Soot particles are small enough to be breathed deeply into the lung and even pass directly through capillary walls into the blood stream. The particles may contain carcinogens – such as benzo[a]pyrene – and can also act as “surrogate allergens.” The medical community recognizes that the cornstarch powder in latex gloves (used to keep the rubber from sticking to itself) can acquire latex allergens. When the powdery granules become airborne and are inhaled by someone who has latex allergy, that person can experience an allergic reaction – sometimes severe. Similarly, the microscopic particles of soot that settle on surfaces that contain mold or pet dander can become contaminated with allergenic substances. The particles can then become airborne again and be inhaled when surfaces are cleaned or otherwise disturbed in some way.

Now I have to talk a little bit about chemistry (ugh, groan, I hear you say….but chemistry is one of my favorite subjects!). Complete combustion inside a gas furnace or boiler results in the formation of carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) vapor. In other words, one atom of carbon (C) from methane (CH4) combines with two atoms of oxygen (O) from the air to produce CO2 (one carbon atom, two oxygen atoms). Four hydrogen atoms combine with two oxygen atoms to form two water molecules (H2O). If the combustion is incomplete, however, some of the carbon combines with only one atom of oxygen, resulting in carbon monoxide, or CO (one carbon atom, one oxygen atom). When there isn’t enough oxygen, combustion is incomplete. Then some carbon atoms combine with oxygen to create carbon monoxide, other carbon atoms combine with oxygen to create carbon dioxide, and still other carbon atoms do not combine with any oxygen but rather they combine with each other to produce soot (“C”).

What creates soot in our indoor environments?

A gas furnace or boiler that is not firing properly or that does not have sufficient make-up air can produce soot. And even though the furnace or boiler may be located in the basement, if the combustion products are getting into the basement air, airflows carry the soot up into habitable rooms above.

Gas fireplaces can produce soot. When soot particles are heated in a flame, the particles become incandescent (glow) and give off a yellow light. The gas in gas fireplaces is not premixed with enough air, so the flames are yellow due to inadequate oxygen (otherwise they’d be blue, like the flames coming from a gas cooking stove – not exactly what people expect to see in a fireplace!). If there is inadequate draft for a gas fireplace that is producing soot, the particles can leak into the house and stain the walls and ceilings black.

People love jar candles, because of their pleasant scents and yellow, flickering flames; but jar candles also produce a lot of soot, even if burned for only a few hours. As the air moves in and out of the jar, it disturbs the flame structure and causes incomplete combustion. If you burn jar candles, look at the jar rim. Is it black with soot? Imagine the soot that candle released into the air that you and those you love then inhale.

Soot staining in older homes can be fairly uniform, sometimes visible only when pictures are removed, revealing whiter surfaces beneath where soot has not deposited – though in some Victorians, the soot pattern mimics the horizontal “stripes” of underlying plaster/lath, darkest at the plaster “keys.” In newer, better-insulated homes, soot stains on exterior walls and on ceilings near exterior walls look like vertical stripes on studs, with darker black dots at the nail heads. Wherever air moves more turbulently due to temperature differentials, the air will impact surfaces that much more frequently and deposit the soot particles it carries in its flows. (Dark spots develop in bathrooms above vanity fixtures for the same reason: increased deposition rate due to hot air rising above the bulbs.)

I know of one homeowner whose insurance company spent $5,000 to have all the rooms in his house repainted. The man continued to burn jar candles, however, and had to repaint the house all over again. So protect the value of your property by choosing tapered candles over jar candles (just don’t burn the candles near a window or door, where airflows may disturb the flame). Better yet, choose the battery-operated, fake candles that look like the real thing.

Of course, money is important, especially in these lean times. But your health and the health of those you love – including your children – are paramount. So stop burning jar candles. If you don’t burn candles and you still see soot stains on your walls or ceilings, have a professional evaluate your furnace or boiler and undertake necessary maintenance or repairs.

Your family is growing in size and you have to find a roomier home. You may feel lucky if the person moving out is leaving behind a refrigerator or some stylish carpeting, but beware. Many things left behind in a house should be cleaned or removed prior to occupancy, especially if you or someone else in your family, particularly a child, has allergies, asthma or other environmental sensitivities.

1. The Refrigerator. There is often allergenic dust on the sides and back of the appliance, as well as dust trapped in the coils and insulation. These surfaces can be HEPA vacuumed with a 36-inch crevice tool (found on-line; Google “36-inch crevice tool” AND “vacuum”). A drip tray, if present, can be contaminated with mold, bacteria and yeast. When the refrigerator compressor turns on, by-products of this growth can become airborne and be inhaled. The tray should be removed and cleaned. A few tablespoons of salt in a clean plastic (not metal) drip tray can help deter such microbial growth. (In newer refrigerators, the drip tray is on top of the compressor and only accessible for cleaning from the rear after removal of an access panel; salt shouldn’t be used here.)

