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Winter 2011

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

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Winter 2011

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Nakash Project Turns Classic Brownstone into Modern Showplace Bohn Associates, Inc. was contracted to architecturally convert a 4-family classic New York City brownstone back into a single-family home, then to design and decorate the interior environment to reflect the young family’s modern and stylish sensibilities. The home needed to accommodate the needs of a large extended family and social group, and be set up for entertaining parties of all sizes on a regular basis. All of this while creating kid-friendly spaces and private areas for the adult members of the family to have personal space for work and relaxation. he multilev el setup of the home wa s cr eated w ith a hierarchy of formality. The ground-floor entr y f eatures leather panels with chrome details and cust om c onsole and mirr or. The reception area leads to a den used for entertaining and beyond to a large playroom for family and visiting children. The design of the interior doors is reflected in a taller version on the next floor. The central entertaining floor centers ar ound the lar ge f ormal dining room and living room which includes a full walk-in bar. The dining room features a threewindow fir eplace in M akassar ebony and marble, which c oordinates with the cust om dining table and ser ver. The modern black glass chandelier was cust omized to fill the space. In the living r oom, Lucite coffee tabl es with pol ished tra vertine tops fill the need f or sur face while retaining a light f eel in the room. Mother-of-pearl is f eatured on the outside panels of the club chairs and the r oom is anchor ed in four corners by matching rock crystal light fix tures. The lar gescale patt ern of the ar ea rug accents the ar chitectural scale of the r oom. Lamps ar e in c offee shagreen with chr ome metal shades and the t elevision is hidden in a decorative frame behind retractable “art.” This lev el is c ompleted b y a

completely cust om k itchen in white anig re-wood doors w ith polished stainless-st eel frames and a stainless-st eel tile back splash. The nex t t wo floors c ontain children’s bedrooms and baths as well as a “private adult lounge .” The lounge has a desk with computer station and is c ompleted with a walk -in k itchenette and mini-bar with z ebrawood and white lacquer cabinets. The top floor is fully oc cupied by the master suite. The centrally located, walk -through clos et/ dressing room is fully outfitt ed in white lacquer and gray wood twotone cabinetr y. The mast er bedroom f eatures a lar ge-scale up holstered headboar d with silv er leaf frame echoed by the settee at the foot of the bed upholstered in the same fabric . The cur ved-mirror night tables and r ock-crystal lamps, Barovio and Toso chande lier, cust om ar ea rug , and wa vefront c onsole all c omplete the feeling of luxurious modernity. The mast er bath fills the r emaining ar ea of the suit e with silver-leaf tiles r eflecting the M imara marble on floors and walls . Custom vanit y and st orage units, repeating the whit e lac quer and gray wood, create a sanc tuary of cool elegance to be enjoyed while viewing the garden and rear terrace through the floor-to-ceiling wall of windows.

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Picking a Dining Table That’s Just Right for Your Home Working out what style and shape of dining table best suits your lifestyle is easier than you think. With some basic positioning tips, a room plan and some furniture templates, you can do it all on paper ﬁrst – that way, when purchasing pieces, you know they can stay put. The f eel of a r oom has less to do with your decorating style, and mor e t o do with ho w w ell your furnitur e plan suits the function and pr oportion of the space. Choosing the right table is impor tant; it is a plac e wher e the kids can do their homew ork, games can be played and meals can b e e njoyed. I t’s a c entral point wher e ev eryone c omes together.

Well planned To desig n the per fect r oom plan, star t b y measuring y our area and its ar chitectural f eatures, such as door ways and windows. U sing a scale ruler (available from art supply stores), transfer these measur ements t o scale on grid paper. Cut out templates that c orrespond t o y our furniture items. Arrange the templates on the grid, taking into account traffic flow. Your furnitur e c ombinations should allo w f or easy mo vement thr ough the r oom. Plac e large pieces of furniture first, and evenly distribut e them ar ound the room for balance. Also try to

group pieces of similar scale t ogether.

Tricks of the trade One thing you should always have on hand when d ecorating is a tape measur e. Get a pr ecise measurement of y our r oom be fore y ou head t o the shops; a good idea is t o dra w up a plan marking all the impor tant f eatures such as doors , windo ws, cupboards, nooks and po wer points. When planning your dining area, keep in mind y ou need to allo w about 60cm of fr ee space behind each chair so it can be pulled out far enough f or easy access. As much as possible, use v ersatile furnitur e f eaturing built-in storage, extendable tables to cope with extra guests, or chairs that can be used inside and out. These items can change with your lifestyle, allowing you to cater for additions to the family, f or example , or mo ving t o a new home. When purchasing a new table ensure it doesn’t wobble – jiggle it t o test its stabilit y, then look under the table and check whether the legs are secured ﬁrmly and safely t o the t op. Test moving parts on extendable tables , and a void metal parts, which tend to rust and jam; timber joints will ensur e a longer life. If y ou’re j ust b uying a table f or chairs you alr eady o wn, measure the chairs before y ou lea ve

home to ensure they will ﬁt underneath. A distanc e of about 20cm fr om chair t o tablet op makes f or the most c omfy dining; if y ou like t o cross your legs while seated, allow up to 30cm.

