Blessings

Bless those in power that use their power to help humanity.

Bless the designers that improve the quality of life of people

Bless those that create healthy interiors and exterior environments, those that create healing enabling spaces.

Bless the customers that sustain the design profession

Bless those that are able and working, bless those that are poor

Bless those that are ill and let us pray for their healing

Bless those that care for the ill, those that give to the ill

Bless those that mourn the passing of loved ones

Those that comfort the ones who mourn

Those that love unconditionally

Bless those that carried you when you could not walk

Those that held you when you could not stand

That caught you when you fell.

To our loved ones - You are not forgotten, You are loved.

Dedicated to James Y Suzuki, Patricia Ann Spain, George T Suzuki, Hiro Suzuki, Tomiko Suzuki, Tosh Kojima, Mary Ima, Paul Ima, Eunice Spain, Thomas Spain, Gerald Lutz, Margie & Norio Harui, Kevin Liu, Ben Oh, Marcelle Bitton, Zillah Levine, Charles Wischman, Donald Joseph Strathern

When does your back yard belongs to someone else?

I was trimming overgrown bushes and trees in my back yard when the neighbor directly behind my yard informed me that he was going to obtain 4' of my back yard for his own use!  It turns out that the home and property that I purchased in 1989 has an alley easement of 8' in the back yard.  This easement has been on our properties (on the east side of block) for approximately 100 years, way before the other side of the block (west side) was even platted.  **Important - the properties on the west side of the block do not line up with the east side, in other words SOME of my backyard lines up with this neighbor but not all of it.  Talking to the east side neighbors revealed that all of our 'old' fences  incorporate the alley into the properties on the east side of the block.  

I went ahead and replaced the old fence that had partially already fallen down (that divides me from my north neighbor) and was promptly given a letter from the city of Seattle DOT stating that I was violating the public access to the alley by replacing the fence.  Now, I want you to know that my house is not on the end of the block but in the middle.  The entire block has incorporated this 'alley' into their back yards.  At one point I suggested that I just remove the part of the fence that I replaced that sits on the 'alley' and I was told 'NO, you have to get a permit to remove the fence.' WHAT??? 

I found out that my neighbor to the north also received a letter about the fence.  Apparently he and I are the target of this aggressive neighbor who happens to be a city employee with clout.  So after approximately 26 years of use, there is a possibility that my back fence will be jagged, partially bumped into my yard 4'-8'.   My north neighbor and I will have to apply to use this alley space ($344 application fee, $140 year per structure meaning a fence or swing or tool shed) AND SOMEONE can appeal the city's decision to grant us the use permit, denying us use of the space that we have been maintaining for many years.

Consolation was given by my friend Vidal who promptly saw the 'zen' of the fallen trimmed tree and built a pond UNDER it.  This beautiful Zen water garden provides peace while I await the city's decision on how to proceed.

Reflecting on nature's beauty, Christine

Award winning Kitchen!

Christine Suzuki, ASID, LEED AP  (me!), was awarded First Place for Residential Small Kitchen, in ASID's 2015 Awards of Excellence competition.  I love all of my design projects but it is nice when we receive confirmation that others love them as well!

This kitchen is in a small condo on Queen Anne hill. The original kitchen was a small rectangular room with two entrances, one from the hall, the second from the dining room. My role in this project was to create a space that looked and felt bigger, create an island with a breakfast bar and to add ‘a little bling.’  .  We removed the wall separating the dining from the kitchen and added an island with a breakfast bar.  We also bumped the back wall of the kitchen into the bedroom behind it giving us extra room to maneuver.  I like to minimize any protrusions into the space, so I selected the recessed finger pulls for the cabinetry.  

The opaque glass insert create a feeling of space as well.  The richness of the brandy stained cherry cabinets is balanced by the warm yellow color of the cork floor. We created a ‘feature’ wall behind the sink with glittering round metal tiles, centering the upper cabinets.  The hanging metal hood doubles as a light fixture.  All the upper cabinets are a double bi-fold tilt up style which makes it easy to access all items in the cupboards while retaining a clean horizontal line.  The large pantry cabinet to the left of the dishwasher is actually a 6” deep cabinet that is fit within the studs of the wall behind it.  

We also created an upper U shaped drawer for the sink cabinet to gain precious storage space.  The challenges for this project are typical of a condo, we needed to keep the drainage and venting in the same locations.  The cement radiant heat ceiling meant that we had to create a lowered ceiling with shallow recessed lights.  The old elevator was small and we were challenged in getting the granite counters up to the fifth floor.  The ending result, however, was outstanding and the clients have enjoyed this Seattle get away ever since.

