My French "No Water" Skin Care Routine

Read article : My French "No Water" Skin Care Routine

I know, I know. I have gone AWOL again. I guess you can say I am still in my adjustment phase. Imagine, a new baby and a new home (yes, we moved three weeks after Xavi was born!), on top of all my other responsibilities. 

So yeah, writing really took a back seat. But anyhoo! I am slowly getting back into the groove of things, and hopefully I can squeeze in more "me time" (which these days means just having enough time to take a bath, nyarks). But ahhh! The bonus of not spending time in front of the computer and having to unpack and organize our stuff also means more time for me to organize my stash of baby and beauty products and testing them on the kiddos (baby prods) and myself (beauty prods). 

I have so many discoveries and re-discoveries. Plus of course my old reliables that I ought to share with you (seriously, I get Aha! moments while using these products when I realize I have been keeping them to myself. To think these are too good to not be shared here in the blog).

But before I go to all those, I'll start off with my starting point for skin care - cleansing. My cleansing routine is sort of revolutionary really. I have tweeted about this on and off for months now, and for my Twitter friends, you know what I am talking about - Garance Dore's "NO WATER" skin cleansing routine.

Yes, you read that right, NO WATER. Tap water that is. Because there's thermal water involved here:

Ok, quick background. Six months or so ago, I happened upon Garance Dore's post on skin care. Apparently, tap water is our skin's worst enemy (I can practically see my friend Kris aka OC Mom in Manila seconding this one, with the statistics to back it up!). 

1/ The milk makeup remover Hydrabio Lait
2/ Avène’s Thermal Spring Water
3/ The moisturizing cream Ictyane H.D. “for severe dry skin.”

Then, I realized, I had two huge spray bottles of Avène stashed in our bath - 1 unopened and 1 that I barely used. It was kismet really. Finally a reason for being here, considering the sort of reasons I bought them back when we were still living in Singapore, were really flimsy:

1/ It was on "Buy 1, Take 1" which came out to about SGD $29.90 for 2 or something like that
2/ It's a French beauty brand, a drugstore brand yes, but it's French. So there.
3/ I like the packaging okay?

But since I do not live in France and have limited access to European beauty brands, I made do with the products that worked extremely well for me all these years. So my 3 essential products looked like this:

1/ Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
2/ Avène’s Thermal Spring Water
3/ SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

Yes, it was with a bit of trepidation that I started eliminating water in my cleansing routine and began sticking to three products. "How effective could it really be?" I thought. Images of blackheads on my nose and yucky skin came into the picture. But since I was staying home most of the time anyway because I was on bed rest, I went ahead and took the plunge, ironically.

Fast forward to 6 months later and you know, my skin has been better than ever! No oiliness, no enlarged pores, not even a zit! None of that "greasy Peking duck" skin Garance was afraid of. She herself said it this way, after taking her dermato's advice:

"But quite quickly, the shine started going down. My skin started to get more supple, clearer and even if it shined a little (it’s just how it is, so stupid.), it was at its healthiest… It looked pretty."

Yes. I feel the same way about my skin now. Yes, ever since I started quitting tap water. A few days ago though, I started using Clarins Anti-Ageing Double Serum in lieu of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence and oooh la la! It's like magic! 

Why do I say magic? Well, a lady at my OB's clinic thought I looked 15 years younger than I actually am (ok, maybe she was just being nice). But just this afternoon, my mom asked me what makeup I've been using and I said, "Huh? None!" And she said my skin looked really good. This coming from a woman who would tell me the truth, even if it hurt and damaged my self-esteem. Haha!

Once I've used my Clarins Double Serum longer than 2 weeks (results visible in 4 weeks actually but if I were to believe the feedback I've been getting, 2 weeks should do it), I will do a more comprehensive review. Meanwhile, let me do an FAQ on this "No Water" Skin Care Routine.

How do you take a bath?

I had an Aquasana water filter installed, so no worries about tap water touching my face. But if you don't have a shower filter installed and it can be helped, just avoid getting water on your face.

If its any consolation, I have been sans filter the past three weeks because I need to have it installed in our new bath room, and so far, I have just been trying not to get my face wet in the shower and it hasn't had any bad effect on my skin.

What's the step by step?

1/ On your dry/dirty face, pat with Cetaphil and massage onto skin

2/ With a cotton pad, wipe off Cetaphil

3/ Spray face with Avène Thermal Spring Water and let it dry

4/ Follow with moisturizer

If you use heavy make-up, its fine to use a cleansing oil. Whatever cleansing oil works for you is fine. I use shu uemura's brightening cleansing oil.

What if I can't find Avène Thermal Spring Water here in the Philippines?

Try using Evian.

Dear Readers, if you have further questions, feel free to leave it on the comments section. I will do my best to answer!

Renovated Victorian townhouse

Read article : Renovated Victorian townhouse

‘When I first viewed our 1960s home, I couldn’t see anything good about it at all,’ remembers Elaine.

‘The whole house was dreadful. It was stuck in a time warp and everything was dated and falling apart.

‘I thought my partner Paul had lost the plot when he said he wanted to buy it, but once he explained his vision and we had the plans drawn up, I started to feel really excited,’ she continues.

‘It was the first big renovation project for both of us, but we just jumped into it head first.’

Fact file

• The owners: Elaine Avery, 46, a full-time mum and landlady, and her partner Paul Reid, 42, sales director of an insulation company, live here with their daughter Olivia, five, and Elaine’s son, Alexander, 17
• The property: A five-bedroom, early-1960s detached house
• The location: Whitley Bay, North Tyneside
• What they spent: The couple’s bathroom cost around £13,000

The property

Elaine had lived in a lot of places before meeting Paul, so this time she was looking for a ‘forever home’. The house was on a sought-after street and had a large plot, and the couple knew that they could add value by completely reworking the layout. They built an extension to include a large kitchen/diner, garden room and utility on the ground floor, plus two extra bedrooms and a home office on the first floor.

‘We sold our previous home quickly, and so we decided to move into rented accommodation during the five-month project,’ explains Elaine. ‘Around three-quarters of the house was knocked down and there was no water or electricity for a while, so it wasn’t feasible to live there.’

The bathroom

The original bathroom was a world away from the contemporary spa-like retreat that they now have. There was a small bathroom with a separate WC next door, which wasn’t conducive to family life, so the builders knocked down the dividing wall to create one large space. As the staircase was being turned around as part of their renovation plans, they were able to incorporate some of the landing area into the new bathroom. They also took some space previously occupied by the dated fitted cupboards along one wall, and from the extension on the opposite side.

‘The bathroom hadn’t been updated since the 1960s, and had a pink cast-iron bath with matching toilet and basin, as well as carpet on the floor,’ says Elaine. ‘I didn’t like having a shower over the bath and a big, high window near it. It definitely wasn’t to our taste, although my five-year-old daughter loved it as she said it was just like Barbie’s!’

Fixtures and fittings

While Paul focused on the structural side of the extension, Elaine was responsible for the overall look of the space. ‘It was quite hard to visualise, as it was going to change so much,’ she says. ‘I had to rely on the plans, so I found my mood board invaluable. I knew the style I was going for, as I’d looked through a stack of magazines for inspiration, and had an idea of the colours I preferred. Our previous bathroom was beige and cream, but this time I wanted grey, white and charcoal.’

The two essential items on Elaine and Paul’s wishlist were a freestanding bath and a wet room-style walk-in shower. ‘I wanted a freestanding bath from day one, but a modern style rather than a traditional roll-top,’ says Elaine. ‘It had to fit all the way to the floor rather than having legs, so that it won’t gather dust underneath and is easy to clean.’

After visiting various showrooms, Elaine found a beautiful egg-shaped bath at local store Your Home Improvements. ‘They gave me the idea of raising it on a plinth with recessed lights,’ she says. ‘We had plenty of space, and it adds an extra dimension and really showcases the bath.’

The couple were also inspired by the displays at nearby Domani Bathrooms. ‘Although I didn’t buy everything from there, only the basin console and chrome support arms, it gave me lots of ideas, such as having the double basins,’ explains Elaine.