On the surface When choosing a new table , it is bett er to buy a st yle with a user-friendly ﬁnish that w on’t require constant protection and maintenance. Wood, which can take all sor ts of w ear or t ear, is ideal. Ho wever, highly polished styles will need t o be pr otected from heat or scrat ching with mats or tablecloths . Sur faces such as glass , stone and marble are mor e durable , but can ap pear c old and un welcoming. Another practical option is laminate, which is inexpensiv e and hard-wearing. Check that timber tables have been c ompletely sealed , even on the base. Moisture can sneak int o unsealed sec tions, and y ou can end up with bo wing or crack ing. Ho wever, a rustic timber table with similar ﬂaws can be charming , and will withstand man y mor e y ears of knocks, which add to its warmth and character.

Taking shape Round tables ar e practical in high traﬃc ar eas, and st yles featuring a single leg allo w enough leg room for a number of chairs . If y ou need something small and c ompact, squar e tables ar e best as they can easily be tucked into a c orner. F amily-sized v ersions c ommand a lar ger r oom, as they appear more dominating than traditional rectangle dining tables. As most dining rooms are rectangular spaces, large square tables ma y r estrict spac e; r ectangular or o val tables ar e mor e ideal for these rooms.

Take a seat When choosing a chair , k neel on the seat, push the back and press on the arms – ther e should be some flexibility, but no creaking. When c onsidering fabric chairs, find out if the mat erial is hard-wearing or will need ex tra protection. Remo vable c overs that can be washed or changed to suit the season may be a good option. For an eclec tic look , mix the style of y our chairs with that of your table. The safest way to do this is to keep your colors or timbers the same. A mix of t extures in an all-whit e scheme adds interest, but there’s no harm in being bold with c olor – c onsider a white or timber table with chairs in one c olor, or ev en diff erent chair styles in one color. A dining table and chairs can gobble space; consider building a c orner of banquett e seating with hidden st orage. You’ll need fewer chairs, save on spac e, and gain extra storage.

See the light Cast the right glow over your dining table b y ensuring the bottom of y our pendant light is suspended thr ee t o thr ee and a half f eet abo ve the tablet op. They can be g rouped, and bulbs of different wattages can cr eate a range of eff ects. C entral dining tables will need a variet y of lighting arrangements to suit the various activities it is used for. During the da y take advantage of natural sunlight by using adjustable windo w tr eatments, but at n ight it is best t o ha ve a mix of o verhead lighting, lamps and can dles t o cat er t o d ifferent needs. I f you do choose full overhead lighting, it is important that this is adjustable, so install a dimmer switch to enable y ou to create different moods.

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The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Stimulate Your Appetite With a Colorful Surrounding The use of color within your kitchen can make this central hub of the home come alive. Whatever your decorative inclination, color can inspire a look and feel that suits both the dimensions of your kitchen and your tastes. • To beg in, choose a base color and no mor e than t wo accents t ones f or y our desig n. I t’s almost always best t o avoid too many colors and to go easy with stronger t ones. Opt f or light er more neutral c olors f or lar ger expanses in the r oom and sa ve pops of color for accents. • A s a general guide y our dominant color should take up about 60 per c ent of the r oom appearing on large surfaces such as walls , w orktops and units . About 30 per c ent of the r oom should compromise the second-

ary color – think flooring or finishes such as door frames – while the final color hit will make up 10 per cent of your palette, evident as incidental flashes in k itchen appliances and utensils, and other objec ts such as t ea towels or stool tops. • A void using a c olor only once in y our kitchen. Repetition is necessary to tie the spac e together. Balance is key. • To cr eate a sense of spac e in small k itchens light, c ool and neutral colors make the walls ap pear to recede. Don’t be afraid of

brights though. A shot of bold color in hardware or cabinetry can make a small spac e sing . A void dark timbers and t ones such as dark blues and r eds, which can

make a room appear smaller. • F or lar ge, open-plan k itchens, it ’s of ten wise t o use whit e as the base color and then add pockets of c olor t o that. Think textured neutrals , whit es, g reys, silvers and stainless st eel. Rev things up with burst of c olor in ac cessories, vases and light shades as focal points. • Eleganc e and sophistication: M onochromatic c olor schemes f eature a single hue which is expanded on with sub tle tints , t ones and shades . The simplicity of this palette provides unity and harmony to the room. It’s a clean, sleek modern look. • For a quick and easy c olor pick-me-up, injec t a splash of pure bright c olor, such as t omato red, to energize the space. Use these int ense c olors as accents to add drama. Ensur e you distribute the c olor ar ound the room so it ’s not limit ed t o one area. Bright retro appliances such as a toaster, food processor or mixer look great against stainless steel. Color allo ws y ou t o cr eate a welcoming and engag ing k itchen that ’s an ex tension of y our personal style. Don’t be afraid it, but remember to establish y our color scheme before you start.

