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Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:: I am doing some reorganization in my house and am thinking about purchasing a front loading washer and dryer, what should I know about these new machines?

1) They use about 50% less water.

2) They need less energy to heat that smaller amount of water.

3) They spin faster so clothes are drier than clothes that come out of the conventional washing machines, which means less water to be dried by heat – all this results in lower utility bills

4) they use less soap which is a benefit to both the Earth and the consumer.

But Watch Out! As a decorator, I’ve done the research and what you are not told is that these new front loaders are a heck of a lot larger than the conventional machines and take up tons more floor space. Here’s what you should really know…

• Your laundry room measurements. Measure carefully to make sure that with the appliances can be adequately settled and afford you the luxury of closing the laundry room door. (Get this wrong and your laundry room will be permanently exposed to everyone who passes by. Not nice to have your guests see your basket of last week’s skivvies on display.)
• Take those measurements and your tape measure when you go shopping; you need to know that you can get these appliances through your door openings and up or down the stairs to their final destination.
• Remember to calculate the distance between the back wall & appliance to give plenty of room for the hose, if it is crimped it will overheat and you will void your warranty.
• Don’t cheap out and keep your old hose; purchase one of the new dryer hoses which don’t allow heat loss – however, they are much more rigid than your old one.
• Make sure the doors of the washer and dryer open apart from each other to allow wet washing to be transferred easily from one opening to the other without having to haul it over and around the doors. This might mean switching the plumbing and electrical.  It’s worth the effort. The only other solution is to get extra long connection hoses and ducts. Front loaders have a locking mechanism to prevent opening the door while the machine is in operation. So, changing the orientation of the door is not an option.
• Don’t overlook the alternative to stack your appliances but take into consideration the ceiling height and your height. If you are on the vertically challenged side, you will be taking the wet laundry and shooting hoops to get it into the dryer. Don’t ask me how you will get it out when it’s dry. (Stepladder?)
• Front loading machines come with an optional pedestal which raises the washer and dryer and supplies you with deep drawers giving a tremendous amount of storage for cleaning products, etc. A real plus. Keeps down on the clutter of cleaning products.
• Then there are the matching towers that complement and match your appliance. This will add to the cost but provide even more storage. Look for the ones that have a pull out pole to hang shirts
• Analyze your lifestyle; if you are dressing in business attire every day, then steam is a feature you might find valuable. At the touch of a button you can infuse clothing with steam to refresh, dewrinkle and de-odour.
• Then there’s the little add-on that makes a smooth surface over the top of the units for easy folding.
• Now to colour. We are so tempted to buy the trendy colours of red, blue or black (remember how we loved the avocado green and harvest gold?) and keep in mind that one appliance may outlive the other and by then the trend has died and you can’t get a matching replacement. I’ve always said, you can choose any colour, as long as it is white. That will be a classic till the units give up the ghost.
• Remember to negotiate your price. When you are purchasing a matching set with all the accessories, you deserve a discount, so do your homework.

Finally, On a $2000 laundry pair, your water savings pays for the set in 11 years. Just from using less water. That said, consider how much ENERGY it takes to move 80-120 gallons of water (a gallon weighs 11 pounds, so 880 to 1320 pounds per load). Additionally, a front loader moves only the clothes through the water, not both. If your local electric company is like ours, that can save you HUNDREDS each year.

So, if you would like to upgrade to a front loader and your spouse says "No, we can't afford it", show them this to prove that you can!

QUESTION: I have seen evidence of mice in my basement, my house will be going on the market soon. What can I do?
ANSWER: It's no joke! When your house is on the market, rodents, bugs and creepy crawlies are major Red Flags that will have your potential buyers running out the door. Never let your viewers see evidence of a rodent or bug problem, whether it is the critter itself or opened packages of ant killer, mouse traps, dead flies, bugs or spiders.

Check out this interesting site called How to Get Rid of Things and click on Pest Control. Here you'll find an extensive list of how to get rid of any pest you can think of - even mentions the armadillo which hangs around some places just to make your life miserable.

Got ants? A good solution to an ant problem is to pile cornmeal near their home. They love it and will carry it back to their nests, but they can't digest it. Sprinkling cinnamon around the house also works. Ants hate the smell, but buyers quite like it. Now that's what you call a win-win solution.

