The Shop Cop - Jennifer Litwin

WHAT KIND OF STATEMENT ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE WITH YOUR NEW HOME?  DOES YOUR HOME TRULY REFLECT YOUR OWN TASTE, OR SOMEONE ELSE’S?

Through all uncertainties of the real estate market and the economy you might say that home decor has changed for most homeowners.  Stodgy, impractical and stuffy furniture of the 70′s and 80′s, the look of our parents’ generation, has given way to more functional, comfortable and affordable fashions.   Picking up the basics at places like Costco and fashionable, urban, flea markets, have become the norm.

MY FAVORITE FREE RESOURCES  TO HELP  GET IDEAS ABOUT FURNISHING YOUR HOUSE EXACTLY TO YOUR LIKING

MAGAZINES

1. Dwell ( ideas for a more efficient house, soup to nuts)



2. Reader’s Digest (decluttering ideas–fresh and new ideas that will make your life a lot easier)
3. Oprah Home (multiple choices displayed for every piece of furniture you will need)
4. Martha Stewart Home (smart, fashionable choices for each room in your house)

WEBSITES/BLOGS

1. Homeportfolio.com (lists thousands of choices of products and design ideas, and links to the sites where you can buy them–saves huge amount of time)
2. Lesliehindman.com (great Chicago-based auction house that offers monthly auction in a wide variety of styles, periods and prices–take advantage of the great auction prices right now)
3. Designspongeonline.com (perfect place to get ideas that are well thought out and executed-no need to hire a designer if you go to this site–artistic, creative, easy to use and fun!)
4. Decor8blog.com (special finds and secrets from around the world, for all the little details of your house, with links to the nation’s best stores, all in one site)
5. Freshome.com (displays latest design and function characteristics for every piece of furniture you buy)
6. Trendir.com (the latest in materials, colors, textiles, trim)
7. Homedesignfind.com (beautiful layouts of entire room designs–great place for room design ideas)

History repeats itself.  Studies have shown that over time, people tend to make the same bad choices the second time around, and most of us are guilty of shopping at the same awful stores that we vowed we would never step foot in again.

I have also been in this rut.  I vowed when the stock market crashed last year that I would explore new retailers, and new ways of shopping; I’ve been surprisingly happy with the results I came up with.

GET OUT OF YOUR SHOPPING RUT

After recently shopping at Costco (and renewing my membership for a whopping $50) I realized why I signed up in the first place.  My son likes their chocolate cake.  That’s it.  That’s the only reason.  And I paid $50 for that privilege to buy that one cake, one time.

In a recent radio show I hosted with the Miserly Mom, Jonni McCoy, listeners learned why Costco isn’t the price leader for many household products we assume must be cheaper because of their massive bundled quantities.  You don’t need to be a repeat shopper.  There may be other better ways to shop.  You don’t need to pay anymore to belong to a “club”.  Save your money.

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EXPENSES YOU MAY HAVE TO BUDGET FOR THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANTICIPATED

Driving down your block do you say to yourself, “I can buy two of my houses now that I could only buy one of before”, having seen the real estate market tank to its lowest level in decades?  You may be missing the entire picture.  True, you may have initially bought your first home as an investment, but now the complications in the market, due to lack of financing options, rising interest rates and an unstable job market have made buying two houses virtually impossible for the average American.

RISING COSTS OF HOME OWNERSHIP

• Property Taxes on the Rise: Counties are hurting, financially, so they are eager to raise property taxes.  Here’s the catch-22: if you want to refinance to get a better rate you will have to have an appraisal.  But if you then try to appeal your property taxes you will probably be forced to show proof of any home appraisal performed within the past three years.
• Utilities More Expensive and Continually Going Up: It is becoming more expensive to use regular water, electricity, cable and gas.   Most of these bills won’t come down unless you drastically change your lifestyle.
• Closing Costs Have Gone Up: In general, closing costs are going up, so refinancing will have an added cost, maybe not anticipated.
• More Difficult to Get a 2nd Mortgage Now: Banks are less willing to take on risks now, even with their best customers.  If you can’t squeeze into one mortgage, skip the next purchase.
• Furnishing a House is No Small Task: The cost of manufacturing furniture has risen in the past few years, and shipping prices have gone up.  Though there are more quality resources available to the public, prices of interior home construction and furnishings is on the rise.  The most expensive part of home ownership right now is inside the home.  The repairs, and if you have an old house, the modernizing that needs to get done every few years.

