Shades of Gray

For some time now I have been completely drawn to the color gray in both fashion and decorating. I've been dreaming about a gray sofa (I know the one I want!).  The exterior and interior of my house is painted gray using no VOC paint. Whether its a gray house, kitchen or bedroom...I love all shades of gray in any room.  In some of these photos you will notice a lot of reclaimed pieces, another love of mine! Here are some of my favorites...I like to dream!

 

Keeping Cool Without Air Conditioning

 

With much of Canada and the US experiencing a summer heat wave, everyone's thinking about cooling off.  I'm in Los Angeles visiting my best friend and it reached 102 degrees today!  I'm going to need a bath full of ice cubes to cool me off.  While the modern office, and 84% of U.S. homes use air conditioners, we can all save money by using them less; after all, the typical U.S. home spends 17% of its annual energy bill on cooling – about $375.  I don’t think those numbers are as high in Vancouver as most homes don’t have air conditioners, they resort to cold showers and iced coffees to cool them off!
We can all save energy, too, which on the hottest summer days can have an immediate payoff: avoiding an electricity blackout caused by an overloaded power grid.
Here are the easiest, cheapest tips you can do right now to cool off – and then recommend some home improvements that can help keep your home cooler in the years to come, and tack on some tips for those of us with air conditioners we'd like to pay less to run or replace. And remember – even if you have and use an air conditioner, these tips can help you reduce your need for it, saving both energy and money.

1. Close your windows
It may seem counter intuitive, but opening the windows will often make your home warmer, not cooler. Open your windows at night if the air outside is cooler than inside, and close them – along with blinds and shades – before the sun hits your house in the morning. This will allow cool night air to circulate, and prevent a good deal of the sun's heat from reaching indoors. You may also put houseplants – particularly larger potted trees – in front of sunny windows to absorb some of the sun's energy.


2. Use fans strategically

Here are three ways fans can help:
Ceiling fans can create a pleasant breeze to cool a room significantly. Be sure that you have the fan running in the right direction since ceiling fans can also be used in winter to create an updraft: in the summer, you should feel the breeze blowing down. And remember, ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, so turn it off when you leave the room. If you're buying new ceiling fans, make sure you buy Energy Star ceiling fans that use 50% less energy than comparable models – a choice that will pay off in the long run, as you can appreciate the longer you keep your fan running.
Stand-alone fans placed directly in front of you, it's no surprise, help keep you cool. Add in a spritz bottle and you can dramatically change your temperature; as the water evaporates off your skin, your body sheds heat.
A DIY wind tunnel is the third option; if there's a cool breeze, particularly at night, set one fan facing in on the side of your home facing the wind, and another facing out on the opposite end of the house. You'll maximize the cooling power of a natural breeze.

3. Cook (or don't) a cool meal

Just as drinking a nice cold cocktail cools your body, eating cold food helps keep your internal temperature lower on a hot day. One great option: Watermelon and Cherry Salad with Fresh Mint Syrup. If you do cook, use the grill or the microwave, or else you'll heat up your kitchen from using the oven and stove.

4. Shut off the lights

While modern lightning, like compact fluorescents and LEDs, are more efficient, incandescent light bulbs can produce as much heat as they do light. Energy Star-rated light bulbs produce 75% less heat, so consider that when replacing bulbs. It's always a good idea to shut off lights to save energy, it makes a big difference on hot sunny summer days. The same goes for many electronics, so consider unplugging any device that isn't needed (even in standby mode, many electronics remain hot).

5. Go for a swim or take a cold shower
It may sound obvious, but it's worth saying: If you're hot, cool it off by immersing yourself in cold water. The immediate refreshment works immediately by cooling your core temperature. And unless there's 100% humidity, the evaporation of water off your skin will further cool you. For a short cut, use water and ice cubes to keep your wrists cool; since your blood vessels are so close the skin there, you'll feel cooler by applying cold directly to your blood.

6. Plant a tree (or two or three) strategically

Your house gets hot because the sun beats down on it relentless on hot summer days. Let nature help reduce your energy bills by planting deciduous trees on the east and west sides of your home; in the summer, their broad leaves will shade your house, while in the winter, bare branches won't stop the sun's warmth from reaching your walls. Also consider planting trees or shrubs to shade high-heat areas – air conditioning units that emit heat, for instance, and driveways and walkways that absorb it.

