secretcrumpet's Profile

I agree with this comment. It seems like most of the issue with arsenic in rice is connected to the use of pesticides. A quick search yielded a response letter from the Organic Trade Association that basically states this. But it also acknowledges that there are other natural sources of arsenic, and it should be monitored.

Not that the FDA is the final word in food safety (unfortunately) but they published a report in late 2012 on arsenic in rice and other foods, and didn't believe it necessary to warn people to change their diets unless there were other preexisting risk factors.

Like a lot of other foods that are susceptible to bioaccumulation of toxins, it's best to go with the organic option if you can get it.

I love this because (of course) it's beautiful, but also wholly realistic. The "high/low" approach makes it seem doable to someone who's not an architect by profession (or millionaire). There's no crazy demolitions of walls or creation of windows that would be out of reach by most, just some light rearranging (the sink jumped over a few feet) and updating of materials. The space is still as small as it started out as, just way more efficient and nice to look at. Well done!

I think that the whole thing makes WAY more sense when you read her blog, and see more up-close photos. The original floors looked really damaged and would've required a lot of work and time that one does not have with small children.
The after-shots also look much better when you see the close-ups on the blog, and not so veneer-y as that one photo in this post.
Plus, it's not as though this is forever. When the time comes, it will be just as easy to take off the chalk-paint and refinish as it would've if they had started from the damaged boards.

Just as a shout out for Grove-- I tried a few of the Etsy/various-other-sites bamboo cases and they pretty much all disintegrated on me within weeks (what can I say? I'm not quite at OtterBox-level clumsiness, but it does fall the few inches onto the floor from my bed ledge a few times a month).

I have had the Grove bamboo case since March and besides a few dings and general denim pocket-patina, it's still very intact and beautiful (even after said weekly-floor-drops). They're all handcrafted by really neat folks in Portland that are paid a nice wage to make these beautiful cases so I feel the cost is quite well-warranted.

My parents own the most stunning couch upholstered with royal blue wool custom-built and shipped from Finland over thirty years ago. None of the colors above quite match, maybe a more vibrant version of the R&B Reese. For ages anyone who came over would always comment on it, mostly positively, but a few obviously turned off by its intensity. My mom will be so pleased to know she has been ahead of her time all along :)

Soooo beautiful. Everything in the place, Alina, the photos-- all simply stunning. There is a very old-world, painterly feel to the space and how it's been photographed (the first comment was spot on about a Dutch master painting), but I love how the modern touches have been so seamlessly integrated. I vote that the entire loft get a house tour, please!

Hmm... @kellieinca, I actually find that my traditional looking S&P shakers get dustier looking. I have the Pigeon Toe set and love it. I keep them close to my cooking workspace which makes it easier to season quickly and have a better visual of how much is going into a dish. I go through a lot of S&P when cooking so the contents never linger more than a week or so in them. Then they transition easily to the dining table and their looks always get raves (helps that they're made locally too).

Hm. Maybe I've got a tough butt (haha) because I find those Reidar chairs to be just fine. Olympic Provisions NW in Portland uses them in their dining room and every time I've dined there I haven't noticed them to be uncomfortable. I have noticed them to look freakin' fabulous with the rest of the decor, though. Maybe I'm just distracted by meat...

ha! I just popped into there this morning after making a wine delivery around the corner. I am so stoked about their NW location...though my thighs probably aren't ;-)

Maybe it's just my taste, but it kinda bums me out to see that most of these writers slept in dinky little twin beds (and even the exceptions look to be full/doubles). They all look rather modest at best, receding and sort of melancholy.