Oh that leaking faucet!

In a time when water is a precious commodity – especially in California with a serious drought – making sure that all of your faucets are in good condition is essential to save money and water.

Here are some problem areas and quick tips to do repairs on your own. Please call plumber if you're not comfortable with this process. You do not want to create a larger leak by forgetting to turn off your main water, or not tightening the gasket or valve properly.

1) Corroded Valve Seat- One of the most typical causes of a leaky faucet is a corroded valve seat. When water sediments collect on the valve seat, the spout will certainly start to leak. It is a smart idea to clean the valve seat on a regular basis to avoid this problem. 

                   

2) Malfunctioning O-ring - A faulty O-ring may be the most common factor for a faucet leak. The O-ring is a small rubber ring around the stem screw. Over time, they may weaken, permitting a trickle of water past the seal. To fix it, you'll have to disassemble the faucet from the handle down. This is an easy repair and can generally be done within minutes. Here is a great link to fixing your O-ring.http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/plumbing/how-to-repair-a-faucet4.htm

3) Washer is Worn Out- This is a regular problem for your faucet. Water pressure forces the washer up against the valve seat. This continuous pressure breaks the washer. The simplest repair is to change the washer. Often, if it isn't installed correctly or is not of the right size, it can cause leakage.

4) Loose Parts- A faucet is made use of a lot, the packing nuts and adjusting ring may become loose as you use them, triggering leaks. When you have a leaky faucet because of loose parts, you need to adjust the packing nut or change it entirely.

5) Seals are Worn Out- There are 2 types of seals: inlet seals and outlet seals. Similar to many of the other parts of your faucet, these seals are vulnerable to deterioration due to water sediment. This is likewise a main reason for water dripping. Work with a professional to clean or change your seals. This should quickly fix your leaking issues.

6) Broken Pipes or Fittings - A dripping faucet might be the result of a broken pipe or fitting.  Damaged pipes establish fractures that might disrupt the water pressure and cause faucet drips from time to time. If you have attempted the above and the problem remains unfixed, then you should hire a skilled plumber to check your water pipes.

Favorite Kitchen Tools

Following a kitchen remodel, there are 10 products I love to give as gifts for clients to begin cooking in their new favorite space.  I even carry some of them in my showroom so I can present a gift, or someone can purchase a favorite tool for their friend.

1. Le Creuset Dutch Oven ($330) – I love this entire collection of pots for cooking just about anything.  My mom has had a set of this product for 40 years but the Dutch oven is an extremely flexible piece.  I use it for chili, pasta, sauces, soups, and you can use it for roasts, baking bread, and more.
   
2. Crate and Barrel Essential White Dishes . While they  have many different styles, I prefer this original rounded set. All food looks fabulous when served on a white plate. Restaurants use them for a reason and white dishes are flexible for seasonal entertaining and work in almost every color kitchen.
   
3.  All Clad 3 Qt. Essentials Pan   ($129) This is only one in the collection in the All Clad pots.  It has such a fabulous range of use for sauces, pasta, soups, to rice, quinoa and more. It's just the right size for so many things because it serves as a sauce pan as well as a skillet it's tall rounded sides.
   
4. KitchenAid Stand Mixer ($200) – This is indeed and investment and it's flexibility includes everything from eating bread dough, mixing up cake batter, making whipped cream, and they even have attachments for meat and pasta.  With the colors available, this can be left out in any kitchen and look fabulous so it can be used every time it's needed.
   
5. Mason Jars ($18 for 12) – All food that is left over should be stored in glass. I still don't like using BPA free plastics.  Mason Jars are great because they don’t stain like plastic and can go from microwave to freezer to refrigerator over and over again. They now have plastic screw tops that I purchase at Amazon.com, which seems to make many clients happier than having the double metal lid.
   
6. Le Creuset Spoonula ($12) – Whenever I find myself reaching for a cooking utensil, it’s usually this one. Great for scraping the sides of bowls or pots and works as a spoon too!
   
7. Krups Coffee Grinder ($20) – While  can certainly use this for grinding coffee, I don't drink it. It's a fabulous small appliance for grinding spices (nutmeg, mustard seeds, cumin seeds) and nuts.
   
8. William Sonoma Measuring Cups  ($20 a set). Not only do these have a fabulous weight and feel, they look great. I like to leave The most often new size in containers of oatmeal flour and baking products so I can instantly scoop out what I need.
   
9. Microplane Zester . ($12.85) This is ideal for grinding the peels from oranges, limes, and lemons, to create a fabulous zest. It adds flavor to food, you can add salt to your zest to make fabulous seasonings, and using zesty on dessert and certain dishes adds flavor and incredible ambience.
   
