Outlet covers? We don't need no stinkin' outlet covers

Check this out:

That's a plate-less electrical outlet in some one's home believe it or not. Oh man, if it's possible to fall madly and deeply for an outlet, I think I just did. This is the 22 from Bocci and I've never seen anything like it.

Bocci is a Canadian design company and this 22 outlet is part of a system that includes similar minimalist outlets for data, phone, cable and more. Check out Bocci's website.

These outlets are actually plastered into the wall during construction and can be accessed later for service through the face of the outlet itself rather than by removing a plate as is usually the case. It may sound odd, but "what color outlet covers should we get?" is a refrain I hear regularly. Well, the fine folks at Bocci remove that question from the table completely and the result is absolutely beautiful.

Creede Fitch has a design blog called Grassroots Modern and he's actually installing a series of 22s in his own home. You can see his progress here. Bravo Creede; I'm curious to see how he makes out with them.

I found a video that discusses how this plate-less outlet system works and it's made a believer out of me.

Here's a lamp to love

Craighton Berman is an industrial designer based in Chicago and this is his Coil Lamp. What a brilliant interpretation of a table lamp this is. Who would think to make a fixture out of a power source? Craighton Berman, obviously. Berman designed a laser-cut, clear Plexiglas frame that supports the wound chord invisibly and the result is the elevation of an everyday object to the lofty heights of modern design.

Berman's Coil Lamp will be available for sale in early 2009 and you can register for updates on his website. Thanks to the kids at Apartment Therapy for the hot lead on this one. And bravo to Craighton Berman for his brilliance.

Life's too short for fake mistletoe

Oh by gosh by golly, it's time for mistletoe and holly. And if you live anywhere in the green area of this map, you're in luck because you can go out and find the real stuff.

Mistletoe is actually a group of parasitic plants and what's usually seen around Christmas in the US is Phoradendron serotinum. There are a number of other mistletoes that grow in the US and indeed the world, but Phoradendron is the prize winner.

Florida's lousy with the stuff, all you have to do is look up into an oak tree and chances are good you'll see it. It's just a matter of identifying it. Every Christmas, I go out and collect fresh mistletoe and hang it over the doorway in my living room. Most people are amazed when they see it and find out what it is. I suppose that's due to the omnipresence of the plastic stuff.

Here's the clump of mistletoe that will sacrifice itself for the benefit of my Christmas this year:

Here's a close-up of the leaves:

Mistletoe dies and withers within hours of my cutting it and I've never been able to figure out why or to prevent it from happening. Oh well. I usually wait until a day or so before Christmas to go collecting for that reason. I've been collecting and hanging fresh mistletoe for so many years that it just wouldn't be Christmas without it.

If you find some for yourself, be careful with it. It's seriously poisonous, so don't use it near food. But poison aside, nothing says Christmas to me quite like it.

Blomsterverkstad is an inspiration

Blomsterverkstad... I love saying that word. Blomsterverkstad is a blog written by Minna Merke, a stylist and photographer in Sweden. Her blog is beautiful and she makes some really inspired things with flowers and vegetables. The image below is what happens when her creative mind runs into the world's most fantastic vegetable.

I think this is the coolest wreath I've ever seen. Minna has step-by-step instructions on her blog to show you how to make one of these for yourself. I think my Christmas Eve dinner just got a new motif.

Cheap Fixes: Get painting!

OK, so yesterday we went through the prep work needed before you start painting kitchen cabinetry. Every surface you just prepped needs to be primed now. You cannot skip this step or you will end up with a top coat that will peel off within weeks of your completing all of this work. That's bad.

I recommend that people use an oil-based epoxy primer called Kilz. Kilz was developed as a paint for bathtubs originally, and there is little it won't stick to. Be sure to use the original, solvent-based formula. There is a water-based companion product out there called Kilz 2, but I don't trust it. The water-based stuff is great for hiding stains on walls, but you need something with the staying power of the original.

I prefer that the primer be applied with a 4" roller with a 1/4" nap. Do not skimp on the rollers, you want a lint-free roller and for me, they are made exclusively by the Purdy corporation. Buy good tools! I cannot repeat that often enough. You will find Purdy painting supplies at Sherwin-Williams and at Home Depot.

I'm telling you to use a short roller because I don't like to see brush marks on cabinetry. The four-inch size will allow you greater flexibility when you're priming and later, painting. Use the primer sparingly, it's better to go to light than to go too heavy. So prime everything and let it dry. This will take a while. Pay attention as you're using that Kilz too. It will stick fast to everything it touches, including skin and it's a bitch to remove.

When the primer's dry, inspect everything to be sure that everything you've primed has been covered with an even coat. Sand down any gloppy areas and remove the dust with a tack cloth.

You want to paint your doors and cabinets with a high-quality, exterior paint. Exterior paint is more resilient than wall paint. Avoid using anything shinier than an eggshell finish. The shinier a paint finish, the more flaws it will show. You cannot replicate the look of sleek and shiny European cabinetry, so don't try. The closer to matte sheen paint you use, the better your finished product will look.

Apply your paint in even strokes with a short, 1/4" nap roller. Go light on the paint. Paint everything and let it dry. Once it's dry, go back and sand down any raised areas. remove the dust with a tack cloth.

Paint everything with a second coat. Take your time. Once the second coat is dry, look over everything again and make sure that you have smooth, even coverage. Depending on what you painted over, you may need to apply a third coat of paint. 

Oh, please resist the temptation  to get cute with your finish. Faux finishes have no business on kitchen cabinetry and now is not the time to try out something you saw in a magazine. Paint a canvas and hang it in your kitchen if you can't help yourself. Cheap fixes are supposed to retreat into the background. Something like this will stick out like a sore thumb and end up scaring away your guests. Don't do it!

Once everything is painted and dry (this will take a good day or so), you can begin reassembling your kitchen. Go slowly, take your time putting everything back together. Once the doors and drawers are back in place, attach all of the knobs and pulls.

Taaa daaaa! You're done. You may now curse the day you thought it would be a good idea to paint these cabinets.