Soft Modern Kitchen

What is soft modern?  Modern design without the ‘coldness’ of what we associate with modern.  Soft Modern incorporates ‘tactical’ elements to balance against smoothness, ‘friendly’ colors that are muted and relaxing.  Round shapes are allowed to associate with rectangular shapes.  I was happy to be selected as the designer for this Soft Modern kitchen.

 I call this kitchen ‘Earth Water & Air’ because of the materials selected and their relationship to these natural elements.  Usually, a design using ‘natural materials’ has a dominant color of browns which represent wood.  In this case, soft reflective gloss green cabinets remind us of water,  little globe lights bubble in the atmosphere.  Blue and green mosaic tile creates a sense of air or smoke going up the hood and the satin textured granite counters say ‘stone’ in the very basic sense of the word.  The granite has a very subtle color without normal busyness of granite patterning.  The ‘hand’ of the stone, a subtle but distinct texture, along with the color, was the basis of the entire design, providing our first strong relationship to nature.  The enlarged windows allow this family to be ‘one’ with the outside elements.

Take a look at all the pictures of this kitchen on our website www.christinesuzuki.com under portfolio/kitchens.  

With gratitude, Christine

Micro Current and Cancer

Recently I wrote about electromagnetic frequencies and the effects on the human body.  I neglected to tell you why I had such an interest in electricity and the body.  My father invented a machine that uses low levels of electricity (micro current) to re-educate muscles.  It is used extensively in both the sports medicine field and the aesthetic field (micro current face lifts.)  He was also a big proponent of the positive benefits of micro current on the entire body, the lymphatic system and the effects of micro current on our bodies on a cellular level. My dad was known for correctly analyzing ailments by studying the TMJ of the person in front of him.  People were always amazed at how accurate he was.  Given the opportunity, he would continue and cure the ailment through the use of micro current.

He also developed a procedure which he called Psychological Clearing' that treated physiological reactions through the use of micro current.  In other words, if you had claustrophobia, your symptons of stress would be removed and you would be free of that phobia.  This is relevant to my discussion of electromagnetic frequencies because many people can 'see' throughts as frequencies of color that can be changed.  In this case, the frequency of your mental/phsiological state is changed with micro-current.

Recently, I stumbled upon information on Dr Ramesh Singh Chouhan, who studied INDUCED CANCER REGRESSION "not using chemotherapeutic agents or radiation, but using micro-electric currents and consists of wiring up the tumor to a current source and causing a regression of the tumorous cells.  Rehabilitation of the delinquent caner cells is a more intelligent method than destroying them with radiation."

THIS IS BIG.  Basically this information is saying that the machine that my father invented could reduce cancerous tumors.  I rushed this information to my dad at his hospital bed and for the first time in weeks, saw a glimmer in his eyes.  Not because he thought his machine was going to cure him; at this point the cancer was all over his body.  But that his machine could cure others of cancer and that his theories on the healing properties of micro current were finally being validated.

My cousin Rachel share at his memorial, James Y Suzuki was a Healer.  His development of mico current applications have changed the lives of many people and his legacy will continue to benefit others in the future.  Miss you Dad.

Staining Stone Counters

Stone counters and floors are beautiful, natural and, as they say ‘hard as rock.’  After 10+ years of living with beautiful granite and marble counters, I have just recently managed to stain my counters leaving me miserable.  We have always heard about the red wine glass stain to be aware of, but frankly I have never experienced any staining at all, let alone dishwasher soap, lemon, or a newspaper. Sadly, I present the evidence:  the white mark on this granite counter is from dish washer soap that was left on the counter.  I have not been able to remove it.  It is etched into the counter.

These black marks on the marble counter are from a newspaper.  Upon wiping, 50% of the stain was removed.  Two days of spraying with Bio-Green Clean and leaving it to soak was the resolution of this problem.  But I tell you, that is the last time I read a newspaper in the bathroom!

These white marks are from dish soap and lemon juice that touched the marble counter while making a salad.  These stains will not go away.  The solution that I am working on, (with lots of patience), is a putty mixture given to me by my stone fabricator.  This mixture wipes on, then upon drying, you rub it off.  The theory is that by drying, it pulls the stain up from the stone.  This is tedious and way more work than the two seconds it would have taken to wipe the lemon stain up or simply not store your dish soap on the counter (put it IN the sink?)

This is a tiring process and although I have had decades of good experience with natural stone, I am definitely thinking twice before installing it in a home that has multiple users (these stains were all done by people other than myself.)

Keeping Green, Christine

Connecting the Dots of Electromagnetic Frequencies

Years ago I spent time calling around to Universities and colleges to see if there was a Masters program that addressed the effects of frequencies on the human body.  I was bounced around from the music department (I mentioned sound frequencies) to the school of medicine yet no one really understood what I was talking about.  I was unsure of it myself. 

