The Shop Cop - Jennifer Litwin

ARE YOU ONLY GETTING SECOND BEST, AT BEST?  IF NOT THOUGHT OUT PROPERLY, YOUR NEW HOME CAN BECOME A DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN THE REPAIR BILLS APPEAR

Retailers bank on the fact that people are too busy these days to shop for their homes just one piece at a time, and just want their houses done.  Period.  Well, if you fall into the rut getting everything at once, you will regret your purchases.  Each piece you buy should represent a purchase you made because of your everyday living needs .  If not thought out carefully you will risk overpaying and creating a generic-looking space that really doesn’t reflect who you are, your taste or current daily lifestyle.

RUSHING TO CREATE THE PERFECT HOME CAN BE A DISAPPOINTMENT

We’ve all felt the pressure to have the perfect house, whether it be for an upcoming party, the holidays or to simply blend in with the neighbors.

CONSIDER SHOPPING AT AN AUCTION RIGHT NOW

After buying my first home, I realized how empty it looked.  I went to auctions at the time, and felt the urge to bid on dozens of inexpensive items, hoping to be the “lucky” winner of all of them.  I overbid on things I never even loved—the prices seemed too low to overlook, and I had a house to furnish.    I wound up with over twenty pieces of junk for my home, and after putting everything inside, I realized I didn’t like half of the pieces, and would have no real use for them.  Several of the pieces later required a considerable amount of work; something I never considered budgeting for.

START OUT SMALL, HAVE PATIENCE, AND WAIT TO BUY YOUR FAVORITE PIECES, BUT DON’T SETTLE JUST TO GET YOUR HOME FULLY FURNISHED

FLEA MARKETS: My best advice for someone with refined taste, who wants an elegant, interesting home is to start out small.  For that reason, flea markets are the best way to get your feet wet.  In Chicago, I love the Randolph Street Market, a flea market that has an urban flair mixed with country charm.  Dealers rent stalls, and I’ve picked up pieces from $5-$2,000 at flea markets.  The trick is buying only what you love, one piece at a time, mixing new with old, and only buying pieces you have a use for.  Learning these skills takes time and a trained eye.

AUCTION: Auction is another great way to furnish a great big house, or even a city apartment.  I especially love shopping at local auctions for artwork, and especially love that I don’t have to pay for shipping.  Thanks to my big car.  My favorite auction houses for the great values are: Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago, Neal Auction in New Orleans, and occasionally Sotheby’s more reasonably priced auctions.  You can’t go wrong.  Especially if you put in a silent bid and agree only to a maximum price you would be willing to pay.  Becoming emotional about a piece will not serve you well.  Avoid auctions or brokerage firms that charge an astronomical amount to sellers or buyers, like 1stdibs.  These places are not the best about warrantying the products they are selling.

BECOME YOUR OWN INTERIOR DESIGNER

The fastest way to date your house is to make everything look perfectly coordinated.  The perfectly coordinated look is outdated and always has been.  Your home will express more about you and your personality when you acquire one piece at a time.  Designers will also want to save themselves time, and earn the most amount of money possible by trying to create an entire ”look” for you and your family.  I’ve especially seen this when they are working with big families and know that people don’t have a lot of time to deal with all the details.

Take your time, and you, too, will have the house you love for a lifetime.

Jennifer Litwin was recently featured in CBS Money Watch, with  ”Save Money: 5 Furniture Shopping Tricks“.

Jennifer Litwin was recently featured in Money magazine’s article “Best Deals on Everything“.

As featured on KPLC Louisiana

When doesn’t free shipping mean free handling?  As confusing as this sounds, many retailers are offering free shipping promotions, as I’ve learned, this holiday season. Recently, I received a web promotion offering free shipping at Eddie Bauer. I was at the checkout section when I learned that the retailer was going to tack on a $3 handling fee. I thought, “Wait, isn’t handling part of shipping? When isn’t it?”

NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH

Unfortunately, this is only one of the tricks retailers are using this season to make you think you have gotten something for free, when in reality, the charge has been added somewhere else.

FINE PRINT

Even if the web’s fine print tells you about these “extra” handling charges, separating out shipping from handling is something that we don’t usually consider.  When was the last time you were charged for handling separately from shipping, but told you were getting “free shipping?”

CALL CUSTOMER SERVICE

Customer service departments don’t like to receive these kinds of calls questioning these trivial charges. But how else will retailers know that this is not a common charge for a “freebie?” In my case, I was not given an answer as to why I was being charged the $3. . . something about paying taxes on this order, but I explained that I had already paid the taxes.  If your retailer of choice won’t hear your complaint, consider calling the Attorney General’s office for your state. In these trying times, retailers don’t want to lose you, but don’t be fooled by the jargon.