QUESTION: I am putting my house on the market. I want to impress my buyers. Where do I start.
ANSWER: The clock is ticking! You've got only a few seconds to make a good first impression when selling your home and it starts at the curb. There are 5 things you must do immediately, before you sell, to put buyers in a good mood before they enter your house. Click here.

QUESTION: I have an in-ground pool, I have heard that this could be a deterrent rather than an incitement when selling my home, is this true?
ANSWER: Some buyers will be specifically looking for a pool, and others will be on the fence. Your job when selling a home with a pool is to make this feature look as inviting as possible. Make sure the pool and the surrounding area and landscaping is in impeccable condition. Keep hoses neatly coiled and out of sight.

In the same way, increase your chances of selling a home with a pond by ensuring the pond is seen as an enrichment, not an encumbrance. A peaceful, serene setting with clean water, healthy fish and attractive plantings will be just what some buyers want. If your property is in good condition, the right buyer will jump at it.

QUESTION: I am selling my house, what tips can you give to help me give the illusion of lots of storage space in my small home?
ANSWER: First empty your closets and paint the interior white. The colour white has two benefits: psychologically white encourages us to clear clutter or obstacles, and white reflects light which makes the space appear larger. Your next task is to put back only those items you use to a maximum of two-thirds full. Pack up seasonal items. There should be nothing on the floor. There’s nothing more distasteful to your buyers than seeing other people’s closets piled with shoes, handbags and fallen clothes. Closets and cupboards should only contain those items meant for that space. If they are full of unrelated items, the buyer will assume that the house is too small for all your possessions, and if they believe it is too small for you, then they can more easily assume it will be too small for them. (For more, see Step Six - Space Planning, in The Seductive Power of Home Staging: A Seven-Step System for a Fast and Profitable Sale)

QUESTION: I am painting my garage door as close as possible to the colour of the siding, with white trim. My question is should I use a matte or semi-gloss finish?
ANSWER: Let's explore both finishes. Matte, also known as flat paint sheen, as the name suggests, has practically no shine when dry. Microscopically, the surface is very rough. These little bumps collect dirt and when you scrub to clean to the surface, all those microscopic bumps smooth out giving an uneven finish and making it necessary to repaint. That's the bad news. The good news is that matte paint hides a multitude of flaws. So if your surface is in poor shape, then matte paint is the way to go.

Semi-gloss has some sheen which gives a smooth surface (without all those microscopic bumps) .The bad news is that the higher the gloss, the more it will show surface imperfection.The good news is that shiny surfaces repel dirt and are much easier to clean.

To get the best of both worlds, i.e, beautiful finish and easy to clean, it is worth taking the time to prep the surface before painting. Sand off any imperfections, wash the surface first with TSP then rinse and allow to dry thoroughly. Pick a wind-free day with moderate temperatures, and away you go.

QUESTION: How do I calculate the correct wattage to light a room?
ANSWER: Use some basic arithmetic. Room Length x Room Width x 1.5 = Proper Amount of Watts to Light a Room. For example, let’s take a 12x16-foot room: 12x16x1.5 = 288 watts of lighting. Therefore, a five-light chandelier using 60-watt bulbs will provide adequate light for the room.

For more concentrated lighting over a task or work area such as a kitchen island, simply multiply the dimensions of the island by 2.5.

QUESTION: How do I calculate the size and height for a chandelier in my foyer?
ANSWER: To determine the chandelier’s diameter, simply add the foyers dimensions together. For example, let’s say you have a 12x12-foot foyer: 12+12=24. Therefore, the foyer chandelier’s diameter should be approximately 24-inches in width.

The bottom of the chandelier should always be at least 7-feet from the floor. If there is a window above the front door, center the chandelier so it can be seen from outside. If the foyer is extra large, you may also want to include wall sconces for additional light.

QUESTION: What is the correct height for a chandelier over a table?
ANSWER: The bottom of the chandelier should be at least 2 1/2 feet above the table.

QUESTION: How much higher from the mattress top can the night table be?
ANSWER: Bedside tables should be 2-3 inches higher than the mattress - never lower. The surface should be large enough to hold a lamp, phone, alarm-clock/radio, glasses and reading material.

QUESTION: How tall should my night table lamp be?
ANSWER: When you are sitting in bed, the bottom of a table lamp's shade should be at eye level.