Tile designs

When it came to the tiling, a local tile showroom gave Elaine and Paul advice on which styles would work together. They decided to mix a range of four different designs, with large-format square floor tiles alongside rectangular wall tiles. ‘The tile company suggested a dark charcoal design by the shower and bath, with a stripe to highlight the twin basins, a pale grey everywhere else, as well as complementary mosaic tiles on the floor to demarcate the shower. We didn’t want a shower tray.

‘We were careful to use the charcoal-coloured tile in the right proportions, as we were conscious that it was quite dark. I think it worked really well to have the bath and shower area darker than the rest of the room, as it gives a nice contrast.’

Heating

Polished-chrome radiators and a storage unit next to the basins finish off the space perfectly. ‘I decided to position a radiator under the window and have two towel rails, as it’s such a large room and I hate being cold,’ explains Elaine. ‘I was worried that three heaters might be too many, but it works well and means there’s always a towel within easy reach.’

The finished project

The couple’s project went slightly over budget, mainly due to the cost of removing asbestos from the cupboards, but they tried to absorb any overspend by making savings elsewhere in the property. ‘I knew that if I spent a little extra on the bath, then I would be able to sacrifice having a wine cooler in the kitchen for instance,’ says Elaine.

Although the house still looked like a building site only weeks before they were due to move in, everything came together just in time. ‘I admit that I was getting worried, as we had to leave our rented accommodation,’ says Elaine. ‘The tilers were finishing off the bathroom after we moved in, but fortunately we were able to use our en suite for those few weeks.’

While admitting that she would never tackle such a big project again, Elaine loves spending time in her spacious new bathroom. ‘I’m proud of what we achieved, and we got a lot for our money,’ she says. ‘When I look back at the pictures, I can’t believe the transformation.’

Project notes

Elaine Avery shares her tips for designing a new bathroom

What I’ve learnt

‘Using several different suppliers helps to keep down costs. We shopped around to find the best deals, and compared prices online, as well as getting several quotes from plumbers for the fitting.’

My best advice

‘Plan ahead and always make mood boards. For mine, I cut out pictures from magazines, took photos of hotel bathrooms and collected tile samples to make sure that it would all work together. Remember to take your mood board with you when you visit showrooms, too.’

My dream spot

‘I love the deep, egg-shaped bath — it’s so luxurious. It’s great for Olivia as there’s lots of space for her to play, but I love having a long soak with a glass of wine and my Kindle. I made sure we created a recess next to the bath so that I would have somewhere for my glass!’

Favourite website

‘I’ve added houzz.co.uk to my bookmarked list of websites because it has so many fantastic ideas. I find the designs on there very inspiring, and there were so many amazing photographs of the exact style of bathroom I was looking for. I found the idea for our tiled shelving recess on the site — it’s the little details that add wow-factor. It was also helpful for showing how using different shades and textured tiles could give us a contemporary spa-style space.’

Essential buy

‘The walk-in shower area is brilliant. It’s great to have the handheld hose as well as the fixed overhead rain shower as it’s invaluable for cleaning. The discreet shower screens with a barely-there look were also a good choice and add to the wet room feel.’

If I did it all again…

‘…I would perhaps add more lighting over the shower. The space is a little dark as we had to block up one of the windows to build the extension.’  

The costs
Sanitaryware	£5,400
Labour	£5,000
Tiles	£850
Showers and screen	£820
Lighting	£200
Radiators	£650
TOTAL	£12,920

Review: Andaz Liverpool Street London

Read article : Review: Andaz Liverpool Street London

Introduction
Delta Sky Club Los Angeles LAX
The Club At SJC
Delta First Class CRJ-900 San Jose To Los Angeles
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse Los Angeles LAX
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class A340 Los Angeles To London Heathrow
British Airways Galleries Lounge London Heathrow
British Airways Club Europe A320 London Heathrow To Amsterdam
Garuda Indonesia First Class 777-300ER Amsterdam To London Gatwick
Andaz Liverpool Street London
Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London Heathrow LHR
Virgin Atlantic Upper Class A340 London Heathrow To Los Angeles

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I decided to take the Gatwick Express train from Gatwick Airport to London’s Victoria Station, so as I left the airport I purchased a one-way ticket for £19.90. It’s worth pointing out that both Gatwick Express and regional Southern Railway local trains depart from the Gatwick rail station, all going to London. Don’t make the mistake that I did of paying for a Gatwick Express ticket and accidentally boarding the local train that takes the slow route to Victoria Station. 🙂

Victoria Station was an absolute cluster, and the line to purchase a ticket on the Tube was thirty deep, so I decided to try my luck at Uber instead. Pretty instantly, an Uber X car showed up and dropped me off at the front door of the Andaz Liverpool Street in 20 minutes.

It goes without saying London is a very expensive city, and that black cabs are famously pricey, and even Tube tickets are ~$3.50 a pop. I had no idea how much my Uber was going to cost, but I was pleasantly surprised to discover it was just a little over £10, or $15 — which became, for me, a game changer as far as getting around London is concerned. London is generally a tremendously inconvenient city, so Uber “fixed” one of its major flaws for me.

View from my Uber in London

Anyway, I got to the hotel lobby around 12:30pm. The Andaz is in a beautiful Edwardian-style building adjacent to the massive Liverpool Street Station. The hotel was actually built in 1884 as the Great Eastern Hotel, and refurbished as an Andaz in 2008.

Since Ben has already reviewed the Andaz Liverpool Street before (and since jet lag got the best of me and my photos are few and far between), I’ll keep the review brief and mainly focused on my experience with service and my guestroom.

The inside of the lobby was extremely modern, despite the historic nature of the hotel. Actually, the Andaz’s lobby was quite dark.

Like all Andazes, check-in is not done at a front desk but performed by roving attendants. I was checked in fairly quickly and given a key to a King room on the 5th floor.

Exiting the elevator on the 5th floor, I discovered that the hotel was… not laid out well.

Indeed, I think it was laid out by sadists. My room was a long walk from the elevator bank, and required about four different turns and intersections.

Unfortunately, when I got to my room my key did not work. A hotel employee happened to be walking by at the time, and he couldn’t get the key to work, either, so he promised he’d send someone right up.

I actually waited about 10 minutes before I decided it was easier to just get a new key myself, so I went back down to the lobby. This time, the attendant walked with me to the room with the new key, to make sure it worked. (It did.)

I’ve generally always been impressed with guestrooms in the Andaz chain, because even when there’s not a lot of square footage (say, in Amsterdam) the rooms are laid out strategically and make incredible use of space.

This guestroom, however, was a bummer.

Andaz King room

It felt bland, unexciting and small, and because it was on the top floor, it had a dormer window and an angled ceiling. Tiffany had actually warned me in advance to request a room with “big windows” at the Andaz, and I wish I’d heeded her advice.

Usually Andaz is a brand known for whimsical, edgy rooms, but my room felt more appropriate for a Radisson or a Best Western, to be honest.

Andaz King room

There was a charging station near the desk area that included an international adapter. By and large, I thought the desk area was a bit of a mess of wires and cables. Indeed, underneath the television was a massive bundle of cables running over to the desk area, totally exposed. It felt messy, and a bit tacky. (You can see the cables underneath the weirdly-low placed television set in the photo below.)

Desk and television

The closet space and storage area was small, and basic.

Closets and storage space

The room didn’t have an iron or ironing board, but reception sent me up an iron relatively quickly upon request.

The bathroom was very small. The sink is especially tiny, actually.

Andaz King bathroom sink

Luckily, there are two generous, backlit storage nooks of sorts built into the wall behind the sink, which were useful.

Andaz King bathroomAndaz King bathroom nook

Maddeningly, the hair dryer is not located in the bathroom, but rather is in a pop-up drawer in the desk in the guestroom, which makes zero sense to me.

Toiletries were “T London” branded, and I liked them quite a bit.

T London toiletries

The shower was elevated from the rest of the bathroom, and quite dark.