2. The Washer and Dryer. Biodegradable lint can pile up in back of a dryer, and if the washer has ever leaked, there can be mold growth on the floor or the lower few inches of wall behind the appliance. The washer/dryer should be moved and the area thoroughly cleaned. The dryer hose should be checked to be sure that it’s not kinked or squashed, and that it vents to the exterior. For confined spaces, I recommend a solid metal, periscope-style dryer duct rather than a hose that is likely to be crushed. Never use flexible plastic hose.

3. Built-Ins in Unfinished Basements. Below-grade spaces are prone to mildew growth, so work benches, pegboards to hold tools, and built-in wooden shelves and seats are often covered with mold, and should be removed or cleaned and painted to adhere moldy dust.

4. Carpeting and Built-Ins in Finished Basements. I would say that more than half of the finished basements I investigate end up in a dumpster because they haven’t been consistently dehumidified in spring/summer/early fall or heated in the colder months. Relative humidity has thus been elevated and mildew has sprouted, usually invisibly, on the lower few feet of walls and built-in bars, on the bottoms of shelves, and in carpet dust. (Hold a bright flashlight parallel to smooth, finished vertical surfaces to see the spots of probable mold colonies at the lower foot or two, as well as higher up on outside corners.) A moldy carpet should be removed under containment, and replaced with vinyl or ceramic tile flooring. Any built-ins should also be removed or cleaned and painted to adhere residual dust. The lower few feet of pressed-board or painted walls can be cleaned with a bleach/water solution or a household cleaner suited for the purpose. Unfinished wood should be lightly sprayed with paint or an appropriate sealant, to adhere residual dust. If off-gassing is an issue, use an Elmer’s glue and water solution (one part glue to one to two parts water). Painted surfaces can be repainted.

5. Carpeting in Other Spaces. People often replace wall-to-wall carpeting in rooms but leave the carpeting on stairs and in hallways, yet it is these areas that often receive the most foot traffic and where the carpeting is sometimes most severely contaminated with allergens from pets, dust mites, and even mold growing on captured dust.

6. Window Treatments. Some window shades off-gas a vinyl smell that can be irritating to those who are sensitive to chemicals (like fragrances). Such blinds should be removed from the house, along with the Seller’s other possessions. Sometimes curtains contain mold growth on surfaces that are near the cool floor or that have rested up against a cool window or slider. Curtains and drapes can also be full of allergens from pets and dust mites. Such curtains should be cleaned if possible or replaced.

7. Furniture. Perhaps the family moving out of the home is downsizing and thus is interested in selling you some furniture. If that includes a bed or two, replace each mattress and box spring, and clean the frame of all dust. If any of the furniture pieces are antiques, they may have been stored in a damp basement or garage at some point and can contain a nearly invisible fuzzy film of mildew growth on solid surfaces, especially the bottoms and backs; there may also be mold growth in cushioning or on upholstery. If you want to accept such hand-me-downs, buy new mattresses, reupholster pieces, and clean solid surfaces. Inheriting someone else’s dust mites and other allergens and irritants shouldn’t be part of the deal.

©2009 Jeffrey C. May

In a blink of an eye our challenge is about to end. If you are opening up this page eager for the next assignment because everything is completed from week’s prior, you are better off than most (or me for that matter)! Let’s face it, we’re all super busy parents and it is hard to set aside time during the day to take care of these tasks, which may not seem like an immediate priority. Please keep in mind; I don’t set out making these challenges to make your life more difficult, rather so it is EASIER! So, if you are anxiously waiting to see where I am going to send you off this week with your bucket of hot soapy water and a micro-fiber cloth…please bear with me while I address the needs of the others.

I would like all those who had the desire to complete these challenges, but either started late or never, to step forward. I am going to ask you first to stop burying your head in self-imposed guilt. Nobody is perfect! We are all trying to squeeze way too many things into way too little of time. Do a little soul searching about why you did not make cleaning and de-cluttering a priority. Perhaps you have serious clutter issues that you need to deal with before worrying about the dust under the clutter. Please also keep in mind that clutter does not just come in the form of material things. We can clutter up our schedules as well. Perhaps you did not make it a priority, but now wish you had. �

If you have read my previous challenges you will notice that the principles are the same each week. You take your main goal, break it up into smaller tasks, and create a timetable to complete each task. With projects like these, it is never too late to start. ANYTHING you do… is better than doing nothing. Go back to week one and start all over again.