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.

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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GARDEN WRITER OF DISTINCTION: DEBRA PRINZING

www.debraprinzing.com

Contributing Garden Editor, Better Homes & Gardens

Contributing Editor, Garden Design magazine

Regular Contributor, Los Angeles Times HOME Section

Debra’s work also appears in Country Gardens, Sunset, Fine Gardening, Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, Organic Gardening, The American Gardener, Flower magazine, Alaska Airlines magazine, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, Cottages & Bungalows, and others. Debra’s work will soon appear in Canadian Gardening and Style at Home.

Photo credit: Mary Grace Long

It is not every day that you meet a reporter who has covered every imaginable topic within their field. Just spending 5 minutes with Debra Prinzing is a true learning experience. Debra, one of the country’s most well-respected and recognized writers, with a true passion for all things having to do with the outdoors (and indoors, I should mention), has an endearing way of teaching how to tackle even the most vast garden. Though I live in a city home, I love beautiful country gardens, interesting containers and organic foods. Debra’s garden tips appeal to people living in all parts of the country, as she helps break down gardening in the most understandable way.

Debra’s sites and blogs:

www.debraprinzing.com

www.afreshbouquet.com

MY INTERVIEW WITH DEBRA PRINZING

Me: How did you develop a passion for garden writing and turn your love for the garden into a career that has grown exponentially over the past few decades?

Debra: My background is an interesting combination of textiles, journalism, garden design and horticulture. I have a BA in Textiles, but during my senior year in college I transferred to the Fashion Institute of Technology in NYC, where I worked on an advertising and communications minor. There, I took a class in magazine journalism, which soon became my first love, thanks to my professor named Anne Bernard. She encouraged me to pursue an internship with Seventeen magazine, which I did. And that led to my first job after college, working in the education department at Seventeen magazine (I edited a magazine called Seventeen-at-School, which was sent to high school home economics teachers in the 1970s and 1980s).

Later, after returning to Seattle, I studied international business and marketing while working on a Masters of Communications degree at the University of Washington in the late 1980s. I thought I was going to cover the fashion industry, which was burgeoning at the time in Seattle. And that’s exactly what happened. I joined a regional business newspaper and covered the “chick” beat—all design-oriented businesses, like fashion, retail, hotels, restaurants, advertising, media and architecture. And sadly, I never finished that degree.

In 1997, I was working as Director of Communications at an international nonprofit agency. I remember sitting at my desk, looking out my window and saying to myself: I want to be a garden writer. That sounds strange, but after graduate school I realized that I had all the tools to be a features writer and reporter. My background studying textile design gave me the language of design principles, so that wasn’t a concern. But I knew that simply being an avid home gardener wasn’t enough—I had to improve my knowledge of plants and horticulture.

Thanks to my dear friends, who have influenced and helped me over the years, I dove feet first into the horticulture and design world 15 years ago. I have been an active garden, design and outdoor lifestyle writer ever since. When I started, my two closest friends were garden designers, so I have learned the business vicariously through them. Karen Page and Jean Zaputil—I call them my Garden Muses. Simple networking led to my first paying “gig”. I was having coffee with a woman who I wrote about when she was President of Seattle’s largest woman-owned advertising agency. I mentioned wanting to get into garden writing to Charmel and she said: “Oh, I’m buying media for a new garden center. Do you want me to connect you with my client?”

That simple connection led to a 3-year relationship with Emery’s Garden in the Seattle area. I learned so much from the smart and talented people at that nursery. They encouraged me to use my skills in writing, editing, events planning, PR, marketing and seminar development to promote the nursery. From them I learned all about plants, especially growing plants in the Pacific Northwest.

Me: You probably get asked this question a lot, but do you work in your own garden all the time?

Debra: Jennifer, the sad story is that I have created and left behind three gardens since 1989. Two were in Seattle and one was in LA. Nothing makes me happier than to putter in soil, play with plant combinations and decorate my garden with furniture and ornamentation. One of my favorite literary sayings is by Beverly Nichols, a British garden writer from the first half of the 20th century:

“…surely, if you are privileged to own a plot of earth, it is your duty, both to God and man, to make it beautiful.”