Andaz King raised shower

I set my phone up to charge and took a bit of a nap on the bed, which was quite firm but comfortable.

When I woke up, I started to take a shower. As Ben has noted before, some hotel showers are annoying, as is this one: the shower head and controls are way in the back, unreachable unless you’re in the shower and directly under them, so there’s no way to “test out” the water temperature before getting soaked.

It didn’t really matter, anyway, because within a minute of turning the shower on, one of the pipes popped out, spraying scalding hot water everywhere like a broken fire hydrant. I was able to sort of work the pipe back in place in order to redirect the water to come out of the shower head, but it popped out again almost immediately.

The bathroom floor, of course, was covered in about an inch of standing water.

Anyway, I was going out to meet a friend, so on my way down I stopped by the lobby to speak to someone about having the shower fixed.

I mentioned that I’d be going out for several hours, but that if they didn’t happen to be able to fix the shower, I’d appreciate being relocated. I tried to work in, “if you’re going to relocate me, I’d really appreciate a less depressing room with more windows,” and he seemed to acknowledge that I’d been assigned to one of the clunkers. I was hoping he’d proactively offer to change rooms right away, but alas, he didn’t.

I did like that the hotel was only about a 5 minute walk to the hipster neighborhoods of Shoreditch and Hoxton, which are becoming a crucial part of the London “scene.” I’d never seen Shoreditch before, and had a great dinner out on the town there.

In any event, the shower did end up being fixed when I returned to the room. I had to leave the hotel relatively early, so I hit the sack and set my alarm for 7:30am.

After a successful morning shower without scalding myself (always look for the small victories), I checked out of the hotel and called an Uber. The lobby attendant mentioned that my two in-room beers from the minibar had been comped because of the problems I had with my key and shower, which was a nice touch, though sort of a halfway gesture, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Annoyingly, as soon as I pulled up my Uber app, I realized I’d lost my internet connection. It seems the Andaz cuts your Wifi signal the moment you’re checked out, which when you think about it is fairly inconvenient for precisely these reasons. One of the bellmen gave me the password for the Andaz Conference Center Wifi network so that I could call an Uber, but I was irritated that it took an extra few minutes when I was already in a bit of a hurry.

Andaz Liverpool Street London Bottom Line

I think there’s probably a right way to do the Andaz Liverpool Street and a wrong way.

Ben seemed to do it the right way earlier this year. Photos of his room look beautiful, and his room and bathroom were airy and spacious.

I think I must have done it the wrong way.

Essentially, the rooms seem to vary wildly at the Andaz Liverpool Street, so your mileage will vary based on which room you get. It’s absolutely worth asking for a bright, large-windowed room if possible. It’s also potentially worth asking for a room “closer to” (though not adjacent to) the elevators if you’re bothered by a labyrinthine walk to your room (as I was).

Service was largely helpful and quick, but I can’t say my experience wasn’t a bit tainted by an inoperative shower, an inoperative key, and a desk and television setup marred by a mess of tangled cables.

London is an expensive city, so if you’re looking to use your Gold Passport points to stay there, it’s worth noting both the Andaz Liverpool Street and the Hyatt Regency – The Churchill (which is more in the swankier western side of town) require the same level of points. If you’re in London for hip things, you’ll appreciate the Andaz’s location over the Hyatt Regency’s, but be sure to reach out to the hotel in advance to ensure a decent room, since some of the rooms are most definitely clunkers, as mine was.

How Californians Are Coping With the Drought

Read article : How Californians Are Coping With the Drought

Earlier this month, California Governor Jerry Brown made an unprecedented decision: To fight back the devastating effects of the drought that is currently racking the state, its citizens will be forced tocut their water use by 25 percent. It was the first such conservation mandate in the state’s history.

Though the executive order has been widely lauded for pushing the state toward a more water-conservative future, it’s still unclear exactly how it will be practically implemented. On Saturday, the State Water Resources Control Board issued arevised set of draft regulations to execute the order. In it, individual water districts are given their own water reduction targets; those areas that have historically been big water wasters will be expected to cut back the most, and those that have already shown success in conservation won’t have to reduce use significantly. (There currently are no additional cutbacks required of agricultural water users.) There is a small window of time open for public comment, and the board is expected to vote on the regulations during the first week of May.

In reality, though, the drought has already forced many Californians to adapt to a new way of life.Newsweekput out a call to residents of the state to ask them what they’ve done in the past year to adjust.  

Keep up with this story and more by subscribing now

Rona Lewis, Nutritionist, Los Angeles

I live in an apartment, and they’ve replaced our regular toilets with low flow. Personally, I try to do little things to help: turn off the water when I’m brushing my teeth, turn it off when I’m washing my hair or waiting for the conditioner to soak in.

I’m a fitness trainer and take a lot of my clients out for power walks during the day. I see a bunch of homes with either Astroturf instead of real grass or desert-type foliage along with rocks for front lawns. It’s hard for those of us who like to grow our own food—I only have a few pots on my balcony for herbs and tomatoes, but my clients and friends who have full-fledged vegetable gardens are frustrated at the restrictions laid upon them.

What so many of us don’t understand is why there is such a fight against building desalination plants. It would solve so many water issues here!

With water in short supply, desalinization of ocean water to make it drinkable is the focus of various projects across the state. Elijah Wolfson

Brian Milne, Business Development Manager, Paso Robles

I live in wine country on the Central Coast of California where we have a ton of vineyards sucking up water and a whole host of water issues.

We had the lake in my hometown of Atascadero go dry. Lakes where I learned to fish (and have written fishing guides and hiking guides about) have gone almost dry.

Our family has cut our water use drastically. We have the brownest lawn on the block, and I'm proud of it. I've only watered our lawn once this spring, and that was when we drained our spa to irrigate our landscape. Our spa is now empty and we don't plan on using it this summer. We've also built a gray-water system that waters our roses from the washer at my parents house. We also have buckets under our rain gutters and use buckets in the shower to catch excess water and reuse it around the house when appropriate.

Additionally, I love to surf, and I've made my own portable shower out of a Roundup Weed Killer Sprayer, and put a pump and nozzle on it and use it to wash off with very little water at the beach. Many state parks in California no longer have water, or the showers they do have waste a significant amount of water. Using my portable shower, I can spread a couple gallons for about three to four showers in the mornings after surfing. That's a lot better than the American average of 17 gallons per shower!

Catherine Trainor, Startup Entrepeneur, Oakland

We bought a pump so that each time we take a bath we can pump that water into a hose to water the plants with. We have a pitcher by the sink so we can pour half-drunk water glasses, water from boiling vegetables, etc., [and use that] to water the plants. In the summer, we let our lawn die. One thing we wish we could do (and that everyone could do) would be to collect water off of our roof for when it rains. An inch of rain on our roof would give us 600 gallons of water, and we'd like to keep it!

Also coming up for the summer: bucket shower!

Hilary Achauer, Writer and Editor, San Diego

We just ripped out our front, south-facing lawn and installed California native plants. We did not install irrigation. The plan is to water it twice a week for eight weeks, and then it should be established well enough that it won't need watering. We've even got some trees—two shoestring acacia trees and an incredible paloverde tree, which is a desert tree with lovely yellow flowers.

Chantay Bridges, Realtor, Los Angeles

At first, I was not dealing with it at all. I heard about it, I felt it, I saw the effects of it. Originally, I sort of buried my head in the sand and attempted to ignore it. Now that it's at a massive level and mandates are being formed, I have taken a look at it more closely. Here's now how we are dealing with the impact of the California drought:

We have reduced our water usage. In lieu of washing daily, even if it's one blouse, we now only wash once per week as an entire family We have adjusted our automatic water sprinklers. Now there are a couple of days where the lawn is not being watered at all. We are not encouraging water type of games with the kids and their friends. Instead, we have given them other options, despite the nice weather.

We are talking to our neighbors, friends and co-workers soliciting suggestions of more ways to conserve. We attended a few neighborhood meetings where they discussed it in length, to educate ourselves and learn best practices.