And now the time has arrived for me to share our last challenge. If you have been following along, you probably know that now it is time to deal with the outdoor spaces. Take a few moments (in between cooking) and spruce up your doors.� Perhaps put on a wreath, or place a new doormat in front of the door.
�
So, we come to the close of these autumn overhaul missions. You’ll begin to notice the areas of our first zones start to deteriorate. In the spring we’ll tackle these areas again in preparation for the summer season.
It is a great lesson for children (and parents) that it is not what you have, but rather what you do with what you have that is important.� Less IS more, and often the simplest moments are the greatest memories.� The first step in appreciating all that life has to offer; is by taking care of and appreciating all that you already have.� �

Have a wonderful week full of family, blessings, thanksgiving, and turkey!

-Betsy

When was the last time you had a really relaxing holiday?

I don’t mean that peaceful thirty-minute aftermath that follows a successful dinner party or the kids’ gift-opening extravaganza. I mean a holiday that is relaxing, from beginning to end. That includes travel, dinner preparations, and shopping.

All it will take is a little organization and advance planning. Here are some tips to get you started.

Plan your travel now. Need to be out of town to see family or friends? If you haven’t already made arrangements, make it a priority. Especially if you plan to fly, the best deals disappear fast. Get online and start shopping around as soon as you know where you need to be and when. Once the arrangements are made, start getting things squared away with work. Whether you need to request time off, reschedule a recurring meeting, or just let your employees know that you’ll be gone, do it as soon as possible. Depending on where you work, getting holiday time off can be competitive. Especially in this case, the early bird tends to get the worm.

Make a budget. Unless you’ve got more money that you know what to do with, it is easy for the holiday season to turn into a financial headache. Ninety-nine percent of that stress can be eliminated by thinking ahead and making a budget. Financial sanity doesn’t come from having a ton of money; it comes from spending it wisely.

Decide how much you’re going to spend and stick to it. Letting yourself creep over your budget probably isn’t going to make you a hero in the gift department, but it might cost you a gray hair or two when it comes time to sort out the holiday bills. How many times have you charged expensive items and spent five months paying for them? See if you can break tradition this year by drawing names or just sending cards. Tell the people you’re not buying for that you’ve pared down your gift list out of necessity and ask them not to buy for you as well.

Avoid the shopping marathon. Unless you really do enjoy the “shop ’till you drop” marathon mall sessions, skip the all-day shopping trips. If you start now (or better yet, six months ago), you’ll be amazed at how much you can get done by picking up an item here and there while you’re running your everyday errands. The secret is to sit down, make a list of the people you need to shop for, and keep it with you.

Ideally, your list will include one or two gift options for each person, too. Keep your list with you and cross off a few people every week. Also keep your eye out for stocking stuffers and similar small items. And as for that whole Black Friday thing – if you don’t enjoy it, skip it! Unless shopping is in your blood, the money you’ll save probably isn’t worth the aggravation.

Wrap as you go. Don’t put all of your wrapping off until the last minute. As you pick things up, go ahead and wrap them as soon as you get a chance. Wrap a couple extras for a guest who shows up unexpectedly and gives you a gift. It helps to have a dedicated wrapping area cornered off that is well-stocked with all the essentials – wrapping paper, scissors, gift tags, tape, etc. The easier you make it for yourself, the more likely you are to get it done.

Simplify, simplify. No matter how cool your friends and family might play it, you are NOT the only one who gets stressed out around the holidays. If the stress of preparations is getting out of hand, don’t be afraid to propose a simplified pot-luck dinner instead of a more elaborate affair or a gift exchange instead of shopping for everyone individually. Even if you just try this approach with a small group of friends or extended family, it’ll be at least a small relief for everyone involved. When it comes to reducing you holiday workload, every little bit helps.

Make friends with the Internet. More and more shoppers are finally taking the plunge and skipping the traditional brick and mortar stores completely. Internet shopping has come a long way in the last few years and you might be surprised at how simple it has gotten. You can easily compare prices and can generally find good deals on shipping that will guarantee arrival in plenty of time for the big day.

Play your cards right. Many people take one look at that mound of Christmas cards and can suddenly think of three or four other things that require their immediate attention. We love getting cards but hate the prospect of doing ours. So we procrastinate until December 22 and pull another 2 a.m. shift to get them in the mail by Christmas. So, I look at my cards as a process. Breaking the project down into smaller pieces makes it seem more manageable. You can even begin now! The first thing I do is create the labels.

Second, I stick them on the envelopes with a return address label and stamp. Next, I write the family newsletter and get it copied onto the special paper. Finally, I set up an assembly line: (a) add a salutation to the card such as “Dearest X Family,” (b) sign our names, (c) enclose the newsletter and a picture, and (d) seal the envelope with a sticker. No licking for me! If you prefer to hand-write your cards, the trick is to write five each day, starting the day after Thanksgiving. Take some with you wherever you go, in case you find some free time: at the doctor’s office, waiting for a meeting to begin, or picking your child up from a lesson.

