BPA in Canned Foods, and Kitchen Design
Image courtesy of Consumer Reports Almost everyone knows by now that many of the refillable water bottles we love are lined with an epoxy-based material that contains carcinogenic chemical called Bisphenol A (BPA). Public outcry has resulted in several manufacturers now offering bottles with alternative, n

He’s a Loser… or Is He?
Why is it that people seem to feel compelled to tell you that the person you just broke up with is a loser, even if they don’t know him or anything about him? Why do they think this will make you feel any better? A well-meaning person who knows nothing else about my now-ex told me just that yesterday, while all full of compliments about how wonderful I am, what he’s missing out on, how foolish he is for letting me go, etc., etc. Actually, that seems to be pretty much the response a lot of people have offered me any time I’ve ever broken up with anyone, perhaps especially those who know nothing else about him or the situation. We’ve all heard s

Stylish, Sustainable Fall Interior Design Ideas
(ARA) – When you think of the colors associated with fall, green doesn’t necessarily come to mind. Environmentally speaking, however, it should. There’s no better time than now to lessen your home’s impact on the environment and change the way you decorate and live. So, why not go green this fall? It’s not nearly as difficult to become earth-frie

Quoted in Luxury Real Estate Publication!
I just found out that I was quoted several times earlier this year about high end finishes and luxury amenities in Coldwell Banker’s prestigious “Coldwell Banker Previews International Portfolio: Exceptional Gold Coast Florida Residences”, Volume 2, 2009, in an article entitled “Finishing Touches Tell the Story” by Camilla McLaughlin. “People just don’t want that run of the mill thing anymore. Everything is custom designed,” says Wendy Hoechstetter, an interior designer in the Bay area [sic]. Fabric that cost $580 a yard, custom furniture, even entire rooms brought over from Europe are not unusual.” “One of

Kitchen and Electrical Fires
Source: Fireflash.org There’s a terrific article on kitchen fires and a variety of innovative fire prevention devices that can be used in the kitchen on Laurie Burke’s excellent Kitchen Design Notes blog. It’s a rather comprehensive look at the number one cause of home fi