Driving around my town the other day, I noticed a lot of houses needed painting.With the price of everything going up, many people are putting home improvements to the bottom of the list. Of course, some are still doing repairs, but many are waiting until they can afford to replace the item, or get it fixed perfectly. Right now, perfect may not be an option. Gas and groceries are taking up the main bulk of our budget, and buying new “stuff” makes us pause far more than it used to. I, also need my house painted, but knowing that I want to go beyond the traditional white, I am waiting until the Spring, because I know that the cost will be far more than normal. However, I still want the front to look nice, in the meantime. So, armed with a small paintbrush, duct-taped to a really long stick (yes, really) I touched up the little bit where the paint had peeled off. No, it wasn’t perfect, but it was just enough to hide (and protect) the wood underneath. This got me thinking, were there other short cuts that we could take, while we waited for the perfect solution? – Peeling or chipped Paint: If you don’t think you have enough paint to touch up the front of the house, add a tiny bit of water to the can to stretch it. Or, paint a bit of the color onto a paper plate, let it dry and take it to the hardware/paint store to get it copied. Buy a sample pot (less than $5-). It might be all you need. – Linoleum Tiles lifting up: An all purpose epoxy, or floor adhesive, will stick it down. Clean the area under the tile as best as you can. Smoosh the glue underneath (be liberal), wipe away the excess, tape down the tile with painters tape, and cover with a brick for 24 hours. – Cracked Ceramic tiles: Buy some tile filler. Either mix some matching paint into it, or, fill in the crack and paint it afterwards. If the tile needs to be replaced, see if you have an extra one. Chip out the old, clean up and replace with a new one. Not for the faint hearted, but easier than it sounds! – Scratched, wooden furniture: Blend scratch by using shoe polish, crayon, strong coffee or markers. Then polish. – Dirty, tattered, old sofas and chairs: Clean them with a can of foam upholstery cleaner, if needed. Turn cushions over, to get the nicer, less squashed side. Add (complimentary) throws, quilts or pillows to distract from the ugliness. Make it look deliberate, don’t just put a horrible blanket on the sofa. Safety-pin it over the areas that annoy you. Move the furniture around, and put a nicer piece as the focal point. – Cracks or holes in the wall: If you want to fix these yourself, there are so many easy, instructional videos that will show you exactly what to buy, and how to do it. It isn’t hard, but it can be time consuming and messy; best for patient, neat people who are also organized enough to have plenty of leftover paint. If you don’t have any paint, consider diverting the attention away from the crack with a nearby piece of art. Cover a hole with a picture. If you have a small amount of paint, try just taking a small brush and painting in/over the crack – it may be just enough! – Small cracks in windows: Clear, large packing tape, applied neatly, should stop the crack from spreading, and will almost be invisible. – Ripped screen in door: Not as hard as it may seem. There are actual screen repair kits, but I found them harder than replacing the whole thing (but, that’s just me. ). The easiest suggestion, is to take the whole thing to the hardware store and look very helpless! They may, kindly, do it for you, or, at the least show you what you need, and how to do it. If you do want to do it yourself, first remove the rubber “spline”, or whatever is holding it in place. Buy a new piece of screen and just put it back in the exact same way. Replace the “spline” by pushing down with a blunt knife. Trim the excess screen afterwards. – Squeaky, loose or jammed door: Check all the screws and bolts to make sure they are tight, and lined up. Drip a tiny bit of vegetable oil down onto the hinges (wipe away excess). Well, the list goes on, but I will stop here. Fixing (or hiding) a few things yourself, will make you feel more connected to your home, as well as give you a boost of confidence. Your home will never be perfect, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t find ways to take care of it. Photograph from http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/ For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/