7. Install attic insulation

While attic fans may not help significantly to cool your home, attic insulation can help a lot. Insulation keeps cooler air in your home from escaping through the ceiling. If you have central air, also seal ducts – especially at vents and registers, where you could be losing up to 20% of you cooled air.

8. Install awnings
Just as window shades and shrubbery work to shield your home from the sun's rays, awnings can cut down on the heat your house absorbs. This is an investment to make if you like the look.


5 Ways to Save Money and Energy on Air Conditioning
So you already have an air conditioner, or you're planning to buy one... Save money and energy with the previous eight tips (after all, they'll help you use your AC less) plus these five maintenance and buying tips:


1. Adjust the thermostat

If you have central air controlled by a thermostat, program it to save energy by increasing the heat significantly during the day when the house is empty, and give up a couple degrees at night, too – especially on the hottest days. You may be surprised to find that the contrast between outdoor and indoor temperatures matters as much as the absolute temperature inside your home.

2. Clean the air filter

Whether you have central air or a room air conditioner, a dirty filter will reduce its efficiency, making it use more energy and cost more money to do the same job. Check your HVAC system's air filter monthly and expect to change the filter every three months.

3. Get an annual checkup
If you have central air, consider an annual checkup – once should cover both the heating and the cooling season. A professional should be able to diagnose any inefficiencies before you've wasted money on monthly heating and cooling bills.

4. Think small
Cooling one room with a window air conditioning unit requires much less energy (and investment) than a central air system. Ask yourself how you'll use your new air conditioner, and choose the smallest option that works.

5. Buy Energy Star

Whether you're buying a central air conditioner or a room unit, efficiency matters. An Energy Star central air system will use about 14% less energy than minimum government standards, and a room air conditioner will save at least 10%. Use the Energy Star Website before making a purchase, because while the vast majority of the 1,000-plus qualifying room units use 90% of the energy of a standard model, some are clearly a better value, using as little as 50%. These nine models use 75% of a typical unit, or less:

Turbo Air - TAS-09EH
Turbo Air - TAS-12EH
Turbo Air - TAS-18EH
Unionaire - RAC20A6HR
Friedrich - YS09L10
Unionaire - RAC24A6HR
Friedrich - YS10M10
Unionaire - RAC20A6CR
Unionaire - RAC20A6ER

Dry your dishes in style

Dainty, delightful and Danish in design, these black-and-white beauties are super green! Ferm LIVING’s tea towels will match almost any kitchen, maybe adding a little retro kitsch. Super stylish, they’re made with 100% organic cotton and packaged in 100% recycled cardboard – so your dishes will be dry and squeaky green.

Price: $25 each

Available at: www.modernkaribou.ca

A Healthy Pillow

If you're committed to living an organic lifestyle, you eat organic foods and have probably replaced toxic household cleaners with products that are safer for your health. Time now to move on and create a healthier environment in the one room where you spend one-third of your life: your bedroom.

Look no further than the pillow you place under your head each night. If it's made with synthetic materials you could be sleeping with toluene, diisocyanate, formaldehyde, PBDEs and petroleum derivatives. Toss that pillow into the recycling bin and get a better night's sleep on something that is all natural or organic from the inside out.

Before the 1950s and the advent of poly-fiberfill people slept on pillows made from materials found in nature, heavenly sleep conducive fibers and fills like goose down, cotton, natural latex, wool. Rest your head on any of these natural fibers and you'll notice an immediate difference in your quality of sleep each night.

Some fibers like wool enhance deep REM sleep by wicking moisture away from your head, keeping you cooler so you toss and turn less often. A latex contour pillow or buckwheat hull pillow will support your neck and shoulders. Matching your sleep preference to the right fiber and pillow configuration is like finding the right toothbrush, it's very personal.It can be hard to know where to turn for the best pillow: we've heard a lot about buckwheat and organic wool pillows, but reviews can be scewed depending on what type of sleeper the reviewer is (stomach, back, side) and how firm they like their pillow. Everyone's different. So how to choose! First, you need to know the options and what they're best for:

1. Latex: made of 100% latex, which is naturally hypoallergenic and resists dust mites. Available in standard, queen and king sizes.

