Though not the most-read posts of all time on the Warners’ Stellian Appliance blog, these next 7 posts garnered the most views of those written this year.
Old house lover/rehabber Nicole Curtis invited us into her “Minnehaha House” in Minneapolis for tips on fixing up kitchens and buying the right appliances.
Is there anything worse than the grime that builds up on the burner pans on your stove top? Not only do I include a deep-cleaning method, but I offer up the secret ingredient to easily keeping those drip pans shiny on a weekly basis.
No, you’re right; they don’t make ’em like they used to. (But believe me, that’s not all bad!) Unfortunately, gone are the days when you could expect your appliances to last a decade and a half. Find the new lifespans in each post above.
Gasket, seal, "rubber thing" -- whatever you call it, keep it moistened.
If you’ve noticed ice crystals on your frozen foods or condensation in your fridge, check your refrigerator seal. After some troubleshooting, you might be able to make a DIY repair without having to resort to a refrigerator gasket replacement.
First, open your refrigerator’s freezer door and slip a dollar bill against where the gasket seals to the freezer cabinet. Shut the door to hold the bill in place.
If the bill slips out, your seal isn’t tight.
Fortunately, moistening the seal with Vaseline (petroleum jelly) should do the trick and revive the strong rubber grip of your fridge’s youth AND keep your foods nice and chilly. Just apply a thin layer of Vaseline to the part of the seal that touches the refrigerator or freezer, and voila!
Months ago, we helped the super cool, Minneapolis foodies Carrie and Robert Shidla create a cook’s kitchen for their episode of DIY Network’s “I Hate My Kitchen.”
Magnetic Productions' videographer shoots our pink truck during the delivery of the Shidla's appliances. Remember all that snow? Ick.Delivery guys Dave and Brian navigate the range into the living room, where it lived during the remodeling.
Our episode finally aired last Tuesday, Sept. 20, so I can finally share the photos.
Carrie is such a doll; she happily posed with her new LG fridge for me. She LOVES to cook, so she was so excited to have a beautiful, functional kitchen.
And now for the big reveal (drumroll, please?)…
Photo courtesy of DIY Network
We chose all LG appliances. Click on the image for more information on the specific product.
Photo courtesy of DIY NetworkPhoto courtesy DIY NetworkPhoto courtesy of DIY NetworkPhoto courtesy of DIY Network
If you missed the episode (I can’t post it online, unfortunately), you can catch it when it replays on DIY Network (ch. 121 on Twin Cities Comcast). Here’s the schedule (all times in CST):
Read more about the local Realtor, investor and single mom in this Sunday’s Star Tribune article ‘A Jill of all trades.‘
This season, Nicole Curtis takes a 1916 Arts and Crafts-style home in the Tangletown neighborhood of Minneapolis from unlivable to unbelievable (trust me, I’ve walked through it).
And this Wednesday, Feb. 23 at Warners’ Stellian Edina (across from the Galleria), she’ll use her experience fixing and selling home to teach you the best ways you can improve the resale value of your own home. The event begins at 5:30 p.m.
After her presentation, you can meet Nicole and ask your own questions. We’ll also see scenes from the next week’s episode, which features Nicole appliance shopping at Warners’ Stellian.
Plus, eat well with Hors d’œuvres from D’Amico & Sons and of course, drinks too.
We’re so excited, and it’s free, so we hope you can join us!
I got to tag along yesterday as “Twin Cities Live” toured the lastest renovation project (watch the video) of Nicole Curtis, star of DIY Network’s “Rehab Addict” (watch new episodes Thursday at 9 p.m. CST).
(Also, you can meet Nicole and hear her “5 Ways to Increase the Resale Value of your Home” at our Edina store Wednesday, Feb. 23. )
Nicole Curtis, left, poses in her beautifully remodeled kitchen with Twin Cities Live reporter Emily Engberg.
I couldn’t stop gushing over the way the house now looked, having toured it (kind of) almost two months ago for the appliance delivery.
Gorgeous, huh? The so-called kitchen episode of “Rehab Addict” airs March 3, but we’ll be premiering it with Nicole at our upcoming, in-store event.
White vinegar: not just for salad dressing and pickles.
Kim Ode of the Star Tribune posted last week that vinegar rids salt stains from suede boots. And that got me thinking: vinegar is kind of a cheap, green cleaning wunderkind.
Using vinegar to clean is certainly nothing new, but perhaps you haven’t yet tried one of my ideas.
