Spring forward with kitchen appliances blooming with color

I don’t know how your winter has been going but I’ve been looking out my living room window and seeing this for the last three months.

via GIPHY

It’s pretty I know, but I think I’ve shoveled more snow this past winter than I have ever in my life. In fact, we’ve had nearly two feet of the stuff since January.

In a month or so the scene above will be replaced by the blooms of the thousand daffodil and scilla bulbs I planted last fall. 

Last October I decided to transform our front yard into what'll be the springtime blaze of color I’ve always wanted. In fact, what people think of as “spring colors” stems from the colors of the flowers that, around here, kick into high gear in March and April.

Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) photo by Yoksel 🌿 Zok on Unsplash

The pale greens, blues, lavenders, yellows and pinks that usher in spring seem to exist to chase away winter boredom and unease.

Jetfire daffodil (Narcissus cyclamineus) photo by Marina Lakotka on Unsplash

There’s an appliance brand called Northstar hat incorporates this palette and other vibrant pops of color into their products – providing a much-needed break from the endless sea of stainless steel. Northstar is a brand made in North America by Elmira Stove Works.

Northstar ranges, refrigerators, microwaves, dishwashers and dishwasher panels, splash backs and range hoods come in nine not-so-standard colors along with more than 1,000 custom hues, providing tons of design flexibility.

These appliances aren’t retro kitsch. They’re very well made, high-performance, luxury appliances decked out in mid-century finery. Full of character and functionality, they work equally well in mid-century, retro, farmhouse and contemporary kitchens.

I checked out the Northstar photo gallery and found some examples of their kitchen suites used in modern settings. I have to say the effect is spectacular.

How could anyone walk into any of these kitchens every morning and not instantly feel more energetic and optimistic?

So, what do you say? Ready for a kitchen complete with cheerful, colorful appliances reminiscent of the bloom of spring?

These Northstar appliances offer a nostalgic feel but – at the same time – something altogether fresh and new. I recommend that you check them out.

Tools and Irrigation Supplies You Absolutely Need as a Gardener

Gardens. They come just like humans: in different forms, sizes, and colors. Some gardens are filled with tomato plants, whereas others are filled with green peas. Some people prefer to plant flowers, and others, believe it or not, have a garden filled with cactuses.

A garden is a very unique way to show your personality. Plants are living beings, just like pets, and in the same way, they need to be taken care of with love and lots of attention. The way a gardener takes care of their garden is a way to tell how disciplined, patient, and careful that person is.

And, believe it or not, gardeners have increased over the last years, because of the whole quarantine situation, and how people have started to look for ways to improve their mental health and share themselves with other living beings.

Surprisingly, taking care of plants and seeing them grow, also counts as a form of contact. In fact, gardening has gained a lot of popularity thanks to quarantine, according to this article. This is also the case for landscaping, just on a smaller scale.

Considering the benefits, it is to no surprise. Scientifically proven by research and studies, gardening can greatly improve someone’s mental health because it aids the body at lowering stress levels, and increases the brain’s production of dopamine and serotonin, two hormones heavily related to happiness.

The Challenges Behind the Peace

Now that we know how gardening and landscaping can help us achieve a certain level of inner peace, we have to consider something too: the challenges we have to surpass in order to achieve said benefits.

Still, most of these challenges are pieces of cake. They just become challenges because of one simple thing: lack of experience. Without the experience of gardening, and of course, without the knowledge required for it, we are pretty much set to fail during our first attempts of growing a plant.

And that is okay, it is part of the process, and failing helps us improve, and understand, the personality of the soil and plants we are trying to work with.

But some people prefer to avoid failure, and that is also a wise decision. To do so, they research and learn about different things, then, prepare themselves for the adventure.

And believe me when I say that, one of the most important parts of gardening is having the right tools. This includes things like shovels, rakes, digging tools, pruners, hoses, wheelbarrows, among many other things. For very detailed information on the matter go here: https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/must-have-garden-products/.

The Pre-Gardening Process

The right tools will help you during certain aspects of the process. The first part of the adventure is preparing the soil for planting. This will require you to clean the place from weed, rocks, and any other debris that might complicate the process.