Although I live in an old fashioned house, my heart palpitates with the thought of Industrial spaces that have been turned into homes (or, at the very least, spaces that mimic this idea). I think it is my love of opposites that fuels this fascination with hard, factory pieces juxtaposed with warm, organic life. I still stop the car when I see abandoned factories; their sad history, and complex use of man-made components, makes me wonder about how they were made, and why they are now left alone. Metal, in various forms, has been around for many years, but wasn’t used in mass production until the 19th century, when inventors found ways to harness the complicated elements and make them into various materials of strength. I can’t pretend to understand the science that goes on behind it, but I did just look it up (am being honest), and, really, it is pretty amazing to know that something so natural can be manipulated into being such a powerful part of our infrastructure. Once, so expensive, the process is now simple, and most metals are available for everyone to buy. Which makes me wonder about homes that embrace an Industrial influence. Too much metal, and the home will appear to be cold, but, with just a hint, the space will automatically become more interesting. Traditional iron pieces, like birdcages and hooks, are easily added to a home, but what if you want to go a little further? Designers have fully embraced this trend, and have provided us with many options to bring into our homes. Here are just a few of them to help you bring a little bit of the Industrial look into your life (without feeling as if you need a blow torch or an extra large sewing machine). For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/

Last week I hated my Living Room. Truly hated it. When I looked at it, all I saw was a sea of brown, surrounded by some brightly colored artwork that just seemed to show up the dull “brown-ness”. I had become my own worst client, I couldn’t see past the ugly. My Living Room has a big window at the front. Most things fade quite quickly; I have the curtains drawn, widely, and I like to have as much light as possible in my home. As a result, everything fades and the fabrics erode quite quickly from the sun (rather odd when you remember that I live in New Jersey, not exactly the sunshine capital of the world). The furniture had faded over the last year, and as I re-decorated the room for Spring, I took out most of the plants and colorful blankets that had been the accessories for the last few months. I guess, in my haste to remove the Winter, the room was left feeling colorless and boring, lacking in life. The life and color now being outside, instead of inside. In my head, it became the worst Living Room that anyone had ever seen. A vintage (old?) golden, brown sofa, an old (vintage?) brown chair, an old, collapsible oak table and a vintage (genuinely old), standing radio sitting alongside a nicely rusted, generously sized, wrought iron chair from outside. The entire combination had morphed into a 1940’s sitcom, with all the good bits taken out. As I panicked in my brown-ness, I mentally scanned my house for replacement pieces of furniture. There were none I could use. There was no hope, I decided I MUST drive to the store right that very second before I was swallowed up by the awfulness of it all. I drove to the store, really fast (but not over the speed limit) and I found a purple sofa and a lovely, oversized slipper chair with an exaggerated pattern of zinnias bursting with orange and dark green….perfect (!?) I looked at the furniture as I took out my credit card, and I walked out of the store. A cafe mocha, no whipped cream, and a half hour later reality hit. I was calm as I made the list of what I wanted, needed and didn’t want in my Living Room. With list in hand, I went home and began to empty the room. The old, brown chair was the first to go…. For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/

Glamping – Pronunciation: /ˈglampɪŋ/ noun  Early 21st century: Blend of Glamorous and Camping  A way to enjoy the beauty of nature without all the icky stuff that comes with it. Over the last couple of years glamping has become a luxurious, more interesting alternative to staying in a hotel. Unique accommodations have been popping up all over the world, and designers and travel agents have jumped on the trend with full force. What began as a passing quirk, has now evolved into permanent outdoor structures that mimic old fashioned tents and very expensive log cabins. I love camping (well, apart from snakes, bears, spiders, broken zippers, and heating a can of baked beans over a match and a twig….) but I think glamping would also be a fun thing to do. Kind of reminds me of an old Tarzan movie, where the safari tent was assembled in five minutes, and the expedition involved a walking stick and a furry animal. Beautifully coiffed women arrived with trunks of petticoats, a writing desk and a typewriter, and the men had an endless supply of hot soapy water and cigarettes. I guess it speaks to the romantic in many of us; we like the idea of sleeping under the stars, just not the actual camping itself. So, I became curious about glamping, and I can really see the appeal. Most owners build their accommodations around a healthy respect for the environment, combine it with a good dose of comfort, and just enough independence to make the guests feel that they are really participating in the outdoors. Of course, they will start the fire-pit for you, warm up the spa pool, and give you a cozy blanket, but you get to find your own rock, roast marshmallows, enjoy the view, and retreat to your (mosquito free) comfy bed when the day is over. The level of luxury really does vary accordingly, but many of them are well within a decent budget. Definitely more for a vacation than a quick business trip, every place I looked at came well equipped for a stress-free weekend getaway (no longer do you need to navigating your evening with a flashlight, leave a trail of breadcrumbs, and hastily digging a hole in the ground). While all have basic modern conveniences, some are truly swoon-worthy. One place that I found comes with air conditioning, goose-down linens, and an antique bathtub filled with scented milk. Another had a fireplace, a flat screen television, and your own private butler. Others are more spare in their furnishings, but they still have more than the bare necessities, and the settings are always quite lovely. I can see glamping in my future; it seems like a great way to enjoy a more scenic destination, without having to bring a map and my own toilet paper…. Photograph from Fireside Resort in Jackson Hole For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/ #glamping #luxurycamping #vacations #whatisglampingCampingandGlamping