We are shopping more for water and keep an emergency supply in the home.

Some Californians have stopped watering lawns and plants and others have reduced how often they run sprinklers. Elijah Wolfson

V.J. Sleight, Smoking Cessation Counselor, La Quinta

I have cut the size of my lawn by 75 percent, and I am considering getting rid of the rest of it. I've stopped taking showers every day, especially since some days the only exertion I get is sitting at a desk. I contacted the local water agency, which gave me low-flow nozzles for shower and sinks, plus a plastic bag for the toilet to reduce the amount of water used. I use a dry brush on my car instead of always getting a car wash.

John Cox, Chef, Big Sur

This week [at the Post Ranch Inn], we started using compressed air to clean the plates before loading them into the dish machine. Traditionally, the spray nozzle at the dish station is one of the kitchen's biggest uses of water. By adding the compressed air gun to the station, we have been able to reduce the usage of the water in that area by 80 percent and actually increase productivity. That is a huge savings!

Natalie Nicole Gilbert, Singer/Songwriter, Los Angeles

We received pamphlets last year asking us to avoid water usage during the day as much as possible, such as we would use for laundry, dishwashers, etc. We've since started washing dishes by hand, waiting until a laundry basket is full to do laundry, kept a tighter eye on leaks and drips from the faucets, and generally cut back our water usage on every front we can easily control.

When my doctor advised I take lengthy showers to combat my bronchitis and borderline pneumonia, I balanced that advice with using a small facial and sinus steamer that had much the same effect but required less than one cup of water to create the steam.

We have also thought about moving out of state, particularly because the drought shows no signs of improvement anytime soon. We've begun circulating résumés as far away as the U.K. and Denmark.

Gretchen Hydo, Public Relations Professional, Sherman Oaks

To reduce water, we have cut back on laundry and are wearing our clothes more, flushing toilets less, and watering less. I am a life coach who works from home and my clients come to the house. I did not want to let my garden or my lawn go because it doesn’t look very appealing. The guilt I was having about watering and planting was taking its toll. I called a landscaper to see about drought-tolerant plants (I do not think they are appealing at all, but needed to do something). He came over, and after talking I discovered that I could keep my lawn and my plants and save up to 40 percent of water. It sounded too good to be true, but it worked.

Here are the things we did: 

• We put in a drip system.
• In our flower garden we put in water beads that expand 300 percent. They hold water so that you can water less (and the plants still receive water).
• We put in some individual sprayers to the root balls of the plants so that they got the water (that is all that needs the water to grow).
• We mulched.
• We put in a tank that automatically feeds the lawn and flowers bio stimulants—this makes the flowers bloom, keeps them healthy and keep the grass green. It also cuts down on the water
• And…..I did put in some colorful, drought tolerant plants

Our yard looks amazing.

Liam Collopy, Communications Executive, Manteca

We recently had a pool company come to our home—which routinely reaches 100-degree temperatures in the summer—to provide a design plan and estimate. With the drought and pending water restrictions, we've had to seriously rethink. In addition, the future of our well-manicured plush green front lawn-which is watered according to preset timers—is quickly becoming an offensive luxury as the drought lingers.

This is the new normal in the Central Valley of California. Appearance is out. Water efficiency and conservation is in.

I'm saddened not only for the farmers in our region but for future generations. I'm not an alarmist but my fear is California is turning into a desert.

Nigel Ravenhill, IT Marketing Specialist, Napa

Drought has made me way, way more conscious of even wasting a little bit of water. Now, if there's some water left in a drinking glass, instead of pouring it down the drain, I either water plants inside or walk outside and empty it in one of our outdoor planters or over our potted meyer lemon tree.

Similarly, I don't let the water go straight down the drain if I'm running the tap to get hot water to wash the dishes. Instead of letting a gallon go down the drain, I'll refill the electric kettle or fill-up jugs for watering the plants before the hot water arrives in the tap.

I had almost a crisis of conscience last Saturday morning after having an ice bath following a hard running workout. I was very tempted afterwards to get a bucket from the garage and move the however many gallons from the second floor bathroom to the garden for watering. My wife ended up pulling the plug later in the day.

All three of these behaviors wouldn't have earned a second thought in previous years.

Finally, we're also thinking of removing the front-yard lawn but we live in a neighborhood with restrictions on landscaping options so we're not even sure this will be possible.

And that's what life is now like in California.

Why filter perfectly good water?

Read article : Why filter perfectly good water?

By Greg Illes
Why filter perfectly good water? The answer to that question is another question: How good is “perfectly good”?

Many RVers use the water that the RV park supplies, straight from the tap. After all, that water comes from treated sources and should have no problems. Right?

Well — maybe. Yes, it’s reasonable to assume that a typical chlorinated municipal supply is biologically safe. But that’s only guaranteed at the water treatment plant output. The distribution system can be full of flaws that degrade the quality of the water before actual use.

And that’s not to mention if the local water is coming from a private well, with something subtle in the treatment protocol not working properly. UV irradiation bulbs burn out, filters get clogged, etc.

Aside from health issues, rust and sediment are the biggest culprits, and they increase with the age of the distribution system. The photo shows a graphic example: a new ceramic 0.5um (micrometer) filter, and a second one with only a few hundred gallons through it. It was so clogged with rusty sediment that the flow had slowed to a trickle. It had never been used anywhere except from certified sources.

Odors and tastes can be “safe” but still objectionable. A friend’s house, in another town, provided municipal water — with a noticeable “stink” when it first came out of the faucet. Nobody got sick, but it wasn’t pleasant.

Bottom Line: When I fill my motorhome’s fresh water tank, I would like to be certain that the next 75 gallons of water I drink, shower with, or use for cooking, is going to be good for my equipment, and good for me.

But such certainty is a real challenge. I can’t possibly test for contaminants and parasites every time I need a fill. And I can’t have every single possible filtration and treatment protocol (there are dozens) applied to all the water I take on.

The answer, as with so many things in life, is a compromise. With properly treated water as a baseline, I have settled for a simple configuration: a fairly fine-pore sediment filter, augmented with activated carbon. The fine-pore filter removes all but the tiniest particles of sediment and screens out any nasty protozoans that might have crept in (e.g., giardia, cryptosporidium). The carbon takes out any odors and tastes. For me, this is an acceptable balance between trouble/cost and quality/safety.

In order to keep an eye on my filter’s health, I chose a clear whole-house housing like the Pentek 150071 (shown). The business of actually doing the filtration is handled by a special high-flow cartridge like the Pentek Flo-Plus, which has great flow performance even with fine (0.5um) filtration. I would hate to have great water at the cost of an hour’s wait to fill my tank. (Not to mention holding up the people in line behind me.)

I screwed pipe-to-hose adapters into the housing so that it could be connected right at the source faucet — that way, I don’t let any “strange” water into my hoses or fittings.

YMMV (“Your mileage may vary,” for those who don’t know) — Note that different people (preferences, allergies, etc.), different water, locales, and use demand different solutions. What works for me might not be your best or safest choice. I’ve only outlined my configuration here by way of example, and not as advice. I’ve seen people with dual-filter setups, UV-light setups, silver-impregnated cartridges — the list goes on. Some folks don’t bother with filtration at all. Some people boil every drop that they drink. It’s up to each individual to sort out their own best approach.

Please feel free to leave a Comment about your own “adventures” with water, and your own filter solutions. We can all benefit (and often be entertained) by each others’ experiences.

Happy travels, and safe and healthy living as well.

Greg Illes is a retired systems engineer who loves thinking up RV upgrades and modifications. When he’s not working on his motorhome, he’s traveling in it. You can follow his excellent blog at www.divver-city.com/blog.