I now understand the concept of what I have been searching for.  I believe that we are made up of various levels of frequencies.  We, meaning people, but also animals and plants.  All of us are made up of electromagnetic frequencies.  Humans have seven different layers of frequencies that we know about.  Some of these frequencies can be determined through medical testing, some can be detected through photography, specifically Kirlian photography.

Frequencies are a level/function of electricity which on one level uses water.  Water can be manipulated via electricity or electrolysis to change the molecular structure as well as the ph level.  Our bodies are comprised of water and electricity.  Colors have different frequencies and those frequencies interact with our body frequencies.  Sound and music have different frequencies and those frequencies interact with our body frequencies.  Some people can ‘see’ auras of others.  What they are seeing is our frequency (one of the layers of frequency of our body/soul/mind.)  Those frequencies can be detected and photographed.  They are real and they can be documented.

Some people feel/believe that when the body dies, the soul leaves the body.  I believe that is true.  I believe that the soul is made up of a layer of frequency that can exist without the physical body.  That being said, it would lead to the hypothesis that souls never die, that they continue to exist.  Many people believe that they have been visited by loved ones that have passed away.  This can/could be explained by the theory that the human soul continues to exist on the spiritual level in a frequency that is not detected by the human eye, and, like our existence on earth in a body, we can control where we are going and what we are doing.  Where do we go when our body dies?  Perhaps nowhere, perhaps we will still be 'here.'  Perhaps we ‘live’ a continuing existence in a frequency undetectable by humans.

Will we be happier when we leave the restrictions and limitations of our body?  Will we still fight wars?

Going Green, Christine  

Update on 2014-10-07 23:45 by Christine Suzuki, ASID, LEED AP

My father invented a machine that uses low levels of electricity (micro current) to re-educate muscles.  It is used extensively in both the sports medicine field and the aesthetic field (micro current face lifts.)  He was also a big proponent of the positive benefits of micro current on the entire body, the lymphatic system, and the effects on our bodies on a cellular level. He also had a procedure called psychological clearing that treated physiological reactions through micro-current.  In other words, if you had claustrophobia, your symptons of stress in those situations and thinking of those situations would be removed and you would be free of that phobia.  This is relavant to my discussion of electromagnetic frequencies because many people can 'see' thoughts as frequencies of color that can be changed.  In this case the frequency of your mental/phsiological state is changed through micro current.

Recently, I stumbled upon information on Dr Ramesh Singh Chouhan, who studied INDUCED CANCER REGRESSION 'not using chemotherapeutic agents or radiation but using micro-electric currents and consists of wiring up the tumor to a current source and causing a regression of the tumorous cells.  Rehabilitation of the delinquent cancer cells is a more intelligent method than destroying them with radiation.' 

THIS IS BIG, basically this information is saying that the machine that my father invented could reduce cancerous tumors.  I rushed this information to him at his hospital bed and for the first time in weeks saw a glimmer in his eyes.  Not because he thought his machine was going to cure him; at this point he knew the cancer was all over his body.  But that his machine and his theories on the healing properties of micro-current were finally being validated in print. My cousin Rachel shared this at his memorial,

James Y Suzuki was a Healer, and his legacy of micro current applications have changed the lives of many.  Miss you dad

My Green Toilet Water 2.0

OK, we’ve been here before, February of 2010 to be exact.  That is when I announced my big plan for harvesting the rainwater from my roof, putting it through a filtering system and using it for flushing my toilets.  All disguised as a waterfall.  A good idea, I thought.  Well, back in 2010 I ran out of money to finish the project and the tanks have been sitting my back yard since.

Much has changed in the last four years and Seattle is on board with rainwater harvesting.  (If you remember, rain barrels used to be the only option.)  In 2013 the city of Seattle created a program called RainWise where large rain barrels (called cisterns) are encouraged to be used for watering your gardens, and/or directing rainwater to the sewer or conveyance channel.  There are REBATES available for homeowners who participate in this program and live within a specific area.  There are some requirements:  a minimum of 400 sf of roof area must be directed to one cistern, you must used a licensed bonded contractor from the list of authorized contractors, etc.  These are easy requirements to fill and I encourage everyone that qualifies for the rebate to participate.   In fact, even if you do not qualify for the rebate you should participate.

My project was always a bit more comprehensive, the big tanks have to be placed under ground and I will have meters to monitor the water useage, etc.  It helps to remind everyone why I am doing this in the first place – because it makes me crazy that we use treated, drinkable water to flush our toilets.  Many of my home projects wind up being more than the initial design….the gutter waterfall has turned into a rockery waterfall/small pond, and I’m thinking about building an ADU (attached dwelling unit) that incorporates the harvesting system.  Hopefully, with the help of the city of Seattle I may be able to start this project up again!

