CasaSugar

Casa Quickie: Steer Your Plants Clear of Heat

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:00:39 -0700

It's one thing to place your houseplants in direct sunlight, but you won't do them a favor by putting them near a direct heat source (radiator, duct, oven). Doing so will dehydrate your beloved plant quickly; even if you water it diligently, the leaves will dry out. The same goes for air conditioners and vents. Plants can't handle extreme temperatures, so consider where you place them. If you happen to live in a professional kitchen, or some sort of sweatbox factory, at the very least make sure to insulate the plant by placing a thick board between the pot and the direct heat source.
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Recipe For Clean: Oven Cleaner

CasaSugar — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:45:08 -0700

Is your oven crusty and gross? Does it send up a smoke signal every time you try to bake cookies? Then take your home cleaning kit and whip up a batch of natural oven cleaner. This easy Recipe For Clean will get your oven looking and smelling so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

1 cup or more baking soda
A few squirts of liquid detergent
Water

To find out the steps for this DIY, just read more

Sprinkle or spray a generous amount of water on the bottom of your oven.
Cover all of the gross baked-on bits on the bottom of your oven with baking soda until it's covered.
Sprinkle or spray more water on the top.
Let sit overnight, so it will loosen.
Use a sponge, with a squirt of liquid detergent on it, to clean up the mess.
Use a heavy-duty sponge with an abrasive surface for best results.

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In the News: Grad Student Bakes Green Power in Pizza Oven

CasaSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 07:00:48 -0700

One of the main reasons that green power hasn't taken off is its high price tag, but Australian PhD candidate Nicole Kuepper may be changing that. This green-thinking student has discovered a way to produce solar cells using a pizza oven, nail polish, and ink jet printers.

According to the The Sydney Morning Herald:

Ms Kuepper realised a new approach would be needed if affordable cells were to be made on site in poorer countries: "What started off as a brainstorming session has resulted in the iJET cell concept that uses low-cost and low-temperature processes, such as ink-jet printing and pizza ovens, to manufacture solar cells."

While it could take five years to commercialise the patented technology, providing renewable energy to homes in some of the least developed countries would enable people to "read at night, keep informed about the world through radio and television and refrigerate life-saving vaccines". And it would also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The inspiring Kuepper was awarded the British Council Eureka Prize for Young Leaders in Environmental Issues and Climate Change for her solar power development, as well as a $10,000 study tour to Britain. I'm always proud of girl geeks, and since women are underrepresented in the sciences, I am doubly impressed by this young inventor. Congratulations, Nicole!
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Is Your Microwave Clean?

CasaSugar — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 06:15:21 -0700

On an episode from this past season of 30 Rock, Jack Donaghy, Vice President of East Coast Television and Microwave Oven Programming at GE, announces the release of a new product: a pocket microwave oven. Luckily, that microwave is still the stuff of TV dreams. Since many of us are living with a dirty microwave oven in our homes, I can't imagine how dirty a "pocket" microwave oven might become. So, quick, no cheating! Is it clean or not?Source

Before and After: A Country Kitchen Lightens Up

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:00:37 -0700

I spotted the makeover of this small kitchen in an 1895 house in Dutchess County, NY, in Country Living and felt really inspired. When your room is plagued with dated features like these knotty pine cabinets, sometimes it's hard to see the potential in a space - even more so when you've got only 180 square feet to work with.

Home owner Jennifer Vreeland saw beyond this dreary space, and chose to remove the cramped, wall-to-wall cabinetry in favor of two open upper storage units and a hanging pot rack. The change immediately opened up the space, making it feel airier and less claustrophobic. Top that with fresh coats of white and baby blue, and the space looked instantly lighter and more spacious. See the after photo and hear about her other changes when you read more.

Vreeland kept the country vibe with a slim antique farmhouse table and iron draftsman stools. She made the smart choice to go with a modern, streamlined sink and an oven in powerful sunny yellow, giving the room a touch of modernity and keeping it fresh. I love it! Do you?Source

How-To: Beat the Heat the Eco-Friendly Way

CasaSugar — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:36 -0700

San Francisco is in the midst of heat wave, and as much as I love putting on my Summer dresses, I'm not a fan of looking like a stick of melted butter. If the temperature in your 'hood hasn't risen yet, trust me, it will. So, I have a few tips for conquering the heat when it does. Not so fast, they have nothing to do with blasting the a/c: you know that's not eco friendly. To hear my tips, read more.

