March 12, 2010
The Luxury In Reducing
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
You know when I think of reducing, I’m usually thinking about the reading on the scale. Or some of those bills I hate to pay. But today let’s just talk about reducing in the terms of energy.
The four parts of your home that consume the most energy are going to be heating/cooling, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. I don’t know about you, but we’ve done the basics of an automated thermostat, and yes my husband sets it higher/lower than I do. And yes, since I’m female, I do feel entitled to bump it up or down according to my temperature at the moment.
So barring a new system, we’ve already replaced 25 windows in our home and have planned for new insulation in our 30 year + home. But what I’m really planning for is the kitchen. It is the heart of our home. It opens to the living room and breakfast area. I can see the boys playing outside, it is where everyone congregates, it is where we cook and we do cook. We bake bread, make homemade pasta (nothing occupies two little boys like cranking the pasta machine), we sauté, we experiment, we contemplate working our way through Julia Child’s cookbooks. But do you know what? Our kitchen stinks! Stinks to high heavens!
We have the original 1970’s cabinets; we don’t even have the clearance under the cabinets to push the pro-style Kitchen Aid mixer under the cabinet. And yeah sure, the pantry is “extra-deep”, but why does that matter when the shelves are only 12” wide. But do you want to know what the bane of my existence is in this kitchen? The dishwasher.
As we have grown as a family, different things have become important to me. Right now, I want to stuff it full, I don’t want to have to scrub or pre-rinse and I only want to do 1 load a day for goodness sakes.
But this is March, our focus on going “Green”. So can we find a dishwasher that is a workhorse, looks good, and is energy and resource efficient?  I do believe we can.
By definition, an efficient dishwasher is going to be energy-efficient and use water sparingly. It will offer you capacity (think tall tubs & XXL tall tubs) and it will offer you the world in customization. Washing China? No Problem. Only washing a ½ load? (As if) No Problem. Want to air dry? No Problem.
So welcome, I’ve done some of the research for you. And looking at the models and the ratings they receive from the Energy Star website, along with my personal opinion, I’ve narrowed it down to 3 models – 2 are ASKO & 1 is a BOSCH.
The higher ranking really goes to the ASKO D5893XXLHS. It has 12 cycles, uses 187 KW/yr, and 3.8 gallons/cycle. It has 3 racks with a ton of ability to adjust, holding 17 place settings.
Asko Dishwasher, D5893XXL
The Bosch, holds 15 place settings, but has a bit better energy efficiency (180 KW/yr), uses a bit less water and has 6 settings. It is quiet and it has three internal trays. Bosch didn’t have an image of the inside of the dishwasher for me to share with you.
Bosch SHX68E05
But my favorite is the ASKO D 5253, a bit of both worlds. It has the energy efficiency of the 5893. It only has 6 settings, but still can hold 17 place settings and can be found for about the same cost as the Bosch. This is the one that will make it into my new kitchen. In fact, it may make it into my kitchen before the rest of the “new kitchen.”
Asko D5253XXL
So what is your checklist for a new dishwasher?
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Consumption
- Tub/ Place Setting Capacity
- # of Cycles
- Price
And really, price should be one of the least considerations. The dishwasher does not represent the major investment for your kitchen, but it is the one of the most used appliances in your kitchen. So think about it, make the investment that will save you money and time at every use.
The luxury of reducing
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
You know when I think of reducing, I’m usually thinking about the reading on the scale. Or some of those bills I hate to pay. But today let’s just talk about reducing in the terms of energy.
The four parts of your home that consume the most energy are going to be heating/cooling, kitchen, bathrooms and laundry. I don’t know about you, but we’ve done the basics of an automated thermostat, and yes my husband sets it higher/lower than I do. And yes, since I’m female, I do feel entitled to bump it up or down according to my temperature at the moment.
So barring a new system, we’ve already replaced 25 windows in our homes and have been planning for new insulation in our 30 year + home. But what I’m really planning for is the kitchen. It is the heart of our home. It opens to the living room and breakfast area. I can see the boys playing outside, it is where everyone congregates, it is where we cook…and we do cook. We bake bread, make homemade pasta (nothing occupies two little boys like cranking the pasta machine), we sauté, we experiment, we contemplate working our way through Julia Child’s cookbooks. But do you know what? Our kitchen stinks! Stinks to high heavens!
We have the original 1970’s cabinets; we don’t even have the clearance under the cabinets to push the pro-style Kitchen Aid mixer under the cabinet. And yeah sure, the pantry is “extra-deep”, but why does that matter when the shelves are only 12” wide. But do you want to know what the bane of my existence is in this kitchen? The dishwasher.
Let me be clear. As a child, my job was the dishes. I have a theory – that which you were made to do as a child, you detest as an adult. I HATE dishes. So, we are in our third dishwasher in this house, our third in 5 years. As we have grown as a family, you know, different things have become important to me. Right now, I want to stuff it full, I don’t want to have to scrub or pre-rinse and I only want to do 1 load a day for goodness sakes.
But this is March, our focus on going “Green”. So can we find a dishwasher that is a workhorse, looks good, and is energy and resource efficient?  I do believe we can.
