At a restaurant in Seattle recently, we opted for the privacy and comfort of booth seating. When our dinners arrived, however, we ended up eating with high elbows. As it happens frequently in restaurants, the banquette/booth seat cushions were simply too low in … read more

If the arms of your fabric-covered chair or sofa look darker and feel colder than the rest of the chair fabric, it is patina from your hands. Highly admired on old wood but not on fabric. Most of it can be removed with … read more

Fall is here. Golden and red leaves are dominating the airway and transforming the Earth with a new, patterned blanket. The once-prevailing basil is bowing now, as if to say, good performance, curtain going down. A few weeks back that basil bush was … read more

As you migrate indoors and into your home’s cozy spaces, this is a good time to turn attention to those deferred home décor or home improvement projects — before the holidays take the best out of you. Just in time to take advantage … read more

I like to watch those remodeling projects on HGTV and DIY networks. It’s fun to see the changes, and they make it look really effortless and easy. How are those shows different from the reality of a real remodel — your house, let’s … read more

There’s a lot of basil out there this time of the year, but it has reached the end of the season. Folks are scrambling to use and process the fresh aromatic leaves — drying and making yummy basil butter and pesto concoctions. Basil … read more

Some years ago, representatives of an engineering firm in Winslow came to our studio on Madrone Lane and argued that a window shade could not insulate well because the cold has already passed through the glass and is inside the house. To test … read more

We have been blessed with a long, warm summer, but as fall (and winter) loom, it’s time to think about the home maintenance and improvements that are common for the season. Furnace Service Have a professional heating company check and service your furnace. … read more

It is not so much the food, but also the casserole dish that was selected for the job, a white opaque Pyrex 2.5-quart casserole dish introduced in 1963. As ingredients were added, the meatloaf grew until it wouldn’t fit in a standard loaf … read more