What's the first thing you do when you come home?
Emily H
9 years ago
Imagine this, you pull into your driveway. You get out of your car and walk towards your door. Once inside you... What do you do?
Share your experience! (photos encouraged)
Decatur Craftsman · More Info
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Erika
9 years ago
azrinarosli
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Deodorize my house!
Comments (5)I also always have my windows open- fresh air is a must for me! But I have heard that keeping open containers of baking powder around the kitchen and neutralise PH levels and cut through bad smells..haven't given it a go myself- but may be it is work a try!...See MoreHOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT COUNTERTOP THICKNESS FOR YOUR HOME.
Comments (1)I forgot that curved countertops are a possibility within the kitchen. Makes it look classy....See MoreHOW TO CARE FOR AND MAINTAIN YOUR NATURAL STONE GRANITE COUNTERTOPS.
Comments (0)One of the biggest fears people may have about natural stone is the maintenance it requires. With many individuals increasingly turning to the use of natural materials in the home, granite has become the countertop of choice. Synthetic solid surface materials are no match for the richness, depth, and incredible performance of real granite. Unlike laminates and solid-surface materials, a hot pot or frying pan has no effect on granite’s mirror-like finish. Most importantly, by choosing a granite countertop you not only give your kitchen everlasting performance and beauty, but you also increase the value of your home. Granite is also a very hard mineral and is virtually impervious to abrasions, impact damage and heat. However, the material is prone to cracking due to mechanical stresses caused by repeated heating and cooling. While the seams in between slabs provide some leeway for this repeated expansion and contraction, it is best to keep granite away from sources of large heat fluctuations. You’ll find caring for your natural stone is easy. The best care you can give your natural stone is preventive care. By following a few suggestions, your countertops will last a lifetime while maintaining a brand-new appearance. BASIC CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE 1. AVOID USING CLEANING PRODUCTS WITH ANY KIND OF ACID OR ABRASIVE. Avoid using harsh cleaning agents that contain strong acids/alkaline (e.g. bleach, glass cleaners, ammonia, degreasers) or abrasives (e.g. powdered ceramic/bathroom cleaners) as it can cause the sealant to discolour and scratch. Warm water, mild dishwashing liquid, and soft clean cloth are generally all that’s needed to maintain your granite countertop surface. 2. AVOID SUBJECTING YOUR GRANITE COUNTERTOP TO HEAVY WEIGHTS AND PRESSURE. While hard, granite surfaces are brittle and you should not stand, kneel on, sit or stack heavy objects onto your countertops as they could crack or break. This doesn’t mean that granite is fragile, however, and it’s perfectly capable of supporting microwaves, dish holders and other moderately heavy objects. 3. DO NOT PLACE HOT PANS OR OTHER OBJECTS DIRECTLY ON YOUR COUNTERTOPS. Again, hot objects can cause the sealant to discolour (mainly in dark granites) and/or cracking. Always use a protective barrier between any hot object and granite such as trivet or mat. Unsealed granite countertops do not have this problem, but are highly porous and come with other problems. 4. WIPE OFF SPILLS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. Sealed granite countertops are surprisingly resilient to stains from citric acid, coffee tea, alcohol, or wine. However, as a preventive measure, wipe up any spills on the countertops within a reasonable amount of time and do not let liquid sit on the countertop overnight. 5. Watch out for oil stains. Granite is most prone to staining by oil – be careful not to place any pots or frying pans with oil traces on the bottom on the countertop surface. Blot oil and acid spills as soon as they happen, and clean with mild soap and warm water to avoid any harm to your countertops. If the oil stains remain, there is a special cleaning procedure for the removal of deep-seated, time-set dirt and grime. A general poultice with baby or baking soda and water is the best remedy. First, moisten the surface of the granite with the same liquid that made the paste. Next, apply the poultice paste to the granite surface about half an inch thick. Tape plastic sheeting over the poultice area, and allow it to sit for 48 hours. Remove the poultice with a spatula, rinse the cleansed area with clean water, wipe off excess water, and allow the surface to dry. 6. RINSE SOAP AND WASHING DETERGENTS OFF TO PREVENT LIME BUILD UP. Rinse with hot clean water on a regular basis and use a paper towel to dry. Another way to remove lime build up , soap scum, stains or dried spills, is to use a straight razor blade in a gentle scraping motion. Do not use lime removal products or cleaning products that contain ammonia, as this will affect the seal on the stone. 