By definition, an efficient dishwasher is going to be energy efficient and use water sparingly. It will offer you capacity (think tall tubs & XXL tall tubs) and it will offer you the world in customization. Washing China? No Problem. Only washing a ½ load? (As if) No Problem. Want to air dry? No Problem.
So welcome, I’ve done some of the research for you. And looking at the models and the ratings they receive from the XXX, along with my personal opinion, I’ve narrowed it down to 3 models – 2 are ASKO & 1 is a BOSCH.
The higher ranking really goes to the ASKO D5893XXLHS. It has 12 cycles, uses 187 KW/yr, and 3.8 gallons/cycle. It has 3 racks with a ton of adjustability, holding 17 place settings.
The bosch, holds 15 place settings, but has a bit better energy efficiency, uses a bit less water and has XX settings
But my favorite is the ASKO D 5253, a bit of both worlds. It has the energy efficency of the 5893. It only has 6 settings, but still can hold 17 place settings and can be found for about the same as the bosch. This is the one that will make it into my new kitchen. In fact, it may make it into my kitchen before the rest of the “new kitchen.”
So what is your checklist for a new dishwasher?
- Energy Efficiency
- Water Consumption
- Tub/ Place Setting Capacity
- # of Cycles
- Price
And really, price should be one of the least considerations. The dishwasher does not represent the major investment for your kitchen, but it is the one of the most used appliances in your kitchen. So think about it,
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March 9, 2010
Luxury: The Hunt for Beauty in Composting
By Leslie Hassler, Houston Interior Designer
We all hear, “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.” Today I have some ideas on the recycle concept. I’ve spoken to you about the new focus for us this year, incorporating more environmentally friendly products and practices into our life, like eating less processed foods (which is hard for a busy family of 4!) So, less processed foods means an increase in our organic waste. Since we are also planting a huge amount of vegetables this year, wouldn’t it be nice to have some compost to feed those garden beds?
With that in mind, I’ve been searching for compost pails for the kitchen. Not too surprising, there isn’t a plethora to choose from. I, of course, want ones that have charcoal filters, but if it is going to sit on my counter, I’d like it to be attractive too. Here are three that offer some style for you.
The mega stainless steel compost pail from Williams Sonoma, represents the most prevalent style available. It does come in a 1 gallon capacity and the extra-large 1-1/2 gallon capacity. Not a bad choice if you’re cooking for an army!
- Stainless Steel Compost Crock – Williams Sonoma
This green glazed ceramic would work perfect in any traditional kitchen, especially with a French or Tuscan flair. This crock is so attractive, your guests wouldn’t guess it’s true purpose.
Green Stoneware Compost Crock from The Gardeners Supply
I LOVE the last version. The bamboo crock is made from a renewable source (another eco-philosophy) and is an attractive addition to any transitional or modern kitchen. This may be the choice for me.
Bamboo Compost Crock from The Gardeners Supply
What is your favorite one? Have you found one that works and brings luxury to your kitchen – Share with me!
Luxury For The Home believes that true luxury is not about ostentation or expense. It is about simplicity. Sanctuary. Comfort. It’s the beauty that happens when everything, including you, has its own ideal space.
Are you ready to bring luxury into your home? For more ideas sign up for our newsletter, or to schedule a consultation, please call 281-701-2461.
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March 1, 2010
The Luxury of Buying Local
March is finally here, our weather is warming, the trees are budding and for those reasons and many more, we are going green this month. I’m like you. I’m not an expert in this area. I have no certifications for green design, but I have a new focus for the topic. So, join me this month as we wade through the hype and find ideas, products and designs that are well worth their salt. If you haven’t had the chance already, sign up for our RSS feed and have the blog delivered to you.
Today, I thought that I’d highlight a green topic – Buy Local. Now the concept began with food, “Eat Local, Buy Local, Be Local”. Buying local is beneficial in many ways, it supports the local economy, the transportation costs are less and thereby the fuel emissions are less. But if we take it to my world, the one of Interior Design in Houston, TX – what would it look like?
“The 3/50 project” started by Cinda Baxter turns this concept to our local retailers. Simply put these are the tenets of the project:
- 3 – Think about which three independently owned businesses you’d miss most if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Your contribution is what keeps those businesses around.
- 50 – If just ½ the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 Billion in revenue* Imagine the positive impact if ¾ of the employed population did that.
- 68 – For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.
- 1 – The number of people it takes to start the trend…you.
So the challenge is simple, choose 3 locally-owned businesses to support this month. An easy challenge, it can be a coffee shop, a restaurant, a landscaper or even an interior designer.
Doubt the impact of 1 person? Look at this illustration, showing how many people a simple drapery order could affect. First, there is the direct effect of the 3 people in my office, and then there is the showroom, usually another 3 people there. The UPS deliver guy, the drapery workroom (at least 4, the estimator, the seamstress, the scheduler and the installer). Directly, your single drapery order has touched 11 people. Indirectly, it is exponential. So while all of our supply chains may not be 100% local, the effect of your single purchase can be tremendous on the local economy.
So today’s challenge, buy local at least 3 times this month.
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