   10.  J. A. Heckles Pro-S Knife Set  ($299)  While this is considered a starter set, it has most every knife needed for daily cooking and is always at the top of knife rating lists. There are 8 in the set, plus kitchen shears which I use for more than food (:{ )!

Orchids in interiors

Orchids are beautiful, architectural plants that I love to use in interiors. They are easy to care for and readily available. You don't need a greenhouse or a green thumb. You can find them at stores like Home Depot, Trader Joe's, and even Costco.   While there are about 30,000 different species, I have found that the three most popular and readily available orchids are cymbidium, Phalenopsis, and dendrobium. 

Over the years, I have found that there are three main things that keep orchids growing a long time, and make them easy to care for:

One. Do not over water. Orchids do not like "wet feet".  I water mine with a narrow bottle – I actually use plastic seltzer bottles – and use about 1 cup of water no more than twice a month for a 6 inch plant. The bottle allows me to so control where the water goes and I tend to have less water running down the leaves and onto my furniture that way. One time I use liquid fertilizer and once without. It's good to use clear water periodically to rinse the roots of extra salts. I allow the roots to drain thoroughly whether I remove them from the decorative cachepots - and replace them when the soil has dripped dry - or even if you leave them in the single ceramic pot or basket.  Sometimes, I make it easy by propping the original container up in a larger one, and then filling in with polished stones or Moss.  If your house is particularly dry, you can lightly mist your orchids in the morning, but be sure the leaves dry by nightfall. Too much water will cause your orchid to rot.

Two. Give them the right light. Mine thrive in my south facing windows, and the blooms last for a very long time, and then rebloom about once a year.  Generally, they also like good air circulation, so in the summer I open my windows in the plants do better. I turn my orchids every couple of weeks, so that the plant gets even light all around.

Three. Use the right potting soil. Orchid roots need room to grow and like air circulation. If you get an orchid in a sphagnum Moss mix – which is good –  loosen it up before you plant them in your container.  Orchid mix can be purchased at any nursery or big hardware store, and is only about five dollars. You can make your own with Moss, Perlite, and bark, but be sure the soil is loosely packed and changed if it gets too wet. Generally, orchids come in little plastic pots with slits in the side. That's great for about a year. You can buy ceramic orchid pots that already have openings in the side to aerate the roots, or select any pops, container, or basket of your choice.  I do repot about every other year. It seems that the soil needs a bit of refreshing and the size of the pot needs to increase so the roots can grow and the plant can thrive. The best time to replant, and only increase the size about 2 inches, is when the Bloom has died. 

I love putting orchids in cachepots and containers and using them in the bath, on my dining table, and in my living room on end tables. I tend to swap orchids from place to place so they get different light throughout the year.  While they do better outdoors, I use Cymbidium indoors from April through September and then put them out in the garden in spring and summer. They seem to grow well in the east facing raised planter, and then I separate some of the plant and bring them back indoors from September to February. I have some beautiful oval and round pots so use them on my dining table and in my bedroom as a beautiful winter display.  I often mix orchids in the same container, and then swap the wooden bamboo stake that comes with the orchid for a twig or branch. I don't really love the plastic clips that usually come with them, so sometimes I tie the orchid Bloom to the branch with raffia.  Lately, Trader Joe's has been providing plants with a very minimal green wire that works well to hold multiple blooms in one pot.

Update your home right!

Don't just re-do your home without thought. It's smart to consider the future, your kids, a resale, and a  host of things before you make a change.  Whether you do a small re-fresh or a large scale remodel, do it right the first time.  Here are my top 10 thoughts:

1. Make wider doorways. Its' so much easier to get pieces of furniture in and out of your home, not to mention better accessibility for everyone in and throughout your rooms.

2. Install easy clean surfaces. You might love granite counters and stone bath floors, but are they easy to clean - maintain and seal - with your lifestyle? There are SO many fabulous and gorgeous options in quartz and porcelain that you should consider. 






3. Consider concealed storage. We all have 'stuff' and often get more without doing away with what we already have. I'm a kitchen accessory 'junkie'. Having organized and expandable space to have all of that is as important in my kitchen as it might be in your family room, kids room or master closet! Closed doors, covered baskets, deep drawers with dividers, and even open shelves with nifty containers, contains and makes everything neat and easy to access.





