Reader question: Are my counters giving me a headache?

Help! A couple days ago on our local news channel, they was talking about granite counters put off a dangerous gas. Studies showed people was having headaches and a few other symptoms. I forgot the gases that it puts out. I missed most of this, but I get headaches all the time since we moved into our new house. We have granite counters. Do I have radon and is that what's giving me headaches? I read you every day. Thanks.

Oh Lord, this question makes me crazy because I hear it all the time. It's not so much the question that bothers me, it's the freak out that accompanies any discussion of the word radioactive. Radioactive is a hot-button word because we have an educational system geared to making good consumers rather than good thinkers. The result is a world filled with people ignorant of the science that makes it possible.

To answer your question, no, your granite counters cannot give you headaches. The gas sometimes emitted, in tiny quantities, by some granites is called Radon, and Radon can't give you a headache either. Further, to the best of my knowledge, there have been no studies that showed that people were getting sick from their counters.

This Radon/ radiation story is a mountain made of a molehill by a trade organization last summer. The trade organization behind it represents the fabricators of solid surface counters. Solid surface is a synthetic counter material sold under a variety of brand names like Corian, Hi-Macs, Staron and others. Beware any finding or study publicized by a trade organization or entity with a vested interest in a favorable result.

The best way to dispel this rumor that's rapidly turning into an urban myth is to shine a little light of science and reason onto it. So over the next day or so I'm going to do a quick overview of some basic physics and atomic theory. I promise to keep it simple and easy to follow. Stick around please. It's better to understand something so you can make an informed decision than it is to be afraid of something you don't understand. Don't you think? This is by no means a definitive lesson in physics. To make sure I'm not missing anything or misleading you, I've enlisted the help of Chris Forrest, a brilliant physicist from Manchester in the UK. Chris responded to my call for help on this topic via Twitter the other day and I owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude. I know enough about this topic to get about half way there. The section about Radon is all Chris and this post wouldn't have been possible without his wise counsel and atomic know-how. Here goes:

All matter is composed of atoms. Atoms are the building blocks of everything in the known universe. Atoms are like little balls of stuff and if you zoomed in on a beach, some water, your dog or your son; eventually you would see that they are all alike in that they are made from atoms.

There's a dense lump in the center of an atom. The lump in the center is composed of two kinds of smaller particles called protons and neutrons. It's that nucleus that contains most of the stuff in the atom. There are other small bits that whizz around that center the way the earth whizzes around the sun. These whizzing bits are called electrons. For the purposes of a discussion about radiation and radioactivity, we're only going to talk about the component parts of that nucleus, the protons and neutrons.

Different atoms have different numbers of protons in their nuclei, and these differing numbers of protons determine what substance they are. These substances are known as elements. Every element has its own special combination of a certain number of protons and neutrons. Iron, gold, oxygen, copper and uranium are examples of elements. The particles that make up an atom are held together with something called atomic force. Atoms, and therefore elements, are extremely tough and the bonds of atomic force are so strong that chemical reactions can't pull them apart or change what's in them. However, there is a process that can meddle in this atomic world.

OK, so know you know what atoms are all about.

Most atoms are stable, and the protons and neutrons in their nuclei are stuck together very tightly.

Some atoms, if they are a bit too fat for their own good, have unstable nuclei. These atoms shed their extra particles in a process of decay called radiation. It's sort of like going on a diet. Just as you shed pounds until you reach a stable weight, an unstable atom's nucleus will shed extra particles until it reaches a state of stability. Since the name of an atom is determined by the number of protons and neutrons in its nucleus, the act of shedding these parts turns the atom into something else. It is the extra parts and energy that are shed during this decay process that are known as radiation. An atom behaving, decaying, in this way is said to be radioactive.

Radiation and radioactivity are a natural, normal part of the way things are. Life on earth evolved in the presence of radiation and radioactivity, and all life on earth evolved ways to deal with it. We're surrounded by a low level of radiation at every moment and it's completely harmless. The occasional, higher doses we get from having an x-ray or flying in an airplane aren't remotely enough to do us any harm. Most radiation falls into this harmless category. There are some stronger forms of radiation that are harmful, but most radiation is not.

