Canux : Home Sweet Home

Archive for June, 2010

There may be one very excellent reason why you have not as yet heard of the Bosch dishwasher. It is so ultimately quiet when operating, it is nearly impossible to hear. It can easily be said that the Bosch dishwasher is the quietest dishwasher in the United States claiming the noise level to be a mere 40 decibels. So if you wish to be the proud owner of the ‘unheard’ of dishwasher, Bosch is for you.

The appearance of the Bosch dishwasher is unparalleled. The stainless steel tub carries a lifetime warranty on any rusting through, so if you have a problem with certain water types, you can be assured there will be none with the Bosch dishwasher.

As previously stated, the Bosch is the quietest dishwasher manufactured in the United States with virtual silent running at a low 40 decibels. The dishwasher also comes with an Info Light beam directed at your floor to indicate that it is still in the operational mode. The two pump system helps to minimize noise and vibration and the solid base of the unit will also contain sound and prevent any leaks.

One would also be extremely hard pressed to find anything to argue about when it comes to efficiency as well. The energy star rating for the Bosch dishwasher is a 180 kilowatt hour per year making it the most efficient dishwasher on the market today. It comes with an EcoAction option that will reduce your energy consumption by up to 25%. EcoSense reduces energy usage up to 20%. If you should so desire there is small load option that will save on both water and electric. There is also a flow through water heater and a triple filtration system.

The safety features of the Bosch dishwasher are fantastic too. The AquaStop Plus feature continues to work everyday, all day, to provide the maximum protection against leaks. The sanitizing option will eliminate bacteria and add to the drying results. The concealed heating element offers protection against any melting of plastics and it touts SaniDry hygienic condensation drying.

The Bosch dishwasher has a capacity of holding a 15 place setting and the racks are designed for flexibility in loading. There is even a third rack for additional loading and the upper rack will adjust to three different loading levels. Convenience items include a multi-function LCD display, an end of cycle sound, and even a twenty four hour delay timer. A built in water softener ensures perfection of cleaning and the detergent ray optimizes the dissolving. The OptiDry feature gives you spotlessly clean dishes and a load size sensor will automatically adjust the wash cycle.

My wife and I have a typical London flat, with a tiny second bedroom (not much bigger than a walk in closet). The room has a built-in wardrobe, and my wife uses this to hang clothes and store shoes.

She needs daily access to the closet, which limits our furnishing options.

We have a friend coming to stay next month, and started thinking about how to shoe-horn a bed into the room. The problem is, if we put something the size of a bed into this room on a permanent basis, it will hinder access to the wardrobe.

We talked about a collapsible bed (an elaborate camp stretcher), a mattress on the floor, and even an inflatable bed. But all of these ‘solutions’ are uncomfortable for more than a night or two. We need something comfortable to sleep in for 2 whole weeks.

We’d automatically discounted the idea of a sofa bed, because we assumed this meant a 2 or 3 seater that unfolded to be a double bed. Something that large would never fit in our second bedroom.

Fortunately, a friend of ours here in London told us about a single chair sofa bed that unfolds to become a comfortable single bed. It’s perfect for our situation, and even manages to offer a decent level of comfort. Best of all, when it’s not being used as a bed it turns into a nice comfy chair that takes up minimal space.

Do you have a small room in which you don’t have room for a full-time bed, but do need to house the occasional guest? Then get one of these single chair sofa beds.

A Poinsettia in an attractive planter or container is one of our favorite plants to warm up the holiday entrance or add a jolt of fiery red to the festive decor.

Every year we see a profusion of Poinsettia in the greenhouse, at the local supermarket and every flower shop in Town. They are wonderful and can stay in the house in beautiful planters all year long if you take care of them properly.

The Poinsettia is very sensitive to over watering and drafts – either one causes the leaves to drop. Don’t water until the soil starts to dry out. Do not let water stand in the saucer underneath the container. Remove any damaged or diseased leaves or bracts when you see them.

Here are a few pointers. What we would like to consider as gorgeous blooms are actually clusters of leaves called a bract. They can be red, pink, white, yellow or of course many different shades of color. The flower is in the center of these bracts. Always choose a plant that has dark green foliage, however, the lighter the bracts, the lighter green the foliage.

Choose your Holiday Poinsettia carefully and then make sure that it is well wrapped before taking it outdoors. If it gets chilly, even for a very short time, damage will occur to both leaves and flowers.

The best conditions inside for your Poinsettia are for them to obtain at least six hours of natural sunlight per day. Avoid direct sun, as this will cause the leaves to fade. Do not fertilize while it is in bloom. However, here is the way that you can keep your Poinsettia for the year and have it ready to bloom again next Holiday Season.

When your plant has stopped blooming, move it to a cool, dark place such as your garage or storeroom. Reduce watering but not completely. Cut the plants back part way so that each stem is left with only two buds. In the late Spring, place them outdoors again. They will probably need to be repotted to a container with about 3″ larger in diameter. Keep them well watered and move to a sunny location. Be sure to turn the pot every week for even growth..

