a_home_magazine_jewish_press

Bayit Ne’eman

A Home Magazine

House

Bayit Ne’eman December 2010

A Publication of Supplement to The Jewish Press Periodical Publication

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Bayit Ne’eman

Letter from the Editor

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o promote our inaugural issue of Bayit Ne’eman, we held a Beautiful Home contest. We received some beautiful entries, but also one email from a reader who was not pleased: I had t o write to let y ou know that I t hink t he B eautiful

T

Home Contest may be in poor taste. First of all, not everyone lives in a beautiful home. Some of us struggle just to get by and pay our bills. Especially in t he current economy when people have lost jobs o r ha ve had t o

hank you for your letter. We hear your concern.

However, you seem to be conflating beautiful and expensive—assuming that for a home to be beautiful, one has to spend a lot of money on it. We believe that is not the case; it is quite possible to care for and furnish one’s home on any budget. Especially because we are living through difficult economic times, i t is important for people to maintain their homes as warm, loving and – yes – beautiful spaces. In fact, this issue of B ayit N e’eman is a p erfect demo nstration o f t his perspective.

Speaking of our contest winner, on page 30, you’ll find some pictures of the home of Rivkah Teich, a fulltime working mother of five who has made her ho me beautiful and unique without loads o f money. Along those lines, we have highlighted the work of a talented Cleveland-based interior designer, Mary Ireland, who works with clients on a b udget, on page 11, a nd provided color inspiration by Barbara Arlen, a uni versity professor and color expert, by looking at the work of Eva Zeisel, on page 14.

take decr eased s alaries j ust t o have a job a t all , y ou sho uld perhaps rethink this?

Thank you

We haven’t limited ourselves to décor and color, however. We provide some important guidelines for home fire prevention on page 24, as well as advice for how to keep bugs away t he natural way, wr itten by Yafa Lamm, on page 20.

Sabra Hess Weinberg (page 22) and Rea Bochner (page 6) both address living: Keeping the Shabbat in a more environmentally-friendly fashion and how g etting y our c hildren in volved ca n p reserve your décor.

After absorbing all the information and advice in this issue, be sure to read Anat Coleman’s article (page 18) about how to turn your beautifully turned out house into a home.

If that’s not enough to transform your ugly duck dwelling into a b eautiful swan, well, you can always sell it. On page 8, Douglas Meyer provides useful tips on how to stage your home to optimize a sale. ~Shoshana Batya Greenwald, editor

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Bayit Ne’eman

House

Home Decor – Kid Style How Getting Your Children Involved Can Preserve Your Decor

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our dra pes lo ok droopy, y our f urniture f rayed a nd y ou’re ready t o t hrow o ut y our throw p illows. I t’s time for a home makeover.

The problem is, you’ve got kids. W ith y oung folks in t he ho use, t he idea o f r edecorating ca n 6

seem lik e a n eno rmous waste of time and energy.

Why in vest in b eautiful things w hen t hey’ll most likely end u p b roken, torn, st ained o r b uried underneath a mo untain of kid c lutter? L uckily, there is good news on the home front. You can still

have a b eautiful ho me without s acrificing your money, your sanity or the environment.

The secret is a swi tch in t hinking: in stead o f decorating a round y our kids, decorate with them.

Trouble st arts b rewing when y ou t hink y our

By Rea BOCHNER house sho uld lo ok lik e a museum or a design magazine; you’ll maintain the look for about 30 seconds before s omeone co mes charging t hrough wi th muddy shoes and an open container o f a pple j uice.

Chuck the “divine design” in your head and embrace

Bayit Ne’eman reality. Your house should not only look like kids live in it, but also like they take as much pride in it as you do. W ith a li ttle cr eativity, you’ll not only breathe some ne w lif e in to y our home, b ut y our kids will get a ha nds-on less on in valuing what they have.

There a re p lenty o f fantastic ide as for do-ityourself deco r, a nd y ou can p ut a kid-f riendly spin o n most o f t hem.

Nurture t he a rtist in your child by scouting a woodworker’s st udio o r yard sale for used wooden f urniture. After giving it a good sanding and whitewash, put the brush in your child’s hand and watch the magic happen.

Encourage t hem t o us e lots o f co lor – a nd t heir imagination – a nd y ou’re guaranteed one-of-a-kind pieces, co urtesy o f y our little Van Gogh. An added bonus: y our c hild ma y think twice b efore p utting his feet up on a coffee table he painted himself.

F or wall ha ngings, scan a pa inting/art p iece done b y y our c hild a nd have it blown up to poster size (tr y photoatlarge. com). With a matte finish and a nice f rame, y ou’ll take refrigerator art to the next level.

House In a world gone green, it’s vi tal t o t each kids about p reventing wast e and finding creative ideas for us ed a nd/or b roken objects (v ery e asy t o find with kids in t he ho use).

Cracked vas es, o ld tile pieces and vintage dishes, for exa mple, a re p erfect materials f or a less on in

some nails and some buttons o r b eads (all a vailable c heap a t a fa bric store), y our c hildren ca n help y ou us e t hem t o make tie-bac ks f or y our curtains, or g lue t hem to an old coffee can to make a b eautiful vas e. B ed linens, t ablecloths a nd e ven out-of-date e veningwear

recycling. Have your older children put them into pillowcases (do uble-bag f or safety) a nd, usin g ha mmers, b reak t hem in to small p ieces. W ith s ome grout, y ou ca n us e t he broken pieces to lay out a new mosaic backsplash or patio design. Ou tgrown clothes you would usually toss can be cut into material for a quilt or tapestry.

S cavenge t he hous e for ribbon and your husband’s old ties, s ew t hem together a nd st uff them with cotton for new throw pillows; wi th a g lue gun,

are fa ntastic (a nd f ree!) material f or ne w dra pes, which your kids ca n help you design. B y t eaching children that there is a use for everything, even when it’s broken, you give them the o pportunity t o g et creative. As a r esult, t hey might no t b e s o q uick to mo ve o nto t he ne wer, fast er, shinier mo del when the old one breaks.

Nature’s beauty never goes o ut o f sty le, s o t ake advantage of it. Any room in the house, your child’s especially, will in stantly improve wi th a p lant in-

fusion. Plant flowers with your c hild in a p ot o r window box; they’ll learn about t he en vironment, and t he r esponsibility o f maintaining a nother li ving being. B est of all, the oxygen f rom t he p lants will p ut a b ounce in e veryone’s step.

A b eautiful ho use is not about Feng shui or color schemes; it’s about the fa mily t hat li ves there. U se t he ener gy and imagination o f t he people y ou lo ve most to ma ke yo ur ho me unique; you’ll save time and mo ney, and b est of all , y ou’ll g et q uality time t ogether. M ost importantly, fill your home wi th w armth, love a nd ha ppy memories, and you’ll put Architectural Digest to shame.

Shift y our c hildren’s attitude f rom destr uctive to co nstructive, a nd gi ve them a n a ppreciation f or the furniture in the house.

Rea Bochner is a writer, musician a nd m other o f two, wh ose wo rk h as a ppeared in a variety of Jewish p ublications, i ncluding M ishpacha M agazine, aish.com a nd t hejewishwoman.org. I n h er s pare time (ha!) she is completing a yet-to-be-titled memoir.

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Bayit Ne’eman

House

All The Home’s A Stage:

Getting Your Home To Look Its Best For The Big Sale

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e all tak e gr eat pride in our homes.

Whether ma nicured ga rdens or gourmet kitchens our homes are a reflection of our tastes and interests.

But what if you are thinking of s elling your home?