Prevent phantom loads and the idle emission of heat by plugging your electronic appliances into a power strip, which you can switch on and off when not in use. Use one in your office for gadgets, one in your kitchen, and in any other place your appliances are piling up.
If you haven't already, switch to CFL bulbs, which give off less heat than regular bulbs and use about 70-75 percent less energy.
Ovens give off much more heat than microwaves, so zap your meals instead whenever possible. If you must use your oven, cook consciously by turning off the oven five minutes before the scheduled end time and allow food to finish cooking as the oven slowly cools, and avoiding opening the oven to check on food while it's cooking, which lets heat escape.
Use organic bedding made from breathable fabrics, which will draw the moisture away from your body during those hot Spring and Summer nights.
Plant trees and bushes in front of your windows to block the sun.
Close your blinds or shades on windows that don't face north during the day, to keep out the sun's heat.
Keep your windows closed to keep the daytime heat out.
If you need fresh air, open two windows across from each other to allow a breeze, or even put a fan in each window.

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Casa Interview: Interior Designer Leslie Bamburg (Part 2)

CasaSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:30:00 -0700

On Monday I brought you the first half of my interview with Labexperiment founder Leslie Bamburg. Two years ago, Leslie Bamburg formed her company Labexperiment, an interior design business that offers an affordable professional decorator option to the design fiend who lacks mad cash. Labexperiment works on the premise that beautiful design can be affordable, individualized, and integrated to meet the resident's needs. Leslie notes that she doesn't believe there should be separation between people's fashion, media, tech needs, music, and interiors. With this philosophy in mind, she makes diagnoses of clients' homes, notes what they need to add, subtract, or rearrange, and then prescribes the elements needed to improve a room or home. Check out the rest of Leslie's interview below.

CasaSugar: What are some of the ways you’ve integrated technology into your prescriptions? I see you’re not a fan of hiding televisions, etc. How do you make them part of the big, cohesive picture?

Leslie Bamburg: Technology can be really beautiful, or really out-of-place, just like anything else you’d buy for your home. I spend as much time thinking about what technology looks like as I do any other piece of furniture or accessory. Just like you’d want a high-quality, well-proportioned and beautiful oven or refrigerator in your kitchen, the TV in the living room or the computer on the desk doesn’t deserve any less consideration. I am a huge geek, so I know that technology is a big part of our modern, futuristic lives.

Want more advice? Then read more.

CasaSugar: What’s the biggest dude decorating faux pas?

Leslie Bamburg: Stereotypically, I think guys tend to not use enough softness in a room. There is a welcoming, comfortable quality in a room that has pillows on the sofa, a throw over the arm of a chair, a cushy rug and soft drapery. They tend to think more functionally, and are the primary target market for large, black leather sofas.

CasaSugar: What’s the biggest lady decorating faux pas?

Leslie Bamburg: Conversely, some women use too much softness. I like a balance of soft and hard lines, and I do think there is a place for black leather, if not used in huge quantities. I think a room should reflect the client’s personality, but still be welcoming to guests - male, female and everyone in between.

CasaSugar: What have been some of the reactions from your clients that have surprised or delighted you?

Leslie Bamburg: Every time a client tells me they are happy with their design, it makes my day. And even though it happens often, I’m still always surprised when a client who claimed to not be interested in design gets inspired after we work on their home. The next time I see them they might have bought lime green patterned pillows for their sofa, for example, which totally work. You know who you are.

CasaSugar: How do you recommend a reader do a home prescription of her own? How can she look objectively at a room and see what’s missing/wrong?

Leslie Bamburg: You can never be objective about your own home. So get a prescription from Labexperiment. Seriously, though, it’s really hard to get distance from your own stuff, so the best thing is to bring in a friend you trust who will give you an honest opinion. You can also start tearing out magazine photos of rooms you like, then lay them all out and think about what is different between your space and those, and see if you can implement changes to make it feel more like the rooms you like. I don’t mean just copying the photos, but if a room you like has a focal element like a wallpapered wall, think about your space to see if you can make a similar statement in the same scale, like hanging fabric panels on the wall, or just painting it with stripes.

Check out some of Leslie's work in the gallery, and then head over to her site to start your prescription.

View 10 Photos ›

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How-To: Go Green in the Kitchen Without Spending Money

CasaSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:00:38 -0700

So, you've learned how to go green in the bathroom without spending any money. But you shouldn't stop there! There's still more eco-friendly business to be done around the house. The kitchen is a hog when it comes to energy use and water consumption, so you should be particularly careful there. To learn some tips for going green in the kitchen without spending a penny, read more.