Years ago, I fell in love with someone else’s bedroom; the furniture, the simplicity, and the color on the walls were absolutely gorgeous. I had been entertaining ideas of painting my Living Room blue, and had never found the right shade, until that day. After I stopped gushing, my friend gave me three samples of the blue for me to take home.  Lovely, little pots of promise, just waiting for me to paint with them. As soon as I got in the door I grabbed some giant newsprint (not ideal, but what I had) and painted the colors on several sheets of the paper. I barely waited for them to dry before I had them taped all over my Living Room. As I stood back, I nearly burst into tears; it was horrible. The gorgeous grey blue that reminded me of a serene retreat in my friend’s bedroom, looked like a hastily thought out, baby boy’s nursery in my own home. The blue was too light, and it just looked cheap and silly. The richness of the color was gone, and all I saw was a bad blue. You see, the light was totally different; my Living Room is larger, filled with too many things, and has a lot of windows. The warm blue became cooler, more basic, and far less important. I moved the samples around again, and it just kept looking worse. Even as  a decorator, it was hard for me to accept that the color looked nothing like I had imagined. I thought if I stared at it long enough, it would change, and the room would be just as beautiful as hers. But that didn’t work; I took down the colors, folded up the paper, and frowned. Am embarrassed to admit, that years ago I would not have taken the color pots. I would have asked her for the color that she used, bought gallons of paint, and been really angry at the manufacturer. Then, I would have either gone and bought more, or, still been disappointed, and continue to paint my walls a color I wasn’t very keen on. I honestly thought that it was just another marketing tool, to make consumers spend more money. But, when you are faced with millions of different color options (yes, millions) how the heck could you possibly choose just one from a small piece of paper in an artificial environment? Even the natural light in a paint store isn’t natural, and it certainly has no relevance to your home, your windows, and your suede La-Z-boy recliner. I know that it feels like a lot of extra steps, when all you want to do is paint a room, but it is more than worth the effort. Most custom paint colors can’t be returned, so why would you not take the extra time to get it right. Yes, it is just paint, but there is nothing worse than that awful feeling when you roll on the color, and it looks nothing like you had imagined. Since my blue experience, I have tried lots of other paint pot colors, but still can’t seem to find the right one. My Living Room is still, a very sedate…. Antique White. Photograph from Remodelista For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/ #choosingpaint #decoratingwithpaint #howtopickpaint #paintcolors