What sho uld y ou do t o prepare? W hat t hings might y ou do t o mak e your home more enticing to a buyer? There is much you can do to increase the desirability and the selling price of your home. F ollow some proven concepts and sug gestions, a nd y ou can stage your home without spending any money.

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By Douglas B. Meyer Consider t his: W hat does y our ho use lo ok like t o a p erspective buyer? Fir st impressions are pa ramount w hether conscious o r sub liminal.

Walk o ut o f y our ho use, stand on the sidewalk and look at it objectively as if you have never seen it before. Be critical. Be a prospective buyer. Y ou m ay notice that the bushes and shrubs in the front garden look a b it crowded. Remember t hat t hese w ere not me ant t o gr ow in to each other and signal to a buyer a disr egard of general ma intenance ha bits

of t he o wner. T rimming them (or perhaps removing s ome) will gi ve t hem a c hance t o b reathe a nd give t he ho use a la rger impression. T ake a lo ok at t he f ront st eps, masonry, ra ilings, et c. A little pa tching, pa inting and p ower washin g will give t he ho use a f resh look to a p otential buyer.

A ne w w elcome ma t, a n umbrella st and, a b ench, perhaps a flowering potted plant indicate that this may be a home where the owner cares and provides perpetual care. Is this the time to remove an old aw-

ning t hat is fallin g a part and adds unnecess ary age? The shade i t p rovides is no t going to help the house lo ok open and airy in t he in side o r o ut.

Are your windows dirty?

The t erm ‘ staging’ r efers to ma king t he hous e look more attractive to the buyer. Unlike decorating, staging em ploys sim ple tricks to make spaces look larger, airier and more appealing. These tr icks are not me ant t o necess arily help you see the television from y our fa vorite c hair or even make it easier for eight people to sit around

Bayit Ne’eman the ki tchen t able. I f y ou seriously want to sell your house you must be willing to make some very small sacrifices. W ith t his in mind step back into your home and stop in the foyer. Y ou ma y ha ve a coa t closet. Remem ber t hat this i s th e i nterior first impression. Do you have hooks o n t he wall o utside of it with even more coats, hats, scarves? Shoes on t he floor? D o y ou have t o ac tually in teract with t hese t hings j ust t o get into t he ho use? This could b e a nega tive signal to t he buyer t hat t his house doesn’t have ample

House storage. Store what you’re not usin g els ewhere a nd remove all of this. Ther e should o nly b e t he immediately necessary coats and things in the closet. A buyer will definitely look into t he c loset as s oon as he/she co mes in f or a viewing o f y our ho me.

It s hould a ppear t o be ample eno ugh f or guest ’s coats when they visit.

We h ave all vi sited homes w here t here a re numerous framed photos of t he pa rents, sp ouses, children, gra ndchildren and more. Of course you are p roud o f t hem a nd even wa nt t o sho w t hem

off. A s s oon as y ou do , the p rospective b uyer becomes a visi tor to your home in stead o f a b uyer and their viewing has sadly turned into a visit. You may s ee t heir ha nds a re clasped b ehind t hem as they politely respect your photos. W e wa nt t hem to t hink o f t he ho use as their house. I f they can’t imagine i t as t heirs, t hen they won’t make an offer.

This is why it is important that you re move a ll p ersonal photos. A dditionally, we te nd to ha ve to o many framed pictures on the walls, t he p iano, t he fireplace ma ntel a nd t he

end t able. V isually t his registers as c lutter a nd will once again make t he house a ppear smaller .

How ca n o ne a ppreciate any o ne sp ecific painting when i t’s o vershadowed by ma ny o thers. This is the bes t tim e t o eco nomize (pick only a few that work b est wi th t he g eneral color of the room and furniture) a nd r e-hang them giving each space to breathe.

You ma y ha ve he ard the t erm F eng S hui, a n ancient system of aesthetics us ed t o hel p cr eate a balance in t he home. The placement o f f urniture is

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Bayit Ne’eman

House tremendously im portant in giving a buyer this aesthetic. W hen y ou en ter the li ving r oom, is t he back o f t he co uch facin g the buyer? Does the seating a rrangement im plore you to enter in a w elcoming way or say ‘keep out”?

Are there too many pieces of f urniture? I f y ou s ell your ho me, w on’t y ou have to part with some piece(s)? W hy not sell or give aw ay n ow? This is when i t will b enefit you most. You may own eight chairs for the dining room table b ut w hat g ood is i t if o ne ca n’t e asily walk around th e ta ble. I t i s smarter to place the armchairs in the corners of the room and consider storing a couple elsewhere. T ake out t he le aves a nd mak e the dinin g t able smaller for now. It will make the dining room appear more spacious.

Always o pen y our window treatments w hen showing yo ur ho me.

Whether y ou ha ve c urtains, shades, b linds o r shutters t here is no thing better t han na tural lig ht to hel p s ell yo ur ho me.

It mak es i t lo ok lig hter, cheerier a nd ca n indica te to a buyer that energy costs may be lighter. In the evening: Fluorescent lighting 10

is unflattering light. Indirect lighting through strategically placed lamps will give rooms an evenly distributed g low. Dimmer s do w onders t oo. D o y ou have wall-t o-wall ca rpet?

What good is it to say that there a re b eautiful floors under t he o lder, faded , worn ca rpet? H ardwood floors hel p s ell ho uses.

Expose them.

I f y ou a re lik e ma ny, you l ike to ha ve you r toaster o ven, ca n o pener, dish rac k, b read basket, micr owave, na pkin holder, sp ice rac k, medication/vitamins bask ets, dishes, j unk ma il, et c. o n the ki tchen co unters a nd table. The mess age? N o space o n t he co unters f or my stuff. People like to see practically em pty co un-

ters indica ting space t o prepare, co ok, bak e a nd serve. S ome buye rs d on’t have t he visio n o r imagination we hope so we have to help them, in every way possible, t o en vision j ust how right your home is for them. Look at any kitchen advertisement o r design magazine as a guide.

Y es, e ven t he b edrooms ca n b e p roperly staged. H eadboards and beds sho uld b e facin g the entrance inviting one in. High dressers and armoires should be on interior walls so that they are not immedia tely s een as one enters the room. Obviously do ors t o c losets should b e unobstr ucted by items.

P eople say that boiling a cinnamon stick and

water on the stove before a sho wing o f yo ur ho me will add a w elcoming, homey smell. Others say that lig hting ca ndles add warmth t oo. A s B ubby used t o s ay, “ It co uldn’t hurt,” b ut t hese tr icks pale in comparison to the suggestions written here.

Serious sellers should be willin g t o g et p roactive t o g et t he job do ne.

Give buye rs a re ason to buy y our ho me in stead of your neighbors. If you would like input on staging your home feel free to contact me.

Douglas B . Meyer is a realtor a nd pr ofessional stager at Bergen Basin Realty. He c an be c ontacted at 718 915-8003; w ww. bergenbasin.com.

Bayit Ne’eman

Decor

Cleveland-area Woman Proves Using a Designer is Not Just for the Rich and Famous

By Sara Cooperman

• Did y ou kno w a 10-do llar r oll o f wall paper usuall y has the same quality as a 100-dollar roll? After all, they’re both paper, one usually not more durable than another. So paying extra would strictly be for the paper’s design. Therefore, if there’s cheaper wall paper w hose design is p referred, o ne sho uldn’t hesitate to buy it out of fear it’s of lesser quality. In fact, some of the more expensive papers are more fragile because they may be adorned with jewels and gems.

• Did you know that when selecting carpet, wool is the more expensive option because of the quality and richness of colors?

However, are you aware that it is less d urable than a c heaper, nylon carpet?

A kitchen Ireland designed for frum client.

