Faith Durand's Recent Articles
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Beepods: Urban Beekeeping Kits
With bee population plummeting and new laws being introduced around the country that permit beekeeping, there’s been a growing interest in personal beekeeping. The bees aren’t just for the ‘burbs and rural areas; they can also be raised in cities and dense urban areas. This neat inexpensive beekeeping kit, Beepod, is a great and easy
Feb 15, 2011
How To Make Your Own Indoor Compost Bin
There are a lot of options out there for apartment dwellers who want to compost, and like most things it’s not as simple as one style fits all. It’s about finding what works best for you. Try something! And if it doesn’t work for you… try something else! This is an easy indoor compost option for people who need something cheap, customizable and space friendly.
Feb 11, 2011
How To Make Sprouts from Lentils
I’m doing my best to grow as much food as possible from my apartment, and sprouts are such an easy start! I usually have a jar of these growing, and add them to salads, or eat them on their own. You can sprout anything from beans to lentils to garbanzo beans. They generally take about
Feb 9, 2011
Gorgeous Eco-Friendly Cutting Boards by Geoffrey Lilge
Cutting boards are a must-have tool for cooking, and having a good-looking one also makes it a great piece for entertaining and decor. Designer Geoffrey Lilge’s amazing cutting boards satisfy all of these requirements and more with his FSC-certified boards. They are a beautiful piece of art: smooth, curved corners, with minimal adornment to showcase
Feb 7, 2011
How To Start a Home Worm Composting System
It all begins with the soil. Worms are the great transformers of landscape through eating and digesting. They can consume a patch of stones and over time turn it into a fertile field. Worms continually pass soil through their intestinal canals, keep anything they can use for food, and then “cast” the rest. With indoor
Feb 2, 2011
10 Well-Designed Windowless Kitchens
Last week I wrote about 10 Tiny Kitchens We Love and many of you remarked that one of the reasons that they were so great was the natural light they had. Well, living green often means living small. And living small means we don’t always get a window in our kitchen. So, here are 10
Feb 1, 2011
Tip: Shine Stainless Steel With Flour
Usually when you’re talking about having flour all over your kitchen, it’s because your getting down with some baked goods, not cleaning! One of the simplest cleaning tips we’ve used time and time again is not only inexpensive, but chemical free and has yet to let us down! • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Jan 25, 2011
Inspiration: Washers & Dryers in the Kitchen
Not all apartments or houses have enough space for a separate laundry room. That’s where it can be a real luxury to have a washer and dryer or a combo unit in the kitchen. Here are a few examples for inspiration if this is a pairing you’ve been considering: • Read the full post at
Jan 21, 2011
Super Sprowtz Teaches Healthy Eating Habits
When we received an email from the folks over at Super Sprowtz we were a little taken aback. Not because Sprowtz was spelled funky, but because they claimed they wanted to do for food what Sesame Street did for literacy. Anyone who thinks they compare to Sesame Street better have some game and lucky for
Jan 18, 2011
Organization Inspiration: Neat & Beautiful Kitchens
Keeping the kitchen tidy enhances its function, appearance, and cleanliness – all important factors in this busy room of the home. However, with heavy use, it can sometimes seem a burden to keep the kitchen in tip-top shape if a good organizational system is not in place. Here are some tidy inspirations to get your
Jan 12, 2011
A New Greenpoint Project by Purekitchen
We have such respect for Purekitchen, a Williamsburg company that has done local green kitchens since 2004. They operate with a strong focus on the safety of the natural environment, the people who fabricate their products, and the customers who are the ultimate end-users, all while creating the most functional and aesthetically-pleasing kitchens we’ve seen
Jan 6, 2011
What Do You Display on Your Kitchen Countertop?
In my own kitchen I have cereal boxes, a microwave, juicer, banana stand, a plant, and a container with fruit and snacks on my countertop. Some of the items serve more utilitarian purposes, while the fruit and plant adds color and texture. The kitchen can really give insight into someone’s personal style or lifestyle. •
Jan 5, 2011
Before & After: Compact Kitchen Remodel
With only 75 square feet to work with these homeowners decided to go up with their renovation rather than out. Using bright colors and simple lines has transformed this room incredibly. Check out the beautiful before and after here. • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Jan 4, 2011
Tiny Kitchens: Beauty & Function in a Small Space
One of the toughest hurdles of small-space living is creating a functional and beautiful kitchen with minimal square footage. Luckily the Apartment Therapy community is full of ideas and inspiration, all of which is scalable from teeny-tiny to just plain small. • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy
Jan 3, 2011
Make An Upcycled Casserole Cozy For Holiday Meals To Go
Bathroom towels are usually the go-to item for transporting a hot casserole or side dish to or from a party. That’s all well and good, but why not put that sweater hiding in the back of your closet to use? Check out this quick and simple way to deliver a dish in style that even
Dec 2, 2010
Wean Cubes Make Baby Food On The Go Eco-Friendly
If you’re traveling during the holidays (or any time of the year), you may be thinking about how best to transport food for your infant. These eco-friendly glass containers from Wean Green are perfect for homemade foods now or snack and finger foods when they’re older. Plus it doesn’t hurt that they’re oh so pretty!