Going Green, Christine       

Water is Life - Life is Water

Water is a big part of our body – water and electricity.  Our body is made up of cells that communicate and ‘live’ through electrical and chemical charges (synapses.)*   Dr Robert Becker of The Body Electric* wrote ‘Electricity is vital to life.’  And of course, we all know that electricity needs water to exist.  So if our body, and our planet, are intrinsically dependent on water, we should value this resource as it affects our body, health and existence.

So let’s talk about the water you put in your body

We are still purchasing bottled water to drink both at home and away from home.  Although the plastic bottles of water with BPA in them are known to be hazardous to your health, (FDA declared BPA safe in 2008, but in 2010 modified their position, then 2012 banned the chemical in baby bottles) it turns out the BPA-free plastics are just as bad or worse than the BPA bottles.* Currently, the ‘safest bottle’ is a glass bottle wrapped in a silicone sleeve for protection.* The water that we purchase in bottled waters claim to be ‘filtered’ or ‘natural’ but when tested for their affects on your body in relation to ph* levels and orp*, they fall below tap water.

Tap water, as we know, is not perfect, and contains chlorine as well as other contaminants.  Many people purchase and install water filters in their kitchens in an attempt to better the water that they consume.  My latest research has shown that Ionized water machines are providing health benefits that other types of water do not.  The theory (behind the testimonials) is that through the process of electrolysis, water is ionized to produce ionized alkaline water.  Ionization breaks up the molecule clusters, making it easier for the water to penetrate your cells. ‘The other way an ionizer alters water is to TURN REGULAR WATER INTO A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT, measured as ORP* (Oxidation Reduction Potential.)’  This is turning your water into a source of healing.  The better ionizer machines will also have two carbon filters that remove the chlorine but retain the minerals.

The other crazy information that I witnessed about ionized water is the cleaning aspect.  The dramatic demonstration shows two glasses of cherry tomatoes, one being ‘washed’ in tap water and the second being ‘washed’ in 11.5 ph ionized alkaline water. Apparently oil based pesticides replaced water based pesticides which were too easily removed with rainwater.  SO, when you ‘wash’ your fruits and vegetables in tap water, the pesticides are not removed.  When soaked in 11.5 ph ionized alkaline water the water turns a sickly yellow color.  This is what we are putting in our body!  I spoke to a researcher at the University of Washington who is studying the effects of pesticides in people and besides the commonly known facts of cancer, reproductive problems, and developmental disorders, there is a proven decrease in cognitive abilities.  OUCH!  Fruits and vegetables that have pesticides on them are HARMFUL to your HEALTH.

The apparent benefit of ionized water machines are twofold, one creating healing/healthy/antioxidant water for you to drink and the second to successfully remove the poisons that are in our ‘fresh’ vegetables and fruits.  I cannot think of a more important investment in your health than the investment of an ionized water machine.  There are many testimonials about the healing aspects of certain waters, some throughout the centuries.  Scientists are now discovering that the difference in the waters are in the ORP levels.  People are being healed with ionized water, this is something you need to look at.

Going Green, Christine

Healthy Homes & Lifestyles

I am pleased to invite you to visit my design studio and gift store Healthy Homes & Lifestyles at the new Lakeview Yoga and Wellness Center, 7800 NE Bothell Way #155, Kenmore, WA. 

We are hosting an Open House to show off our new digs on Saturday June 7 from Noon – 3:00 PM.  Festivities include food and drink, gift bags for the first 50 people and gift packages that will be raffled off to our guests.  Kenmore Fitness is joining us in celebrating our move to the new facilities.  I designed both spaces and although they are polar opposites in the style (Relaxing Spa versus High Energy weight lifting,) both are equally successful in creating a sense of space that reflects their customers values and preferences.     

My obsession with locally made, healthy, sustainable and recycled materials had led me to provide these products for my clients.  Let me introduce you to some of the offerings:

Univera products have been a part of my life for a few years now.  Univera is a company that makes plant based supplements for your health.  Their headquarters is in Seattle and they ship out of Lacey Washington.  Of their many wonderful products I selected Xtra (for anti-oxidants), Regenicare and Regenifree (for body pain and mobility), Aloe (for moisturizing and healing cuts and burns) and Femme Vitale (for women my age).

Bio-Therapeutic Skin Care was created for professional aestheticians and we are lucky enough to be able to offer these products to the general public.  Specifically formulated for maximizing the health of your skin, all of their products are paraben free (paraben preservatives are linked to cancer) as well as being locally manufactured.

Bio Green Clean is an extremely effective cleaning solution that is made of 100% pure ingredients such as amino acids, minerals, leafy green vegetables, etc and is so healthy that if you accidentally drank it, you would be fine.  I have had professional cleaning services ask me where to purchase this cleaner because of its’ effectiveness and safety for use on all surfaces.