Note the easily kasherable granite countertops and island, and stainless steel sink

• Did you know that, if forced to scrimp due to a tight design budget, it is best to focus your spending on family room carpet, because it gets the most use, and on carpeting on a staircase, because of the concentrated traffic pattern. If the carpeting is p oor quality, it may not hold up as w ell since e veryone uses the same nine inches frequently.

One on a budget can skip costly custom framing and buy cheaper frames from a discount home-goods store to fit their art, like Ireland did in this living room

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hese a re a f ew ti ps that a nyone l ooking t o r edecorate t heir home on a b udget would find in valuable. I t is t his type o f allegia nce t o t he middle-class income that has made M ary I reland, a f rum deco rator in t he Cleveland-area sub urbs, vital t o her co mmunity, proving t hat usin g a designer is no t j ust f or t he rich and famous.

After b eing a b ookkeeper f or 15 y ears, a nd

with a mast ers in ed ucation alr eady under her belt, I reland finally fulfilled a life-long dream by going to design s chool at night, and receiving an associate’s degree in interior design. As a middle-ag ed mother o f five, Ireland knew she was no t destined to t ravel t he wo rld designing f or t he hig her echelons o f in ternational nobility. B esides, I reland had already recognized a void in her co mmunity.

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Bayit Ne’eman

Decor Until then, it seemed, only high-income fa milies in her a rea co uld a fford the services of a designer, and she ho ped to b e t he o ne to bring interior design to the masses.

There a re a f ew wa ys Ireland ensures that families of all incomes can utilize her design s ervices: Ireland charges a very affordable consultation fee, and often do esn’t c harge at all f or “ unofficial” design ad vice. I reland charges no design f ees to her clients who purchase their ma terials t hrough her co mpany. S he b uys at w holesale p rices a nd makes a small co mmission a nd gi ves t he b reak at a dis count t o her c lients. I reland widens her service’s accessib ility b y donating hours of design consultation t o lo cal o rganization’s Chinese auction fundraisers; she als o volunteers to sp eak a t Jewish day schools’ career fairs a bout w hat i t t akes to be an interior designer.

As h er r eputation a s a designer f or a ny b udget became cemen ted, I reland’s friends became her clients and her clients became her f riends and the guest lists for her simchas include ma ny past a nd present clientele.

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Ireland is a firm believer t hat usin g a designer ca n ac tually s ave money in t he lo ng r un, as a designer ca n hel p you a void makin g cost ly mistakes. One o f her

respect a tig ht b udget.

Ireland didn ’t c harge a per hour fee if I o rdered materials t hrough her … she s aved me ho urs a nd hours of time and aggravation.”

When displaying many pieces in one small space, make sure they relate to one another and don’t clash, like Ireland did in this bathroom display

current c lients t estifies, “I didn ’t t hink hir ing a decorator was in the budget, but when my kitchen guy convinced me t hat I would actually save money by using a decorator, I listened. I knew I needed a deco rator w ho co uld

Additionally, a p rofessional, w ell-known designer, ca n o ffer you lower prices t hrough her connections to wholesale vendors a nd s ervicemen that the layperson would not b e offered, as well as warn clients to steer clear

of the fabrics and textiles that co me wi th cer tain pitfalls. For instance, Ireland would never recommend B erber ca rpeting (a kno tted ca rpet) f or a family wi th ma ny c hildren because it is not easily cleaned, nor would she advise c hoosing a p orcelain sink f or one’s kosher kitchen b ecause i t ca n not b e kashered. She advises her “k osher clients” to us e st ainless st eel in the ki tchen o r in vest in granite countertops, both of w hich are trendy now and easily fit into a kosher lifestyle.

Avivia K utoff, another c urrent c lient o f I reland’s in t he Cle veland Heights neig hborhood, recalls t hat w hen it came to c hoosing her ki tchen hardware, Ireland “recognized a dra wer p ull t hat I lik ed a nd t old me t hat she t hought i t c ame in brass plated as opposed to solid b rass, w hich w ould save me a co nsiderable amount o f mo ney, and indeed I was a ble to find that.” Ireland also cautions her clients against “getting married” t o a tr end, a nd to instead be knowledgeable o n w hat mak es t he most sense in one’s home.

For flooring, i t i s kn own that p orcelain tile is t he

Bayit Ne’eman strongest, less a bsorbent option. However, it is not necessary t o s plurge on porcelain f or a n in terior area. Ceramic tiles are less expensive a nd a re str ong enough t o ha ndle typ ical residential foot traffic.

These tips are invaluable to a person on a budget a nd I reland us es her design proficiency as well as her exp erience in r unning a frum household to her ad vantage. “ Having a f rum deco rator,” K utoff s ays, “ one w ho understands our way of life and t he needs o f a la rge family a nd deco rating a home that will h ave a lo t of traffic for simchas and Yomim T ovim is a tr emendous b enefit f or t he frum community.”

Ireland’s s ervices r un from sim ple, o ne-hour consultations to full-scale entire ho me mak eovers.

Her c lients ra nge f rom newlyweds and large families to corporate work for nursing homes and medical offices. However, it has been designing for the observant, a verage-income families in her co mmunity in w hich Ireland has found her design nic he, and has proven that using a designer is no t a luxury that o nly t he u pper c lass is privy to.

Decor

All the pictures are courtesy of Mary Ireland. She can be reached at mIInt7@aol.com It is best to arrange seating around a pleasing focal point, like Ireland did with her client’s fireplace

Mary I reland sig hs as she c loses t he la test issue o f her design magazine. She has just finished reading a bout a nother one of her Interior Design course classmates that has gone off to Los Angeles to design homes for the fab-

ulously wealthy. It i s n ot uncommon for Ireland, a degreed Cle veland-area designer, t o r ead a bout the la vish success es o f her peers, following their jet-setting lif estyles in national design magazines. Y et, w hile t hey

gallivant wi th t he u pper elite in L os Angeles, Miami and Paris, Ireland is content with the decision she made 15 y ears ag o: to st ay in Cle veland a nd provide design s ervices for her f riends and community.

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Bayit Ne’eman

Decor

Eva Striker Zeisel:

The Cultural Shape of Line, Form & Color

E

va Amalia S triker Zeisel was born into a Jewish family in Budapest.

Her pa rents, Alexa nder and Laura Polanyi Striker, moved with her to Vienna when she was 6 y ears old and mo ved aga in t o B udapest w hen she was 12.

Her family was composed of a rtists a nd in tellectuals w ho enco uraged her artwork and her a rt education, w hich co ntinued at t he Ro yal A cademy o f

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By Barbara Arlen Fine Ar ts in B udapest.

She was a pprenticed t o a p otter a t K arapanscik’s Pottery and t hen b ecame a jo urneyman b ecause her mo ther b elieved t hat she should be able to support herself. She then created p ottery o n her o wn and f reelanced, cr eating animal and folk pots and vases for Kispester-Granit Earthenware.

Zeisel b egan w orking as a ceramic designer cre-

ating g eometric in spired dinnerware, vases, etc., in the S chramberg M ajolica Factory in t he Wurttemberg a rea o f Ge rmany i n 1928. Z eisel was r esponsible for 350 workers. She became on e of t he first designers t o cr eate mass production. P rior t o t hat she wo rked in H amburg where she was influenced by t he arch itecture and industrial designs of Gropius, L e C orbusier a nd Mies va n der Ro he, w ho became t he a rchitects o f the Bauhaus School. Their style was sim plified with a re jection of or nament, and t hey b uilt wi th ho nest ma terials lik e g lass, steel a nd co ncrete. Ther e was a truth to their simple shapes and materials.