4. Put timers or sensors on light switches. Ever walk into a room with your hands full and trip on something in the way?  Do your kids forget to turn out lights?  There are SO many inexpensive sensors you can buy and install yourself (unless you're really not comfortable with wiring) that pay for themselves quickly.  Lights go on when you enter a space and off after a set period of time when you leave. Put a timer on a switch in a bathroom, closet or children's room and the lights will go off for you. Same with turning on entry and hall lights. Don't walk into a dark house and install a wall timer to schedule lights going on and off.  This is great for porch and patio lighting.

5. Ask for self closing drawers. If you're redoing a kitchen or bath, these are really nice to have! It makes them easy to open, keeps your drawers closed, and no one has to remember to close a drawer when you're all using the same kitchen or bath room.

6. Create an electronics charging station. With laptops, tablets, pads and smartphones, most of which need a unique port, if you create a landing area with all of the cords contained. You'll keep everything together and never misplace a cord again, not to mention the neatness factor....










7. Be sure to add better ventilation/natural lighting.  Even if you don't add windows, expanding the size of existing windows can bring more light and air into your home.  You can often save on air conditioning bills with properly placed ventilation. Having more natural light also helps cut energy use. If adding a new window might not be in the budget, but consider ceiling or wall mounted fans to circulate air, and solatubes that have LED backup.

8. Design drawers instead of doors on cabinets.  Why reach into a fixed shelf after opening a door, when a drawer can be a better storage option?  You gain better access inside - especially in deep kitchen cabinets - and certainly  make it simpler to use.  With new interior systems from  most cabinet companies, and good carpentry in custom fabrications, you get wonderful compartmentalization and organization too.










9. Try a zero clearance ethanol burning fireplace.  No, you don't need a chimney.  Take a look at the variety of ethanol burners. They can be installed in a wall, a shallow room, and have many size options that actually produce heat.

10. Employ energy efficient lighting design. DON'T simply replace one fixture with another. Consider placement, the amount of light you need, whether the fixture is even the right type, what type of bulb you use and you'll improve your lighting, energy bills, and even your use of the spaces you're updating.

Chicken Wire 101

Despite the name, chicken wire isn't just for corralling poultry. There are some great household and garden uses for every style and budget. A few of my favorites are for cabinet door inserts and keeping my dogs from walking through the iron railings when they were puppies. After doing a bit of thinking to  devise some casual storage ideas for my client's country kitchen I found a few more uses for chicken wire!  

For storage in the kitchen, and a different one for the entry and another for her office, I made 2 thin frames and stapled the wire so it was sandwiched between them. All of the frames were alder stained or distressed to match the decor of each room. You can also simply staple the wire to an existing frame for a more casual look.

Other ideas:  

A place to dry artist's brushes and craft supplies

A tool rack

Cut to fit a planter and placed on top of the filler so your stems stay put

On top of a trellis or pergola so your vines don't climb through

Replace the doors of an armoire to create an open curio

5 Products we LOVE for the kitchen

Making the best use of space, light and storage is always top on the list for most of us.  I search for new and unique products every single day to make that happen! Here is my list of favorites for March!

1. Drawer insert for space saving storage.  This is fabulous for long utensils, easy to grab, and what could be better other than a personal chef?  If the $75 price tag is too high, fashion your own from balsa wood and carpenters glue like we did.




2. LED undercounter light with motion sensor.  Very cool LOOX lighting is great for when you need it.  By Haefle, the surface fixtures are battery powered and go on with a wave of the hand. Easy!




3. An add on cabinet? Yep. Put this small 2 legged piece at the end of a cabinet run or island for much needed storage and an extra surface.  Kraftmaid makes these in a variety of sizes and styles.  All you do is unpack the box, attach the unit and top with your favorite counter or cutting surface.



















4. Kohler's cast iron sink with an offset drain is fantastic!  When you wash large pots, the drain can get covered by the pot....well no longer!  It's large and undermounted...two of the better options for a kitchen sink.

5. Dimmers are the best way to take your high output recessed lights down to a better level after prep is over.  Lutron makes beautiful styles that work whether you have LED, CFL or incandescent bulbs. Save money and get the best light control you can!

Free and Easy Updates

I love to refresh my rooms.  Small things work well, so I like to start that way first....otherwise

it can get out of control!  My favorite way is to create a new look by moving furniture in the room to new positions. If I can't set the largest piece - like a sofa - on a new wall, I try 'floating' it in the room. Angled pieces work nicely to create the illusion of more space. Moving a large piece to a different wall can change a room's character.  What about taking a piece from another room?  I swapped my guest room dresser - since it's not used all the time - for an end table. Loved the result!   Even changing the art on the walls is free, easy and will give you a new look!