Bellmont Cabinets is a family owned company in Sumner Washington, and creates some of the finest cabinets I’ve seen.  Their plant is extremely impressive with ‘just in time’ manufacturing which allows customization of cabinets without extra costs or wasted materials.  They have a huge commitment to providing quality cabinets within a completely ‘green’ manufacturing plant which wastes not, protecting both the environment as well as their employees and customers.

Theo’s Chocolates – need I say more?  Locally made, the Nibs are extremely high in anti-oxidants, in fact I never knew that anti-oxidants could be so enjoyable to eat!

I look forward to seeing and talking to every one of you!  Come visit me at my new home!   Sincerely, Christine

Seriously Bent but not Broken

I found myself looking through old black and white negatives from my days as an aspiring photographer, looking for the one really good picture of my Grandpa Suzuki. My sister in law requested it so that she could make copies of it; it was known as the best picture of my grandpa ever taken.  I took that picture.  I also took a good picture of my mother before she died.  Ironically, this is one of a few that we have of her since she tore up all the pictures that were taken of her.  

I do not regularly look at old pictures but when I do, as I was searching for the negative of that one good black and white photo of my grandfather, I am reminded of a life full of excitement and drama, lots of people, lots of laughter lots of sadness.  How I got to my current place in life is beyond me. The pictures show a daisy chain of my life that is broken and crooked, but I managed to survive.  I’ve soul searched a lot in the last few years dragging myself through two divorces, one of my own and one of my fathers, struggling to keep life in balance.  Is it me or do people stay away from you when you are going through a divorce?  I feel alone and tired, feel like my life has become one little blip in the blips of the world and no one really cares about little blips.  I guess the pain of divorce is a pain that you have to go through yourself.

I have a beautiful new Design Studio and Gift Shop and am dying to have a ‘grand opening’ but the owner of the Yoga studio wants to wait until June.  June!  That’s 3 months after moving in!  I’ll really lose momentum by then! A student at our studio created T-shirts for the grand opening that read “Seriously Bent” on the front, “But not Broken” on the back.  I really wanted to have a big party to celebrate this new part of my life, but I guess I have to have patience. 

And yes, I found the negative of that great black and white picture of my grandpa as well as the one of my mom.  I think I will reprint both of them.  They will both be happy to know, that through it all - I may be seriously bent, but I am not broken!   Keeping Green, Christine

Environmental Guardianship Failure

Our earth has provided safe food and water for us for millions of years.  Unfortunately, we have contaminated our earth in some areas to the point that the food and water is harmful to our health.  The water in nine counties in West Virginia is undrinkable, closing restaurants, hotels, schools and other businesses.

The January 9th chemical spill contaminated the Elk River with crude MCHM, a chemical mixture used in the coal production process. MCHM is toxic if ingested.   A ‘Do Not Use the water’ order left 300,000 West Virginians without potable water.  The water coming out of their taps was poisonous brown and liquorice-scented.

After 10 days, the water was declared safe to drink.  However West Virginians remain skeptical.  "If one smells the odor, people know the chemical is in the water," said Dr. Rahul Gupta, the director of the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department.  Governor Tomblin has told residents that the decision of whether or not to use the water is a personal, individual matter.  After he made that announcement, news broke that crude MCHM can break down into formaldehyde, a known carcinogen.

Sadly, on February 7^th, weeks after the water was declared safe, two of the chemicals were detected in the water supply of George Washington High School. The tell-tale licorice odor was back, and students and staff reported symptoms that included burning eyes, light-headedness and headaches. 

Why are we allowing this to happen to our world?  When will it stop?   Can we end this contamination? Or will it end us? 

Always green, Christine

New Beginnings

Happy New Year!   Along with you, I have been reflecting on the past year and setting new goals for 2014.  Welcoming in the new year is like getting onto an airplane.  One of the things I like about getting onto an airplane is that I feel that I am about to embark upon a new adventure and that I am leaving my troubles behind. (at least symbolically.)  This is how I feel about 2014, it is a new year and I am embarking on a new adventure! 

After much deliberation, I have decided to go back to school. Sitting next to young smart people is stimulating enough but I also find that I am excited to be in a learning environment!   I will have help maintaining my Design Studio and Remodeling services and in fact I am adding to my Cabinet displays.  We are moving the showroom/office two blocks to a new location where I will have all my materials displayed along with a new cabinet display showcasing Bellmont’s wide array of chic styles.  I am also going to have a small Store that will feature healthy and sustainable health supplements, skin care for adults (my age!), specialty teas, non toxic cleaning supplies, meditation cds, bags and gifts using recycled materials, books, yoga mats, chocolate nibs (high on anti-oxidants,) and more.  