You might also want to set up a pattern that will display the garden itself since it will work as a limitation, and as a mark for people that there’s a garden and they have to be careful around them. 

A type of fence can be helpful if you have small children or animals that might want to “play” around your garden. And we all know how that usually goes.

If you are an indoor type of person, or just someone who doesn’t have the outdoor space to go for a garden, you can pick a certain area of your house to plant an indoor garden. For that, you’ll need gardening pots and soil, then organize everything accordingly.

Choosing Plants and Designing

Some people go as far as designing their gardens even before buying the plants. This can be difficult, but very possible, and can be helpful since it will be a way to distribute the space of your garden much more efficiently.

Now, picking plants comes up next. This is, possibly, the most important part of the process, since you’ll have to pick plants that physically attract you, and also, that can be maintained by your current level of skill.

There are plants that are great for beginners because of their simplicity, and if you are a newcomer, they should be your priority. Afterward, you can try more complicated plants. The main idea of this is to adapt yourself to the activity and improve as time goes on.

The Maintenance and Watering

After you’ve properly set up your plants, now is time for probably the second most important part of the process: maintenance and watering. You see, plants require water and sunlight to nourish themselves and grow healthy and strong.

With that said, too much sunlight can dry some plants, and too much water can drown and rot their roots. That is why, before picking a certain plant, you should accurately research them to understand their properties and water them accordingly.

Depending on the size of your garden, you can depend on a watering can, or go for an irrigation system. The latter option works wonders if you don’t have the time to water your plant at specific times of the day (usually in the early morning or during the night) since they can do the job for you and other irrigation supplies can make the process much easier, like water pumps and hoses.

Depending on the type of garden you have, some irrigations system can go as far as watering the plants based on the amount of water they need, and some can be set up to water different plants with different levels of water, at different times, and even set up timers for you to check out the whole process. These are called smart irrigation systems, but you also have the option of having much simpler systems, based on what you like. 

Take in mind that this option is very common among outside gardeners, since maintenance is probably the most common problem among beginners since they tend to forget to water and maintain the plants at certain specific times. 

How to Find Kitchen Appliance Repair Contractors In New York City

If you have a faulty kitchen appliance, you must be wondering where you can find a company with the ability to fix it properly. This may not be an easy task, but with these few tips, we guarantee that you will get the best repair contractor.

Don’t Try To Rush It

This is one of the most important steps you need to follow. You may really need your appliance to be fixed quickly, but choosing a contractor hastily could really cost you. Being inconvenienced a bit is better than getting your appliance damaged because of a hasty decision.

Ask about their Experience

Each company has different levels of experience so make sure to ask them about it. If you don’t know what to ask you could question them about the following: 

How long has the business been running? Always look for a contractor who has been in the business for over a year. A company that has a long track record like Fuse HVAC & Appliance Repair of New York is more likely to have experienced workers. There is still a chance that a new company might be able to provide great services, but it is still a lot safer to pick a company that has been in business for a while. 

Ask For References

Can the contractor you picked give you references? Many reputable contractors out there can assist you in finding people’s reviews about their services or give you references. You could find references and reviews from…

1. Their current customers. Ask your contractor for some references from either their previous or existing customers. 
2. Communities on social media. A Facebook group could give you recommendations or reviews from people living around you. They may also have a comments section you can drop your questions in.    

Find Out If They Have Licensing and Insurance

You need to make sure that any contractor you are thinking of hiring is licensed and insured. If you see that they are not treading carefully. This is because it happens, and they might end up damaging your appliance. And the thing is that you will be the one to bear that cost unless they are properly insured. Most repair companies will readily show you the license numbers so don’t forget to ask. Visit https://www.icnj.com/blog/how-to-make-sure-your-contractors-are-properly-licensed-and-insured/ to find out how to check if your contractor is properly licensed and insured. 

Find Out Whether They Are Factory Authorized

It is always important to find out about this. Being factory authorized means that whatever professionals working for that company have gone for background checks. It also means that a certified trainer has trained them on that appliance they are repairing. Interestingly, any factory-authorized company will be happy to discuss this. 