Zeisel – after moving to the S oviet Union b ecause she admired the optimism and prom ise of R ussian culture – w orked in T akarovka, in t he U kraine, and Leningrad before becoming t he artistic director of the China and Glass Industry. I n M oscow, designing p erfume b ottles for t he wif e o f M olotov,

Eva Zeisel

she was wr ongly acc used of tr ying t o ass assinate Stalin a nd was ja iled f or 16 mo nths, a nd t hen s et free wi thout a ny r eason.

She immigra ted t o t he U.S. in 1938 a fter she was released from prison.

Arp, M iro, B rancusi and Mondrian influenced many o f Z eisel’s sha pes.

Her co lors a nd dra wings were influenced b y historic H ungarian p ottery.

Many o f her w orks a re asymmetrical and derived from forms in nature. Her minimalist style is married with her feminine sense of openness a nd h umanity.

Her sha pes a re w himsical a nd f un lo ving. H er happy, p ositive attitude is the most im portant pa rt of her cr eative p rocess.

She created her own individual vocabulary of playful s culptural sha pes a nd forms that fit together like a lo ving fa mily o r ha ppy companions. Dur ing t he WW II p eriod, Zeisel de-

Bayit Ne’eman signed cass erole dishes that could be baked in the oven and moved to the table in mixed and matched pieces t o s ave w omen time and money. This was part of her design p rocess that was f unctional a nd efficient. In the 1950’s she created the idea of mixing two colors to create a third color in her H all China Company’s “ Tritone” s eries o f p itchers t eapots, salt a nd p epper shak ers, etc.

At 104, she is still flourishing as a designer . H er biomorphic f orms define her design s a nd ha ve influenced co untless st u-

Decor dents. H er design f orms have influenced ceramics, furniture design, graphics and t extile design s. H er Red W ing P ottery co lors (Town & C ountry L ine) stack a nd li ve t ogether in li vely co mmunities o f complementary sha pes and sizes. They are homogeneous in sha pe and diverse in co lors, but blend well together, just like the populations of New York City a nd Chicag o, w here Ziesel has.

Zeisel’s wo rk has b een exhibited a t M OMA, t he British Museum, The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Er ie Ar t M useum,

In r ecent y ears, she has created and helped to revive her o wn vintage and classic designs for the Rug Company, Crate & B arrel and Design Within Reach, KleinRead, The Orange Eva Zeisel’s prototypes for modular ceramic wall dividers Chicken and Gumps.

(1958) next to color chips to illustrate how to use Zeisel’s colors in interiors or accents

Pratt M anhattan Galler y, Hillwood Museum & Gardens, Asheville Art Museum, M ingei I nternational Museum, T yler M useum of Ar t, M usee des Ar ts Decoratifs in M ontreal and her w ork is in ma ny major design co llections.

Barbara A rlen o f Ba rbara A rlen D esign & A ssociates i s the fac ilitator of t he Co lor Cer tificate program at FIT’s School of Professional Studies. She is a c olor exper t a nd glo bal product des igner o f ho me furnishings’ p roducts. H er work w ith a rtisans in I ndia pr omote su stainable products and communities.

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Bayit Ne’eman

Livingg

Turning a house into a home

By Anat Coleman

W

hen I first moved to N ew York, the apartment I sha red wi th three other young women felt very foreign to me. At first I t hought it was simply d ue t o t he immen se culture shift in mo ving from my parents’ home in London. B ut t hen I t ook one small st ep that helped me to make a gia nt leap – I put a p hoto of myself on the f ridge, t o acco mpany those of my roommates. In that in stance, w hen I p ut something o f m yself in to the a partment, i t b ecame home.

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Enabling those in your house t o p ut s omething of t hemselves in to i t ca n also ac hieve t his f eeling f or t hem. G ive y our children o r sp ouse a s ay in ho w t heir r oom is decorated, take photos of school projects to put up on a notice board (which you ca n r ename F amily Gallery) for a month’s rotation, a nd disp lay s ome of y our o wn a rtwork o r photography. I n m y first apartment I hung a painting I had do ne (no ma tter t hat i t was o f a p iece of c heese, f rom t he 10t h

grade!) o n t he ki tchen door, w hich ga ve me a wonderful s ense o f b elonging.

But beyond the physical, a ho use b ecomes a home w hen e veryone who lives t here feels t hat they p lay a n e ssential part in i ts r unning. E veryone c an hel p, ha ve a role. B y co ntributing t o the household this is also a h uge s elf-confidence boost; feel useful, needed, and sk illful. M ake su re any r oles o r c hores assigned a re ag e a ppropriate, so you set them up for

success. Ro les ca n b e r eassessed every 6 mo nths.

I ha ve b een in ma ny homes w here guests a re not allo wed t o h elp, because t heir hosts wa nt the guests t o feel sp ecial.

But b eing allo wed in to the kitchen actually helps a guest t o feel part of the family – a nd w hat co uld be more special than that.

Everyone in t he family can als o work together to decide w here t he fa mily’s tzedakah will be alloca ted to. This can be done however regularly you choose – e very r osh c hodesh, o r before Rosh Hashana and Pesach. By discussing giving p riorities wi th y our family members, you find out what matters to them.

Growing up, my Mom and I w ould ga ther a nything we w ere no lo nger r eading, w earing, o r p laying with, and take it to the local Goodwills every couple of mo nths. B y dis cussing together w hat o ur fa mily no lo nger needed, that another family might welcome instead, it provided a hands-on tzedakah exp erience – and certainly kept our home clutter free!

When w e w ere engaged, m y h usband a nd I sp ent f our ho urs a t Bed, B ath a nd Be yond selecting o ur gift regis-

Bayit Ne’eman try. W hen w e finally sat down f or a b reak, m y husband said, “You know, what’s r eally im portant in a ho me is t he p eople who live in it.” It’s so easy to g et b ogged do wn in making y our ho me lo ok pristine, b ut next time you ca tch y ourself asking y our 4-y ear-old t o stop b uilding his leg o tower b ecause p ieces a re dropping o n t he ki tchen floor, o r o nly half list en to your 12-year-old share a problem because you’re distracted b y p icking u p pieces o f her c lothing from arou nd t he ro om, stop and remind yourself whether, at the end of the day, y ou wa nt t o b e a ble to s ay “ my floor i s s parkling” o r “ my c hildren truly feel listened to.”

When I t hink a bout this ide a o f f ocusing o n the people, rather than belongings, in a ho me, I r emember a su pport gr oup for hoa rders t hat I o nce attended. One woman admitted that when she was sitting shiva for her mother she didn’t allow anyone to b e me nachem avel b ecause her a partment was in such a state that she was embarrassed to let anyone see it. While this is clearly an extr eme cas e, I ha ve certainly co me acr oss

Living homes where I ha ve been afraid to sit or touch anything f or f ear o f mo ving something that has clearly been p erfectly p laced. I s your house so focused on the items within it – b e it treasures o r j unk – t hat people w ho en ter ca n’t find a co mfortable p lace for themselves?

Does y our h usband come ho me f rom wo rk and no t g et a q uick “hi ” hollered from the kitchen because you’re busy making dinner? D o your kids come ho me f rom s chool and g et a “ please do n’t leave y our coa t o n t he floor”? Sa ying “ good t o see y ou” o r le aving y our kitchen c hores aside f or a mo ment to s ay hel lo directly o nly t akes a s econd, but goes a lo ng way to ensuring that you send a clear mess age: welcome home.

So often in life we don’t get t o f ulfill o ur dr eams.

Perhaps y ou wa nted t o be a n en gineer b ut b ecame a p hysics t eacher; perhaps y ou wa nted t o make ali yah, b ut g ot ‘stuck’ o n L ong I sland.