Our new name reflects our passion – Healthy Homes & Lifestyles!  You HAVE to visit US!

Please join us in the celebration early March (details to follow), our new home will be 7800 NE Bothell Way Suite 150, Kenmore WA

Always green, Christine

Who do you shower with? I shower with Marble!

I shower surrounded by marble and I love it.  There is something both peaceful and elegant when showering in marble enclosures.  Natural stone triggers our body to relax, as does landscape pictures, and other symbols of nature.  Marble also gives a sense of elegance that ceramic tile just doesn’t have. Marble Tiles, Bellmont Cabinets

Marble is relatively low priced (compared to granite) and polished marble tiles can be used on the walls of your shower.  When having a marble tile shower enclosure installed, I request that my installer uses a very small grout line, just a hair.  That way we see more of the natural material and less grout.

 One extremely successful option that I recently explored is using entire slabs of marble on the walls of the shower and adjacent walls.  With few to zero seams, you really will not ever have a ‘grout problem’ and the result is spectacular. Marble Slabs An easy way to go about this is to visit a ‘stone yard’ and look at marble slabs.  There will be a wide variety of selections and with it, a wide variety of prices.  But some of the most beautiful stones are the most ‘common’ ones and many of those are in the lower price section.  Stone slabs come in different thicknesses.  3 cm is for counters, 2 cm can be used for counters OR shower walls.  Some slab yards have 1 cm slabs that are specifically for walls.  These are even lower priced because they are very thin.

A popular finish for stone is ‘leather’ (it comes in a variety of names).  This finish is not polished, and it is not honed.  It has a textured ‘hand’ which feels very ‘natural’ and ‘unproduced’ AND it is difficult to stain.  Leather finished marble is perfect for a shower enclosure.  It has the beauty of nature and the elegance that only marble brings to the table. 

So, Who do you shower with?  I shower with Marble!

Microwave ovens – will we replace them with Steam ovens?

Years ago, Miele (German manufacturer of appliances), introduced the ‘Speed Oven.’  It was the first hybrid of a microwave and a convection oven.  It is still one of the leading technologies of microwave/convection because it not only cooks either microwave or convection, but it can utilize both at the same time to increase the speed and quality of the cooking.  Miele was  mindful of the limited space in some kitchens and used the microwave (which has become a mainstay of the contemporary kitchen) to double as a second oven.

Recently Miele has taken its Steam Oven and combined it with a Convection oven (called a Combi-Steam oven.)   According to the representative, the Combi-Steam oven is overtaking the Speed oven in popularity, mainly due to the healthy benefits of steam cooking over microwave cooking.

Once considered a ‘specialty’ appliance, the steam oven is working its way into the standard kitchen appliance list.  Everyone knows that steam cooking is the healthiest way of cooking, mainly because it retains the nutrients, vitamins and minerals of the food.  It also maintains the moisture in the food and you do not need to use any oils or fats.  Because of the lack of oils and fats, cleaning the pots/pans is extremely easy.  In our new ‘health’ oriented society, steaming is ‘in’ and microwaving is ‘out.’  Although the FDA claims that microwave cooking does not reduce the nutritional value of foods ‘any more than conventional cooking,’ steam cooking experts claim that up to 60% of the nutrients and glucosinolates can get damaged by boiling or microwave cooking.

I’ve noticed that with every two steps forward in technology, we demand back a little of our old fashioned values, eating whole foods, raw or steamed, not boiled or fried, buying food from local farmers or even growing it ourselves to try to encapsulate the vitamins and minerals that are often lost in mass production.  Asking if the food has been genetically engineered, looking for quality products, grown in quality conditions, to put inside our body.  Keeping our bodies healthy….we all may be steaming soon!

Healthy Home – GLASS counters

ONE of the most important selections in a kitchen design is the kitchen counter.  A stylish healthy material that is often overlooked is Glass.  Glass counters take the spotlight (as they should) in any kitchen.  They are most often used as breakfast bars, entertainment bars or eating surfaces such as dining tables.  Glass counters can be just as effective in a small kitchen as a large one (just because you are small doesn’t mean that you cannot shine!)

Some of the benefits of glass counters include:*

1.  Glass is non-toxic.  It will not emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or radon gas, making it one of the most healthy materials in your home.

2.  Glass is non-porous, leaving no place for germs to hide or stains to absorb.  This is one of the few materials that I personally warranty will not stain.

3.  Glass is durable - more durable than you think.  glass is made of silica which is the main element found in granite, offering a similar hardness and long life.  Glass counters are thick and not easily broken.  Glass does not require sealing or any special maintenance.

