9 Tips for Creating Warmth at Home

During this exceptionally cold winter, it's challenging to find creative ways to bring in warmth and comfort into our homes - not only to help reduce our heating bills, but to make us all more comfortable.  Here are nine 'warmth & comfort' ideas for your kitchen and bath:

In the Kitchen:

1. Radiate warmth -  A few years ago, we wanted an island but there wasn't room for a radiator and I really dislike the forced air fans in the toe kicks because they are noisy and I didn't think it would be enough heat. We used a Runtal radiator wrapping the island instead & it looks great---basically flat--and it was really toasty to get up and sit at the island and read the paper with the heat right there!

2. Keep coffeemaker nearby - One way to create
comfort in your kitchen is to make things easy  and convenient... especially in the mornings while we're still waking up! One simple thing is to organize your morning routine into one area, for example, keep all of your coffee or tea making supplies nearby - filters, measuring spoons, coffee, tea, sweeteners, filters - all in one area.

3. Set back your thermostat electronically - Programming thermostats is complicated and irritating - but an un-programmed thermostat can waste 20% of your heating and cooling bill. So the Nest Thermostat programs itself. Just turn it up and turn it down. The Nest Thermostat learns what temperatures you like and builds a personalized schedule. Teach it efficient temperatures for a few days and, within a week, it'll start setting them on its own. https://nest.com/thermostat/life-with-nest-thermostat/.

4. Install an electronic dimmer switch - If you're a night owl, bright lights early in the morning can be a shock to your system and not a pleasant way to start the day.  Consider an electronic dimmer switch - it will adjust to your time schedule and slower raise the level of light each morning... giving  you time for your eyes (and your attitude) to adjust.

5. Keep clutter at bay - Cluttered kitchen counters can create stress, so find creative ways to keep clutter at bay to add comfort and alleviate stress on your busy mornings. Every kitchen has a "drop zone" where keys, purses, backpacks, mail and other paperwork lands.

• Add dividers to drawers for specific items you use every day
• Create a charging center for electronics with extra outlets

In the Bathroom: 

6. Install heated floors -  Stepping onto the warmth of a heated floor is an unexpected pleasure on a cold winter morning.  Consider adding radiant or hydronic heat to your bathroom floor:

• Electric radiant heat is commonly installed in existing homes and uses heating cables within a mesh mat. This is best for specific rooms or spaces and in existing homes.
• Hydronic heat is probably best for new construction. This type of flooring uses heated water that is distributed through a complex tubing system. For more information see http://www.wfca.org/Pages/Radiant-Heated-Floors.aspx
• Electric heating can even be run under the floor of the shower.  Now that’s toasty. 

7. Take a fresh look at organization - The old adage "a place for everything & everything in its place" still holds true... especially when looking for peace and tranquility in the bathroom! I've designed drawers for clients specifically to fit their electric toothbrushes (who wants that mess on the counter?) and placed outlets inside drawers for daily straightener or curling iron use. Think about your storage in new ways... how could you make your bathroom space more efficient?

8. Try heated copper towel bars - Now, why didn't I think of that? An innovative solution - hot water runs through these copper pipes... warming the towels while you shower!

9. Relax.  Light some candles and set out your warm slippers, soft robe, and plush towels so they are ready for you after a bath or shower - a little pampering at the end of a long day can help you sleep more soundly and melt away stress.

Basement Project #3: Pack Rat—It's Both a Condition and a Solution

Pack it up!

 I’m a pack rat—I admit it-- but after starting this basement remodel I’m in the 12- Step program. I am a designer who didn’t take my own advice. Since I didn’t first purge or plan well I have moved items multiple times from the basement into the storage container, into the attic, the garage, and even my living room and then had to shift them again for various reasons. What’s worse is that I involved my husband in schleping these things around from place to place and he was hoping the remodeling process would not require his involvement. Ha!

Because most basements become gathering places for all those household things we need, think we need or can’t bear to be without the question to ask before a basement remodel is: What are you going to do with all that stuff?

First, organize as much as you can ahead of time. Purge unnecessary junk from your basement. Make a pile of items you don’t need anymore and invite your friends and kids to come and take what they want. Group like things together so you’ll find them easily later.

Throw out (recycle) those 10-15 year old cooking magazines you’ve been saving.  Recipes are on Epicurious.com now!

Protect the keepers from the inevitable dust and grime that remodeling stirs up. (Think dust cloud that mixing Portland cement with water is going to cause.) Find suitable storage containers when possible. Stackable clear plastic bins are ideal but even cardboard boxes work. Try not to have loose items; put them into something. Large heavy duty contractor bags work well for awkwardly sized items. Use that fun label gun to mark things so you know where to find them later. To protect any larger furniture pieces that remain wrap them in drop cloths or with the plastic tape that professional movers use. This all sounds logical, but it takes time and you really have to plan ahead to do it.

In my case I needed to move the entire basement collection out because a new concrete floor was going to be poured in the largest room of the basement and the foundation walls everywhere were going to be redashed so the workers requested at least 3-feet of accessible space in front of them in which to maneuver.

My temporary solution was to rent a Pack Rat, or temporary storage unit, for one month.  (Other companies with temporary storage units include U-Pack and PODS). It was placed in my driveway near the basement walk out and was filled after what felt like 50 trips up the stairs.

I highly recommend this solution but remember that the project will probably take more than one month to complete so the rental can get quite expensive.  (I ended up moving all the contents of the Pack Rat into the garage --ugh!)

If it isn’t feasible to move out of the basement, pack and stack everything in an out of the way location, keeping in mind where electricians may need access for adding new outlets and/or plumbers will run heating pipes off the furnace, etc. Cover everything well with plastic wrap and seal with tape.

Just remember that absolutely everything in the basement gets very dirty during the demolition and reconstruction process. Vacuuming and washing demolition dust from tons of items won’t be your idea of fun—especially when all you want is to just move into and enjoy your new space. 



Packed up? Now you’re ready to let the games begin…..