September 24th, 2014 at 11:30 am
What’s the one item you use almost every day in your kitchen?
Your butcher block and cutting board.
If it isn’t the most-used item, it’s likely high up on your list. If you have a wood cutting board or butcher block, you likely know how much damage they can sustain. However, when cared for properly, these wooden pieces can last a lifetime or longer. Wood surfaces show dirt and blemishes much quicker than the plastic variety. To keep your wood surfaces intact, start by knowing when to use them. Avoid using your wood block to cut raw meat or poultry. Keep a few plastic cutting boards in your kitchen for these types of projects. Use your wood block for cutting cooked meats, fruit and vegetables.
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September 22nd, 2014 at 10:00 am
© modscape
The scariest house yet, architectural innovation at its finest or a bit of both? The Cliff House is depicted as a direct extension of a seaside overhang and inspired by the barnacles that hang off a ship’s hull. Designed by Australian architectural firm Modscape, the house is still just a concept.
The project was designed specifically for a couple exploring options for a holiday home. Residents would enter through a carport and an elevator would connect each level. The design includes three bedrooms, a living room and kitchen.
Living in this home would offer 180-degree views of the ocean while enjoying a cup of tea in your living room. See the full design layout and learn more about the house at http://modscape.com.au/cliff-house-by-modscape-concept/.
September 19th, 2014 at 2:00 pm
About an hour east of San Diego, at about 4,200 feet in the beautiful Cuyamaca Mountains, is the quaint village of Julian. If you haven’t made a trip this way, now is the time. Julian is a historic gold mining town with the ability to transport you back to the 1870s. Get away from the coast and head to the mountains for a day of apple picking and, of course, apple pie eating. Now through the end of October (or whenever the apples are gone), Julian celebrates the annual fall harvest.
For the full Julian experience, visit during the Julian Apple Days Festival October 4h and 5h. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children under age 12.
For more information about Julian and its apple orchards, visit www.julianca.com/Orchards.html.
September 18th, 2014 at 2:00 pm
In decades past, suburbs were the place to be. Affluent residents moved out of the cities to settle down and start families. Today, we’re seeing the reverse. As poverty levels rise in the suburbs, more well-educated and affluent residents are choosing to stay in cities across America in favor of shorter commutes, walkable communities and urban amenities.
According to a recent report by the Brookings Institution, in a survey of the 100 largest metro areas all but three saw the number of poor living in high-poverty or distressed neighborhoods in suburban areas grow during the 2000s. While poverty has worsened in neighborhoods throughout the Unites States, it’s growing in the nation’s suburbs. “Suburbs now have nearly as many poor residents in high-poverty neighborhoods as cities,” the study says.
Read the full study and see how it’s affected your city at www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2014/concentrated-poverty#/M10420.
September 17th, 2014 at 11:30 am
When it comes to interior design, a staircase can present both a challenge and an opportunity. Below we’ve compiled some of our favorite interior design trends to help you lighten, brighten and freshen up your stairway. For more design inspiration, check out our staircase board on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/bhhscalifornia/the-staircase.
From Etsy.com
From Royaldesignstudio.com