So there's a quickie description of what radiation and radioactivity are. See? Nothing scary and nothing too difficult to grasp. Right? Now, let me wade into what radon is.

Radon starts out as naturally occurring Uranium. Uranium is scattered through out the rocks and soil just about everywhere on earth. This type of Uranium is not the same as they type used for nuclear fuel or weapons, but it's still Uranium and it is an unstable atom.

This Uranium gives out radiation, and changes into a different atom. This lighter atom, however, is still unstable, and so the process of giving out radiation, and getting a bit lighter continues. Eventually, this slow and gradual migration of natural Uranium toward a stable state happens to reach a special type of atom. This atom is called Radon, and it's special, not because it is unstable and radioactive, but because it is a gas that is both of these things. As a gas, it can escape from the ground and get into the air.

Radon in and of itself isn't dangerous. However, as an unstable atom it's not the last stop in the chain of Uranium decay. After Radon decays, it turns into four different atoms that scientists affectionately call its "daughters." It is these daughters than can pose a risk to humans in some situations.

These daughters decay very rapidly and when they do they release an alpha particle. This is a type of radiation that is essentially harmless when outside of the body. This alpha particle can be stopped by only a few centimeters of air, or a piece of paper. However, if this type of radiation is produced inside of you (for instance in your lungs) then it becomes the most dangerous type. Because radon is a gas, it can be inhaled and this alpha particle can be released while it's inside some one's lung. The occasional alpha particle is unavoidable, the problem comes from repeated exposure. Repeated, high, internal exposures to these four, alpha-emitting daughters can increase your chance of developing lung cancer.

Radon and its four daughters are everywhere in the soil and in the air. Radon is another inescapable, usually harmless fact of life on earth. It seeps up from the soil and water and dissipates harmlessly in the atmosphere. However, when radon is allowed to collect it can cause a problem. This happens most often in basements. A basement's walls are below the soil level by definition and so the naturally-occurring radon in the soil seeps into the basement where it collects in a colorless, odorless, tasteless cloud. You can only tell it's there with a radon detector kit. However, if you spend enough time breathing in that radon cloud it could, over the long term, slightly increase your chance of developing certain lung cancers.

Remember that this is only possible if the Radon is allowed to accumulate. If you have Radon in your basement, a simple ventilation system is all you need to take care of it. The key is to prevent it from accumulating. Outside of an enclosed basement or the crawl space under a house, it is nearly impossible for Radon to accumulate. The EPA has a great website dedicated to a panic-free discussion of Radon, its risks and its mitigations. Give it a read if you'd like some more information on these topics.

So now I hope you have a basic understanding of an atom, of radiation, radioactivity and of Radon. Tomorrow I'm going to talk about how Radon gets into some granites and what there is to do about it.

Behold the power of the blogosphere

So get this. On Monday, I received an e-mail from a reader in Long Island and she included this photo of a Christopher Peacock kitchen.

She asked me if I knew who made the light fixture in the center of the photograph. Oh man, I like it when someone asks me a question that requires that I dig around for an answer, but my knowledge of what's available in the lighting world is a bit limited. Limited to the sorts of modern or classic lights I usually specify, that is. When it comes to what Christopher Peacock's doing with his lighting, I turn to my favorite Christopher Peacock fan, Gina Milne. Gina writes the great blog Willow Decor and the woman knows her lighting.

As a matter of fact, the reason I know Gina was a similar quest for a light used in a Christopher Peacock kitchen about a year ago. I stumbled up on her blog when I was doing Google searches to try to track down the lighting fixtures in Peacock's now-infamous Refractory Kitchen shown here.

Gina researched this kitchen photograph extensively and published the results of her sleuthing in a post called Elements of a Christopher Peacock Kitchen.

So I thought I try my luck again and I sent the photo my reader sent me to Gina and asked her if she knew who made the ceiling light.