##GI-6-29-17; ##RVT800

The Bath Kitchen Pros LLC | Kitchen & Bath in 11246 Timber Tech Ave - Tomball TX - Reviews - Photos

Read article : The Bath Kitchen Pros LLC | Kitchen & Bath in 11246 Timber Tech Ave - Tomball TX - Reviews - Photos

Glenn Morrison

Terrific place to get nice furniture… more »

Terrific place to get nice furniture

Herb McNaspy

We could not be more pleased with how our master bath came out. This is a small company that does quality work at what I consider to be a reasonable price. Everything goes together. The colors blend a…nd all of the materials are high quality.
Our installer, L.J., did almost all of it by himself. He is very professional and did an excellent job. My advice is to leave him alone and let him do his job and you will not be disappointed.
We were interested in a quality product where everything was done the right way and I feel that is exactly what we got. more »

We could not be more pleased with how our master bath came out. This is a small company that does quality work at what I consider to be a reasonable price. Everything goes together. The colors blend and all of the materials are high quality.
Our installer, L.J., did almost all of it by himself. He is very professional and did an excellent job. My advice is to leave him alone and let him do his job and you will not be disappointed.
We were interested in a quality product where everything was done the right way and I feel that is exactly what we got.

Jerry Surber

Wow, Bath Kitchen Pro's do Beautiful shower remodeling. They are professional, timely, and have great quality. That life time, owner-to-owner, warranty they have, adds more value to my house, if…you ask me, thx! more »

Wow, Bath Kitchen Pro's do Beautiful shower remodeling. They are professional, timely, and have great quality. That life time, owner-to-owner, warranty they have, adds more value to my house, if you ask me, thx!

Faith Builders Inc

I have worked with both Mitch and AJ. These guys are some of the best in the industry. They work hard, communicate well, and have a strong sense of integrity. I have always seen them deal fairly with…whoever they are working with, and that says a lot in this industry. I may not be one of their customers, but I am one of their competitors. I think so highly of them that I took the time to share some of my thoughts about them. more »

I have worked with both Mitch and AJ. These guys are some of the best in the industry. They work hard, communicate well, and have a strong sense of integrity. I have always seen them deal fairly with whoever they are working with, and that says a lot in this industry. I may not be one of their customers, but I am one of their competitors. I think so highly of them that I took the time to share some of my thoughts about them.

Glenn Ozburn

We love our new shower including the awesome look of it, its ease to clean, the functionality it brings, and the promise of a mold-free, healthier solution. The Bath Kitchen Pros did a wonderful job…meeting our needs and even going above what we expected. Mitch, AJ, Arnold, and Michael were all great to us treating us with respect, committing to doing things right, working with our schedule, offering wonderful design suggestions, and providing great communication. If we decide to do further bathroom remodeling, we would definitely do business with them again. more »

We love our new shower including the awesome look of it, its ease to clean, the functionality it brings, and the promise of a mold-free, healthier solution. The Bath Kitchen Pros did a wonderful job meeting our needs and even going above what we expected. Mitch, AJ, Arnold, and Michael were all great to us treating us with respect, committing to doing things right, working with our schedule, offering wonderful design suggestions, and providing great communication. If we decide to do further bathroom remodeling, we would definitely do business with them again.

Business Response:

Thank you Glen for all of the kind words. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance in the future.

Paul Porterhouse

AJ and his crew did a fabulous job. They were very professional, on schedule and within budget. The workmanship was excellent, down to the finest detail. They will definitely handle my next bath or k…itchen project! more »

AJ and his crew did a fabulous job. They were very professional, on schedule and within budget. The workmanship was excellent, down to the finest detail. They will definitely handle my next bath or kitchen project!

Christen Borgan

My husband and I met The Bath Kitchen Pros owners at the Katy Home and Garden show in January 2017. We discussed our master bathroom needs. One of the owners Mitch came to our house and made an excell…ent presentation, we decided on the spot to commit to the remodeling. The job took 4 1/2 days, and the results were excellent. We would recommend Bath Kitchen Pros. more »

My husband and I met The Bath Kitchen Pros owners at the Katy Home and Garden show in January 2017. We discussed our master bathroom needs. One of the owners Mitch came to our house and made an excellent presentation, we decided on the spot to commit to the remodeling. The job took 4 1/2 days, and the results were excellent. We would recommend Bath Kitchen Pros.

Business Response:

Thank you Christen for the feedback and all of the kind words. It was a pleasure to do business with the two of you. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance in the future.

Anne Park Marshall

Easy to work with, dependable, hard-working, responsible! Very happy with the final product!… more »

Easy to work with, dependable, hard-working, responsible! Very happy with the final product!

A Google User

Great customer service, team was courteous, prompt & very professional.
On time, on budget, GO PRO'S!!!… more »

Great customer service, team was courteous, prompt & very professional.
On time, on budget, GO PRO'S!!!

Business Response:

Thank you for all of kind words Gary! You were a pleasure to do business with. Please let us know if we can be of assistance in the future.

Elijah Thomas Jr.

The Bath Kitchen Pros remodeled our master bath, we are 100% satisfied with project and the price from the beginning to the end. The owners, AJ and Mitch are true to their word and committed to custom…er satisfaction from start to finish. I highly recommend this company and rate them 5 stars. more »

The Bath Kitchen Pros remodeled our master bath, we are 100% satisfied with project and the price from the beginning to the end. The owners, AJ and Mitch are true to their word and committed to customer satisfaction from start to finish. I highly recommend this company and rate them 5 stars.

Business Response:

Thank you so much for the kind words Mr Thomas! We appreciate your business and please let us know if we can be of any assistance in the future.

Gary Wysong

Great customer service, team was courteous, prompt & very professional.
On time, on budget, GO PRO'S!!!… more »

Great customer service, team was courteous, prompt & very professional.
On time, on budget, GO PRO'S!!!

Business Response:

Thank you for all of kind words Gary! You were a pleasure to do business with. Please let us know if we can be of assistance in the future.

Rachel M.

Bath kitchen pros did a great job replacing an old shower. The shower is nicely updated now. The only reason for the 4 star rating is because I had to request them to
come back out to do a more…thorough job of cleaning up when the job was complete. For the cost of updating, I would expect a nice job of cleaning up when finished. Other than that, the workers were very nice and polite. more »

Bath kitchen pros did a great job replacing an old shower. The shower is nicely updated now. The only reason for the 4 star rating is because I had to request them to
come back out to do a more thorough job of cleaning up when the job was complete. For the cost of updating, I would expect a nice job of cleaning up when finished. Other than that, the workers were very nice and polite.

Kindra Krueger

We love our roll in shower that Bath Kitchen Pros made for our disabled daughter! They were professional, polite, and took steps to minimize the dust and noise. Mitch was available for any questions… that came up, and the team came up with a great solution to keep our daughter warm while getting a shower, using 2 fixed shower heads and one hand held. We are very happy with the work from Bath Kitchen Pros and are happy to recommend them to friends! more »

We love our roll in shower that Bath Kitchen Pros made for our disabled daughter! They were professional, polite, and took steps to minimize the dust and noise. Mitch was available for any questions that came up, and the team came up with a great solution to keep our daughter warm while getting a shower, using 2 fixed shower heads and one hand held. We are very happy with the work from Bath Kitchen Pros and are happy to recommend them to friends!

Kindra Krueger

We love our roll in shower that Bath Kitchen Pros made for our disabled daughter! They were professional, polite, and took steps to minimize the dust and noise. Mitch was available for any questions t…hat came up, and the team came up with a great solution to keep our daughter warm while getting a shower, using 2 fixed shower heads and one hand held. We are very happy with the work from Bath Kitchen Pros and are happy to recommend them to friends! more »

We love our roll in shower that Bath Kitchen Pros made for our disabled daughter! They were professional, polite, and took steps to minimize the dust and noise. Mitch was available for any questions that came up, and the team came up with a great solution to keep our daughter warm while getting a shower, using 2 fixed shower heads and one hand held. We are very happy with the work from Bath Kitchen Pros and are happy to recommend them to friends!

Sheila R.

The Bath Kitchen Pros worked with me to help create the Master Bath of my dreams.… more »

The Bath Kitchen Pros worked with me to help create the Master Bath of my dreams.

Carliss C.

They are an awesome company.… more »

They are an awesome company.

