Apartment Therapy Unplggd Ohdeedoh Re-Nest The Kitchn

siobhan.'s Profile

Display Name: siobhan.
Member Since: 9/11/07
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I hate marble in the kitchen for most surfaces. It stains and damages so easily.

I realize the counter-top change is fantasy only and not part of the real reno, but even in your fantasy world, for normal prep areas near sinks and stoves, go with something more durable. For a small, baking only area, dream away - or even go for it topping a baking specific kitchen cart or something.


Abby's Rental Kitchen Redo Dream Kitchen
5/17/12 9:43 AM

Paul McMullen was an Olympic middle distance runner when he lost several of his toes in a flip flop/lawn mower accident.

He was able to return to running (and is probably the world's fastest 8 toes miler...), but it took years of hard work during what should have been his prime racing years.

Wear boots!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_McMullen


The Backyard as Fitness Boot Camp: Burning Calories While Gardening
4/11/12 1:35 PM

Exactly what @jennysilentg said!


Should I Paint or Stain My Hardwood Floor?
Good Questions

4/5/12 10:19 AM

My newborn mostly had leaky diapers on the sheets (and a snotty, runny nose, spit up and one particularly bad weekend, vomit and diarrhea).

I went with plain white from Ikea. Lots of them. And I changed the sheets at least every other day (and layered them with waterproof pads so in the middle of the night, I just had to strip off a layer - there were a couple of nights those first few months when multiple layers came off in a single evening).

If there was one thing I would NOT design an infant's room around, it would be bedding.


Mix & Match: Crib Bedding
3/27/12 2:37 PM

Anything that can't be easily washed.

We got one of these doorway jumpers:

http://www.amazon.com/Sassy-Seat-Doorway-Jumper-Toys/dp/B001H9NXJ8

Kid loved it. But had a very nasty diaper blowout. And there was no way to remove the fabric seat and wash it.

Even if you plan to buy used/online or register for things, check them out in person and make sure they are easy to clean.


Nursery Nevers: Products You'd Never Purchase Again Nesting a Nursery
3/26/12 1:58 PM

Nothing. I'm very allergic to dust, so there is an expanse of meticulously maintained hardwood floor underneath our Room and Board Parson bed (which doesn't use a box spring - just a mattress). Al floor space must be easy to clean in our house.


What's Under Your Bed? Reader Survey
3/23/12 2:25 PM

Our gulliver is holding up fine to a 43lb 2 year old (he's in the 99th percentile for height and weight - most people peg him as a four year old).

He got mobile at about 9 months. After that, I had to move his changing pad to the floor because he was able to move enough that I was terrified he'd fall (even with the safety straps, never leaving the baby unattended, etc).

I'd skip both the expensive crib and the changing module and instead put the money in a college savings account or baby sitter fund.


Mixing High-Quality & Budget-Friendly Furnishings in Our Nursery Nesting a Nursery
3/20/12 11:28 AM

Cleaning service. Best invention ever. As someone said above, it monetizes some tasks (taking questions of emotion, gender roles and your relationship, etc out of the picture), will free up time for both of you.

I hired a service when I lived alone in a tiny apartment, continued it in a bigger apartment with roomies (ending the vast majority of roommate conflicts) and continued when I bought a home, got married, got more pets, had a child, etc.

It isn't that expensive (at least in my neck of the woods). Our service is locally owned/operated by a mother/son team (yep, a burly 20 year old guy cleans my toilet) and uses organic products. And because it's their job, they have the best tools and techniques and they aren't emotional about anything (their gaze doesn't linger on any photos, etc). They just get stuff done way more quickly and efficiently than I do.

Also, our home is simply designed to be cleaned. Even if we have to do it, it doesn't take long. I'm always amazed at how people create work for themselves, then complain about how much they have to do (I'm not saying this is the OP's case - she doesn't sound like she's making more work for herself than she needs to, but I see it a lot on this site).

I don't do vignettes. They look lovely in photos, but they are a dusting nightmare. Our shoes come off at the door (guests and grandma can keep them on). Laundry hampers have many compartments so clothes are pre-sorted. We have 2 dish drawers, so there is always someplace for dirty dishes (even if the other dishwasher is running). We have a vacuuming robot that keeps the floors clean between cleaner visits. And we have a rule that kitchen counters and table have to be cleared off and wiped before bedtime. My 2 year old has to put his toys in the toybox before bed.

I do most of the grocery shopping and get our son out of the house on weekend mornings. In those times, my husband works on some major home renovation projects we've got going on (room by room replacing all of the woodwork in our house, etc).

We split cooking, but often do it in bulk on the weekends so that weeknights are easy.

Even with laundry (which includes cloth diapers right now), I doubt we spend more than 15 minutes a weekday on in home chores, and it is pretty evenly divided between my husband and I.

We spend lots of time on home stuff on weekends, but again, it is even, based on skill and doing projects we enjoy.


Home Ec.: What is Your Housework Worth?
1/27/12 5:18 PM

Our son won't finger paint. He refuses to get his hand dirty. He also doesn't eat finger foods and is AMAZING with a spoon for a little one. This might be a gateway to painting and more sensory activities for him.


Mess-Free Finger Painting with a Plastic Bag
Lovesome

1/26/12 4:43 PM

We have an LG Tromm Steam washer and dryer. 5 years, cloth diapers (so lots of laundry) and no complaints. No complaints at all.