Adding an area rug is also easy, fast and usually around $100. You can usually move rugs from room to room if your colors are cohesive, so that purchase will get lots of mileage and update many rooms! It's nice to use  area rugs in your outdoor spaces too -  warm it up for early evening dinners - with an outdoor rug (be SURE it is rated for outdoor use or it could mold or disintegrate).

My third favorite way to make big changes is to swap accessories from room to room or season to season.  It can really change a room. Using baskets from your kitchen in the living room will make it casual and warm.  I like ceramic vases and shaped containers since I find it more interesting to move them around than to buy new ones.  Sometimes finding an inexpensive new accessory is what works for you. Mix it up then. Instead of traditional vases and candles, try statuary. In lieu of ceramic or porcelain, experiment with glass. Change the color scheme of accessories. Remember that fewer and large pieces will create impact.  Yep, pillows are an accessory and with so many discount store (Marshalls, Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Ross) you can find interesting patterns and colors for under $20.  I sometimes buy one nice form and then swap only the cover.

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.

De-clutter and Organize

It's a new year and a great time to purge, organize and make the whole year easier. Like everyone else, I have lots of 'stuff'. Some collected, some gifted, some purchased.  I think I have more than I need and certainly more than I want to take care of. My solution?  Make a New Year's Resolution that I WILL keep; organize and purge. Sure, I can create more storage. I can build my own cabinets, buy shelves and add a closet system in my guest room.  Is the cost to do that worth the items?  I think not. 

So..... what to do and how can it help you out?  Here are my ideas!

1. Clothes  Do you hold onto things in case it comes back in style one day? Don't. When it comes back you'll likely need new accessories, pieces to complete the look, and maybe even tailoring. Try starting with items you haven’t worn in the past year; I donate most everything but there are many places to sell designer items. While you're getting things in and out of the closet, reach for those things first and put them aside until you have a small collection....then away it goes.

2. Papers If you haven't read a newsletter or magazine before the next issue is out, you likely won't so give it away or recycle it.  Today, publications keep archived issues on line so you can refer back to and digitally save an article.  While you do need tax-related materials you likely don't need the monthly credit card statements. How about going paperless and get statements and receipts emailed to you?  

3. Electronics I have power cords and adapters for things I don't own anymore. You might too. Recycle them as E waste and clear out that drawer.  Do the same with old monitors, cell phones and other electronic gadgets. 

4. Unpaired items  My husband has socks that have lost their pairing partner.  They, along with plastic storage lids without their matching storage containers (and vice versa) and bed linens that don’t belong to a set are all candidates for removal!

5. Pantry Items. Believe it or not, cereal, cake mixes and pasta DO expire. I had vitamins and supplements with expired dates.  Same with cake mixes and canned goods.  One thing we rarely look at are herbs and spices which, like mine,  probably had time to go bad since you never really used them anyway.











6. Makeup Makeup does expire and mascara collects bacteria over time. Same with lipstick and eye pencils. Ditch colors you don't use. Its a good way to update too; I love to add one new color for every three I toss and it really does de-clutter my bathroom drawer. 

7. Kid stuff   As precious as your children's arts and crafts projects are, consider saving only the very special ones. When the art is whimsical and fun it can be framed and hung in a playroom or hallway; multiple boxes stored in closets aren't useful and visible.  A fabulous way to display drawings is to decoupage onto a dresser, stair riser,s or the back of a bookshelf. 










8. Books  If you’ve made the switch to a Kindle, Nook, tablet or Ipad, you may have books you won't read. Even if you don't have a device, consider eliminating books you've already read. Sort through your favorite ones, then donate the rest to your local library, charity or shelter,   The chance that you'll read those books again are slim to none, so give someone else the pleasure of a good read.

9. Holiday Decor  If you collect items for holidays, it's a good idea to sort through periodically to remove broken or damaged things, be sure you still love them, and pare down to what you really need.  Storing seasonal items is always a challenge.  I found that I don't do themed Christmas decor, so keep a clear glass and two colors to mix or to rotate.  It was such a pleasure to give away what I didn't really need as gift tags, to Goodwill, to the local Senior Center, or to young couples who are just starting out. 

10. Bedding and towels  Having switched to white towels so I don't have to worry about which bathroom they are for, I sometimes have to ditch a towel that simply doesn't come clean, is threadbare, or that no longer has hand towels or washcloths. There are many places to recycle them.  Even bed linens get worn over time. If you change your color scheme you really don't need the old ones hanging around. As I can afford, I switch to high thread count and all cotton - organic is soft and durable - that my older bedding gets donated

.