Sharing the pain, for the design wonks.
Holly Stockley
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (26)
Virgil Carter Fine Art
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agonini804
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Do you find watering your plants a joy or pain?
Comments (35)Here's what I think: If you're using a fertilizer that contains Fe (iron), it's very unlikely you have a scarcity of Fe in the soil. That doesn't mean though, that you don't have a scarcity of Fe in the PLANT. Foliar applications of Fe aren't very effective on plants with a lot of cuticular wax, like gardenias. Usually, when you have an Fe deficiency, it's because the soil/soil solution pH is so high that the iron bonds with other elements in the soil solution and precipitates (falls out of solution and becomes insoluble/unavailable). The best way to fix that isn't by adding more Fe or through foloiar applications, it's by lowering the pH - so the Fe that's already there can go back into solution. Fe is not very mobile in plants, so while foliar applications might help supply Fe to the foliage if it can be absorbed, it's not likely that it will resolve the deficiency throughout the entire organism. That's best achieved by ensuring there is dissolved Fe in the nutrient stream (sap). Your fertilizer plan is workable, but I think it's an extra step. Why not just mix up enough fertigation solution and fertigate all in one application, instead irrigating and then fertigating? If you're going to use one of the hose end siphon attachments, I think it's important that you ensure it's accurate at various pressures. When you're only trying to mix 1/4 tsp of fertilizer/gallon of water, it wouldn't take much to double or triple the solution strength, or have an inadequate amount of fertilizer going into the solution. You almost need an injector type system that can be accurately calibrated if you intend to add fertilizer to the irrigation stream. Al...See MoreInspection pains around make up air and my new cc
Comments (46)I like the idea of the craigslist stove and swap later. I tend to get very frustrated on things like this. But alas I'm trying to work the system properly to succeed. I will happily let you know the town, just give me a few weeks to get it all resolved. I don't want us to be bad mouthing my inspector while I'm still trying to get it done. It's a suburban Boston town just on 128 near rt 2. Thing about the inspector is that I respect the guy for trying to make sure all is safe but auto ons and grease clear outs on ductwork and the wanting my MUA install validated by building sciences energy raters has all come back ok, but at the end of the day he just has a nasty gut reaction I think to a really big btu stove in a residence and all the conundrums that come with it. Trevor I will give you a call, you and Eurostoves have been great but I haven't engaged you with this issue yet because I didn't want to be too much of a bother, but seems like it's time to get some reinforcements....See Morecrown mouldings and baseboard: to pain or not to paint?
Comments (15)Let me put it this way. I want to just sit down in a heap and bawl my head off when I think of the nightmarish amount of work it's going to take to strip the paint off the woodwork in my little ~1900 "Victorian Lite" house. :-) (I know it was originally dark-finished from chipped areas, although we cannot identify the wood yet.) Once you paint it is hard work to go back, and then subsequent coats of paint are added over the years and eventually lovely details of the moldings are all-too-often obscured with accumulations of paint. That is the situation we're in - we have "gawwwwww-juss!" :-) 10" tall baseboards in the living and dining rooms but the three-part top profile is so gooped up with paint that you can hardly see the detailing. It's pretty sad-looking. Let's not even talk about the lovely newel-post and bannister. I'd like to go back in time and slap the person (probably in the 20s or 30s) who decided to "lighten" the "outdated" interior right upside the head! LOL I must dispute BH's statement that trim in baths and kitchens was "always" painted. Not so, not so! It was not as common, true, and I will grant that it tended to be in the nicer houses rather than the typical middle-class house, but unpainted trim in "utility" areas did definitely exist. Have seen it with my own two little eyes in an almost completely unrestored Queen Anne house that had I been healthy or we had a LOT more money we would have bought. :-) Since shellac and water don't really get along well, unpainted wood in kitchens, baths, and similar utilitarian areas was more often varnished or sometimes oiled. As you say, you recently bought this house. Is this your first old house? Take some time and learn to listen to the house instead of being in a rush to do this-and-that. It will tell you what it wants and needs - these old gals can be mighty opinionated! Even with newer homes, though, many people do advise that one wait six months or so before making any major changes (except for repairs)... my experience with my previous house agrees with that advice. There is a part of me who believes that we are the custodians of these old houses as much as the owners, with a duty to respect what has gone before us and preserve these lovely places for future generations