Sometimes, we have to change our homes because something happens that we didn’t expect. A lost job, a bereavement or illness, a divorce……We are left with bits and pieces of what we used to have; the task of sorting through memories, adapting our surroundings and making a new list of things that we never even asked for. It can be very overwhelming. When we are forced to change, it never feels good, but there are ways to guide us through it.  – Ask for help. If you need to sort through someone else’s personal belongings, don’t do it alone. The emotional connection may be too difficult. If you are not ready to get rid of anything, and you are not rushed for time, just leave them for now. Stay in touch with friends, journey through your grief, and let them know when you are ready. – If you are downsizing, try to be realistic about the amount of furniture that you will need. Keep the better quality pieces, and measure your new space (and your furniture) before you move (doors and hallways may be narrower than in your old home). Take a note of your new floor plan, including closets and extra rooms, and try to pack accordingly. Consider a garage sale, or donating to a charity that re-sells/uses the items. Children may find it even more difficult, so let them keep what is really important to them, and store the rest temporarily. This way they can “visit” their things, and make decisions as they get older. – Blended and divorced families create their own paradox of opposites, ending up with homes that are both over-filled and half-empty. If you are combining two households, try to compromise the sentimental and the practical before moving everything in. It is much easier to do it this way, rather than have 9 people, 6 sofas and 3 refrigerators standing in your living room (for more information about how to blend homes, see this blog). An almost-empty home is an opportunity (even though it may not feel that way at the time) to totally please yourself. Don’t rush your design decisions. Of course, buy what you need and love, but the space will feel differently when you are alone, and it may take a while for you to adapt. Time will allow you to see what you want, what you must get rid of, and how you want your home to behave. As someone who has an emotional attachment to almost everything that I own, I write this week’s blog holding my breath, but knowing that we are so much more than our things…. Many thanks to Laura and Rob of  Sisbro Studios for the absolutely beautiful photograph at the top of this page. For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/ #movinghouse #UnexpectedChange

Whenever I return from a holiday by the sea, I always find my home to feel a little boring; a little dull, and not quite as cheerful as I imagined it had been the week before. I know the light is different by the ocean, and the place where we stay is decorated kind of “beachy”, but for some delusional reason, I still expect to walk in my front door and feel like I am still on holiday. Crazy really. After-all, a holiday should be different. Even if I stayed home, wore my bathing suit for a week, listened to a CD of the ocean, and spritzed salt water in my hair, it still wouldn’t feel like I was on vacation. After a week or two, I settle back into my home, enjoy my new tan, sort through the bathing suits, and vacuum the sand out of the car (which is a little like trying to clean up the pine needles from your Christmas tree). The lawn gets mowed, I prune and water the plants, and I try to remember what was normal. I make long lists of things that I should be doing, I get distracted by thoughts of sand between my toes, and I find myself longing again for blue and white nautical accessories. Truthfully, there is rarely another time when I like a theme. But, immediately after vacation, I understand why so many people go in that direction; wanting to recreate a permanent space in their home that evokes a happy memory. Unfortunately (as I bust my own post-holiday bubble) those places exist somewhere else for a reason. It gives us something to look forward to. Something special. People who live in the English countryside, don’t dream of a quaint, thatched cottage, because they already have one. Nestled in a quiet village, or a beautiful, abandoned field, their home feels right; the colors compliment the English weather, and their home perfectly suits their relaxed lifestyle. While we are dreaming of castles and long, brisk walks to the pub, they are dreaming of sunny skies, sandy beaches, and an extra large bathtub. With themes, a little does go a long way. If you want to remember a place, or a holiday, choose just one or two elements to decorate your home. It can be as simple as a pile of shells from the beach, or as bold as painting your kitchen a gorgeous, deep ochre. Whatever you decide to do, think of a way to remember the happy times, without trying to duplicate them…. The photograph above is a still from the delightful movie “The Holiday”. For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/ #DecoratingThemesYesorNo

I have a lot of things on my walls. A 1930′s ostrich feather dress for someone with a 22 inch waist, collage of old black and white photos, chalkboard, souvenirs from countries I have visited, large paintings, a favorite book, a decorative wooden grate, a puppet, mirrors of all shapes and sizes, plants…..If I can stick a nail in it, or figure out a way to hang it, I will. It’s not deliberate. I aspire to be a minimalist. Each time I redecorate, I take it all down, and promise myself I will keep the walls clean and open; more simplistic and calming. I have thoughts of soft creamy walls, slate gray sofas and a single, gigantic red poppy on the wall. Then, gradually, reality takes over and I add back more of my “stuff”, always seeing gaps that just have to be filled. As the room fills up, I feel comforted. I like seeing what I have, and being reminded of who gave it to me. To some, it is clutter. My sister could not live in my house. She decorates in a way that I aspire to be. She is a creative soul; always changing her home with paint or new ideas, but she doesn’t need to have everything out for her to see. She wants the serenity of an uncluttered space, with a few, very meaningful things out for her to love. That is what makes her happy, and her home reflects that part of her. When things get crowded it feels claustrophobic and messy. She likes her walls to be quiet. For myself, I always seem to exist in a gray area, slightly hovering between neatness and eclectic chaos (I find eclectic always sounds so much kinder than messy). I have accepted that, while I yearn for more sparse surroundings, it wouldn’t be possible for me to live that way. It does not suit who I am. It’s important for our peace of mind to live within our own category. If where you are begins to feel uncomfortable, change it. We should live in a home that nurtures and replenishes who we are, not who we think we should be. For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/

