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Archive for August, 2007

The Friday Fancier, 8/17

Posted August 17, 2007 * Comments(0)

It’s a new Friday, and a new chapter in my (theoretically) weekly run-down of wants for around the home. And I’ve even come up with a new, potentially embarrassing name for this segment. Feel free to mock it at your leisure.

These past entries have seen me focusing on the kitchen, and today’s list is no different. Keeper of the flame, provider of cakes, the kitchen is a treasured facet of our apartment; I’m sure many of you feel the same. But I’ll be the first to admit, ours is not the shimmering jewel that it could be. Organization and cleanliness is always just out of our grasp, as it may also be for many of you readers. And as I always say, Necessity is the Mother of Commerce.

This Week’s Wishlist

- Spice Racks. Yes, the tried and true final project of high school Woodshop classes. The layout of our kitchen is such that we have to store our spices far from the stove itself, making it quite a trek for us when a soup needs just a little more cayenne. This shelf from Whitehaus looks more than adequate to mount above any stove, and in particular features that sleek professional sheen that we need in our lives.

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Sinking In: Blanco

Posted August 16, 2007 * Comments(1)

(alternate title: “You’re Soaking In It.” You can thank me later.)

As we trek through the “pre-production” phase on our apartment’s renovation (behind-the-scenes here at Home Graffiti), my roommates and I have been exploring various avenues for hardware upgrades. Specifically we’re looking at newer sinks and faucets for our kitchen, which has seen better days. Perhaps the days of the Lindy Hop.

So we’re shopping around with different styles and different brands of sink basins and fixtures. And while most of them may not mesh with the style of capitalistic ennui that we’re going for, or even fit the modest size of our kitchen counters, I’m sure one of you out there might give these sinks a good home. So I’ll share some of the highlights from the catalogs and brochures I’ve perused, and let you get your own ideas.

Nice try, Blanco-Nino. Too bad you got saaaaacked!

Today we have Blanco, a German-born kitchen fixture company. They boast a background of over 80 years in manufacturing, specializing in “innovative, design-oriented system solutions for work stations in domestic kitchens and food service.” At least, that’s what their website tells me. To put it in plainer terms, they’re old hands at making heavy-duty sinks and faucets with all the trimmings. The Blanco catalog features sinks offered in classic stainless steel or in sleek Silgranit (whatever that is).

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Expecting the Worst Out Of Your Home: Tutorial Part Two

Posted August 14, 2007 * Comments(0)

So we’ve covered the points on what to beware when hunting for your new apartment or house. And you can take those notes to the bank, buster. But what about those for whom it’s too late, the poor souls who could not heed and now find themselves trapped in a rat’s nest?

This man did a poor job.That brings me to today’s topic: working over what you overlooked. Those of you renting out may wash your hands of these tasks, as many of them fall under the landlord’s culpability. But if you own your home, or have somehow been assigned repair duties by your lease, here’s the answer. These are instructions for absolute beginners; they won’t fix any major structural issues, but they also don’t run you much risk of being electrocuted (if you do it right).

Tips & Tricks for Basic Repair

1) Electrical Outlets. The potential dangers of damaged and outdated wall sockets were covered in the previous installment, and may be the most stressful to replace. Rather than lay out all the steps, you can use this thorough instruction from eHow - not only does it take you through step-by-step, but there’s even a video with a nice lady. Don’t forget to have a new grounded outlet, a new cover plate, proper tools (screwdriver, chisel and/or utility knife) and a socket tester ready.

And while you’re at it, maybe try something new - I stumbled across a new kind of wall outlet by 360 Electrical that offers an interesting solution to crowded plugs.

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Expecting The Worst Out Of Your Home: A Tutorial In Two Parts

Posted August 10, 2007 * Comments(2)

Okay, enough about me. So much of these past few entries have been spent rambling about all my personal jive that I’ve neglected the true meaning of this journal. I forgot that this blog is about you, dear reader.

It’s with that in mind that we offer this next two-part series, a stumbling instruction for beginners in home decoration. Specifically, this revolves around basic hardware and architectural pitfalls that ensnare renters and homebuyers alike when house/apartment hunting. The things you overlook and wind up paying for later. Like your own personal Money Pit, but with less Shelley Long and more complete lack of enjoyable humor.

In this first installment, I’ll walk you through some signs of neglect and poor maintenance that you can pick up on. I’m not just talking about door knobs that aren’t as shiny as they should be. These are issues that can be hazardous to your property or even your health. Or sometimes just really annoying.

What to Watch For

Your world is folly.1) Electrical Outlets. It’s already a good idea to check on how many outlets are available in each room. You can (almost) never have too many. But check closely - make sure these are modern, grounded outlets. Older and polarized outlets without grounded sockets can be incompatible with many appliances and electronics. And adaptors are not always a safe solution.

Another issue I’ve seen in many apartments is the result of crummy painters - they actually paint over the socket. Either because they were too lazy to remove the cover plates while working, or they wanted the plates to match the wall color. This is how landlords and contractors try to save a buck. It isn’t necessarily dangerous, but it can damage the plug if you force it. And there is always the possibility for something to catch on fire. This leads me to the next point…

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