Cheat. Unless you really enjoy preparing mass quantities of food from scratch, there’s no reason not to take advantage of a short-cut or two. Particularly when it comes to the dessert menu, there are plenty of quick and easy mixes that can help you shave some serious time off of your meal preparation schedule. Just go to the grocery store and find a few easy-to-make offerings or buy something from the deli. For a special touch you can dress your desserts with extra holiday sprinkles or a squiggle of chocolate sauce across the plate for a very restaurant-looking presentation.

Give yourself the gift of time. How about purchasing a few months of housekeeping instead of clothes? Purchase a gift certificate to a restaurant so you don’t have to cook. Have the veterinarian groom your dog instead of doing it yourself, being soaked, and making a mess. Buy a book on tape to listen to in the car on the way to work. Purchase a cell phone and eliminate phone tag by forwarding your calls when you leave the office. Have your groceries delivered once a week for a month (less than the cost of a blouse). Hire a teenager to do the major cleaning required before houseguests arrive.

Remember your priorities. Take shortcuts where it really doesn’t matter: buy cookies instead of baking them or barter a task you don’t like for one you do. I know two women who trade chores at holiday time. One hates to bake; the other hates to do crafts. So one woman decorates the other’s home and wraps her presents beautifully; the other does the meal preparation and holiday baking for the other! Cut out as many social engagements as possible if you want more family time—you can’t go to a school musical when it’s more convenient. Kids appreciate happy and relaxed parents more than perfect decorations.

Get moving! However you choose to get a head start on the holiday season, you won’t regret putting in the extra effort early on. Keep yourself motivated by thinking about how nice it will be to cruise through the end of December stress-free and full of holiday spirit. You might make a date with yourself to visit the mall on the last weekend before Christmas—just so you can observe the mayhem you successfully avoided by being so productive!

© 2008 Laura Stack.

You know that chemicals might be bad for you, but how do you live without them?

First, you have to remember that people used to live with the same pests that we fight today, before chemicals existed. When you use chemicals, the natural balance of predator and prey is upset in your house and yard.

Allowing your yard and house to come back into balance will take about three years. Since you have been artificially killing the bugs that you don’t want, you have also been inadvertently removing the food for the bug’s predators. Once you stop using chemicals, the “bad” bugs will temporarily explode in growth. You can control them through non-chemical methods; vacuuming often, using cedar chips, etc. Then, over the course of the next three years, their natural predators will return, and the predators will take care of them for you. During the temporary explosion, here are some things that have always worked for us, to discourage bugs and rodents:

• Robin egg blue porch roofs are unappealing to mud wasps, so they do not nest
• Removing bushes from around the foundation of your house will remove the private access for mice and rats
• Bees like the color yellow; don’t wear yellow when bees are around
• Ants do not like pepper; sprinkle it on your windowsill and they will not come into your house that way
• Native types of wood are normally resistant to your native pests; use these when building
• Rats come when there is animal residue; be sure that your compost pile gets only vegetable matter

About the authors: The principals of HaagEnviro, Ruth and Bob Haag, have been cleaning up hazardous waste sites for 17 years. They know where to look for wastes, and what to worry about. Bob is a hydrogeologist, and Ruth is a natural resources scientist. Their monthly newspaper, A Sandusky Bay Journal, often carries articles related to their environmental experiences. Visit Ruth online at www.RuthHaag.com .

Episode #17: OH! Organizing Hints – Trash Eve

Geralin Thomas Introduces Clever Parents to “Trash Eve”. Plus, a clever family organizer. Watch the vidcast on Clever Parents TV.

Talk about Clever: Brad and Jera Deal made up a creative way to teach the alphabet to their daughters then transformed it into a personalized gift business.

As a way to introduce the alphabet to their daughters, Brad and Jera Deal made a game of ‘letter hunting’ while out for walks or spending days in the park. Since, like most parents, they always had a camera with them, they took pictures of the letters that they spotted whether they were in nature, art or surrounding architecture. Soon they had pictures for every letter in the alphabet.

About that time Jera needed to find a wedding present for her daughter’s pre-school teacher. Rather than purchase a gift, they decided to create the teacher’s last name from the letter pictures they had taken. From that one gift, the Deals received multiple order requests and soon a business was born…

Mounted in museum quality mats and frames, customers select letters from a library of black and white pictures online resulting in personalized, unique pieces of art. Perfect for your own home, for a wedding, birthday, graduation, anniversary or holiday gift, Sticks and Stones art is beautiful, a conversation piece and perfect for that hard to buy for person on your gift list.

Visit www.createsticksandstones.com to create your own piece of art. Simply type in the name, phrase or title you’d like in your frame, then select the letters online. It’s as simple as it is beautiful.