• Best For: Side and stomach sleepers. Side sleepers should stick to the contoured shape, as the pillow's firmness helps support the neck and keep the spine aligned. Stomach sleepers should go for the soap shape, which tends to be softer and flatter.
• Care: Hand-wash the latex in warm water with mild soap, blot with a towel, and air dry. Case can be machine-washed.
• Average price: $69-$89

2. Buckwheat: buckwheat pillows are filled with buckwheat hulls and, if you're used to fluffy pillows, may take a bit of time to get used to. Buckwheat is also great for air circulation and keeping your head cool, especially in warmer weather. Look for ones with an organic wool outer layer to muffle the 'crunchy' sound.

• Best For: All types. A zipper lets you fill or remove the hulls to your desired thickness. You could even make your won.
• Care: Rinse the hulls in cool water, drain, and air dry. Machine wash the case.
• Average price: $75

3. Kapok: is a silky fiber harvested from ceiba trees (a tropical tree). After the ripe pods of the tree are harvested, the seeds are removed and the fluffy fiber is then thoroughly cleaned and dried. It is 8 times lighter than cotton and feels very much like down (without the accompanying allergies).

• Best For: Back sleepers. This material is very fluffy and offers minimal resistance.
• Care: Machine wash gentle cycle in warm water. Cool dry with tennis balls for fluffing.
• Average price: $50

4. Organic Wool: A pure wool pillow is great for regulating temperature and moisture as the wool fibers naturally wick moisture away from your face so you remain at an even temp all night. Wool is also naturally mold, mildew, and fire-resistant.

• Best For: Side sleepers, due to the firmness of the wool, although you can find differing degrees of firmness.
• Care: Spot clean with water and vinegar. Air outside in the sun or fluff in a dryer with tennis balls to freshen.
• Average price: $70

5. Organic Cotton: organic cotton pillows are made without perfumes, formaldehyde, or dyes, are very soft and will compress over time.

• Best For: Stomach sleepers, because you can squish it.
• Care: Cotton will shrink if you wash it, so wash in cool water on a gentle cycle, or spot clean with water and vinegar.
• Average price: $45

6. Millet: Similar in performance to a buckwheat pillow, the hulls from millet are smaller and circular, making for a smoother and softer pillow (also less noisy) than a buckwheat pillow.

• Best For: Side or stomach sleepers
• Care: Rinse hulls in cool water, drain, and air dry. Machine wash case.
• Average price: $70

Sweet dreams!

A Fresh Start-Day 5

Baking soda

Baking soda is a staple in many refrigerators because it helps absorb odors, but it can also dissolve dirt and grease in water. Like vinegar, baking soda has a wide variety of uses.

All-Purpose
To remove scuff marks from the floor, sprinkle with baking soda and wipe clean with a warm, damp cloth. You can also use this multipurpose cleaner to remove odors from carpet. Simply sprinkle baking soda on the floor, wait 10 minutes, and vacuum.

Baking soda’s mild coarseness is similar to common abrasive cleaners. When mixed with water, baking soda turns into a scouring paste you can use to remove substances from tubs, sinks, countertops and dishes. Mix 1 part water with 3 parts baking soda to scrub away unwanted stains and messes.

Kitchen
Use baking soda anywhere you need deodorizing action—especially in the refrigerator or cupboards. You can also control garbage-can odors by sprinkling baking soda in the bottom of the can and into each new garbage bag.

Sprinkle baking soda on pots, pans and dishes with burnt or caked-on food, add water and soak for a few hours to loosen the food. Keep a box of baking soda close to your stove; it puts out grease fires.

Laundry
Adding 1/2 cup baking soda to your laundry will help remove dirt and grease.

A Fresh Start-Day 4

Tea Tree Oil
Australian tea tree oil is well-known for its medicinal purposes, but the antibacterial and antifungal properties of this ancient remedy can also be useful in the household.