OUR LOVE OF PERFUME

I just realized that my most favorite perfume I’ve worn over the past several years no longer smells appealing to me.  It seems to smell different from the way I remember it.  But I just don’t want to make a mistake by throwing it out (I hate to throw out sentimental possessions) and buying a $60-75 bottle of perfume that I will not like after wearing for the first time.   The $30 billion a year perfume industry just seems to grow annually, even during a recession.  Since antiquity, with its creation in Egypt, women have made perfume a part of their daily rituals.  Perfume is popular because it can heighten our senses in a way nothing else can accomplish.  Our familiar scents can be associated with comfort, closeness and intense passion.  The perfume industry is highly secretive, with little known facts as to how perfume is made or what makes some perfumes astronomically expensive.

PERFUME SCENTS ARE SHORT-LIVED

Perfumes can last for, on average, five years.  You need to keep perfumes stored in a dry, dark and cool, but not cold, place.  Sunlight and heat can alter the smell.  If you see any brown thickening, the perfume is going bad.  But don’t get rid of your perfumes until you really notice their smells changing.  As we get older, our sense of smell changes, so recognize that your own sense of smell can make the perfume’s scent change over time.  Once you open a perfume bottle, it starts to “age.”

On your body, smell will last longer if your body is moisturized.  If your skin is dry, the perfume’s smell will evaporate more quickly.  A fact I didn’t realize–I thought the opposite was true.  Applying perfume lower on your body will make the smell last longer than closer to the face, where the smell is likely to rise and go away.  Blondes seem to not have as much luck as brunettes when it comes to lingering smell on their bodies.  Blondes do better with floral perfumes that keep their smell longer than other kinds of fragrances.

Citrus scents last the least amount of time, though popular, because citrus perfumes are made from some fresh ingredients.  For men, after shave has the least amount of oils, and therefore evaporates the quickest of all fragrances.  Age is also a factor in determining how a scent will last on your body.

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One of my favorite things to do in the Fall is to take my kids to the apple orchard.  We each have our own favorite kinds of apples.  My favorite is the Honeycrisp, a man-made apple variety.  If you go to the orchard, you need to know when the different apples will be ready for picking.  The span is 3 months for most varieties in the midwest.

Radke Orchards is located in Northwest Indiana, just across the border from Illinois.  It takes about an hour to get there from Chicago.  Radke Orchards is more reasonably priced than comparable orchards nearby.  Radke doesn’t have much in their tiny store, but their trees are all tagged well, your kids can take an open truck ride through the orchards, and there are ladders for easy access.  I also love the homemade caramel, coming in every variety—watch out for kids with braces!

BEST VARIETIES FOR FALL APPLE PICKING IN THE MIDWEST (FROM RADKE ORCHARDS, WHO ALSO HAS OTHER APPLE VARIETIES)

Cameo

· Sweet-tart flavor, firm apple
· Excellent for salads, pies, sauces, and baking
· Good for eating also
· Harvest time: mid-October

Cortland

· Sweet with a hint of tartness
· Juicy
· Tender, snow white flesh
· Excellent for eating, salads, sauce, pies and baking
· Good for freezing
· Cortland apples do not turn brown quickly when cut.
· Harvest time: mid-September

Crispin/ Mutsu

· Sweet yet very refreshing
· Very juicy
· Super crisp
· Excellent for eating, sauce, baking and freezing
· Good for salads and pies
· Crispin favorite roast.
· Try Crispins for roasting whole apples or thick slices.
· Harvest time: mid-October

Empire

· A wonderful blend of sweet and tart
· Juicy
· Very crisp, creamy white flesh
· Excellent for eating and salads
· Good for sauce, baking, pies and freezing
· Small Empires are great for school lunches.
· Harvest time: early October

Fuji

· Very mild sweet flavor
· Popular for desserts because of sweet flavor and good texture
· Store well
· Harvest time: late September

Gala

· Mild sweet flavor
· Juicy
· Crisp, creamy yellow flesh
· Excellent for eating and salads
· Gala’s size, mellow flavor and thin skin make them a perfect choice for kids
· Harvest time: early September

Golden Delicious

· Mild sweet flavor
· Juicy
· Crisp, light yellow flesh
· Excellent for eating, salads and sauce
· Good for pies, baking and freezing
· You can cut down the sugar in pies and sauces made from Golden Delicious apples.
· Harvest time: late September