Liz Sarway Interiors LizSarwayDecorating@gmail.com 917-693-6805 Showhouse Event Coordinator

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Ideas for Creating Easy Fences Around a Garden Installing a garden fence can be an efficient deterrent for wildlife; it can define the landscaping of the area and be esthetically pleasing. The selection of fencing can be simplistic, homemade and inexpensive or can become part of the total landscaping affect and, therefore, expensive. Your budget, time and expendable effort will dictate your fencing project. efore starting a fence, check your t own’s building and zoning c odes. M any c odes have been established , and can be enf orced, r egarding a fence’s height, the distance from a property line as w ell as mat erials that can or cannot be used . The last thing y ou’ll need t o receive is a monetary fine or disassembly requirements after your time, eff ort and money ha ve been spent. Decide wher e y ou’d like the fence t o be locat ed; it ’s shape , size and measur ements - don’t be afraid to think round, oval or kidney shaped. Not all f ences surround a squar e or r ectangular ar ea. Then ask y ourself what

needs are met by the fence. If the fence is an addition t o the landscape, adding a clear deﬁnition of the gar den or a point of w elcome, the f ence can be dec orative and ﬁt into the current style of landscaping . I f the f ence is needed to keep the gar den safe from wildlif e, rig idity and saf ety may be the key fac tors rather than the style. To suc cessfully det er wildlife fr om raiding y our gar den a fence that surrounds the garden is mandat ory. I n addition, an y deterrent f ence should be dug well into the g round so burr owing animals can ’t dig under the fence t o gain ac cess. M etal and plastic are the best mat erials t o

use for deterrent fences. Though wood can be used, with years of use and w eather, the w ear and tear can be expensive and inconvenient. Metal or plastic poles or tubing should surround the garden at each corner adding more along the sides of the gar den if necessary. F orce the poles w ell into the ground for stability. The height of the poles should be even and two feet above the tallest garden product. Keep the poles about a f oot a way fr om the edge of the gar den t o pr event wildlif e fr om simply leaning o ver the f ence t o dine . To complete the f ence, an y tight woven plastic or metal netting linked from pole to pole will sufﬁce. Reuse t ennis or badminton netting that isn ’t being utilized, or par ts of a scr een fr om a door or windo w, ev en plastic tarp pieces w ill w ork. With a little mor e time and eﬀ ort, tr y digging a tr ench of six inches from pole t o pole and plac e the netting int o the g round, c over-

ing it with dir t. This will pr event burrowing animals . I f bir ds ar e the wildlif e that needs t o be deterred, plac e shin y objec ts at various int ervals on the f ence. Cut out shapes fr om aluminum foil and hang on the f ence with wire; most bir ds sh y a way fr om shiny, mo ving objec ts. I n addition, the t op of the gar den can be covered with garden netting. Be c ertain t o get netting that rain and sun can pass thr ough and taller plants can still thrive. If the fence is to highlight an area, welcome visitors or simply add t o the landscaping; think along decorative lines. Fences of stone with a metal gate will be a warm w elcome and c oordinate with a w alkway o r t he f ront o f a c obblestone house . Wooden fences add charm t o a simple flower garden, whil e fiberglass or plastic f ences add class with little maintenance involved. A border of tall growing flowers or oriental grasses can create a natural fence as can a hedge of ev ergreen or holly . Don ’t be afraid t o c ombine a few f ence materials t o cr eate a secluded area. A wood gate surrounded by a mix of evergreens and trimmed grasses will look inviting. Decorative f ences can also be sculpt ed fr om y our favorite objec ts and hobbies . If wind chimes are your favorite, define each corner of a garden with a chime on a pole . U se ornamental gar den objec ts such as s tatues o r b enches s trategically plac es with tall plants as a fence. Plant herbs in antique pots or t eakettles and arrange as a fence. Or, for the true artists, use sculptures, bought or made , to cr eate a one -of-kind, unique fence. With a little money , eff ort and cr eativity, a func tional and eye-catching fence can result.