Dec 1, 2010
How to Replace Your Oven Light
Our baking escapades are amateur, at best. We usually leave the oven light on the entire time we’re baking (Yes, it’s OK to do that!) to check and make sure everything is rising and browning like it should. Needless to say, we’re absolutely lost when that little bulb burns out.
Nov 30, 2010
dbO Home: Handcrafted Pottery & Stoneware
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy) Perfect for the official first day of gift shopping season. Dana Brandwein Oates founded dbO Home out of “a desire to make things.” Her handmade porcelain and stoneware is simple, practical, and personal. She makes a total of 12 pottery collections, each with its own distinct identity. • Read the full
Nov 29, 2010
Special Silver for Holiday Feasts
If you have a weakness for super-specific silver and a love of presentation, the holidays are the perfect time to bust out your awesome- if rarely used- serving pieces. And if you don’t happen to have a cranberry spoon or cookie tongs on hand, they can often be found for under $20… • Read the
Nov 24, 2010
Modern Salt Cellars
Yesterday we looked at the salt cellars that appeared on Medieval and Renaissance tables. While ornate, bejeweled metalwork is out of style for storing salt these days, there are plenty of appealing modern options that go beyond the simple shaker. Many of these can go from the kitchen workstation straight to the table, or can
Nov 23, 2010
Best Sources for China, Glassware, & More
This Thursday, families across America will be bringing out their best dishes and setting the Thanksgiving table. In case you’re in need of some new wine glasses, a tablecloth, or even a whole new set of china before the big day, we’ve rounded up 12 of our best table setting source lists. • Read the
Nov 22, 2010
How To Preserve and Over-Winter Your Outdoor Herbs
I can’t bear to leave my herbs outside, plus nothing is better than having fresh herbs all winter long. I’m looking forward to sage and rosemary in my Thanksgiving stuffing, fresh basil pesto when I need a pick-me-up during the coldest storm in January, and oregano and thyme in a hearty soup for a cozy
Nov 19, 2010
Preserving Your Herbs: Choosing The Best Spice Jars
Ever realize that you have 4 different containers of cinnamon or cream of tartar lurking in the back of a cabinet? Maybe 3 of them unwittingly fell off the lazy susan, but still…there’s got to be a better way to organize and preserve what we have so that we make the most of what we
Nov 11, 2010
Meri Meri Party Supplies
Meri Meri is a small company that’s been turning out spectacular paper products for the last 20 years, and their partyware makes it easy to host a visually cohesive kids party sans licensed TV characters. Items can be purchased a la carte or grab a themed party pack including invitations and thank you notes, cupcake
Nov 10, 2010
Eco-Friendly Tablecloths
I feel that in recent years tablecloths have sort of gone out of style and become something associated more with a stuffy older relative rather than with a hip host or hostess. So I’ve pulled together a little selection of modern tablecloths for inspired holiday table settings. The selection includes tablecloths made of recycled or
Nov 8, 2010
8 Stylish Eco Friendly Placemats
Stylish and eco-friendly placemats can be difficult to find, which is why I typically sew my own from organic cotton or linen. But with more options and materials available—from wool felt to silicone to block-printed organic cotton—the following shops offer a variety of price points and represent different shades of “green.” • Read the full
Nov 5, 2010
Sous Vide On A Budget: Hack Your Slow Cooker
It’s getting colder, so we’ve been craving hot comfort food. The best way to achieve those comfort foods — with the slow cooker! Now, there’s another cooking method we can easily master with the slow cooker. • Read the full post at Unplggd
Nov 4, 2010
How To Clean Silver With Baking Soda & Aluminum Foil
I’ve been trying out some green cleaning tips to get rid of those icky “lock them under the sink” chemicals and I found a new favorite. This tip for cleaning your silverware is quick, easy, uses things from around the kitchen, and it works! Yay! • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Nov 3, 2010
How to Clean Electric Stove Burners
Does your pot frequently runneth over? Are your stove burners caked with spots from former tenants? Do you set off the smoke alarm before you even begin to cook? It might be time to give those stove burners a good cleaning. Here’s how. • Read the full post at Unplggd
Nov 2, 2010
Best Wine Racks for the Home 2010
I’ve been compiling a list of the best new wine racks for the past two years, and this year I thought I’d do something a little different and highlight vintage designs (in addition to an expanded list of new and easily available racks). Some of these older pieces are no longer in production and you
Oct 27, 2010
Colorful Cutlery
October is color month here at Ohdeedoh and tots’ utensils are an easy and fun way to add some visual interest at mealtime. Check out some of our favorite flatware, all of it BPA-free. • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh
Oct 26, 2010
Colorful Mango Wood Bowls
I’m a bit of a sucker for bowls. They’re just so versatile! I have a few around my house: on my entryway table (for loose change and keys), on my bathroom cabinet (for jewelry and bobby pins), on my nightstand (for glasses and ear plugs). So it’s not surprising these colorful bowls made from sustainable
Oct 20, 2010
Simple Play Kitchen
We adore a fancy play kitchen but sometimes simple is best. When we stumbled upon this little play kitchen, we were completely drawn in. • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh
Oct 19, 2010
Color in the Kitchen: Lively Refrigerators
What better way to liven up the kitchen than with a pop of color decorating the fridge? This can come in the form of a new retro fridge or older classic appliance; a patterned decal or DIY chalkboard paint job. My grandmother still has a mustard yellow refrigerator from the 70’s — beautifully maintained I
Oct 15, 2010
Ghastly, Ghoulish Halloween Food
No, ghoulish not goulash! Some families go all out with decorating and others flex their Halloween muscles in the kitchen. Whether you’re planning a party or just want to surprise your family at home, here are five spooky dishes to serve up this time of year. • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh
Oct 14, 2010
Tech Mythbusters: Can a Cell Detect Microwave Leaks?