Granny Smith

· Pleasantly tart flavor
· Firm, crisp flesh
· Good for eating, baking, salads, pies and freezing.
· Keeps shape when cooked
· Harvest time: late October

Honeycrisp

· Complex sweet-tart flavor
· Super crisp yellow flesh
· Excellent for eating and salads
· Good for sauce, baking & pies
· This ultra crisp apple is a great way to encourage healthy snacking by children.
· Harvest time: early September

Idared

· Sweetly tart
· Juicy
· Firm pale yellow-green flesh, sometimes tinted rosy pink
· Excellent for sauce, cooking, baking and pies
· Good for eating, salads and freezing
· Idareds are good for making a beautiful pink applesauce.
· Harvest time: mid-October

Jonagold

· Honey sweet with a hint of tartness
· Juicy
· Crisp, creamy yellow flesh
· Excellent for eating, salads, sauce and baking
· Good for pies and freezing
· Jonagolds make great fried apples. Simply sauté in a little butter and add a little cinnamon.
· Harvest time: early October

Jonathan

· Crisp and juicy, tart flavor
· Excellent for eating and baking
· Good for salads, sauces, and pies
· Harvest time: mid-September

McIntosh

· Sweet with a tart tang
· Very juicy
· Tender, white flesh
· Excellent for eating and sauce
· Good for salads and pies
· McIntosh’s tender flesh cooks down quickly. Add a thickener if making a pie.
· Harvest time: early September

Red Delicious

· Sweet
· Juicy
· Crisp, yellow flesh
· Excellent for eating and salads
· Red Delicious apples look great for a long time and are the favored choice for holiday centerpieces.
· Harvest time: late September

GREAT APPLE RECIPES

1) RADKE’S APPLESAUCE

This is our method of producing applesauce. You can make as little or as much as you like.

We wash and quarter the apples, taking out the seeds but leaving the skin. The skin contains the natural pectin that will thicken the sauce. We use our seconds for sauce so we do take out any bad spots from the apples. Place the apples in a saucepan and add a very little amount of water. Cook the apples, stirring as necessary to prevent sticking. We put the mixture through a food mill to remove the skins and any seeds. Wait until the sauce cools before deciding if any extra sugar is needed. We don’t add any extra sugar to our sauce.  We often use a mixture of apples. Golden Delicious apples used alone makes a lighter colored sauce.  We prefer freezing the sauce using canning jars that are freezer safe. We have canned sauce using the hot water bath method.

2)  RADKE’S APPLE CRISP

• 6 cups sliced, peeled apples
• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 beaten egg
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place apples in 8×8 baking pan. Mix remaining ingredients until crumbly. Sprinkle over apples.

Melt 1/3 cup butter and drizzle on apple mixture. Sprinkle cinnamon on top. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. This recipe comes from the St. Paul Lutheran Cookbook, Otis, IN through Bonnie Martin’s Aunt, Lois Burge.

Radke Orchard traditions – I’ve seen my mother-in-law, Gladys Radke, sprinkle a little vanilla and/or cinnamon over the apples before she adds the crust mixture. She adds the cinnamon before the crust because the cinnamon on top makes the crust a darker brown. She adds the vanilla because her mother-in-law, Jessie Radke, always added vanilla to enhance the apple flavor. When doubling this recipe, sometimes more crust mixture is necessary. We prefer Ida Red apples, although Golden Delicious work well also. Mutzu makes a crisper crisp, as those apples remain crisp when baked. A soft apple, such as McIntosh, makes a softer crisp. We use enough apples to generously fill the baking dish.

By Liz Arnold, RealSimple.com

(RealSimple.com) — Invest in these designs now, and the pros say they’ll be coveted collectibles one day.

1. Louis Ghost Chair by Philippe Starck

Great indoors or outdoors, this chair is a refreshing twist on the 250-year-old Louis XVI version, a court of Versailles staple that had a huge impact on furniture design.

To buy: $400, exitartcatalog.stores.yahoo.net.

The backstory: French designer Starck, the man behind boutique hotels like the Delano, in Miami Beach, joined forces with Italian furniture manufacturer Kartell in 2002 to create this beauty, which is made by injecting molten plastic into a mold (so it has no seams). It resides in the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s permanent collection.

What design pros say: “Starck’s a design genius,” says Jeffrey Beers, founder and CEO of Jeffrey Beers International, and architecture and design firm in New York City. “This chair will certainly appreciate tenfold in 25 to 30 years.”

