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EPISODE #48- SATURDAY AUGUST 7, 2010
These cool mornings are
perfect. We are getting our chores done early and
then when the sun breaks out, we head outside for some summer fun. This
is
perfect weather for work and play! We have had a tough year,
weather-wise,
but that is no excuse to not enjoy these wonderful summer days, even if
they
are not as warm as we would want! We are a month away from the start of
school and so get out and enjoy these next few weeks. Remember, we will
always have the projects on our website and the links to the videos when
you
get the energy to tackle those projects again.
Designing with Color
Once again we visited with designer Kimberlee Jaynes of
Kimberlee Jaynes Interior Designs (503-407-9525) at her favorite paint
store, Kaleidoscope Paints in SE Portland to talk about using color in
design. Kimberlee told us that most people start with paint as a first
step
when it should be the last step in designing a room. Kimberlee told us
that
she starts with a favorite painting or area rug. This gives her a wider
range of colors to choose from when she starts her design. That favorite
piece will give her the background for all her choices, from upholstery
to
throw pillows. She also showed us how artwork and contrasting colors can
really pop in a room. Kimberlee also used some different, subtler tones
that helped make the transition from outside colors to her inside
design; to
that palette she also added some reds to make a striking statement. The
main thing to think about when designing your room is how it looks to
you.
If it speaks to you, then you will love it in the end!
Shady Looks
Your indoor
lamps are one of the most over looked décor items in your house. As you
paint and decorate you just move them from one room to another and miss
the decorating possibilities that they offer. To help give you some
ideas we traveled to
Naomi's
Lampshades (503-636-1884) in Lake Grove. Bea Searles is the owner and she brought
out a
couple of lamps to demonstrate. She made a quick change to one lamp that
gave it a fresh new look. But the problem was the height of the new
shade;
it was sitting too low on the lamp so all she did was change the 'harp'.
The harp is the metal loop that goes around the light bulb to protect it
and
creates the structure to attach the shade to. The fitting of the harp is
very important when changing the shade. Bea recommends that you bring
your
lamp into the store when you are looking for a new shade so you can see
how
the shade fits. You can even change the look by changing the finial
which
is the part at the top of the lamp. For more tips you can check out
their
website, or visit them on Boones Ferry Road in the Lake Grove/Lake
Oswego
area.
Beer and Whiskey Pairings
'Gimme a shot with a beer chaser'... that is the cliché you hear
when beer and whiskey are paired together. We found a place where that
phrase has a different meaning.
Produce Row Café (503-232-8355) in SE Portland is now
offering these two beverages in some interesting combinations. Alan
Davis,
the owner of the café told us that the whiskey-beer pairing program was
launched last year with the assistance of one of the world's leading
whiskey
experts, Stuart Ramsey, and puts together the best in
both
classes to create an innovative pairing menu that's a terrific way to
sample
the best in class of both beverages. There are some pairings that are a
battle of tastes, with strong flavors wrestling for your taste buds,
while
others are subtle and sweet when enjoyed together. Of the 2 pairings
that we
tried we had 'The Schooner' which was Full Sail Ltd. 03 and Forty Creek
Barrel Select whiskey and 'The Pale Rider' with Terminal Gravity IPA and
Blanton's Single Barrel Whiskey. The first one was smooth and a little
sweet. The second pairing was a bolder pairing with 2 very strong
tastes.
If you are a Whiskey or beer fan this was a very interesting way to
taste
the differences and similarities of these two classic drinks. If you
would
like to try the pairings stop by the newly redesigned Produce Row Café
and
have a sip.
Mr. Mom's Spinach Salad
In the past we visited with Mr. Mom and learned some tasty and
easy recipes. Mr. Mom is Dave Lilja and he has put together a great
cookbook; 'Mr. Mom's Favorite Family Meals' (303-800-1603).
Today he joined us at the
NW Natural
Appliance Center (503-220-2362) to show us a quick and easy salad. We started with a
pre-washed package of spinach (or you could use any salad greens). Then
we
crumbled some goat cheese over the top. Any kind of cheese would work;
feta
is a good choice as well. We then added toasted walnuts which were
toasted
in an oven for 3-5 minutes until they were lightly browned. For the
dressing we mixed about ½ cup of olive oil and ½ cup of balsamic vinegar
(don't use red wine vinegar) and a teaspoon of cinnamon in a squirt
bottle
and shook it up. The squirt bottle helps keep the dressing under control
when you pour it on your salad. The salad is ready to serve! You can add
more vegetables or other ingredients if you want, but this recipe is
ready
to stand on its own. If you would like to try this recipe with avocado,
chicken and feta, click here.
Parr Doors and Windows
With all the choices out there it is easy to become overwhelmed
with picking out a new door or window. There is one place where you can
see
a large selection of doors and windows with the experts to help you make
the
right decision. Parr Lumber (503-645-7425) has opened a showroom filled with a wide variety of doors
and
windows from a number of manufacturers. They represent many different
styles and price points. Chris Erskine took us around the showroom to
show
us how many different choices there are. We started with vinyl windows.
Vinyl windows are not new to the market, but some of the features and
styles
are. Newer styles of vinyl windows can fit into any décor and they are a
good basic replacement for old aluminum or single pane wood windows. You
will notice a big difference in your energy bills if you replace with a
vinyl window. Still, if you like the look of wood, you won't be left out
in
the cold. There are some manufacturers that are now producing hybrid
windows with wood interiors and vinyl exteriors. These are the best of
both
worlds, with the beauty of wood combined with the energy efficiency of
vinyl. You can also choose the type of glass you want too. One
manufacturer offers over 25 different styles of glass alone, so you
don't
have to just get the regular clear glass.
Next we moved to doors. When you drive up to someone's house
one of the first things you see is the front door. Having a nice front
door
has become very important for 'curb appeal' and for resale, but also for
the
livability of your home. Style has become a very important factor for
the
homeowner. The main choices you have for a front door are wood
fiberglass
or steel. We saw a cool door that was made of fiberglass but was
textured
like wood. It can be stained to match your home décor and it won't dent,
warp, fade or scratch. Chris called it the perfect door. If you would
like
to find your 'perfect' door or window, a stop at Parr is a must. |