First of all, I shouldn't have to tell you this, but recycle! Learn what not to recycle and which plastics are recyclable.
Don't use anything disposable if you have a reusable alternative. That means, use microfiber towels instead of paper towels; porcelain or china dishware and utensils instead of paper or plastic; cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, etc.
Use your city's curbside compost.
Use your microwave instead of your stove top or oven whenever possible. It's more energy efficient. But, don't use plastics in your microwave, which can potentially leach chemicals into your food.
Do some Spring cleaning and organize your kitchen storage containers so that you're more likely to use it for leftovers. Cooking at home cuts down on wasteful packaging.
Use household supplies to make homemade and eco-friendly cleaning solutions.
Prevent phantom energy loads by plugging your kitchen appliances into a power strip.
Run your dishwasher on a full load, but not overloaded.
Use a tote bag you already own for grocery shopping instead of plastic bags.
Arrange grocery runs with neighbors or friends. It will make your errands more fun while cutting down on gas expenses. You may also be able to split bulk items with a friend, which will help you to save money. But obviously, don't shop unless you have to!

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How-To: Save Money on Heating This Winter

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 06:15:44 -0700

Recently, heating expert Chris Cooper shared some advice for thrifty Winter heating. Check out these ideas for reducing your Winter heating bill with these tips, which may surprise you. Even small adjustments in everyday life and habits can result in significant cost savings.

Keep window shades open to take advantage of the sun's natural heat.
Prune back tree branches that might obstruct part of the sunlight, and remove any awnings over windows that might create cooling shadows.

For the rest of the tips, read more.

Cover bare floors with dark carpets that absorb the sun's energy and warm the room.
Cover attic stairs with an insulated cover to block gaps between the stairs and the ceiling. Keep the heat in the home from escaping into the attic and the cold attic air from leaking into your house.
Place a chimney stopper (an inexpensive, often inflatable plug) at the lowest part of the flue in your fireplace when it's not in use to prevent drafts. Remember to remove the plug before you light a fire.
Cook consciously using the proper equipment. Use the smallest pot for the job and use a burner that most closely covers the entire heating element. Use a lid to keep heat in the pot which means using a lower heat or cooking for less time. Turn off the oven five minutes before the scheduled end time and allow food to finish cooking as the oven slowly cools. Organize meals to cook multiple dishes simultaneously. Above all, avoid opening the oven to check on food while it's cooking; this allows up to 50 percent of the heat to escape and increases cooking times.
Use a ceiling fan on low setting to push rising hot air back down where residents can benefit from its warmth. Conversely, limit use of ventilation fans over stoves or in bathrooms which draw hot air out of a house.
Smart consumers can lower their heating costs in many ways, some obvious and some less obvious. Using common sense and a little bit of extra effort, you will be warmer and wealthier this Winter.

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How-To: 7 Ways to Protect Your Countertops

CasaSugar — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 09:15:06 -0800

With all the cooking and entertaining we do during the holiday season, our countertops, along with the rest of our homes, take a beating. But, they’re pricey and tedious to replace (whether yours are Carrera marble or not) so it’s best to keep a few simple rules in mind when carving that turkey and whipping up those glasses of egg nog. First and foremost, you should follow any care instructions that came with your countertop, as each material requires different attention. To learn seven ways to protect your countertops, read more.

Use coasters under any glasses or bottles holding a liquid (olive oil, vinegar, etc. included) to prevent sticky surfaces and ring marks.
Some countertops are more water resistant than others, such as tile, but you should always immediately wipe up spills and splashes with a clean, slightly damp cloth. The sooner, the better.
Use a tray or plate to rest any spoons, cooking utensils, or knifes while you’re cooking.
When giving your countertops a deep cleaning, avoid using abrasive solutions or materials such as steel wool and heavy duty nylon sponges. Instead, use mild dishwashing soap, a damp cloth or basic sponge, and a good dose of elbow grease.
When pulling a hot pot, pan, or casserole out of the oven or off the stove, always place it on a trivet or even an oven mitt if that’s all you have handy. This will prevent scratches, burn marks, and the general wearing down of your counter.
Whether you’re slicing a tomato or a 32-ounce steak, always use a cutting board. No exceptions!
Likewise, always pound your meats on a cutting board. This will prevent scratches and cracks from the mallet.

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