One thing I get asked, time and time again, is how to pick a new color for a room. Many of us watch design shows, and are often told that everyone “should” have color on their wall. The theory being, that color makes the furniture and accessories “pop”, it brings a room together, and it kind of says that we are not afraid to take a decorating risk. We all covet a room that feels warm and welcoming, and often, the room that we admire in the photograph has more color than we would have in our own home. However, if  you feel like a change, and decide to pick up the paintbrush, here are a few thoughts before you begin….. Color will:  – Cozy up your room.  – Enhance your furniture and accessories.  – Hide dirt, fingerprints etc.   – Be a definite style statement.  – Need more cans of paint to get effective coverage (and a colored primer). – Show imperfections in the wall (spackle fixes etc). – Appear darker in the Winter months. How to choose a color:  Always find an inspirational piece to give you a direction – look through home magazines, watch design shows, choose a favorite painting, a color from a piece of clothing etc. Get a sample (s) and paint it on a large (3 x 3 foot) piece of paper or cardboard. Move it around the room, in different spots, to see what you think. If you are not sure, try another color. Upload a photograph of your room to a Room Visualizer on-line. While not perfect, it will give you a good idea of what your room may look like with the new color. Useful Links: Benjamin Moore Paint Room Visualizer Sherwin Williams Paint Room Visualizer For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/ #Color #paintcolors #PickaPaint

– My upstairs bathroom is painted entirely in chalkboard paint (my daughter and her friend’s draw and write on it all of the time). I also have a wall in my TV room that is entirely covered in chalkboard paint. – My toaster says “TOAST” on the front of it (I have had it for over 10 years, and it still makes me smile every morning). – I worked at the United Nations, in NYC, for three years. – I cut and color my own hair all of the time; sometimes it is quite disasterous, but I do it anyway 🙂 – Pencils are one of my favorite things (hate pens). – I own a black jeep (it makes me think of New Zealand, where I grew up – the above composite photograph, called “Sheepsail” is by Ted Scott, it is one of my favorites). – I am a ridiculous romantic; constantly dreaming, planning new things, head in the clouds… Here are a few of the blogs that I read, and would nominate: Beautiful Living Style (observations on life, style and the bits in between) The Lettered Cottage (interior design – pretty and practical) Rooms Reborn (interior redesign – more great ideas from Ann Anderson!) The Happiness Project (no explanation needed – always a good dose of happiness when you need it) Mind the Beginner (thoughts on life, and being better…) Pink Miles (pink observations on running a family and a marathon) New Light Redesign (interior redesign, decoratively speaking) Jane Pollak (entrepreneurial inspiration, and a mental kick in the bum when you need it) For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/