Find Out Whether They Carry Out 24 Hour Services 

Let us say your refrigerator broke down in the evening but you just restocked it. If you don’t fix it immediately the food in it might go bad. Some companies close by around nine in the evening so they won’t be able to address the problem at that time. Hiring a 24-hour repair company will ensure that your emergencies are taken care of even late in the evening. 

Look at the Way They Respond to Any Bad Reviews

It is not really possible for a company to be able to satisfy all their customers. If you see that a company has many good reviews with just a few bad reviews, they may be good. The important thing here is how that company responds to the bad reviews. If a company responds rudely to the review, it shows that they do not care about their customers. But if they apologize and offer to fix the issue, it means that they are willing to please their customers. Click here to see what research revealed about reviews. 

Ask How Much Their Services Will Cost

This is the last question you should ask if you have followed all the previous steps. If you have multiple companies you are thinking of hiring, this final step can help you determine which to pick. 

Conclusion

These are the few steps you need to follow to find the right appliance repair contractor. They may be very easy steps, but they will have a big impact on the kind of contractor you get. Just try them and see how they work out.

When choosing between natural stone and quartz composites, Vadara makes that choice a breeze

I have natural stone floors and counters in my kitchen and yes, they’re beautiful. But man oh man are they a chore to keep looking clean. My travertine floors somehow manage to hide dirt and be dirty at the same time and so we sweep them every day and mop them two or three times a week. As a bonus, last year we paid several thousand dollars to have them “refreshed.” That involved having all of the accumulated divots and cracks filled then then the whole floor was sanded and sealed.

My stone counters can’t just be wiped off when something spills. No, they have to be washed and then dried lest a dingy film develop that in turn attracts more dirt to itself. So every couple of days I wash them with soapy water, rinse them and then buff them dry.

When we settled on this house, it had a kitchen in it already that the previous owners had renovated at huge expense and it had all of the mandatories expected in a larger home in a leafy suburban neighborhood. It had a Sub-Zero, grasscloth wallpaper, oak floors, a marble fireplace and most importantly, natural stone on the floors and counters in the kitchen.

When I was a designer, I specified all of those things countless times for homes just like this one. But it wasn’t until this house that I had to live with those specs and I have to say that given the choice, I wouldn’t pick natural stone again.

I’ve always fancied myself to be a purist. I’d always dreamed of the sorts of natural stone surfaces I curse every day now. Years ago, when quartz surfaces started to show up in showrooms I scoffed at first, and I dismissed their claims of easy maintenance. “Quartz composites look fake” I used to tell myself and “I could never live with fake stuff because after all, I am a purist.” After seven years of living with the real stuff, I’m ready to start all over.

Not really, but that’ll be something for the next person who buys this house can deal with. In the meantime, I’ll keep cleaning, cursing and dreaming about some new quartz surfaces I just learned about.

KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, was a virtual event this year but despite the lack of in-person interactions, players in the Kitchen and Bath Industry still used the event to showcase their new offerings.

One of those players, Vadara Quartz Surfaces, rolled out six new patterns of their quartz composite surfaces and each of them is worth real consideration for people looking at natural marble. Marble is a classic surface but it’s notoriously difficult to live with. All it takes is a dripping bottle of olive oil left in place overnight to leave a marble counter with a permanent stain. And I mean permanent.

Vadara’s new patterns don’t have that problem because they’re quartz composites and by definition, they are impervious surfaces. As impervious surfaces and in contrast to real marble, they’re a snap to clean and to keep looking clean.

Vadara’s new colors and patterns follow. Anybody who doesn’t know better, and even people like me who do know better, would be hard pressed to tell that these colors and patterns weren’t dug out of a marble quarry in Tuscany.

• Bella Dolce – a luminous bright white background with delicate brown and grey veining
  
  
  
• Calacatta Fresco – a dimensional off-white and grey background with dynamic grey veining
  
  
  
• Calacatta Oro – a dimensional off-white and grey background with dynamic brown and grey veining
  
  
  
• Cascada Perla – a dimensional off-white and grey background with dynamic grey and white veining
  
  
  
• Solano Bella – a dimensional off-white and grey background with delicate grey veining
  
  
  
• Varenna – a luminous white background with delicate grey veining
  

It used to be that opting for quartz composite counters meant settling for a material that looked like a combination of terrazzo and concrete but these new patterns from Vadara put that entire conversation to rest for good.