Christine Tsai

Just had our bathroom remodeled where we took out the tub and expanded the shower. We love it. Will post a video soon of the finished product.… more »

Just had our bathroom remodeled where we took out the tub and expanded the shower. We love it. Will post a video soon of the finished product.

joejurak

First and foremost - our new bathroom is stunning. The results of our full master bathroom remodel far exceeded our expectations. How many people can say that after having a room remodeled? Mitchell a…nd his crew with The Bath Kitchen Pros were nothing short of amazing and nearly one year later we are still overwhelmed with the beauty of our new bathroom. This team worked so carefully with us every step of the way to make every single corner / nook / detail - exactly as we dreamed. They are truly passionate about their work and strive to make their customers happy every step of the way. Mitchell is truly one of the nicest and most professional people we have ever met. The industry should use Mitchell as their mold for how to make a perfect remodeling contractor. He is truly a genuine and great guy and his company stands behind their work. The Bath Kitchen Pros will be our first call for any future project. We cannot thank Mitchell and his crew enough for their talent - commitment - and professionalism every step of the way before , during, and after the project. If you have a chance to work with these guys - do it - they are a rare gem. Sincerely - Joe and Lena more »

First and foremost - our new bathroom is stunning. The results of our full master bathroom remodel far exceeded our expectations. How many people can say that after having a room remodeled? Mitchell and his crew with The Bath Kitchen Pros were nothing short of amazing and nearly one year later we are still overwhelmed with the beauty of our new bathroom. This team worked so carefully with us every step of the way to make every single corner / nook / detail - exactly as we dreamed. They are truly passionate about their work and strive to make their customers happy every step of the way. Mitchell is truly one of the nicest and most professional people we have ever met. The industry should use Mitchell as their mold for how to make a perfect remodeling contractor. He is truly a genuine and great guy and his company stands behind their work. The Bath Kitchen Pros will be our first call for any future project. We cannot thank Mitchell and his crew enough for their talent - commitment - and professionalism every step of the way before , during, and after the project. If you have a chance to work with these guys - do it - they are a rare gem. Sincerely - Joe and Lena

Anonymous

The final product looks great, and the high and low fixed shower head plus a third hand-held shower head works very well for giving our disabled daughter a shower and keeping her warm.… more »

The final product looks great, and the high and low fixed shower head plus a third hand-held shower head works very well for giving our disabled daughter a shower and keeping her warm.

Anonymous

None. They met and exceeded my expectations.… more »

None. They met and exceeded my expectations.

Claudia H.

Bath Kitchen Pros is reliable and trustworthy. We were able to leave town and give them access to our home to complete the job.… more »

Bath Kitchen Pros is reliable and trustworthy. We were able to leave town and give them access to our home to complete the job.

Anonymous

I was most satisfied with the quality and style.… more »

I was most satisfied with the quality and style.

Anonymous

I will call you to remodel another bathroom soon!… more »

I will call you to remodel another bathroom soon!

Herman W.

From the beginning to the end we knew exactly what was happening what they were doing and when they would be finished and what the next step would be… more »

From the beginning to the end we knew exactly what was happening what they were doing and when they would be finished and what the next step would be

Anonymous

We're so happy with the way the shower turned out that we decided to go ahead and let them update the rest of the bathroom… more »

We're so happy with the way the shower turned out that we decided to go ahead and let them update the rest of the bathroom

How to fix up my bathroom on the cheap? - DIY house remodeling

Read article : How to fix up my bathroom on the cheap? - DIY house remodeling

I bought a small, vintage (1940s) house last fall (yay!) and am looking for advice on how to fix some issues in my only bathroom by myself, within a budget. I'm fairly handy, but not experienced. Help!

I've already had a plumber replace the old faucets and toilet. The tile floor is in decent shape (replaced probably in the 1980s or 90s) The cabinet needs paint, but the sink/vanity countertop is newish (same vintage as floor).Problems:* The walls are an ugly yellowish off-white. I want to paint them, and paint the cabinets a contrasting shade. Should I pay someone to do this, or attempt it myself? I hate painting, but I know I need to prioritize paying people to do stuff I really can't or won't do by myself.
* Grout is missing in some places and badly mildewed in others. Should I just clean and re-grout? Any product recommendations? [pic]
* Part of the tile around the newly replaced tub spigot has caved in. There's an eighth-inch gap in the tile. Should I just caulk it with tub & tile stuff and move on? See pictures here and here.
* Do I have to remove the old caulk first? If so, what's the best way?
* I'd love to have a shower door instead of a curtain... is installing one of those a feasible solo DIY job, or should I pay someone to do it?
* Previous renovators decided to paint over the border tile, which was black. Some has chipped off in several places - picture here. Do I just repaint with some (special?) paint? Other options?
* The tub - original from the 40s - is rusted and encrusted under the lip [pic]. Should I pumice that off? Caulk it? Get a pre-fab plastic thing installed? (kidding... mostly)
* The radiator is painted, with lots of craters and rusty places [pic]. What's the best course of action here - I have zero interest in doing a lot of sanding. Should I get some kind of paint remover? Again, is this a job for a pro instead?Thanks in advance for your advice!

posted by acridrabbit to Home & Garden (14 answers total) 4 users marked this as a favorite

House Tour: A Contemporary, Classic Cape Town Rental

Read article : House Tour: A Contemporary, Classic Cape Town Rental

Name: Melissa and James Lawrence
Location: Vredehoek, Cape Town, South Africa
Size: 1184 square feet
Years lived in: 2 years, renting

Cape Town-based interior designer Melissa and her husband James didn't want to invest a ton of money in this home since they are renting it. But because Melissa is in the interior design field, they knew exactly what could to be done to enhance the space and in a cost effective way. They've been able to cleverly add their own touches to their rental apartment, creating a space that feels like home.

The first task was to tackle the flooring, which was originally dark brown and in a poor condition. The light whitewashed floors that you see now required a lot of work, but the result is a brighter, more contemporary look they both love.

Melissa and James love entertaining so updating the kitchen was a must — and the space needed a major overhaul and some serious TLC. The cupboards were originally a mix of dark wood and grubby white, and so fresh white paint was an obvious choice. They also added pine door knobs for an inexpensive and easy update. James made the overhead copper utensil hanger (which creates a great focal point) and they added cut vinyl to spruce up the existing white tiles. This is also where Melissa spends time producing her soy candles for her Melissa Louise label.

Their apartment goes to show that with just a few clever DIYs and design savvy thinking, you can easily revamp a rental space. Just remember to get your landlord's approval before you start!

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style:Our style has evolved over the years, from the eclectic mix of furniture that we first accumulated when we moved in together to now investing in classic furniture pieces that will last. We tend to gravitate to an overall contemporary look and feel with classic details.

Inspiration:As an interior designer, it is my job to stay up to date and be relevant; I am always inspired by the work of my favorite designers. Instagram and Pinterest are great tools for staying relevant and storing beautiful content that inspires.

Favorite Element:Melissa: Our high ceilings and the natural light that pours into every room. Often inner-city apartments can feel small and cramped; I love that our apartment feels light and spacious.

James:The lounge. It's where we unwind and watch series, play PlayStation and most importantly drink wine and socialize with our friends when they are over.

Biggest Challenge:The defined layout of our apartment. The closed floor plan means each room is separated from the others by walls and hallways. Hallways tend to be narrow and often have very little character.

What Friends Say:We aim to have a warm and comfortable home for our family and friends. Our friends echo this, as most nights are enjoyed over dinner and wine or even movies and popcorn.

Biggest Embarrassment:Melissa: Our bathrooms! They are outdated and tired, we have run over the finances but it simply isn't viable to do any major alterations to a rental property. Also sloppy workmanship in the past has left our vintage black cisterns speckled with paint...

James:Our bathroom! It's so old and I wish we could renovate and make it one large wet room! The bath isn't big enough for me, so a walk-in shower would be great!

Proudest DIY: Melissa: When we moved in, our floors were chocolate brown and worn through in places; they were in desperate need of attention! Having a creative eye I saw the potential they had when we first viewed the apartment. James and I sanded, treated and sealed the floors of the apartment ourselves, while living in the space. It was a tough two weeks, but it has really transformed the space and was SO worth it.

