Renovation & Design
Renovation & Design
Re-facing an option for cabinets
Dear Marc: I have an old outdated oak kitchen that I would like to replace but I don't have the money to get the entire kitchen done. I would like to get it done before the in-laws come in from out of town this spring. I am considering painting the cabinets another colour but I think it might make them look cheap. Any ideas? Mary
Dear Mary: Oak kitchens are probably one of the most common kitchens found in older homes today. Years ago, oak was the trendy wood to use in kitchen spaces.Today, designers are steering away from traditional oak cabinets for the simple reason that everybody has one, so it's not considered unique and luxurious. But don't despair, there are ways to update your look without ripping out all your kitchen cabinets and re-mortgaging the house.
If you considered painting the cabinets, then I will assume the core and hardware of your cabinets are in good shape. If so, then using a kitchen cabinet re-facing service would give you the opportunity to update the look of your kitchen space on a tight budget.
-- Canwest News Service
Renovation & Design
SOLUTIONS: No need to come unglued over your carpet woes
QUESTION: I am in a quandary! I have glued my area rug with double-sided tape to my existing carpet... and now it seems an impossible task to remove the tape from the carpet (I live in a rental apartment). I need your solution to this mess that I have created. Thank you, Gizele (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: What I would do in your case is soak the carpet with the hottest water that the carpet can stand. Doing this loosens the glue, making it easier to scrape adhesive residue. Another option is WD-40; open the windows in order to ventilate the room. Spray the carpet, let sit for 10 minutes and wipe up all sticky residues. Clean the carpet area with dish soap and water. Rinse with water and pat dry.
QUESTION: I am taking on a new challenge this year which is growing my very own basil. My best friend buys basil at the store. How should fresh basil be selected and stored? Barb (Piney)
ANSWER: Basil is now more popular than ever! If you grow your own basil, it should be picked just as the plant begins to bloom. Early morning hours are the best time, after the dew has evaporated and before the sun is high. The oil content in the leaves is the best at this time. When purchasing basil, look for leaves that are bright green and fresh-looking. Limp wrinkled leaves with black spots are good indications that basil is old.
Basil leaves should be rinsed lightly and dried. Wrap in paper towels and seal in a plastic bag. Basil can be stored in the fridge for up to a week. Dried basil (like other dried herbs) can be substituted for fresh in recipes however use only one third of the amount of the fresh required.
QUESTION: The inside of my washing machine tub has a dirty ring around the top; soap scum I would think. So I am wondering what I can use to clean this, please. Really enjoy reading your column! Lynn (Winnipeg)
ANSWER: Like most items in life they require general maintenance and cleaning. Over time washing machine odours can transfer to clothing and the problem snowballs. Cleaning your machine regularly will help to keep it fresh and ready for use.
Unplug your washing machine before cleaning it! Unclog the filter regularly -- open it up and remove the debris that has accumulated. Clean the detergent drawer -- a wipe over with a cloth should remove gunged-up bits of soap -- use an old toothbrush to get into small areas. Scrub the inside of the tub with one cup of vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda.
For regular use, add vinegar or washing soda or good 'ol borax to all cycles. This removes odours and stops soap scum, lime scale and mildew. Always leave your washing machine door slightly open when not in use to stop it from smelling bad and encouraging growth in your machine (gross). Extra tip: Cutting down on liquid fabric softener will keep the machine cleaner, longer.
QUESTION: I enjoyed hearing you speak at our office Christmas party and since that time my colleagues and I have had an ongoing debate that I am hoping you can settle. Can pizza be baked on a coal BBQ grill? Tammy (St. Malo)
ANSWER: Yes, for that wood-oven taste made famous in Italy, barbecue your pizza. Prepare the coals for grilling. Use the indirect method if you have a covered grill. Move the hot coals to the sides of the grill in a circle just larger than the pizza.
For extra flavour, sprinkle mesquite or hickory chips on the coals. Place pizza on the grill four to six inches above the coals. Cover; cook 15 to 25 minutes or until crust is brown, cheese is melted and centre is hot.
To cook a pizza on an open grill, place the pizza on a sheet of heavy duty foil or on a foil pan four to six inches from medium coals. Cover with foil tent; cook 15 to 25 mins.