You may wish to keep pinching them back as they continue to grow – this will encourage branching. Make sure that the plant is watered when the soil is dry to the touch and now start fertilizing again.

In areas where the temperature will go below freezing, they will need to be brought inside again in the Fall. In early October, leave them in total, yes total, darkness for 14 hours a day. Continue this regime until Thanksgiving, continuing to water and feed during this time.

Now keep your plant out on display and you should have beautiful foliage and flowers by mid December – just in time for the next Holiday Season.

Remember, you can place your Poinsettia in a beautiful planter or container and surround it with lovely ivy trailing down the sides. Decorate with a few ornaments for a spectacular festive look. The Poinsettia can be replaced with Amaryllis, Tulips or Daffodils in the Spring

The main consideration, inevitably, is, “Is it worth it, or should I buy a new sofa?”

Let’s try to answer this…

Firstly, was the suite a good one at the time you bought it? Do you recall the make?

If it was made by Parker Knoll, Duresta, Derwent, Ercol, Collins and Hayes, Peter Guild, Bridgecraft, Multiyork, Minty, Marks and Spencer, Cintique, Wade Upholstery, for example, then you can be assured that the frame is of good quality. It is the frame that is the most important thing about a sofa and which makes it last a lifetime.

Nowadays, I have found, the quality of construction is poorer than years ago, with notable exceptions, including Multiyork, where a three-piece suite can often cost

The headboard is one of the first things noticed when you walk into a bedroom. They are designed to be the focal point of the room. There are many different styles of headboards sold on the market today, which range in a variety of sizes, colors, shapes and prices. There are so many styles to choose from that there is something available to meet the needs of any home, ranging from the plain simple headboards to the ones made with fancy in-depth detailing. The art of making a headboard has went through many changes throughout history and continues to be improved upon as new technology is introduced.

Throughout the years as technology has been made available, there have been many changes made to the design of headboards. Making a headboard may seem like a simple process and in many cases it can be, but that is not always the case. It all depends on the design of the headboard. There are many styles that are so plain and simple that it takes little time or construction to make them. However, there are also many styles that have detailed designs that are so in-depth that you may wonder how they were ever made.

Headboards have a long and interesting history. There is evidence that they were used by the Pharaohs of Egypt in 3100BC. Of course, making a headboard for Pharaohs involved ebony, silver and gold to ensure they were designed from the highest quality possible, while the commoners used anything they could find. There is also evidence that the ancient Greeks and Britons had headboards made from wood.

By medieval times, more emphasis was placed on making a headboard stylish to help enhance the beauty of the bedroom for everyone. Nevertheless, the design found in the homes of this era was still an indicating of how much wealth a person had. The four-post bed was very popular during this time and the designs included making a headboard and the other parts separately. Amazingly, some of the headboards made during this time can still be found today.

Headboards were exported all over the world from Europe during the colonial times and today, there are companies located all across the globe that specialize in making bedroom suits. The methods used in making a headboard have changed dramatically since they were first invented. The technology of today is so much more advanced than ever before so the variety of choices available is enormous.

Making a headboard can be done from all types of materials such as wood, metal, cast iron and many are even covered with beautiful fabrics. Headboards are considered classic furniture because they have been around for so long and they will surely be in high demand in the future as well. They provide a practical use with artistic design and help create different types of environments for any bedroom. There is a style and color available to suit the needs and desires of most everyone. All you have to do is take a little time and choose the one that is right for you.

Everyone loves a good deal. It’s just a fact of life that we feel great when we know we got a good bargain. Well, finding discount slip covers not only give you a great feeling, but they also brighten up your old furniture.

How many of us are guilty of having ugly, worn out furniture? And how many of us either can’t afford or don’t want to replace our old furniture? Well, putting on a furniture slip cover is a good solution.

You can find some really good deals on discounted slip covers if you take the time to look. They have covers to fit any type of chair, sofa, loveseat, recliner or sectional.

You will also find them in virtually any design or material. Slip covers are available in cotton, denim, linen, polyester and whole host of other materials.

Finding a discount slip cover can be as easy as going to Target, JC Penney, Big Lots or even WalMart. These stores often have sales where discounts can run as high as 50% or more.

If you are a savvy shopper you may be able to find a nice discount on covers at fine department stores like Macy’s or Neiman Marcus. The advantage to this is that the slip cover will generally be of a higher quality.

Finally, take a look online. The Internet is packed with websites offering fantastic discounts. Sites like Overstock and Sure Fit offer some great deals on close outs and seasonal slip covers. eBay is another good source.

Finding a discount slip cover is really pretty easy if you give it a little effort in looking. So, you’ll not only change the look of your furniture, but you’ll feel even better knowing what you got it for.