The Best Washing Machine?
Reader Roundup

1/25/12 12:19 PM

January 2, 1992

To: BonaKemi Distributors

RE: Murphy' Oil Soap

Murphy's Oil Soap was tested as maintenance cleaner for hardwood floors to find the possible effects on future screen and recoats. A 2- 1/4" red oak strip floor was prepared using BonaKemi waterbased finish. The floor was then maintained for four weeks, using he manufacture's recommended procedures. Suggested concentration levels were used on a portion of the floor, with slightly differing levels across the remained of the floor.

Before screening the floor for a recoat, it was apparent that an "oily" residue remained on the floor. While screening, the disk gummed up with a waxy residue.

During application of a new topcoat, "fisheyes" developed in spots, and crawling in some areas was observed. Adhesion on the new finish application was poor with complete failure in some areas

Due to the apparent incompatibility of Murphy's Oil Soap residue with subsequent recoating, we cannot recommend its use as a maintenance program cleaner for hardwood floors.


Homekeeping 101: Cleaning Your Hardwood Floor
1/19/12 4:46 PM

Most floor finish manufacturers say not to use vinegar or oil soaps. Vinegar apparently dulls finishes and oil soap coats floors in oil (making them impossible to recoat - they have to be fully resanded and refinished - instead of just buffed and topcoated).

http://www.mybonahome.com/iWantTo/clean-my-hardwood-floor.html


Homekeeping 101: Cleaning Your Hardwood Floor
1/19/12 4:45 PM

2 adults, 1 toddler, 2 cats.

We recently got a Neato vacuum robot (we've had a couple of Roombas die on us). A month in, we love it. It doesn't do a perfect job vacuuming, but it does a really fine one every day on a schedule when we are not home. The scheduling, recharging (it always finds its way 'home' to recharge) and larger size of the dust bin mean that we don't have to do anything to have clean floors.

It is expensive and loud (if you happen to be home), but so far, we really like it.

http://www.amazon.com/Neato-XV-11-Robotic-Vacuum-System/dp/B003UBPB6E


5 Tricks for Dealing With a Hairy Home
1/17/12 12:15 PM

Apparently the Buro Tree is no more (and I'm sad I didn't get the Frigg model while I had the chance...):

14/11/2011
The End of the The Buro Tree

After a great run and some excellent awards, and attention the Buro Tree has run its course and its time to say goodbye. We are sorry to say that we will no longer be producing any more Xmas trees. We are moving on to explore new adventures in design which you can keep with at our official Buro North website.

http://www.burotree.com/news/


Holiday Décor: Bringing Festive Cheer to Sleek Minimalism
12/15/11 11:48 AM

Been there, done that in New England. The cats water bowl froze once, but that was the worst problem.

Instead of space heaters, have you considered (which are indeed heating a lot of space, not just their intended targets)

heat tape/pipe heaters

http://plumbing.hardwarestore.com/52-299-heat-tape/easy-heat-braided-tape-601298.aspx

Electric Mattress Pad

http://www.amazon.com/Sunbeam-Premium-Mattress-Heating-Controllers/dp/B004BUDDTA/ref=sr_1_1?s=bedbath&ie=UTF8&qid=1323370685&sr=1-1


My Winter Thus Far Without Turning On The Heat
12/8/11 1:59 PM

I third the chimney balloon. We have them in our fireplaces (which have dampers, but are still drafty). The difference is AMAZING.


Fix for Rental with Damper-less Fireplace?
Good Questions

12/8/11 10:33 AM

I can't speak from experience. I've never brought my son to work.

I know that from about 8 weeks to 1, I could work from home with him there (he was a great napper and I could count on scheduling some things at some times). I'd have to put in some after bed hours, but it worked for when we had childcare issues.

Now that he is 2, it wouldn't work.

The New York Times has featured a few articles on the subject over the years:

A Bit of Burping Is Allowed, If It Keeps Parents on the Job

http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/04/us/a-bit-of-burping-is-allowed-if-it-keeps-parents-on-the-job.html?scp=5&sq=bring+baby+to+work&st=nyt

Maternity-Leave Alternative: Bring the Baby to Work

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/jobs/04babies.html?scp=1&sq=bring+baby+to+work&st=nyt

Motherlode: Bringing Your Baby to Work

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/18/bringing-your-baby-to-work/?scp=2&sq=bring+baby+to+work&st=nyt


Does Bringing Your Baby to Work, Work?
Good Questions

12/7/11 1:39 PM

I don't even understand how one enters it. It appears to be lifted about 6-8ft off the ground by it's stilts, but there does not appear to be a ladder or door from the ground to the structure in the model.


Could You Live in the World's Narrowest Building?
NPR

11/14/11 9:51 AM

How did you get the oats not to burn while you fried the pumpkin? I ended up with a burnt mess. Lower heat? It really wasn't that high...


Hot Breakfast Recipe: Baked Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal
11/3/11 8:47 PM

I attended college with Laura Veirs, and I can personally testify that she is simply a really cool woman with amazing musical taste and talent. I can't wait to get my hands on this!


Tumble Bee
Laura Veirs Sings Folk Songs for Children

11/2/11 2:28 PM