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Hassle Free Method to Remove Candle Wax from Carpets Let’s face it, we are all clumsy. With all the work that comes with preparing for Chanukah, the last thing you need is a stained carpet when your family and friends are over. Whether you use them for atmosphere, aromatherapy, or for your Menorah, candles provide a note of welcome and comfort any occasion. Unfortunately, accidents sometimes happen with dripping wax. To prevent wax spills in the first place, you can purchase glass discs that fit over tapers. But if the spill has already occurred, here is a quick and easy method for removing wax from candles and fabrics without harming them. ou will need paper towels and an electric iron. We recommend a very absorbent paper t owel for the best r esults. Use whit e t owels only as dy es ma y bleed onto the carpet when exposed to the heat of the iron. Before beg inning the pr ocedure, use a brush or y our hands t o pick a way at an y of the excess wax that y ou can get out of the carpet fiber. Be gentle and be careful not to unravel the pile when brushing. 1. Plug the ir on in and turn it on t o the

lowest setting possible. 2. A fter the ir on heats up, take a paper towel and plac e it o ver the wax. Gently ap ply the warm ir on t o the paper t owel. The wax should beg in to liquefy and the paper towel will absorb it. Do not set thetemperature of the ir on an y higher than the warm setting, or y ou ma y harm synthetic ﬁbers. F or berber or some sculptur ed carpets, y ou ma y have t o pr ess do wn harder with the ir on. Be especially careful with the berbers and do not pull on an y ﬁbers or loops. Pulling on those loops can cause a “run” much like the runs in panty hose and can ruin the rug , as the run will tra vel acr oss the length of the carpet. 3. Continue working the ir on and paper t owel until all of

the wax is absorbed . You may need t o turn the paper t owel sev eral times as the ar ea where the wax is being absorbed bec omes saturated. If it is a large spill you may need more than one paper towel. The watch word here is patience, as working this process can take time. This method should w ork eﬀectively. I n cases of very stubborn spills, you may come to a point in the pr ocedure where you have absorbed all of the wax y ou can and ﬁnd that there is still some residue in the carpet. Try to gently pick out as much of the remainder as y ou can. I t may help t o apply an ic e cube to the stain and r e-harden the melted wax. C aution is advised her e t oo, as some dyes may fade when water is applied. Check with your manufacturer if in doubt. If you have tried all the abo ve steps and you still ha ve some wax in y our carpet y ou may wish to call a professional carpet cleaning company. Choose a r eputable company as most carpet cleaning services that advertise in mailers or have “specials” do not train their personnel t o handle such a job and they may make a bigger mess than the one you began with. Happy cleaning!

Winter 2011

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

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The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Bedroom Decorating Tips for a Pre-Schooler A solid base Start with a warm, neutral wall c olor and furniture pieces that have clean, classic lines. The more restrained you are at the outset, the mor e sc ope y ou’ll ha ve t o updat e y our children’s rooms as they get older . I nvest in quality items that will be in use decades from now. Accessories will give the room its personality. U se bed linen, t extiles, lights and the new breed of removable wall stickers to skew the look of the spac e. And because they ar e ‘just’ ac cessories, they ’re easy and inexpensive to replace when it’s time to redecorate. A pre-schoolers bedroom See the r oom the wa y a child w ould see it; things ar e diﬀ erent fr om their perspective. Have everything at the right height f or a child. That includes hanging mirrors at ﬂoor level and installing hooks within r each of short arms.

Choose toy storage It must be easy for your child to access or

move around. That way, you can enc ourage them t o get out their o wn t oys when they want t o pla y – and do their o wn pack ing away. Kids need bigger clothes as they grow You migh t want t o hang y our ch ild’s dresses, pants and skirts in a wardrobe, rath-

er than keep them in a chest of dra wers. I f yours does not oﬀ er adjustable rails , install your own with ﬁttings.

Kids love to showcase their dev eloping personalities b y putting their favorite things on displa y. Look for savvy furnitur e piec es like an upholst ered bed head with elastic straps that can hold drawings or frame their o wn w orks and ar tfully arrange them.

Privacy starts to become an issue now Drape a canopy over the bed and your child’s room becomes a fairy garden, a ship’s cabin, a jungle hidea way or an ything they care to dream up.

Avoid anything with specific cartoon or TV characters as these will be quickly outgrown. Rather, use images of animals and sc enery or abstrac t patterns that will grow with your children.

Winter 2011

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Stay Warm Without Throwing Extra Money in the Trash The increased cost of winter heating fuel has many people dreading the onset of colder weather. There are several things that can be done around the house to lessen the impact of winter on your family’s budget. Follow these suggestions and money this winter. 1. Is it time t o change the thermostat? If it is, check out the thermostats that allo w y ou to program them so that you can lower the heat when y ou lea ve the house and raise it before you get home . These thermostats save money and pa y f or themselves quickly in cost reductions. 2. C onsider r eplacing y our windows. I f it ’s time , y ou can save money by installing doublepaned windo ws--which ac tually help to insulate your home. 3. Check the ﬁlt ers in your heating system. Change dirty ﬁlters to get the maximum performance fr om y our heating unit. 4. Check y our heating v ents. Make sur e that they ar e not

blocked b y c ouches or other items. Why heat the bottom of a chair? 5. Keep heat generating items such as lamps , c omputer monitors, and t elevisions a way from y our thermostat. They will aﬀect the proper operation of your heating system. 6. Install ceiling fans. Hot air rises--ceiling fans can help to circulate the heat ev enly thr ough the room. There is also the added bonus of cooling your home in the summer months. 7. Before you buy heating oil, do some check ing in y our ar ea with other dealers so that y ou get the lo west pric e per gallon. When oil is deliv ered, check the fuel gauge bef ore and af ter de -

livery to ensure that you are getting what you pay for. 8. Place weather stripping on windows and doors t o keep the cold air out. Repair br oken windows and make sur e that window locks are operational so that when closed, the windows seal.