Create memories by making fall décor with items that you already have in or around your home. Not feeling especially crafty? The best way to become inspired and get ideas is to grab your children and go on a nature walk. Allow your children to come up with suggestions on their own! Take along a bag and collect some items throughout your walk; pinecones, wheat, interesting fall leaves, some twigs, acorns, etc.

Bring the nature items home and have the kids help create beautiful fall decorations from what you found. This task has nothing to do with showcasing how crafty you are, and everything to do with the time spent working with your children. What is great about the majority of these decorations is that after the season is over, the decorations can be discarded and there is no need for storage.

Here are just a few of my suggestions:

• An opaque pitcher filled with tall wheat makes a wonderful fall centerpiece
• Create a pinecone wreath by hot glueing piencones to a grapevine wreath
• Fill a bowl full of pinecones, acorns and cinnamon sticks. Not only does it look great, but it smells wonderful as well
• Spray paint some branches black and put them into a container or bucket. Fill the container with stones up to a few inches from the top to keep the branches steady. On top of the stones, place some plastic wrap. Now, pour on your favorite candy corn or pumpkin candy. It will appear that the bucket is completely filled with candy. You can have the kids help make ghoulish ornaments by using a toilet paper square covering an acorn to hang on the Halloween tree.
• Update photo frames throughout the house using pictures of your children dressed up for past Halloweens. For even more interest, try and find pictures of when you were a child at Halloween.
• Pumpkins and candles: For an absolutely elegant look, display white pumpkins in assorted sizes and shapes with white candles also in various heights. Be careful to protect furniture underneath the pumpkins!
• Hay bails, corn stalks, pumpkins, old clothes… get creative!! Create a one in a kind pumpkin headed scarecrow!!

Spend a little time with your children and allow them to let loose their creativity. Not only will you create gorgeous decorations, but memories as well. When you discard the decorations at the end of this season, the memories of the time you spent with your children will be tucked away with them forever. These types of memories cannot be purchased for any amount of money.

Enjoy creating fall masterpieces and memories!
Betsy

Today we goto The Best Nanny Newsletter to get some tips on how to interview household employees.

Interviewing household employees such as nannies, chefs, personal assistants, housekeepers, health care aides, and butlers is important. Each family and home has unique needs. Many potential problems can be avoided if the interview is properly conducted. During interviews the families and the job candidates often rely on their intuition. Although it is not wise to jump to conclusions, it is natural to get a sense of what individuals are like in the first minutes of meetings. As prospective employees and family members learn more about each other they can make informed decisions if their relationships may work.

In-person interviews are essential in helping families and potential employees determine if they are compatible. For example, in nanny in-person interviews the parents can judge how nannies and their children interact. Parents can describe activities their children enjoy to see if nanny candidates have an interest in those areas.

Read more on the Baby Swap site…

Thanks for SWAPPING!

Decorating on a Shoe String Budget: Part 1 “Guilt Free Shopping”

Why do I have clutter? Often, the answer is very simple… because I simply buy too much. In order to win the battle of clutter, we need to first correct the behaviors that created it!

A common mistake made by many of us is buying unneeded items with the justification that it is on sale. A sale is not going to save you money! Seriously, I know we have trained ourselves to calculate to the penny exactly how much we save when we buy… but the truth is, if we spend money on things we don’t need, we are not saving a dime. Worse yet, we are taking money from much worthier expenses such as: vacations, retirement, college, or paying off debt.

This week I want you to challenge yourself to redecorate an entire room simply by using things from other rooms in the house. This is fun exercise to get the children involved! This is also a great time for you to invite a friend over to help. Make up a pot of tea, grab some snacks and have fun! Pick a room and take out everything except the furniture. Now, start shopping around your home. Groupings can be created either by like objects not of the same color or like colors, not the same type of objects. Experiment and have fun. Only put items back into the room that really work for you. This is your house and there are no rules! You certainly can feel free to swap furniture from other rooms as well!

Once your room is complete, I want you to take a good look at what is left behind. What items did you not want to put back into the room? If it is because it no longer fits into the room, simply find a new place in your home for it. Take this time to purge out those items that you don’t like! It is ok for you to get rid of items that don’t fit your style. Do not create clutter for yourself by boxing these things up and sticking them in the attic. Call your friends and family and offer up these items to them first. If you can’t find any takers, simply donate!

Have fun guilt-free shopping and creating a new space with your own items!! The feeling of accomplishment will be amazing. Make sure you take before and after pictures! I would love to see your achievements!