Let your home be a p lace that ena bles p eople t o pursue t heir dr eams. I f your da ughter wa nts t o practice her vio lin, ha ve a ‘ zero t olerance’ p olicy

on any teasing about how scratchy i t ma y s ound. I f your s on wa nts a ska teboard, enco urage him t o do c hores t hat will e arn him p ocket money s o he can ea rn th is p urchase and keep his s avings in a see-through container labeled “dream fund.” Help everyone in y our ho use to w ork t owards t heir dreams, e ven o nes t hat may s eem una ttainable, and y ou will t urn i t in to a ho me w here e veryone’s dreams are treasured.

I always wanted to have a home that was like Abraham’s tent; always open to others. But over the years I

have learned an important lesson – it is crucial to find a balance between hosting guests, a nd ha ving time alone wi th y our fa mily.

It’s cer tainly a w onderful mitzvah to let y our house be a ho me to o thers, b ut first a f oremost let i t be a comfort zone for the people who live in it!

Anat Co leman, MSW, is dire ctor o f c ommunity affairs at the Jewish Community Co uncil o f Washington Heights. She strives to em ulate G-d t hrough creating, o rganizing, a nd guiding – an d kn owing when to rest.

Decorating for all your needs.

• Wallpaper • Reupholstery • Blinds & Shades • Window Treatments • Bedspreads • Headboards • Slipcovers and Furniture for your home.

Renovation Sale!

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Living

Bayit Ne’eman

A Natural Mosquito Repellent How Plants Can Help Keep The Bugs Away

By Yafa Lamm detest ma ny o f t he s ame plants t hat w e find so pleasant. By planting these genuine jewels around our sitting a rea, w e ca n cr eate an invisible and sweet smelling insect barrier for or ma ny o f us, mos- by t his minis cule p reda- active in t he early morn- our homes and gardens. quitoes ca n r uin o ur tor, biting us and causing ings and early evenings.

The t hree w ords t o precious time o utside. us to spend the rest of the Fortunately, t here a re remember f or t his list o f How f rustrating i t is t o evening s cratching a way many p lants t hat det er plants a re min ts, min ts, want t o sp end time o ut- at the sore spot. Mosqui- mosquitoes from our gar- mints. S pearmint, p epdoors, only to be thwarted toes, by the way, are most dens. And mos quitoes permint, lemo n-mint;

Autumn in New York provides one of the loveliest climates for sitting outside and enjoying a peaceful evening, especially after a long day at work or school. The problem is that we’re not the only ones who enjoy the cool of the evening. The insects do as well.

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Bayit Ne’eman

Living

Perennial

Geranium

there is e ven a c hocolate mint va riety th at will quickly gr ow in y our yard. L avender, a delicious smellin g p erennial, will add b eauty and freshness t o y our ho me and garden. Ros emary is another w onderful p lant that ma ny un wanted insects tr y t o a void. A s is American Beauty Bush.

Geranium is a v ery common plant that has a

natural occurring chemical called p yrethrum, which is syn thesized and used as a n in secticide in many ho me p roducts. I

should notice a v ery f ragrant lemony scent.

By placing these plants close t o w here y ou’ll b e sitting, y ou will b e cr eating a b ug f ree zo ne in your o utdoor space . G o ahead a nd b rush past Rosemary these ha rdy p lants. S ome would no t r ecommend of those scents will rub off on you and w ill g ive you putting p yrethrum directly in to t he ga rden, even better insect protecbut t here a re eno ugh tion. With the bugs away, low le vels o f p yrethrums you’ll b e a ble t o en joy in s cented g eraniums t o watching the leaves fall. keep t hose p ests flying.

Yafa Lamm is a science When lo oking f or t he and en vironmental e duscented g eraniums, b e sure t o t ouch t he le aves cator and plant researcher of the plant and sniff. You and writer. She has developed an upcoming line of skin c are pr oducts c alled Good Di rt, wh ich c ombines m odern p lant science and old world knowledge of herbs and essential oils. La mm a lso c onsultants in landscape design, specializing in m edicinal and herbal gardens. Visit Lamm’s b log a t w ww.yafasgooddirt.blogspot.com.

Lavender

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Bayit Ne’eman

Details

A Good Green Shabbos: Keeping The Earth Clean While Keeping Shabbos

By Sabra Hess Weinberg

D

o you s ee t he world t hrough reclaimed, s oy ink ed, gr eencolored e ye g lasses? W ell, unless you’ve b een hidin g o ut in y our compost bins for the last five years, you’ve w itnessed firsthand a s th e eco-friendly mo vement sw ept u p main-street a nd al tered o ur r elationship wi th E arth f orever. Did you watch as t he new solar panels went up? Your eruv committee certainly did. Do you enjoy the shade from the newly planted native trees on your walk home from shul every Shabbos? And where would you be without t he b righter, wind-p owered LED lig hting t o guide y our drive home on early winter nights?

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But t he gr een didn’t st op a t t he front la wn h edge. The recycling bins r olled in to y our ki tchens, r ecent ne wborns a rrived t o find biodegradable pa mpers wa iting, a nd many bickering children cleared the air wi th all-na tural, no n-toxic a ir freshener. W ith s o m uch guida nce from the media and local grass-roots organizations, keeping green six days a week became a walk in the park.

But m any o f u s r est o ur gr een thumbs on day Seven. With countless r esponsibilities a nd time co nstraints le ading u p t o S habbat, i t’s difficult t o imagine ado pting a ny changes in to t he alr eady hec tic routine o f F riday a fternoon. You

may be surprised to find that many green tricks for Shabbat are already part of your prep routine and that others can be seamlessly integrated.

Start wi th y our su pplies. N ext time you pi ck up S habbat or Havdalah candles, choose beeswax (or b etter y et, us e t he o live o il in your pa ntry). U nlike t he pa raffin variety, beeswax candles use naturally s ourced wax, do no t co ntain toxic c hemicals, a nd ma ny o nline stores now offer them at a discount.

If y ou do no t us e wall-timer s, pick s ome up a t H ome D epot or your local hardware store. Use them to s chedule t he CFL lig hts in y our dining room around Shabbat meals,

Bayit Ne’eman and t he lig hts in t he kids ’ r ooms around bed times. Sa ve even more electricity a nd k eep y our ho use cooler b y a ttaching timer s t o y our electric blech and chollent pot. Your guests will t hank y ou f or a co oler dining experience.

Unplug all a ppliances b efore Shabbat that will not be in operation for the duration. This includes computers, televisions, and chargers.

Before S habbat, tr y mo ving your t hermostat do wn a f ew degrees in win ter a nd u p a li ttle in summer to save both carbon dioxide and money. You probably won’t feel the difference but you are certainly making one.

Details You’re in vited o ut f or S habbat lunch? Remember to carry the bottle of wine over in a reusable fabric wine t ote, no w a vailable f or p urchase a t most wine st ores. B etter yet, gift t hem t he t ote as w ell and pass the idea forward.

If y ou ca nnot us e r eal dinin gware at t he Shabbat t able, opt for paper in stead o f S tyrofoam, a nd use cloth napkins. For consistency in your theme and to engage your children in r ecyclable p ractices, ask them to craft the Shabbos centerpiece f rom o ld magazines a nd coloring books. In addition to sustaining t he e arth, y our kids will scramble t o sust ain y our guests ’

interest in their masterpieces, giving y ou a f ew extra min utes o f prep time.

Re ady t o wrap up your greener sha bbos exp erience? Then r ecite H avdalah o ver y our b eeswax candle, pass a round your besamim (last Sukkot’s etrog skin stuffed with cloves) and at last turn on the dishwasher after packing it to capacity.