9. I nstall insulat ed draperies on windo ws f or the wint er months. These keep c old air out and reduce heating costs. 10. Wear a sw eater--it w ill keep you warm and it will keep you from raising the thermostatyou will save fuel and money. 11. Check t o see if ther e are fuel buy er c ooperatives in y our area. You can join them for a small f ee and take advantage of the sa vings that ar e available when resources are pooled.

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

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The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Perfectly Match Wine and Cheese for That Special Occasion Fundamentally, wine and cheese work together because they’re both created through the act of fermentation and share a whole spectrum of ﬂavours and aromas, which either complement or create a striking contrast with one another. here ar e no har d and fast rules; although some suggest star ting oﬀ b y ser ving white wine with soft and fresh cheeses (think ric otta with a cold glass of pinot gris) and red wine with hard cheeses (a hearty cheddar with a bold shiraz, for example). You’ll be rewarded, however, when you branch out from these parameters to discover your own unique pairs . Champag nes and sparkling whit es rise t o another level when ser ved alongside a parmigiano reggiano and a full-

bodied chardonnay gets a buttery boost fr om a crumbly gouda – the act of experimentation is a lot of fun, and a great way to spend an afternoon with friends. When embark ing on a pairing experiment, c onsider the different tastes of your wine and cheese; y ou can highlight a salty, acidic note in the cheese by paring it with a sweeter wine, such as a desser t wine or a por t; or mat ch similar fla vours f or a heighted sense of enjoyment. A trick t o finding the right flavours is t o understand the ef-

fect of heat and cold on wine and cheese – both r eveal their true ﬂavours when ser ved at the right temperature. Fresh cheese, such as ric otta and f eta, should be served cooled from the fridge – and their delicate nature works well with delicat e c old whit e wine, like verdello. Using the same principle in reverse leads to a stunning combination of a velvety red, such as a cabernet or a merlot, partnered with a powerful blue vein variety – both need t o be ser ved at room t emperature and beneﬁt from being allowed to sit out an hour bef ore ser ving t o enable the complex and rich cha racteristics to fully develop. The joy is alwa ys in the journey when embark ing on a wine

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The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Carbon Monoxide, the Silent Killer When most people hear the word gas they automatically assume it is like gasoline, which you put in your car. Natural gas on the other hand, unlike gasoline, contains no liquid or mass. It is odorless, shapeless and colorless so most times people don’t realize it is even in the air until it’s almost too late. Gas companies add the rotten egg odor just so the leak is easier detected. atural gas is considered a f ossil fuel that is pr oduced by organic materials in the ear th which is c ompressed o ver time and most theories believ e that the organic materials that make up the gas ar e animal and plant remains. I t is c ompressed o ver time and it becomes a burnable fuel. Natural gas is highly ﬂammable and is made up of 90% methane but is also made up of propane, butane, ethane and other gases. We use nat ural gas f or many things like c ooking, dr ying clothes and it also pr ovides heat and elec tricity t o our homes . Most people take it f or g ranted until they ar e fac ed with an emergency regarding a gas leak in or ar ound their own homes . The average person does not realize how dangerous natural gas can be. Natural gas also contains one of the most deadly elements that are carbon monoxide.

Have y ou ev er ac cidentally left y our burner on without a flame and r ealized that y ou smelled something like r otten eggs? Or ha ve y ou smelled it anywhere else inside or outside of your home? Did you realize that if y our home fills up just enough that even the static electricity caused b y walk ing acr oss your carpeting c ould cause an explosion? There have been cases in history where people did not realize that there was a gas leak in their home and their homes ha ve exploded when they flipped on a light switch. An explosion is not the only hazard that natural gas can cause. I t can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. When there is the exi stence of carbon mono xide in the home there are a few symptoms you need to look out for. Flu like symptoms such as headaches , dizziness, tiredness and nausea are all signs that you could have

CO poisoning. If several people suddenly get unexplainable ill at the same time and if y ou feel better when leaving your home then it would be a good idea to check it out. C O poisoning can get so bad as t o cause death with pr olonged exposur e. C O poisoning can cause impair ed judgment, poor memor y and loss of coordination. It is basically star ving y our brain of oxygen. C O poisoning k ills ap -

proximately 2000 people each year. Carbon monoxide is easily detected when you have a carbon monoxide detector placed in your home t o help keep y ou and your family safe. If you suspect that you have carbon monoxide poisoning or your CO detector is going oﬀ then call your local ﬁr e depar tment immediately t hen get out y our family and yourself out of the house. Although natura l g as is a hazard itself it is its components that ar e the most deadly . Natural gas can also be a hazar d if it is leak ing on the outside of your home as w ell. S ome wa ys of det ecting a gas leak is if y ou smell the r otten egg smell , see dirt blowing or see bubbles in a puddle and then of c ourse hear a hissing sound near y our home then call y our gas c ompany immediately. If you happen to smell or hear an ything hissing inside of y our home , a void using y our phone or turning on an y lights then call the gas c ompany from another sour ce besides inside your home. It is better to be safe than sorry.