James:I made the copper utility hanger above our kitchen counter; a few trips to builders warehouse and there you have it. Super simple, but effective!

Biggest Indulgence:Melissa:Our five-plate gas stove and electric oven. We love entertaining, this was one of the best investments!

James:Our TV.

Best Advice: A lick of paint makes ALL the difference! It is a cost effective way to update a space, making it feel fresh and brand new!

Dream Sources: I love the convenience of shopping and sourcing online at places like @home living spaces, MRPhome and Weylandts, while finding hidden treasures at local antique shops. And supporting small developing businesses is a thrill!

Resources:

ENTRANCE
Stokholm sideboard – MRP Home
Aztec reversible rug — H&M Home
Basket — Milnerton Market.
Tall Basket with lid — Community upliftment program bought when Melissa was in high school
Light — Ikea, gifted to us by friends who were relocating

LIVING AREA
Sofa — @Home living space
Standing angle poise lamp — Weylandts
Beni Ourain inspired rug — MRP Home
Ladder shelf — @Home living space
Glass coffee table — MRP Home
Round side table — Superbalist
Curtains — Woolworths
Round mirror above electric fireplace — MRP Home
Sewing machine — Vintage piece, handed down from James' grandmother.
Duros Armchair — vintage shop
Large white pot —M RP Home

BEDROOM
Bed — YouMeHome
Bedding — H&M Home
Oval mirror — Vintage store in Woodstock
Sullivan hoop — Hooped by Sue Britz
Lamp base — Milnerton Market
Jewellery stand — MRP Home

KITCHEN
Stokholm dining table — @Home living space
Chairs — Chair Crazy
Clock — MRP Home
Fake plants — SuperFloral
Metallic plant pots — Simply Home
Gold candle holder — Home and Giftware Pop up shop at the V&A
Striped runner — MRP Home
Copper book stand — Handmade by a family friend and gifted to us.
Wooden chopping board — Ikea
Copper book stand: Handmade by a family friend and gifted to us."
Teapot — Le Creuset
Patterned vinyl — Designed and applied by Frizzy Diamond
Diamond hanging pot plant — Typo

STUDY
Chairs — Chair Crazy
Desk — Trestle legs and pine top bought at Timber City
You're a gem hoop — Hooped by Sue Britz

Thanks, Melissa and James!

---

Lisbon’s coolest new luxury hostel: Stay Inn Lisbon, reviewed

Read article : Lisbon’s coolest new luxury hostel: Stay Inn Lisbon, reviewed

You never need an excuse to visit Lisbon.

I have had a long standing love affair with this city.

The passion for this city has grown even more  in recent months thank to the Luxury Hostels project through which I have managed to explore the city’s amazing range of very cool, boutique hostels.

I loved Oasis Lisbon and the new Equity Point Hostel on my previous trip.

This time around I had the pleasure of discovering Lisbon Poets Hostel,  (review coming up soon ) one of the hostels that started the revolution of luxury hostelling in the city and then one of the city’s brightest, coolest new stars- the very chic, cool Stay Inn Hostel

My visit and review of Stay Inn was a happy coincidence.

My friend and fellow blogger Bianca Bauza aka Nomadbiba had visited only a few weeks before and had been raving about cool this place was.

So, naturally I was curious.

Another cool hostel in Lisbon? That too right in the Bairro Alto district and just 500 meters from Chiado Metro Station.

Great. I followed her advice and booked myself in for a few nights.

I land in the afternoon after a few hours train journey from Porto. At the entrance I have a warm welcome from Ricardo and Mark, the two brothers who founded and run the Stay Inn Hostel.

Stay Inn Hostel- stunning interior decor and very comfortable

First impressions of walking into the living room of the hostel were wow!

The interior décor is very chic and more in line of what you would expect in a boutique hotel. Parquet floors, floor to ceiling windows, comfy leather sofas that you just sink into plus quirky features like a the plasma screen TV sitting on a old trunk plus lots of bright light and colours-create a happy ambience.

Communal dining/ internet surfing area

The communal area is linked to a nice enclosed dining area where you can enjoy dinner with friends and fellow hostel guests or during the day surf the internet on your laptop using the hostel’s excellent free wireless connection or use one of the communal desktops.

stay inn hostel, Lisbon" src="http://budgettraveller.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/photo-21.jpg" alt="double room stay inn hostel lisbon" width="640" height="478" />

My double room at Stay Inn Hostel, Lisbom

The rooms itself are very comfortable and again, in line with what you would expect from a boutique hotel. Beds have nice mattresses and fluffy pillows- perfect for a great nights sleep after a long day on the tiles of Lisbon. I stayed in one of their premium double rooms. This did not have the option of private bathroom but they do have rooms with ensuite options.

The shared bathroom was just outside of my room-  bathroom was complete with toilet and shower to share with one of the other double rooms in the corridor so during my stay , I practically had the bathroom to myself.

Stay Inn Hostel- Simple but good breakfast, free Cappuchino and free fruit-yay!

The other cool space is the kitchen. In the morning you get a simple continental breakfast of fresh rustic morning rolls ( excellent , proper rolls) with cheese, ham and jam.

Decent concentrated orange juice available.

The coup de grace however is the Nescafe coffee machine where you can help yourself to unlimited espressos, mochas and cappuchinos all day. I have to admit they were pretty tasty and good. There are excellent cooking facilities with all the amenities you could expect. The huge fridge also handily dispenses ice, chilled water on demand. FYI- there is a supermarket just across the road from the hostel.

Other cool things they offer that deserve a mention- they do a laundry, wash and dry service for as little as 2 euros. Bargain!

So, overall a small but very cosy hostel with everything you could want. Guests come here for 2 days and on average end up staying a week.

It’s a great hostel to chill out in.

Ricardo makes it clear that his hostel is not a party hostel but a place to relax and take it easy.

With the Bairro Alto on his doorstep, the party is just a hop skip and jump away so in that respect it’s not too much of a drawback.

While chilling in the lounge, I got chatting to a few of the guests. Being such a small place, it’s easy to talk and strike up conversations.

The pricepoint is brilliant- for November, low season you can get a double room for as little as 40 euros a night or a room in the 5 bed dorms for as little as 19 euros. Prices are pretty consistent throughout the year so it is brilliant value for money for what you get in terms of location, facilities and the hospitality.

Ricardo and his team really are attentive and have lots of great tips for guests.

Lisbon is blessed with many great hostels but Stay Inn is up right there with the best and is a great home away from home in Lisbon.

Highly recommend.

How to Repair a Broken or Scratched Apple Watch, or Get a Replacement

Read article : How to Repair a Broken or Scratched Apple Watch, or Get a Replacement

Will Apple replace my Apple Watch if it gets smashed? Or would I be able to repair the screen myself?

Just days after the wearable launched, heartbroken owners were posting images of broken Apple Watches online. Call it sod's law or bad luck, but when you wear something every day there's a decent chance it will get damaged before long. They're sturdy devices but they're not invincible.

But chin up: if your Apple Watch has got scratched, smashed or water-damaged, if its back plate has come off or any other form of damage has occurred, you've come to the right place. Whatever's gone wrong with your Apple Watch, there's hope for getting it repaired or replaced (you might even get a first-gen model replaced by a Series 1), and in this article we'll try to help you through that process.

A separate issue that some owners have complained about is poor battery life. Happily we have another article to deal with that: How to make Apple Watch battery last longer. And for issues with unresponsive rather than physically damaged Apple Watches, you should read How to fix an Apple Watch that's not working.

Read next: Best Apple Watch apps | Best Apple Watch games

Apple Watch screen damage

The Apple Watch shouldn't break easily. The glass is strengthened: in the case of the Apple Watch Sport the watch face is made from Ion-X glass, while the standard Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition feature a Sapphire crystal front - this is supposed to be the hardest glass known to man.