All-Purpose
In a reusable spray bottle, mix 15 drops of tea tree oil with 1 quart warm water for a multipurpose cleaner. It's great for cleaning your yoga mat! For a more powerful antiseptic spray for areas that need specific attention-such as toilets-use 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil to 2 cups of water. The more potent mixture also works well on mold; just spray on the moldy area and don’t rinse. Although discoloration might not disappear, the mold will be killed.

Laundry

To disinfect heavily soiled laundry such as cloth diapers, add 1 teaspoon of tea tree oil to each load of laundry. This will help prevent bacterial and fungal infections.

A Fresh Start-Day 3

Vinegar
One of my favorite household products. Powerful and economical, distilled white vinegar is one of nature's most versatile cleaners. Its odor can be overwhelming, but the smell dissipates as it dries. If you find the smell is too pungent, try adding lemon juice to neutralize it. I usually open some windows and the smell is gone pretty quickly.

All-Purpose
In a reusable spray bottle, mix a solution of 1 part water to 1 part vinegar for an effective all-purpose cleaner that disinfects and deodorizes. Use this solution to clean countertops, sinks, appliances and floors, but avoid granite or marble because vinegar's acid can damage them.

Bathroom
The all-purpose vinegar cleaning solution above can remove soap scum and hard water stains, and clean tile grout. To remove mildew, directly apply pure white vinegar and let sit for a minimum of 30 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
Conventional toilet bowl cleaners are among the most toxic cleaning products. To get a sparkling, odor free toilet, pour 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet and let it sit for several hours to help deodorize and kill germs. Use a toilet brush to easily remove toilet rings, and flush.

Kitchen
The microwave often becomes a haven for strong smells and hard to remove food. Here's an easy trick: Mix 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar and 1/2 cup water in microwave safe bowl and bring the solution to a rolling boil in the microwave. Odors will dissolve, and baked on food will loosen for easy removal with a damp cloth.
Finish off the kitchen with a sponge soaked in pure vinegar, which will remove grease from ovens and exhaust fan grids.

Laundry
Many people have heightened sensitivities to the perfumes and chemicals in fabric softeners. Remember the blog on fabric softner sheets? If not make sure to read it. Vinegars naturally breaks down laundry detergent, so adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle will give you softer sheets, towels and clothes.

A Fresh Start-Day 2

SALT

Good old-fashioned table salt can be used as an abrasive cleaner.

All-Purpose
Abrasive coarse salt can help remove stains, caked on food or mildew on stovetops and in bathtubs, or anywhere scratching is not a concern. Mix baking soda with salt to whiten while scrubbing away grime.

Kitchen
Salt works well on pots and pans with caked-on food. Soak pots and pans with 3 tablespoons of salt in a couple inches of water. The mess should come off with ease. Scrubbing cast iron pans with salt cleans the pan without removing the seasoned finish.

A Fresh Start

Spring is upon us and you know what that means. Spring cleaning! Some of us get excited for this time of year, its a time to get down and dirty! Using harsh chemicals can contaminate your home with toxins, defeating the purpose of spring cleaning. Common household cleaners expose you to chemicals and have adverse effects on your family's health. Why clean your home with poison? Especially when there are so many natural alternative ways to clean and disinfect your home. Over the next 5 days I am going to share with you 5 common kitchen ingredients to help you with your spring cleaning in a natural way.

Lemons
Lemons are natural disinfectants because of their antibacterial properties. For many, the refreshing citrus smell exemplifies cleanliness.

Kitchen

Cut a lemon in half and use it to clean wooden chopping boards or to help remove stains from countertops. Let lemon juice sit for a while, then wipe clean. Avoid marble and granite surfaces because the acid can be corrosive. (try club soda instead)
Dip a cut lemon in coarse salt and scrub copper-bottomed pots and pans. Use the same preparation to help dissolve soap and hard water stains in sinks. Throw the used lemon into your compost pile for Eco-friendly waste disposal.
One of my personal favorites is placing a lemon into your garbage disposal and turning it on for a quick, easy way to clean this hard to reach area. It kills bacteria and leaves a nice fresh scent.

Laundry

Lemons are natural bleaching agents that can help brighten white linens and clothing. Add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle to brighten whites and give them a fresh citrus smell.