At this time of year we are all recovering from overindulging in one way or another. The wake up calls come fast and furious; the credit card bills start coming in, we question our bank balances and we worry that the dryer is mysteriously shrinking our clothes. We decide to stay home more, saving money, and promising ourselves we will get back on track during the coming months. The happiness of giving (getting?) gifts, and celebrating with people we love, is quickly forgotten as January stretches before us; a long month that often feels hungover and bloated. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Truly. So what if we ate too much, and bought far too many decorative candles (just in case 🙂 It’s done; remember the fun that we had, make a budget, eat a bit less and start planning your dreams. While you’re at it, why don’t you take some steps to guide you through the post-holiday blues? Taking down the Holiday decorations will automatically make your house look cleaner and less cluttered. Whiz around with the vacuum cleaner and you’re half-way there. Next, honestly, I would buy some flowering bulbs (if you are still like me, trapped in the Winter months) to cheer you up and bring some life and color inside. If you are living in the Southern Hemisphere, throw out the tree, tidy up the tinsel and pick a gorgeous bunch of something to put on the table. Chances are, wherever you live, the daylight is different at this time of year, consider moving the furniture so that it catches the afternoon sun. Experiment with angles, or swap an unexpected piece from one room to another. Clean off a chair or bench from the garden and bring it inside for extra seating. Have fun, deliberately try what you absolutely know won’t work, and try to see your home from a different perspective. Give it a day or two, and if you don’t like it, just move it back. All you’ve lost is a few hours. Do you have a favorite poem, photograph or painting that you can frame and hang somewhere? The slightest decorative change in your home will make you feel happier! Even a favorite vacation spot to motivate you. It is so easy to download and print a copy of something that you love. If it is an old poem, consider printing it then soaking it in tea or coffee to age it. Any photograph, reprinted in black and white will look more “artistic”,  but, more importantly, it will fit seamlessly with absolutely any style of decorating. Many museum stores sell postcards of famous paintings for no more than a few dollars; placed, matted, in a frame, they will take on an importance that belies their actual cost. Even an old letter or drawing can be displayed with a simple, black (plastic or wood) frame. Buy several from a discount store, or take out something from a frame you already have. Hang your new piece of art in a favorite spot that you will see every day! Another thing to do is to play music around the house. Go through your CD collection, or plug your I-Pod into speakers. Dance around. Listen to songs from ages ago. Reminisce. I know it sounds daft, but sometimes we have to get back to basics and put a bit of effort into cheering ourselves up. Bake something from scratch just for you, not because it is a special occasion for someone else. Enjoy the time it takes to measure out the ingredients. Eat it warm! Play a children’s game on the computer (Spongebob Squarepants?) read a book for hours (without feeling guilty) or get some paints and pretend you are an artist for the day. Whatever you do, don’t let January be a blue month, because it’s always better than you think! For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/

Many of you know that I am a devout gadget and technophobe. I would rather use a pencil than a pen (do pens count as a new fangled invention, or is it just me?) and I still just have one, very old television, which is barely bigger than my computer screen. Like many creative people that I know, I run from some new things because I just don’t understand them. Not because I don’t want them in my life, or am unwilling to learn, but because my brain doesn’t work that way. Ask me to design a room, or find a solution to almost anything else, and I can do it, but don’t ask me to program your widget, or move the red coaxial cable to the black wot-sit, located second from the right. I am embarrassed to say, that these type of words don’t even register in my brain; you could tell me seven times what a coaxial cable was, and on the eighth time I couldn’t even repeat the word back you. Those who love me, know that I will never learn how to operate their electric can-opener, or remember how to jump start my own car. (Is it the positive to the negative, or the positive to the positive? Do I start the car first, or after I have connected everything. I forget (again). This doesn’t mean that I wash my clothes in a creek, churn my own butter (well, just on special occasions…) and try to control the television channels with a wire hanger. I do know that some inventions are worth their weight in gold, and for some reason that I can’t explain, my favorite one ever is the dishwasher. Which makes absolutely no sense, because I love washing dishes by hand. There is something really comforting about filling up a sink with hot, soapy water, taking your time, and seeing all the dishes come out sparkly and warm; stacked precariously, and waiting to dry. But, when I can tidy up my kitchen in a few minutes, press a button, and have everything be magically clean in an hour, I am the happiest person on the planet. There are even days when I whisper to my dishwasher. The other night, I had some friends over, and it took three loads of washing to get everything done. Dish after dish went in, and as soon as they were done, I put them away on the shelves. Scalding hot, and lovely and clean. As he hummed away, I scrubbed the larger pots by hand, listening to the sounds of the cycle, and reveling in the warm water gurgling all over the kitchen. Maybe it is the instant gratification that I enjoy (well, that is not a good thought), or maybe it is the nurturing simplicity of a task that signals the end of a lovely day (I prefer this thought). Who knows what it is, but the other night, I loaded him up, poured in the powder, said “Thank You”, and told him that I loved him very much! And, I meant it. Pink washing machine from Pottery Barn Kids. For more by Wendy and the Blue Giraffe, go to: http://www.thebluegiraffe.com/ #Appliancelove #MyHouse #TheDishwasher