Betsy

Turn any surface into a chalkboard! Don’t worry about writing on the walls anymore with chalkboard paint. The paint, which is acrylic based, turns any painted surface into a chalkboard. Make A-frame easels with plywood and then paint – no need to buy expensive slate. Paint sections of walls or doors for fun. Paint a section of a toy chest or dresser and then use the chalkboard to label contents.

There are several brands of chalkboard paint. Benjamin Moore is a favorite for high-quality paints.

Habitat for Humanity, the charity that builds homes for needy people, also runs stores in many states and Canadian Provinces that sell old home hardware, fixtures and accessories that have been donated from renovations and remodeling. All proceeds go to fund Habitat’s charity work. The stores are low on frills, but offer the Clever shopper the chance to find really great architectural salvage pieces.

Keep in mind that, like garage sales, you have to search through a lot of junk to find that really great piece. Based on our shopping experience, here are some areas that we’ve found to be particularly rich in finds:

Bathroom plumbing fixtures:
Faucet fixtures, sinks, toilets, towel rods and hangers, etc. Why pay a fortune on faucet fixtures that look “old” when you can inexpensively buy the real McCoy. Beware about older fixtures and compatibility with newer piping. Of course, with all the money you’ll save, you can easily hire a plumber to make the adjustments.

Doors:
Solid wooden doors will set you back a small fortune if you buy them new. But there is no denying the sound and feel of a solid door. When we’ve been to the Habitat store there are typically hundreds of doors available for sale, from screen doors to front doors to interior doors. Expect to pay substantially less than you would at a home improvement store or interior design store. Typically a little sanding and a new coat of paint and you’ve got a “new” door.

Kitchen Cabinets:
If you’re a little more adventurous, buying an entire set of cabinets or individual pieces could save you a fortune. We’ve seen entire cabinet sets for $1500. Of course, you’ll need to be able to install them (or pay someone to) and you might want or have to make some cosmetic changes—different hardware, paint, new finish. If you have a rental home, this should be a definite option since you’re typically not as concerned about aesthetics

Hardware:
Knobs, pulls, hinges and the like; look hard enough and you can find everything from porcelain to brass. Instantly give plain, new items character; these are perfect for changing the look of a current door, your kitchen or bathroom.

Etcetera:
Who says items have to be functional? Old paned windows make great decorative pieces and mantels don’t have front fireplaces. Find both and more and use your imagination for decorating.

After checking out some unfinished furniture stores and visiting several used furniture stores for a potential changing table for our baby, we found a long, waist high dresser that needed a little TLC for about $100. With the help of a sander, some paint and some new extra large knobs, we had ourselves a piece of furniture that friends thought was a store bought piece from a boutique. We’ve since “rehabbed” another dresser/changing table for our second child.The quick and dirty on rehabbing or refinishing:

• Be picky and patient: we walked the aisles of a number of used furniture stores before finding what we wanted.
• Look for what something can become, not what it is currently: don’t limit yourself to looking a dresser, if that’s what you want. You might be able to make a kitchen hutch into one with the right tweaks. You can remove hardware, raise or lower legs, sand down or paint over things.
• Avoid items with heavy shellacs or varnishes – the varnish is very difficult to remove and they don’t paint over well.
• Don’t worry about fancy: dovetail and mortise-tenon joinery is beautiful and the mark of true craftsmanship in woodworking, but you’re going to paint over this more than likely and no one will know the difference.
• Buy good quality paint: Since you don’t need a ton of it, pay a little more for the good stuff.
• Splurge on the details: big, oversized knobs or pulls with fancy children’s decorations are expensive, but worth it.

Tools/Equipment:

• Orbital sander: If you don’t already have one, it’s worth the $40-60 bucks for speed and ease of use. (Plus, you’ll find a million other uses for it as well.) If the piece is made of wood and doesn’t have a thick shellac or varnish, you can get away with sanding it down prior to painting. Start with a 60-100 grit coarse sand paper and finish with extra fine 220 grit. (An orbital sander is just a handheld sander (we like circular) that plugs into an outlet and uses sandpaper that ‘velcros’ onto it.)
• Paint: Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams both have very good paints.
• Hardware/Knobs/Pulls: This is where to splurge since the details are what “pop”. Link to store where we got pulls. Rockler is a woodworking supply company with a good selection of pulls and other hardware.

Need a primer on primers? Is your color palette pleasing? If “Décor and More” is the biggest category on your perpetual “to do” list, keep reading.

As a professional organizer I help clients accomplish goals and implement new systems. It isn’t unusual to be asked to organize an upcoming project for them. Recently a chronically disorganized client (CDC) asked for my assistance organizing a painting project in her home. In each room painters were going to be freshening up the ceilings, crown moldings, baseboards and walls. The CDC was becoming overwhelmed with all the options and found that picking a paint color was easy compared to some of the other decisions which needed to be made.

Here is a primer on painting; perhaps this information will be useful to you too.