Now pat yourself on your greenback and get working on the backyard’s solar windmill.

Sabra is a n e quity t rader, f reelance writer, and lover of all things green. She can be reached at sabrahess1@yahoo.com

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Bayit Ne’eman

Details

By Chaya Cohen

Fire and Burn Prevention in the Home I

s a nything mo re he art wrenching t han a c hild in a burn unit? Every year, thousands of children and adults are burned severely enough t o r equire hosp italization. M any o f t hem are p ermanently disfigured or die. Most of these tragedies a re ca used b y unsafe actions and conditions that can be prevented b y taki ng th e p roper precautions.

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Many Je wish c ustoms involve lig hting ca ndles; practices suc h as le aving a ppliances r unning all Shabbos als o incr ease t he likelihood of burns and fire.

Safeguard your home with the following simple steps: SHABBOS BLECHS:

• Do no t co ver wi th towels o r o ther c loths; if you m ust in sulate p ots, fold t he c loth s o i t co vers only the top of the pot and do es no t ha ng o ver the side . M ake sur e no part of t he c loth t ouches the blech itself.

there is no f ood o n t he blech.

• Make sure no part of t he blech touches any surrounding ma terials such as ad jacent co untertops, cabinets, or curtains.

CROCK POTS, URNS AND HOT PLATES:

• Keep flames only • Do not leave the blech high enough to keep food “empty.” Keep a k ettle o r • Set a ppliances a nd warm but no higher than pot f ull o f wa ter o n t he cords w ell a way f rom necessary. blech to absorb heat when counter edges.

Bayit Ne’eman • Use t imers to s witch power o ff after f ood is removed. D o no t a llow urns to run dry.

• Set co ntrols t o t he lowest lev els th at will keep food safely hot.

• Keep away from combustible ma terials suc h as paper, plastic, and cloth.

LEICHTER, YAHRZEIT LICHT AND MENORAHS:

• Use o nly ma terials that will not burn, such as metal, s tone, h eavy-duty tempered glass or ceramic. A void w ood, p lastic and thin glass, even with metal inserts.

• Never us e a rts-andcrafts meno rahs made of do ugh o r p lay-dough, which will burn.

• Place candleholders on he at-resistant no ncombustible surfaces only.

If setting on wood or plastic counters, use noncombustible tra ys, p referably of heavy glass, ceramic or other insulating material.

• Keep c lear space above a nd a round ca ndles; ne ver p lace ca ndles below cabinets or shelves or in confined spaces.

• Do no t cr owd. L ook for menorahs with generous spacing between candle cups, and keep menorahs well apart from each other.

Details • Arrange ca ndles wi th the t allest in t he bac k.

Light fr om ba ck t o fr ont and t allest to shortest, s o that y our ha nd do es no t pass o ver a li t flame to light the next candle.

• Set candles where you want t hem b efore lig hting; do no t carry or slide lit ca ndles f rom p lace t o place.

• Never w ear lo ose, flowing slee ves o r da ngling scarves when lighting. Tie back long hair or sheitels and a void usin g hair sp ray sho rtly b efore lighting.

• Beware o f co mmercially-sold, p refilled glass oil cups. The additive that makes the oil gel can cause the o il t o o verheat a nd shatter or melt the glass.

• Trim wicks as short as possible.

• Place S habbos ca ndles o n sideb oards o r counters a way f rom dining t ables. I f y ou m ust have candles on the table, seat c hildren as fa r a way as possible.

• If lig hting menorahs in windo ws, remove combustible i tems suc h as b linds, c urtains, a nd shades. Avoid placing menorahs o n t he sills; p lace them in stead o n a t able set slightly back from the windows. P rotect t he t a-

ble by covering it with foil FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: and setting the menorahs on glass or ceramic trays.

• Place a small AB CDo not use tablecloths. class fire extinguisher near the door to the kitchEXTENSION CORDS en a nd a ny o ther r oom AND WIRES: where ca ndles o r he at• Never r un co rds un- producing a ppliances a re der ma ts o r ca rpets o r used, a nd le arn ho w t o through walls, do orways use it correctly. or windows.

FIRST AID • One receptacle, one FOR BURNS: appliance: do no t us e • Remove a ny c lothing adapters to pl ug mo re than o ne a ppliance in to around t he b urn unless an outlet or add applianc- it stic ks. D o no t r emove anything that sticks. es to an extension cord.

• Run co ol, no t co ld, • Use ext ension co rds with s ufficient electrical water over the burn.

• Cover wi th a st erile capacity for the appliances. Do not exceed the am- bandage or clean cloth.

• Seek medical a ttenperage and wattage listed tion for burns that are seon the cord.

• Immediately unplug vere, cover a large area, or and r eplace ext ension have foreign matter stuck cords t hat f eel wa rm t o to or in them. the touch.

IF YOU CATCH FIRE: • Use o nly elec trical equipment certified by rec• Stop w hat y ou’re doognized organizations such ing. Do not run. as Underwriters’ Labs (UL) • Drop to the ground. or Factory Mutual (FM).

• Roll bac k a nd f orth until the fire is completeLAMPS: ly out.

• Never dim la mps b y covering th em wi th a ny Ch aya Co hen h as 30 kind o f m aterial. U se years o f exper ience as a night lig hts a nd la mps consultant, t rainer a nd with timer s o r b uilt-in public speaker in the field dimmer switches. of health and safety. She is • Keep c lutter suc h as happiest us ing h er exper hanging c lothes a nd pa- tise to be nefit t he J ewish pers away from lamps. community.

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Bayit Ne’eman

News Briefs Home Design For Today’s Technological Age • NEW IPAD APP FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN HOME DESIGN Houzz, a p hoto da tabase f or the ho me design ind ustry a nd community, has made a large collection o f ho me design p hotos available on Apple’s iPad, reports Business W ire. The mo ve co mes

after H ouzz ra ised $2 millio n from prominent investors. Houzz. com is f ounded b y A di T atarko and Alon Cohen, who decided t o create a digital and more efficient way of clipping home design pho-

tos after their own experience remodeling t heir ho use. C urrently, the database has over 60,000 photos by home design and remodeling professionals, a nd design advice and trends.

• NEW NETWORK FOR BARTERING HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT SKILLS OPEN TO PUBLIC OurGoods.org, a netw ork o f goods, is no w o pen t o t he p ublic include la bor, c ustom a nd vintage artists a nd designer s in t he N ew after a y ear of being available only home déco r i tems, a nd less ons in York area bartering their skills and to its core community. Swap items home improvement.

• ETHAN ALLEN OFFERS NEW TOUCH SCREENS TO SHOWCASE DESIGNS The f urniture a nd design suinteractive t echnology wi th t heir chandising and shopper assistance percenter E than Allen has c hosen customers in stores throughout the program t hat ca n b e c ustomized Intava in teractive t ouch s creens U.S. The screens are powered by In- for any category of products sold in to sho wcase t heir design s usin g tava Vector, which is a visual mer - Ethan Allen.

• NEW IPHONE APP “HOME STYLE” OFFERS HOME DESIGN VIDEOS B ritish in terior designer K elly iPhone app after authoring six books forty how-to videos relating to variHoppen has in troduced her first on home design. “ Home Style” has ous aspects of home design.

Virtual Staging: A New Trend by Real Estate Agent Helps Buyers Realize Design Possibilities The N ew Y ork T imes r ecently reported o n vir tual s taging, a n ew trend of real estate agents and home sellers. V irtual st aging me ans designing b eautifully-decorated a nd artfully-arranged ho mes t hrough online add-o ns a nd gra phics w hen the real estate up for grabs is in r e-

ality, unf urnished – w hich me ans, harder to sell to potential buyers than furnished ho mes a nd a partments.

