provides separation. Since they don't reach the ceiling they maintain the open feel of the space. Keeping surfaces clear and providing function below - roll out stools, cutting surfaces or other features - helps.  Dual duty structures include bench or ottoman seating that also provides storage and rotating partitions - as in the bedroom/living room wall that flips for using the television in either space. 

3) Raise things up. In high-ceiling apartments, elevating spaces defines them as separate functional areas. You can place furniture or carve out storage space under raised sleeping or office areas.

4) Lighten up.  Literally.  Carefully selected layered lighting along with mirrors, can completely change the apparent space. Be careful with what the mirror reflects!  Dress windows lightly but don't sacrifice privacy. Remove interior doors when possible to create a floor-through impression. Use glass inserts to brighten spaces if walls must remain.

Energy saving ideas for lighting.

With energy costs and concerns ever-increasing, and our global awareness of sustainability and eco-friendly design how can you be cost conscious and still have great design?   

An energy-saving lighting design for an historic home.

Some incandescent and CFL bulb

The simplest way to make immediate changes is to purchase compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) that can be screwed into existing light fixtures.   CFL's come a variety of styles from chandelier shaped bulbs with small bases, to regular "A" base incandescent bulbs (IB), to the reflector shapes found in recessed fixtures.   As far as cost, they are no longer many times more expensive than IB's.  Combine that with the fact that they last up to 10 times longer, and you are saving time as well as money. You can keep your existing  fixtures and light your rooms in style for less. NOTES:  A 13 watt CFL - using 104 kilowatts - is the equivalent to a 60 Watt IB - using 480 kilowatts. Home Depot does recycle CFL's in their stores.

Another easy way to save money, add ambiance, and a great look on your walls is to use sleek dimmers instead of existing switches. Made by www.lutron.com, they are sold at most hardware and big box stores. You can also install their occupancy and vacancy sensors and see the benefits in energy use and functional use immediately. They can be retrofitted in the space occupied by regular switches or installed without wires at all.  Check out their room, lamp and whole home lighting systems for long-term design planning, energy efficiency and cost savings.

When remodeling, building or doing a major upgrade - particularly where local codes require energy savings - you can install CFL recessed fixtures that meet code in kitchen and bath design. Many well-known lighting manufacturers offer hanging and wall mounted fixtures in either fluorescent or incandescent bulbs so you can select either style.  Long -term, light emitting diodes (LED) are more energy saving, longer lasting, and are available in many styles including recessed or can fixtures, under cabinet task fixtures, and puck style lights. 

ADA compliant lighting is both gorgeous and energy-saving.

When in doubt, contact a lighting design professional. We want you to have the right light for your rooms and tasks while saving energy!