Cleaning uses for vinegar
1. Rinse aid – I’ve recently blogged about the benefits of a regular vinegar cycle (using vinegar to clean your dishwasher), but I’ve also heard of using vinegar as a dishwasher rinse aid substitute.
There’s really no harm in using vinegar in your dishwasher, but I suggest only using it in lieu of rinse aid between trips to the store. Rinse aid should be called drying aid, and modern dishwashers need it to properly dry dishes.
2. Microwave cleaner – Heat a microwave-safe cup of vinegar in your microwave and let it boil, so the steam can loosen up all the stuck-on splatters for a minute or so. Wipe down the interior immediately, while it’s still moist inside — no scrubbing necessary!
3. Clothes washer cleaner – Just like your dishwasher, your washing machine benefits from a regular vinegar cleaning. Run a cup through an empty cycle using the hottest setting.
4. All-purpose surface cleaner – Equal parts vinegar and water work well for cleaning windows or glass. Also try the solution for an all-natural way to clean the inside of a refrigerator. I hear you can use it to clean stainless steel as well, though, I recommend using a stainless steel cleaner for a shiny, polished finish.
5. Coffee maker cleaner – This tip, learned from my mom, is among my favorites. I try to run a full coffee pot of vinegar through my coffee maker (remove any coffee or filter, obviously) every few months. It’s satisfying to watch all the grime flake off into the pot, and you’ll be amazed how much faster your coffee brews without all the sediment slowing it down!
6. Stove top and oven cleaner – I’ve already blogged about using a paste of vinegar and baking soda for oven cleaning, but that same paste can be applied to your stove top to scrub out those stubborn brownish discolorations and food splatters.
Have you ever tried cleaning with vinegar? What other household cleaning remedies have you tried?
It was fun to watch the crews document the shopping experience of our customers, homeowners Carrie and Robert.
Carrie and Robert are doing a “gut job” of the kitchen in their South Minneapolis home. (Carrie joked that she didn’t let Robert buy a snow blower last winter because she was so set on saving for their kitchen remodel!)
First, we learn about Carrie and Robert:
They enjoy cooking (lots of soups!) and baking, and are ready to move from electric to gas cooking.
While still a good size for a South Minneapolis kitchen (the home was built in the 1920s), they still want to maximize their space.
The current dishwasher is too noisy and doesn’t really offer them much versatility.
Carrie and Robert plan on spending a good deal of time in this current house.
The appliances will need to complement custom cabinetry, new floors and counter tops.
Based on what he found out from Carrie and Robert, our appliance specialist (and my brother!) Joe Warner suggested the following:
LG 5-burner gas range in stainless steel (LRG3093ST)
Carrie and Robert currently has an LG ceramic top electric range. They like the brand, but want the power and responsiveness of gas cooking. The four main burners offer a range of temperatures, for a low simmer at 5,000 BTUs to a power boil at 17,000 BTUs — and the burners can all be rearranged. So, Carrie can simmer two soups on the back burners while using higher heat on the front-most burners. Also, the fifth burner offers a place to heat oblong pans or place a skillet for breakfast items. The heavy-duty grates offer a continuous surface to easily move pots and pans around.
The oven, with a gorgeous blue finish, is a big, 5.4 cu. ft. capacity, which can accommodate pretty much anything Carrie and Robert will throw at it.
Basically, I’m super jealous.
LG fully integrated steam dishwasher (LDF7932ST)
At 50 decibels, it doesn’t get much quieter than this LG dishwasher. It’s so quiet, in fact, that LED lights tell you when it’s operating and when it’s not. Adjustable racks will accommodate nearly any size pot or pan Carrie and Robert throw at it, and there are even wineglass holders (which Carrie noted will get plenty of use).
Steam bursts through hardened on messes for pots and pans, yet is gentle enough to use with those wineglasses.
Perhaps best of all, the fully integrated finish tucks away the control panel on top of the door and the stainless interior means Carrie and Robert can enjoy the looks for a long time.
How gorgeous is that? Robert and Carrie like this model because:
An automatic ice maker means Robert can retire that title from his own name 🙂
The freezer on the bottom configuration and wide, two-door refrigerator allows for plenty of eye-level fresh storage within easy reach
The shallow, counter top-depth maximizes the space in their 10′-12′ kitchen
I’m so excited for Carrie and Robert to get delivery on the appliances they picked out. I’ll post pictures afterward in a couple weeks, but unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until the episode airs in September for the big reveal of their custom kitchen remodel.
3. How long does a dishwasher last? 