The “Lingerie” of Paint—Primer

Fact: Primers can be oil or water based.

My spin: Primers are like underwear. Primers are optional. IF using a primer, it is the coat of paint applied before anything else. No one will know its there once the “real” coat of paint is applied. Primers can be white or tinted. Tinted primers are used if the wall color is going to be darker.

Confused? Think of primers as you do braziers. Wearing an ivory-colored blouse? Wear an ivory-colored bra. Same is true if wearing a red or black blouse; wear a darker colored bra. When painting walls a deep color use a dark primer.

And, just like great foundations help clothing look better on less than perfect figures, primers help paint look better on the walls. Primer helps cover stains and encourages paint to adhere to walls evenly.

Taking it From the Top–Ceiling Paint
Who knew that there are now ceiling paints that are colored when you apply them but they dry white? If you are wondering why this is helpful you’ve obviously never painted a ceiling. It’s tricky (and a killer on your neck) to find spots you’ve missed. Tinted ceiling paint is, as Martha would say, “A Good Thing.”

Types of Paint
This is one of the first questions paint vendors ask so be prepared. Your options are: latex, oil base, and enamel.

Latex: Fast drying. It is used indoors. Cleans up with soap and water–easily.

Oil Base: Has a strong odor and dries slowly. Used on cabinets and trim. Clean up requires mineral spirits and elbow work.

Enamel: Has a sheen to it and is used a lot in kitchen and baths because it is resistant to smudges and finger prints.

Tip: If you are painting a humid room you may want a paint with mildicide in it.

Find a Finish
Your options are flat, eggshell, satin, semi gloss, and high gloss.

Sort of chalky to the touch, flat paint doesn’t reflect light and is sheen-free; it looks nice because the colors are saturated but it can be tough to clean. Some flat paints have a matte finish which can be washed.

Eggshell has a slight luster to it and it looks nicest on smooth, flat walls. It is easier to clean than flat and smoother to the touch. Its great in long hallways where kids can’t keep their hands off the walls.

Satin has a little bit more luster than eggshell and cleans easily. Show little bumps and lumps in walls. Nice for trim work though.

Semi gloss reflects light and washes nicely. It is used on fireplace surrounds, window trim, and doorframes.

High gloss paint is like gooey lip gloss. It is super shiny and looks like lacquer. It washes easily. It is used on frames, cabinets, and doors when a reflective look is desired. Catches light beautifully but magnifies every blemish. It reminds me of historical European store fronts with beautiful millwork.

Tools to Hunt and Gather Before You Begin

Brushes

• Natural-hair brushes for oil based paints
• Nylon-polyester brushes for latex paints
• Use a 2.5 inch brush for edge work

Rollers

• Sheep’s wool rollers for oil based paints
• Synthetics with latex paints
• ¾ in nap is good for most jobs
• Roller handle

Tape

• Corner tape–triangle-shaped wedges of tape that fit into corners. Great for painting windows frames.
• Curving tape–fits around doorknobs, oval or circular windows.
• Wide type tape to tape off everything
• Drop cloths
• Paint tray and liner
• Screwdriver (to remove cover plates*)
• Ladders
• Rags

Now that you’re rolling picking a pleasing color palette should be easy.

Tip: Place a piece of painter’s tape on the back of the cover plate. Write the name and number of the paint colors used in each room.

My husband is an artist and loves color! I, on the other hand, have needed to be convinced. After 11 years of marriage (as of today, thank you very much), I am coming around to his way of seeing things. For instance, I love these three, very different, very colorful, very fun seating options:

The Fat Boy Original — comes in every color imaginable and is a great basement option. We recently bought this before we had family stay with us and it was a huge hit with the kids and adults alike! Great for sitting on, laying on or jumping on! Check out all the ways to use it at Design Public or Zac and Zoe ($229 and free shipping).

Pier One Directors Rocking Chairs (on sale for $49.48). If you’re looking for a fun outdoor chair, that you can fold up and put away at leisure, I love this option! This Pier 1 exclusive is expressly for outdoor use and comes in three fun colors: violet, blue or green.

Anthropologie Bellis Perennis Chairs ($198)– These chairs from Anthropologie make me smile. With colorful lawn daisies scattered all over, they are simply charming. I think they would be great as an extra chair in an office or guest bedroom or as a mismatched set at a small breakfast table. Who wouldn’t want to sit here first thing in the morning?

So, if you’ve always been a little afraid of color like me, I say don’t wait any longer! When was the last time beige made you smile?