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The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Taking Care of Your Plants During the Cold Winter Season With the holidays upon us we get ready for the parties and celebrations of the season. Out go the time tested decorations from years past and in come the evergreens from our yards. e spin our dr eidols, ﬁll our mugs with hot chocolate, and indulge ourselves with sufganiyot as w e sor t thr ough and tr y to temper the traditional aspec t with a new twist or two. In this w onderful area of the world, November and December are not the c oldest months of the y ear…although y ou nev er know. A da y of cleaning out the gardens and dec orating can be joyful and remove one less chore oﬀ our backs. Pots fr om the summer ar e brought into the house for overwintering. Herbs ar e har vested

for fr eezing and vinegars . Root crops ar e happily entr enched and can be har vested on a “needs” basis. There is a sense of c omfort in traditions and familiarit y that comes with the holida ys. There is also a sense of loss . C olorful light w eight clothing g ives wa y to hea vy darker shades . Boots replace bare feet. The spontaneity of spring, summer and fall are replaced with the sameness that comes from years of memories. So wh y not int erject some fun and change in the season? Look at the possibilit y of bringing nature into your home.

The garden has been cleaned out; the c ompost pile is full of mulched leaves and plant mat erial. The la wn has been aerat ed and fertilized, (fall being the best time for that) and the r emaining ornamental pots full of per ennials and annuals ar e sitting on your porch, patio or in your yard.

Cleaning Out and Bringing Pots and Plants Inside Frost da tes var y with l ocality, so bec ome ac quainted with y our ar ea’s dat es. During the time of fr ost, plant ed pots seem to thrive. Tropical hibiscus, the ones that ha ve the shinn y leaves, philodendr on and some ferns need t o come inside. Cool weather plants finally ar e free of the heat of the summer . S wiss chard, spinach, sage , basil and fall crops of kale supply you with endless sour ces of fr esh-fromthe-garden. F lowers struggling through the heat are full of blossom. No w is the time t o make the difficult decisions as t o what needs t o be thr own out and what can come into the house. In this area some annuals and tender per ennials can be a surprise. Sometimes removed from a pot and tucked into a sheltered area of the gar den and mulched well, they poke their heads up and shine the following year. For those plants that ha ve clearly flopped and ar e in the “I am finished” mode, you want to r emove them and add them to the c ompost pile. Try to save your potting soil to augment low spots in the gar den, being car eful to eliminate the drainage material used in the bott om of the pot (usually shr edded f oam or pebbles). Any plan t mat erial t hat y ou desire t o bring int o the house should either be r epotted in a

clean container or, if the container is in good c ondition and the plant is not r oot bound , clean the outside of the pot w ell with soap and wat er. Then the plant can be sprayed with a mild insecticide or insecticidal soap, left outside t o dr y and mo ved int o the house. As in spring , the pots need to be transitioned b y mo ving to a sheltered spot on a porch, garage or landing , and then brought into the house on a day when the conditions outside the house best mat ch the inside climate. All this is ex cellent advic e, but t empered with r eal lif e, when returning from an evening party, you hear that there is a frost warning . S o y ou dash outside in y our PJs and c over y our plants with a sheet or haul them to the porch, hoping for just one more warm day. When y ou ha ve c ompleted the pr ocess and all of y our plants ha ve mo ved inside , the empty ornamental pots need t o be thor oughly cleaned and put away f or the wint er. Wash the empty pots with soap and water, inside and out. Wipe with a one to-ten solution of bleach t o water and let dry. Store the pots in an ar ea free fr om dramatic t emperature changes until the spring . This process is v ery impor tant and greatly eases the getting r eady for spring scurries. Large plant mat erial in pots brought int o the house can be easily mo ved with the use of wheeled pot bases. Smaller containers should be plac ed on pot protectors or pads that ar e waterproof and pr otect the furniture upon which they are placed. Remember that all good int entions of not o verwatering and spilling do not nec essarily last

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

shape. Think outside the bo x… of holida y and wint er dec orations. Sur e those ev ergreens are w onderful with lots of blue berries, but wh y not add seed pods sprayed the purple of your sofa…or what ever strikes y our fancy. You will disc over a new look and some hidden creativity that will help y our house shine for this season.