The next chapter is exciting, as we have returned to Seattle after 4 years in Los Angeles. By this summer, I hope to be again in possession of my own little plot of land. Right now, I’ve turned my creative energies to floral and container design…those are portable gardening projects that one can do whether she owns a garden or not.

Me: Portability is definitely an important option for garden lovers who must move often. How did you get the idea to write a book about garden sheds and all that you can do with sheds?

Debra: Off and on between 2000 and 2006, I worked as the Garden Editor for a magazine called Seattle Homes & Lifestyles. I was also covering homes and gardens for a daily newspaper called The Herald, which is published in a suburb of Seattle. In my role for both of those publications I scouted gardens constantly. It seemed to me that nearly every garden I toured and wrote about was occupied by a fanciful garden shed. Not just a crummy storage unit, but an ornamental structure at the heart of a landscape.

After a while, these gardens sheds grew on me! Another friend of mine invited me to meet the owner of a garden shed building company called “Garden Solutions”. My friend, Cindy, invited me to tour several of the company’s clients’ garden sheds. All of a sudden, I was seeing sheds that were used for all sorts of purposes other than for storing tools and lawn mowers. One owner had a retractable roof that opened so he could watch the stars through his telescope. One woman used her shed as a pottery studio, while another entertained her grandchildren with tea parties.

The first newspaper story I wrote appeared in 2000 and was called “Shed Chic”. For my second story, which appeared in Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, the Art Director hired an architectural photographer named Bill Wright to do the photography. That story was called “Garden Getaways”. After that piece appeared in 2001, Bill and I started producing garden stories for Romantic Homes magazine. Again, it seemed like every garden we covered contained a beautiful, romantic or whimsical garden structure. At one point, I said to Bill: We should do a book about these sheds. And that is what happened. The book, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways, was published in 2007.

Me: I know you are speaking all over the world these days—there is so much interest today in the garden—what kinds of speaking engagements are you working on?

Debra: My current focus as a speaker relates to my next book project, A Fresh Bouquet: Seasonal, Local and Sustainable Flowers. I love spreading the word about the benefits (to the environment and to humans, alike) of sourcing floral ingredients from the garden, local flower farms, U-Cut Fields, farmers’ markets and those that have been wild-gathered or foraged. This spring I will be speaking on this topic at Canada Blooms in Toronto, the largest indoor flower show in Canada, and at the Denver Botanic Garden’s spring lecture series, as well as at major horticultural societies and garden centers in the Northwest. By September of this year, I will assume a 2-year term as President of the Garden Writers Association, our main professional organization for garden and horticulture communicators. We have 1,800 members with information and resources to stay competitive. Education and training will be my focus as president.

Me: Most of us are novices in the garden. What’s your advice to help us get started?

Debra: Nothing beats walking through a garden gate into a friend’s backyard, as I did, asking him or her questions, like “what is this plant?” or “how do you grow that plant?” Every county in the US has Master Gardener training programs. Once you are certified, as am I, you “give back” to the community by volunteering at demonstration gardens or local horticultural events. When I did my MG training, I was 38 years old, so I ended up working side-by-side with people as old as my parents. Their experience and wisdom rubbed off on me.

I also recommend joining your local horticultural society. These groups hold monthly educational meeting with great speakers on relevant topics to their region. They have plant sales and opportunities to volunteer on garden tours. Once you start meeting kindred spirits, you will not be able to resist getting more involved in the garden.

Organic food lovers have so many wonderful options. Most cities or regions of the country have Edible magazines, such as Edible Seattle. In these magazines you can find out about food and wine festivals, local farmers growing interesting crops, or raising delicious ingredients. The “foodie” world and the gardening world are converging. All you have to do is check the bookstore shelves to notice an explosion of grow-your-own vegetable gardening book titles!

Photos copyright © William Wright, www.williamwrightphoto.com

Read about my new book project with photographer David Perry:
www.afreshbouquet.com

Check out my GWA Gold Award-winning book, Stylish Sheds and Elegant Hideaways with photographer William Wright (Random House/Clarkson Potter, 2008)

SHOPPING FOR APPLIANCES FOR A NEW HOME?  DON’T MAKE THE MISTAKE OF BELIEVING THAT ONLY THE IMPORTED APPLIANCES ARE THE BEST

We all want to know we’ve made the right buying decisions on everything we buy; especially on big ticket items for the home.  While you are shopping for the major appliances; washers/dryers, dishwashers, etc., make sure you really do your research and talk to people who have recently shopped for the same appliances.  Just because you bought your last appliance at a store doesn’t mean you should buy your new appliances at the same store, especially if you now have a big house you need to fill with appliances. Now may be the time to do your own research instead of relying on your salesperson.