Real Simple: Decorating with door accessories

2. Garland Shade Light by Tord Boontje

This shimmery fixture features a doilylike shade in brass or silver, which clips to the base of a bulb. You can combine shades to create larger designs.

To buy: $95, momastore.org.

The backstory: In 2001 botany met bare bulbs when Dutch designer Boontje devised a pattern of leaves and flowers on a sheet of metal that could be cut with a laser. His light has been exhibited in the Victoria and Albert Museum, in London, and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, in New York City.

What design pros say: “I can see why I’d still be excited about this piece in 30 years,” says Anthony Di Bitonto, director of industrial design at Smart Design in New York City. “Some things are too heavily styled, and they can look dated. But this is pure and simple.”

Real Simple: Marbleized home accents

3. Balcons du Guadalquivir China by Hermès

Strikingly chic — but also dishwasher- and microwave-safe — this set features a red pigment meticulously applied by hand in several layers to achieve dimension.

To buy: $357 for a five-piece place setting, parkavegifts.com.

The backstory: Known for its leather goods, the French luxury purveyor Hermès branched into tableware in 1984 and in 2005 introduced Balcons du Guadalquivir, named for the iron balconies overlooking the Guadalquivir River, in the Andalusia region of Spain.

What design pros say: “Everything Hermès stands for is about quality and timelessness,” says Ralph Pucci, owner of Pucci International showrooms.

4. Tight Back Sofa by Baker

With a sturdy maple hardwood frame, this sofa will last for generations. Reminiscent of midcentury modern Danish and Scandinavian designs, it mixes a traditional camelback style with contemporary, clean lines to create a timeless look.

To buy: $5,516, Sofa No. 6386-80, bakerfurniture.com for stores.

The backstory: Baker has been turning out classic furnishings since the company was founded, in 1890. This sofa, introduced in 1995, hails from the debut collection of San Francisco designer Michael Vanderbyl for Baker.

What design pros say: “Baker furniture holds value in the same way antiques do — and antiques never go out of style,” says Jennifer Litwin, a home-furnishings expert in Chicago.

Real Simple: Simple updates for old furniture

5. Rug by Madeline Weinrib

This handwoven cotton rug is reversible and features an interpretation of an endless knot, a Buddhist symbol that represents unity or eternity. In textiles, the motif is typically seen as part of a larger pattern, but this version celebrates it on its own.

To buy: $1,050 (8 by 10 feet), madelineweinrib.com for locations.

The backstory: Designer Weinrib, whose great-grandfather founded ABC Carpet & Home, created the Megan rug in 2005. She also designs home accessories.

What design pros say: “It’s the perfect blend of minimalist design and maximal color,” says Celerie Kemble, an interior designer in New York City. “When that’s done right, it can become iconic.”

Real Simple: Insiders’ guide to home décor websites

6. Throw Pillows by Jonathan Adler

Bursting with texture and graphic oomph, these handmade Bargello pillows from designer Adler get their name from a type of needlework that produces a zigzagging pattern of long stitches.

To buy: $110 (Diamonds) to $145 (Flame), jonathanadler.com.

The backstory: Although needlework had a resurgence in the 1970s, and then again around 2000, Adler modernized the medium in 2005 by infusing his throw pillows with what he calls “Palm Beach style”: punchy colors and geometric designs.

What design pros say: “Adler is so well-known that having one of his pillows has its own cachet,” says Lisa S. Roberts, an antiques connoisseur in Philadelphia. “In 25 years, they’ll be collectible, because they’re from his original line.”

7. Silver-Coated Seashells by Ruzzetti & Gow

These seashells are gathered in the Philippines and sent to Rome, where Ruzzetti artisans coat them — wholly or partially — with sterling silver.

To buy: $40 to $2,500 each (most are in the $200 range), ruzzettiandgow.com for stores.

The backstory: Designer Christopher Gow first saw these shells in 1993 — they were being produced in the Italian silver factory of his friend Giampiero Ruzzetti. “I would bring them back to the United States as wedding gifts,” says Gow, “and people went crazy for them.” The duo began exporting them in 1996.

What design pros say: “Who knows what silver is going to be worth in 50 years?” says Chip Cordelli, a furniture dealer and prop and interior stylist in Brooklyn. “I think it will be something really special.”

Real Simple: Eclectic home décor ideas

8. T-table by Patricia Urquiola

Made of shatterproof injection-molded plastic, this table features a 20-inch-diameter top with a delicate cutout design. It’s available in three heights.

To buy: $263, unicahome.com.