7. AVOID HITTING THE SURFACE WITH HARD OBJECTS. Chips in granite are not a common occurrence. When they do happen, chips are most often caused by banging something into the edge of the countertop. Take care when you handle heavy pots and pans around your granite profiles as these are the most prone to cause chipping. If a chip does occur and you find the piece that chipped out, hold on to it. Most of the time it can be epoxied back into place. 8. APPLY SEALERS. The use of sealers is an excellent preventive measure and will encourage the preservation of your granite countertops. Some granite can be very porous. Sealers fill in natural pores and repel spills on the surface, radically reducing the rate of absorption. This gives you time to wipe spills away before they have a chance to penetrate your stone. After the installation process, the granite must be sealed. We recommend a re-application of this sealer annually, or more often for some light granites, to fully maintain the luminosity and avoid stains. Some dark-colored, dense granites (browns, blacks) do not require sealing. When the water or liquid spilled on your countertop fails to bead up when splashed, or you begin to notice a water darkening spot that dries out, this is an indication that your countertop needs to be re-sealed. 9. AVOID STORING CHEMICALS ON THE SURFACE. It’s risky to store chemicals on the surface of your granite countertop in case of spillage. This includes cooking oil, hair products, chemical cleaners and cosmetics....See More10 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO HAVE A SOPHISTICATED LUXURY LIVING ROOM
Comments (1)Luxury is in the freedom to choose each detail. Sugarbakers...See More
lexnick4
9 years agochrissiekirk
9 years ago
PROCurtain Call
9 years agoasrofe
9 years agolefty47
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
Bridget White
9 years agoGet warm, sleepy kisses and cuddles from two just-woke-up spoiled rotten pooches!
Shirley
9 years ago
susanne5
9 years ago
Laurel Ennis
9 years ago
Valerie Devereux
9 years ago
Len
9 years ago
Carmen Julia Villegas
9 years ago
Jolene
9 years ago
Depo
9 years ago
jen046
9 years agoDrop my purse, go up and change into comfy lounging clothes (lose the undergarments!), start a nice playlist (Friday is for the Sinatra playlist) pour two glasses of wine and talk with hubby until we've relaxed enough to start dinner. On Friday, substitute dry, gin martinis for the glasses of wine.
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8 years agoLynne Mysliwiec
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8 years ago
cocoanlace
8 years ago
I start scooping litter boxes and getting the cats' food into their dishes. It can be tricky. If I take too long getting canned food open and served, one cat might take a dump outside one of the dirty litter boxes, not wishing to wait on me any longer. Meanwhile, really hungry cats are crying and tripping me because I am scooping boxes instead of feeding them. I am a Human Slave. (Photos of the little brats in their new Christmas beds.)irma_stpete_10a
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoUser
3 years ago
enajasereht
3 years ago
PROFirst Street Builders
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoFor some reason (I don't know what) this discussion popped up on my Houzz feed. It opened at the bottom with the latest comments so I scrolled up to the top to see where it came from and what it was all about. To my amazement, the photo there is of a house I built in Decatur, GA. Why it's in this discussion I don't know but I'm glad to see it. That photo has been saved literally thousands of times, as have many others from the project which you can see by clicking on the "more info" button below it.
Of all the photos of the project, I think that one is one of the least interesting. It's just a straight on shot of the front. The one I like most is the one attached, which being at night is a little "moody".
In any case, thanks for including one of my photos. And if you haven't gone to see the rest of them, click on that info button below.
Decatur Craftsman · More InfoUser
3 years agoUser
3 years agofelizlady
3 years ago- PRO
First Street Builders
3 years ago
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