Since ne arly 100 p ercent o f ho me buyers us e t he I nternet to s earch for ho mes, r eal est ate ag ents need photos o f b eautiful-looking r ooms to have t heir p roperties co nsidered

seriously. H owever, t he p hotos a re uploaded alongside photos of w hat the rooms actually look like, to avoid any nasty sur prises w hen p ersonal showings t ake p lace. M any ag ents said t he vir tually-staged photos are put up to merely show the buyer the possibilities of the real estate.

New Design Exhibit of Menorahs by Celebrated Architect Daniel Libeskind Just m onths a fter a n exhib it in U nion S quare sho wcasing t he most innovative forms of a sukkah comes another exhibit showcasing art and Judaism intertwined. Dan26

iel Libeskind, the celebrated architect w hose design w on t he World Trade Center’s design competition, is s howing “A H anukkah P roject: Daniel Libeskind’s Line of Fire” at

the J ewish M useum. The exhibit includes 40 meno rahs f rom t he museum’s co llection, b y designer s such as Ric hard Meier and Karim Rashid.

Bayit Ne’eman

Real Estate Section Lori & Associates LI Realty Inc. 516-791-8300

www.Loriandassociates.com EN

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BACK LAWRENCE AUCTION SALE 298 Ocean Ave. By Appt Colonial 10 Br's, 244x 244 property Kosher Eik,3 fireplaces, Fbsmt Call for details.........$1.6Mil-$1.9Mil

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WOODMERE Sunday By Appt 334 Edward Ave (bet Penn & W Bdwy) Like a New Construction Colonial 4+Br,Showcase Kosher Eik,Spectacular New 3.5Bth,Must See...........$969K

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LAWRENCE Lowest price in Law 102 Cumberland Pl. By Appt.

Huge property 132' deep, 4-5Br,Lr,Dr (2)New Eik,(2)Dens,possible mother/ daughter,All renovated......$595,000

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LAWRENCE NEW CONSTRUCTION 29 Muriel Ave By Appt.

Spectacular C/H Col,6Br's up,6Bth,Lr, Fdr,Den,Huge Eik opens to Great Rm Fbsmt,Moldings,6100 Sq Ft,209' prop $2,100,000

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WOODMERE SPLANCH 827 Moore St. By Appt 4Br on 1 level, 2.5Bth,Lr,Fdr, (3) Dens, New Eik, FBsmt,Lg property...............$739K

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HEWLETT Woodmere Boarder 424 Felter Ave By Appt.

Custom Home, Huge Rms all with 9" ceilings. 5Br,3Bth,Lr,Fdr,Huge Den, Eik, 84x145 property $549,000 or Rent $3900/mth

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LAWRENCE CULDESAC 19 Waverly Pl. By Appt Colonial,Lr/fpl,New Eik,Huge Den/fpl Fdr,Enormous Mst Suite/fpl/New Marble spectacular Bth,+3Br,FBsmt Landscaped w/Hot tub..$1,395,000

Woodmere Academy Area All Renovated Stucco Hi Ranch 4Br,2.5Bth,Lr,Fdr,Sd14,New Granite Eik,Den,New Roof, 2-car Garage $549,000

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LAWRENCE CO-OP "The Plaza" Doorman,Elevator,Pool, Oversized 1Br 1.5Bth,Lr,Dr,Walk in closets,Lg EIK, Terrace...REDUCED...$199K..&..$239K

LAWRENCE All New CO-OP Elevator building, 1Br,1New Bth, Granite New kitchen,Hdwd Floors $159K or rent $1500/mth

FAR ROCKAWAY/BAYSWATER 1478 POINT BREEZE WOODMERE "The Mayfair" CO-OP Old World Charm Colonial 6Br,3.5Bth 819 Broadway By Appt Lr/fpl,Fdr/fpl,Eik,Master Br/fpl,Cozy Best deal in Town, Elevator building front porch, Park-like property 1Br,1Bth,Lr/Dr,Kitchen.......$99,000 moldings,Fbsmt...$559,000

HUGE RENTAL DEPARTMENT....RENTALS AVAILABLE Far Rockaway,Cedarhurst,Lawrence,Woodmere and Hewlett

Florida Real Estate Guide Call YITZ SCHREIBER REALTOR, XCELLENCE REALTY, for all your Real Estate needs in Florida. Will get you the right property at the right price in all desirable communities such as Miami, Surfside, Deerfield, Boca Raton, Delray and Boynton. There has never been a better time to buy.

Call 954-237-3475 or Cell phone anytime 954-649-6181.

Montoya Circle and Boca Del Mar Homes For Sale

MONTOYA ESTATES 3 bedrooms 3 baths light and bright, master and 3rd bath updated garage enclosed, Asking $259,000.00 3 bedrooms 2 baths updated kitchen and

master bath. Nice backyard. Asking $289,000.00 CAPTIVA 3 bedroom 2 bath pool home , updated kitchen with granite counters Asking $299,000.00

THORNHILL VILLAGE Just Listed! 2 bedroom 2 bath plus a loft. 1 CG Asking $225,000.00 BOCA HAMLET 3 bedroom 2 ½ baths pool home large lot Asking $899,000

ELEANOR AGER REALTY, INC. Mitchell Stiel 561-866-4140 Mona Fisher 561-702-6662 Shomer Shabbat www.EleanorAgerRealty.com

(516) 295-3000 9roadway 950 Broadway Woodmere, NY

Woodsburgh - Gracious 4BR, 4.5Bth CH Colonial, 1/2 acr, LR wfpl, Den, Bsmt $1.544m

Lawrence - Sprawling 3 BR, 3 BTH Ranch, Huge Den, Fin Bsmt,Lush Ppty,Prime Loc $949k

Cedarhurst - Updated 3 BR, 2.5 BTh Split, Mstr BR ste., Fin Bsmt, Den,Nu CAC& Roof $549k

Inwood- Just Listed!

Charming starter, Golf course vu, full bsmt & attic,low tax $369k

Lawrence - The Plaza Lux Apts-24 hr drmn-indoor prkng, pool, Rentals from $1495 month NO FEE!!! No board approval

www.pugatch.com

Bayit Ne’eman

Releases

Bringing Your Home into the 21st Century As kids, we all daydreamed about the technology of the future: of the Jetsons, of Star Trek, from our favorite movies or books. We thought about how great it would be to have a computer take care of all our chores, our work and our needs.

W

ell, t hat “ future” that was o nce s o far away has arrived. We can do almost a nything from t he t ouch of a b utton, a nd t hrough electronics you can even program your home to work for you.

28

“The ‘ technology o f the fu ture’ i s h ere,” sa ys Norman Adelman, owner of Wizard of Home. “You can remotely turn on the lights, p lay y our fa vorite songs and turn on the heat without e ven s etting foot in y our ho me. This can

even be pre-programmed to occur automatically.”

Wizard o f H ome’s technology allo ws homeowners t o us e t heir iPhones, iP ads, co mputers o r r emote de vices t o control their homes from anywhere on t he g lobe.

They can command their media, s ecurity, c limate, lighting, irrigation, video surveillance, p ool/spa and almost a nything els e you can think of.

“It was just a matter of time b efore s cience fiction w ould beco me r eality,” s ays M r. A delman, who has b een cr eating and in stalling r esidential and commercial automation an d s ecurity pro ducts f or o ver 30 y ears.

