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Saturday, February 12, 2011
A new use for cinder blocks
Lately I've been loving succulents. There are so many varieties to choose from, they are easy to care for, generally grow quickly, and you can sprout new plants from cuttings, so you can get a big collection with minimal investment. There are many ways to display your garden: simple pots or mixed-plant bowls, indoor terrariums, living wreaths or wall installations, or of course planting them straight in the ground. These cinder block planters are unlike anything else I've seen, though. It's an ingenious way to use cinder blocks, which are not generally considered terribly attractive, although they are cheap and durable. If you remove blocks during a remodel, this would be a great way to recycle them, or you can always buy new. Of course, you'd need to fill in the holes at the bottom, and secure the stacks for safety and stability. It would be fairly simple to DIY this, or your contractor or handyman could assemble one easily and quickly. What a nice way to add a modern, green touch to your yard or patio!
Kitchen features inspiration: garbage chute
One of the fun, but also challenging, aspects of building or renovating a home is that you have so many options! Of course there are smart, useful changes you can make, but there are also a lot of bells and whistles you can add, some of which are more fun than practical. I'm not sure where I stand on this pair of doors, added to a kitchen backsplash. They lead to garbage chutes, one for trash and one for recycling.
On the one hand, it seems like that might be nice to have when you're cooking. You wouldn't have to walk away from your prep to throw out trash, and you wouldn't have to worry about spills, drips, or droppings all over your kitchen. Plus you could throw out as you go along, leaving less clean up when you're done cooking. Another benefit would be that the trash can itself is not in the kitchen (I'm guessing these lead to a basement), so garbage odors would be kept out of the kitchen, too.
On the other hand, I can see the trapdoors getting dirty and smudged with fingerprints pretty quickly. I also wonder if the garbage chute would get dirty and smelly- if you're throwing out unbagged trash, probably. So now you have a difficult-to-reach area that needs frequent cleaning. Ultimately, I wonder if it's really necessary? Sure they are fun and exciting, but I'm not sure this is the best use of your construction/remodel budget. Personally, when I am cooking something that will generate a lot of trash, I like to use a "garbage bowl" à la Rachel Ray to throw my scraps and trash in, which serves basically the same purpose.
As with any design choice, whether it's right for your project is ultimately a personal decision, based on factors like how you usually cook, your current kitchen layout, your budget, and what it would take to put this system in your kitchen.
Original article from Re-Nest.
On the one hand, it seems like that might be nice to have when you're cooking. You wouldn't have to walk away from your prep to throw out trash, and you wouldn't have to worry about spills, drips, or droppings all over your kitchen. Plus you could throw out as you go along, leaving less clean up when you're done cooking. Another benefit would be that the trash can itself is not in the kitchen (I'm guessing these lead to a basement), so garbage odors would be kept out of the kitchen, too.
On the other hand, I can see the trapdoors getting dirty and smudged with fingerprints pretty quickly. I also wonder if the garbage chute would get dirty and smelly- if you're throwing out unbagged trash, probably. So now you have a difficult-to-reach area that needs frequent cleaning. Ultimately, I wonder if it's really necessary? Sure they are fun and exciting, but I'm not sure this is the best use of your construction/remodel budget. Personally, when I am cooking something that will generate a lot of trash, I like to use a "garbage bowl" à la Rachel Ray to throw my scraps and trash in, which serves basically the same purpose.
As with any design choice, whether it's right for your project is ultimately a personal decision, based on factors like how you usually cook, your current kitchen layout, your budget, and what it would take to put this system in your kitchen.
Original article from Re-Nest.
Square One
In about two weeks, I'll be starting a new career in a new city. I'll be leaving New York, where I've lived for 6.5 years, and going back to Los Angeles, where I grew up. In addition, I'll be starting work in the construction industry, alongside my father at his construction company. By training, I'm an estate planning and tax attorney, although I have struggled to find work in my field here in New York. I'm also not in love with the legal industry, and I admit to having doubts about whether I really want to make my career there.
It was not my first choice to work in construction- at least, not at first. The more I think about it, though, the more excited I'm getting. I'm looking forward to learning so much- about carpentry and construction, running a small business, working with clients, the relevant legal issues (hey, I am a lawyer after all!), and so, so much more. Oh, and brushing up on my Spanish.
My father is a skilled carpenter, but for many years has worked as a general contractor. He built his company from the ground up and enjoys a strong local reputation. These days, his work is focused on high-end residential remodel work. I love seeing the houses he does, they are beautiful and I can hardly believe that my dad is doing this work. It also makes me proud, because he's come so far with his company. He has an incredibly strong work ethic and drive and it shows.
At least at first, I'll be helping out with many aspects of the business- working in the office on bookkeeping and administration, running errands, and of course shadowing my dad to learn as much as I can about what he does. Given that I've been unemployed and looking for work for over eight months, I am just so excited to have a chance to be productive and useful. I also want to take full advantage of this opportunity and learn all that I can, with the hope of being able to give back to the company by helping my dad improve and grow his business.
It's a lot, but I'm ready to start.
It was not my first choice to work in construction- at least, not at first. The more I think about it, though, the more excited I'm getting. I'm looking forward to learning so much- about carpentry and construction, running a small business, working with clients, the relevant legal issues (hey, I am a lawyer after all!), and so, so much more. Oh, and brushing up on my Spanish.
My father is a skilled carpenter, but for many years has worked as a general contractor. He built his company from the ground up and enjoys a strong local reputation. These days, his work is focused on high-end residential remodel work. I love seeing the houses he does, they are beautiful and I can hardly believe that my dad is doing this work. It also makes me proud, because he's come so far with his company. He has an incredibly strong work ethic and drive and it shows.
At least at first, I'll be helping out with many aspects of the business- working in the office on bookkeeping and administration, running errands, and of course shadowing my dad to learn as much as I can about what he does. Given that I've been unemployed and looking for work for over eight months, I am just so excited to have a chance to be productive and useful. I also want to take full advantage of this opportunity and learn all that I can, with the hope of being able to give back to the company by helping my dad improve and grow his business.
It's a lot, but I'm ready to start.
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