4.  Some glass counters are made with recycled glass which give them an A+ in sustainability.

Be aware that some counter materials contain glass pieces that are bound together in a resin.   These counter materials do not have the same properties as the 100% glass counters described above.  In fact, many of them are MORE porous and MORE delicate.

Again, whenever you are selecting counter materials, obtain a sample and try to ‘kill it.’  Try to stain it, try to scratch it, try to clean the stain, use harsh cleaners, etc.  Then you can safely decide if you want this product for your kitchen counter – you will know exactly how it will react to daily use.

When you use glass counters, you raise the quality of your kitchen design while receiving the health benefits of using durable non toxic materials!

*Glassworks Inc., www.glassworksinc.com

Your Body is Your House

Toxins in our homes have been in discussion for several years.   LEAD based paint is most certainly in 70% of the homes in Seattle (all homes built before 1978 are suspect).  Even if the layer of lead based paint is five layers down, you are in danger of lead poisoning.  When would you disturb a layer that old?  When you remodel!  Toxins enter the body either through our lungs or by accidental eating (a microgram of lead dust is enough to cause lead poisoning.)   Do your children or grandchildren play with or suck on car keys?  Keys contain lead.  Even handling your keys and eating finger food can deliver a significant amount of lead into your mouth.  The dangers of lead poisoning are many.  LEAD is a highly toxic metal that can profoundly suppress immunity.  Lead poses significant health risk for adults but are particularly dangerous for children causing damage to the brain and central nervous system, can cause decreased intelligence, reading and learning difficulties, behavioral problems and hyperactivity.  This damage can be irreversible, affecting children throughout their lives.

The bottom line is that your house can be dangerous to your health.  The double bottom line is that some of the items we purposely put in our body also contain lead.  Things like…hmm… Vitamin supplements! 

Surprisingly, one of the biggest sources of lead in your life (assuming you are not remodeling a home built before 1978) may be your nutritional supplements.  Lead contamination in calcium supplements has been a significant problem, even though an FDA warning on this issue was published in 1981.****  Since then, studies have confirmed that many forms of calcium still contain lead in amounts that exceed EPA safety guidelines.  Since many people (including children) are taking large doses of calcium, this is a matter of concern.  Supplements that we TRUST to put in our body may be making us SICK.  In 1993 researchers tested 70 brands of calcium supplements and found high levels of LEAD in a significant percentage.

How can you tell if your supplement contains high amounts of lead?  Ask for ‘certified heavy-metal assay’ from the manufacturer.  If they can’t give it to you switch to a company that will.

This sounds nuts but the truth is that there are different levels of QUALITY in vitamins and nutritional supplements.  They are not all alike.  Stephen Cherniske, CSO of Univera remarks, 'The bottle that says Calcium is not the same as the bottle next to it that says Calcium.  We exasperate the problem because we want ‘good deals’ and look for the cheapest brand at the cheapest price.  Is that the way to make sure you put healthy supplements into your body?  NO!  Think about it, if it takes more time to keep toxins out, if it costs more money for research to show the benefits of a product, if it costs more money to purchase purer base materials, then it will cost more.' 

Why would companies knowingly produce and sell low quality products with high levels of LEAD to the general public?  Because THEY CAN, and they are betting that you will buy it.

Is Interior Design sustainable?

As I morph into various versions of my Interior Design career, I’m left with the question ‘Who am I?’ ‘What am I doing?’  ‘Am I still considered an interior designer if I sell cabinets to other designers?’  ‘Is Interior design a sustainable business?’  My 2008 interior design business model is not.  Two years without any new design clients is not sustainable.  It is the way to become extinct.  When I studied in Cornish, I learned in cultural history that in the past, all great art and architecture was commissioned by a few, very rich people.  Is that our brave new world? 

I have survived by adding services such as procurement of cabinets, construction/remodeling services, I combined two companies into one, I moved my office, I laid off all my employees L, I specialized in a niche, I cut all unnecessary expenses, I eliminated phone lines, I tried to learn search engine optimization.  And lately I had to stop paying myself. The latter part of 2008 I was honored to receive the ASID Designer of Distinction award for the Washington State Chapter, a month later I laid off all my employees.  Every year that passed brought more financial destruction.   Cash flow management was the most important strategy to know.  Walking into the Seattle Designer Center is like walking into a memory book, everyone is gone, the halls are empty, even the national companies are having a hard time surviving. 2009 was bearable, 2010 I hung on.  But 2011 was the worst year yet.  How could it continue to slow down?