Gina in turn, sent the photo to another design blogger, Brooke Gianetti. Brooke is an interior designer and architect and she writes the blog Velvet and Linen. Brooke turned the quest for this light for my Long Island reader into a blog post of her own and asked her readers if anyone knew who made the light.

Mind you, this took place within hours of my reader asking me.

So on Tuesday morning, Tammy Connor, an interior designer from Birmingham, AL; identified the light in a comment left on Brooke's blog. Brooke told Gina couple hours after that and Gina told me as soon as she heard from Brooke. I shot an e-mail back to my reader around 24 hours after I received her original e-mail. Pretty wild stuff.

How all of this works is pretty mind bending when I sit and think about it. Someone in Long Island asked someone in Florida question (me). I referred to a designer in Boston. She referred it to a designer in LA. The designer in LA got her answer from another designer in Birmingham. That's pretty wild. None of these networks would have been possible until very recently and it's already become commonplace. We live in amazing times.

Oh, the light fixture is the "Cubic Lantern" by Formations in LA. The original e-mail writer, my reader in Long Island has already found it at a lighting dealer in New York. So thank you Gina, Brooke and Tammy!

As an additional note about the above mentioned kitchen design, what’s been especially praised about the design are the hard wood floors, beautiful machines and how they blend well with the kitchen elements, balancing the rustic look with modern touches (like the chairs).

Chosen and maintained right, they’ll be a source of positive vibes in decades to come. I always advise people to take good care of the hard wood floors, primarily by choosing a good hard floor cleaner. If asked for specific recommendations, I always go with Hoover FloorMate Deluxe. 

Thermador's got a new gig

Not to be out done by Dacor, Thermador is running an incentive program through November of this year.

If you buy a Thermador 36" or 48" pro range,

Or a Thermador double wall oven,

And a 36" Thermador cooktop,

Thermador will give you a Thermador dishwasher.

Further, if you buy a Thermador 36" refrigerator,

Or any two Thermador Freedom Columns*,

Thermador will give you a Thermador ventilation system, stainless steel panels and toe kicks for your refrigerator.

These offers can be combined for a a potential savings of nearly $7,000. This is a pretty sweet deal. Kitchen design trivia quiz: What company invented the wall oven? Hint: The answer occurs 12 times in this post.

*Thermador's Freedom Columns are a modular systems of freezers, refrigerators and wine chillers that can be mixed, matched and combined in whatever configuration you chose. It's a system unique to Thermador and one that warrants its own post some day. In the meantime, you can read about Thermador's Freedom Collection on Thermador's website.

Thank you Jamie Goldberg!

Due to a recommendation by my colleague and pal Jamie Goldberg, I was selected to attend this year's GE Experience at GE's Experience Center in Louisville, KY. The GE Experience is an invitation-only, two-day presentation and training session. Here's GE's description from their website:

A theatre for the senses, the Monogram Experience Center is a 9,000-sq.-ft. complex filled with an array of stimulating and appealing spaces - all designed to showcase the latest in Monogram appliance innovation. Among the highlights is a professional culinary studio, where guests have a unique opportunity to prepare meals with a gourmet chef. Guests can also find something delicious to savor in the wine-tasting room, a facility that elevates the art of wine to state of the art. A showcase gallery with full multimedia capabilities provides further insights into the remarkable design and performance potential of Monogram appliances.

After a full day of sensory indulgence, guests can retreat to rooms at 21C, which was named a 2006 Hotel of the Year by The New York Times.

So on July 6th, my new pals at GE Appliances are flying me and a handful of other lucky souls to Louisville where we'll be feasted, feted and trained in all things GE Monogram. We get to cook in the GE Monogram kitchen theater under the tutelage of GE's chefs, and that has me more exited than anything. This is an honor and I'd like to thank the gang at GE as well as the brilliant and lovely Jamie Goldberg.

Jamie's on her way to New York this week to investigate a number of kitchen and bath showrooms. Jamie's going to write a guest post here where she'll report some of the highlights of her trip. Stay tuned and thank you again Jamie. Check out Jamie's blog, she does a great job.

