Sure, going green has become trendy these days, but we’ll let you in on a little secret: it can help you save a lot of money! Read our tips to save on household expenses when it comes to your kitchen, bathrooms and more.
• Bamboo is an eco-friendly and can now be used in outdoor cabinetry!
• If you broke the bank on furniture accessories for your bathroom and kitchen, you’ll want to save on water heating costs. Installing a solar water heater can cut your water heating costs in half. Seriously!
• Invest in a ventilation fan to improve the air quality of your bathroom.
• If you need a new toilet or faucet, invest in the latest low-flow faucet or high-efficiency toilet.
• Super energy-efficient refrigerators use less energy than a 60-watt bulb.
• The latest models of dishwashers are quiet and eco-friendly, meaning they use up to 70 percent less water!
When you save money on household expenses, you can splurge on the traditional sofa set you have been eyeing for your Brooklyn apartment.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Surviving a Kitchen Renovation
Are you renovating your kitchen? Before you can pick up bar stools for your San Diego space, you’ll have to endure a few months (or maybe more!) of having your kitchen ripped apart. Read our tips for staying sane while your kitchen is being renovated. Bonus: you won’t have to resort to microwave meals or dining out during the whole renovation process!
• Think creatively when using the space you do have. If you can, transform your dining room or another space into a kitchen. Keep dry goods in a plastic storage bin, perishables in a mini fridge and use your contemporary dining room buffet as your countertop.
• Do you have a slow cooker? Use it! Slow cookers are so helpful for making one-pot meals. A microwave, electric skillet and toaster oven are also good to have for easy meal-making.
• Adjust your grocery store list. Spaghetti might seem like an easy meal, but boiling water without a stove is hard! Buy items like rotisserie chicken, microwaveable rice and steam-in-the-bag veggies instead.
• If you love entertaining, don’t stop just because your kitchen is being renovated! Invite friends over and have a picnic.
• Think creatively when using the space you do have. If you can, transform your dining room or another space into a kitchen. Keep dry goods in a plastic storage bin, perishables in a mini fridge and use your contemporary dining room buffet as your countertop.
• Do you have a slow cooker? Use it! Slow cookers are so helpful for making one-pot meals. A microwave, electric skillet and toaster oven are also good to have for easy meal-making.
• Adjust your grocery store list. Spaghetti might seem like an easy meal, but boiling water without a stove is hard! Buy items like rotisserie chicken, microwaveable rice and steam-in-the-bag veggies instead.
• If you love entertaining, don’t stop just because your kitchen is being renovated! Invite friends over and have a picnic.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Are Your Book Cases A Clutter?
Whether you are a bona fide book worm or book shelves came with your Manhattan apartment, you’ll want to make the most out of your book cases. Read our tips for keeping them organized and looking their best:
• If the book cases in your San Diego home only feature a few scattered books, place picture frames, bud vases and other items on the shelves to add dimension and fill up the space.
• Select one color—if you aren’t afraid of color choose red or yellow—to tie everything together. If you have a red end table in the room, for example, tie in the color via a red picture frame and red vase.
• Paint the insides of your book shelves to add contrast and highlight the objects within.
• Even if you don’t have tons of books, place a cluster of books on each shelf.
• If you do have lots of books, arrange most of them vertically (to save space), but set up a few horizontal stacks to switch things up.
• Even though real estate might be at a premium, make sure to incorporate decorative items nonetheless. That goes with free space, too. Leave at least ¼ of each shelf free.
• If your book shelves house books and other forms of media, try not to display anything not worthy of display.
• Even if your book case is devoted to DVDs and other forms of modern media, add a few vintage touches for character.
• If the book cases in your San Diego home only feature a few scattered books, place picture frames, bud vases and other items on the shelves to add dimension and fill up the space.
• Select one color—if you aren’t afraid of color choose red or yellow—to tie everything together. If you have a red end table in the room, for example, tie in the color via a red picture frame and red vase.
• Paint the insides of your book shelves to add contrast and highlight the objects within.