Growing Green

until spring. All p lants b rought i nto t he house need some adjustment time. They should be plac ed away from direct drafts, hot or cold, and allo wed t o r est. Their need f or wa ter and f ertilizer diminishes as they rest from their summer labors. As the wint er time pr ogresses, they can be mo ved t o mor e direct sun, as the individual plant requires.

Naturalizing Inside with Plant Material The definition of naturalizing is: “to conform to nature or make nature like.” To establish an int erior that reflects what we see out of our windo ws is a landscape design t echnique. S o wh y not use that cr eatively when dec orating for Chanukah and wint ertime. Look at the nativ e and ornamental grasses, goldenrod, dried seed heads and sticks in y our yard and as y ou go about in this area. S oybeans ha ve handsome seed stalks; sea oats , Joe Py e weed, and others grow profusely and in specific micr o climat es. Micro climat es ar e ar eas that meet the needs of the individual plant. Joe Py e weed prefers wet areas while sea oats will tolerate well drained soil. Always ask permission when obtaining specimens for your own use from land that is not yours.

Many grasses and plants are easily dried b y hang ing upside down in a warm, dark ar ea (attic or t ool shed). Experiment with drying diﬀerent material. Get out that spray can and try multicoating using silv er with gold highlights and mixing the c olors t o augment your décor. Many ﬂorists and craf t stores ha ve ex citing c ollections of dried and died g rasses and seed pods of ev ery imag inable

With the wonderful views so many of us enjoy, we have windows that ﬁll with sunshine. Windowsills are a perfect for a novel look. Get out that narr ow decorative shallow dish in a pleasing color. F ill it with slightly moist potting soil . M ix annual r ye or oat grass seed gently into the top of the soil. Cover with plastic wrap and set in the sun. Be careful to mist it if it becomes dry. In a very short time period, usually a week or so, up sprouts grass. The container can ﬁll with lush v egetation in only a few weeks time. Add a blue or silv er bow around the c ontainer and v oila!! A new look! Try it around plants in your other pots. Some of the grasses

are a tasty addition to salads and even enjoyed by cats, (check for edibility of varieties). Grass seeds of ev ery imag inable variet y ar e available b y the sc oop at some local garden centers.

Do Not Forget Bulbs Did y ou k now that bulbs are best plant ed outside when the soil has c ooled t o ar ound 50 deg rees? Did y ou k now that they have the most impact when planted in washes or loosely organized arrangements rather than rows or ev en spacing? Did you know that in this ar ea bulbs can be plant ed outside an ytime the soil is workable through December? Did you k now you can f orce some bulbs without a r est pe riod? And r emember daﬀ odils, snow dr ops, h yacinth, cr ocus and tulips are all well known, but bulbs are not just for spring!! Explore those catalogs and on line, and tr y some bulbs f or summer and fall. Now get those cr eative thinking caps on and let it all hang out!

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

De-cluttering That Messy Garage Has your garage become a room full of STUFF? Here are some clever ways to help you organize your garage and make room for your car! o y ou ha ve so much stuff in your garage that there’s no room for your car? Then it is time t o or ganize y our garage. The first thing t o do is t o throw out absolutely everything you don’t really need. If you don’t want to throw it out, then have a yard sale and make some money. You’d be surprised what people will buy . M y g randmother was right, “˜what’s junk for one is a treasure for another’. Finally, you can always give some of the extra stuff t o a charit y. But make certain it is in dec ent shape . Charities don’t like junk either. Now y ou ha ve whittled it down to what you need. The next thing to do is t o organize things according t o t ype. A utomotive products in one place, tools in another, lawn care things in still another, and so on. This will give you an idea of how much material you need to organize and will determine how much space you need f or st orage and or ganization.

The or ganizing sy stems ar e almost non- ending. P erhaps the most basic are two by fours. You can cut t wo b y f our piec es of wood and put them bet ween the vertical wall studs if they are exposed . These can be arranged at various hei ghts. They can be attached t o the v ertical studs with nails or scr ews driven through the v ertical studs int o the t wo b y f our shelv es. This works w ell f or small it ems, but not for large items. Another wa y is t o pur chase shelf brackets that can be attached to the vertical wall studs. These brackets create a horizontal plane and y ou can la y pieces of wood across the brackets creating shelves. The brackets come in a variety of depths so y ou can create shelv es in a variet y of depths. You can also do the same thing with brackets and metal shelves systems. In this style you have t o make c ertain that onc e the shelves are installed ther e is still r oom t o na vigate bet ween the shelv es and what ever it is