to appreciate especially as more and more old houses are being torn down. That doesn't mean we need to live with things that do not function or are unsafe but IMO we do have to realize that we may not get everything WE want if we're going to respect the house's past. (IMO if you're bound and determined to have exactly everything you want with no compromises, build! :-)) I also realize that you just bought the place but do keep in the back of your mind that old-house aficionados will generally pay more for a house with intact original woodwork. :-) We definitely would have! However, if you find that you'll be utterly miserable if you don't paint the trim, there are measures you can take to make it somewhat easier to strip that paint off in years to come, although it can never truly be returned to its original condition. ESPECIALLY if it is oak or another open-grained wood and there's any wear to the original finish. A fresh coat of shellac as a base for the paint, under the primer, is one option. I am sure that the folks over at the Old House forum will have more suggestions. If it's grain-painted pine rather than stained wood, don't even think about painting it over because it will be many times worse than the stained/shellacked/varnished to restore to something resembling the original appearance (it is impossible to restore the true original appearance). It can be done, but it is a real bear. Thus endeth the lesson. ;-) BH, I ADORE your kitchen. I wish wish wish we could afford inset-door cabinets but alas, that is a pipe dream. I would say maybe twenty years down the road, but I don't expect we'll be here in twenty years, I think we'll have moved to a single-story house. There's a charming brick bungalow down the street DH and I both have an eye on! LOL Here is a link that might be useful: GW's Old House forum...See MoreDesigners, what are the eclectic design rules?
Comments (17)Honestly, I've always perceived of eclectic style as someone who says, "I don't care what you think" and does what they like regardless of convention. Eclectic style is a buzz word in decorating because people get flustered and can't define or label something that isn't easily categorized. In each of your photos above, I can point to what I like and what I don't like--but I bet the homeowners don't care what I can point to. If you consider the philosophical definition of eclectic, it makes more sense: of, denoting, or belonging to a class of ancient philosophers who did not belong to or found any recognized school of thought but selected such doctrines as they wished from various schools....See MoreUser
5 years agoHolly Stockley
5 years agolisaam
5 years agodoc5md
5 years agoMrs Pete
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agogalore2112
5 years agoUser
5 years agobpath
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agobpath
5 years agocpartist
5 years agojust_janni
5 years agoworthy
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoAnnKH
5 years agoVirgil Carter Fine Art
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agovinmarks
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agomrschlab
5 years agobeckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years agoworthy
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoVirgil Carter Fine Art
5 years agoRNmomof2 zone 5
5 years agoOne Devoted Dame
5 years agoBuzz Solo in northeast MI
5 years agosuezbell
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNA Designer Shares Her Kitchen-Remodel Wish List
As part of a whole-house renovation, she’s making her dream list of kitchen amenities. What are your must-have features?
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNA Designer Shares Her Master-Bathroom Wish List
She's planning her own renovation and daydreaming about what to include. What amenities are must-haves in your remodel or new build?
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNDesigners Share Their Top Choices for Kitchen Floors
See which flooring materials and patterns these pros have been using in their latest kitchen projects and why
Full StoryKITCHEN BACKSPLASHESDesigners Share Their Hottest Picks for Kitchen Backsplashes
Make a splash in the kitchen with these design pros’ selections for backsplash materials, colors and layouts
Full StoryGRAYDesigners Share Their Favorite Light Gray Paints
These versatile neutrals can help create a range of moods in any room
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNDesigners Share 5 Stellar Looks for Showers
Large-format tile, matte black fixtures and frameless doors are among the features these pros love to use in showers
Full StoryCOLORA Designer Shares Her 5 Go-To Paint Colors
Whether she’s looking for something playful or dramatic, Jennifer Ott knows these paint colors will always deliver
Full StoryLIVING ROOMSDesign Dilemma: Share Ideas for a Navy Blue Room
Help a Houzz Reader Work With a Bold Choice for the Living Room Walls
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN11 Must-Haves in a Designer’s Dream Kitchen
Custom cabinets, a slab backsplash, drawer dishwashers — what’s on your wish list?
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNFresh White Palette Brings Joy to Designer’s Kitchen and Bedroom
In Florida, Krista Watterworth Alterman ditches dark faux-Mediterranean style for bright, glossy whites
Full Story
jmm1837