As a professional organizer I am always being asked if I have any bright ideas for clients and they are surprised when I suggest improving their lighting.� Light and the way it is used changes the way my clients see everything–including themselves.� Lighting can have a dramatic effect on how we apply makeup, view our computer screen, and highlight artwork in our homes and offices.� Lighting provides an almost invisible final touch to any design or system–including organizing systems.When a client invites me in to organize their wardrobes and closet spaces I often suggest new light bulbs at their bathroom vanities.� Most builders install clear vanity globes but these can be harsh and create unflattering shadows under eyes and noses; switch to translucent white ones instead.� An ideal solution is to have the mirror lit from the sides–at eye level 30 inches apart and a minimum of 60 watts.� In a perfect situation, the lighting would be a continuous strip around the mirror which gives the most even modeling of the face.

Halogen bulbs provide a clean, crisp light that is controllable–perfect when you want bright light for cooking in the kitchen or reading in bed.� Halogen bulbs are about $5.00 each and last two years.� In addition halogen bulbs come in flame-shaped bulbs for chandeliers and spotlights which point a narrow beam of light on artwork.

With more people working out of their homes, task lighting in home offices has become increasingly important to avoid headaches and eyestrain while sitting at the computer.� To eliminate the glare on a monitor a compact florescent bulb is best.� This type of bulb diffuses light and doesn’t have you “seeing spots”.� They can cost as much as $10.00 but will last for years and require 75% less energy which saves money on your lighting bill each month. You could save $75.00 per year in energy costs while getting the same amount of light by replacing one 100-watt incandescent bulb with a 25-watt compact florescent bulb.� Please note, compact florescent bulbs can not be used with a dimmer switch.

Compact florescent bulbs–in yellow are perfect for the patio because mosquitoes have difficulty seeing yellow. They need to be used in conjunction with white lights and if� you are interested in learning more about this tip please contact me via my website and I’ll email you the specifics.

If a client loves fine arts or crafting–beading, painting, sewing, scrap booking I suggest an Ott-lite.� Ott-lights are sold at office supply stores, craft and sewing stores, and on line.� They are “must haves” for folks who want clear, true light. Ott-lites are expensive but worth it–they start at about $100.00.� (Local craft and sewing stores offer 40% coupons and this would be an ideal time to take advantage of those).� The light from and Ott-lite is designed to let you see colors and details with accuracy.

Lighting is an integral part of your environment and affects the color, safety, security, conveniences, and mood of your home. Change your bulbs and see yourself and your environment in a whole new light–the right light is a bright idea!

The folks at Smith + Noble have thought of everything when it comes to ordering custom window treatments for less. Place an order without leaving the comfort of your own home, yet still have enough information to make the right decisions about your product. Their website is attractive, easy-to-navigate and packed with helpful tips and downloads. Watch video clips on topics like measuring for your window treatments, inside vs. outside mounts, combining and layering window treatments. Download files like a worksheet for measuring and planning your project. Or just call and talk to a customer service rep who will help answer questions.

Smith + Noble helps you address functional needs such as muffling noise, providing privacy, and letting light in while keeping a bad view out without sacrificing style. Speaking of style… they have it in spades. Wood blinds, fabric shades, naturals and wovens, roller and solar shades, honeycomb, valances and cornices, and more.

A must-try is their interactive design center that allows you to see the finished product online before you buy. Simply choose from window treatment style options, preview your choice in any fabric, material or finish, then add upgrades. You can even change the wall color to approximate your own room and easily email the picture to a friend for a second opinion.

How are their prices lower? You’re buying direct from the workroom, so there’s no middleman charge. Order up to 10 free swatches which are sent out to you the next business day after you order them. Once you’re a customer, they’re always sending out great coupons – or just sign up for their newsletter at www.smithandnoble.com for special offers and product news.

Thinking about giving your dining room (or bedroom, or living room, or even your home’s exterior) a face lift with a fresh paint color, but aren’t sure if your color choice will work? Afraid you’ll be too bold or too drab? Have no fear, help is here!

Send Benjamin Moore a high-quality color photograph of your project and a completed Benjamin Moore® Color Makeover Program questionnaire form and their color experts will develop personalized color palletes for you. You’ll receive oversized color swatches, recommendations for color placement and color suggestions for adjoining rooms.

For $34.95, they’ll do everything mentioned above plus a personalized color rendering including a full color printout of your project showing placement of colors on your walls (or siding if you want to paint your home’s exterior) and a color viewer CD containing a visualization software program containing the entire Benjamin Moore color pallete of more than 3,200 colors.

Want a fast, easy, and relatively inexpensive way to make over a kitchen or bath? Change out your cabinet hardware — knobs and pulls. With an almost infinite selection, you can subtly change the feel of a room making it modern, exotic, or country. One of our favorites is Atlas Homewares.

Atlas Homewares has a huge selection and a great website.

We like this grape knob for the kitchen. At $5.30 each, it’s reasonably priced and you can pick from one of ten finishes.