Sure enough, the Sapphire models seem to be coping better with the wear and tear of daily life as a high-end wearable, with slight scratching about the worst we've seen among normal usage scenarios. (That doesn't mean your Apple Watch Edition won't shatter tomorrow, of course, but the chances seem to be in your favour.) The Sports models, on the other hand, have been documented in quite a few cases as sustaining more visible damage: smashed glass and the like.

We mentioned normal usage scenarios just then, and you might be wondering what abnormal usage might look like. Well, how about the drop-tests run by TechRax on YouTube? They found that the Apple Watch "will smash if you throw it face-down at the floor". Which answers that question if you were wondering.

Should you smash your Apple Watch screen, whether or not you were hurling it at the floor at the time, it seems in principle to be fairly easy to replace the screen - very shortly after the launch iFixIt took the watch apart and found that the screen was easy to remove and replace. See below for more information about iFixIt's tests.

Mind you, it's possible that it may not be as easily scratched as some reports have suggested. In a video (embedded below) Consumer Reports was only able to scratch the Apple Watch Sport screen after some pretty extreme efforts, and the site claimed they couldn't scratch the Sapphire screen on the stainless steel Apple Watch at all.

Read next: Best tools for repairing & upgrading Macs & iPhones

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If your watch has got damaged, you may wish to jump ahead to our section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Strap damage

As well as damage to the all-important watch face, the stainless steel Milanese loop strap has been cited as a possible weak link: you'll observe that it appears slightly scuffed up in the picture below. This isn't all that surprising, because stainless steel can scratch quite easily. And at least the Apple Watch's straps are easily replaceable. (See our roundup of the best Apple Watch straps for advice on that front.)

In any case, this YouTube video suggests that you can fix any scratches on the Milanese loop strap using a stainless steel polish you can pick up in a hardware store.

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Is it possible to repair it yourself?

iFixit rapidly took the Apple Watch apart to see how easy it would be to fix if anything went wrong with it, and the news was mixed. While the screen is simple to remove and replace, repairs to other component parts may be distinctly problematic.

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iFixit said: "Despite rumours (and hopes) of an upgradable product, the difficulty of removing the S1 alone casts serious doubt on the idea of simply swapping out the internals."

As for whether the Apple Watch will be upgradable in the future, iFixit says: "Stripping out the internals will be difficult and time-consuming - not the sort of thing your local Genius is equipped to handle, but we suppose Apple could provide a mail-order option."

Overall, iFixit gives the Apple Watch a repairability score of 5 out of 10, noting that at least the watch band is easily removed and swapped for a replacement; the screen can be removed (which is good news for anyone who has already smashed theirs) and the battery can also be removed quite easily.

However, iFixit notes that removing components is "essentially impossible" as they are soldered onto the back of the S1 and this "fully encased S1 system" makes board-level repairs impossible.

If your watch has got damaged and you don't feel able to repair it, you may wish to jump ahead to our section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Water damage

The Apple Watch Series 2 officially has "a water resistance rating of 50 metres under ISO standard 22810:2010". It's fine to wear it in the bath or shower, and for shallow-water swimming. The company does warn, however, that "Apple Watch Series 2 should not be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or other activities involving high-velocity water or submersion below shallow depth."

The first-gen Apple Watch is a less clear-cut case. While Apple doesn't recommend submerging this device in water, many owners have discovered that it is water-resistant to a certain extent.

The original Apple Watch actually has an IPX7 rating, which means the Apple Watch can withstand up to 30 minutes of submersion in up to a metre of water.

Apple has not really promoted the Apple Watch as waterproof, which has led to some surprise that it is. This YouTube video shows that the watch can be used in a shower and swimming pool. While the watch continued to work underwater, the touch screen wasn't so responsive when wet, but that's surely to be expected.

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The waterproof element isn't surprising: even Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted to wearing his first-gen watch in the shower. Apple evidently decided not to claim that the watch is entirely waterproof, perhaps afraid of the legal wrangling that could ensue.

What to do if your Apple Watch gets water-damaged

We're working on the assumption that the Watch won't get water-damaged as long as you stick to Apple's guidelines - which essentially call for you to keep it from being immersed in water. However, given that the IPX7 rating indicates that the Watch can withstand being left in a metre of water for half an hour, getting the Watch a little bit damp shouldn't do any serious damage.

But if you do have problems with a water-damaged Apple Watch, the best thing to do would be to follow our tips for rescuing a water-damaged iPhone. Read: How to dry out, rescue and fix a water-damaged Apple iPhone.

In our tests with the iPhone we got the phone very wet and then used various methods to dry it out, from the famous 'Rice Trick' to a slightly more scientific use of gel sachets. The uncooked rice should absorb the moisture effectively but may get dust or detritus into exposed ports, whereas silica gel packets - the kind that come with some electronic components, particularly if they've been shipped from a country with a humid climate, or with handbags - do a fine job over a number of hours.

Give your Watch a few days in its pile of rice or gel sachets for a few days and then see how it fares.

If these tricks don't succeed, you may wish to jump ahead to next section How to get Apple to replace a broken Apple Watch.

Getting it repaired or replaced

If there is a genuine fault with your Apple Watch - perhaps the battery doesn't charge properly, or the screen glitches - this will be covered by the warranty and Apple will replace the watch, as long as you can prove you haven't tampered with it. Your watch will be covered by a warranty for one year. Contact Apple and they'll see you right.

Note that Apple may not replace your damaged Apple Watch with the same model - and this is actually good news. The company has announced that in some cases and some countries, its staff will replace first-gen Apple Watches with Series 1 models (not the most recent Series 2, but still a newer and more advanced device with a faster processor).

Even if the warranty has expired you may still be able to get Apple to help for free. If the back plate has separated from the body of a first-gen Apple Watch, for example - this appears to be a known potential issue with that model - then the company will repair the device free of charge up to three years after the initial purchase.

I sure hope Apple uses better glue for their cars than they do for their watches. pic.twitter.com/JkIThwC5B7

— John Gruber (@gruber)

October 3, 2016

You don't get anything for nothing, though, so ordinarily we wouldn't expect Apple to replace a damaged Apple Watch that you've dropped - just as nobody should expect Apple to replace their iPhone if they break the screen through their own carelessness. Read: Will Apple replace my iPhone?

Legal rights & precedents

What about if a scratch or crack appears and you're sure you didn't drop the watch or do anything reckless? Will Apple believe you? A recent court case offers some hope here. Mr Gareth Cross, a British man from Aberystwyth, took Apple to the small claims court after the company wouldn't replace or refund his cracked Apple Watch. (They said the damage wasn't covered under warranty.) The court found in his favour and required Apple to pay Mr Cross the cost of the watch plus court fees.

Whether you want to go through the same legal process is debatable: as Mr Cross himself acknowledged, the case became "a little stressful" and lasted six months. But it's possible that the precedent this sets will make Apple more inclined to offer refunds and repairs in future. We shall see.

AppleCare

In any case, if you're particularly clumsy, you can buy insurance from Apple that will cover your Apple Watch if it does get damaged. We discuss AppleCare in this article: Is AppleCare worth it? To see what you legal rights are read: Is Apple mis-selling AppleCare to UK?

If you decide to get AppleCare, there's an AppleCare+ plan for all the Apple Watch models. The AppleCare+ cover for the Apple Watch will cost £69 and AppleCare+ for the Apple Watch Sport costs £49. The plan will extend the watches warranty to two years and grant you up to two accidental damage claims (although if you do damage your watch you will have to pay an excess of £49 for Apple Watch Sport, and £55 for Apple Watch.

If you want Apple Care for your Apple Watch Edition it will cost £1,500, and there is a £700 excess should you damage the watch due to your own carelessness, but you might consider that small change if you've just laid out £13,500 for your posh watch.

In the US Apple also has three AppleCare+ plans that'll cover both your Watch and your iPhone, presuming your phone is less than six months old. Unfortunately those plans are not available in the UK.

You can purchase AppleCare here, but you don't have to purchase it at the same time as you buy the Watch.

Read next: Latest Apple product recalls and free repair programmes