“With suc h ad vances a t our fingertips t hat are money-saving, gr een, easy-to-use a nd ca n b e installed in both new and renovated homes, it is difficult t o imagine ho mes of th e fu ture n ot h aving these lif estyle-enhancing technologies.”

Bayit Ne’eman APPLIANCE REPAIR Ahron’s appliance repair.

Washers, dryers, stoves & more. WE CLEAN DRYER VENTS 718-781-3323 RAJA Appl Repair. All major brands, frig, A/C, microwv, oven/stove, D/W, W/D. Reas, reliable. 917-714-9446

ARCHITECT Architectural Design, Layout, Engineering & Building Permit Fisher & Partners 845-537-6001

CONSTRUCTION 2001 Construction Odyssey Inc. Remodeling: house, apts, bsmt, ofc, stores. New kit/bth.

Ceramic/Marble, Fence & decks. Cement & interlock pavers. Lic’d/insured 646-220-3221 718-234-3927

ELECTRICIAN ALL ELECTRICAL NEEDS New lines, troubleshooting, fixtures. Call Yehuda @ 347-631-0481 Licensed Electrician in New Jersey & Long Island looking for partner (only for electrician) Zvi 646-7398771

ENGINEER/HOME INSPECTION Local Company Infrared Scan Free Full Office Staff E & O Insured Certified Termite Inspection Free 718-INSPECT 516-INSPECT Dov Herman NY Inspect 5 Boros & LI

EXTERMINATING NICE JEWISH BOY WHO KILLS BUGS Mice, Termites, Ants, Waterbugs & Bedbugs.

Call Abe @ 718-253-8511 «Knockout Pest Control» Avi KAtz - Owner 800244-PEST (7378) or 718 951-9126 Bedbugs, termites, roaches, rodents, ants and more...

Comm'l/Resid. Sunday Svc. Avail.

Xtreme Termite & Pest Control All phases of pest control, termite specialist. Lic & insured. Shmr Shab.

718-815-4206

HANDYMAN 1 AAA HANDYMAN. Home improvements. Reasonable rates for all work. Free est.

Sh Sh 646-643-2326

Directory A+ Home Repairs & Improvements. Bths, tiles, paint, sheetrock & more.

Free est. Call Asher, 646-872-9058 All you need to repair & fix, pntg, plumb, elect, shtrock & more, quick srvc, low price, Sh Sh.718-717-4070 ANY JOB BIG OR SMALL. FREE ESTIMATE. REFERENCES AVAILABLE. 347-996-2068 Avail for odd jobs. Exp in security sys, HVAC, appls, crpntry, minor constr. Free est. Ben 516-286-8008 Danny the Handyman.

Stop leaks! Regrout & tile repair specialty. Plaster, pnting, carpentry.

917-922-5223 HANDYMAN. Quick Service at low prices. Carpentry, sheetrock, plastering, painting, electric & plumbing.

Replace old toilets, sinks, electric fixtures & windows.

917-385-8576

HOME IMPROVEMENTS AVRAAM & SONS. Paint, plumbing, elect, tiles, kitch, bath, bsmt, sheetrock. Refs.

Sh Shab 646-217-8252

PLUMBING ALL PLUMBING & HEATING Repairs & Installations. Serving Rockland, Westchester and the Five Boros. Shomer Shabbos.

DAVID 347-680-2295; 845-206-6280 MMT PLUMBING. For all your Sewer, Heating & Plumbing needs. Boiler cleaning $100.

646-879-4969

RANGES EXPERT repairs on gas & electric ranges. YAAKOV WOLF. Sh Shab 718-998-3238

REFRIGERATION REFRIGERATION & A/C, RANGES, WASHERS & DRYERS Repaired & Serviced Shmr Shab Yaakov Wolf 718-998-3238

RUBBISH REMOVAL

E & D Home Improvement, pntg, flooring, roofing, kit cabinets, shtrck, Sh Shab, free est. 877-295-7077

All cleanup. Yard/bsmt/garage. Free est. S & S Rubbish Removal/Demolition.

Sh Shab 347-404-1643

PAINTING All About Painting - Int/Ext., Sheetrock, Taping. Top-Line Benj.Moore Paint. Shom Shab. Free est. Refs.

718-435-9551 CHAIM PAINTING. Int/ext, all paints. Skin coat, glazing, venetian plaster.

Sh Sh. 800-627-8020; 917-771-1094 Sheetrock, Plastering, Paint 1 room $100. Minimum 2 rms. 28 years exp.

718-987-0033 1-917-656-8545

For all your electrical needs New Lines, Fixtures, Spots Troubleshooting, Etc. Reliable & Prompt Service

HERTZEL ROOFING We Solve Your Squirrel Problems Repairs * Rubberized Clean Gutters & Leaders Skylights * Waterproofing. Shomer Shabbos 917-519-3997 718-339-5917

ALEXANDER SHLEPS Take Away By Truck & Container.

Low Low price. Senior Citizen Discount 347-452-1206

Nationwide 1-888-GO-KOSHER Full Toiveling & Koshering Srvc Rabbi S. Lebovic, Director

(347) 631-0481

ROOFING

Carpentry, sheetrock, paint, plumbing, elect.

Bths, bsmts & kits. No job too big or too small. Jerry 917-202-5524

KOSHERING & TOIVELING

SYM Electrical

We’ll Light Up Your Day Yehuda Srour Electrician

100's of references

ARIK RUBBISH REMOVAL Low, Low Price. Licensed & insured 877-668-3186 646-261-7019 Shloymi’s Rubbish Removal.

Fast & Quality work. Low rates. Free est. Sh Shab.

718-717-3352, 347-335-6565

SEWER CLEANING BEDFORD SEWER & DRAIN 24 Hr Svc. Quality Work, Low rates 718-789-0818 Reuven

VAN FOR HIRE A/C 15 psngr van. Mtns, trips, deliveries, airports & moving.

718-338- 3313/ 718-377-3397/ 917-282-4190

29

Beautiful Home Contest

Bayit Ne’eman

Beautiful Home Contest Winner R

ivka T eich is a full tim e court r eporter and mo ther o f five l iving i n Crown Heights, Brooklyn. To walk into her ho me is t o en ter a nother world, a ha ppy and enveloping atmosphere. Surely she has a talented designer a nd deco rative pa inter a t her disposable? No. Teich, an artist by hobby if not by trade, has painted every room in her house and repainted many when the mood suits her. The gorgeous tile-work on the entry to the dining room? Teich ordered the tiles, designed t he layout and placed them herself. Surely she comes from a fa mily of artists and was exposed to a do it yourself ethos from a young age? No again. “Paint is $25 a gallo n,” Teich insists. “Just

try it. Don’t go with what colors are Rivka, of Creative Design: color in season. Do whatever makes you consulting and interior decorating, feel g ood bec ause y ou’re th e o ne can b e r eached a t no whitewalls@ who li ves t here. I f i t do esn’t co me hotmail.com or 718-902-7718. out right, you can just repaint it.”

Fish mural in toy room as inspired by NY Aquarium

Self-painted turquoise dining room

Hand-tiled mosaic in dining room entry

Photos credit: Devorah Levitin, 718-300-1500

30

A Home Magazine

Bayit Ne’eman Join us for our nex t big issue M ay 2011

A Publication of

centraldesign@live.com

Insurance, Risk and Wealth Management Services

Personal Insurance Home • Auto • Life • Long Term Care

Commercial Insurance • • • •

Importers • General Liability Wholesale • Product Liability Retailer • Professional Liability Group Health

Elite Insurance Agency Yechiel Bromberg

2001 Marcus Avenue Lake Success, New York

516.354.7000

ybromberg@eliteins.com All Forms of Insurance! All At Competative Rates!