2012 was better- a little. 2013 is ‘picking up’ for a lot of people.  I find it going in spurts.  And spurts do not pay the bills.  2013 is the 6th year of struggle.  I’m tired.  Most of my friends that have/had businesses for themselves are also tired. Some friends slightly older than me have gracefully retired – those with spouses that had normal jobs with retirement savings.  If Interior Design is a sustainable career, then Interior Designers would have their own retirement savings, right?   NOT!  Name me one independent designer that has put money away for retirement.  That just didn’t happen for me.  It doesn’t matter how old I am, I cannot afford to retire. 

I’m tired.  It’s like starting all over.  Like the beginning when you were just building your business - but back then you had lots of energy and you had hopes, big hopes, big dreams.  You were willing to put in 70 hours a week, work on weekends and holidays, anything for your new business that you were building.  I’m tired.  I am still in business.  But now I look around and see my friends leaving the business and in some case leaving the state.  People are migrating to Arizona in waves seen similar to the great depression.  We are in the sixth year of this and some of my friends are just now losing their houses, they made it through 5 years but could not continue into the sixth year. They gave up their houses to try to save their businesses.  Now their businesses are failing. The spurts are too late.

A friend of mine has a stone yard in the design district.  Business has slowed to a small trickle, not near enough to pay the bills or put food on the table for his six kids.  ‘What are you going to do?’  I asked.  ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘I don’t know how to do anything else.’  Is the natural stone business unsustainable?  What business is sustainable?  And will I be happy doing that business?  I’m certainly not happy in my business, I am stressed out.  Is happiness sustainable?  Or is it just an illusion? 

Another friend sadly closed his upholstery business after 27 years. ‘Where are you going?’  ‘What are you going to do?’  I panicked, ‘How are you going to live?’  ‘How will you get food?’

‘I don’t know’ he whispered.  He was shaking.

Creating healthy living choices – My new favorite appliances

Calling these small units appliances may be stretching it but I use them every day and they have changed my health for the better.  Coincidently both were Christmas gifts. The first one was from my dad – a single induction burner with accompanying cookware.  My first reaction was “but dad, I already have a stove, a nice gas one that works really well.”  “Oh but this is different, it is better, I saw it on a commercial” (two for one plus shipping and handling) he said.  Reluctantly I accepted the gift bringing it to my office to experiment cooking at work.   WOW! I am sold!  ’ NuWave Precision Cook Top’ is better than any other cook top I have used.  Plugged into a regular outlet the unit has an internal fan that keeps the fire alarm from going off.  Place your pot or pan on the unit and you can boil water INSTANTLY.  No more waiting for the water to warm up, induction cooking is truly instantaneous and safe.  Once you remove the cookware the cook top stops heating the pan, you can touch the cook top and it is not hot, you will not get burned.  I have known about induction for a while and always regulated this type of cooking to the ‘good for when you get older’ category.  I knew about the safety, however I did not realize how much faster the cooking process is.  Your food starts cooking immediately after turning on the burner.  This cook top came with 2 non stick (safe) frying pans which make washing dishes a joy.  I also received a ‘pot’ that has 3” sides that can cook an entire meal.  While you are cooking your dinner, you can place the steamer unit (same size, also comes with the package) on top of the pot to steam your vegetables.  A single glass lid fits both the pot, the steamer and the large frying pan. I do not need any oil to cook my food, I am eating healthier and washing less dishes.  Plus it uses up to 90% less energy than the typical gas or electrical cook top.  I even have a fondue accessory that fits onto the pot that holds the fondue sticks (also came with the package.)  What a bargain! ($19.95 for everything). 

My second ‘appliance’ was obtained at a Christmas gift exchange from my Aunt Jane.  This small blender/mixer is cute and portable.  But since I didn’t really blend food, it took me a while to appreciate it.  Now I use it every day and it has also changed my health.  With Bella’s Rocket Blender, I can make a single serving (or half single serving) smoothie and guess what?  After blending, turn the cup over, remove (unscrew) the blade and the cup turns into your drinking cup.  There is also a top that you can screw onto the plastic cup if you want to take the juice to go.  So, besides being very small and portable, you do not have to wash a blender AND a cup, it is one and the same! My morning breakfast has changed from a ‘breakfast burrito’ to a very yummy and healthy smoothie created from Vanilla Yogurt, Vanilla Metafuel (Univera meal replacement), 4 oz of Xtra (Univera antioxidant energy product) 3 oz of Aloe Gold (Univera immune system protectant) and 3 oz of water.  When I feel wild and crazy I will add in fresh blueberries (more antioxidants) and/or cocoa nibs (more antioxidants). The last time I went through the drive through at McDonalds the cashier said, ‘where have you been, we miss you!’  ‘Sorry’, I said, 'I am working towards a healthier lifestyle!’ Between daily yoga, a healthy diet, and my life changing supplements, I am going to live forever!’ (I’m going to learn how to fly – FAME!) - I think I just dated myself,

Eating green, Christine