QUESTION: I need advice on cleaning paintings. I've heard about using bread, but that doesn't work! Maris
ANSWER: For regular cleaning, gently dust paintings with a soft paint brush, baby toothbrush or shaving brush. According to restoration experts, years ago, the bread trick was a great way to clean oil paintings, but bread sold in stores nowadays does not clean oil paintings as it used to. There's a product called 'GoJo Hand Cleaner,' the original, not the orange-scented or the abrasive formula. You may need to order it online, but this cleaner yields great results. Valuable paintings, however, need to be trusted to specialist conservators.
Fabulous Tips of the Week:
-- Olive oil should be stored in a cool, dark place for no longer than one year. If refrigerated, it will thicken and turn cloudy.
-- To reheat pasta, place it in rapidly boiling water for one to two minutes or pour boiling water over pasta in a colander to heat it through. Drain and serve immediately.
Reena Nerbas is the author of the national bestselling Household Solutions series. Her website is www.householdsolutions.org. You can contact her at Box 429, Blumenort, Man., ROA 0C0.
Renovation & Design
Mad Men design: sexy and ruthless
One of the hottest interior design styles today is the retro '60s look. It's hardly surprising given the wildly popular TV series Mad Men, a show that is set in 1960s New York and based on the intimate and high-powered lives of men and women in the world of advertising. You can't get more sexy or ruthless. And as we relive that fast-paced era, the furnishings and fashions become equally compelling. You see it in the movie A Single Man, also set in the 60s.
It was in the '50s and '60s that Scandinavian contemporary furniture captured the limelight. It was about straight, simple lines, pieces had no ornamentation, but were built from beautiful natural woods -- teak, walnut, oak, birch and mahogany. Chairs and sofas were utilitarian, but made comfortable with upholstered seats and backs.
Today's exciting contemporary look is captured in the furnishings shown here by Palazzetti. And as fresh and cool as it is, you can see the resemblance to the hot designs of fifty years ago repositioned to be modern again.
The room is composed of pieces that are restful, easy to live with, yet is filled with eye-catching qualities that infuse the space with energy and life. The quiet play of textures and patterns are everywhere. The wood credenza has a crossed Canaletto walnut finish on the sliding-door fronts. Ripple vases with cactuses are a fun throwback. The Abbraccio chairs are curved and padded for comfort and style, with an oval side table also in wood. The shaggy Tokyo rug is a modern mix of wool and flax with a nubbly texture that bare feet love.
Warm neutral fabrics are chosen to blend with the natural wood tones. The glass-top coffee table adds an airy reflective quality as does the swirly white design in the cushion fabric. Taken together, this living room is welcoming and of our times, with a nod to yesterday's fine design. An expressive Fornasetti plate on the table contributes the all-important touch of retro style and humour.
Dear Debbie -- My family is trying to help our mother with her living-room renovation and can't seem to make it work for her. She craves a space that is contemporary yet cosy, warm and inviting. The space is quite large, and after creating a seating area around the fireplace, there is an area toward the staircase and front hall that feels like a hole. We have added pieces but now it feels to her like a furniture warehouse. Could you please help us out with a better colour palette and a more uncluttered design?
Amila
Dear Amila -- Thank you for the photos. It can be a challenge to get the right balance and furniture placement, but the best solution is to move things around till they work. Yes, there is too much going on, so begin by editing out what you can. I would suggest you keep the sitting area, but you don't need that extra table and lamp against the wall behind the sofa. In the hall area in front of the stairs, there is not room for two substantial pieces of furniture. Move the tall china cabinet and centre the blue painted chest of drawers on that wall. To update the living-room walls, look for embossed paintable wallpaper in a paisley pattern and paint it a creamy butter yellow. The red and gold you have is a bit tired looking. Raise up the curtains to the ceiling, and give them a darker hue by adding a dark red fringe or border so that the fabrics in the room don't appear to be so matched up. Add a contemporary touch over the fireplace with a large mirror framed in silver. Rethink the lamps. Perhaps keep the two that match and add a modern floor lamp. Let me know how this works.
Debbie Travis' House to Home column is produced by Debbie Travis and Barbara Dingle. Please email your questions to house2home@debbietravis.com.