These six patterns are nearly identical to real marble and in all candor, I’d put any of them in my home. What really knocked me off my horse is their Calacatta Oro.

Calacatta marble has always been a favorite of mine. Calacatta is a white marble that has veins of grey and varying shades of brown and gold. 

Here’s a close up of Vadara’s Calacatta Oro: 

That slab looks so much like the real thing that I want to forget about the real thing.

But as a reminder, here’s real Calacatta:

That’s nothing short of amazing.

Vadara’s full collection consists of 32 colors and each takes its inspiration from a natural stone. This material is sold as slabs and comes in two thicknesses, 2cm and 3cm. It’s cut on the same equipment and sold by the same fabricators as natural stone.

If you’re looking at natural stone for your home, you owe it to yourself to look into Vadara.

Tips on DIY Bathroom Renovation

Bathroom renovation is one of the exciting DIY projects that you can embark on. If you're not sure when you should think of remodeling, check this page. But before jumping in with both feet, there are a few less exciting things to think about so that your project turns out exactly the way you envision it. 

Your artistic freedom and sense of decoration can come to the fore regardless of the size of the room. Still, the DIY remodeling of larger rooms gives you more choices, while smaller spaces need to be deprived of something.

Plan In Advance

In order to make your bathroom renovation project go as smoothly as possible, you need to take some time to plan and organize everything. The base of your project should be your vision and ideas.

Next, your plans should include the estimation of the time and costs of the project. Your budget is a significant factor which you shouldn't neglect. Although you'll do most of the job yourself, you still have to pay for furniture, appliances, decoration, etc.

Check the Current Condition

One of the first steps to take when you start planning your bathroom renovation is to check how this room looks now. Maybe it needs installation repairs, so check all plumbing fixtures for leakage. Also, make sure to inspect the electrical wirings. If they are obsolete and worn out, preventive replacement is always a better solution than emergency repair.

If everything works fine, you might just want to refresh it a bit. Some people are crazy about new trends, so they change the lighting or essentials every year. If this desire for changes hit you, take a good look at what you have at your disposal. That can bring you some savings.

Tiling by Room Requirements

Tiling is something that you should include in your bathroom remodel plan. You can choose from a wide variety of colors and dimensions. Pick something that will go well with the rest of the room. Make sure that the tiles match up with each other well, especially around your shower and tub. You don't want to install too many tiles and have the room looking crowded. 

When it comes to the faucet and shower, you can still use tile if you wish, but you might want to go with something more sleek and classy for your bathroom renovation. Some people choose glass for their sinks and tubs because it's both beautiful and durable. This material also gives a modern look, making it easy to incorporate into any design. If you choose glass for bathroom essentials, match them up with the rest of the room.

Forget about Bulky Furniture and Appliances

The idea of minimalism is generally accepted, and you can use it for bathroom renovation. It's a perfect time to get rid of bulky essentials and appliances that take up too much space and make you feel cramped.

Today, you can find smaller versions of bathroom furniture and appliances on the market. They are just as useful as the standard ones, but they take up far less space. The same goes for the tub. Consider replacing a classic bathtub with a smaller hot tub. If you place it in the middle of the room (provided you have a larger bathroom), you will feel like you are in a spa.

Think about a Vanity

If you will replace your existing sink or faucet, choose something that is both functional and beautiful. You should think about getting a vanity if you don't have it. Double or single-sink? That will depend on the size of the room. But you really don't have to waste money on double-sink vanity. Two people using sinks in the house bathroom at the same time is a rare situation.

An even better choice is a vanity with shelves. It will allow you to keep your toiletries on hand and prevent them from being hung around. The mirror is an unavoidable part of the vanity. Think about the lighting inside it or some attractive decoration.

Check the source below for tips on choosing bathroom lighting:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/deringhall/2018/06/12/7-must-read-tips-on-choosing-bathroom-lighting/ 

A complete bathroom remodeling will cost you more than just getting the basics done. That's a large DIY project, and if you don't have a budget sufficient to meet your wishes, you should always plan out your remodel in stages. That way, you'll get what you want without robbing a bank.