• Even if you don’t have tons of books, place a cluster of books on each shelf.
• If you do have lots of books, arrange most of them vertically (to save space), but set up a few horizontal stacks to switch things up.
• Even though real estate might be at a premium, make sure to incorporate decorative items nonetheless. That goes with free space, too. Leave at least ¼ of each shelf free.
• If your book shelves house books and other forms of media, try not to display anything not worthy of display.
• Even if your book case is devoted to DVDs and other forms of modern media, add a few vintage touches for character.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Outdoor Dining Made Easy
The first day of summer is June 21, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until then to start eating al fresco! Bring a tray of food and drinks out and sit on the chaise lounges in your San Diego backyard, or bring your dining room furniture from your Manhattan apartment onto the roof of your building for dinner under the stars!
Here are some more tips for making the most of your al fresco dining experience:
• Don’t stop at furniture. Bring pillows outdoors too, to make the space as comfortable as possible.
• Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t get fancy if you want to. Add an elegant touch with a crisp white tablecloth.
• Instead of cut flowers, pick up potted herbs (bonus: you can use them in your meals) or tough annuals (like impatiens or white geraniums). They will last all summer long.
• Save pretty wine or sparkling water bottles. Remove the labels (soak them in hater water for a half hour or so), fill with water and place on the table as an alternative to a pitcher.
• Be eco-friendly and use pretty dish towels in lieu of paper napkins. Bonus: if you’re eating messy summer staples like ribs, watermelon or corn on the cob you won’t have to sacrifice your nice cloth napkins.
Here are some more tips for making the most of your al fresco dining experience:
• Don’t stop at furniture. Bring pillows outdoors too, to make the space as comfortable as possible.
• Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t get fancy if you want to. Add an elegant touch with a crisp white tablecloth.
• Instead of cut flowers, pick up potted herbs (bonus: you can use them in your meals) or tough annuals (like impatiens or white geraniums). They will last all summer long.
• Save pretty wine or sparkling water bottles. Remove the labels (soak them in hater water for a half hour or so), fill with water and place on the table as an alternative to a pitcher.
• Be eco-friendly and use pretty dish towels in lieu of paper napkins. Bonus: if you’re eating messy summer staples like ribs, watermelon or corn on the cob you won’t have to sacrifice your nice cloth napkins.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Lighting: A Two Part Guide
Last week, in Zara’s lighting guide, we talked about different types of lighting. But what is a pedestal lamp without a light bulb? Continue reading to ensure you pick the best bulb in the bunch!
Here are the four most common types of bulbs:
1. Incandescent: Ideal for living rooms, dining rooms. Bedrooms and dens, incandescent bulbs can be used on a dimmer and bring out warm yellow tones. Not a fan of a warm glow? Pick MB Halogen bulbs or GE Reveal bulbs.
2. Fluorescent: These energy efficient bulbs often have a bluish tint and are commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms and tanning beds. They are usually linear, circular, u-shaped or grooved and sometimes flicker and make crackling sounds.
3. Compact fluorescent: Also known as CFLs, these small, even more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs last up to ten times longer than standard fluorescents. Although they commonly come in a swirly shape, you can find encased ones, too. Use them in the living room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen and outdoors but not the bathroom (high humidity can shorten their lifespan).
4. Halogen: The brightest bulbs in the box, these cost the most and last longer than other bulbs. Flood lights and flat tops are examples of these bulbs, which contain more blue and green than standard bulbs—making the light appear brighter and whiter.
Once you pick a bulb, you’ll have to choose the correct wattage. 75-150 watts are ideal for reading and other tasks, while 40-75 watts are perfect for mood lighting.
Here are the four most common types of bulbs:
1. Incandescent: Ideal for living rooms, dining rooms. Bedrooms and dens, incandescent bulbs can be used on a dimmer and bring out warm yellow tones. Not a fan of a warm glow? Pick MB Halogen bulbs or GE Reveal bulbs.
2. Fluorescent: These energy efficient bulbs often have a bluish tint and are commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms and tanning beds. They are usually linear, circular, u-shaped or grooved and sometimes flicker and make crackling sounds.