APPLIANCE SALESPEOPLE TEND TO PUSH PRODUCTS THAT WILL MAKE THEIR STORE AND/OR THEM THE MOST MONEY

This is true.  Many products are sold at only the retail price, as I was told Miele and Bosch adhere to.  On these more “high-end” products you will be forced to pay retail and may only get discounts on shipping or installation.  Consumers often feel safer with products they don’t have to negotiate for–retail pricing diminishes the fear associated with bargaining, or with discovering you may have paid the wrong price.

WHY I CHOSE 2 MIELE DISHWASHERS

After spending more than 20 years shopping for appliances at Abt Electronics in Chicago, I moved into my current home in Chicago, and spent the next several years living with my 15-year old appliances.  They actually worked really well, so I decided not to switch them out.  We had more expensive, important projects that needed more immediate attention.  During the few years that he used our old washing machine and dishwasher, except for the loud noises, the appliances washed thoroughly and with little problem.

Eventually the old Maytag dishwasher and washing machine died.  I began to look for newer, more state-of-the-art appliances.  Every store I went to I was hearing about Miele and Bosch.  I decided on a Miele dishwasher and Bosch washing machine, just to switch things up.

MY FIRST MIELE DISHWASHER LASTED ONLY 5 YEARS

Miele was a no-brainer for me in making my selection for the dishwasher.  Miele offered a virtually silent wash and had a great utensil drawer.  The best part was that my salesman told me I wouldn’t need much detergent or water to get the dishes extremely clean, and that the hot water would sanitize my dishes.  That part I loved.  However, about a year into owning the machine, I began having problems.  Problems that included my dishes not get particularly clean, and repairmen telling me that I need to greatly reduce the amount of detergent and frequently clean out the arm.  Cleaning out the arm was virtually impossible to do, because you couldn’t open it.  Other than trying to clean it out with a knife, and under water, I couldn’t do anything really besides calling the repairman to come over and try to fix it.

What I have noticed with both Miele and Bosch is that when they work, they work beautifully.  They are both quiet, the water gets really hot and the dishes come out sparkling.  But that is only about 2/10 times.  The rest of the time I can’t seem to get it right.

The first Miele ultimately broke down, and I was told I would need to replace it…after only 5 years.  Yes, you’d think with all the problems I had with the Miele I would switch back to Maytag, or to some other old-standing, reputable company.  But no, I was again led to believe that Miele was the way to go.  So again, I had a beautiful new stainless dishwasher installed.  This time, I was told I was getting the top of the line…the Advanta.

MY SECOND MIELE DISHWASHER DISASTER

That was 3 years ago.  But today, I am still having the same problems that my first Miele posed.  The dishes are not consistently getting clean; not even close.  And if I want to run a big load I actually have to break the load into smaller loads, or else the dishes won’t get clean.

MIELE HAS PERSUASIVELY TRAINED ELECTRONIC STORE SERVICE PEOPLE  THE CONSUMER TO TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT THEY ARE THE ONES WHO SHOULD KNOW HOW TO FIX THEIR MACHINES, AND TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE RECURRING MIELE PROBLEMS AND THEMES

Though I have continually battled the same service issues, Abt has promised me that the manufacturer will come out to inspect the unit.  That visit has yet to happen.  If you buy Miele and Bosch, the warranty period is so short that by the time you realize you are having a problem your warranty has run out.

THE BOSCH WASHING MACHINE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE MIELE

The washing machine story is virtually the same as with the Miele dishwasher.  When I bought my Bosch, the washing machine was newly introduced into the US.  The Bosch cost about 50% more than the US brands, but I was told again that the Bosch will run extremely quietly and require very little water and detergent to clean my clothes.

WHY THE LITTLE WATER/LITTLE WATER THEORY BY BOSCH DOESN’T WORK, IN REALITY

I have had problems for the past several years with my Bosch.  With as little water as the unit uses, the washer never seems to drain all the way.   So by the time I get to the clothes they are soaking wet.  Abt repairmen have told me that the reason why this happens is because I need to run a temperature boost cycle several times, and add bleach, or vinegar, to make sure the clothes get clean; of course, when the washer is empty, thereby using more water.  I don’t get it.