The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

you park in your garage. If you have the r oom you can also pur chase pr e-made shelf sy stems. The most c ommon and the cheapest are metal rectangular frames. They usually come with room for two or three shelves. The nic e thing about these is that the shelves are easy to assemble and they usually are wider than traditional shelv es, making it possible to store more or lar ger things . U sually y ou have t o pr ovide the w ood f or the shelv es. M ake c ertain y ou get a good solid thick wood. Wood not thick enough will bow, bend and even break over time. You can attach the w ood with screws, bolts or nails . Most of the metal frames come with predrilled holes f or the fast eners. Over time this t ype of metal organizing can also wrack and bend if the metal is poor quality or t oo thin. A gain y ou ha ve to make c ertain ther e is r oom between the shelv es and y our garaged vehicle. There is a similar style of shelving with w ood framing. These ar e usually r ectangular end piec es. You buy t wo and then pur chase w ood t o attach to the end piec es as shelv es. Attach shelves to the end pieces with screws or nails . The rectangular end pieces come in various widths providing for a variet y of shelf widths. Again, selec t good quality, thick wood or it will bend and bow. And then ther e is also the cheap c ollege dorm st yle - cement blocks and t wo b y f ours. The do wnfall of this st yle is ob vious. They ar e not v ery secur e because the two by fours sit unsecured on the blocks . God forbid something should fall and

scratch that new car. The two by four shelves also limit the siz e of the storage. Now let’s move on to the more sophisticat ed sy stems. One way is to purchase plastic or metal storage bins. These can be found in almost an y home improvement store. These come in a variet y of shapes . S ome look like big ice chests. Some look like stand up armoir es or bur eaus. Some ar e chest of dra wers. Perhaps the nic est thing about all of these is that they c ome with drawers and doors . These can usually be locked, which is a nice thing if y ou ha ve childr en and want t o keep them out of dangerous things. This lock ing style can also help det er thef t. A s always measure your space before you purchase these it ems. Make certain they will ﬁt and ther e is room bet ween the st orage and the garaged vehicle. Using these same it ems you can also purchase garage storage kit systems. These are a c ollection of various shaped and sized cabinets. Make certain the kit includes shapes and sizes you can use and ﬁt into your space. Perhaps the new est sy stem consists of plastic walls . These are attached to the vertical wall studs. The plastic wall includes a variet y of horiz ontal slots int o which you can insert shelf brackets that come with the system. Work benches can also be attached t o the wall in a similar fashion. These systems also pr ovide cabinets. Finally, if y ou do n’t want t o do an y of this w ork y ourself, there are a variety of companies who will c ome in and or ganize your garage and create the storage for you.

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The Jewish Voice: Home Issue

Winter 2011

Create a Unified Look for Your Arched Windows rched windo ws ar e a w onderful ele ment to have in a home . They add elegance and sophistication to a room and exude old w orld charm. However, they also cause a huge pr oblem. F or man y people it is impossible t o ﬁnd window treatments to ﬁt these windows. They are at a loss as t o what t o do with these windo ws and the ar ch just ig nored while the r est of the window is c overed. The r esult i s a disjoi nted look both fr om the inside and out. Her e are some window tr eatment ideas for y our arched windows.

Treat it like a Normal window For a wall of ar ched windo ws that y ou would like to cover with window treatments, hang a straight rod above the windows the length of the entir e wall . Then hang curtain panels that cover the entirety of the windows and wall when the tr eatment is close . When open, it will r eveal as much windo w as possible . Ideally , when the cur tains ar e open, only the wall in bet ween the windows should be covered with drapes. For a single ar ch, hang a r od above it the window that is wider than the arched window.

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This way when the cur tains are opened, you can reveal the beauty of the entire window.

Adapt regular curtains Regular pocket r od windo w tr eatments panels can be hung on a curved rod. You can ﬁnd curved curtain rods or rods that you can shape in your local hardware store or by mail order. Once the curtain is hung, you will then need to cut the bott om straight acr oss and re-hem it. You will want t o pur chase ex tra long panels for this. Hang tab top curtain panels from antique hooks installed ar ound the ar ch of the window. Cut the bott om straight acr oss and r ehem.

Custom shutters You can purchase wooden shutters with that includes a sunburst top that ﬁlls the arch attractively or custom shutters that curve at the top to ﬁt the arch. Install shutters or blinds acr oss the window leaving the ar ch exposed. Then hang a decorative window scarf in the arched section. This is done b y installing thr ee hooks or drapery ornaments . I nstall one on each

side, and the thir d one at the t op center or oﬀ to one side depending on y our personal preferences.

Leave them bare Chances are you picked a home with arched windows because y ou thought they w ere beautiful. Unless privac y is an issue , wh y not leave them bare or at least nearly bare. You can add interest or c oordinate them with y our décor by hanging a simple swag treatment above them, or y ou can plac e a standing transluc ent ﬂoor screens in front of them to ﬁlter light. To give the windows some extra interest when you do not want to cover the window, you can add panels of fabric bet ween or on either side of the windows hung from attractive hooks or window ornaments.

Create a curved window where you do not have one If y ou do not ha ve an ar ched windo w, but want to give the impression that you do, you can create a straight top, arched window treatment b y tak ing a r egular windo w t opper or c ornice board and cutting an ar ched shape out of the bottom edge.

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