3. Compact fluorescent: Also known as CFLs, these small, even more energy efficient fluorescent bulbs last up to ten times longer than standard fluorescents. Although they commonly come in a swirly shape, you can find encased ones, too. Use them in the living room, bedroom, dining room, kitchen and outdoors but not the bathroom (high humidity can shorten their lifespan).
4. Halogen: The brightest bulbs in the box, these cost the most and last longer than other bulbs. Flood lights and flat tops are examples of these bulbs, which contain more blue and green than standard bulbs—making the light appear brighter and whiter.
Once you pick a bulb, you’ll have to choose the correct wattage. 75-150 watts are ideal for reading and other tasks, while 40-75 watts are perfect for mood lighting.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Lighting: A Two Part Guide
You can have the right furniture and accents, but without the right lighting your San Diego or New York space won’t shine as brightly as it could—pun intended. We hope the first part of our two part guide to lighting will help you fix all of your lighting woes.
First thing’s first – let’s address the four basic types of lighting:
1. Accent: The main function of accent lighting (aka mood lighting) is to highlight something—like artwork or a bookcase—that you want to stand out.
2. Task: Task lighting provides a beam of light for reading or doing another activity and is commonly used in an office or reading area.
3. Ambient: Most often found in schools, labs, office spaces and medical offices, ambient lighting mimics sunlight and illuminates the entire room.
4. Decorative: This refers to chandeliers, sconces, pendants, etc., which work as attention grabbers but also provide ambient lighting.
Stay tuned for part two of Zara’s lighting guide next week, in which we will tackle the many different types of light bulbs out there so you can pick which is best for your space.
First thing’s first – let’s address the four basic types of lighting:
1. Accent: The main function of accent lighting (aka mood lighting) is to highlight something—like artwork or a bookcase—that you want to stand out.
2. Task: Task lighting provides a beam of light for reading or doing another activity and is commonly used in an office or reading area.
3. Ambient: Most often found in schools, labs, office spaces and medical offices, ambient lighting mimics sunlight and illuminates the entire room.
4. Decorative: This refers to chandeliers, sconces, pendants, etc., which work as attention grabbers but also provide ambient lighting.
Stay tuned for part two of Zara’s lighting guide next week, in which we will tackle the many different types of light bulbs out there so you can pick which is best for your space.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Making the Most of Your Bed: Part Three
There are three factors to consider when picking out pillows for your traditional bed.
Do you sleep on your side or your back?
Foam pillows are the most stable and are the right choice for you if you sleep on your side or your back, because they keep your neck in a neutral position. Neck muscles can tense up if your neck doesn’t maintain its natural curve, which could lead to headaches. If you sleep on your side, choose a contoured version of a foam pillow (the front mound fills in the gap between your neck and shoulder).
Or are you most comfortable on your stomach?
Density isn’t as import if you sleep on your stomach (because your neck requires less support in this position), so choose a down pillow. Down compresses easily so when you move your neck in your sleep air passages won’t be restricted.
Do you suffer from allergies?
Down isn’t the right choice for you, as dust mites burrow into down. Invest in a miteproof cover.
Here at Zara Furniture, we hope our bedding tips help!
Do you sleep on your side or your back?
Foam pillows are the most stable and are the right choice for you if you sleep on your side or your back, because they keep your neck in a neutral position. Neck muscles can tense up if your neck doesn’t maintain its natural curve, which could lead to headaches. If you sleep on your side, choose a contoured version of a foam pillow (the front mound fills in the gap between your neck and shoulder).
Or are you most comfortable on your stomach?
Density isn’t as import if you sleep on your stomach (because your neck requires less support in this position), so choose a down pillow. Down compresses easily so when you move your neck in your sleep air passages won’t be restricted.
Do you suffer from allergies?
Down isn’t the right choice for you, as dust mites burrow into down. Invest in a miteproof cover.
Here at Zara Furniture, we hope our bedding tips help!
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