MY NEW BOSCH MOTOR HASN’T CORRECTED THE RINSE CYCLE PROBLEM

After having the service man out several times, over many years, Abt said that Bosch would replace the motor.  Finally, a new motor.  What a great idea.  But the new motor hasn’t fixed the problems.  After my last service call, I was instructed again to use only HE (high efficiency) detergent.  But I had been using Tide HE for years.  So we are back to square one, and Bosch isn’t doing anything about it.  I have been told that the unit needs to be replaced, yet again.

BASED ON MY BOOK, “FURNITURE HOT SPOTS: THE BEST FURNITURE STORES AND WEBSITES COAST TO COAST”

I recently connected with an old friend/neighbor who had relocated to Atlanta.  She saw my book somewhere and immediately recognized my name on the cover.  She happened to be at a furniture store; one of the furniture stores I reviewed on my cross-country mission to uncover the best and worst furniture stores across the United States.

“FURNITURE HOT SPOTS” WRITTEN TO IDENTIFY THE HONEST FROM THE DISHONEST STORES AND AWARD STORES WITH EXCELLENT SERVICE, VALUE AND INTEGRITY

Until 2002, the US government had guidelines for selling furniture, and for describing the furniture that stores sold.  After that point, the government lifted all restrictions on furniture stores across the country.  Stores could call furniture anything they wanted to, and it would be allowable.  Until Furniture Hot Spots was published there was no other book reviewing furniture stores across the country, using a system of rating the stores; in my case, the Chair of Distinction.

“CHAIR OF DISTINCTION”

If you see an orange sticker on the windows of furniture stores, with a little picture of a chair, that is the “Chair of Distinction”.  The Chair is awarded to stores that I feel go above and beyond, in terms of quality, service and professionalism.  Chain department stores and big box retailers, you would think, would have consistency and meet all the requirements of a store with a “Chair”.  That logic doesn’t necessarily follow.

Studies have shown that in harder economic times small local retailers provide the most customer satisfaction.  Large independent stores also offer added value; take Furnitureland South, for example, the largest furniture store in the world, located in Hickory, North Carolina.  Shopping undercover at Furnitureland South was harder than hiking the glaciers—1 million square feet of shopping space.  You’d think you would get lost and feel helpless.  However, that wasn’t the case.  As I pointed out on my recent radio show, with Jason Harris, President of Furnitureland South, the store makes it a point of having weekly classes for all salespeople, to teach them the latest innovations in furniture design and construction.  Shopping undercover at Furnitureland South I was impressed with the professionalism of the staff, and indepth knowledge of the vast selection of furniture.

HOW THE WEB HAS HELPED SHOPPERS COMPARE NOTES

While I am not a big fan of shopping for everything online, I do believe that shopping online for furniture will help you determine what you might pay for a particular piece.  “Furniture Hot Spots” shares my picks for the best websites designed for real furniture shoppers.  What concerns me today is the rise in online auctions, or broker businesses that can charge the consignor up to 50% for selling the goods.  Local sites are more cost effective, like Craigs List, where you pay a small percentage, and shipping is usually local.  1stdibs.com offers selection from high end antiques dealers from all around the world, but these dealers charge a lot for their goods because of their high commission structure with 1stdibs.com.

SHOPPING AT AUCTION IS STILL THE FAIREST SYSTEM FOR BUYERS

Yes, buyers (and sellers) pay a commission for buying, but the item sells only for the price people are willing to pay.  One of my favorite auctions is the Market Place Auction at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago.  At this auction, which takes place several times a year, you can bid on anything from $50 up.  If the weather is bad or if there is low turnout for other reasons, you can be the successful bidder who gets a steal.  That is a fair system.

THE FAIR AND HONEST RETAILER

I am more impressed with how well retailers stand by their products and work with consumers on price and service.  In this economy, service matters most, and the stores that go the extra mile will surpass the high-end antiques shops with bad service and little integrity.   During the past two years, I have been extremely impressed with many of the big box stores, like Target and Wal-Mart, who have really stepped up to the plate in terms of competitive pricing, free shipping offers, and value that is so necessary to all families at this precarious time in history.