The backstory: Spanish designer Urquiola had a hit with this table at the 2005 Milan International Furniture Fair, and in 2006 it went into mass production.

What design pros say: “In 30 years, the table will look just as fresh,” says Di Bitonto. “It’s simple and modern.”

Real Simple: 4 ways to create a royal home

As featured on ABC7 Chicago.

With the real estate market being slow right now, you may be considering some home improvements. But beware of the scams and the contractors you allow to work on your home!

We can all relate to hiring the wrong contractor for our homes, the most intimate place that belongs to us. Getting recourse is very difficult and proving fault is not easy.

MOST COMMON SCAMS

1. Asking for $ upfront for supplies, but never finishes the job.
2. Bill at the end is higher than originally agreed upon.
3. Doesn’t provide a written contract.
4. Doesn’t provide in warranty or quote a list of materials/brand names to be used.
5. Telling you that your repair issue is urgent so you won’t get other (possibly less expensive) quotes.
6. Claiming the material you are buying is more expensive than the advertised price because it is custom.
7. Not getting building permit before work begins.
8. Demanding final payment before contractor pays subs/suppliers.
9. Not correcting problems with the work quickly and without a question.
10. Offering you a discount for continued business.

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FED UP SELLER ON EBAY?  GONE ARE THE DAYS WITH UNLIMITED SELLING OPTIONS

Having done countless segments on eBay and other online selling/buying venues, I decided to open up an account.  Easy enough, right?  Wrong.  After spending a day creating an account, creating a Paypal account to accept and send money, you must wait to be approved, and then spend an additional day teaching yourself how to use the eBay machine.

WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW: EBAY IMPOSES SUBJECTIVE LIMITS AND CHANGES THE RULES AS YOU GO

EBay welcomes new sellers and allows you to get started listing your items for sale.  Upon creating listing pages with your items for sale, you may get a rejection notice at the end of inputting all of your information about the item, which could take the better part of an hour, between uploading pictures and creating meaningful descriptions.

WHY EBAY REJECTS YOUR ITEMS FOR SALE AND RANDOMLY IMPOSES NEW RULES AND LIMITS

Early into the process, I was informed that I had listed too many handbags, and couldn’t list any more handbags for 90 days.  If I had known that upfront, I would have been more careful in my selection of what to list.  I did not have that luxury because the door had been shut on me.  Try again…

So I decided to begin listing some designer clothing.  Much to my dismay, and after spending countless hours, collecting goods, photographing, inputting great and descriptive listing pages, I was again booted, with a message telling me I had reached my “limit” of listing designer pieces.  What limit?  Was it a quantity limit or a dollar amount limit?  Apparently, it was both.  Unbeknownst to me, I called eBay.  I couldn’t get any legitimate answers from any rep, until I got through to about a fourth rep, who said I should definitely be allowed to increase my listing  limit to $8,000.  Why did that rep allow a huge increase in my listing limit?  The rep told me that listing limits are subjective, and made by the reps at eBay.  So he advised me to continue listing.

WORKING AROUND THE EBAY LISTING PROBLEMS

EBay would not allow me to continue listing, again saying I had reached my limit of listing “designer” items in a certain time period.  I didn’t get it.  So I tried to list the items without mentioning the “designer” names.  I was again booted for “misrepresenting” the eBay item.  I still didn’t understand, so again, I contacted eBay.  They told me I would be booted for the next 90 days because I tried to sell another designer item.

When asked why the limits and subjective rules, I was told that the eBay “legal department” imposed these limits, which “are the law”, after people tried selling Tiffany and other designer names, but those items turned out to be fakes.  They are trying to impose limits to cut down on those practices.

This is a decision eBay has made, which has nothing to do with the law, and actually hurts those with excellent selling histories and track records.  Too much hype has been made on eBay between sellers and buyers about giving each other excellent reviews.  But many of the transactions have not been excellent and one side or the other has fallen short of being completely upfront in their transactions.

EBAY NEEDS A NEW WAY OF EVALUATING SELLERS

The 5-star eBay reviews seem meaningless today in the world of eBay.  My daughter, Bailey, told me that she heard several people were selling Xboxes on eBay for $25.  When the buyer would receive them, they were merely boxes with the letter “x” on them.  That is fraud.  But there are really wonderful sellers, with in-demand merchandise, who are pointlessly being booted from eBay.

EBay needs a new system that is fair to all listers, and is expressed at the top of their home page, with no ambiguity or confusion on the part of buyers or sellers.  Why are some given unlimited opportunity to sell and others are not?  I have no idea.