Paint that porch ceiling Haint Blue

I spend a fair amount of time specifying paint colors for people and last week I was working on a color scheme for the exterior of an older home. The clients warned me that they didn't want anything wild. I took that as a good sign because clearly, they'd seen some of my more adventurous work and they still called me.

So I came up with a scheme that involved three shades of taupe, white trim and a black front door. Ho-hum, but it was pretty refined and as instructed, "not wild." However, this house has wrap-around porches on the first and second floors, after all it's an old, traditional Florida house. I specified Sherwin Williams 7608, Adrift, for the porch ceilings. Adrift is a light, neutral blue. In an effort to sell the idea I referred to the ceiling color as Haint Blue and they were smitten and signed off immediately.

Painting a porch ceiling blue is a very traditional effect, even though it doesn't show up very often anymore. It's a southern thing, but I'm a Yankee's Yankee and I grew up in a house with a blue porch ceiling in Pennsylvania. Ours were blue because that was the color they were painted when my parents bought that house in the '60s and we never changed it. I think that there was some vague story about the color keeping spiders away. Like I said, they were vague stories and really, we never really talked about it very much. But every time we painted the house, those porch ceilings stayed blue.

Well, about a year-and-a-half ago, a great friend of mine moved to New Orleans. Within days of his landing there, he turned into a combination of Marie Laveau and Tennessee Williams. In a matter of hours, he'd absorbed all of the lore of that fable-filled city and was spouting it back like a lifetime resident. I have never seen someone make a geographic transition with that kind of ease and thoroughness. I envy him his sense of place sometimes. Anyhow, when he was telling me about his house on about day two, he mentioned that its front porch had a Haint Blue ceiling.

I'd never heard the term before, but I knew exactly what he meant. Apparently Haint Blue still figures prominently into New Orleans homes. I asked him where it got its name and he said that New Orleanians use that paint color to keep away haints, or or spirits of the dead with bad intentions.

Well, I did a little digging around, and the practice of painting a porch ceiling blue did start in the American south. The expression Haint Blue comes from the Gullah people of the South Carolina and Georgia  low country. They painted the entries to their homes light blue to keep the bad spirits away. The blue color represented water, and as everybody knows, haints can't cross water.

If you were an impoverished descendant of slaves in the coastal south in the 1800s, you got paint the same way you built your house --from scratch. Powdered pigments were mixed with lime, white lead and milk. The lime and lead content of those early paints probably had the added benefit of poisoning insects that landed on it. So even though the pigment got all the credit, the credit was actually due to the toxic soup the pigments were suspended in. Any color of those old, home-brewed paints would have poisoned insects, but the Haint Blue got all the glory. This is interesting, because a blue ceiling is credited with repelling insects even now. Paint doesn't have lime or lead in it anymore, so it's not surprising that modern Haint Blue (and all house paint) is completely ineffective as a bug repellent.

All of the woo-woo nonsense not withstanding, painting a porch ceiling blue is an interesting, and depending on where you live, unexpected touch. So even if I don't buy the myth, I appreciate the connection to the past. If you're in the mood for an exterior color change , think about adding some Haint Blue.

Porch furniture – a few tips

If I had to choose one word to describe a good choice of porch furniture it would be “inviting”. The look, feel and comfort can change the whole dynamic and make the difference between enjoying long “lemonade afternoons” and having a porch that hardly ever used.

The second rule of thumb would be easy care. Most wicker, teak and cedar will handle whatever the elements throw at them.

On the other hand, if your furniture is not exposed but on the roofed part of the porch, you have more room for experiments, like going with inflatable furniture. The days when air mattresses and chairs were just for the beach are long gone and some of today’s inflatable furniture looks like it belongs on the cover of a “Veranda” magazine.

The best of inflatables and air mattresses can add a tasteful touch of a modern and inviting look that says, “Forget about that presentation due tomorrow and come sit with me.”