Ah, the internet. Where else would we find answers to all of our random questions? Our latest internet research: Whether or not your cell phone can help you identify leaks in your microwave. The legend says that if you place your phone in a microwave and close the door, it will only be able to receive an incoming call if there’s a leak. But is that true?
Oct 8, 2010
Creative Kitchen Compost Keepers
It can be stinky, and an unpleasant surprise should you stumble on it unexpectedly, but kitchen compost is anything but trash. So how do you tie in this kitchen essential without distracting from the design of your kitchen? • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Oct 7, 2010
Re-Using Tea Bags: The Good, The Bad, and the Green
As most avid tea drinkers will tell you, if you are using tea bags, you can get extra use out of them if you are willing to do so. Most people just chuck them into the trash, compost heap, or recycling bin, but saving them for your next tea is also an interesting idea. •
Oct 5, 2010
Techy & Minimal Refrigerators from Dacor & Rangemaster
For most kitchens, the fridge is really important. It’s a massive appliance that people immediately notice. It’s also very convenient to have a great fridge, so that you can access your food easily and add a touch of luxury to your kitchen. • Read the full post at Unplggd
Sep 17, 2010
Ideas for Keeping Track of the Dishwasher
Little is worse than dropping a messy plate into a dishwasher load of (previously) clean dishes. You either have to waste water and money running the whole load again, or admit your lesser kitchen cleanliness standards and use those dirty-by-association dishes. Next time, save yourself the trouble and leave some—any!—reminder of what lies beneath the
Sep 16, 2010
Lunchbox Roundup
School has started for almost everyone and parents are facing another year of packing nutritious and tasty school lunches. To get things off on the right foot, we’ve rounded up our five favorite lunchboxes that parents and kids can both appreciate. • Read the full post at Ohdeedoh
Sep 15, 2010
Thinking Outside the Box: Grundtal Kitchen Rails
Yesterday, I stopped by a friend’s new apartment to see what she’d done with the place. Of course, she’d already made the expected run to IKEA. What was less expected was the ways she’d come up with to use IKEA’s Grundtal towel rails. • Read the full post at Apartment Therapy
Sep 10, 2010
Is This Normal? Standing Water Left in the Dishwasher
One of our tips for “How to Know When to Replace Your Dishwasher” was to check that your dishwasher is draining properly by looking out for water leftover after it runs a cycle. But the truth is, not all standing water is a bad sign.
Sep 9, 2010
Beautiful Handcrafted Brooms
Broom making may be a dwindling art, but it’s not dead yet. In fact, it seems to be flourishing in some corners of the country and around the world, where craftspeople are still creating beautiful, functional sweepers using natural materials like broom corn, sassafras, sorghum, and bamboo. Here are a few artful brooms and broom
Sep 8, 2010
Use an Altoids Sours Tin to Create a Mini BBQ Grill
With the days remaining hot, the time for BBQs and camping trips is far from over. This nifty little project takes something that we love — the humble Altoids tin — and upcycles it. • Read the full post at Unplggd
Sep 7, 2010
Drink Local: Sexy Tap Water Is In
Whether you want to impress your guests or take it with you, tap water’s presentation vessels have gotten a lot sexier these days. Perhaps it’s the refreshing knowledge of drinking local water. Or maybe we are all just getting in touch with the style-mavens inside. • Read the full post at Re-Nest
Aug 31, 2010
Help! My Microwave Turntable Won’t Spin
Repairs are expensive. New microwaves are cheap. But you don’t have to spend a dime on either. If your microwave turntable stopped spinning, here’s an easy way to try and fix it.And all you need is some warm, soapy water and your own two hands.
Aug 30, 2010
How To Refurbish a Vintage Stove Knob in 5 Easy Steps
What felt like the find of a lifetime, I came across an ad for a vintage apartment-sized O’Keefe and Merritt stove. It was in amazingly great shape for its age and all the knobs were intact and not stripped of their original black text markings. That is…until the stove was moved during renovations and I
Aug 27, 2010